4. HIV Vaccine
Ever since its outbreak in the 1980s, the letters HIV and AIDS have struck fear into the hearts of many, However, in early 2015, scientists in America reported that a radical new approach to vaccination may be the key to discovering a cure for the disease. Usually, vaccinations work by introducing a weakened form of the pathogen into the body, in order to allow the immune system a chance to learn how to fight it off without the risk of contracting the full blown illness. This means that the next time the body comes into contact with that particular pathogen, it will know how to fight it. However, the HIV vaccine will work a little differently. This vaccination works by altering the DNA itself to fight off the HIV virus. It works by delivering a new section of DNA into healthy muscle cells. Contained within this new DNA are instructions for how to fight off the disease. Although the research is in its early stages, the experts reckon that it will be invaluable in treating people already living with HIV, as well as protecting those who are at risk.