Alysha Ellison, BSc, MSc

PhD Student, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Program at Johns Hopkins University
Alysha Ellison, BSc, MSc

Contact Information

Email
alysha.ellison@emory.edu

Education:

  • BS in Premedical Preparation – Biology (Concentration in Microbiology), Ball State University
  • MSc in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health

Description of research project:

  1. Overview: My research is at the intersection of HIV, immunology, the brain, and drugs of abuse, with an overarching question asking whether anti-inflammatory compounds, like cannabidiol, can be used to reduce HIV-associated neuroinflammation and improve neurologic impairment.
  2. Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) successfully reduces HIV viral load to undetectable levels, but people living with HIV and consistently taking ART still experience chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation in the brain causes neuronal injury and loss, leading to neurological impairment in the form of cognitive, behavioral, and motor deficits and decreased quality of life. The cannabis plant contains many compounds that interact with the mammalian endocannabinoid system to elicit anti-inflammatory effects, including the nonpsychotropic and anti-inflammatory cannabidiol (CBD). There is potential to leverage the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD to modulate HIV-associated inflammation, but more research is needed to fully recognize and appreciate this potential.
  3. Methods: I use a combination of animal model systems, cell culture, and molecular and immunological techniques (like qPCR and flow cytometry) to evaluate the effects of CBD on inflammation and the mechanistic details of these effects.
  4. Summary: The HIV virus really messes with the way the body takes care of and protects itself from getting sick, and causes a lot of problems for people living with HIV. There are medicines available that help a lot, but there's still some problems we haven't figured out yet. Inflammation that lasts longer than it normally should and causes a lot of collateral damage is one of these problems. I'm trying to figure out if CBD can help with this prolonged inflammation and collateral damage caused by HIV. Follow our work to find out with us!
Honors and Awards:
  1. Recipient, Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31, 2024 – present)
  2. Recipient, Center for AIDS Research Microgrant (2022 – 2023)
  3. Appointee, Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32, July 2021)
  4. Appointee, Emergent BioSolutions Fellowship (2017 – 2018)
  5. Recipient, Robert H. and Esther L. Cooper Award, Ball State University (2015)
  6. Recipient, Sigma Xi Outstanding Undergraduate Student Presentation (2012)
  7. Recipient, Alpha Lambda Delta Spring 2012 Scholarship, Ball State University (2012)
  8. Deans Honor List, Ball State University (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015)
  9. Recipient, Presidential Scholarship, Ball State University (2011 – 2015)
Presentations:
  1. Ellison AL, Mamun L, Mercado AM, Rosado Franco JJ, Williams DW. “Does cannabidiol reduce HIV-associated neuroinflammation and improve neurologic impairment? Depends on who you ask…” 28th Society of Neuroimmune Pharmacology conference (poster presentation).
  2. Ellison AL, Rosado Franco JJ, Alvarez J, Williams DW. “Brain regional dependence of antiviral and inflammatory genes following simian immunodeficiency virus infection and antiretroviral therapy.” Immunology 2023 (poster presentation).
  3. Ellison AL, Rosado Franco JJ, White CJ, Fridman LB, Williams DW. “Endocannabinoid system receptors are differentially expressed across brain regions and unaltered by simian immunodeficiency virus or antiretroviral therapy.” Neuroscience 2022 (poster presentation).
  4. Ellison AL, Rosado Franco JJ, White CW, Fridman LB, Williams DW. “Endocannabinoid system receptor expression in the context of SIV and cART.” 32nd annual International Cannabinoid Research Society Symposium on the Cannabinoids (poster presentation).
  5. Ellison AL, Rosado Franco JJ, White CJ, Fridman LB, Williams DW. “SIV infection and cART administration modulate endocannabinoid system receptor expression.” Cannabinoid Function in the CNS, Gordon Research Seminar and Conference (poster presentation).
  6. Bange JS, Brumfield E, Ellison AL, McKillip JL. “Recovery and enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus by the selective agar overlay method.” Mid-East Honors Association Annual Conference (poster presentation).
  7. Ellison AL, Bange JS, McKillip JL. 2015. “Fine Focus: An International Microbiology Journal for Undergraduate Research.” Mid-East Honors Association Annual Conference (poster presentation).
  8. Ellison AL, Bormann CM, Shelton SL, McKillip JL. “Fine Focus: An international Microbiology Journal for Undergraduate Research.” Invited oral presentation at Indiana University, Bloomington campus (invited oral presentation).
  9. Ellison AL, Cipolla A, McKillip JL. “Fine Focus: An International Microbiology Journal for Undergraduate Research.” Sigma Xi International Student Research Conference (poster presentation).
  10. Ellison AL, McKillip JL. “Detection of heat and acid stressed Escherichia coli O157:H7 in infant milk formula using selective/nonselective agar overlays.” Indiana Branch of the American Society for Microbiology Annual Meeting (poster presentation).
  11. Ellison AL, McKillip JL. “Detection of heat and acid stressed Escherichia coli O157:H7 in infant milk formula using selective/nonselective agar overlays.” Ball State University Student Research Symposium (poster presentation).
Publications:
  1. Ellison AL*, Rosado Franco JJ*, White CJ, Moore CF, Fridman LB, Weerts EM, Williams DW. Subanatomic analysis of endocannabinoid receptors in preclinical mouse, rat, and nonhuman primate models. In preparation.
  2. Rosado Franco JJ*, Ellison AL*, White CJ, Price AS, Moore CF, Williams RE, Fridman LB, Weerts EM, Williams DW. 2024. Roadmap for the expression of canonical and extended endocannabinoid system receptors and metabolic enzymes in peripheral organs of preclinical animal models. Physiol Rep. 12:e15947. PMID: 38408761.
  3. Ramirez Raneses J, Ellison AL, Liu B, Davis KM. 2020. Subpopulations of stressed Yersinia pseudotubersulosis preferentially survive doxycycline treatment within host tissues. mBio. 11(4):e00901-20. PMID: 32753491.
  4. Bange JS, Brumfield E, Ellison AL. 2016 Recovery and enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus by the selective agar overlay method. Fine Focus. 2(1):51-59.
  5. Smith AR, Ellison AL, Robinson AL, Drake MA, McDowell SA, Mitchell JK, Gerard P, McKillip JL. 2013. Enumeration of sublethally injured Escherichai coli O157:H7 ATCC 43895 and Escherichia coli Strain B41560 using selective agar overlays versus commercial methods. J Food Prot. 76(4):674-9. PMID: 23575132.
Fun facts:
  1. Premed major turned research scientist and loving it✌️
  2. Almost had an autoclave explode in my face once, thankfully it did not and I lived to tell the tale
  3. Was part of a team that reviewed and published the first volume of the first international microbiology journal for undergraduate research, check it out at https://openjournals.bsu.edu/finefocus
  4. Favorite academic course: tied between Contemporary Literature and Theory and Photography and Visual Culture (shoutout to Drs. Abigail Comber and Timothy Berg)
  5. My first rejection was in high school for a job application at McDonald’s (can you believe they ghosted me??)
  6. I’ve hiked Old Rag, but Bearfence Rock Scramble is my favorite hike in Shenandoah National Park
  7. I make a mean sugar cream pie (iykyk)
  8. Favorite candy: pretzel M&Ms
  9. Cats vs dogs? Dogs are great, but cats are the best
  10. Starbucks vs Dunkin? Neither, local coffee is the best coffee