Funding has been awarded to four highly meritorious proposals, submitted in response to the COBRE Small Grants Program funding opportunity announcement (FOA).

Mukesh Kumar, Ph.D.
In utero Pathogenesis of African and Asian Zika Virus Strains in Guinea Pig

Axel T. Lehrer, Ph.D.
Innate …

Animal models are critical to understand the transmission and pathogenesis of infectious diseases and to develop countermeasures for their prevention and spread. Here, we report that immunocompetent Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs are susceptible to infection by a contemporary American strain of Zika vir…

The purpose of the Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Small Grants Program is to provide support via three funding mechanisms to University of Hawaii (UH) faculty engaged in research in tropical medicine, medical microbiology, immunology, and/or emerging infectious diseases. However, …

Schlafen (SLFN) proteins have been suggested to play important functions in cell proliferation and immune cell development. In this study, we determined the antiviral activities of putative RNA-helicase domain-containing SLFN14. Murine SLFN14 expression was specifically induced by TLR3-mediated path…

Lion’s mane jellyfish (Cyanea capillata) stings cause severe pain and can lead to dangerous systemic effects, including Irukandji-like syndrome. As is the case for most cnidarian stings, recommended medical protocols in response to such stings lack rigorous scientific support. In this study, we soug…

Stings from the hydrozoan species in the genus Physalia cause intense, immediate skin pain
and elicit serious systemic effects. There has been much scientific debate about the most appropriate first aid for these stings, particularly with regard to whether vinegar use is appropriate (most current r…