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

02560 SYNERGY BETWEEN POTENTIAL HIV MICROBICIDAL AGENTS

Fowler, Katherine*
Klasse, P J**, Sattentau, Q*
*Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, **Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, USA

Polyanionic microbicides such as Dextrin-2-sulphate (D2S) and PRO2000 are currently in Phase II trials. However, it is unlikely that microbicides will be used alone to prevent HIV infection due to the problem of resistance seen in monotherapy. The aim of this work was to study the anti-HIV-1 interactions of D2S and PRO2000 with other known antiretroviral agents in vitro. Combinations of D2S and PRO2000 with the neutralising monoclonal antibody IgG1B12, the peptide-based fusion inhibitor DP178, the CCR5 antagonist TAK779 and the bacterial anti-HIV-1 agent Cyanovirin-N were assessed for their ability to act in synergy against HIV-1JR-FL, HIV-1HxB2 and HIV-1W61D pseudoviruses. These pseudoviruses have the luciferase gene inserted into nef allowing quantitative analysis of viral infection 3-5 days post infection, and are only capable of a single round of replication. The data were analysed for synergy using Calcusyn software. Results using HIV-1JR-FL indicate that PRO2000 acts synergistically with IGG1B12 and PRO2000 acts in synergy with DP178 at high concentrations of both drugs. These findings suggest that it may be beneficial to use PRO2000 in combination with other known antiretroviral agents. By contrast, combinations of D2S with IgG1B12 and DP178 are antagonistic for inhibition of HIV-1JR-FL infectivity. These data suggest that polyanionic microbicides can exhibit synergistic anti-HIV-1 activity in combination with other types of inhibitor, but that combinations must be studied on a case by case basis.

Miss Katherine Fowler
Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX2 0AL
(Tel) 01865 275510 (E-mail) katherine.fowler@path.ox.ac.uk