Hillier Research Group

Principal Investigator: Sharon Hillier, PhD

There are new primary NIH-funded research emphasis areas in Dr. Hillier’s laboratory. The first is related to the evaluation and testing of topical microbicides for prevention of HIV. As the Site Support Laboratory Core for the Microbicide Trials Network, this lab provides support for clinical trials of microbicides at sites in the US, India, and Africa. Activities include evaluation of STI diagnostics for use in clinical trials, evaluation of the impact of products on the vaginal microflora, and the assessment of immune mediators in the female genital tract in relationship to vaginal product usage. A second major emphasis area is related to the identification and characterization of vaginal microbes, many of which are novel species, and their association with preterm birth, pelvic inflammatory disease, and vulvodynia.

In the area of preterm birth, this laboratory collaborates with Dr. Hy Simhan on studies characterizing the impact of nutrition and genetics on preterm birth, and collaborates with Dr. Roberto Romero to characterize components of the genital flora in women delivering at term and preterm. In collaboration with Dr. Wiesenfeld and Dr. Cherpes of the MWRI, the laboratory is characterizing novel organisms from the female genital tract associated with pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. Most recently, this lab has initiated collaboration with Dr. Bernard Harlow of the University of Minnesota on the association of vaginal microflora with vulodynia.

Lab Members:

Selected Publications 

  • Cherpes TL, Hillier SL, Meyn LA, Busch JL, & Krohn MJ. A delicate balance: Risk factors for acquisition of bacterial vaginosis include sexual activity, absence of hydrogen peroxide-producing lactobacilli, black race, and positive herpes simplex virus type 2 serology. Sex Transm Dis, 35(1):78-83, Jan. 2008. PubMed PMID: 17989585.
  • Isaacs CE, Wen GY, XuW, Jia JH, Rohan L, Corbo C, DiMaggio V, Jenkins EC, & Hillier SL. Epigallocatechin gallate inactivates clinical isolates of herpes simplex virus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 52(3):962-70, Mar. 2008. PubMed PMID: 18195068.
  • Fichorova RN, Richardson-Harman N, Alfano M, Belec L, Carbonneil C, Chen S, Cosentino L, Curtis K,  Dezzutti CS, Donoval B, Doncel GF, Donaghay M, Grivel JC, Guzman E, Hayes M, Herold B, Hillier SL, Lackman-Smith C, Landay A, Margolis L, Mayer KH, Pasicznyk JM, Pallansch-Cokonis M, Poli G, Reichelderfer P, Roberts P, Rodriquez I, Saidi H, Sassi RR, Shattock R, & Cummins Jr JE. Biological and technical variables affecting immunoassay recovery of cytokines from human serum and simulated vaginal fluid: A multicenter study. Anal Chem, 80(12):4741-51, Jun. 15, 2008. PubMed PMID: 18484740.
  • Stoner KA, Rabe LK, Austin MN, Meyn LA, & Hillier SL. Quantitative survival of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms in Port-A-CulTM and Copan Transport Systems. J Clin Microbiol, 46(8):2739-44, Aug. 2008. PubMed PMID: 18579722.
  • Sassi A, Isaacs C, Moncla B, Gupta P, Hillier, S, & Rohan L. Effects of physiological fluids on physical-chemical characteristics and activity of topical vaginal microbicide products. J Pharm Sci, 97(8):3123-39, Aug. 2008. PubMed PMID: 17922539.
  • Yang H, Parniak MA, Isaacs CE, Hillier SL, & Rohan LC. Characteristics of cyclodextrin inclusion complexes of the anti-HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor UC781. Amer Assoc Pharma Scient, 10(4) 606-13, Dec. 2008. PubMed PMID: 19089644.
  • Schreiber CA, Sammel M, Hillier S, & Barnhart KT. A little bit pregnant: Modeling how the accurate detection of pregnancy can improve HIV prevention trials. Amer J Epid, 169(4):515-21, 2009. PubMed PMID: 19095756.
  • Marrazzo JM, Antonio M, Agnew K, & Hillier SL. Distribution of genital Lactobacillus strains shared by female sex partners. J Infect Dis, 199(5):680-3, 2009. PubMed PMID: 19199538.
  • Antonio M, Meyn LA, Murray PJ, Busse B, & Hillier SL. Vaginal colonization by probiotic Lactobacillus crispatus CTV-05 is decreased by sexual activity and endogenous lactobacilli. J Infect Dis, 199:1506-13, 2009. PubMed PMID: 19331578.
  • Austin MA, Rabe LK, & Hillier SL. Limitations of the dye-based method for determining vaginal applicator use in mircrobicide trials. Sex Transm Dis, 36(6):368-371, Dec. 2009. PubMed PMID: 19556930.
  • Meyn LA, Krohn MA, & Hillier SL. Rectal colonization by Group B Streptococcus as a predictor of vaginal colonization. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 201(1):76e1-7, 2009. PubMed PMID: 19371857.
  • Cook RL, Downs JS, Marrazzo JM, Switzer GE, Tanriover O, Wiesenfeld HC, Murray PJ, & Hillier SL. Preferred characteristics of vaginal microbicides in women with bacterial vaginosis. J Women Health, 18(8):1163-7, 2009. PubMed PMID: 19630538.
  • Bunge KE, Hillier SL, Beigi RH, & Meyn L. The efficacy of retreatment with the same medication for early treatment failure of bacterial vaginosis sexually transmitted diseases. Sex Transm Dis, 36(12)1-3, 2009. PubMed PMID: 19652628.

Publications on PubMed

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