Background
Secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been proposed to play a role in many processes, including HIV transmission and neuronal function. In some cases these nanovesicles appear to travel through the body and fuse with specific cell types to deliver nucleic acid or protein cargoes that may alter cellular phenotypes. EVs from body fluids such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, saliva, semen, breast milk, and amniotic fluid could provide useful biomarkers for a variety of human diseases including brain disorders. Similarly, EVs could be exploited for in vivotargeting of cargoes (e.g. nucleic acids or small molecule therapeutics) to specific organs or cell types.
Some viruses can exploit the endogenous EV machinery during budding and infection. However, the extent to which EVs and the cellular EV machinery contribute to HIV/AIDS progression is not fully understood. In the nervous system, EVs may function in neuronal-glial communication, synaptic plasticity, and/or immune surveillance. However the role of EVs in psychiatric disorders and substance abuse is not well characterized. There have been some investigations into the role of EVs and their associated machinery in HIV/AIDS infection or progression. We have very limited information regarding how HIV infection might modulate normal EV function in HIV reservoirs such as the brain, gut, or lymph nodes. The possible utility of EVs as biomarkers of HIV progression and/or substance abuse exposure or as potential therapeutic agents for these disorders has also not been well explored.
Objectives
The purpose of this FOA is to encourage research projects that investigate extracellular vesicles in HIV infection/progression or as potential HIV/AIDS biomarkers or therapeutics. Proposed projects must also explore the potential impact of exposure to substances of abuse.
For complete information, see the full funding announcements below:
• Extracellular Vesicles in HIV/AIDS and Substance Abuse (R01)
(RFA-DA-15-011) National Institute on Drug Abuse
Application Receipt Date(s): December 15, 2014
• Extracellular Vesicles in HIV/AIDS and Substance Abuse (R21)
(RFA-DA-15-012) National Institute on Drug Abuse
Application Receipt Date(s): December 15, 2014
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