{"id":22373,"date":"2014-02-06T14:51:33","date_gmt":"2014-02-07T00:51:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=22373"},"modified":"2021-11-08T07:27:32","modified_gmt":"2021-11-08T17:27:32","slug":"1-million-nih-grant-funds-bacterial-infectious-disease-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2014\/02\/06\/1-million-nih-grant-funds-bacterial-infectious-disease-research\/","title":{"rendered":"$1 million NIH<\/abbr> grant funds bacterial infectious disease research"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> < 1<\/span> minute<\/span><\/span>
\"Virulence
Virulence expression within organized biofilm structure (image courtesy Hoang laboratory)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at Mānoa have received a $1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health<\/a> ( NIH<\/abbr>) over four years to study the functional genomics and interactions of bacterial species within biofilms. The team led by Tung Hoang<\/strong>, a professor in the department of microbiology<\/a>, consists of seven graduate students and one postdoctoral researcher.<\/p>\n

“Biofilms are organized microbial microcolonies or communities that form on solid surfaces. Biofilm-related infections, often feared by clinicians, are notoriously difficult to treat due to high levels of resistance,” Hoang said.<\/p>\n

“This new NIH<\/abbr> funding will allow us to establish the functions of selected bacteria in single- and mixed-species biofilms, to potentially better treat infections caused by these bacteria including Cystic Fibrosis lung infection, contact lens-related eye infections, bacterial endocarditis and other infections,” he said.<\/p>\n

The Hoang team is also working to establish the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis in tropical diseases such as melioidosis, glanders and, more recently, leprosy. The long-term goal is to develop diagnostics, vaccines and better treatments to these deadly diseases.<\/p>\n

Over the past four years, the team has brought in this grant plus other NIH<\/abbr> associated funding totaling $3 million to study bacterial infectious diseases.<\/p>\n

“Our success depends heavily on funding and mentorship support from the Pacific Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Research<\/a> at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, led by Richard Yanagihara<\/strong>, as well as the hard-working people on our team including Yun Kang<\/strong>, a 糖心视频 <\/abbr> graduate, and Michael Norris<\/strong>, a senior PhD student,” Hoang said.<\/p>\n

—A University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at Mānoa news release<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Research by a 糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa team lead by Tung Hoang could ultimately help treat Cystic Fibrosis lung infections and eye infections.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[148,9],"class_list":["post-22373","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","tag-microbiology","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t