HIV and TB Screening of PNG Marine Organisms

描述(申请人提供)：这项研究将主要在巴布亚新几内亚莫尔兹比港的巴布亚新几内亚大学进行。这项FIRCA申请的目标是在巴布亚新几内亚大学开发一个艾滋病和结核病的生物检测筛查计划，以支持从PNG海洋生物中发现新的天然产品抗艾滋病毒和抗结核病药物。该项目是犹他大学的爱尔兰教授和巴罗斯教授与巴布亚新几内亚大学的Matainaho教授之间合作的延伸，目的是从PNG海洋生物中发现抗癌药物。Matainaho博士目前正在犹他大学与爱尔兰博士和巴罗斯博士一起进行休假研究，以学习“CEM-TART”艾滋病毒检测方法。在这个系统中，复制缺陷的HIV-1病毒在特殊设计的人类T细胞中复制。T细胞系和病毒来自美国国立卫生研究院艾滋病研究和参考试剂项目。Matainaho博士将在休假回来后将这项技术转移回巴布亚新几内亚大学。此外，将在阿拉马蓝方案的基础上建立抗结核药物的筛查方案。在初步研究中，在巴布亚新几内亚的米尔恩湾省收集了126种海洋无脊椎动物。这些生物体的提取物已经制备好，准备在艾滋病毒检测中进行筛选。艾滋病毒/艾滋病已成为巴布亚新几内亚的一个严重健康问题。自1987年报告首例病例以来，由于担心可能出现严重的艾滋病流行，感染艾滋病毒/艾滋病的人数已增加到令人震惊的比例。2001年6月，巴布亚新几内亚全国艾滋病理事会和卫生部表示，3901人艾滋病毒检测呈阳性，约1366人确诊为艾滋病。然而，该报告承认，到目前为止，估计艾滋病毒流行率可能在10,000至15,000之间。随着免疫系统的削弱，与艾滋病毒感染相关的结核病问题甚至是一个更严重的威胁和潜在的死亡原因。结核病被列为巴布亚新几内亚的主要死因。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This research will be performed primarily at the University of Papua New Guinea, in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The objective of this FIRCA application is to develop a bioassay screening program for AIDS and TB at the University of Papua New Guinea to support discovery of new natural product anti-HIV and anti-TB agents from PNG marine organisms. This program represents an extension of a collaboration between Professors Ireland and Barrows at the University of Utah and Professor Matainaho at the University of Papua New Guinea to discover anticancer agents from PNG marine organisms. Dr. Matainaho is currently doing sabbatical research with Drs. Ireland and Barrows at the University of Utah to learn the "CEM-TART" HIV assay. In this system, replication defective HIV-1 is replicated in specially engineered human T-cells. The T-cell lines and virus have been obtained from the NIH AIDS Research and Reference Reagent Program. Dr. Matainaho will transfer this technology back to the University of Papua New Guinea after he returns from sabbatical. In addition, a screening protocol for anti-TB agents will be established based on the Alamar Blue protocol. In preliminary studies, 126 marine invertebrates were collected in the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. Extracts of the organisms have been prepared and are ready to be screened in the HIV assay. HIV/AIDS has become a serious health concern in Papua New Guinea. Since the report of the first case in 1987, the number of people infected with HIV/AIDS has increased to an alarming proportion with fears of a possible serious AIDS epidemic. In June 2001, the Papua New Guinea National AIDS Council and Department of Health indicated that 3901 people have tested positive for HIV, with about 1366 confirmed with AIDS. The report however, acknowledged that the estimated HIV prevalence to date may be between 10,000 to 15,000. With a weakened immune system, the problem of tuberculosis related to HIV infection is even a more serious threat and potential cause of death. Tuberculosis is listed as a main cause of death in PNG.