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

02593 DETECTION OF HIV-1 RNA LOADS IN THE PRESENCE OF MICROBICIDE FORMULATIONS INTENDED FOR HUMAN USE

Evans-Strickfaden, Tammy
Hart, C
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road (MS G19), Atlanta, GA 30333, USA

The clinical evaluation of topical microbicide formulations should include an analysis of how daily applications of a product affect HIV-1 vaginal shedding in infected women. Therefore, accurate measurements of cell-free HIV-1 in vaginal secretions containing microbicide formulations are necessary. This study investigated the impact of microbicide and available placebo formulations of CarraguardTM, cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP), PRO-2000 (0.5%), UC781 (0.1 and 1.0%), and VenaGelTM on HIV-1 RNA virus load measurements using the Roche Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor® Assay (version 1.5). Microbicides were diluted in PBS to 10 and 50% of their original formulations and spiked with cell-free plasma virus (5,000 HIV-1 RNA copies/ml). HIV-1 RNA was extracted directly from the diluted formulations and from pelleted virus (1 hr at 105xg) using the NucliSens® 9-ml and 0.9-ml silica-based protocols, respectively. Virus-spiked 50% concentrations of CarraguardTM, its methylcellulose placebo, CAP, and VenaGelTM with direct RNA extractions had the same virus loads as those in the virus-spiked PBS only controls (< 0.5 log10 difference). In contrast, virus-spiked 10 and 50% concentrations of PRO-2000, UC781 (1.0%), and their placebos completely inhibited the virus load assay. However, a normal virus load (< 0.5 log10 difference versus the PBS control) was obtained from a 10% concentration of UC781 (0.1%), but not of PRO-2000, by pelleting virus before RNA extraction. These results indicate that the ability to accurately measure the effect of microbicide formulations on HIV-1 vaginal shedding will require a knowledge of the RNA extraction methodology and virus load protocols best suited for each product.

Ms. Tammy Evans-Strickfaden
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road (MS G19), Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
(Telephone) 404.639.4988 (Fax) 404.639.1503 (E-mail) tae0@cdc.gov