# GENETICS OF RESISTANCE TO PSEUDOMONAS TOXIN AND VIRUSES

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE · 1992 · $337,406

## Abstract

An understanding of the ways in which microbial toxins and viruses
act at the cellular and molecular level will enable better ways of
controlling or abrogating their negative effects on cells and
tissues to be designed.  The purpose of this project is to isolate
and study mutant cultured cells, or human and animal origin, in
order to investigate mechanisms of Pseudomonas exotoxin A action,
replication of animal viruses, receptor-mediated endocytosis, and
the cellular pathways and mechanisms involved.  Ongoing studies of
a group of cell strains already isolated, that are resistant to
Pseudomonas toxin and certain viruses because of diverse genetic
lesions will be continued.  New strains will also be isolated and
characterized, using biological, biochemical, immunological, and
genetic techniques.  Ligands with known or postulated mechanisms
of entry, such as well-characterized viruses, lectins, and selected
hormones and transport proteins, will be used as probes to
determine the biochemical and genetic basis of resistance in the
mutant cells.

Monoclonal antibodies to the Pseudomonas toxin receptor will be
prepared, in order to isolate, purify, and quantify the receptor,
to study its structure-function relationships, and to use as probes
for cloning the toxin receptor gene.  Monoclonal
antibodies to Sindbis virus glycoproteins will be prepared for the
purpose of localizing, within the cell, the site of an
endopeptidase activity essential for the processing of these
glycoproteins, and, it is postulated, for the activation of
Pseudomonas toxin.  The gene (or genes) for this enzyme activity
will be cloned, taking advantage of a group of resistance mutant
cells that are deficient in this activity.  A unique opportunity
to investigate not only sensitivity and resistance to microbial
toxins, but also regulation of gene expression and cellular
function, and viral replication, is presented.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3124501
- **Project number:** 5R01AI009100-23
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE
- **SAM.gov UEI:** Z94KLERAG5V9
- **Principal Investigator:** THOMAS J MOEHRING
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $337,406
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1979-05-01 → 1994-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3124501

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3124501, GENETICS OF RESISTANCE TO PSEUDOMONAS TOXIN AND VIRUSES (5R01AI009100-23). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3124501. Licensed CC0.

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