Dr. Myosotys Rodriguez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at Florida International University. She earned her Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine, Puerto Rico. During her doctoral research, Dr. Rodriguez explored the interplay between opioid dependence treatment and HIV immunopathology, examining its effects on both the peripheral immune system and the central nervous system (CNS).
In 2015, Dr. Rodriguez joined FIU to initiate postdoctoral training within the El-Hage laboratory. Her focus centered on understanding the role of autophagy in HIV-induced neurocognitive dysfunctions. She explored how autophagy influences metabolic changes in HIV-infected glia, revealing that the activation of the host autophagic pathway by HIV infection is a crucial mechanism for controlling viral replication and viral-induced inflammatory responses. Currently, Dr. Rodriguez's research is dedicated to the intersection of HIV and age-related neurological complications.
research interests
Neurological consequences of HIV infection in the context of aging and cannabinoids
Molecular mechanisms of HIV and substance abuse in the central nervous system
Role of autophagy in glial metabolic dysfunctions induced by HIV
Use of nanotherapy to attenuate HIV neuropathology