Edmundo N. Kraiselburd, Ph.D.

Educational Background:

  • M.S. Nuclear Physics, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1965
  • M.S. Molecular Biology, State Univ. of New York at Buffalo, 1971
  • Ph.D. Virology, State Univ. of New York at Buffalo, 1973

Academic Position:

Professor & Director, SNRP NeuroAIDS Research Program.
Academic Address, Telephone & E-Mail:

Department of Microbiology and Zoology
University of Puerto Rico – School of Medicine
P.O. Box 365067, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-5067
Phone: (787) 758-2525 Ext. 1324
Direct: (787) 764-4325 / (787) 777-0079
Fax: (787) 777-0078
E-mail: edmundo.kraiselburd@upr.edu

Field of Interest:

Basic Research in SIV/HIV:

  • Evaluation Studies of a DNA Vaccine Expressing SIVsm VLP: The long term objective of this research is to develop a vaccine capable of inducing protective immune responses in rhesus macaques against pathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). For this purpose, we are evaluating the immune responses generated in macaques by different SIV DNA vaccine candidates (Vec B7). The 1.6Kb deletion (pol, vif, vpr, and vpx) of SIVsmB7 provirus DNA was introduced into the SIVsmH4 DNA to construct the Vec B7 expression vector. Vec B7 expressed SIVsm gag, env and nef proteins, produced virus-like particles (VLP) in vitro, and was immunogenic in mice. This project was supported by several grants including RO1 AI 44592 from NIH (NIAID).

  • Cellular innate activation as a tactic to prevent HIV-1 transmission – Role: PI
    The major goal of this project is to understand correlates of lack of HIV infection in women known to be exposed to the virus AIDS by their behavior and to determine if a particular immune response (specific innate immunity) is over-represented in them. We are testing the impact of the targeting the selective activation of the candidate innate response in non-human primates to be infected with SIV to obtain direct data as to whether this response will decrease viral transmission when activated locally. Supported by 1R01AI084142-01 from NIH/NIAID. 09/12/09-08/31/11- $1,558,403

  • Early Innate/IgA Anti-HIV/SIV Response in Exposed Uninfected. Role: PI .The objective of this grant is to develop an animal model to study natural resistance to HIV/SIV infection . Our aim is to determine possible mechanisms that prevent SIV/HIV infection in highly exposed individuals. We want to determine if repeated cervico-vaginal exposures of rhesus macaques to non-infectious SIV E660 particles (SIVsm B7 VLP) induce a persistent innate cellular infiltrate (plasmacytoid DCs, NK, macrophages) that in combination with mucosal SIV-specific IgA antibody levels decreases mucosal infectivity to SIV mac251. This proposal represents a collaborative effort between The University of Puerto Rico, Nebraska University, University of Minnessota, Duke University, University of Massachusetts, Tulane University, National Cancer Institute, and The Wistar Institute.  Supported by 1R01AI094603 from NIAID, NIH ;04/01/11-03/31/16.

  • A Caribbean project for clinical and basic neuroscience research. Role PI. This translational research grant consists of various subprojects, centered  in NeuroAIDS. The major goal of this proposal is to help develop the NeuroAIDS Research Infrastructure at the UPR Medical Sciences Campus.  Supported by U54 NS043011-06 from NINDS, NIH . $11,354,088

  • Strengthening the NeuroAIDS and Neuroscience research platform at UPR. Role: PI. This project is a competitive renewal application of the U54 grant listed above, that contains several subprojects in basic research aimed at understanding  mechanisms of HIV Neurodegeneration and pathogenesis at the molecular level  . Application pending . $7,881,575, NINDS,NIH ; July 2013-June 2018

Participated as PI of the following grants :

  • CARIBBEAN PRIMATE RESEARCH CENTER: The major goal of this project is to maintain and enhance the Caribbean Primate Research Center basic infrastructure, which is needed for the support of several biomedical research initiatives of national interest and local research projects. This program is currently supported by a P40 RR03640 grant from NCRR (NIH); 12/01/10-11/30/15 – $11,401,279.

  • CPRC SPF Rhesus Monkey Program: This program is currently supported by two different grants from NCRR (NIH): U42 RR16021 and U24 RR18108. The major goal of these two projects is to develop a colony of MHCI and II genetically defined specific pathogen-free rhesus macaques to make them available to investigators supported by NIH and by other federal programs.

Selected peer-reviewed publications:

  • E. O’Neill, I. Martinez, F. Villinger, M. Rivera, S. Gascot, C. Colon, T. Arana, M. Sidhu, R. Stout, D.C. Montefiori, M. Martinez, A.A. Ansari,  Z. R. Israel, and E. Kraiselburd. Protection by SIV VLP DNA prime/protein boost following mucosal SIV challenge is markedly enhanced by IL-12/GM-CSF co-administration. Journal of Medical Primatology ;Vol.  31, Issue 4-5, August 2002. PMID: 12390544

  • Eduardo O’Neill, Vanda Bostik, David C. Montefiori, Edmundo Kraiselburd, and François Villinger.IL-12/GM-CSF Co-Administration In An SIV DNA Prime/Protein Boost Protocol Enhances Gag Specific T Cells But Not Virus-Specific Neutralizing Antibodies In Rhesus Macaques. AIDS Research & Human Retroviruses AIDS  Vol. 19 Issue 10. October, 2003. PMID: 14585220

