Fifth World Congress of Leishmaniasis 2013

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请要求支持学员和初级教师参加将于2013年5月在巴西举行的第五届利什曼原虫和利什曼病世界大会（WL5）。利什曼原虫是原生动物寄生虫，感染中性粒细胞，树突状细胞和巨噬细胞。寄生虫在巨噬细胞和树突状细胞的特化空泡内的活跃复制和长期存在可导致宿主先天性和适应性免疫功能障碍。利什曼原虫通过白蛉传播给人类，广泛分布在大约90个热带和亚热带国家，包括美国的某些地区，它们构成了一个重大的公共卫生问题，并对生活在流行地区并进入这些地区的数百万人构成风险。利什曼病的流行病学非常多样化，已知利什曼属的20个物种对人类具有致病性。现有的抗利什曼原虫药物由于成本高、毒性大或耐药性等原因，远远不能令人满意。利什曼病是世界上被忽视的主要疾病之一，对于任何形式的疾病都没有有效的疫苗。为了应对这些挑战，自1997年以来，每四年在一个流行国家举行一次利什曼病世界大会，这仍然是唯一专门讨论利什曼病和利什曼病的国际会议。WL5的主要目标是提供一个平台，使基础科学研究人员以及实地研究和转化研究有机会直接互动。此R15申请的目的是为研究生，博士后培训生和初级研究生提供旅行资金。 来自美国和其他国家的教师参加WL5。将努力为妇女、少数民族、残疾人和经济拮据的人提供支助。WL5的成功和影响力由当地组委会和国际科学委员会确保。本次大会及其培训机会将对控制传染病和改善全球健康产生重大影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application requests support for trainees and junior faculty to attend the 5th World Congress of Leishmania and Leishmaniasis (WL5) to be held in Brazil in May 2013. Leishmania are protozoan parasites that infect neutrophils, dendritic cells, and macrophages. The active replication and long-term persistence of parasites within specialized vacuoles of macrophages and dendritic cells can lead to dysfunction of host innate and adaptive immunity. Leishmania parasites are transmitted to humans by sand flies and are widely distributed in about 90 tropical and subtropical countries, including certain parts of the U.S. They pose a major public health problem and a risk for millions of people living in endemic areas and entering those areas. The epidemiology of leishmaniasis is extremely diverse, and 20 species of the Leishmania genus are known to be pathogenic for humans. The available anti-Leishmania drugs are far from satisfactory due to high costs, toxicity, or drug resistance. Leishmaniasis is one of the world's principal neglected diseases, for which no effective vaccines are available for any form of the disease. To address these challenges, WL congresses have been held every four years in an endemic country since 1997, and they remain the only international meetings devoted exclusively to Leishmania and leishmaniasis. The primary goal of WL5 is to provide a platform by which investigators working in basic sciences, as well as field-based and translational research have a chance to interact directly. The purpose of this R15 application is to provide travel funds for graduate students, postdoctoral trainees, and junior faculty from the U.S. and other countries to attend WL5. Efforts will be made to provide support for women, minorities, and persons with disabilities and financial limitations. The success and impact of WL5 are ensured by local organizing committees and an International Scientific Committee. This congress and its training opportunities will have a significant impact on the control of infectious diseases and the improvement of global health.