Development of Humanized Mice as a Model for the Study of Neuro-AIDS

Authors

German Cuadra, Brigham Young University
Dr. Bradford Berges, Brigham Young University

Keywords

humanized mice, neuro-AIDS, human macrophages, HIV

College

Life Sciences

Department

Microbiology and Molecular Biology

Abstract

Our main goal of this project was to document the existence of human macrophages in the brain of humanized mice. After the accomplishment of this goal, we planned to infect humanized mice with HIV and find out if these human macrophages support infection in mouse brain tissue. We hypothesize that humanized mice will have human macrophages engrafted in the brain and that these cells will become infected with HIV via normal pathways after introduction of virus via other routes, as in humans. By identifying these cells in humanized mice, we plan to develop a mechanism to study the relationship between HIV and neurological diseases in AIDS patients. Unfortunately, the identification of these cells became our most complicated step.

Recommended Citation

Cuadra, German and Berges, Dr. Bradford (2013) "Development of Humanized Mice as a Model for the Study of Neuro-AIDS," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 1335.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1335