NSF PRFB FY 2023: Understanding the ecological drivers and genomic mechanisms of wildlife viral emergence caused by deforestation in Cambodia

这一行动为NSF 2023财年生物学博士后研究奖学金提供了资金，综合研究调查了支配基因组、环境和表型之间相互作用的生命规则。该奖学金支持研究员的研究和培训，这些研究员将以创新的方式为生活规则领域做出贡献。野生动物病毒是一个主要的全球健康问题，因为已知的感染人类的大多数微生物都来自动物。人类和野生动物相遇的界面，如市场和森林砍伐区域，是病毒涌现和溢出的热点。这些活动往往集中在拥有巨大生物多样性和病毒多样性的国家，但侵占自然空间的经济压力也在快速增加。预防下一次全球大流行将需要一个健康方法，考虑人类、动物和环境健康之间的内在联系。除了推进科学研究和技术进步，改善大流行防备还需要更多的公共教育和对同一健康的认识，与利益相关者和政策制定者的积极参与，以及对野生动物和环境保护的新的紧迫性。这项研究旨在研究柬埔寨的森林砍伐如何影响野生动物病毒的多样性和进化。使用基于杂交捕获的元基因组方法，该项目将从啮齿动物、蚊子和环境样本中检测并发现新的病毒。产生的病毒基因组序列将与气候和环境数据一起用于表征人畜共患病溢出风险建模的潜力。除了在病毒发现、监测和风险评估的尖端分子、生物信息学和建模方法方面的实践研究培训外，该研究员还将开发公共科学传播、应用保护和公共卫生方面的可翻译技能，同时参与包括野生动物保护学会(WCS)、卡尔加里大学、莱布尼茨动物园和野生动物研究所和柬埔寨巴斯德研究所(IPC)在内的多个国际非营利组织和学术环境。该研究员还将与WCS教育部合作创建在线科学和保护教育模块，重点关注基于基因组的野生动物疾病监测及其在One Health中的作用，这将通过与柬埔寨WCS和柬埔寨IPC病毒学单位的当地外联工作来实施。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。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2023, Integrative Research Investigating the Rules of Life Governing Interactions Between Genomes, Environment, and Phenotypes. The fellowship supports research and training of the fellow that will contribute to the area of Rules of Life in innovative ways. Wildlife viruses are a major global health concern as most microbes known to infect humans have origins in animals. Interfaces where humans and wildlife meet such as markets and deforestation areas are hotspots for viral emergence and spillover. These activities are often concentrated in countries with immense biodiversity and thus viral diversity, yet economic pressures to encroach upon natural spaces is also increasing at a rapid pace.Preventing the next global pandemic will require a One Health approach that considers the inherent connections between human, animal, and environmental health. Beyond advancing scientific research and technological advancements, improving pandemic preparedness will also require greater public education and awareness of One Health, active engagement with stakeholders and policymakers, and a renewed urgency for wildlife and environmental conservation.This research aims to study how deforestation in Cambodia affects wildlife viral diversity and evolution. Using hybridization capture based metagenomic methods, this project will detect known and uncover novel viruses from rodent, mosquito, and environmental samples. The viral genomic sequences generated will be used along with climate and environmental data to characterize zoonotic potential for spillover risk modeling. In addition to hands-on research training in cutting-edge molecular, bioinformatic, and modelling methods for viral discovery, surveillance, and risk assessment, the fellow will also develop translatable skills within public science communication, applied conservation, and public health while enmeshed in multiple international non-profit and academic environments including the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the University of Calgary, the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, and Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC). The fellow will also collaborate with the WCS Education Department to create online science and conservation education modules focused on genomic-based wildlife disease surveillance and its role in One Health, which will be implemented through local outreach efforts with WCS Cambodia and the IPC Virology Unit in Cambodia.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.