Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation
8-2013
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
M.S.
Department
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Committee Chair
Palmer, Kenneth Edward
Author's Keywords
Microbicides; Immunogenility; Lectin; HIV
Subject
Anti-infective agents; Lectins
Abstract
Griffithsin (GRFT) is a protein derived from the red alga Griffithsia sp. off the coast of New Zealand. It binds and inactivates number of enveloped viruses including HIV-1. For a product to be developed as a microbicide, it must be safe and effective after repeated use. For initial in vivo safety testing we exposed mice repeatedly to various vaginal products and found that increased concentration of mouse serum albumin (MSA) in the vaginal lumen is predictive of epithelial damage. Repeated intravaginal administration of GRFT did not result in increased amounts of MSA, but the known epithelial disrupters nonoxynol-9 and benzylkonium chloride caused increased concentrations of MSA that were detectable by ELISA and western blot. We also evaluated the immunogenicity of GRFT following repeated exposure and found that intravaginal administration resulted in higher serum IgG antibody titers, but not local IgA or IgG levels, than did subcutaneous administration. The consequences of the systemic immune response are unknown and require further investigation.
Recommended Citation
Lasnik, Amanda, "Preclinical safety assessment of Griffithsin-based vaginal microbicides." (2013). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 795.
https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/795
