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.

元素铁在几乎所有生命形式的细胞化学中起关键作用。令人惊讶的是，尽管铁是地球上第四大元素，但它通常会限制生物的生长和繁殖，因为它不溶于水。寄生虫在获得铁中面临特殊的挑战，因为主机会积极隔离它。 因此，为了获得铁，寄生虫必须通过克服一系列宿主防御力来从宿主组织中取出。 宿主铁层的变化改变了这场斗争的动态。例如，在包括人类疾病在内的各种传染病中，寄主铁浓度升高会引起寄生虫毒力增加的趋势。 为了了解铁疗法的新兴两栖动物疾病的动力学作用，拟议的研究将通过实验测试宿主铁生物积累对获得和传播感染性疾病的可能性的生物学作用。该项目是对影响疾病在各种生物体种群中传播的潜在广泛机制的新分析。这项研究的结果可以解释近期野生动植物疾病的近期出现，如果铁如所建议的，则在全球水上和地层生态系统中的增加。在整个研究中，非科学家将参与研究和发现过程。研究人员将通过创新的，大学赞助的外展计划，例如：“问生物学家”，这是K-12学生和老师的问答资源； “科学教育的研究生伙伴”，这是一项针对七年级和八年级学生的课后科学课程；和“ Shades”，这是一项针对代表性不足的少数民族的指导计划，以寻求科学，技术，工程或数学学位）。这些活动将吸引公众进行科学探究并丰富公共教育，从而促进对科学和保护的欣赏。