Dissertation Research: Elucidating the Population Dynamics of a Vector-Borne Pathogen: An Empirical and Modeling Approach

论文研究：阐明媒介传播病原体的种群动态：一种经验和建模方法

• 批准号: 9972739
• 负责人: John Wootton
• 金额: $ 0.78万
• 依托单位: University of Chicago
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1999
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1999-06-01 至 2000-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9972739&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Elucidating; Population; Dynamics

9972739Wootton, Fish & TsaoLyme disease is caused by a bacterium that in many areas in the United States is transferred between vertebrates by ticks. Using the Lyme disease cycle as a model system, this project examines how ecological factors determine the distribution and abundance of a microparasite in nature. The first objective is to examine the effect of local vertebrate species composition on transmission dynamics. A natural host community will be manipulated through selective vaccination of the principal vertebrate host species, white-footed mice, and the effects on micoparasite dynamics will be monitored. The second objective is to look critically at how density and proportion of vectors infected differentially may affect transmission dynamics. Using a model and survey data on infection in ticks and mice, we will test which measure of infection better predicts within-season transmission dynamics in mouse populations.Ecologists largely have ignored the ecology of microparasites despite the implications for population and community dynamics. Epidemiologists also often have ignored the importance of understanding microbe population dynamics in nature, focusing instead on vaccines and treatments. The results of this study will make contributions to both fields and advance our knowledge about these ubiquitous, diverse, and important organisms.

9972739Wootton、Fish 和 Tsao 莱姆病是由一种细菌引起的，在美国许多地区，这种细菌通过蜱虫在脊椎动物之间传播。该项目以莱姆病循环为模型系统，研究生态因素如何决定自然界中微型寄生虫的分布和丰度。第一个目标是研究当地脊椎动物物种组成对传播动态的影响。将通过对主要脊椎动物宿主物种白足小鼠进行选择性疫苗接种来操纵自然宿主群落，并将监测对微型寄生虫动态的影响。第二个目标是批判性地研究不同感染媒介的密度和比例如何影响传播动态。使用蜱虫和小鼠感染的模型和调查数据，我们将测试哪种感染测量方法可以更好地预测小鼠种群的季节内传播动态。尽管微寄生虫对种群和群落动态具有影响，但生态学家在很大程度上忽视了微寄生虫的生态学。流行病学家也常常忽视了了解自然界微生物种群动态的重要性，而是将注意力集中在疫苗和治疗上。这项研究的结果将为这两个领域做出贡献，并增进我们对这些无处不在、多样化且重要的生物体的了解。