Dr. Ayyavoo is a molecular virologist with over three decades of expertise in HIV-1 virology. Her research laboratory is dedicated to unraveling the intricate mechanisms through which HIV-1 instigates pathogenesis in humans, impacting both the peripheral and central nervous systems (CNS) of people living with HIV (PWH). Leveraging autopsied tissue samples, her laboratory has conducted pioneering investigations revealing substantial alterations in neurons among HIV patients experiencing cognitive disorders, known as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), as opposed to HIV patients without such complications.
The other side of Dr.Ayyavoo
Research Focus
Developing brain organoid model to study HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorder
Understanding and combating HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is of paramount importance. One innovative approach involves the utilization of advanced in vitro models, such as brain organoids, which offer a platform for studying neurodegenerative diseases in a controlled laboratory environment. Brain organoids, sophisticated three-dimensional miniature models of the human brain grown from stemcells, represent a promising tool for studying neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Ayyavoo’s laboratory is the first to develop the brain organoids with microglia.
Understanding HIV latency in CNS and to develop therapeutic targets to activate the virus
Despite significant progress, eradicating HIV entirely remains challenging. The central nervous system (CNS) serves as a viral reservoir. Utilizing a 3D brain organoid model with human microglia sourced from HIV-1 positive donors, we aim to characterize transcriptional changes. This knowledge may lead to the discovery of novel therapeutic interventions targeting latency-inducing and/or silencing antivirals for the CNS compartment. Additionally, we aim to validate and assess whether these target molecules can traverse the blood-brain barrier and effectively reach their intended cellular targets in the brain.
Education & Training
- Doctor of Philosophy 1991 | Madurai Kamaraj University, India
- Postdoctoral Fellow 1991-1993 | The Wistar Institute
- Research Associate 1994-1998 | The University of Pennsylvania
Teaching
- IDM 2001 - Molecular Biology of Microbiol Pathogens
- IDM 2023 - Laboratory Methods
- IDM 2025 - Seminar Series & Journal Club
- IDM 2010 - Pathogen Biology
- IDM 2014 - Functional Genomics
Selected Publications
- Dos Reis RS, Susa S, Wagner MCE, Ayyavoo V. (2024). Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) Targets Astrocytes via Cell-Free and Cell-Associated Infection. J Integr Neurosci. 23: 172.
- Dos Reis RS, Wagner MCE, McKenna S, Ayyavoo V. (2024). Neuroinflammation driven by Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) directs the expression of long noncoding RNA RP11-677M14.2 resulting in dysregulation of Neurogranin in vivo and in vitro. J. Neuroinflammation 21: 107.
- Dos Reis RS, Selvam S, Wagner MCE, Ayyavoo V. (2024). Modeling HIV-1 infection in CNS via infected monocytes using immunocompetent 3D brain Organoids. Methods Mol Biol. 2807: 261-270.
- Ayyavoo, V. (2021). Modeling Human Viral Diseases: Trials and Triumphs. Frontiers in Virology, Editorial comments in launching the journal.
- Dos Reis RS, Sant S, Keeney H, Wagner MCE, Ayyavoo V. (2020). Modeling HIV-1 neuropathogenesis using three-dimensional human brain organoids (hBORGs) with HIV-1 infected microglia. Scientific Reports 10(1):15209.