El-Hage, Nazira
- Associate Professor, Immunology and Nano-Medicine , Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

Overview
overview
- Dr. Nazira El-Hage earned her Ph.D. from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University Of Kentucky in 2002. She moved to Virginia Commonwealth University in 2007 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and in 2014, she was promoted to an Associate Professor in the Department of Immunology and Nano-medicine at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. Her research focuses on the underlying mechanisms of HIV-induced pathology in the central nervous system in the context of opioid drug abuse. Furthermore, she have a keen interest in the autophagy pathway and in understanding how this pathway contributes to the neurological disorder associated with HIV and how opioid exacerbates the disorder in HIV-infected glial cells. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) since 2009 and she also received funding from the Florida Department Health to study the neurological effects of the Zika virus in brain cells and embryonic development, focusing on the autophagy pathway.
research interests
- Neurocognitive Disorders; Neuroaid; HIV-1; Exosomes; Extracellular Vesicles; PKH67; Zika Virus Infection; Microcephaly; Flaviviridae
Scholarly & Creative Works
selected publications
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Article
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2022Retroviral infection of human neurospheres and use of stem Cell EVs to repair cellular damageFull Text via DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05848-x Web of Science: 000756804500051
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2021Extracellular vesicles from HTLV-1 infected cells modulate target cells and viral spreadFull Text via DOI: 10.1186/s12977-021-00550-8 Web of Science: 000620940200001
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2021Targeting Beclin1 as an Adjunctive Therapy against HIV Using Mannosylated Polyethylenimine NanoparticlesFull Text via DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13020223 Web of Science: 000623002300001
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2020Stem Cell Extracellular Vesicles and their Potential to Contribute to the Repair of Damaged CNS CellsFull Text via DOI: 10.1007/s11481-019-09865-y Web of Science: 000567805400018
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2020Reduced-Beclin1-Expressing Mice Infected with Zika-R103451 and Viral-Associated Pathology during PregnancyFull Text via DOI: 10.3390/v12060608 Web of Science: 000551247500001
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2020Comparative Cytotoxicity of Inorganic Arsenite and Methylarsenite in Human Brain CellsFull Text via DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00653 Web of Science: 000518702400007
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2019MRI-Guided, Noninvasive Delivery of Magneto-Electric Drug Nanocarriers to the Brain in a Nonhuman PrimateFull Text via DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.9b00592 Web of Science: 000616372000019
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2019Selective Disruption of the Blood-Brain Barrier by Zika VirusFull Text via DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02158 Web of Science: 000486385000003
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2019Purification of High Yield Extracellular Vesicle Preparations Away from VirusFull Text via DOI: 10.3791/59876 Web of Science: 000493374200043
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2019Toll-like receptor 3 regulates Zika virus infection and associated host inflammatory response in primary human astrocytesFull Text via DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208543 Web of Science: 000458181200007
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2018Antiretroviral Drugs Alter the Content of Extracellular Vesicles from HIV-1-Infected CellsFull Text via DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25943-2 Web of Science: 000432273000001
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2016Coupling of transient near infrared photonic with magnetic nanoparticle for potential dissipation-free biomedical application in brainFull Text via DOI: 10.1038/srep29792 Web of Science: 000380649400001
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2016Magnetically guided central nervous system delivery and toxicity evaluation of magneto-electric nanocarriersFull Text via DOI: 10.1038/srep25309 Web of Science: 000375441300001
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2016Exosomes from HIV-1-infected Cells Stimulate Production of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines through Trans-activating Response (TAR) RNAFull Text via DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M115.662171 Web of Science: 000368068300021
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2015HIV-1 gp120 and morphine induced oxidative stress: role in cell cycle regulationFull Text via DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00614 Web of Science: 000357132300002
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2014Effects of HIV-1 tat on enteric neuropathogenesisFull Text via DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2283-14.2014
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2014Effect of HIV‐1 Tat on enteric neuropathogenesis (653.6)Full Text via DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.653.6
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Book Chapter
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2010Opioids, astroglial chemokines, microglial reactivity, and neuronal injury in HIV-1 encephalitis. 353-377.Full Text via DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-0793-6_16
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Conference
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2018
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2018Exosomes from Uninfected Cells Activate HIV-1 Transcription. S4-S4.Web of Science: 000434755400012
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2018Presence of HIV-1 RNA in Extracellular Vesicles from HIV-1 cART-treated Cells. S22-S22.Web of Science: 000434755400076
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2018The role of the blood-brain barrier in Zika virus infection. S45-S45.Web of Science: 000434755400155
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2018Virosomes: An interplay between Virus and Exosomes from infected cells. S4-S4.Web of Science: 000434755400013
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2018
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2018Exosomes from Uninfected Cells Activate HIV-1 Transcription. S4-S4.Web of Science: 000429149100012
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2018Presence of HIV-1 RNA in Extracellular Vesicles from HIV-1 cART-treated Cells. S22-S22.Web of Science: 000429149100076
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2018The role of the blood-brain barrier in Zika virus infection. S45-S45.Web of Science: 000429149100155
