Researchers at the University of Central Florida have used proteomic techniques to identify proteins commonly found in vaginal fluid that, when kept together as a group, play a role in protecting against HIV infection.

When the proteins are combined with a topical anti-HIV antimicrobial, there may be a synergistic anti-HIV effect, said Alexander Cole, the leader of the study who is an assistant professor in the department of molecular biology and microbiology at UCF.