Research

Introduction

The overall goals of the research projects are outstanding multidisciplinary and collaborative research on infectious diseases of biodefense and emerging public health importance with all project focusing on NIAID category A-C agents.

For a list of select agents refer to: http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/biodefense/PDF/cat.pdf

Arboviruses

• • Diagnostics and diversity - Aaron Brault, Ph.D.
  • Dengue virus cell tropism - Eva Harris, Ph.D.
  • West Nile neuropathy - Howard Fox, Ph.D.
  • Factors Influencing the Epidemic Potential of Dengue - Shannon Bennett, Ph.D.
  • In vivo interactions between the Dengue virus and interferon system - Sujan Shresta, Ph.D.
  • The role of human monocytes in Dengue virus infection - P'ng Loke, Ph.D.
  • Development of in vitro assays to study flavivirus RNA replication - Bert Semler, Ph.D.
  • Structure aided drug discovery against the Dengue viral protease - Peter Kuhn, Ph.D.

Arenaviruses/Hantaviruses

• • Arenavirus vaccine- Michael Buchmeier, Ph.D.
  • Arenavirus receptor - Paula Cannon, Ph.D.
  • Arenavirus neutralization - Michael Buchmeier, Ph.D.
  • Antivirals to Arenavirus- Juan Carlos de la Torre, Ph.D.
  • Lassa virus receptor - Michael Oldstone, Ph.D.
  • Hantavirus vaccine - Stephen St. Jeor, Ph.D.
  • Hantavirus treatment - Jason Botten, Ph.D.
  • Host Cell Entry Mechanisms for New World Arenaviruses - Kenneth Bradley, Ph.D.
  • Development of Poxvirus-based vectors as vaccines against biodefense threat agent - Bertram Jacobs, Ph.D.

Botulinum Neurotoxin

• • Genetics of types - Eric Johnson, Ph.D.
  • Toxin structure - Raymond Stevens. Ph.D.
  • Restoration of synaptic exocytosis to Botulinum neurotoxin intoxicated neurons - Mauricio Montal, Ph.D.

Burkholderia

• • Adhesins - David Low, Ph.D.
  • Filamentous hemagglutinin-like protein - Peggy Cotter, Ph.D.
  • Type III secretion - Jeff F. Miller, Ph.D.
  • Targeting the B. pseudomallei capsule for immunodiagnosis - Thomas Kozel, Ph.D.
  • Role of GTPases in B. pseudomallei infection - Ulla Knaus, Ph.D.
  • Occurrence and ecologic associations of virulence genes in Burkholderia pseudomallei - David Wagner, Ph.D.
  • Integrative genomic and proteomic analyses of Burkholderia pseudomallei - Apichai Tuanyok, Ph.D.
  • Molecular and genetic basis of Burkholderia pseudomallei-macrophage interactions - Minghsun Liu, Ph.D.
  • In vivo microbial antigen discovery (InMAD) for melioidosis - David AuCoin, Ph. D.

Tularemia/Coxiella

• • Intracellular biology - Marcus Horwitz, M.D.
  • Molecular mechanisms of F. tularensis pathogenesis and immunity - Denise Monack, Ph.D.
  • Mapping targets of T-cell responses in Coxiella burnetii - Bjoern Peters, Ph.D. and James Samuel, Ph.D.

Advanced Diagnostics Technologies/Host Based Diagnosis

• • Micro/nano optical & electromechanical biosensors - Yong Chen, Ph.D.
  • Nanofluidics/MS biosensors - Yu-Chong Tai, Ph.D. and Markus Kalkum Ph.D.
  • Highly sensitive and portable aptamer-based sensing system for botulinum toxins- Jeffrey Tok, Ph.D.
  • Ultrasensitive/specific rapid low-cost mix & read serum test for Botulinum toxins - Armin Reitmair, Ph.D.
  • Patterns of host response to systemic infectious disease - David Relman, Ph.D.

 

Training

• Biosafety and Biocontaiment training

Pilot Projects

Introduction

The primary objectives of the pilot project program are to fund one year projects:

• That promote new research opportunities of relevance to the PSWRCE.
• With potential to progress into developmental projects, new products or other applications for the detection, prevention or treatments of biodefense-relevant diseases and emerging infectious diseases.
• That recruit investigators to the field of biodefense and emerging infections.

Pilot Projects (UCI Funded)

• Breath gas analysis to determine biomarkers of Tuberculosis, Tulermeia etc. - Donald Blake, Ph.D.

Under construction