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

02756 INDUCTION AND INHIBITION OF THE HIV-1 VIROLOGICAL SYNAPSE IN T CELLS

*Jolly Clare
**Kashefi Kirk, **Hollinshead Michael, *Sattentau, Quentin
*The Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, The University of Oxford, Oxford OX13RE, **The Jefferiss Trust Laboratories, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, London W21PG

HIV-1 can spread either by release of cell-free virions or by direct cell-cell spread. Cell-cell spread has advantages for the virus such as production of new viral RNA and proteins that is more rapid than that observed after cell-free virus infection, and potential escape from elements of humoral immunity and inhibitors of viral entry. We have established a model system, based on conjugate formation between HIV-1-infected (effector) T cells and uninfected (target) T cells to analyse the molecular events taking place during cell-cell spread. Using this system we demonstrate that HIV-1 induces actin-dependent recruitment of the viral receptors, CD4 and CXCR4, and the adhesion molecue LFA-1, to the interface between effector and target cells. This has been termed a ‘virological synapse’. Formation of this synapse is followed by rapid transfer of viral Gag into the target cell, a process that probably takes place via directed fusion of virions with the target cell membrane. We have tested a number of inhibitors of this process and report that agents with potential for use as HIV-1 microbicides, including neutralising antibodies, anti-CD4 antibodies and small molecule inhibitors of the HIV-1-coreceptor interaction, are effective at preventing cell-cell transfer of HIV-1. These data are encouraging as they demonstrate that this mode of viral spread is susceptible to microbicidal intervention.

Dr. Clare Jolly
The Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, The University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE
(Telephone) 01865 275510 (Fax) 01865 275515 (E-mail) clare.jolly@pathology.ox.ac.uk