University/Organization
Howard University – Medical School
Title
The Effects of Pediatric SIV on The Blood Brain Barrier
Synopsis
Pediatric HIV infection remains a global health crisis with an estimated 1,500 children under the age of 15 years becoming infected with HIV-1 each day in the developing world. Children are much more susceptible to HIV-1 neurological impairments than adults, possibly due to a viral/blood brain barrier interaction. Using the Macaca mulatta as a model we test the hypothesis that perinatal HIV infection down regulates the pericyte population leading to a compromised blood brain barrier.