To determine the efficiency of a novel agar-layer based test for the diagnosis of drug resistant tuberculosis in Mozambique

The major goal of this project is to elucidate the role of virus-induced events in CD40 signaling in macrophages and the importance of these signals for controlling filovirus infection. Work will use both existing and new virus stocks to challenge the selected tissues and include infection assays, cytokine/chemokine profiling, virus inactivation, analysis of infection efficiencies, and mice virus challenge.

QualTex Laboratories, a subsidiary of San Antonio-based nonprofit BioBridge Global, has begun testing blood and plasma donations on its second automated track system, expanding its capabilities in its San Antonio laboratory.

Drug discovery software at Southwest Research Institute is expanding the capacity to virtually screen drug compounds for possible treatment of coronavirus and other infectious diseases.

SwRI’s Rhodium™ virtual screening tool recently evaluated 2 million drug compounds in a few days, hoping to identify high-probability drugs that may have efficacy against the coronavirus with minimal adverse side effects. Institute scientists initiated the molecular modeling research with SwRI internal funding.

Leaders of the newly-established San Antonio Partnership for Precision Therapeutics (SA PPT) have awarded the partnership’s first research grant. A seven-person team researching sepsis-induced organ failure will receive $200,000 in funding over two years. The award’s purpose is to advance research and breakthroughs in precision therapeutics, which is the development of drug therapies for specific populations based on genetics, lifestyle and environment.

The goal of the project is to understand the pathways operative in sepsis and the necessity for improved therapies. Ee will develop a small molecule screening program using in silico drug design strategies based on the crystal and CryoEM structure of MCU-ligand interaction for identification and synthesis of novel small molecules that could be further tested for next generation MCU regulators.

We propose to generate a recombinant LASV containing a codon deoptimized (CD) glycoprotein (GP) as a novel approach for the development of a LASV live-?attenuated vaccine (LAV). Moreover, rLASV/GPCD will provide us with a valid LASV surrogate that could be safely used in BSL2 facilities to facilitate the investigation of LASV by removing the obstacles posed by the requirement of BSL4 containment to work with live forms of LASV.

The Major goal is to test efficacy of novel monoclonal therapeutic in the Sudan virus NHP Model.

We propose to study the efficiency (sensitivity/specificity) of a novel sustainable, easy-to-use diagnostic test to monitor drug resistant tuberculosis treatment using non-invasive specimens (i.e. sputum). We will focus in Mozambique, where TB is a major health issue and is under-reported due to lack of widely available diagnosis.

The extensive genetic variability in seasonal and potentially pandemic influenza strains necessitates new vaccine strategies that can focus the immune response on generating protective antibodies against conserved targets such as regions within the influenza neuraminidase protein. We have demonstrated that seasonal immunization stimulates neuraminidase specific antibodies in humans that are broad and potent in their protection from influenza when tested in animals.