Hidden HIV in brain microglia and the effects of narcotics
HERV proteogenomics of narcotic-driven HIV latency
This project looks at whether narcotic use changes specific genomic signals (HERVs) in brain immune cells and whether those signals mark or influence hidden HIV in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145264 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
HIV can hide quietly in brain immune cells called microglia, which are hard for drugs and the immune system to reach. Researchers will use a specially designed reporter virus that tells apart latent (hidden) from active HIV infections in microglia. They will combine detailed RNA analysis of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) with mass spectrometry protein analysis to identify HERV signatures linked to latency and to narcotic exposure. The goal is to pinpoint HERV elements that mark or play a role in establishing HIV latency in the brain.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV, especially those with current or past narcotic/opioid exposure, would be most directly connected to this work.
Not a fit: People without HIV or those whose infection does not involve brain reservoirs or narcotic exposure are unlikely to directly benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal markers of hidden HIV in the brain that help researchers detect or target latent reservoirs and advance cure strategies.
How similar studies have performed: This HERV-focused proteogenomic approach is relatively novel and largely untested in the context of narcotic-influenced HIV latency, though related studies have separately examined HIV latency and HERV expression.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mulder, Lubbertus C — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Mulder, Lubbertus C
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.