Effect of predation on virulence traits of opportunistic pathogens

该项目旨在确定细菌在动物或人类宿主中的适合性增加(毒力增加)是否可以归因于间接而不是直接的选择压力，特别是原生动物捕食对细菌的压力。原生动物以海洋中的许多致病细菌(例如，那些导致霍乱和慢性感染的细菌)为食，预计海洋变暖将增加捕食。了解海洋变暖对海洋细菌的影响以及在环境中易受捕食的细菌中出现的毒力，可以为设计监测感染暴发风险的工具提供依据。对优化感染威胁跟踪感兴趣的学术研究人员、临床医生和政策制定者将获得好处。

The project aims to determine if increased fitness of bacteria in animal or human hosts (increased virulence) can occur due to indirect rather than direct selective pressure, particularly pressure on bacteria arising from predation by protozoa. Protozoa feed on many pathogenic bacteria (e.g. those that cause cholera and chronic infections) in the ocean, and warming oceans are predicted to increase predation. Knowing the effect of warming oceans on marine bacteria and the emergence of virulence in bacteria that are subject to predation in the environment can inform design of tools for monitoring the risk of infection outbreaks. Benefits would be realised by academic researchers, clinicians and policy-makers interested in optimising the tracking of infection threats.