Public release date: 25-Sep-2002
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Contact: Anne DeLotto Baier
abaier@hsc.usf.edu
813-974-3300
University of South Florida Health

Conference focuses on drug abuse effects on neuroimmunity, infectious diseases

Oct. 3-6

Tampa, FL (Sept. 25, 2002) -- Scientists who study the effects of drugs of abuse on immunity and infection and the role of the brain's immune response in neurodegenerative diseases will gather for a national conference Oct. 3 to 6 at the Clearwater Beach Hilton, 400 Mandalay Ave. in Clearwater, FL.

The 9th Conference on Neuroimmune Circuits & Infectious Diseases is co-sponsored by the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the University of South Florida Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Seton Hall University and Aventis.

Increasingly, studies indicate that chronic use of drugs such as nicotine, marijuana, cocaine and opiates can promote the development of infectious diseases by altering immune and neuorendocrine functions.

The symposiums scheduled for Friday Oct. 4 are "The Neurological Basis of Drug Dependence and Its Effects on the Immune System" and "Mechanism of Drug Action."

On Saturday, Oct. 5, the symposiums will include "Modulation of Th1 and Th2 Cells by Neuroimmune Mediators" and "Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Neuroimmune Axis (Alzheimer's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and AIDS Dementia)." Keynote speaker Glen Hanson, PhD, DDS, acting director of NIDA, will speak at a banquet that evening.

A panel of experts will discuss the issue "Do Drugs of Abuse Impact HIV Disease?" 9 to 11: 30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6.

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