A group of scientists has made a breakthrough in what they say could lead to the creation of an HIV vaccine.

The team led by scientists from the National Institutes of Health have discovered two antibodies that can stop more than 90 percent of HIV strains from infecting human cells.

Articles about the findings appeared today in the online edition of Science.

The scientists found that antibodies called VRCO1 and VRCO2 neutralize more HIV strains with more strength than any other known antibodies to the virus. HIV is the virus that leads to the deadly AIDS disease.

The scientists have also discovered the atomic-level structure of the VRC01 antibody when it attaches to HIV. Knowing the structure has enabled the scientists to know exactly where the antibody attaches to the HIV virus. They are using this information to begin designing a candidate vaccine.

Scientists have in the past had trouble finding antibodies that neutralize HIV because the virus frequently changes its surface proteines making it hard to be recognized by the immune system.