This study was supported by research grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Dr. David Thomas (mcgill/biochemistry/department/faculty/thomas/) is the Chair of the McGill Department of Biochemistry and holds a Canada Research Chair in Molecular Genetics. Dr. Thomas' research focuses on cell signaling pathways and their role in infectious diseases, and on molecular chaperone systems in the endoplasmic reticulum.

McGill University (www.mcgill) is Canada's leading research-intensive university and has earned an international reputation for scholarly achievement and scientific discovery. The 21 faculties and professional schools offer more than 300 programs, from the undergraduate to the doctoral level, and our professors have received their education from leading academic centres around the world. There are approximately 23,000 full- and part- time undergraduate students and 7,000 full- and part-time graduate students. McGill was recently named Canadian Research University of the Year in the Medical/Doctoral category based on research funding and publication information compiled by Research Infosource.

The CIHR (www.cihr-irsc.gc) is Canada's premier agency for health research. Its objective is to excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened health care system. CIHR's Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction supports research to enhance mental health, neurological health, vision, hearing, and cognitive functioning and to reduce the burden of related disorders through prevention strategies, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation

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