The Impact of HIV Infection in Cocaine Seeking Behaviors.

EcoHIV infected mice escalated stress-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking compared to controls, suggesting that people living with HIV may be at elevated risk for stress-induced relapse. Progressive EcoHIV infection may dysregulate IL and NAcShell activity to facilitate the cocaine seeking and reinstatement. Ongoing research will characterize how EcoHIV infection dysregulate IL-NAcShell pathway specific activity during cocaine reward learning and stress-induced relapse.