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

02639_2 THE EVALUATION OF MICROBICIDES TO PREVENT HIV-1 INFECTION OF HUMAN COLO-RECTAL TISSUE EXPLANTS

Watts, Patricia
Griffin, G. and Shattock, R.
St George’s Hospital Medical School, London, UK

Background: With 42 million people now living with HIV-1/AIDS, suitable strategies for the prevention of HIV transmission need to be developed. The potential of microbicides to reduce transmission across mucosal surfaces has been clearly identified. The development of microbicides for vaginal application is now well advanced, with some potential agents already having entered clinical trials. However, the prevalence of anal intercourse amongst heterosexual couples highlights the urgent need to assess the effect of these microbicides on HIV infection of rectal tissue. Assessment of their efficacy to prevent transmission across the colorectal mucosa needs to be completed within a suitable tissue model to ensure their efficacy. We present a model of colorectal explant culture to evaluate the efficacy of potential microbicides.

Methods: Tissue explants, exposed to HIV in the presence of candidate microbicides were assessed for viral replication by the presence of p24 in culture supernatants, and proviral DNA within Proteinase-K digested tissue.

Results: Experiments using microbicidal compounds demonstrated that such compounds have the ability to block HIV-1 infection of colorectal tissue. Inhibition of HIV-1 BaL infection was observed with both polyanionic compounds such as PRO 2000, dextrin sulphate, cyanovirin-N, and cellulose acetate phthalate, and reverse transcriptase inhibitors such as PMPA and UC781.

Conclusions: The colorectal explant culture model can be used for the pre-clinical assessment of potential rectal microbicides to prevent HIV-1 infection.

Miss Patricia Watts
Infectious Diseases, St George’s Hospital Medical School, London SW17 0RE. UK
(Telephone) +44 20 8725 5856 (Fax) +44 20 8725 3487 (E-mail) p.watts@sghms.ac.uk