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

02686 IN VITRO ANTI-HIV-1 ACTIVITY OF MICROBICIDE FORMULATIONS AGAINST NON-SUBTYPE B PRIMARY STRAINS

Ramos, A.*
Dezzutti, C.* Paxton, L.* Grohskopf, L.* Hart, C.* Subbarao, S.*
*Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga

In vitro analyses to assess the anti-HIV-1 efficacy of microbicide formulations should include primary virus strains from geographic regions where clinical studies are being proposed. In this study, microbicide formulations of CarraguardTM, cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP), KY plus nonoxynol-9 (KY-N9), PRO 2000 (0.5% and 4%), UC781 (0.1% and 1%), and Vena GelTM were tested against primary HIV-1 strains (subtypes A, C, and CRF01_AE) representing predominant circulating strains in southern Africa and southeast Asia. Microbicides (highest non-toxic concentrations) were added to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) along with HIV-1 strains. Virus infection of the PBMCs was monitored by HIV-1 p24-antigen in culture supernatants at days 1, 3, and 7 post-challenge, and anti-viral activity of microbicides was measured as log10 reduction of p24 production in the presence of microbicides versus controls (no microbicides). CAP, PRO 2000, and UC781 effectively blocked the infection by the three subtype strains (1.3- 4.5 log10 or 95-100% reduction). KY-N9 completely blocked infection by the subtype A and CRF01_AE strains (2.4-2.8 log10 or 100% reduction) and had a smaller effect on the subtype C strain (0.9 log10 or 88% reduction). CarraguardTM did not block infection by the three subtype strains (-1.3-0.38 log10 or 185-59% reduction). The effect of Vena GelTM on the three subtype strains was variable: a 1.36 log10 (96%) reduction for the subtype C strain but only a 0.2 log10 (38%) and a –0.02 log10 (-4.1%) reduction the subtype A and CRF01_AE strains, respectively. Differences in microbicide efficacies against primary viruses belonging to different subtypes highlight the importance of including primary HIV-1 strains in pre-clinical microbicide testing algorithms.

Dr Artur Ramos
CDC - 1600 Clifton Road MS G19 Atlanta GA 30333
(Telephone) 404 6391048 (Fax) 404 6391174 (E-mail) aramos@cdc.gov