HIV and Drugs of Abuse

Dear Colleagues,

Substance use disorders and HIV infection are long-standing public health concerns that are frequent comorbidities. HIV continues to cause neurocognitive deficits in spite of highly effective anti-retroviral therapies that lead to viral suppression. Combined with the neurological consequences of drugs of abuse, HIV-associated neurological disorders present with a range of distinctive characteristics, and there is still no treatment available. Immune functions that are modulated by the actions of neurotransmitters released under the influence of abused drugs may be be one reason for the aggravating effects of addiction on HIV-associated disorders in the Central Nervous System. Among the most common drugs of abuse, methamphetamine seems particularly detrimental by increasing risky behavior, permanently altering neurotransmission, compromising the immune response and thus facilitating HIV infection of the brain. However, polysubstance use is a common feature of addictive behaviors further complicating the picture. In this Special Issue for Viruses, we aim at integrating information derived from research with humans and animal model, thus providing a unique translational perspective of the clinical and mechanistic interactions between HIV and drugs of abuse that contribute to neurological disorders. Original work performed by interdisciplinary teams, such as a Translational Methamphetamine AIDS Research Center and from collaborators utilizing this infrastructure and resource, will be showcased.

Dr. Maria Cecilia Garibaldi Marcondes
Dr. Marcus Kaul
Guest Editors

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