Jaleel Jefferson

Research Description

Jaleel is studying HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) in aging non-human primate (NHP) models using simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Jaleel’s work involves analysis of disease pathology, performance on learning and memory tasks (delayed non-match to sample and object in place) and biomarker assessments of cerebrospinal fluid and blood. He hopes to better understand the structural, cellular, and cognitive changes associated with HAND and determine the drivers of cognitive decline to inform treatments for diseases like HAND and Alzheimer’s. Some findings from his work include: SIV very quickly infiltrates the central nervous system, within a couple of weeks. Additionally, SIV leads to morphological changes in glia and microglia. The most important impacts of these findings are that this model recapitulates the neurologic infection of HIV in humans and illustrates that the neuro-immunologic response of glia and microglia is also similar between NHP and humans. The future impact of these findings includes understanding the structural effects of activated glia and microglia, as well as SIV, on neurons.