Molecular Microbial Persistence and Pathogenesis

说明(申请人提供)：传染病仍然是世界范围内主要的死亡原因，新病原体的出现和生物恐怖主义的威胁凸显了显著增加传染病培训的必要性。微生物利用的持久性和致病机制的复杂性和多样性对开发有效的疫苗以预防感染和以化学或免疫为基础的传染病治疗构成了重大挑战。对微生物持久性和致病机理的研究，除了在微生物学方面的广泛培训外，还需要分子遗传学、生物化学、免疫学以及细胞和分子生物学方面的专业知识。因此，仍然迫切需要培训具有跨学科经验和专业知识的新一代独立调查人员，以解决这些复杂的持久性和致病机制问题。培训计划的一个目标一直是，并将继续是招募相关学科(生物化学、生物科学、细胞和分子生物学等)的本科生和新近毕业的博士进入微生物持久性机制和发病机制的高级研究。该培训计划汇集了匹兹堡大学的所有教职员工，包括医学院、公共卫生研究生院和艺术与科学学院。分子微生物持久性和致病(MMPP)培训计划为分子病毒学和微生物学(MVM)研究生计划结构内的博士前实习生和MMPP教员实验室内的博士后实习生提供了一个独特的跨学科协调研究培训机会，并通过专门课程提供额外的培训。 专门的研究研讨会、务虚会和参加国家科学会议。重要的是，MMPP计划的独特之处在于，它利用了来自不同病毒和细菌系统的持久性和致病机制方面的概念，目的是教育受训者微生物机制的多样性，但也使他们能够利用共同的主题进行研究。要求每年支持4名博士后和2名博士后实习生。博士前实习生的聘期最长可达两年。博士后实习生的任期为1年，有机会以竞争性的方式续签一年。MMPP计划仍然致力于增加受训人员的多样性，提供负责任的研究行为培训，并为受训人员提供职业指导。

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.