Michael Axthelm, Co-PI
Immune Reconstitution in SIV infected Macaques
NIH-NIAID
The major goal of this subcontract is to evaluate interleukin 7 as a possible immune reconstitution therapy is SIVmac239-immunosuppressed rhesus macaques in conjunction with anti-retroviral therapy.

Michael Axthelm, PI
Establishment of specific pathogen free rhesus macaque colonies
NIH - National Center for Research Resources
The major goal of this project is to expand and characterize a rhesus macaque breeding colony for production of genetically defined SPF rhesus macaques for AIDS-related research.

Klaus Fruh, PI
Functional characteristics of the poxvirus RING protein
NIH - NIAID
The goal of this project is to determine the molecular function of the p28 ubiquitin ligase of orthopoxviruses. P28 is a poxviral virulence factor that contains a RING domain.

Klaus Fruh, PI
Evasion of antigen presentation by rhesus cytomegalovirus
NIH - NIAID
Using RhCMV as a model of human CMV, this projects aims at identifying and characterizing RhCMV gene products that prevent antigen presentation by major histocompatibility complex molecules.

Michael Jarvis, PI
Role of beta cell CMV permissiveness as a determinant for induction of Type 1 diabetes
Medical Research Fund of Oregon
The long-term goal of the project is to determine the role of specific pathogens in the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D).   Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous herpesvirus that has been identified as a potential environmental trigger of T1D in genetically susceptible individuals.   The aim of this project is to test the hypothesis that specific inhibition of the antiviral IFN response in pancreatic beta cells will increase the permissiveness of this cell type to MCMV infection, amplifying the inherent capacity of CMV to trigger T1D.

Ashlee Moses, PI
Mechanisms of KSHV-induced cellular transformation
NIH - NCI
The goal of this project is to understand how KSHV-induction of the proto-oncogene c-Kit contributes to the development of Kaposi's sarcoma. c-Kit expression in KS tumors will be developmentally analyzed and the cellular and viral pathways involved in c-Kit induction and downstream signaling characterized. The ultimate goal is consideration of c-Kit and Kit-associated pathways as therapeutic targets for KS.

Ashlee Moses, PI
The role of HIV-1 Vpu in the regulation of CD40
NIH - NIAID
The goal of this project is to understand the mechanisms through which the HIV-1 protein Vpu induces expression of the cytokine receptor CD40 on endothelial cells and macrophages, and to understand the functional significance of this induction.

Janko Nikolich-Zugich, PI
Critical determinants of CD8+ T-cell-mediated protection
NIH - NIAID
This study will examine basic features of cytotoxic T cells that enable them to efficiently combat pathogens. Using viral infection model of normal and T-cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice, as well as cell transfers, we will examine the roles of T-cell receptor avidity and T-cell functional properties, in isolation and in combination, upon animal survival and viral clearance.

Janko Nikolich-Zugich, PI
Immune function with biodefense in children, elderly and immunocompromised
NIH - NIAID
This is a multi-laboratory, multi-center study to investigate the immunological basis of age-related vulnerability to the West Nile virus (WNV).  The sum of possible age-related defects in both innate and adaptive immunity will be examined in a herarchy of experimental models.  Final results will be confirmed in humans and defects selected for experimental, and subsequently clinical, correction.

Mark Slifka, PI
Cytokine-mediated T cell activation
NIH - NIAID
The goal of this research is to determine how virus-specific T cells respond to signals from innate cytokines such as IL-12 and IL-18 and to determine what cytokines or other effector functions are upregulated by this type of non-antigen-specific stimulation.

Mark Slifka, PI
T-cell activation and functional avidity
NIH - NIAID
The goal of this research is to identify TcR signaling events that are associated with increased peptide-specific functional responsiveness in CD8+ T cells.

Mark Slifka, PI
Rapid Diagnosis of Monkeypox and Smallpox Infections
NIH - NIAID
The goal of this research is to develop sensitive and specific serological tests for rapid diagnosis of virulent orthopoxvirus infections including monkeypox and smallpox.