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

02499 DIETARY FLAVONOIDS REDUCE THE PRODUCTION OF HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS (HSV)

Isaacs, Charles E*
Jia, Jun Hua*, Rohan, Lisa**, Hillier, Sharon***
*NYS Institute for Basic Research, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314 USA; **Magee Women’s Hospital, 204 Craft Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; ***University of Pittsburgh/Magee Women’s Hosptial, 300 Halket Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA

Flavonoids are low molecular weight compounds, which are common plant pigments. Dietary intake of flavonoids is far greater than that of vitamin E and beta-carotene. Flavonoids are also synthesized by plants in response to microbial infection and have been found to inhibit the binding of some viruses to their receptors. The present study was undertaken to determine whether flavonoids could inhibit the production of HSV. Myricetin inhibited the replication of HSV-2 by more than 100-fold at a concentration of 40 µg/ml and by more than 50,000-fold at 80 µg/ml. Interestingly, myricetin can distinguish between HSV-1 and HSV-2 since HSV-1 was not inhibited by this flavonoid. Quercetin also inhibited only HSV-2, which required a concentration of 100 µg/ml to reduce viral replication by more than 500-fold. Flavon did not have activity against either HSV-1 or HSV-2 even at a concentration of 400 µg/ml. These results suggest that it is possible to inhibit specific sexually transmitted viruses using flavonoids. These compounds could be used as one of the active components of a combination microbicide. Studies are currently underway to identify flavonoids, which inhibit HSV-1 and HIV.

This work was supported by NIH grants AI 39061-09 and 1U19A151661-01 and the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.

Dr Charles E Isaacs
New York State Insitute for Basic Research in Development Disabilities, Department of Developmental Biochemistry, 1050 Forest Hill road, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA
(Telephone) (718) 494-5227 (Fax) (718) 370-7205 (E-mail) chisi@cunyvm.cuny.edu