CAMs as counter measures against infectious and inflammatory disease

描述(由申请人提供)：CAM用于预防和治疗传染病和炎症性疾病，尽管对于许多这样的CAM来说，其真正的有效性和其声称的益处的分子基础尚未被定义和/或证实。我们提出了一个新的CAMS研究卓越中心(CERC)，专注于研究不同CAMS在肺和肠道感染疾病模型中的作用机制。由于在许多情况下，与肺部和肠道感染相关的炎症反应是该病实际病理的原因，我们还打算扩大正在进行的使用CAMS的努力，以将炎症引起的组织损伤降至最低。这项CERC的最终目标是提供关键的洞察力，以了解精选的CAM的作用机制，这些机制可以用作对抗感染肺和肠道粘膜的新出现的和精选的制剂。该中心汇集了具有以下方面专长的科学家：肺部和肠道的细菌和病毒疾病，研究CAM对固有白细胞和上皮细胞的影响，从植物粗提物中提纯明确的激动剂，使用益生菌cam，以及使用感染和炎症性疾病的啮齿动物模型来确定具体的作用机制。该中心还将利用新的BSL-3设施来研究凸轮对选定代理商的影响。CERC最初将专注于三个不同的项目，这三个项目将得到两个核心的支持：行政(核心A)和动物模型(核心B)。这三个研究项目是：项目1)增强T细胞功能的凸轮，项目负责人Mark Jutila博士；项目2)抗病毒凸轮，项目负责人Michele Hardy博士，博士；以及项目3)抗炎微生物凸轮和关节炎，项目负责人David Pascual博士，博士。动物模型核心将作为一个独特的高度互动的资源，促进三个研究项目之间的协同与合作。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): CAMs are used for the prevention and treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases, though for many of these CAMs, their true efficacy and the molecular basis for their purported benefits have not been defined and/or confirmed. We propose a new Center of Excellence for Research on CAMs (CERC) focused on the study of the mechanisms of action of diverse CAMs in models of pulmonary and intestinal infectious disease. Since in many instances the resulting inflammatory response associated with infection in the lung and intestinal track accounts for the actual pathology in the disease, we also intend to expand ongoing efforts in using CAMs to minimize inflammation induced tissue damage. The ultimate goal of this CERC is to provide critical insight into the mechanisms of action of select CAMs that can be used as countermeasures against emerging and select agents that infect the pulmonary and intestinal mucosa. This Center brings together scientists with expertise in bacterial and viral diseases of the lung and intestinal tract, study of CAM effects on innate leukocytes and epithelial cells, purification of defined agonists from crude plant extracts, use of probiotic CAMs, and use of rodent models of infectious and inflammatory disease to define specific mechanisms of action. This Center will also take advantage of new BSL-3 facilities to study the impact of CAMs on select agents. The CERC will initially be focused on three distinct projects, which will be supported by two Cores: Administrative (Core A) and Animal Model (Core B). The three Research Projects are: Project 1) CAMs that enhance ??T cell function, Project Leader, Mark Jutila, Ph.D.; Project 2) Anti-viral CAMs, Project Leader, Dr. Michele Hardy, Ph.D.; and Project 3) Anti-inflammatory microbial CAMs and arthritis, Project Leader, Dr. David Pascual, Ph.D. The Animal Models Core will serve as a unique and highly interactive resource, facilitating synergy and collaboration between the three research projects.