Mechanisms of Virus Replication and Gene Expression

描述（由申请人提供）：马里兰大学细胞生物学和分子遗传学系的这一新项目包括来自马里兰大学生物技术研究所农业生物技术中心、弗吉尼亚-马里兰地区兽医学院、美国国立卫生研究院和美国农业部贝尔茨维尔农业研究服务处的教师。前三个机构位于马里兰大学 College Park 校区，后两个机构相距分别为 14 英里和 4 英里。通过与附近机构的教师结合，我们聚集了一支在病毒复制/基因表达和疫苗开发方面有着共同研究兴趣的优秀教师团队。实验系统的广度，从最小的病原体（朊病毒和类病毒）到大型痘病毒，包括ssRNA（正义和负义）病毒：dsRNA和dsDNA病毒，以及植物、真菌和动物宿主，为我们提供了在研究生和博士后水平上提供研究培训的机会，这是任何其他机构都无法比拟的。大多数病毒学项目要么集中在专注于动物病毒的医学院，要么集中在专注于植物病毒的植物病理学系。然而，无论宿主如何，细胞内的病毒过程都惊人相似。为了全面了解细胞内病毒的生命周期（这是开发下一代病毒疫苗和基于病毒的基因表达系统所必需的），学生必须学会理解和整合病毒/细胞相互作用的所有知识。通过创新的轮换、每月的小组会议和高级团队授课课程，学员将获得实用知识，为他们从事以对抗威胁人类健康的当前和新兴病毒为中心的研究生涯做好准备。该培训计划的核心是 13 名资金充足的研究人员，他们拥有经过验证的研究和培训记录，目前通过参加每月的小组会议和每年的静修活动进行互动。拟议的计划将为五名研究生和五名博士后提供财政支持。新研究生将接受教师团队的指导，该团队将帮助学生在马里兰大学校园内外进行研究。所有研究生学员都将隶属于细胞生物学和分子遗传学系，该系在吸引少数族裔、身体弱势群体和女学生方面有着出色的记录。还设计了一项创新计划，以帮助吸引更多代表性不足的学生参加培训计划。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This new program from the Dept. of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Maryland includes faculty from the Center for Agricultural Biotechnology at the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, and the Beltsville Agricultural Research Service of the USDA. The first three institutions are located on the College Park campus of the University of Maryland, while the latter two are 14 and 4 miles distant, respectively. By combining with faculty at nearby institutions, we have assembled an exceptional group of faculty with common research interests in virus replication/gene expression and vaccine development. The breadth of experimental systems, from the smallest pathogenic agents (prions and viroids) to the large poxviruses, comprising ssRNA (plus- and minus-sense) viruses: dsRNA and dsDNA viruses, and plant, fungus, and animal hosts, provide us with an opportunity to offer research training at the graduate and postdoctoral levels that is unmatched by any other institution. Most virology programs are centered either at medical schools, which focus on animal viruses or at plant pathology departments, which concentrate on plant viruses. However, viral processes inside cells are strikingly similar regardless of host. To gain a complete understanding of the intracellular virus life-cycle, which is required for the development of the next generation of virus vaccines and virus-based gene expression systems, students must learn to appreciate and incorporate all knowledge of virus/cell interactions. Through innovative rotations, monthly group meetings, and advanced team-taught classes, trainees will gain such a functional knowledge that will prepare them for research careers centered on combating current and emerging viruses that threaten human health. At the core of the training program are 13 well-funded investigators with proven research and training records, who currently interact by attending monthly group meetings and a yearly retreat. The proposed program will provide financial support for five graduate students and five postdoctoral fellows. New graduate students will be mentored by a team of faculty who will aid the students in the logistics of conducting research both on and off the University of Maryland campus. The Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, with which all graduate trainees will be affiliated, has an exceptional record at attracting minority, physically disadvantaged, and women students. An innovative program has also been designed to help attract additional underrepresented students to the training program.