Center for Excellence In-Host Pathogen Interactions

 描述(申请人提供)：这项拨款申请的目标是建立一个高度互动的宿主-病原体相互作用的生物医学卓越中心，由一个充满活力的初级研究人员组成的小组，他们的研究重点是了解强调宿主对各种感染源的反应的机制。我们提出了五个独立但有凝聚力的新研究项目，这些项目都由初级研究人员领导，将使用分子、生化、免疫学和微生物学方法来研究不同传染病模型中宿主与病原体的相互作用。我们将确定某些宿主因子，如C型凝集素、Toll样受体和其他细胞表面受体在启动宿主反应中的作用，并建议在识别能够调节免疫反应和抑制细菌/病原体生长的分子和信号通路方面进行前沿、关键的研究。这些目标将利用一种综合的方法来实现，将几名研究人员联系起来，以了解各种感染。为了进一步加强该计划，我们将翻译部分作为该Cobre的一个关键方面，这与我们的全球战略使命一致，即满足北达科他州老龄化人口的需求，这些人口主要是农村人口，容易感染肺部感染、败血症、神经炎症和媒介传播疾病等传染病。我们还将确定寄生虫诱导的新的免疫抑制机制，这可能会为衰弱的自身免疫性疾病带来新的治疗范例。这个中心的基本原理是，每个人都带来了独特的专业知识和关键方向，这些专业知识和关键方向共同有助于阐明免疫调节变化在各种传染病模型中的作用。该中心将培养一批专注的研究人员，成功完成我们的具体目标将导致建立一个合作和可持续的宿主-病原体相互作用卓越中心，能够吸引最聪明和最有才华的教职员工、学生和研究员 在新兴的传染病领域进行世界级的研究。即使在科布雷拨款结束后，UND也完全致力于确保这一群体的增长和可持续性，这将建立并保持UND作为美国新兴传染病中心的地位。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this grant application is to establish a Center of Biomedical Excellence in Host- Pathogen interactions that is highly interactive and consists of a dynamic group of junior investigators whose research focus is on understanding the mechanisms that underline the host respose to various infectious agents. We have proposed five new independent, but cohesive research projects, all led by junior investigators, that will use molecular, biochemical, immunological, and microbiological approaches to study host-pathogen interactions in different infectious disease models. We will define the role that certain host factors such as C-type lectins, Toll-like receptors, and other cell surface receptors that play a major role in the initiation of the host response, and we propose cutting edge, critica research in identifying molecules and signaling pathways that can regulate immune response and inhibit bacterial/pathogen growth. These goals will be accomplished utilizing an integrative approach to link several investigators to understand various infections. To enhance the program further, we have included a translational component as a key facet of this COBRE, which is consistent with our global, strategic mission to address the needs of North Dakota's aging, largely rural population that are prone to infectious diseases such as pulmonary infections, sepsis, neuroinflammation and vector-borne disease. We will also identify novel parasite-induced immune suppressive mechanisms, which could lead to new treatment paradigms for debilitating autoimmune diseases. The rationale for this center is that each individual brings unique expertise and key directions that together can help elucidate the role of immunomodulatory changes in various infectious disease models. This center will nurture a focused group of investigators, and successful completion of our specific aims will result in the establishment of a collaborative and sustainable Center of Excellence in Host-Pathogen interactions capable of attracting the brightest and most talented faculty, students and fellows to conduct world-class research in the burgeoning field of infectious disease. UND is fully committed to ensuring the growth and sustainability of this group even after the COBRE grant ends, which will establish and maintain UND as the emerging infectious disease center in the US.