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

该行动为2022财年美国国家科学基金会生物学博士后研究奖学金提供资金，扩大生物学中代表性不足群体的参与。该奖学金支持研究员的一项研究和培训计划，该计划将增加生物学中代表性不足的群体的参与。野生动物经常同时受到多种寄生生物的感染。对温血动物（恒温动物）——哺乳动物和鸟类的研究表明，相互感染的寄生虫之间的相互作用可以对对抗疾病的能力产生深远的影响。例如，寄生虫（大寄生虫）经常抑制免疫反应，从而促进病原病毒、细菌和真菌（微寄生虫）引起的感染和疾病。这种现象被称为“宏观-微观促进假说”。尽管寄生共感染在鱼类、两栖动物和爬行动物等野生冷血动物（变温动物）中很常见，但人们对这些动物中宏观和微观寄生虫之间的相互作用以及它们如何影响变温动物的生理（如免疫反应）和疾病结果知之甚少。本研究将是为数不多的评估恒温动物宏观-微观促进机制的研究之一。通过进一步了解共同感染寄生虫之间的相互作用如何影响变温动物疾病生态，本研究将为变温动物在不断变化的世界中的保护提供新的见解。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，以促进在生物学方面代表性不足的中学生和大学生的融入和成功。本研究将采用实地调查、实验室分析和先进的统计模型来验证野生蛇的宏观-微观促进假说，重点是真菌微寄生虫蛇皮菌，它引起了最近出现的皮肤疾病蛇皮菌病。虽然蛇霉病对蛇的生物多样性的威胁尚不清楚，但亚致死影响可能对种群健康和稳定产生重大影响。该研究员将描述在北美东部一种广泛分布的蛇种中，寄生虫感染、蛇蛇弧菌感染和蛇菌病严重程度如何在多种蛇种之间以及随着时间的推移相互关联。然后，研究员将使用结构方程建模来识别和量化直接和间接地将许多生理、环境、感染和疾病变量与野生蛇联系起来的因果途径。该研究员将参与扩大代表性不足的学生在生物学领域的代表性：1)与当地外展活动合作，为四年级教室制作活动工具包和演讲，重点介绍环境变化如何影响蛇的健康；2)创建一个社交网络平台，连接和支持寄宿学校的寄养学生群体；3)通过主办单位的应用生态学辅修课程，指导和提供本科生独立研究的机会。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

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.