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.

这一行动资助了NSF 2022财年生物学博士后研究奖学金，扩大了生物学中代表性不足的群体的参与。该奖学金支持一项针对该研究员的研究和培训计划，该计划将增加生物学中代表性不足的群体的参与。野生动物经常同时被多种寄生生物感染。对温血动物(恒温动物)-哺乳动物和鸟类的研究表明，共感染寄生虫之间的相互作用可以对抗击疾病的能力产生深远影响。例如，寄生蠕虫(大型寄生虫)经常抑制免疫反应，从而促进由致病病毒、细菌和真菌(微型寄生虫)引起的感染和疾病。这种现象被称为“宏观-微观促进假说”。尽管在鱼类、两栖动物和爬行动物等野生冷血动物中普遍存在寄生虫合并感染，但对这些动物中宏寄生虫和微寄生虫之间的相互作用以及这些寄生虫如何影响外温生理(如免疫反应)和疾病结局知之甚少。这项研究将是为数不多的评估体温动物宏观-微观促进机制的研究之一。通过促进对共感染寄生虫之间的相互作用如何塑造外温疾病生态的理解，这项研究将为在不断变化的世界中保护外温动物提供新的见解。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，以促进生物专业代表性不足的中学生和大学生的融入和成功。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检验野生蛇的宏观-微观促进假说，重点是引起最近出现的皮肤病奥迪霉病的真菌微寄生虫奥菲迪奥氏菌。虽然绿僵菌病对蛇生物多样性的威胁尚不清楚，但亚致死性影响可能会对种群健康和稳定产生重大影响。这位研究员将描述在北美东部广泛分布的一种蛇种中，寄生蠕虫感染、嗜酸杆菌感染和嗜酸真菌病严重程度是如何在多个蛇物种中以及随着时间的推移而相互关联的。然后，研究员将使用结构方程模型来识别和量化直接或间接联系野生蛇身上测量的许多生理、环境、感染和疾病变量的因果路径。该研究员将通过1)与当地外展活动合作，为四年级教室创建活动套件和演讲，重点关注环境变化如何影响蛇的健康；2)创建一个社交网络平台，以连接和支持主办机构的寄养学生群体；3)通过主办机构的应用生态学辅修项目为本科生提供指导和独立研究机会。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。