The Akkina laboratory focuses on vaccination and antiviral therapy strategies for HIV intervention using rodent models. Ongoing studies involve developing high efficiency gene transfer methods including viral pseudotype and ribozyme expressing vectors. Dr. Akkina’s laboratory is funded by multiple NIH grants and other extramural sources and is unique in developing and utilizing SCID-hu and RAG mice as novel models in which to study HIV and Dengue virus intervention. This work has lead to new models to assess topical mucosally applied drugs to prevent sexually transmitted HIV infection.
research project
Modeling the Molecular Evolution of SIV to HIV using Humanized Mice
To develop a complete cure to HIV, it is important that improved and more sensitive tests are developed that can verify if a patient is fully cured and free of the virus. We will use humanized mice that are susceptible to HIV infection to develop the hmVOA test. Results of these studies are expected to be of high importance to the HIV Cure field.
research project
A dual-purpose hu-mouse model for evaluating SIV and HIV cure strategies
Project Description Here
research project
Exploring the features of HIV exceptional elite controllers in humanized mice
Project Description Here
Publications
Viral evolution of SIV chimpanzee toward HIV-1 using humanized mice.
Curlin JZ, Schmitt K, Remling-Mulder L, Tibbitts CV, O’Connor S, Marx P, Akkina R. J Med Primatol. 2023 Oct;52(5):294-297. doi: 10.1111/jmp.12675. Epub 2023 Sep 1.PMID: 37658595
Characterizing the phenotypic and genetic changes of pre-epidemic HIV-2 group F virus following serial passage in humanized mice.
Curlin JZ, Schmitt K, Remling-Mulder L, Tibbitts CV, O’Connor S, Marx P, Akkina R. J Med Primatol. 2023 Oct;52(5):290-293. doi: 10.1111/jmp.12674. Epub 2023 Sep 1.PMID: 37658590
Zika virus induced microcephaly and aberrant hematopoietic cell differentiation modeled in novel neonatal humanized mice.
Schmitt K, Curlin JZ, Remling-Mulder L, Aboellail T, Akkina R. Front Immunol. 2023 Feb 7;14:1060959. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1060959. eCollection 2023. PMID: 36825016
Evolution of SIVmac239 following serial passaging in humanized mice.
Curlin JZ, Schmitt K, Remling-Mulder L, Morrison J, Baczenas JJ, Tibbits CV, Goff K, O’Connor S, Stenglein M, Marx P, Akkina R. J Med Primatol. 2022 Oct;51(5):284-287. doi: 10.1111/jmp.12614. Epub 2022 Aug 28. PMID: 36030392
Long-term evolutionary adaptation of SIVcpz toward HIV-1 using a humanized mouse model.
Schmitt K, Curlin J, Remling-Mulder L, Morrison J, Moriarty R, Goff K, Stenglein M, O’Connor S, Marx P, Akkina R. J Med Primatol. 2022 Oct;51(5):288-291. doi: 10.1111/jmp.12616. Epub 2022 Aug 28. PMID: 36030391
more publications
People
Snehal Kaginkar
Visiting Research Associate
contact information
Labs: Pathology room 305, 307
Office: Pathology room 329
(970) 491-1009
[email protected]