The beginning of the 21st Century is marked by a realization of the increasing threat of infectious diseases worldwide and the formidable challenges posed by microbial antibiotic resistance, microbial antigenic variation, genetic latency, and emerging infectious agents. Microorganisms have evolved a confounding array of persistence mechanisms to avoid host defenses leading to established infections that result in disease or death. To address these complex problems it is essential to define at the molecular level the mechanisms underlying microbial evolution, persistence, and pathogenesis, studies that require interdisciplinary and collaborative research efforts. Thus, we describe here a university-wide interdisciplinary training program in """"""""Molecular Microbial Persistence and Pathogenesis"""""""" (MMPP) for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees that combines outstanding training resources and opportunities provided by a highly interactive team of 30 faculty mentors in the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Graduate School of Public Health, and Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The rationale for the MMPP Training Program is that the immersion of predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees into an interdisciplinary program of molecular mechanistic studies of diverse viruses, bacteria, and protozoa will provide the most effective foundation to gain comprehensive expertise and experience for future critical studies of microbial persistence and pathogenesis. The MMPP training Program is designed to attract the best and the brightest trainees, create unique opportunities and environment for didactic and research training relevant to microbial persistence and pathogenesis, to enhance research collaborations among different university units, and to optimize the utilization of research and training resources. Thus, the goal of the MMPP Training Program is to produce the next generation of independent investigators with unique perspective of interdisciplinary and collaborative research training required to elucidate at the molecular level the mechanisms of microbial persistence and pathogenesis and to use this information to develop new and effective prevention and treatment strategies for infectious diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
Project #
5T32AI049820-08
Application #
7826955
Study Section
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases B Subcommittee (MID)
Program Officer
Mcsweegan, Edward
Project Start
2001-07-01
Project End
2013-06-30
Budget Start
2010-07-01
Budget End
2011-06-30
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$219,692
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Wasil, Laura R; Shair, Kathy H Y (2018) Modified Anoikis Assay That Functionally Segregates Epstein-Barr Virus LMP1 Strains into Two Groups. J Virol 92:
Ander, Stephanie E; Rudzki, Elizabeth N; Arora, Nitin et al. (2018) Human Placental Syncytiotrophoblasts Restrict Toxoplasma gondii Attachment and Replication and Respond to Infection by Producing Immunomodulatory Chemokines. MBio 9:
Lane, Whitney C; Dunn, Matthew D; Gardner, Christina L et al. (2018) The Efficacy of the Interferon Alpha/Beta Response versus Arboviruses Is Temperature Dependent. MBio 9:
Bina, X Renee; Howard, Mondraya F; Taylor-Mulneix, Dawn L et al. (2018) The Vibrio cholerae RND efflux systems impact virulence factor production and adaptive responses via periplasmic sensor proteins. PLoS Pathog 14:e1006804
Kiedrowski, Megan R; Gaston, Jordan R; Kocak, Brian R et al. (2018) Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Growth on Cystic Fibrosis Airway Epithelial Cells Is Enhanced during Respiratory Syncytial Virus Coinfection. mSphere 3:
Purcaro, Giorgia; Rees, Christiaan A; Melvin, Jeffrey A et al. (2018) Volatile fingerprinting of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and respiratory syncytial virus infection in an in vitro cystic fibrosis co-infection model. J Breath Res 12:046001
Fox, Hannah L; Dembowski, Jill A; DeLuca, Neal A (2017) A Herpesviral Immediate Early Protein Promotes Transcription Elongation of Viral Transcripts. MBio 8:
Kunkle, Dillon E; Bina, X Renee; Bina, James E (2017) The Vibrio cholerae VexGH RND Efflux System Maintains Cellular Homeostasis by Effluxing Vibriobactin. MBio 8:
Kwun, H J; Wendzicki, J A; Shuda, Y et al. (2017) Merkel cell polyomavirus small T antigen induces genome instability by E3 ubiquitin ligase targeting. Oncogene 36:6784-6792
Treat, Benjamin R; Bidula, Sarah M; Ramachandran, Srividya et al. (2017) Influence of an immunodominant herpes simplex virus type 1 CD8+ T cell epitope on the target hierarchy and function of subdominant CD8+ T cells. PLoS Pathog 13:e1006732

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