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

02467 A PATHOGENIC CCR5-UTILIZING SHIV162PT CAN IMPROVE MACAQUE MODEL FOR TOPICAL MICROBICIDE EVALUATION

Tsai, Che-Chung
Emau P, Jiang YH, Cairns S* and Gupta K** 
Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, *The Henry Jackson Foundation, and **Division of AIDS, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA

Improved animal models that have biologic and virologic relevance to human HIV infection would facilitate current research. Rhesus macaques challenged with a chimeric CCR5-utilizing SIV/HIV, SHIV162P3, have been used to evaluate topical microbicides. However, vaginal challenge of pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina; Mne) with SHIV162P3 results in poor infectivity and non-persistent replication. To improve these viral characteristics, we serially passaged SHIV162P3 in four adult female Mne. The first animal (P1) was inoculated intravenously with both cell-free and cell-associated SHIV162P3 grown in Mne PBMCs. Two weeks after inoculation, 10 ml of whole blood from P1 were transferred to a second macaque (P2). This passage schedule was performed consecutively in two additional macaques (P3 and P4). The animals were clinically monitored and lab assays were performed on blood samples. Results indicated that SHIV162P3 evolved during passage to a variant (SHIV162Pt) with increased infectivity and pathogenicity. SHIV162Pt was propagated in macaque PBMCs. Virus from this stock replicates in macaque and human PBMCs and CCR5+ cell lines but does not replicate in CXCR4+ cell lines. Evaluation of this stock in vivo should indicate whether this SHIV can improve the Mne model for topical microbicide evaluation.

(This work supported by NIH Contract NO1-AI-15450). 

Dr. Che-Chung Tsai
University of Washington, Box 357330 HSB, WaNRPC, Seattle, WA 98195-7330, USA
(Telephone) 206-221-3516 (Fax) 206-543-0305 (E-mail) cctsai@u.washington.edu