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Viral diseases continue to be a major cause of human morbidity and mortality, and new viruses appear or reemerge constantly. In addition, it is likely that several, if not many, chronic diseases of unknown etiology are caused by or are associated with viruses, be they "old friends" or new viruses yet to be discovered. In recent years alone, many new and reemerging viruses have played a major role in human disease. The AIDS pandemic continues to spread, and future AIDS cases predicted to occur in parts of Asia, China, and Africa will make the statistics of the 1990s seem insignificant. Discovery of the new human herpesvirus KSHV as the etiologic agent of Kaposi's sarcoma and other human cancers has clarified the epidemiology of some cancers. Newly discovered members of the Paramyxoviridae (Nipah and Hendra viruses) and Coronaviridae (SARS) have been shown to cause severe and even fatal infections in humans. Several classic viral diseases such as yellow fever and dengue have reemerged in ever spreading geographical locations, and the major threat presented by the appearance and spread of West Nile virus in the USA has changed human outdoor activities in the summer.

In addition to the role of viral pathogens in natural infections, viruses present a major threat as potential agents in bioterrorism. Smallpox virus and several other human pathogens represent a major potential threat in this day of terrorism and, equally important, is the possibility of the use of highly contagious animal pathogens such as Aphthovirus (Foot And Mouth Disease Virus) as a bioweapon. Indeed, an outbreak of Foot And Mouth Disease in the USA would have a long-term and devastating effect on the economy of this country and all of North America as demonstrated by outbreaks of this disease in the UK a few years ago. Mad cow disease has the potential to wreck the cattle industry and to do great damage to the country's economy as well as to cause fatal infections in humans.

The above considerations offer a strong rationale for the support of research programs in virology, especially in a Center that will enhance the expertise of junior level investigators, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students who will continue to work in virology for several decades. The research programs of CMTV investigators address quite varied outcomes of virus infection, and each faculty investigator employs state-of-the-art approaches to understand how viral gene products alter the host. However, all of the ongoing research is interactive and benefits from the experience and expertise of all members of the Center and of our faculty colleagues both within and outside of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.

The project described was supported by NIH Grant Number
P20RR018724 from the National Center for Research Resources.