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Known only by a number - CAP256 - one South Africa woman may hold the key to an HIV vaccine.

The mysterious HIV-positive woman has been able to prevent the virus from growing in her body by producing antibodies to fight it over a number of years.

Only one-in-five people living with HIV produce "broadly neutralising antibodies," that kill multiple types of the virus in laboratory settings, according to Dr Lynn Morris, head of AIDS research at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).

Morris and other scientists think they could be the key to an effective HIV vaccine or even cure in the distant future.

The evolution of a killer

Known only by her clinical trial identification code, CAP256 provided multiple blood samples over the years that allowed researchers from the Centre for AIDS Programme Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) to see how her special antibodies quickly evolved to outwit HIV's protective shell and kill the virus in lab settings.

Until now, no one has understood when or how broadly neutralising antibodies arise in HIV patients. But in an article published this week in the scientific journal, Nature, South African researchers from the NICD, CAPRISA and several universities unlocked the answers in one woman's blood.

Globally, three clinical trials are already experimenting with the use of these special antibodies to kill HIV in monkeys. CAP256's antibodies will likely move into monkey trials as part of an experimental vaccine, which if successful, would precede about seven years of clinical trials in humans.

Only one HIV vaccine clinical trial, conducted in Thailand and published in 2009, ever shown even modest ability to prevent HIV infection

"Current experimental HIV vaccines do not induce those broadly neutralising antibodies and we think that's why they are only moderately effective," said Morris, who cautioned that it was but a one small step on the road to a vaccine.

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South Africa: Scientists, Mystery Woman Unlock Path to New HIV Vaccine