POWRE: Mathematical Models for Host-Parasite Systems

这项工作是通过妇女在研究和教育领域的职业机会方案作为一个研究/教育促进项目资助的。 该建议涉及数学生物学的研究和教育活动。该研究项目侧重于微分方程和动力系统理论的使用 研究异质性在传染病和宿主-寄生虫相互作用动力学中的作用。 使用了两种特殊的宿主-寄生虫系统： （微寄生的）和人-寄生虫-蜗牛（大寄生的）的研究，以突出我们的方法在宿主-寄生虫相互作用的研究中的一般性。该项目将着眼于： 感染性的宿主异质性对结核病竞争菌株-常规结核病和耐药结核病菌株-的共存和共同进化的影响; 结核病潜伏期长且变化不定对寄生虫毒力进化的影响，以及大型寄生虫（血吸虫病）控制方案对寄生虫遗传多样性的影响。 尽管数学和生物学的许多领域之间的长期和持久的联系，很少有学生有足够的训练，有效地工作在这些领域的接口。教育项目的中心介绍课程数学生物学在本科和研究生水平在我的家乡机构。普渡大学目前没有这样的课程。该项目包括为这两门课程开发课程，准备课堂讲稿和设计适合普渡学生的研究项目，以及 教这些课程。 这两门课程都是为数学或生物专业的学生设计的。这些教育活动的目标是让学生获得跨学科研究以及数学生物学方面的经验，从而加强他们的背景，使他们在就业方面更加多才多艺。 该奖项由MPS多学科活动办公室（OMA）资助。

This work is funded through the Professional Opportunities for Women in Research and Education (POWRE) program as a Research/Educational Enhancement Project. This proposal concerns with both research and educational activities in mathematical biology. The research project focuses on the use of differential equations and dynamical systems theory to study the role of heterogeneity on the dynamics of infectious diseases and host-parasite interactions. Two particular host-parasite systems are used: the human-tuberculosis (microparasitic) and the human-schistosome-snail (macroparasitic) to highlight the generality of our approaches in the study of host-parasite interactions. This project will look at: the impact that the host heterogeneity in infectivity has on the coexistence and coevolution of competing strains of TB -- regular TB and drug resistant TB strains; the effect that the long and variable latency period of TB has on the evolution of parasite virulence; and to study how control programs of macroparasites (schistosomiasis) affect parasite genetic diversity. In spite of the long and lasting connection among many fields of mathematics and biology, few students have sufficient training to work effectively at the interface of these fields. The educational project centers on introducing courses in mathematical biology at both undergraduate and graduate levels at my home institution. Such courses are currently non-existent at Purdue University. This project consists of developing curricula for the two courses, preparing lecture notes and designing research projects suitable for Purdue students, as well as teaching these courses. Both courses will be designed for students majoring in either mathematics or biology. The goal of these educational activities is to give students experience in interdisciplinary studies, as well as in mathematical biology, thus strengthening their backgrounds and making them more versatile for employment. This award is funded through the MPS Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (OMA).