title: Progress and Perspectives on HIV-1 microbicide development.
abstract: The majority of HIV-1 infections occur via sexual intercourse. Women are the most affected by the epidemic, particularly in developing countries, due to their socio-economic dependence on men and the fact that they are often victims of gender based sexual violence. Despite significant efforts that resulted in the reduction of infection rates in some countries, there is still need for effective prevention methods against the virus. One of these methods for preventing sexual transmission in women is the use of microbicides. In this review we provide a summary of the progress made toward the discovery of affordable and effective HIV-1 microbicides and suggest future directions. We show that there is a wide range of compounds that have been proposed as potential microbicides. Although most of them have so far failed to show protection in humans, there are many promising ones currently in pre-clinical studies and in clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pioneering Health Sciences Laboratory, Biosciences Unit, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. Electronic address: AAlexandre@csir.co.za.
authors.forename: Kabamba B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Alexandre
authors.affiliation: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pioneering Health Sciences Laboratory, Biosciences Unit, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
authors.forename: Hazel T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Mufhandu
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Free State District Health Services and Health Programs, South Africa.
authors.forename: Grace M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: London
authors.affiliation: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pioneering Health Sciences Laboratory, Biosciences Unit, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chakauya
authors.affiliation: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pioneering Health Sciences Laboratory, Biosciences Unit, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa; University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Department of Medicine, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khati
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D055808:Drug Discovery; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000821:virology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000821:virology; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers
keywords: HIV-1; Microbicides; Prevention; Sexual transmission