ECOLOGY OF EMERGING ARENAVIRUSES IN SOUTHWESTERN U S

这项研究提案的广泛目标是阐明 生态学、脊椎动物寄主关系、遗传多样性和人类 美国西南部存在的阿雷纳病毒的致病潜力 美国和墨西哥北部。最近发现了一种新的 ArenaVirus，白水Arroyo(WWA)感染纽约啮齿动物 墨西哥和血清学证据表明，WWA或相关的阿拉伯病毒是 广泛分布于木贼(Neotoma spp.)全球人口数量 西南部，提出了这些特工可能是 该地区的一些公共卫生重要性。这样做的具体目的是 项目是(L)确定地理分布和啮齿动物 美国西南部和北部地区WWA病毒的宿主相关性 墨西哥；(2)研究不同木本植物之间的遗传联系 在同一地区发生的物种和病毒；(3)至 研究WAA病毒在其推定的自然状态下的致病机制 啮齿动物宿主，白纹伊蚊；(4)确定流行率、风险 WWA感染的相关因素和疾病相关性研究 在流行地区的人类中发现了禽流感病毒。这项研究 是德克萨斯大学的科学家们共同努力的成果 医学院(加尔维斯顿)和德克萨斯理工大学(拉伯克)。 该项目为期3年，由现场和实验室组成。 研究，涉及病毒学、病理学、分子生物学等学科 生物学、遗传学、哺乳动物学、生态学和流行病学。

The broad objectives of this research proposal are to elucidate the ecology, vertebrate host associations, genetic diversity and human disease potential of arenaviruses present in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The recent identification of a new arenavirus, Whitewater Arroyo (WWA), infecting rodents in New Mexico and serologic evidence that WWA or related arenaviruses are widely distributed in woodrat (Neotoma spp.) populations throughout the Southwest, raise the real possibility that these agents may be of some public health importance in the region. The specific aims of this project are (l) to determine the geographic distribution and rodent host associations of WWA virus in the Southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico; (2) to study the genetic associations among various woodrat species-and arenaviruses occurring in the same region; (3) to investigate the pathogenesis of WAA virus in its presumed natural rodent host, N albigula; and (4) to determine the prevalence, risk factors and disease associations of infection with WWA and related arenaviruses among humans living in the endemic region. This research is a collaborative effort between scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston) and Texas Tech University (Lubbock). The project is of 3 years duration, consists of both field and laboratory studies, and involves the disciplines of virology, pathology, molecular biology, genetics, mammalogy, ecology and epidemiology.