Vaccinia virus is a model virus for the study of the poxvirus family and forms the vaccine against smallpox. There are several membranes that envelope the vaccinia and smallpox viruses and on each membrane resides specific membrane proteins. The presence or absence of one or more membranes and its proteins leads to alternate forms of the infectious virus. Within two of these membrane forms are membrane proteins to which a vigorous immune response is mounted. We are studying two of these proteins from vaccinia with the use of biochemical techniques and the methods of x-ray crystallography. As the protein sequence similarity is very high between vaccinia and smallpox, the structures of vaccinia proteins should provide insight into the structures of proteins of the smallpox virus.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Intramural Research (Z01)
Project #
1Z01AI000956-01
Application #
7196737
Study Section
Surgery and Bioengineering Study Section (SB)
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Niaid Extramural Activities
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
State
Country
United States
Zip Code
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