An unconventional vaccination that apparently fully protects monkeys from the AIDS-causing human immuno-deficiency virus brings new hope to an HIV vaccine for humans, a team of American scientists says.

Vaccines usually teach the human immune system how to stave off an infection. Instead, scientists at California's Scripps Research Institute changed the monkey DNA to provide their cells with HIV-repelling abilities.

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The research leader, Professor Michael Farzan, said his team is nearer to universal HIV protection than any other, but members are still facing many challenges. The biggest is safety in administering it to many people.

Reported in the journal Nature, the experiments of Farzan's team resulted in the protection of the monkeys from all types of HIV for at least two and a half months.

The vaccination technique taps into gene therapy to insert a new section of DNA into healthy muscle cells. The DNA strip contains the code for making the apparatus to fight HIV, and is continually introduced into the bloodstream.

The findings also led researchers to believe the possible vaccine may also do wonders for people who already contracted HIV because there was also protection against high doses of HIV, similar to the proliferation of new viruses in a chronically infected patient.

Researchers describe the findings as "a big deal" and team members want to begin human trials soon. Independent scientists say the idea for the vaccine is worth "strong consideration."

In the past, vaccines against HIV have been ineffective because the virus changes so fast that it's a continuously shifting target. The new vaccine targets sites the virus is trying to change.

Farzan said the real strength of the vaccine is that it's far more effective than any antibody.

The researchers are, however, wary of safety because the long-term implications of gene therapy that turns cells into HIV-killers are unknown.

The team plans to start trials in HIV patients who are unable to undergo usual drug therapies within the next year.