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Where's the HIV vaccine?

Question 3.0 (2/1/2011):vaccine

One of the great challenges in HIV research has been the development of a safe and effective vaccine. Billions have been spent on the more than 25 year effort. Which of the following reasons for the lack of success is incorrect?

The answer was C: Initial infections in people typically occur through mucosal surfaces, which are not sites of immune responses.

The virus is spread through mucosal surfaces, but these can be sites of powerful immune responses.

Both answers A and B are correct, and answer D is debatable.

Question courtesy of Jonathan Karn, PhD. Karn is the director of Case Western Reserve University's Center for AIDS Research. The center is one of only 20 nationwide. Learn more about the center and the future of AIDS research.


Week Three Stats

How did you do? 55 people submitted answers for Question 3.0, 8 contestants selected the correct answer. Average time to correctly answer: 40 seconds. Fastest time? Sixteen seconds. Check out last week's top 5 players or visit the leaderboard totals for Weeks 1-2.

Take a shot at the next question, will be posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. See other past questions and answers.