Theoretical Evolutionary Epidemiology

理论进化流行病学

• 批准号: CRC-2021-00276
• 负责人: MacPherson, Ailene
• 金额: $ 8.74万
• 依托单位: Simon Fraser University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Canada Research Chairs
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=758434
• 关键词: Theoretical; Evolutionary; Epidemiology

Dr. Ailene MacPherson's research program addresses fundamental questions at the intersection of evolution, ecology, and epidemiology. The long-term goal is to use infectious diseases to explore species interactions. During the proposed CRC term, Dr. MacPherson will address two short-term objectives: 1) Develop methods for robustly estimating infectious disease dynamics from viral genomic data and 2) Analyze mathematical models and develop statistical inference methods to examine coevolution between hosts and infectious pathogens and to facilitate the design of effective genetic conservation strategies. The MacPherson research team will tackle these research objectives with a multifaceted approach. For Objective 1 they will develop and apply methods for analyzing viral genome sequences to inform disease dynamics. Specifically, the team will focus on the estimation of epidemiological parameters of particular importance in natural populations and for the design of innovative public health strategies, such as the development of transmissible vaccines. Objective 2 consists of four complementary approaches. First, the team will develop mathematical population genetic models to contrast local versus global patterns of coevolutionary adaptation. Then they will use the findings from Objective 1 to expand and synthesize theoretical perspectives on the effect of species interactions on biological diversity. In the final two approaches, Dr. MacPherson and her research team will transition from a mathematical to a statistical framework, using patterns of parasite local adaptation to identify genes involved in species interactions and to design genetic conservation strategies to help rescue species at risk of extinction from infectious disease. The outcomes of the proposed research will provide insights on existential scientific challenges faced by Canadians, from pandemic control to conservation.

艾琳·麦克弗森博士的研究项目解决了进化论、生态学和流行病学交叉领域的基本问题。长期目标是利用传染病来探索物种相互作用。在拟议的 CRC 任期内，MacPherson 博士将实现两个短期目标：1) 开发根据病毒基因组数据稳健估计传染病动态的方法；2) 分析数学模型并开发统计推断方法，以检查宿主和传染性病原体之间的共同进化并促进有效的遗传保护策略的设计。麦克弗森研究团队将通过多方面的方法来实现这些研究目标。对于目标 1，他们将开发并应用分析病毒基因组序列的方法，以了解疾病动态。具体来说，该团队将重点关注自然人群中特别重要的流行病学参数的估计以及创新公共卫生策略的设计，例如开发传染性疫苗。目标 2 由四种互补的方法组成。首先，该团队将开发数学群体遗传模型，以对比局部与全球的共同进化适应模式。然后，他们将利用目标 1 的发现来扩展和综合关于物种相互作用对生物多样性影响的理论观点。在最后两种方法中，麦克弗森博士和她的研究团队将从数学框架过渡到统计框架，利用寄生虫局部适应模式来识别参与物种相互作用的基因，并设计遗传保护策略以帮助拯救濒临灭绝的物种来自传染病。拟议研究的结果将为加拿大人面临的生存科学挑战提供见解，从流行病控制到保护。