COBRE: Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center (EPIC)

项目总结/摘要 真核病原体是一些最具破坏性和难治性的疾病的病原体， 人类，包括疟疾、阿米巴痢疾、非洲昏睡病、查加斯病、滴虫病， 曲霉病、隐球菌真菌性脑膜炎、弓形体病和原发性阿米巴脑膜脑炎（PAM）。 这些疾病的全球影响是巨大的。值得注意的是，这些病原体中有许多是致病的， 被忽视的热带病（NTD），被忽视的贫困疾病（NDP）和/或被归类为 生物恐怖分子重要的是，在美国，由真核病原体引起的感染正在增加， 全球化COBRE提案的主要目标是增加NIH资助的科学家的数量， 通过支持世界级的研究中心，真核病原体创新中心， （EPIC），在克莱姆森大学（CU）。EPIC的科学重点是对全球重要的多学科研究。 真核病原体EPIC是该州第一个也是唯一一个专注于传染病的机构，也是第一个- 而且只有在这个国家才能关注真核病原体。目标初级调查员的四个项目将 得到支持。他们的研究项目是：1）布氏锥虫轴丝动力蛋白的调控机制; 2） ncRNA afu-182在烟曲霉唑应答和病理生物学中的功能作用 研究巨噬细胞在斑马鱼幼鱼抗真菌药物疗效中的作用，以及4）评价 抗寄生虫的二氮杂环丁烯。这些调查人员将与外部和内部导师相匹配， 由NIH资助的研究人员。这些项目将得到一个组织良好的行政核心的支持， 基因组学和成像/细胞分选方面的两个最先进的科学核心。该中心也有一个实质性的 基础设施基础和重要的机构支助。例如，CU将招聘两名额外的教师 在项目期间，该中心将继续与成员和两名博士后研究员合作，扩大该中心的活动。 研究生助学金，设备和空间的承诺进一步巩固了机构的承诺。的 这个由COBRE资助的中心的继续将大大扩展南卡罗来纳州的研究，并将促进 征聘、培训和保留足够数量的具有跨学科技能的调查员， 研究领域。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Eukaryotic pathogens are the causative agents of some of the most devastating and intractable diseases of humans, including malaria, amebic dysentery, African sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, trichomoniasis, aspergillosis, cryptococcal fungal meningitis, toxoplasmosis and primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). The global impact of these diseases is immense. It is noteworthy that many of these pathogens are the causative agents of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), neglected diseases of poverty (NDPs) and/or are classified as bioterrorism agents. Importantly, infections caused by eukaryotic pathogens are increasing in the US due to globalization. The primary goal of this COBRE proposal is to increase the number of NIH-funded scientists in the state of South Carolina by supporting a world-class research center, the Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center (EPIC), at Clemson University (CU). The scientific focus of EPIC is a multidisciplinary study of important global eukaryotic pathogens. EPIC is the first-and-only in the state with a focus on infectious diseases, and the first- and-only in the country with a focus on eukaryotic pathogens. Four projects from target junior investigators will be supported. Their projects are 1) Regulation mechanisms of Trypanosome brucei axonemal dynein, 2) Functional roles of ncRNA, afu-182, in azole response and pathobiology of Aspergillus fumigatus, 3) Investigating the function of macrophages in the efficacy of anti-fungal drugs in larval zebrafish, and 4) Evaluating anti-parasitic diazacyclobutenes. These investigators will be matched with external and internal mentors who are established NIH-funded researchers. The projects will be supported by a well-organized Administrative Core and two state-of-the-art Scientific Cores in Genomics, and Imaging/Cell Sorting. The center also has a substantial infrastructure base and significant institutional support. For example, CU will recruit two additional faculty members and two post-doctoral fellows to expand activities of this center over the course of the project period. Pledges of graduate assistantships, equipment, and space further exemplify the institutional commitment. The continuation of this COBRE-funded center will significantly expand research in South Carolina and will facilitate recruitment, training, and retention of a critical mass of investigators with cross-disciplinary skills in this important research area.