HIV immunotherapy comes of age: implications for prevention, treatment and cure

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reshaped the lives of millions of individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Patients initiating ART early in the course of infection benefit from a considerable reduction in the risks of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV-related inflammatory events. However, the absence of cure and lifelong requirements of treatment highlight the need of a vaccine and an immunotherapeutic strategy. Like for cancer, a paradigm shift has occurred with the contribution of immune activation and microbial translocation priming aberrant systemic immunity in restricting the ability of the host to mount an effective immune response. The approaches of implementing an effective vaccine to prevent infection and inhibition of immune activation with breakage of viral latency followed by vaccination should lead to an HIV-free generation.