Developmental Project Competition

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B.3.b. Developmental Projects. Five DPs have been selected for funding during the first year of Midwestem RCE operation. Assuming a budget of $500,000 direct costs per year for DPs, the Midwestem RCE will post another RFA to select 1-2 additional proposals for funding in year 1. Those DPs that requested the maximum amount of funding in year 1 ($100,000 direct costs) cannot be continued in the second year of funding. It is expected that DP research generates data for the preparation of new funding proposals, submitted either to the Midwestem RCE (RPs), to NIAID, DOE, DOD or DOHS. DPI" Midwestem RCE scientist Dominique Missiakas will search for B. anthracis mutants that are defective for the secretion of PA, LF, or EF and analyze the virulence properties of the variants in an animal model of disease. DP2" Midwestem RCE scientist Greg Poland will isolate Vaccinia virus-derived, processed peptides from the binding grooves of class I, HLA-A2 molecules of Vaccinia virus-infected dendritic cells and study the physical and biochemical attributes of these peptide epitopes. DP3: Midwestem RCE scientist James Baker Jr. will (i) document the ability and kinetics of nanoemulsion inactivation of poxviruses, (ii) determine whether nanoemulsion inactivated Vaccinia virus is immunogenic and (iii) determine whether nanoemulsion can prevent or attenuate experimental Vaccinia virus infection in mice. DP4: Midwestem RCE scientist Paula Traktman will use RNAi technology and epitagging to identify those poxvirus genes that are essential for virus replication and budding. DP5" Midwestem RCE scientists Thomas Zahrt and Dara Frank will construct a transposon library in F. tularensis strain LVS and search for mutants that are unable to survive in macrophages in vitro. These mutants will then be analyzed in a murine model of aerosol infection for defects in pathogenesis. In the fall and spring of each year, the AC will post Requests For Applications to replace DP programs with new proposals that can request either $100,000 or less and up to two years of funding (not to exceed $100,000).