Mechanisms of Virus Replication and Gene Expression

描述(申请人提供)：病毒学研究需要的不仅仅是对人类病原体的重点了解。它需要全面了解感染宿主的病毒，从简单的真核生物到复杂的多细胞生物体。更全面地了解病毒学的广度有望为控制人类以及动植物中令人费解和毁灭性的疾病提供所需的工具。知识获取的实质性步骤需要学生准备好综合来自不同系统的数据，包括模型系统。马里兰大学病毒学项目成员研究的系统包括艾滋病毒、流感、乳头瘤病毒、痘病毒等重要的人类病原体。西尼罗河病毒、杯状病毒，以及普恩病毒、类病毒、真菌低病毒，以及模式植物病毒烟草花叶病毒和萝卜皱缩病毒。我们培训计划的核心是14名资金雄厚的研究人员，他们来自细胞生物学和分子遗传学系、马里兰-弗吉尼亚地区兽医系、马里兰大学生物技术研究所生物系统研究中心、NIH、NCI和美国农业部，被公认为各自领域的领导者。我们的教员带来了非常广泛的专业知识，从细胞和分子生物学到基因组学和进化论，从生物化学到纳米技术和疫苗开发学员通过创新轮换、分子和细胞生物学、信号转导、病毒学和病因学、杂志俱乐部的高级课程进步，参加每月的小组会议和每年一次的务虚会，这些培训以及最先进的研究项目，使学员为以抗击威胁人类健康的当前和新兴病毒为中心的职业生涯做好准备。这份续签申请要求为五个研究生实习生职位提供财政支持。通过将这一支持与通过助学金和校内基金提供的资金相结合，将在五年内培训20多名博士前学生。所要求的支持将集中于吸引新生和最后几年的学生。我们致力于向积极进取的学生提供这种特殊的培训体验，特别是针对少数群体，他们将极大地丰富对全球公共卫生影响的潜力。 相关性：病毒感染几乎所有的生命形式，是一些人类癌症的罪魁祸首，是可能导致全球大流行的破坏性疾病病原体。如果处理得当，病毒也可以成为解剖细胞过程的强大研究工具。这项培训计划寻求继续支持培训病毒学家，为应对所有病毒共同的研究挑战做好准备，其中包括制定战略，保护人类、动物和植物免受病毒疾病的影响，以提高人们的生活质量。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Research in Virology requires more than a focused understanding of human pathogens. It requires comprehensive knowledge of viruses that infect hosts ranging from simple eukaryotes to complex multicellular organisms. A more comprehensive understanding of the breadth of Virology promises to provide the tools needed to control perplexing and devastating diseases in humans, as well as animals and plants. Substantive steps in knowledge acquisition require programs that prepare students to synthesize data from diverse systems, including model systems. The systems studied by University of Maryland Virology Program members include such important human pathogens as HIV, influenza, papillomavirus, poxvirus. West Nile, caliciviruses, as well as prions, viroids, fungal hypoviruses, and the model plant viruses Tobacco mosaic virus and Turnip crinkle virus. At the core of our training program are 14 well-funded investigators recognized as leaders in their fields from the Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland-Virginia Regional Vet Medicine, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute Center for Biosystems Research, NIH, NCI, and USDA. Our faculty bring an extraordinarily broad range of expertise, from cellular and molecular biology to genomics and evolution, and from biochemistry to nanotechnology and vaccine development Trainees progress through innovative rotations, advanced courses in molecular and cellular biology, signal transduction, virology, and pathogenesis, journal clubs, attend monthly group meetings and a yearly retreat This training, along with state-of-the-art research projects, prepare trainees for careers centered on combating current and emerging viruses that threaten human health. This renewal application requests financial support for five graduate student traineeships. By combining this support with funds available through grants and intramural funds, over 20 pre-doctoral students will be trained in a five year period. The requested support will focus on attracting incoming students and students in their final years. We are committed to offering this exceptional training experience to highly-motivated students, with a special outreach to minorities, who will greatly enrich the potential for a global public health impact. RELEVANCE: Viruses infect nearly all life forms, are responsible for some human cancers, and are devastative disease agents that can cause world-wide pandemics. When properly harnessed, viruses can also be powerful research tools for dissecting cellular processes. This training proposal seeks continued support for training virologists prepared to meet research challenges common to all viruses- which include developing strategies to protect humans, animals, and plants from viral diseases to improve the quality of people's lives.