Issue No. 17

AIDSinfo.nih.gov is pleased to provide you with a weekly update of highlights about what has happened in the world of HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and research. We hope you find this encapsulated view of HIV/AIDS news useful.

Spotlight on Microbicides

A microbicide is a natural or man-made substance that kills microbes such as HIV. Researchers are studying the use of topical microbicides to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV infection.

This week, the Microbicides 2006 conference was held in Cape Town, South Africa. The biennial, international meeting’s objectives are to provide updates on recent microbicide research; provide a forum for the discussion of new developments in microbicide research—including basic, clinical, social, and behavioral science, as well as community and advocacy issues; and to present opportunities for knowledge sharing between microbicide researchers, public health workers, communities, and advocacy organizations. Conference coverage is accessible via the USAID Web site. Stay tuned to AIDSinfo At-A-Glance for more microbicide news; meanwhile, check out the following microbicide resources:

Microbicide Basics:

n       National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) microbicide brochure

n       Review article from the Los Alamos National Laboratory Web site

Microbicide Fact Sheets from the AIDSinfo Drug Database:

n       Links to patient and health care professional fact sheets for 10 microbicides in clinical testing

Microbicide News:

n       Recent microbicide news brought to you by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Prevention Information Network

Microbicide Research:

n       Research report from NIAID’s Division of AIDS

n       The CDC’s microbicide mission and research agenda

n       Research news from the U.S. State Department

n       USAID’s microbicide research activities

FDA Microbicide Development Resources:

n       FDA Web page devoted to microbicide development

n       Slide set from the FDA’s 2003 Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee Meeting on microbicide development

Upcoming HIV Awareness Activites!

May is just around the corner, and it promises to be an especially busy month for important AIDS awareness activities. People in the AIDS community are busy planning activities in which the public can participate. Make sure you mark your calendar for HIV Vaccine Awareness Day: May 18; National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: May 19; and National Women’s Health Week: May 15–19. AIDSinfo will actively participate in observing these important dates. Stay tuned to AIDSinfo At-A-Glance for more links and information about these awareness days.