Center of Excellence for Translational Research
The five projects included within the Enteric Center of Excellence for Translational Research (CETR) will undertake translational research towards developing products to prevent enteric disease caused by a number of important bacterial and protozoal pathogens, including: the enteric fever Salmonella serovars S. Typhi, S. Paratyphi A and S. Paratyphi B (Project 1); Clostridium difficile (Project 2); Shigella, enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) and Shiga toxin-producing enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) diarrheal pathogens (Project 3); non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars that cause invasive disease and/or gastroenteritis (with an emphasis on group C serovars) (Project 4); and the protozoan species Cryptosporidium hominis and C. parvum (Project 5). Each project will address a recognized clinical need, and each pathogen represents an important public health problem because of the disease burden they cause. Among these pathogens, only one, S. Typhi, already has safe and effective licensed vaccines to prevent disease and those current typhoid vaccines are not ideal.