Project 4: Biophysics of Mtb droplets and fluid spray technology to elucidate Mtb transmission

摘要 结核分枝杆菌(Mtb)是结核病(TB)的病原体，比其他任何疾病导致的死亡人数都要多。 每年都有传染病。这在很大程度上是因为它能够通过空气在人与人之间传播。 估计感染剂量低至一个有机体。了解特定的物理化学知识 然而，与结核分枝杆菌通过空气从一台主机成功传播到另一台主机相关的条件 仍然令人惊讶地不完整。该项目建议使用应用数学、流变学、界面 物理学，以及新的流体动力学和液滴生物物理技术，以填补关于以下方面的关键知识空白 传播结核分枝杆菌的可呼吸微滴在宿主内和宿主间的微环境。了解以下内容 这些特性在概念上代表了了解结核病的微生物决定因素的强大窗口 (结核病)传播和新型传播阻断干预措施。因此，这些研究不仅承诺将 关于结核分枝杆菌在从一个宿主到另一个宿主的旅程中面临的基本环境挑战，但是， 与本应用程序中的其他项目和核心协作，还将支持开发新的和 用于改进体外和动物模型以进行实验研究的迫切需要的技术 结核病传播和新的传播阻断干预措施。

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), kills more people than any other infectious disease each year. This is due, in large part, to its ability to spread from person to person through air with an estimated infectious dose as low as one organism. Knowledge of the specific physico-chemical conditions associated with Mtb's successful transmission through air from one host to another however remains surprisingly incomplete. This project proposes to use applied mathematics, rheology, interfacial physics, and novel fluid dynamics and droplet biophysics technologies to fill critical gaps in knowledge about the in-host and between-host microenvironment of respirable droplets that can transmit Mtb. Knowledge of such properties represents a conceptually powerful window into microbiological determinants of tuberculosis (TB) transmission and novel transmission blocking interventions. These studies thus not only promise to shed light on the fundamental environmental challenges faced by Mtb during its journey from one host to others, but, in collaboration with other projects and cores in this application, will also enable the development of new and sorely needed technologies for improved in vitro and animal models with which to enable experimental studies of TB transmission and novel transmission blocking interventions.