DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Iron availability and dynamics of an emerging infectious disease: Can a micronutrient cause macro-level outcomes?

铁元素在几乎所有生命形式的细胞化学中扮演着关键角色。令人惊讶的是，尽管铁是地球上第四丰富的元素，但它经常限制生物的生长和繁殖，因为它不溶于水。寄生虫在获取铁的过程中面临着特殊的挑战，因为宿主会主动地将其隔离。因此，为了获得铁，寄生虫必须通过克服一系列宿主防御来从宿主组织中获取铁。宿主铁水平的变化改变了这场斗争的动态；例如，宿主铁浓度升高有导致包括人类疾病在内的各种传染病的寄生虫毒力增加的趋势。为了了解铁？S在一种新出现的两栖动物疾病--壶菌病的动力学中所扮演的角色，这项拟议的研究将通过实验测试宿主铁的生物积累对感染和传播传染病的可能性的生物效应。该项目对影响疾病在不同生物种群中传播的潜在广泛机制进行了新颖的分析。这项研究的结果可以解释最近出现的一系列野生动物疾病，如果铁如所建议的那样，在全球水生和陆地生态系统中增加。在整个研究过程中，非科学家将参与研究和发现的过程。研究人员将通过创新的、由大学赞助的推广计划吸引小学生和成年人的参与，这些计划包括：面向K-12学生和教师的问答资源《向生物学家提问》；面向7年级和8年级学生的课后科学计划《科学教育中的研究生伙伴》；以及面向寻求科学、技术、工程或数学学位的少数族裔代表不足的辅导计划“Shades”。这些活动将吸引公众参与科学研究，丰富公众教育，培养人们对科学和自然保护的欣赏。

The element iron plays a key role in the cellular chemistry of nearly all life forms. Surprisingly, while iron is the fourth most abundant element on Earth, it often limits growth and reproduction of organisms because it is insoluble in water. Parasites face a special challenge in acquiring iron because hosts actively sequester it. To obtain iron, therefore, parasites must take it from host tissues by overcoming an array of host defenses. Changes in host iron levels alter the dynamics of this struggle; for example, there is a tendency for elevated host iron concentration to cause increased parasite virulence across a variety of infectious diseases, including human diseases. To understand iron?s role in the dynamics of an emerging amphibian disease, chytridiomycosis, the proposed study will test experimentally the biological effects of host iron bioaccumulation on the likelihood of acquiring and spreading an infectious disease. The project is a novel analysis of a potentially broad mechanism influencing the spread of disease in populations of diverse organisms.Results from this research could explain the recent emergence of a suite of wildlife diseases, if iron is, as suggested, increasing in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems globally. Throughout the study non-scientists will participate in research and the process of discovery. Researchers will engage elementary school students and adults through innovative, university-sponsored outreach programs such as: "Ask a Biologist", a question and answer resource for K-12 students and teachers; "Graduate Partners in Science Education", an after school science program for 7th and 8th graders; and "SHADES", a mentoring program for underrepresented minorities seeking a degree in science, technology, engineering, or math). These activities will engage the public in scientific inquiry and enrich public education, fostering an appreciation of science and conservation.