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

02114_1 EFFECTS OF CANDIDATE MICROBICIDES PRO2000 AND SAMMA ON DC-SIGN MEDIATED INFECTION OF CD4+ T-CELLS

Klotman, Mary*
Scordi-Bello, I.*
*Mt. Sinai School of Medicine , Ny,

Dendritic cell C-type lectins, including DC-SIGN, have been shown to bind to HIV-1 gp120 and play a role in virus transfer to T-cells. Dendritic cells expressing these molecules at mucosal surfaces may play a role in virus transmission. The candidate microbicides, SAMMA and Pro2000 both have been shown to block HIV-1 infection of susceptible CD4+ cells and to bind directly to HIV-1 gp120. We therefore tested the ability of these compounds to block either binding of HIV-1 to DC-SIGN or transfer of the virus from DC-SIGN expressing cells to susceptible T-cells.

METHODS: DC-SIGN expressing THP-1(DC-THP-1) cells were incubated with HIV-1 in the presence or absence of microbicide. After washing, THP-1 cells were co-cultured with susceptible CD4+ T-cells in the presence of absence of the microbicide. Both DC-THP-1 cell and T-cell supernatants were monitored for HIV-1 infection by measuring p24 antigen.

RESULTS: DC-THP-1 cells did not produce significant HIV-1 p24 in the presence or absence of microbicide. However, when the DC-THP-1 cells were then co-cultivated with activated T-cells, significant HIV-1 p24 was detected in the supernatants. Both Pro2000 and SAMMA blocked this production when the compounds were present at the time of the co-cultivation. However, neither compound blocked the successful transfer of the virus if only present during the initial infection of DC-THP-1 cells.

CONCLUSIONS: The topical microbicides successfully blocked transfer of HIV-1 from DC-SIGN bearing cells to susceptible T-cells however; they did not appear to block the initial binding of the virus to the DC-bearing cell.

Dr. Mary E. Klotman
Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave l. Levy Place, Box 1090, New York, N.Y. 10029
(Telephone) 212-241-2950 (Fax) 212-534-3240 (E-mail) Mary.klotman@mssm.edu