ABSTRACT
Microbicides are a new tool, still under investigation, which could help prevent infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Increasing evidence shows that the complexity of sexual transmission of viral pathogens requires the identification of compounds able to block the early events during the cycle of viral infection. In this manuscript we provide a comprehensive review of the different microbicide strategies that have been studied or are currently being considered for STI prevention, particularly emphasizing those having the potential to block HIV infection. The manuscript also reviews the complex process that is required to conduct future clinical studies in humans and concludes with a brief discussion of the strategies that could be part of the immediate future in microbicide research.
Subject(s)
Anti-Infective Agents, Local/pharmacology , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods , Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial/prevention & control , Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral/prevention & control , Administration, Intravaginal , Administration, Rectal , Animals , Anti-Infective Agents, Local/chemistry , Anti-Infective Agents, Local/classification , Anti-Infective Agents, Local/isolation & purification , Anti-Infective Agents, Local/toxicity , Clinical Trials as Topic , Disease Models, Animal , Drug Approval , Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology , Female , HIV Infections/prevention & control , HIV Infections/transmission , Herpes Genitalis/prevention & control , Herpes Genitalis/transmission , Humans , Male , Multicenter Studies as Topic , Papillomavirus Infections/prevention & control , Papillomavirus Infections/transmission , Surface-Active Agents/pharmacology , Technology, Pharmaceutical/methods , Viral Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Virus Internalization/drug effectsABSTRACT
Los microbicidas constituyen una nueva herramienta, todavía en proceso de investigación, que podrían ayudar en la prevención de la infección por los virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (Human immunodeficiency virus: HIV) y de otras infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS). Una serie de evidencias ha demostrado que la complejidad de la transmisión sexual de patógenos virales requiere de la identificación de compuestos capaces de bloquear los eventos tempranos del ciclo de infección viral. En este manuscrito hacemos una revisión exhaustiva de las diferentes estrategias que se han estudiado o se están considerando para prevenir ITS mediante el uso de microbicidas, haciendo particular énfasis en aquellos con el potencial de bloquear la infección por el HIV. También se revisa el proceso complejo de evaluación preclínica que se requiere para llegar a estudios en humanos y se concluye con un breve análisis de las estrategias que podrían formar parte del futuro inmediato en la investigación de microbicidas
Microbicides are a new tool, still under investigation, which could help prevent infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Increasing evidence shows that the complexity of sexual transmission of viral pathogens requires the identification of compounds able to block the early events during the cycle of viral infection. In this manuscript we provide a comprehensive review of the different microbicide strategies that have been studied or are currently being considered for STI prevention, particularly emphasizing those having the potential to block HIV infection. The manuscript also reviews the complex process that is required to conduct future clinical studies in humans and concludes with a brief discussion of the strategies that could be part of the immediate future in microbicide research
Subject(s)
Sexually Transmitted Diseases/prevention & control , Anti-HIV Agents/analysis , Papillomavirus Vaccines/analysis , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/diagnosis , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/therapy , Herpesvirus 2, Human/drug effects , Anti-Infective Agents/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Microbicides are a new tool, still under investigation, which could help prevent infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Increasing evidence shows that the complexity of sexual transmission of viral pathogens requires the identification of compounds able to block the early events during the cycle of viral infection. In this manuscript we provide a comprehensive review of the different microbicide strategies that have been studied or are currently being considered for STI prevention, particularly emphasizing those having the potential to block HIV infection. The manuscript also reviews the complex process that is required to conduct future clinical studies in humans and concludes with a brief discussion of the strategies that could be part of the immediate future in microbicide research.