NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology: An ecophysiological examination of the role of parasite interactions in mediating emerging fungal disease in snakes

NSF 生物学博士后奖学金：对寄生虫相互作用在介导蛇中新出现的真菌疾病中的作用进行生态生理学检查

• 批准号: 2208993
• 负责人: Kenzie Pereira
• 金额: $ 13.8万
• 依托单位: Pereira, Kenzie Elizabeth
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Fellowship Award
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-08-01 至 2024-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2208993&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NSF; Postdoctoral; Fellowship; Biology; ecophysiological

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY2022, Broadening Participation of Groups Underrepresented in Biology. The fellowship supports a research and training plan for the Fellow that will increase the participation of groups underrepresented in biology. Wild animals are frequently infected by multiple parasitic organisms simultaneously. Studies of warm-blooded animals (endotherms) – mammals and birds show that interactions between coinfecting parasites can have profound impacts on the ability to combat disease. For example, parasitic worms (macroparasites) often dampen immune responses, thereby, facilitating infection and disease caused by pathogenic viruses, bacteria, and fungi (microparasites). This phenomenon is known as the “macro-micro facilitation hypothesis.” Despite the common occurrence of parasitic coinfections in wild cold-blooded animals (ectotherms) – fish, amphibians, and reptiles, little is known about the interactions between macro- and microparasites in these animals and how these influence ectotherm physiology (such as the immune response) and disease outcome. This research will be one of few studies to evaluate the mechanisms underlying macro-micro facilitation in an ectothermic animal. By advancing understanding about how interactions between coinfecting parasites shape ectotherm disease ecology, this research will provide new insights for ectotherm conservation in a changing world. The Fellow will design and implement educational activities and will create resources and research opportunities to promote the inclusion and success of middle school and college students underrepresented in biology. This research will use field surveys, laboratory analyses, and advanced statistical modeling to test the macro–micro facilitation hypothesis in wild snakes focusing on the fungal microparasite Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, which causes the recently emerged skin disease ophidiomycosis. While the threat of ophidiomycosis to snake biodiversity remains unclear, sublethal impacts may have substantial consequences for population health and stability. The Fellow will describe how parasitic worm infections, O. ophiodiicola infections, and ophidiomycosis severity are correlated across multiple snake species and over time in one widespread snake species in eastern North America. The Fellow will then use structural equation modeling to identify and quantify the causal pathways that directly and indirectly link the many physiological, environmental, infection, and disease variables measured in wild snakes. The Fellow will participate in broadening the representation of underrepresented student in biology by 1) partnering with local outreach events to create activity kits and presentations focused on how environmental change influences snake health for fourth grade classrooms; 2) creating a social networking platform to connect and support foster care student populations at the host institution; 3) mentoring and providing independent research opportunities for undergraduate students through the host institution’s Applied Ecology Minor program.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该行动为2022财年的生物学生物学奖学金提供了NSF博士后研究奖学金，从而扩大了在生物学中代表性不足的群体的参与。奖学金支持该研究员的研究和培训计划，这将增加生物学中代表性不足的群体的参与。野生动物经常被多种寄生虫感染。对暖血动物（吸热）的研究 - 哺乳动物和鸟类表明，寄生寄生虫之间的相互作用对打击疾病的能力产生深远的影响。例如，寄生虫（大型虫）经常会抑制免疫反应，从而由致病性病毒，细菌和真菌（微斑岩）引起的感染和疾病支持。这种现象被称为“宏观巨细胞设施假设”。尽管在野生冷血动物（饮热动物）（鱼，两栖动物和爬行动物）中常见发生了寄生共感染，但对于这些动物的宏观和微寄生虫之间的相互作用以及这些如何影响疗程生理学（例如免疫源）和疾病结果，对这些动物的相互作用知之甚少。这项研究将是评估热热动物中宏观巨细胞设施的机制的少数研究之一。通过促进了解共同感染的寄生虫之间的相互作用如何形成Ectotherm疾病生态学，这项研究将为不断变化的世界中的阶段保存提供新的见解。该研究员将设计和实施教育活动，并将创造资源和研究机会，以促进中学和大学生在生物学方面的成分不足。这项研究将使用现场调查，实验室分析和先进的统计模型来测试野生蛇的宏与微小设施假说，重点是真菌微寄生虫Ophidomyces ophiodiicicola，这会导致最近出现的最近出现的皮肤疾病眼科疾病。虽然蛇毒菌病对蛇生物多样性的威胁尚不清楚，但一定的影响可能会对人口健康和稳定产生重大影响。该研究员将描述寄生虫感染，O. ophidiomycola感染和Ophidiomycisosis的严重程度如何在多种蛇种中以及北美东部的一种广泛的蛇种中随着时间的流逝而相关。然后，该研究员将使用结构方程建模来识别和量化直接和间接连接野蛇中许多物理，环境，感染和疾病变量的因果途径。该研究员将通过1）与当地的外展活动合作，扩大代表人数不足的生物学学生的代表，以创建活动套件和演讲，重点是环境变化如何影响四年级教室的蛇健康； 2）创建一个社交网络平台，以连接和支持主机机构的寄养学生群体； 3）通过主持机构的应用生态次要计划为本科生的心理研究和为本科生提供独立的研究机会。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并使用基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响来评估，被认为是珍贵的支持。