Molecular Microbial Persistence and Pathogenesis

描述（由申请人提供）：传染病仍然是全世界死亡的主要原因，新病原体的出现和生物恐怖主义的威胁突出了显著增加传染病培训的必要性。微生物所利用的持久性和发病机制的复杂性和多样性，对开发预防感染的有效疫苗和传染病的化学或免疫治疗提出了重大挑战。研究微生物的持久性和发病机制，除了需要广泛的微生物学培训外，还需要分子遗传学、生物化学、免疫学、细胞和分子生物学方面的专业知识。因此，仍然迫切需要培养具有跨学科经验和专业知识的新一代独立研究者，以解决这些复杂的持久性和发病机制问题。培养计划的一个目标是，并将继续招收相关学科（生物化学、生物科学、细胞和分子生物学等）的本科生和刚毕业的博士研究生，从事微生物持续存在和发病机制的高级研究。该培训项目汇集了匹兹堡大学的全体教员，包括医学院、公共卫生研究生院和文理学院。分子微生物持久性和发病机制（MMPP）培训计划为分子病毒学和微生物学（MVM）研究生计划和MMPP教师实验室内的博士后学员提供了一个独特的跨学科研究培训机会，并通过专业课程提供额外的培训。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Infectious diseases remains the leading cause of death worldwide, and the necessity to markedly increase training in infectious diseases has been highlighted by the emergence of new pathogens and the threat of bioterrorism. The complexity and diversity of persistence and pathogenesis mechanisms utilized by microorganisms pose major challenges to the development of effective vaccines to prevent infection and chemical or immune-based treatments of infectious diseases. Research into microbial persistence and pathogenesis requires, in addition to broad training in microbiology, expertise in molecular genetics, biochemistry, immunology, and cell and molecular biology. Thus, there continues to be an urgent need to train a new generation of independent investigators with the interdisciplinary experience and expertise to address these complex issues of persistence and pathogenesis. A goal of the training program has been, and will continue to be, the recruitment of undergraduates and recent Ph.D. graduates in related disciplines (biochemistry, biological sciences, cellular and molecular biology, etc) into advanced studies in mechanisms of microbial persistence and pathogenesis. The training program brings together faculty throughout the University of Pittsburgh, including the School of Medicine, Graduate School of Public Health, and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The Molecular Microbial Persistence and Pathogenesis (MMPP) training program offers a unique opportunity for the coordinated interdisciplinary research training of predoctoral trainees within the structur of the Molecular Virology and Microbiology (MVM) Graduate Program and postdoctoral trainees within the laboratories of MMPP faculty, with additional training via specialized course offerings, dedicated research seminars, retreats, and participation in national scientific meetings. Importantly, the MMPP program is unique in that it leverages concepts in persistence and pathogenesis from diverse viral and bacterial systems with the goal of educating trainees of the diversity of microbial mechanisms, but also enabling the utilization of common themes for their research. Support for 4 predoctoral and 2 postdoctoral trainees per year is requested. Predoctoral trainees can be appointed for up to two years. Postdoctoral trainees are appointed for 1 year with the opportunity to competitively renew their appointments for an additional year. The MMPP program remains committed to the need to increase diversity in trainees, to provide training in the responsible conduct of research, and to provide career guidance for trainees.