Group 1 - A DNA-Tiantan smallpox vaccine combined HIV vaccine has completed Phase IIa clinical trials in Beijing and Hangzhou, with plans for multiple Phase IIb/III trials in the next 1-2 years to verify its protective efficacy [1] - The vaccine utilizes a modified "Tiantan strain" smallpox virus as a carrier, which has shown safety and the ability to elicit effective immune responses [1][3] - The global HIV infection rate is approximately 40 million, with nearly 1 million deaths annually due to HIV-related causes, highlighting the urgent need for an effective vaccine [1] Group 2 - The new HIV vaccine is based on the "Tiantan strain" smallpox vaccine, which successfully eradicated smallpox and has a long safety record [3] - The vaccine employs a replicating vector technology, differing from the non-replicating vector technology used in most Western countries, allowing for prolonged immune system stimulation [3] - Other teams globally are also developing HIV vaccines using mRNA and cytomegalovirus (CMV) as carriers, with ongoing research into their safety and efficacy [4] Group 3 - The goal of ending AIDS globally by 2030 is part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, aiming to reduce the annual demand for antiretroviral drugs by approximately $1.2 billion [4] - Experts emphasize that the development of an HIV vaccine faces significant challenges, including the lack of natural immunity to HIV, the virus's mutations, and the absence of reliable animal models to predict vaccine efficacy in humans [4]