  • Jensen, K., Alvarado-Remy, F., Gonzalez-Martinez, J., Kraiselburd, E., and Rulluan, J. B Virus and Free-Ranging Macaques, Puerto Rico. Emerging Infectious Diseases. Mar;10(3):494-6; 2004. PMID: 15109420

  • Rakesh Kumar, Cynthia Torres, Yasuhiro Yamamura, Idia Rodriguez, Melween Martinez, Silvija Staprans, Robert M. Donahoe, Edmundo Kraiselburd, Edward B. Stephens, and Anil Kumar. Modulation by Morphine of Viral Set Point in Rhesus Macaques Infected with Simian Immunodeficiency Virus and Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus. J Virol. 2004 October; 78(20): 11425–11428. PMCID: PMC521826

  • Kumar, R., Perez-Casanova, A.E., Tirado, G., Noel, R.J., Torres, C., Rodriguez, I., Martinez, M., Staprans, S., Kraiselburd, E., Yamamura, Y., Higley, J.D., and Kumar, A. Increased viral replication in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus/Simian-HIV-Infected macaques with self-administering model of chronic alcohol consumption. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. Volume 39, Number 4, August 1, 2005.   PMID: 16010157

  • Ellenberger, D., Wyatt, L., Li, B., Buge, S., Lanier, N., Rodriguez, I.V., Sariol, C.A., Martinez, M., Monsour, M., Dowd, J., Smith, J.,  Otten, R., Montefiori,   D., Kraiselburd, E.,  Moss, B., Robinson, H., McNicholl, J., and Butera, S. Comparative immunogenicity in rhesus monkeys of multi-protein 3 HIV-1 (CRF02_AG) DNA/MVA vaccines expressing 4 mature and immature VLPs. Virology, 340(1):21-32; Sep 15, 2005.PMID: 16023165

  • Sariol, C., Arana, T., Gerald, M.S., Maldonado, E., Gonzalez, J., Rodriguez, M., and Kraiselburd, E. Herpes-B virus seroreactivity in a colony of Macaca mulatta: Data from the Sabana Seca Field Station, a new Specific-Pathogen-Free Program.  J Med Primatol; 34:13–19, 2005. PMID: 15667339

  • Valerie Wojna, Richard L Skolasky, Rosa Hechavarría, Rául Mayo, Ola Selnes, Justin C McArthur, Loyda M Meléndez, Elizabeth Maldonado, Carmen D Zorrilla, Hermes García, Edmundo Kraiselburd, Avindra Nath. Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus-associated cognitive impairment in a group of Hispanic women at risk for neurological impairment.Journal of Neurovirology. Volume 12, Number 5, Pages: 356-364. October 2006. PMID: 17065128

  • Ellenberger, D., Otten, R., Li, B., Aido, M., Rodriguez, I.V., Sariol, C.A., Martinez, M., Monsour, M., Wyatt, L., Hudgens, MG., Kraiselburd, E., Moss, B.,  Robinson, H., Folks, T., and Butera, S. HIV-1 DNA/MVA vaccination reduces the per exposure probability of infection during repeated mucosal SHIV challenges. Virology, 15;352(1):216-25,2006. PMID: 16725169

  • Carlos A. Sariol, Janis González-Martínez, Teresa Arana, Sandra Gascot, Erick Suárez, Elizabeth Maldonado, Melissa S. Gerald, Maria Rodríguez and Edmundo N. Kraiselburd. Differential Distribution of Antibodies to Different Viruses in Young Animals in the Free-Ranging Rhesus Macaques of Cayo Santiago. Journal of Med Primatol, 35: 369-375, 2006.  PMID: 17214665

  • Sariol, C.A., Arana, T., Gascot, S., Suárez, E., Maldonado, E. Gerald, M.S., Gonzalez-Martinez, J., Rodriguez, M., Kraiselburd, E.N. Transcriptional Activation Of Interferon Stimulated Genes But Not Of Cytokine Genes After Primary Infection Of Rhesus Macaques With Dengue Virus Type 1. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2007 Apr 11. PMC1951081

  • Rivera-Amill V, Kumar R, Noel RJ Jr, Garcia Y, Rodriguez IV, Martinez M, Sariol CA, Kraiselburd E, Iszard M, Mukherji M, Kumar S, Giavedoni LD, Kumar A.Short communication: Lack of immune response in rapid progressor morphine-dependent and SIV/SHIV-Infected rhesus macaques is correlated with downregulation of TH1 cytokines. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2010 Aug;26(8):919-22. PMID: 20672973.

  • Carlos A. Sariol, Melween I. Martínez, Francheska Rivera, Idia Vanessa Rodríguez, Petraleigh Pantoja, Kristina Abel, Teresa Arana, Luis Giavedoni, Vida Hodara, Laura J. White, Yesseinia I. Angleró, Luis J. Montaner, Edmundo N. Kraiselburd. Decreased Dengue Replication and an Increased Anti-viral Humoral Response with the use of Combined Toll-Like Receptor 3 and 7/8 Agonists in Macaques. PLoS One. 2011 Apr 29;6(4):e19323.  PMID: 21559444