Burt Anderson Ph.D.                                $20,000 Award

Generation and characterization of an attenuated mutant in a response
regulator gene of Francisella tularensis live vaccine strain

Specific Aims:

• Construct a mutant in F. tularensis LVS gene FTL1762 that encodes a putative sensor histidine kinase that may activate the protein encoded by FTL0552.

• Determine the growth properties and gene expression pattern of the F. tularensis LVS FTL1762 mutant.

Mark C.Glaum, M.D.,Ph.D.                      $20,000 Award

The Role of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) in the Activation of Human Mast Cells.

Specific Aims:

Based on the preliminary data, it is hypothesized that mast cell activation of ANP-NPRA    pathway promotes Th2 phenotypes. The specific aims proposed to investigate this hypothesis are:

• To confirm that ANP promotes Th2 gene expression bias in another human mast cell line and in human cord blood-derived human mast cells.
• To determine whether ANP signaling on human mast cells promotes development of a Th2 bias in naïve T and B cells.
• To determine whether disruption of autocrine ANP signaling influences IgE-mediated mast cell expression of Th2 cytokines and co-stimulatory molecules in naïve T and B lymphocytes central to development of Th2-biased inflammation.

Joerg A. Karolat, Ph.D.                            $12,967 Award

Investigation of the Gultathione trafficking in asthmatic cells

Specific Aims:

Our theory is based on the assumption that asthma is triggered by environmental challenge in some patients because of an insufficient defense caused by a decreased level of protection from oxidative stress. To prove our theory that the low levels of GSH in asthmatic ELF is caused by a transport mechanism defect we will investigate the efficiency of the multidrug resistance protein in these patients. Furthermore, the effect of molecules enhancing the transport of GSH will be determined to investigate theirpotential as asthma prevention drug. The results from the cell culture experiments will be  used to acquire funding for screening and processing patients samples.

Assessment of Regulatory T Cells in Asthmatic Children

Specific Aims:

• Test whether Treg profile and function changes in infants and children
• Test whether differences in T reg profile and function is associated with allergic sensitization and may contribute to the development of asthma