Scott Weber, Microbiology and Molecular Biology 1) Project Summary This project was focused on improving the immune response to infectious disease and cancer. We have engineered T cell receptors with 1000-fold increase in affinity and will characterize their value as diagnostics and therapeutics. In addition, we examined changes in T cell function due to the […]
Development of Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (q-PCR) Assays for the Detection and Identification of Drug-resistance Genes in Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)
Richard A. Robison, Ph.D., Microbiology and Molecular Biology I. The Specific aims for the project were as follows: Develop q-PCR assays for the various carbapenem-resistance genes, such as KPC, IMP, VIM, and NDM-1, and then multiplex them into single assays that can be used to quickly characterize an isolate. II. Accomplishments to date related to […]
Autoimmunity-Promoting B Cell Effects of the Risk Factor IRF5
PI: Brian Poole Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met: The academic objectives of this proposal were met. Using the funding provided by the MEG, we generated data that were used to publish two peer-reviewed journal articles: Cornaby, Caleb; Jafek, Jillian L.; Birrell, Cameron; Mayhew, Vera; Syndergaard, Lauren; Mella, Jeff; […]
Final Report for the 2015 MEG Entitled: Development of Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (q-PCR) Assays for the Detection and Identification of Human Tick-borne Pathogens
PI: Richard Robison The Specific aims for the project were as follows: Develop singleplex q-PCR assays to identify the tick-borne pathogens Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia hermsii, Bartonella henselae, and Babesia microti. Primer generation software will be used to design primer and probe sequences that will theoretically perform optimally in PCR reactions. All sequences will be subjected […]
Identifying Genetic Factors in the Development of Diabetes in the Wasatch Front Population 2013-2014
Julianne H. Grose Evaluation of academic objectives The academic objectives of this MEG were to train undergraduate and graduate students on the scientific process while providing valuable insight into the genetic factors that may play a role in the development of diabetes in the Wasatch front population. We were able to meet these objectives as […]
Examining the Relative Contributions of Genes, Diet, and the Gut Microbiome to the Development of Obesity and Diabetes
PI: Laura C. Bridgewater This project began as a collaboration with Dr. Julianne Grose in MMBIO to study the effect of PAS kinase on diabetes and obesity in a mouse model system. Due to our initial findings, the study has grown to include Dr. Ben Bickman in PDBIO (an expert in metabolism) and Dr. Scott […]
Final Report for 2013 MEG: Improving the memory response of pathogen specific helper T cells
Scott Weber – Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology The following two aims are from my 2013 MEG. We made great progress and completed most of both Aim 1 and Aim 2. Details on the progress for each aim are described below. Mentoring Environment: This MEG allowed me to expand the size of my lab […]
Analysis of the kinetics and recombinatorial mechanisms of HIV-1 evolution in vivo in humanized mice
Bradford Berges, MEG 2013 Final Report (submitted Oct 2015) Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met Several of my students have moved on to future positions, as follows: Medical school: Sterling Adams, German Cuadra, Art Lee (still interviewing), and Tyler White (still interviewing) Graduate school: Steve Hallam See below in […]
Role of Epstein-Barr Virus Induced Gene II (EBI2) in Epstein-Barr Virus Infection and B-cell Chemotaxis
Brian Poole, Microbiology and Molecular Biology Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met: The academic objectives of this proposal were met. Using the funding provided by the MEG, we generated data that was used to publish three peer-reviewed journal articles: Daniel N. Clark, Jared P. Lambert, Rodney E. Till, Lissenya […]
Post-Translational Modifications of Thymidine Kinase 1
Dr. Kim O’Neill, Microbiology and Molecular Biology Thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is one diagnostic and prognostic marker which has shown promising potential in a variety of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Unfortunately there have been challenges associated with developing a clinically useful immunoassay which have prevented TK1 from being fully utilized in the clinical setting […]