The National Science Foundation awarded a $1,027,074 Project Grant to Stanford University under the Biological Sciences federal grant program (CFDA 47.074) for work spanning July 15, 2022 to June 30, 2026. The award will support research examining how natural selection impacts prions, which are proteins that can replicate across generations and in some cases cause disease, at multiple levels from molecules to biological communities. Specifically, the grantee will conduct an experimental evolution study comparing the effects of prions evolved within a yeast host versus in a cell-free environment to better understand how prions are influenced by selective pressures and potentially provide benefits when "tamed" by their host. Outcomes will include characterization of selective pressures on a specific yeast prion and comparisons of biological effects between prions evolved in different conditions. The research aims to advance knowledge of prion evolution with implications for emerging disease agents and viral evolution.
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