XIIth International Nidovirus Symposium Support Proposal

描述（由申请人提供）：构成Nidovirales（自1996年以来）分类学目的病毒（动脉病毒、冠状病毒、托罗病毒和罗尼病毒）在人类、猿类、大量牲畜、家禽、虾、昆虫和鲸鱼中引起重大疾病。人类冠状病毒是人类感冒的第二大原因，造成了严重的经济损失，最近发现的一种以前未知的冠状病毒现在与一种新出现的人类传染病严重急性呼吸系统综合症（SARS）有关，这表明了在这一领域进行科学研究的重要性。此外，在20世纪80年代末，猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒（PRRSV），动脉病毒家族的最新成员同时出现在欧洲和北美，现在在世界范围内流行。这些新病毒的出现改变了尼多病毒研究的重点，并吸引了许多新的研究者进入这一研究领域。三年一次的国际尼多病毒专题讨论会的独特之处在于汇集了从事尼多病毒研究各个方面的科学家，包括分子生物学、发病机制、免疫学、进化和流行病学以及疫苗开发。对于这个领域的新手来说，研讨会是获得最新发展概况和与特定领域的专家讨论思想的绝佳机会。为鼓励青年科学家参加第十二届国际尼多病毒研讨会，将颁发若干研究生和博士后旅行奖。此外，受邀的演讲嘉宾将讨论其他重要的研究领域，以便与会者能够更新他们的知识库并了解在更大的病毒世界中所取得的新进展。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The viruses that (since 1996) constitute the taxonomic order Nidovirales (Arteriviruses, Coronaviruses, Toroviruses and Roniviruses) cause significant disease in humans, simians, a large number of livestock species, poultry, shrimp, insects and whales. Human coronaviruses are the second leading cause of the human cold, accounting for acute economic costs, and the recent discovery of a previously unknown coronavirus that is now associated with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a newly emerged infectious disease in humans, underpins the importance of scientific research in this field. In addition, in the late 1980's, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), the newest member of arteriviruses family emerged in Europe and North America simultaneously and is now endemic worldwide. The emergence of these new viruses have changed the focus of nidovirus research and enticed many new investigators into this field of study. The International Nidovirus Symposium, a triennial meeting, is unique in bringing together scientists engaged in various aspects of nidoviruses study including molecular biology, pathogenesis, immunology, evolution and epidemiology and vaccine development. For newcomers to this field, the symposium is an excellent opportunity to obtain an overview of the most recent developments, and to discuss ideas with experts in particular areas of nidovirology. Several graduate student and th postdoctoral travel awards will be given to encourage young scientists to attend this XII International Nidovirus Symposium. In addition, invited guest speakers will discuss other important research areas so that participants could update their knowledge bank and learn of new advances brought about in the larger universe of viruses. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The XII International Nidovirus Symposium is a high quality scientific meeting that provides a venue for virologists who are working on important group of positive stranded RNA viruses that pose a significant threat to the public health to share their research findings with other scientists from around the world. The primary objective of this symposium parallels the scientific mission of the NIH. This symposium is unique in bringing scientists together who study different aspects of nidoviruses, such as molecular biology, pathogenesis, evolution and epidemiology, immunology and vaccine development. The cost of the symposium will be covered by the registration fees and donations from private industry. However, under current economic conditions obtaining donations from industry will be difficult, and therefore, as th organizers of the XII International Symposium, we are requesting support through this conference grant application. 1