Akkina Lab

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

Ramesh Akkina, Ph.D.

Lab Principal Investigator [PI]
Professor

James Curlin, Ph.D.

ADEAR Postdoctoral Trainee

Leila Mulder

Research Associate III

Icon of a person on a green background.
Snehal Kaginkar

Visiting Research Associate

Ella Barnett

Student Researcher

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contact information

Labs: Pathology room 305, 307

Office: Pathology room 329

(970) 491-1009