The Neurovirology (NV) Core is a new addition to the HNRC whose overall objective is to support,through national and international collaboration and capacity-building, efforts at the identification andcharacterization of HIV genotypes and phenotypes associated with initiation, maintenance, and progressionof neuroAIDS. Our scientific and service aims are to (1) identify the genotype of neuroadaptive HIV atvarying stages of HIV-associated neurological disease; (2) to determine the phenotype of thisneuroadaptive genotype; and (3) to develop methods for investigating viral dynamics and evolution withinthe CNS. Since viral populations in the CNS can be genetically distinct from populations in other tissues,such as blood, lymphoid and genital tract, appropriate virologic techniques will be needed to characterizeneurotropism and neurovirulence in the CNS. This Core will enhance the HNRC's transdiciplinary aimsthrough close collaboration with the Neurobehavioral, Neuromedical and Neurobiology Cores, utilizingmultiple virologic techniques specific to CNS derived virus and its analysis. Considerable amounts ofvirologic data, specifically sequence data, will be generated through the objectives of this Core, includinginternational collaborations. Management of these data will be aided through a web-based system,developed in cooperation with the Data Management and Information Systems Core. Investigating theimpact of HIV-associated neurological disease throughout the world will require the development of locationspecific virologic capabilities. Through existing (e.g., Brazil, India, and China) and planned (e.g., Romania,South Africa) collaborations, we will provide technical support in the development of molecular virologycapabilities to address the specific research objectives of each locale. The Neurovirology Core, with itsability to characterize HIV genetics, is essential to fundamental advances in understanding theneuropathogenesis of neuroAIDS.
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