The major goal of this is to assess the ability of Mtb-specific CD4 T cells from ART versus ART + IPT animals to active antimicrobial functions of Mtb-infected macrophages while promoting diversity.

The central goal of this application is to demonstrate that recombinant forms of the prototypic mammarenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) containing a codon deoptimized (CD) nucleoprotein (NP) expressing glycoproteins (GP) of HF-causing LASV and JUNV (rLCMV/NPCD/GPHF) can be used for the development of a safe and protective individual or blended live-attenuated vaccine (LAV) to combat HF disease caused by LASV and JUNV infections.

The major goal is to generate ATB in animals and perform experiments aimed at depleting MDSCs to look at the impact in clinical, microbiological and immunological terms.

Clinical data indicate that people with heart-related diseases and other underlying medical conditions are at a significantly higher risk for COVID-19. Many of these underlying diseases have genetic sources. Importantly, susceptibility to artery diseases are linked to multiple SNPs within FURIN, which encodes a cell membrane-bound protease known as Furin. Studies suggest that Furin can cleave the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein to facilitate/enhance viral entry into human alveolar type II cells.

We aim to determine the structural basis of RNA processing in host immune and inflammatory response critical for viral survival and growth and will conduct HTS screening, medicinal chemistry, and in vitro and in vivo studies towards rapid clinical translation.

Core instrumentation for the Biology Core to expand the flow cytometry capabilities.

We aim to develop a high-throughput fluorescent assay of Orf10-CUL2 binding; identify candidate inhibitors of Orf10-CUL2 binding by computational screening; evaluate impact of these molecules on SARS-CoV-2 replication in cell-based assays and in the mouse model; and develop medicinal chemistry infrastructure for optimization of Orf10 inhibitors.

The goal of this project is to support research by expanding ABSL3 primate capabilities.

The purpose of this grant is for the purchase of a Confocal Microscope for Core Research Support project.