TxBiomed is testing various filovirus vaccines in order to asses their effectiveness in preventing filovirus infection.

In order to develop a novel restorative system with at least twice the lifetime of Bis-GMA/TEGDMA- based composites, their incomplete cure and susceptibility to hydrolysis and esterase degradation must be overcome. To address these problems, we will develop a novel superhydrophobic, degradation-resistant, dental restorative based on an Oxirane/Acrylate interpenetrating network System (OASys, pronounced Oasis).

With a high attributable mortality rate of 40-50%, Candida species represent the fourth leading cause of hospital-acquired bloodstream infections in the United States. These fungal pathogens are normally found as commensals in mammalian mucosal niches, especially the oral cavity. In immunocompromised patients, Candida overgrowth leads to the formation of biofilms, which play an important role in the development of infection. Biofilms are complex microbial communities that adhere to a surface and are enclosed within an extracellular matrix.

TxBiomed is measuring the Cytokines in both Merocel Spear Eluates and Cervicovaginal Lavages in order to establish reasonable baselines across National Primate Centers.

Periodontal infection has been shown to increase the incidence and severity of atherosclerosis, which is now the number one cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Furthermore there is increasing evidence linking obesity, which is a major risk factor of atherosclerosis, to periodontal disease. In atherosclerosis, the earliest lesions contain macrophages that have phagocytized and accumulated modified lipoproteins. The continued monocyte recruitment and cholesterol accumulation in the vessel wall facilitates chronic disease progression.

Sub-optimal glycemic control remains a major barrier to dental implant therapy for diabetes patients. With over 25 million individuals affected in the US, understanding the relationship between glycemic control and implant-related outcomes becomes critical to the development of clinical guidelines for the care of these patients. While emerging evidence demonstrates promise for implant osseointegration independent of glycemic levels, there remains no clear evidence of the effects of glycemic control for implant-related complications under long-term function.

The objective is to perform and report on human FV Challenge studies in NHP cohorts using an IM injection of approximately 1000 pfu/animal USG-designated, well-characterized human Filoviruses.

Artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) is the main treatment for Plasmodium falciparum malaria: the success of this treatment has rolled back malaria and renewed interest in malaria elimination. Slow clearance of parasites following ACT treatment of patients in SE Asia has lead to concern about the spread of resistance. This proposal aims to identify the genes that underlie slow clearance to better understand the evolution and biochemical basis of his trait.

Bacterial infection is a frequent complication among trauma and surgical patients, both civilian and military.  The rate of infectious complications in the U. S. military is approximately 35 percent for combat casualties.  The lack of a rapid diagnostic platform for the detection of bacterial and fungal infections in combat wounds result in mortality and extended stays in Intensive Care Units. The methods currently available are time consuming, lack sensitivity, require specialized equipment, and highly trained personnel.

Ebola virus causes highly lethal viral hemorrhagic fever syndrome and has been classified as a Category A bioweapons agents by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It can be used as a potential biological weapon due to their ease of dissemination, person-to person transmissibility and stability in aerosolized form. There is no effective vaccine or antivirals against Ebola virus infection in humans.