US-UK EEID RCN: Vector Behavior in Transmission Ecology Research Coordination Network

许多重要的动植物疾病都是通过媒介传播的。在许多情况下，这种媒介是一种昆虫，它在觅食时传播致病因子。这些媒介传播疾病的传播动力学非常复杂，很难预测。一个尚未得到很好研究的领域是媒介行为对传播周期的影响。具体地说，我们对媒介生物寿命、种群中个体之间的行为差异以及对环境变化的反应知之甚少。更好地了解病媒行为及其如何影响疾病传播将提高我们对病媒传播疾病动态的理解，导致更有针对性的模型，并最终更好地了解疾病控制和政策。传播生态学研究协调网络中的媒介行为将促进对媒介行为和生活史在疾病传播动态中的作用的调查。这一美英合作网络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，使这些模型能够与数据对峙；(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对拟议模型进行比较；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，其中将包括病媒行为数据储存库和行为在传播动力学中的作用建模代码；(C)提供机会，通过在线和会议介绍向研究人员同事和公众介绍网络的进展情况。

Many important animal and plant diseases are transmitted by vectors. In many cases, this vector is an insect that transmits the disease causing agent when it feeds. Transmission dynamics of these vector-borne diseases are very complex and difficult to predict. One area that has not been well studied is the effect of vector behaviour on transmission cycles. Specifically, we understand very little about how behaviour varies across vector life span, between individuals in a population, and in response to environmental variation. A better understanding of vector behaviour and how it effects disease transmission would improve our understanding of vector-borne disease dynamics, lead to more targeted models, and eventually to better informed disease control and policies. The Vector Behavior in Transmission Ecology Research Coordination Network (VectorBiTE RCN) will facilitate investigation into the role of vector behaviour and life history in disease transmission dynamics. This US-UK collaborative network aims to accomplish this goal by promoting (1) the development of theoretical models that include more details of vector behaviour 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 which will include repositories for data on vector behaviour and code for modelling the role of behaviour on transmission dynamics; and (C) providing opportunities to educate fellow researchers and the public about network advances via online and conference presentations.