Summary Statement: ADARC Program Project on HIV/SIV Vaccine Development

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1 P01 AI43042-01 19 SEP
Ho, David D.
REVIEHER A: Standard procedures for a number of the techniques mentioned in
the description are outlined and appear to be well documented and routine.
The plans for construction of the specialty viruses, single-cycle SIVGFP and
SIV-ICP47 for Project 1 are presented in considerable detail. The strategies
seem carefully thought out and feasible. The examples of core usage by the
three projects seem logical and appropriate.
Drs. Cheng-Mayer and Ho are well qualified to supervise the core.
The services provided by the Molecular Virology Core will be critical to the
successful completion of this Program Project. In the opinion of this,
reviewer, it inclusion is highly appropriate.
The facilities and equipment for the core seem adequate.
REVIEHER B: The overall objective of the Molecular Virology Core is to
provide comprehensive molecular biology services, virology services, reagents,
and biosafety level 3 and PCR facilities to members of the three projects of
the program. The activities proposed for the Molecular Virology Core,
including virus isolation and characterization, quantitation of viral antigens
and nucleic acids, construction and preparation of plasmids and/or chimeric
viruses, and protein expression, are all procedures or assays that would be
utilized by more than one project and would benefit from the standardization
of technique or reagents provided by a core facility. Although Dr. ChengMayer, the co-investigator responsible for directing this co ong with Dr.
Ho qualified for this task, only one technician isted as "To e
amed" th relatively little experience based on the sa bud e
pr ed to perform all of these complicated and diverse assays.
Even thou jec iv exce, the apparent lack o
ied personnel staff raises serious concerns as to whether this core can
function effectively as it is the goal of this application. Before approval
is given for this core, clarification should be obtained about th
mem er " tuall be e rose assays and whether others
listed in the application will be providing the actual work or expertise.
The advantages of standardization inherent in core facilities will greatly
enhance the research as a whole by facilitating direct comparison of data from
separate projects. This is especially true for some of the services provided,
such as preparation and characterization of stocks of viruses, providing
monoclonal antibodies or glycoproteins, or quantitation of virus in animals or
culture fluids by measurement of viral antigens or nucleic acid.
Other services provided are largely conveniences for researchers due to their
reproducibility in different hands. These include DNA sequencing and plasmid
preparation among those listed. Nevertheless, providing these services in a
core will avoid duplication of efforts, equipment and resources, resulting in
greater efficiency of the individual projects (and researchers), and cost
savings overall.

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