Viliuisk encephalomyelitis (VE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with a clinical course varying from a relatively acute disease with characteristics of a meningoencephalitis lasting 2 to 6 months to a more prolonged progressive panencephalitic syndrome with a fatal outcome in 1 to 6 years. Some patients develop global dementia and severe spasticity, a residual static condition that may last more than 20 years. For many years, VE was recognized exclusively in a small Middle Viliui region of Siberia. A significant migration from the Viliui valley to more densely populated regions during the 1950s brought VE to settlements in which this disease has previously been unknown. There is strong circumstantial evidence that VE is a communicable disease with a pattern of dissemination characteristic of leprosy and other latent and chronic infectious diseases. The high prevalence and mortality of Ve in some areas, the trend toward further geographic spread, the occurrence of among young people with resulting early incapacitation, combined with the absence of specific therapy, contribute to the seriousness of this emerging neurodegenerative disorder of probably infectious cause.
The specific aim of the proposed collaborative research is to identify the etiologic agent, as well as host-derived disease-specific markers, of VE. Overall, the proposed studies will test the hypothesis that VE is caused by an infectious agent which cannot be cultivated using conventional microbiological techniques. The proposed project will be conducted as a multi-institutional, international, integrated collaboration between investigators at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the Institute of Health, National Academy of Sciences of the Sakha (Yakut) Republic in Yakutsk, Russia. The applicant component of the project will focus on applying state-of-the-art molecular techniques, to search for non-host- and host- derived mRNA sequences in tissues and biological fluids from VE patients. A complementary approach, consisting of serological tests and consensus sequence-based PCR, will be employed by the collaborating component to identify specific microorganisms of general taxonomic groups which may be etiologically involved in VE. By taking full advantage of he complementary expertise and approaches of the applicant and collaborator, as well as the logistical support of clinical, field and laboratory research consultants, the probably of success should be greatly enhanced. Moreover, the close linkage between the applicant and a world- renowned expert on sensitive molecular technologies for new pathogen discovery will provide unparalleled opportunities for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows at UHM to obtain training in the new and emerging molecular strategies being employed in this collaborative research effort.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Specialized Center--Cooperative Agreements (U54)
Project #
3U54NS039406-03S2
Application #
6505661
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZNS1)
Project Start
2001-09-01
Project End
2002-08-31
Budget Start
1997-10-01
Budget End
1998-09-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$248,088
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Hawaii
Department
Type
DUNS #
121911077
City
Honolulu
State
HI
Country
United States
Zip Code
96822
Wilcox, Christie L; Headlam, Jasmine L; Doyle, Thomas K et al. (2017) Assessing the Efficacy of First-Aid Measures in Physalia sp. Envenomation, Using Solution- and Blood Agarose-Based Models. Toxins (Basel) 9:
Yanagihara, Angel Anne; Wilcox, Christie L (2017) Cubozoan Sting-Site Seawater Rinse, Scraping, and Ice Can Increase Venom Load: Upending Current First Aid Recommendations. Toxins (Basel) 9:
Doyle, Thomas K; Headlam, Jasmine L; Wilcox, Christie L et al. (2017) Evaluation of Cyanea capillata Sting Management Protocols Using Ex Vivo and In Vitro Envenomation Models. Toxins (Basel) 9:
Yanagihara, Angel A; Wilcox, Christie; King, Rebecca et al. (2016) Experimental Assays to Assess the Efficacy of Vinegar and Other Topical First-Aid Approaches on Cubozoan (Alatina alata) Tentacle Firing and Venom Toxicity. Toxins (Basel) 8:
Cloak, Christine C; Alicata, Daniel; Ernst, Thomas M et al. (2015) Psychiatric Symptoms, Salivary Cortisol and Cytokine Levels in Young Marijuana Users. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 10:380-90
Chiaverano, Luciano M; Holland, Brenden S; Crow, Gerald L et al. (2013) Long-term fluctuations in circalunar Beach aggregations of the box jellyfish Alatina moseri in Hawaii, with links to environmental variability. PLoS One 8:e77039
Chang, Linda; Cloak, Christine C; Jiang, Caroline S et al. (2012) Lower glial metabolite levels in brains of young children with prenatal nicotine exposure. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 7:243-52
Yanagihara, Angel A; Shohet, Ralph V (2012) Cubozoan venom-induced cardiovascular collapse is caused by hyperkalemia and prevented by zinc gluconate in mice. PLoS One 7:e51368
Cloak, Christine C; Alicata, Daniel; Chang, Linda et al. (2011) Age and sex effects levels of choline compounds in the anterior cingulate cortex of adolescent methamphetamine users. Drug Alcohol Depend 119:207-15
Pitts, Matthew W; Takahashi, Lorey K (2011) The central amygdala nucleus via corticotropin-releasing factor is necessary for time-limited consolidation processing but not storage of contextual fear memory. Neurobiol Learn Mem 95:86-91

Showing the most recent 10 out of 47 publications