The Viral/Molecular Core (Core D) provides reagents, facilities, lab services, consultation &training in support of innovative, multidisciplinary and translational HIV/AIDS research on the Penn/CHOP/Wistar campus with the broad goal of advancing collaborative research in the pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of HIV/AIDS, serving CFAR investigators from multiple programs. The specific Core activities supporting this goal are to provide: ? Virology services including a repository of HIV-1 prototype, primary and mutant strains;virus isolation from patient samples;amplification of virus working stocks;structurally intact inactivated virions;HIV p24 and SIV p27 ELISA assay;and other viral services. ? Molecular services including support for realtime qPCR along with reagents, optimized primer-probe sets and custom primer/probe development;viral genotyping or cloning from clinical specimens;molecular virology support for translational research programs;and in the next cycle a new high density pyrosequencing service. ? Education, training, consultation and leadership in molecular virology activities including training in BSL3 practices for CFAR members lab personnel;training and consultation in virological and molecular techniques for CFAR investigator personnel;facilitating the dissemination and adoption of new technologies; and collaboration with and support of other Cores and campus programs in their HIV/AIDS research-related educational efforts. During the current funding cycle the Core provided support to 46 CFAR investigators, contributing to novel gene therapy approaches to HIV infection;better understanding of integration and establishment of latency;new approaches to vaccine design;advances in viral entry and resistance to entry inhibitors;effects of neuroimmune mediators &drugs of abuse;HIV neuropathogenesis;and other areas. The V/M Core has evolved significantly over the past 9 years in response to CFAR member needs and user feedback, levels of utilization, and internal &external advisory input, and collaborates closely with other CFAR Cores in support of these goals. The Core has been directed since its inception by Drs. Ronald Collman (director) and Luis Montaner (co-director) and, going forward, will be joined by Dr. F. (Rick) Bushman (co-director) to supervise the introduction and dissemination of new molecular sequencing technologies to CFAR investigators.

Public Health Relevance

The Viral/Molecular Core provides laboratory services, reagents, facilities, training and support in the area of fundamental virology and molecular biology in order to enhance the ability of investigators on campus to carry out innovative research on the pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS utilizing state-ofthe art technology, optimal virus strains, maximal efficiency and the highest level of biosafety.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Center Core Grants (P30)
Project #
2P30AI045008-11
Application #
7684970
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAI1-SV-A (J3))
Project Start
2009-09-25
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2009-09-25
Budget End
2010-06-30
Support Year
11
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$272,061
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Type
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Krump, Nathan A; Liu, Wei; You, Jianxin (2018) Mechanisms of persistence by small DNA tumor viruses. Curr Opin Virol 32:71-79
Gowda, Charitha; Lott, Stephen; Grigorian, Matthew et al. (2018) Absolute Insurer Denial of Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy for Hepatitis C: A National Specialty Pharmacy Cohort Study. Open Forum Infect Dis 5:ofy076
Clarke, Erik L; Connell, A Jesse; Six, Emmanuelle et al. (2018) T cell dynamics and response of the microbiota after gene therapy to treat X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency. Genome Med 10:70
Coviello, D M; Lovato, R; Apostol, K et al. (2018) Prevalence of HIV Viral Load Suppression Among Psychiatric Inpatients with Comorbid Substance Use Disorders. Community Ment Health J :
Martei, Yehoda M; Pace, Lydia E; Brock, Jane E et al. (2018) Breast Cancer in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Why We Need Pathology Capability to Solve This Challenge. Clin Lab Med 38:161-173
Ojikutu, Bisola O; Bogart, Laura M; Higgins-Biddle, Molly et al. (2018) Facilitators and Barriers to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Use Among Black Individuals in the United States: Results from the National Survey on HIV in the Black Community (NSHBC). AIDS Behav 22:3576-3587
Martin, Maureen P; Naranbhai, Vivek; Shea, Patrick R et al. (2018) Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor 3DL1 variation modifies HLA-B*57 protection against HIV-1. J Clin Invest 128:1903-1912
Wood, Sarah; Ratcliffe, Sarah; Gowda, Charitha et al. (2018) Impact of insurance coverage on HIV transmission potential among antiretroviral therapy-treated youth living with HIV. AIDS 32:895-902
Shin, S S; Modongo, C; Zetola, N M et al. (2018) High rates of exposure to tuberculosis patients among HIV-infected health care workers in Botswana. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 22:366-370
Genn, Leah; Chapman, Jennifer; Okatch, Harriet et al. (2018) Pharmacy Refill Data are Poor Predictors of Virologic Treatment Outcomes in Adolescents with HIV in Botswana. AIDS Behav :

Showing the most recent 10 out of 775 publications