Role of therapeutic vaccines in the control of HIV-1.

The recent success of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has altered the prognosis of patients living with HIV-1 infection. However, there are still many challenges to be addressed if we want to develop long-term therapeutic strategies for patients, in both the Western world and resource-poor countries. In this review, the potential role for HIV-1 therapeutic vaccines in the era of HAART will be discussed in the light of the present efforts at developing immune-based therapies to complement antiviral treatment and minimize the duration of exposure to antiviral drugs.