Microbicides

Surfactant Protein D Reverses the Gene Signature of Transepithelial HIV-1 Passage and Restricts the Viral Transfer Across the Vaginal Barrier

Effective prophylactic strategy against the current epidemic of sexually transmitted HIV-1 infection requires understanding of the innate gatekeeping mechanisms at the genital mucosa. Surfactant protein D (SP-D), a member of the collectin family of proteins naturally present in the vaginal tract, is a potential HIV-1 entry inhibitor at the cellular level. Human EpiVaginal tissues compartmentalized […]

Novel Vaginal Microflora Colonization Model Providing New Insight into Microbicide Mechanism of Action

Several broad-spectrum microbicides, including cellulose sulfate (CS), have passed conventional preclinical and phase I clinical safety evaluation and yet have failed to protect women from acquiring IDV -1 in phase II/Ill trials. Concerns have been raised that current preclinical algorithms are deficient in addressing the complexity of the microflora-regulated vaginal mucosal barrier. We applied a […]

PRECLINICAL EVALUATION OF LIME JUICE AS A TOPICAL MICROBICIDE CANDIDATE.

This study by researchers in the CONRAD (Contraceptive Research and Development) Program at Eastern Virginia Medical School and at St. George’s University/London demonstrated how Mattek’s EpiVaginal in vitro human cervico-vaginal tissue equivalent can be used pre-clinically to test potentially cytotoxic microbicide formulations in vitro. Background: The continued growth of the global HIV epidemic highlights the […]

CONCORDANCE BETWEEN DIFFERENT IN VITRO CULTURE MODELS DESIGNED TO PREDICT VAGINAL IRRITATION AND/OR TOXICITY.

The safety profile of potential microbicides is equally, if not more important than anti-HIV activity. At the very least, candidates must not impair natural defences against HIV-1 infection or cause inflammation. In this study, researchers at St. George’s Hospital Medical School (UK) and the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) investigated the concordance between five different […]

STUDIES ON VAGINAL INNATE IMMUNITY IN THE EPIVAGINAL MODEL SYSTEM.

As stated in the “Conclusions” section, this study by Mattek Corp. scientists demonstrated that the EpiVaginal human ectocervical-vaginal tissue equivalent provided valuable information on molecular mechanisms of vaginal innate immunity, and served as a test system to determine the effects of microbicides on vaginal immune defense. Background: The Mattek EpiVaginal tissue model, grown on tissue […]

RECONSTRUCTION OF VAGINAL TISSUE MODEL FOR HIV INFECTION.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is continuing to escalate worldwide and it is estimated that through the year 2000, more than 34 million people have already been infected with the virus. Daily, 16,000 individuals acquire HIV-1 infection and the majority of all adult HIV infections (90%) are obtained through sexual contact. The cervico-vaginal tissues are thought to […]

THE RETROCYCLIN ANALOGUE RC-101 PREVENTS HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS TYPE 1 INFECTION OF A MODEL HUMAN CERVICOVAGINAL TISSUE CONSTRUCT.

This study by researchers at the University of Central Florida, University of Pittsburgh and UCLA School of Medicine demonstrated that Mattek’s EpiVaginal human vaginal-ectocervical tissue equivalent can be used to test the toxicity and efficacy of potential HIV-1 topical microbicides. Retrocyclins are cyclic antimicrobial peptides that exhibit potent activity towards a broad range of primary […]

ORGANOTYPIC HUMAN VAGINAL-ECTOCERVICAL TISSUE MODEL FOR IRRITATION STUDIES OF SPERMICIDES, MICROBICIDES, AND FEMININE-CARE PRODUCTS.

This study by scientists at Boston University School of Medicine and Mattek Corp. demonstrated that Mattek’s EpiVaginal in vitro human cervico-vaginal tissue equivalent is a highly reproducible, non-animal means to assess the irritation potential of topically applied contraceptives, microbicides and vaginal care products. EpiVaginal, a three-dimensional organotypic vaginal-ectocervical (VEC) tissue model, has been developed to […]

HUMAN VAGINAL—ECTOCERVIAL TISSUE MODEL TO TEST THE IRRITATION POTENTIAL OF CONTRACEPTIVE AND VAGINAL-CARE PRODUCTS.

RECONSTRUCTED HUMAN VAGINAL-ECTOCERVICAL TISSUE MODELS.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is now the fourth most common cause of death worldwide. In the last 20 years, more than 60 million people have been infected with the virus. By the end of 2002, an estimated 42 million people globally were living with HIV and the majority of new infections occurred in young adult […]

VAGINAL FORMULATION – HOW INNOCUOUS ARE THEY TO THE VAGINAL EPITHELIAL IMMUNE FUNCTION?

This study by researchers in the Harvard Medical School Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology demonstrated that Mattek’s EpiVaginal in vitro human cervico-vaginal tissue equivalent is an excellent tissue model for performing both immunoinflammatory characterization and safety assessment of vaginal products. Problem: The disruption of the epithelial barrier and activation of inflammatory pathways may lead to […]

BIOCOMPATIBILITY OF SOLID DOSAGE ANTI-HIV-1 MICROBICIDES AND VAGINAL PRODUCTS WITH THE MUCOSAL CYTOKINE NETWORK.

IRRITATION TESTING OF CONTRACEPTIVE AND FEMININE-CARE PRODUCTS USING EPIVAGINAL, AN IN VITRO HUMAN VAGINAL-ECTOCERVICAL TISSUE MODEL.

ORGANOTYPIC ECTOCERVICO-VAGINAL TISSUE MODEL CONTAINING DENDRITIC CELLS.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is now the fourth most common cause of death worldwide. In the last 20 years, more than 60 million people have been infected with the virus. By the end of 2001, an estimated 40 million people globally were living with HIV, and the majority of new infections occurred in young adult […]

A HUMAN ORAL TISSUE MODEL TO EVALUATE TOXICITY AND ANTI-HIV ACTIVITY OF THE SPERMICIDE-MICROBICIDE, NONOXYNOL-9M.

This study by researchers at the University of Washington, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Mattek Corp. demonstrated that a new form of Mattek’s EpiOral full thickness human buccal tissue equivalent containing Langerhans Cells appears to be useful in evaluating pre-clinical microbicide toxicity and efficacy. Background: There is a need for a reproducible in […]