Welcome to Dr. Santhi Gorantla's laboratory
Collaborators
Research Goals
Funding
Techniques used in the laboratory
Personnel
Dr. Gorantla's home page
Dr. Gorantla's biographical information
Collaborators
Howard E. Gendelman, UNMC
Larisa Poluektova, UNMC
Our laboratory has been involved in developing small animal models (rodent) for HIV research. The specificity of HIV-1 for human cells precludes virus infection in most mammalian species and limits the utility of small animal models for the studies of disease pathogenesis, therapy, and vaccine development. To this end, a humanized mouse with long-term reconstitution of human functional lymphoid tissues was recently achieved by transplanting human hematopoietic stem cells into immunodeficient mice.
My research interests are to utilize the humanized mouse model to study:
1. HIV vaccine strategies to induce protective immune responses and
2. Immune-based therapeutics to enhance HIV immune responses
Critical evaluation of these various therapeutic approaches for the prevention of HIV infection is essential. The humanized mouse model offers a unique environment to test these approaches and provide a proof-of concept for human use.
NanoART Manufacture, Delivery and Pharmacokinetics for Optimizing Drug Adherence
PI: Gendelman, Howard E.
CoI: Gorantla, Santhi
NIH/NIDA
This is an integrative cross approach translational and multi-investigator program grant seeking to develop nanoformulated antiretroviral drug therapy from the bench to the patient.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln COBRE : CNND Recruitment Project
PI: Gorantla, Santhi
To develop a small animal model system to test HIV vaccines. Reconstituting selected strains of immune deficient mice with human umbilical cord-derived hematopoietic stem cells recapitulates the development and maturation of human immune system, which is susceptible to HIV-1 virus and is highly relevant for pediatric HIV-1 infection. We will assess the ability of a DNA vaccine encoding new generation-modified HIV-1 envelope protein in combination with potent adjuvant Pluronic poloxamers (PP) to elicit protective immune responses.
Nebraska Center for Nanomedicine
PI: Kabanov, Alexander
NIH/NCRR
This project seeks to develop an interdisciplinary Nanomedicine Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). The focus of this proposal is to develop the means to best use devices of nanoscale size to improve outcomes for cancer, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.
Techniques used in the laboratory
- Flow cytometry
- Real time RT-PCR
- Immunohistology
- Immunofluorescence
- ELISA
- Western blotting
- Immunological assays
Personnel
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Li Wu
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Dr. Gorantla's home page
Dr. Gorantla's biographical information
