Career Development Aim: To develop into an independent, productive clinical investigator focusing on patient-oriented research in the field of HIV and malaria neuropathogenesis. Career Development Methods: An individualized curriculum with focused training in clinical research methodology, tropical infectious diseases, NeuroAIDS research, and mentor/faculty interactions is proposed. Scientific Background: Malaria, a mosquito-borne parasitic disease, and HIV, a viral infection, are two disparate and deadly diseases that are often brought together by overlapping geographic distributions. Even though these pathogens frequently infect the same host, their combined effects on the brain are virtually uninvestigated. Since macrophages are centrally involved in both malaria and HIV pathogenesis, we hypothesize that both of these pathogens disrupt the cytokine network of brain macrophages, thereby contributing to the progression of HIV-associated neurologic disorders (HAND).
Research Aim : To determine the impact of malaria co-infection on HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment (NCI). Research Methods: This study will be conducted in Chennai, India where both malaria and HIV are highly prevalent. Malaria co-infection will be detected using an innovative pooling strategy and a sensitive Polymerase Chain Reaction assay. NCI, measured by comprehensive neuropsychological (NP) testing, will be compared between HIV/malaria co-infected and HIV-monoinfected participants. In addition to measures of pathogen activity, a panel of inflammation-associated biomarkers (IAB) will be measured in blood. Changes in NP performance will be compared to changes in measures of pathogen activity and inflammation in the HIV/malaria co-infected group before and after malaria therapy. Combined, these results will identify, for the first time, the contribution of malaria to HIV-associated NCI and the impact of treating malaria. Significance: These studies will lead to - i) improvement in HIV/AIDS care through detection and treatment of malaria coinfection;ii) demonstrate the adverse effect of HIV/malaria co-infection on the brain;iii) stimulate further research in this field. The negative impact of undiagnosed malaria co-infection may justify PCR-related expenses in routine clinical care of HIV-infected individuals in malaria endemic regions of the world. The knowledge gained from this study will significantly improve the assessment, diagnosis, and hence treatment of HIV and malaria associated neurobehavioral deficits among adults.

Public Health Relevance

The knowledge gained from this study will significantly improve the assessment, diagnosis, and hence treatment of HIV and malaria associated neurobehavioral deficits among adults.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23MH085512-02
Application #
8037059
Study Section
NeuroAIDS and other End-Organ Diseases Study Section (NAED)
Program Officer
Stoff, David M
Project Start
2010-03-15
Project End
2014-02-28
Budget Start
2011-03-01
Budget End
2012-02-29
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$167,600
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Diego
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
Kamat, Rujvi; McCutchan, Allen; Kumarasamy, Nagalingeswaran et al. (2017) Neurocognitive functioning among HIV-positive adults in southern India. J Neurovirol 23:750-755
Bharti, Ajay R; McCutchan, Allen; Deutsch, Reena et al. (2016) Latent Toxoplasma Infection and Higher Toxoplasma gondii Immunoglobulin G Levels Are Associated With Worse Neurocognitive Functioning in HIV-Infected Adults. Clin Infect Dis 63:1655-1660
Bharti, Ajay R; Woods, Steven Paul; Ellis, Ronald J et al. (2016) Fibroblast growth factors 1 and 2 in cerebrospinal fluid are associated with HIV disease, methamphetamine use, and neurocognitive functioning. HIV AIDS (Auckl) 8:93-9
Anderson, Albert M; Harezlak, Jaroslaw; Bharti, Ajay et al. (2015) Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers Predict Cerebral Injury in HIV-Infected Individuals on Stable Combination Antiretroviral Therapy. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 69:29-35
Bharti, Ajay R; Saravanan, Shanmugam; Madhavan, Vidya et al. (2012) Correlates of HIV and malaria co-infection in Southern India. Malar J 11:306
Bharti, Ajay R; Letendre, Scott L; Wolfson, Tanya et al. (2011) Clinical variables identify seronegative HCV co-infection in HIV-infected individuals. J Clin Virol 52:328-32