New breakthrough in fight against HIV after vaccine trials gives positive results

A new type of vaccine could hold the key to finding a cure for HIV, a new study shows.

There is currently no cure for HIV, but researchers in the USA believe mRNA can bypass common obstacles in the creation of a vaccine for the disease.

HIV impacts nearly 41 million people globally and over 30,000 people in Australia.

READ MORE: Epstein's accomplice offers to reveal all - but there's a catch

The study, conducted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Centre in the United States, found antibodies to fight HIV were present in 80 per cent of volunteers.

It marks a step in finding a long-term cure to the disease, which is currently treated with antiretroviral therapy.

It is still highly prevalent in southern Africa, including Botswana and South Africa.

READ MORE: Six injured in wedding minibus crash in NSW Hunter Valley

Seth Cheetham, who specialises in mRNA at the University of Queensland, said the vaccine could be a crucial tool in the fight against HIV.

"This study marks significant progress in the global effort to develop a safe and effective HIV vaccine that prevents infection," he said.

"While drugs for HIV treatment and prevention have transformed the lives of people living with HIV, an effective vaccine is still urgently needed.

"[If] the results hold up in larger real-world studies in the community, mRNA vaccines could be a transformative tool in the fight against HIV."

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.