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2018Virosomes: An interplay betweenVirus and Exosomes from infected cells. S4-S4.Web of Science: 000429149100013
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2017
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2017
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2017NIR-stimuli sensitive 'smart' magnetic nanoagent for on demand drug delivery. S70-S70.Web of Science: 000414227700168
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2016
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2016ROLE OFAUTOPHAGYON HIV-INFECTED HUMAN ASTROCYTES FUNCTIONALITY.. S41-S41.Web of Science: 000377566000105
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2016
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2015
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2015Effect of Magneto-electric nanoparticle on deep brain motor coordination activity. S99-S100.Web of Science: 000367554100113
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2015
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2015
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2011Morphine potentiates neurodegenerative effects of HIV-1 Tat through actions at μ-opioid receptor-expressing glia. 3613-3628.Full Text via DOI: 10.1093/brain/awr281
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Other Scholarly Work
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2022GDNF-expressing macrophages restore motor functions at a severe late-stage and produce long-term neuroprotective effects at an early-stage of Parkinson's disease in transgenic Parkin Q311X(A) mice (vol 315, pg 139, 2019). 813-814.Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.01.007 Web of Science: 000802746900001
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2020Extracellular Vesicles in HIV, Drug Abuse, and Drug Delivery. 387-389.Full Text via DOI: 10.1007/s11481-020-09946-3 Web of Science: 000551013600001
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2018Antiretroviral Drugs Alter the Content of Extracellular Vesicles from HIV-1-Infected Cells (vol 8, 7653, 2018)Full Text via DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32120-y Web of Science: 000445032700001
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Preprint
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Review
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2021Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition). 1-382.Full Text via DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2020.1797280 Web of Science: 000636121800001
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2020The Impact of CRISPR-Cas9 on Age-related Disorders: From Pathology to Therapy. 895-915.Full Text via DOI: 10.14336/AD.2019.0927 Web of Science: 000556664900017
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2020Use of Stem Cell Extracellular Vesicles as a "Holistic" Approach to CNS RepairFull Text via DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00455 Web of Science: 000553754600001
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2018Signaling pathways and therapeutic perspectives related to environmental factors associated with multiple sclerosis. 1831-1846.Full Text via DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24322 Web of Science: 000447203700002
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2018Autophagy, EVs, and Infections: A Perfect Question for a Perfect TimeFull Text via DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00362 Web of Science: 000447588800001
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2018Complementary Mechanisms Potentially Involved in the Pathology of Zika VirusFull Text via DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02340 Web of Science: 000447256100001
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2017Overview on the Current Status of Zika Virus Pathogenesis and Animal Related Research. 371-388.Full Text via DOI: 10.1007/s11481-017-9743-8 Web of Science: 000406359000001
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2017Electrochemical Biosensors for Early Stage Zia Diagnostics. 308-317.Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2016.10.001 Web of Science: 000398870500007
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2017Biodegradable Nanoparticles for Delivery of Therapeutics in CNS Infection. 31-50.Full Text via DOI: 10.1007/s11481-016-9692-7 Web of Science: 000394969800004
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2017HIV-1 Transcription Inhibitors Increase the Synthesis of Viral Non-Coding RNA that Contribute to Latency. 4133-4144.Full Text via DOI: 10.2174/1381612823666170622101319 Web of Science: 000414366900008
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2016Mammalian microRNA: an important modulator of host-pathogen interactions in human viral infectionsFull Text via DOI: 10.1186/s12929-016-0292-x Web of Science: 000386719500001
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2007HIV-1 neuropathogenesis: Glial mechanisms revealed through substance abuse. 567-586.Full Text via DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2006.04227.x
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2006Impact of opiate-HIV-1 interactions on neurotoxic signaling. 98-105.Full Text via DOI: 10.1007/s11481-005-9000-4
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Research
principal investigator on
- Cell-based Platform for Gene Delivery to the Brain awarded by Neurological Disorders and Stroke 2018 - 2022
- Extracellular vesicles for delivery of therapeutic enzyme to treat lysosomal storage disorders. awarded by National Institutes of Health 2019 - 2022
- Develop and evaluate efficacy of nanoformulated siBeclin1 delivered intranasally to eliminate HIV in brain awarded by National Institute of Mental Health 2019 - 2022
- Role of Autophagy in Microglia-induced NeuroAIDS in Substance Abuse awarded by National Institute on Drug Abuse 2014 - 2020
- Impact of -opioid receptor (MOR) splice variant interactions with the chemokine receptor CCR awarded by National Institute on Drug Abuse 2016 - 2019
- Development of nanoscale approaches for Zika virus pathogenesis and therapeutics awarded by Florida Department of Health 2017 - 2018
investigator on
- Nano-delivery of methanandamide across BBB to block cannabinoid induced effects in HIV-1 infection awarded by National Institute on Drug Abuse 2015 - 2022
- Nanotechnology Based Gene Editing to Eradicate HIV Brain Reservoir in Drug Abusers awarded by National Institute on Drug Abuse 2016 - 2022
- Role of exosome extracellular vesicles in opiate abuse and HIV neuropathogenesis awarded by National Institute on Drug Abuse 2017 - 2020
- Intranasal Nanodelivery of Oxytocin to Treat Morphine Addiction in HIV Patients by Gene Editing awarded by National Institute on Drug Abuse 2017 - 2019
Contact
full name
- Nazira El-Hage
Identifiers
ORCID iD
- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8154-6763 (confirmed)
visualizations
publication subject areas
Citation index-derived subject areas the researcher has published in