Malaria Research Training in South India

描述(申请人提供)：虽然间日疟原虫感染通常被认为是良性的，但近年来它与严重的疟疾有关，并导致大量死亡。与世界其他地区一样，间日疟原虫感染在印度占主导地位，包括南印度。尽管间日疟与疟疾相关的健康负担巨大，但了解间日疟严重疟疾的病理生理学和免疫学基础的研究工作一直很少。在南印度，特别是在卡纳塔克邦，很少或根本没有开展疟疾研究，特别是关于间日疟原虫的研究。这是由于缺乏资源，缺乏熟练和有经验的疟疾调查员。这项资助申请的总体目标是在卡纳塔克邦西南部的芒格洛尔市培训来自印度的年轻而有价值的博士生关于间日疟原虫的知识。培训将由一组被招募到该项目的印度和美国专家调查人员提供。四名博士生将接受关于间日疟原虫的培训，使他们成为专家调查人员，并能够就与研究区域有关的疟疾方面进行独立研究。培训将通过实地考察、实验室研究工作以及组织研讨会和讲习班来传授。培训的具体研究方面包括：(1)研究疟疾感染和寄生虫耐药性的流行病学；(2)获得关于间日疟原虫临床表现和细胞因子反应的信息；(3)了解间日疟原虫感染对孕妇的影响。长期目标是支持和促进受训人员作为独立调查人员参与的研究项目，在印度西南部地区开展疟疾研究。 与公共卫生相关：迄今被认为是良性的间日疟在包括印度在内的世界许多地区正变得越来越致命，因此，间日疟是一个全球关切的问题。全球疟疾控制需要采取适当的控制措施，并深入了解各受影响地区的抗药性和寄生虫生物学。这一培训计划将有助于增进我们对印度西南部间日疟原虫的了解，该地区尽管存在广泛的感染和健康负担，但迄今尚未进行重大研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Although P. vivax infection has been commonly considered to be benign, in recent years it has been associated with severe malaria with significant fatalities. Like in other parts of the world, P. vivax malaria infection predominates in India, including South India. Despite the enormity of P. vivax associated malaria health burden, research efforts to understand the pathophysiological and immunological basis for P. vivax severe malaria have been meager. Very little or no malaria research, especially on P. vivax, is being undertaken in South India, particularly in the Karnataka State. This is due to lack of resources and scarcity of skilled and experienced malaria investigators. The overall goal of this grant application is to train young and meritorious PhD students from India on P. vivax malaria in Mangalore city of Southwestern Karnataka. The training will be given by a group of expert Indian and US investigators recruited to this program. Four PhD students will be trained on P. vivax malaria so that they become expert investigators and are able to take up independent studies on aspects of malaria that are relevant to the study region. The training will be imparted through field studies, laboratory research work, and by organizing symposia and workshops. Specific research aspects for training include: (I) to study the epidemiology of malaria infection and parasite drug resistance, (ii) to gain information on the clinical presentations of P. vivax malaria and cytokine responses, and (iii) to understand the impact of P. vivax infection in pregnant women. The long-term goals are to support and foster research projects taken up by trainees as independent investigators, conducting research on malaria in the Southwestern region of India. Public Health Relevance: P. vivax malaria that was so far considered to be benign is becoming increasingly fatal in many parts of the world, including India and as such, vivax malaria is a global concern. Appropriate control measures and in- depth understanding of drug resistance and parasite biology in various affected regions are required for the global malaria control. This training program will help advance our knowledge on P. vivax malaria in Southwestern India, the region in which so far no significant research efforts have been made despite the wide spread infection and health burden.