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Microbicides are substances that kill or weaken microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, or fungi. They can be bactericides, fungicides, or viral microbicides. Topical microbicides are designed to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and can be applied internally in various forms. Microbicides can kill microorganisms by destroying their outer cell membranes, modifying the pH of the host environment, or stopping viruses from reproducing. Research is being conducted to create substances that combine multiple antimicrobial actions. Microbicides could prevent large numbers of new HIV infections if used widely.
A microbicide is any of several substances that have the ability to kill or weaken microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, or fungi. The main groups of microbicides are bactericides, fungicides and viral microbicides. Bactericides in turn can be divided into disinfectants, used on inanimate objects, antiseptics, used externally on humans and animals, and antibiotics, which usually work internally.
The term microbicide is most often used to refer specifically to topical microbicides designed for the prevention of various sexually transmitted diseases. These microbicides are usually substances that can be applied internally to the vagina or rectum in the form of gels, creams, suppositories or douches. They can also take the form of a sponge or other device that is inserted into the vagina or rectum and slowly releases the microbicidal substance over a period of time. Such microbicides may be designed as a primary protective mechanism against disease or as an additional form of protection in the event that a condom should leak or become detached during intercourse.
There are several mechanisms by which microbicides can kill or harm microorganisms. Some types of microbicides destroy the outer cell membranes of bacteria and viruses. Cell membranes are made up of lipids, and if the membrane is damaged, water can seep into the microorganism’s cell and kill it. These types of microbicides are called detergent microbicides, or surfactants, and have the disadvantage of damaging healthy human cells and the microorganisms they are designed to protect against.
There are a number of other microbicidal mechanisms; one of these is the action of modifying the pH of the host environment, typically the female vagina, to make it more alkaline, and therefore make it a more hostile environment for microorganisms. Some microbicides, called replication inhibitors, stop viruses from reproducing. Others, known as entry inhibitors or fusion inhibitors, prevent viruses and bacteria from adhering to the human cells they’re trying to attack.
The development of microbicides often involves research into creating substances that combine two or more different antimicrobial actions into a single drug. Research on microbicidal action is of great interest to scientists studying the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Studies of microbicides suggest that although a microbicide may reduce HIV infections by a modest percentage, if the substance were used widely, large numbers of new HIV infections could be prevented.
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