Copper sulfate–lactic acid combinations exhibit broad-spectrum microbicidal activity against viral and bacterial sexually transmitted pathogens in vitro and in vivo
7 affiliations
- 1Center for Biomedical Research
- 2Science Department, Borough of Manhattan Community College, The City University of New York
- 3Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
- 4Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University
- 5VA Medical Center
- 6School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast
- 7Children’s Mercy Hospital Research Institute
Abstract
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy remain critical global public health concerns affecting millions of women worldwide. To support the development of new multipurpose products offering non-hormonal contraception and activity against sexually transmitted pathogens, we evaluated copper sulfate, zinc lactate, L-(+)-lactic acid and their combinations as candidate pharmaceutical actives. We determined virucidal (HIV-1, HSV-2) and bactericidal (Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis) activity in vitro followed by in vivo efficacy testing against HSV-2, N. gonorrhoeae, and C. trachomatis in mice. In vitro, zinc lactate alone showed no inhibitory activity. In contrast, copper sulfate and lactic acid alone and in combination demonstrated activity against all tested pathogens. Furthermore, these combinations remained potent in the presence of vaginal and seminal fluids. Importantly, the actives – alone or combined – at concentrations that inhibited STI pathogens did not inhibit the growth of Lactobacillus crispatus, bacteria associated with an optimal vaginal microbiota. Further, copper sulfate and lactic acid alone and in combination inhibited vaginal HSV-2 and N. gonorrhoeae infection in mice. The combination conferred limited protection against vaginal C. trachomatis infection. These data demonstrate the advantages of combining copper sulfate and lactic acid and support further evaluation and development of this combination as a multipurpose prevention product.
Related
- Cold atmospheric plasma and plasma-antibiotic combinations against ESKAPE pathogens: a systematic review of preclinical evidence
- Editorial: Evolution of antimicrobial resistance in intracellular bacterial pathogens: a genomic and historical perspective
- LysM: a bacterial self-encoded peptidoglycan hydrolase as an antimicrobial and anti-biofilm agent for Gram-negative nosocomial pathogens
- Association of rhinovirus species with common cold and asthma symptoms and bacterial pathogens
- Effector-triggered stomatal immunity prevents leaf invasion by bacterial pathogens
BibTeX
@article{visciano2026copper,
title = {{Copper sulfate–lactic acid combinations exhibit broad-spectrum microbicidal activity against viral and bacterial sexually transmitted pathogens in vitro and in vivo}},
author = {Maria L. Visciano and Osaretin E. Asowata and Neeharika Verma and Meropi Aravantinou and Patrick Barnable and Abigail F. Meyer and Gustavo Guzmán and Larisa Kizima and José A. Fernández Romero and Marlena Plagianos and Caleb M. Ardizzone and Rok Tkavc and Alison J. Quayle and Gary A. Jarvis and Ann E. Jerse and R. Karl Malcolm and Narender Kumar and Dolores J. Lamb and Lisa B. Haddad and Natalia Teleshova},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-65145-9},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-65145-9},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Copper sulfate–lactic acid combinations exhibit broad-spectrum microbicidal activity against viral and bacterial sexually transmitted pathogens in vitro and in vivo
AU - Maria L. Visciano
AU - Osaretin E. Asowata
AU - Neeharika Verma
AU - Meropi Aravantinou
AU - Patrick Barnable
AU - Abigail F. Meyer
AU - Gustavo Guzmán
AU - Larisa Kizima
AU - José A. Fernández Romero
AU - Marlena Plagianos
AU - Caleb M. Ardizzone
AU - Rok Tkavc
AU - Alison J. Quayle
AU - Gary A. Jarvis
AU - Ann E. Jerse
AU - R. Karl Malcolm
AU - Narender Kumar
AU - Dolores J. Lamb
AU - Lisa B. Haddad
AU - Natalia Teleshova
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/01
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-65145-9
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-65145-9
AB - Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy remain critical global public health concerns affecting millions of women worldwide. To support the development of new multipurpose products offering non-hormonal contraception and activity against sexually transmitted pathogens, we evaluated copper sulfate, zinc lactate, L-(+)-lactic acid and their combinations as candidate pharmaceutical actives. We determined virucidal (HIV-1, HSV-2) and bactericidal (Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis) activity in vitro followed by in vivo efficacy testing against HSV-2, N. gonorrhoeae, and C. trachomatis in mice. In vitro, zinc lactate alone showed no inhibitory activity. In contrast, copper sulfate and lactic acid alone and in combination demonstrated activity against all tested pathogens. Furthermore, these combinations remained potent in the presence of vaginal and seminal fluids. Importantly, the actives – alone or combined – at concentrations that inhibited STI pathogens did not inhibit the growth of Lactobacillus crispatus, bacteria associated with an optimal vaginal microbiota. Further, copper sulfate and lactic acid alone and in combination inhibited vaginal HSV-2 and N. gonorrhoeae infection in mice. The combination conferred limited protection against vaginal C. trachomatis infection. These data demonstrate the advantages of combining copper sulfate and lactic acid and support further evaluation and development of this combination as a multipurpose prevention product.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -