Johannesburg — Researchers from universities in the UK, the US and South Africa have successfully identified key genes in the body's fight against HIV infection.

According to lead researcher Dr Philip Goulder, identifying the "genetic battleground" where the struggle between HIV and the human immune response occurs will help to shed light on precisely how the immune system succeeds or fails against HIV.

He said the findings could be considered a prerequisite for a rational approach to designing an HIV vaccine.

Although welcoming the research, Jo Robinson, a senior treatment specialist at the UK's Terrence Higgins AIDS Trust, told the BBC: "We should stress that we are many years away from having a vaccine for HIV, and from being able to translate research like this into more practical options for people with HIV to managing their health and treatment."