DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Iron availability and dynamics of an emerging infectious disease: Can a micronutrient cause macro-level outcomes?

论文研究：铁的可用性和新发传染病的动态：微量营养素能否导致宏观层面的结果？

• 批准号: 1209178
• 负责人: James Collins
• 金额: $ 1.5万
• 依托单位: Arizona State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-06-01 至 2015-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1209178&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Iron; availability; dynamics

The element iron plays a key role in the cellular chemistry of nearly all life forms. Surprisingly, while iron is the fourth most abundant element on Earth, it often limits growth and reproduction of organisms because it is insoluble in water. Parasites face a special challenge in acquiring iron because hosts actively sequester it. To obtain iron, therefore, parasites must take it from host tissues by overcoming an array of host defenses. Changes in host iron levels alter the dynamics of this struggle; for example, there is a tendency for elevated host iron concentration to cause increased parasite virulence across a variety of infectious diseases, including human diseases. To understand iron?s role in the dynamics of an emerging amphibian disease, chytridiomycosis, the proposed study will test experimentally the biological effects of host iron bioaccumulation on the likelihood of acquiring and spreading an infectious disease. The project is a novel analysis of a potentially broad mechanism influencing the spread of disease in populations of diverse organisms.Results from this research could explain the recent emergence of a suite of wildlife diseases, if iron is, as suggested, increasing in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems globally. Throughout the study non-scientists will participate in research and the process of discovery. Researchers will engage elementary school students and adults through innovative, university-sponsored outreach programs such as: "Ask a Biologist", a question and answer resource for K-12 students and teachers; "Graduate Partners in Science Education", an after school science program for 7th and 8th graders; and "SHADES", a mentoring program for underrepresented minorities seeking a degree in science, technology, engineering, or math). These activities will engage the public in scientific inquiry and enrich public education, fostering an appreciation of science and conservation.

铁元素在几乎所有生命形式的细胞化学中起着关键作用。令人惊讶的是，虽然铁是地球上第四丰富的元素，但它经常限制生物体的生长和繁殖，因为它不溶于水。寄生虫在获取铁方面面临着特殊的挑战，因为宿主会主动地将其隔离。因此，为了获得铁，寄生虫必须通过克服宿主的一系列防御来从宿主组织中获取铁。 宿主铁水平的变化改变了这种斗争的动态;例如，有一种趋势，即宿主铁浓度升高会导致寄生虫对各种传染病（包括人类疾病）的毒力增加。 了解铁？的作用，在一个新兴的两栖动物疾病，壶菌病的动力学，拟议的研究将测试实验的生物效应，宿主铁生物积累的可能性，获得和传播的传染病。该项目是对影响疾病在不同生物种群中传播的潜在广泛机制的一种新颖分析。如果铁如所建议的那样在全球水生和陆地生态系统中增加，这项研究的结果可以解释最近出现的一系列野生动物疾病。在整个研究过程中，非科学家将参与研究和发现过程。研究人员将通过创新的，大学赞助的推广计划，如小学生和成年人参与：“问生物学家”，为K-12学生和教师的问答资源;“科学教育研究生合作伙伴”，为7年级和8年级学生的课后科学计划;和“SHADES”，一个为寻求科学、技术、工程或数学学位的代表性不足的少数民族提供指导的项目）。这些活动将使公众参与科学探索，丰富公众教育，培养对科学和自然保护的认识。