Microbicides 2004 Microbicides 200428-31 March 2004, Hilton London MetropoleThe conference42 million men, women and children worldwide were living with HIV by the end of December 2002 (source: UNAIDS), including five million newly-infected during that year alone. Another 45 million people will become infected between 2002 and 2010, unless the current transmission rates can be vastly reduced. Of the 42 million, 29.4 million live in sub-Saharan Africa and 58% of them are women. Not only are women more susceptible to HIV infection, many are powerless to insist on the use of condoms or other methods of protecting themselves. In this context, and with the knowledge that an effective HIV vaccine is unlikely to be available for several years, the need for an effective topical microbicide grows ever more urgent. 2004 should prove to be a landmark year in the field of microbicide development as the first Phase III trials of novel products are due to start – the next step along the road to making a microbicide available to the millions worldwide in desperate need of protection.The aims of the Microbicides 2004 conference are to:Report novel or innovative work in the microbicides fieldProvide updates on recent microbicides research, divided into three tracks: basic science, clinical science, and behavioural science (including public health and the microbicide marketplace)Provide a forum for the discussion of new developments in microbicide research including ethical, clinical, behavioural and methodological issuesPresent opportunities for knowledge-sharing between microbicide researchers, public-health workers and advocacy organisations.There will be an opening ceremony on the evening of Sunday 28 March at which politicians, policy makers and the international media are expected. The conference will run for a full three days, each of which will contain:Scientific overviews and presentations with plenary sessions, invited lecturers and presentations of original researchWorkshops to review issues unique to microbicides such as trial design and outcome measures, and ethical issues in the clinical trials of microbicidesPoster sessions. Focus on LondonFollowing the successful Microbicides conferences in Washington in 2000 and Antwerp in 2002, March 2004 sees the focus move to London.The venue is the Hilton Metropole Hotel, two minutes by taxi from Paddington station and the Heathrow Express, with a journey time from the airport of 15 minutes. The hotel is in walking distance of Hyde Park and London’s main shopping streets, and close to Imperial College. Accommodation will be available at the venue and other hotels in the vicinity.London in March offers a variety of diversions for out-of-conference relaxation, including sight-seeing and shopping; the arts and the theatre; and pubs, clubs and restaurants to suit every taste. Conference staff will be on hand to help delegates plan their spare time.To book your place or find out more information, e-mail info@microbicides2004.org.uk or telephone the Event Office on +44 (0) 20 7720 4411
Oral: invited speaker Oral: Track A Oral: Track B Oral: Track C Poster: Track A Poster: Track B Poster: Track C Abstract only Authors

02342 ESTABLISHING A CHLAMYDIA + SHIV CO-INFECTION MODEL IN NONHUMAN PRIMATES: PRELIMINARY DATA

Patton, Dorothy
Tsai C C , Cosgrove Sweeney Y, Saifuddin M*, Doncel G F*
University of Washington, Seattle, WA and *CONRAD, Arlington, VA USA

Prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a primary goal in Topical Microbicide product development. Preclinical studies designed to test a product’s ability to prevent infection in the face of viral challenge are essential for product advancement to clinical trials. Conducting such studies in nonhuman primates (NHP) may provide results most apt to translate to the human experience. We have initiated model development studies to establish a reliable SHIV infection model in Macaca nemestrina monkeys. In this model, animals are pre-exposed to infection with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT). With a heightened anti-CT immune response, animals undergo a single mucosal challenge (intravaginal) with SHIV, chimeric SIV/ HIV which has been molecularly constructed for macaque infection.

The initial series of six-animal experiments are completed in which 3 animals were pre-exposed to chlamydia cervical infection prior to mucosal challenge with 500 TCID50 SHIV89.6P, while the remaining three underwent SHIV inoculation without prior CT exposure. All three of the pre-exposed animals became infected with SHIV, while one of three SHIV-only animals has developed viral infection, as of week 10 post-SHIV challenge. These results indicate that CT pre-exposure may have enhanced SHIV transmission and/or infection, and constitute the basis for a new, CT/SHIV co-infection model in non-human primates.

This work supported by CONRAD MSA-02-315 and U of WA National Primate Research Center RR-00166.

Dr. Dorothy Patton
University of Washington, Box 356460, Ob-Gyn, Seattle, WA 98195-6460 USA
(Telephone) 206-543-5554 (Fax) 206-616-9479 (E-mail) dpatton@u.washington.edu