US-UK Collab: RCN: Vector Behavior in Transmission Ecology (VectorBiTE)

 描述(申请人提供)：传播生态学研究协调网络(VectorBiTE RCN)中的媒介行为将有助于调查媒介行为和生活史在疾病传播动力学中的作用。拟议的工作旨在通过以下方式实现这一目标：(1)开发包括病媒行为和异质性的更多细节的理论模型；(2)改进数据收集和统计方法，使这些模型能够面对数据；(3)开发全面和免费的验证数据集，以便能够以透明的方式测试方法和比较拟议的模型；以及(4)在开发这些新工具和方法时，对年轻研究人员进行培训。这些目标将通过以下方式实现：(A)举行年度会议和讲习班，使不同系统和机构的经验生物学家和理论生物学家汇聚一堂；(B)开发一个在线平台，储存媒介行为的数据和用于模拟行为在传播动力学中的作用的代码；(C)提供机会，通过在线和会议演讲向研究人员同事和公众介绍网络的进展情况。智力优势：复杂的病媒行为和生活史特征通常在模型中以固定值表示，不随病媒寿命、病媒感染状态或条件或环境变化而变化。越来越多的经验证据表明，媒介行为生态确实在所有这些尺度上有所不同。然而，缺乏结合这种可变性来理解传播动力学的工具。这一差距提出了一些关键问题，例如：受感染媒介中的行为改变是否会改变疾病动态？促进传播的条件是什么？全球化和气候变化将如何改变媒介传播疾病的分布和强度？哪些控制策略可以最大限度地减少传播/耐药性的演变？要了解这些疾病在医疗、野生动物、兽医和农业环境中的动态，需要确定这种变异对于解释动态是否重要。这个RCN将促进合作，开发将媒介生态与传播联系起来的新方法。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Vector Behavior in Transmission Ecology Research Coordination Network (VectorBiTE RCN) will facilitate investigation into the role of vector behavior and life history in disease transmission dynamics. The proposed work aims to accomplish this by promoting (1) the development of theoretical models that include more details of vector behavior and heterogeneity; (2) improved data collection and statistical methods to enable such models to be confronted with data; (3) development of comprehensive and freely available validation datasets to allow testing of methods and comparison between proposed models in a transparent fashion; and (4) training of young researchers in these new tools and methods as they are developed. These objectives will be accomplished through: (A) annual meetings and workshops to bring together empirical and theoretical biologists across diverse systems and institutions; (B) the development of an online platform with repositories for data on vector behavior and code for modeling the role of behavior on transmission dynamics; and (C) providing opportunities to educate fellow researchers and the public about network advances via online and conference presentations. Intellectual Merit: Complex vector behaviors and life history traits are often expressed as fixed values in models and do not vary over vector lifespan, with vector infection status or condition, or in response to environmental variation. There is mounting empirical evidence that vector behavioral ecology does vary across all of these scales. However, tools to incorporate this variability to understand transmission dynamics are lacking. This gap presents key questions such as: Do altered behaviors in infected vectors alter disease dynamics? What conditions promote transmission and how will globalization and climate change alter the distribution and intensity of vector borne diseases? Which control strategies might minimize the evolution of transmission/resistance? Understanding the dynamics of these diseases across medical, wildlife, veterinary, and agricultural settings, requires determining whether this variation is important for explaining dynamics. This RCN will facilitate collaborations to develop new approaches linking vector ecology with transmission.