How sex and opioid use change hidden HIV reservoirs
Sex differences in modulating HIV/SIV reservoirs in the context of opioids
Researchers are comparing how being male or female and using opioids can change where HIV hides in the body for people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11179352 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at sex differences and opioid exposure to find out where HIV stays hidden after treatment. The team uses an animal model (SIV-infected rhesus macaques) with and without chronic morphine exposure and samples blood, lymph nodes, and brain immune cells to measure reservoir size. They will use molecular tools, including ATAC-seq, to study changes in immune and brain cells that might let the virus persist. Findings aim to explain why reservoir patterns differ by sex and by opioid use, which could guide future human-focused work.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV—particularly those with a history of opioid use and of different sexes—would be the most relevant candidates for related future studies or follow-up trials.
Not a fit: People without HIV infection or those who have never used opioids are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal how sex and opioid use change the size and location of HIV reservoirs and help tailor cure strategies for people with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and molecular studies show opioids can alter viral persistence and immune responses, but the specific, sex-dependent effects on reservoirs are not well understood and this project extends that work.
Where this research is happening
Omaha, United States
- University of Nebraska Medical Center — Omaha, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Byrareddy, Siddappa N — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Byrareddy, Siddappa N
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.