POWRE: Mathematical Models for Host-Parasite Systems

这项工作是通过妇女参与研究和教育的专业机会（POWRE）方案作为一个研究/教育加强项目资助的。本提案涉及数学生物学的研究和教育活动。该研究项目侧重于使用微分方程和动力系统理论来研究异质性在传染病动力学和宿主-寄生虫相互作用中的作用。我们使用了两种特定的宿主-寄生虫系统：人-结核（微寄生）和人-血吸虫-蜗牛（大寄生），以突出我们在宿主-寄生虫相互作用研究中的方法的普遍性。该项目将着眼于：宿主传染性异质性对结核病竞争菌株共存和共同进化的影响——常规结核病和耐药结核病菌株；结核病漫长多变的潜伏期对寄生虫毒力进化的影响；研究大型寄生虫（血吸虫病）控制方案对寄生虫遗传多样性的影响。尽管数学和生物学的许多领域之间有着长期而持久的联系，但很少有学生受过足够的训练，能够在这些领域的界面上有效地工作。这个教育项目的重点是在我的母校为本科生和研究生引入数学生物学课程。普渡大学目前不存在此类课程。这个项目包括为这两门课程开发课程，准备课堂讲稿，设计适合普渡学生的研究项目，以及教授这些课程。这两门课程都是为数学或生物专业的学生设计的。这些教育活动的目标是让学生在跨学科研究以及数学生物学方面获得经验，从而加强他们的背景，使他们在就业方面更加多才多艺。该奖项由MPS多学科活动办公室（OMA）资助。

This work is funded through the Professional Opportunities for Women in Research and Education (POWRE) program as a Research/Educational Enhancement Project. This proposal concerns with both research and educational activities in mathematical biology. The research project focuses on the use of differential equations and dynamical systems theory to study the role of heterogeneity on the dynamics of infectious diseases and host-parasite interactions. Two particular host-parasite systems are used: the human-tuberculosis (microparasitic) and the human-schistosome-snail (macroparasitic) to highlight the generality of our approaches in the study of host-parasite interactions. This project will look at: the impact that the host heterogeneity in infectivity has on the coexistence and coevolution of competing strains of TB -- regular TB and drug resistant TB strains; the effect that the long and variable latency period of TB has on the evolution of parasite virulence; and to study how control programs of macroparasites (schistosomiasis) affect parasite genetic diversity. In spite of the long and lasting connection among many fields of mathematics and biology, few students have sufficient training to work effectively at the interface of these fields. The educational project centers on introducing courses in mathematical biology at both undergraduate and graduate levels at my home institution. Such courses are currently non-existent at Purdue University. This project consists of developing curricula for the two courses, preparing lecture notes and designing research projects suitable for Purdue students, as well as teaching these courses. Both courses will be designed for students majoring in either mathematics or biology. The goal of these educational activities is to give students experience in interdisciplinary studies, as well as in mathematical biology, thus strengthening their backgrounds and making them more versatile for employment. This award is funded through the MPS Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (OMA).