RCN: Infectious Disease Evolution Across Scales

该研究协调网络将在生物组织的各个范围内调查病原体，目的是更好地了解决定病原体传播和疾病发生的过程。为什么病原体，甚至一个物种内的不同菌株，在宿主诱导的疾病严重程度上会有如此显著的差异？为什么病原体在从一个宿主传播到下一个宿主的效率上有所不同？这些问题集中在不同的生物尺度(宿主有机体与宿主群体)，但在确定病原体的进化压力方面却密不可分：菌株的持久性由对单个宿主的利用和在宿主群体中的传播共同决定。网络活动将通过讲习班和研究交流在微生物学家、免疫学家、流行病学家和进化生物学家之间建立合作。网络成员将开发数据和工具，以：a)确定重要病原体菌株之间的变异原因；b)在不同的免疫学和流行病学背景下预测病原体的演变；以及c)设计医疗干预措施，以最大限度地减少病原体进化导致药物或疫苗过时的机会。该项目将为多个利益相关者带来好处。对于研究人员，该网络将提供一个数据库，其中包括相关的分析工具，以及大量的培训机会。对于生物、数学和医学的学生，该网络将生成传授跨学科技能和洞察力的教学模块。最后，该网络将促进不受进化影响的医疗技术的发展。

This Research Coordination Network will investigate pathogens across scales of biological organization with the goal of better understanding of the processes that determine pathogen transmission and disease occurrence. Why do pathogens, even different strains within a species, differ so dramatically in the severity of disease induced in a host? And why do pathogens vary in efficiency of transmission from one host to the next? These questions focus on different biological scales (the host organism versus the host population) yet are inextricably connected in determining evolutionary pressures on pathogens: persistence of a strain is jointly determined by exploitation of individual hosts and by transmission across the host population. Network activities will build collaborations among microbiologists, immunologists, epidemiologists and evolutionary biologists via workshops and research exchanges. Network members will develop data and tools to: a) identify causes of variation among strains of important pathogens; b) predict pathogen evolution in diverse immunological and epidemiological contexts; and c) design medical interventions to minimize chances of pathogen evolution rendering drugs or vaccines obsolete. This project will bring benefits to multiple stakeholders. For researchers, the Network will provide a database with linked analytical tools, plus ample training opportunities. For students of biology, mathematics and medicine, the Network will generate teaching modules that convey interdisciplinary skills and insights. Finally, the Network will promote the development of evolution-proof medical treatments.