Glycerol Monolaurate Microbicide Protection Against Repeat High-Dose SIV Vaginal Challenge

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2015 Jun 10

PMID 26057743

Citations 22

Authors

Ashley T Haase

Eva Rakasz

Nancy Schultz-Darken

Karla Nephew

Kimberly L Weisgrau

Cavan S Reilly

Qingsheng Li

Peter J Southern

Meghan Rothenberger

Marnie L Peterson

Patrick M Schlievert

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Measures to prevent sexual mucosal transmission are critically needed, particularly to prevent transmission to young women at high risk in the microepidemics in South Africa that disproportionally contribute to the continued pandemic. To that end, microbicides containing anti-retroviral (ARV) agents have been shown to prevent transmission, but with efficacy limited both by adherence and pre-existing innate immune and inflammatory conditions in the female reproductive tract (FRT). Glycerol monolaurate (GML) has been proposed as a microbicide component to enhance efficacy by blocking these transmission-facilitating innate immune response to vaginal exposure. We show here in an especially rigorous test of protection in the SIV-rhesus macaque model of HIV-1 transmission to women, that GML used daily and before vaginal challenge protects against repeat high doses of SIV by criteria that include virological and immunological assays to detect occult infection. We also provide evidence for indirect mechanisms of action in GML-mediated protection. Developing a sustained formulation for GML delivery could contribute an independent, complementary protective component to an ARV-containing microbicide.

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