By A Nigerian scientist has produced research that may support global efforts to control HIV, especially in countries with high disease burden such as Nigeria.
Ikorodu born, Oluwatofunmi Oteju, a PhD candidate in Pharmacology and Physiology at Drexel University in the United States, is set to defend her doctoral research that examines how cocaine exposure affects HIV replication in human brain immune cells.
The research, obtained by BlackBox Nigeria, identifies a cellular pathway that influences how HIV multiplies inside microglial cells. These cells act as immune defenders in the brain and play a major role in neurological complications linked with HIV infection.
According to findings seen by BlackBox Nigeria, the study shows that cocaine activates a protein known as sigma-1, which triggers stress response processes inside human cells. This activity increases HIV replication within the affected cells.
The research further shows that blocking the sigma-1 pathway significantly reduces the increase in viral replication. Scientists achieved this using pharmacological inhibitors and gene editing techniques.
Experts say discoveries of this type contribute to the global search for new HIV treatment strategies. Identifying cellular mechanisms that influence viral replication can help scientists design therapies that limit how the virus spreads in the body.
For Nigeria, where millions of people live with HIV, scientific findings that reveal new therapeutic targets carry major public health value. Research that improves understanding of HIV behavior in the brain can help guide future treatment development.
BlackBox Nigeria reports that the study also highlights the link between substance exposure and HIV progression, an area global researchers continue to investigate.
The findings strengthen ongoing international efforts aimed at reducing HIV related complications and improving long term health outcomes for people living with the virus.
