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

02417 VAGINAL FLUID SLPI IS RELATED TO VAGINAL FLORA AND HORMONAL CONTRACEPTION

Hillier, Sharon L*
Wiesenfeld, H*, Murray, P*, Busse B*, Marrazzo J^.
*University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pa and The ^University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Wa, USA

SLPI is a serine protease inhibitor which is found on mucosal secretions including vaginal fluid, semen, breast milk and saliva. SLPI is thought to protect epithelial surfaces from damage due to release of proteases from inflammatory cells. SLPI may also act as a endogenous microbicide. Although the in vitro activity of SLPI against HIV has been inconsistent, recent data suggests that women having elevated vaginal levels of SLPI have decreased mother to child transmission of HIV, and that infants having higher SLPI levels in the saliva have decreased HIV acquisition during breatfeeding. The goal of this study was to assess the effects of vaginal microflora constituents and hormonal contraception on vaginal fluid SLPI levels. A group of 245 reproductive aged women were evaluated for SLPI by ELISA. SLPI levels were not correlated with ethnicity, age, or day in menstrual cycle. However, the median SLPI concentration was decreased among 36 women using Depo Provera for contraception compared to 52 women using oral contraceptives (244 vs 378 ng/ml, p = .03) and 146 women not using hormonal birth control methods (244 vs 305 ng/ml, p = .08). Further, the 98 women having bacterial vaginosis had significantly decreased levels of vaginal fluid levels SLPI compared to women having normal or intermediate flora (256 ng/ml versus 341 ng/ml and 384 ng/ml, respectively, p = 0.01). These data suggests that hormonal contraception and microbial constituents of the vaginal flora may influence vaginal fluid levels of SLPI, which may, in turn, impact susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections including HIV.

Sharon L. Hillier, Ph.D.
Magee-Womens Hospital, 300 Halket Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(Telephone) 412-641-6435 (Fax) 412-641-1133 (E-mail) shillier@mail.magee.edu