Ari Daniel

Not exactly, but you're on the right track, Nate, because compared to regular antibodies, these guys are weird looking.

Some have really long arms, some have super short arms, and this oddness gives them a way of dealing with HIV's defenses.

But when these rare antibodies appear naturally in someone's body, they usually emerge too late to help that person living with HIV.

Bingo.

That is the whole point of this vaccine trial, to figure out how to do that more easily.

So, has it started?

Like, is the new vaccine trial underway?

Finally, after nearly a year of delays.

I head to the outskirts of Cape Town, where a large brick building rises above Philippi Village, this impoverished township where HIV is rampant.

And a few levels up, I spot Emilia Nthiki, the community liaison officer for the vaccine trials.

Amelia makes her way to a room where 20 or so young women are gathered to hear about participating in the trial.

Who are these 20-some young women, Ari?

Well, all these women are from the community, Nate, including Nandip Hamongo.

She's 25 years old, and she tells me that her community struggles with rape, sex traded for favors, unplanned pregnancies.

which is why she'd happily be involved in the research.

Because she's proud to be making a difference.

I ask, if this team of researchers is able to find a vaccine, what would a world without HIV be like?

It already started, Nate, in January, and it's going to continue for some months.

Of course, Nate.

Thanks for having me.