[pdf-embedder url="https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/research-and-scholarship/wp-content/uploads/sites/382/2022/05/Rajvinder-Kaur-BARS-2022-Poster-Rajvinder-Kaur.pdf" title="Rajvinder Kaur BARS 2022 Poster - Rajvinder Kaur"]
Author:
Rajvinder Kaur
Mentor:
Jose Fernandez Romero PhD
Abstract:
There is a need for new biomedical interventions that could allow women to address multiple sexual and reproductive health issues with one product. Multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) aim to provide that product to protect from unintended pregnancy and some sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In this study, we tested the combination of amphora, a contraceptive vaginal gel, with griffithsin (GRFT) and carrageenan (CG), two natural products with potent antiviral activity against different viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV). These components can be formulated in a vaginal fast-dissolving insert (FDI) for topical on-demand use. We tested the antiviral activity of amphora, GRFT, and CG against HSV-2 using the plaque reduction assay, and against HIV using the TZM-bl assay. Using these cell-based assays, we performed our experiment in the presence or absence of genital fluids. The combination of amphora, CG, and GRFT significantly inhibited the replication of HSV-2 even in the presence of genital fluids (p<0.002)`. Similarly, anti-HIV activity was observed in the presence and absence of genital fluids although in this case was primarily due to GRFT potent activity against this virus. Therefore, these results indicate that the combinations may provide a promising, on-demand MPT to prevent unintended pregnancy and STIs.
