Interspecies Microbial Interactions and Infections – IMII
The Interspecies Microbial Interactions and Infections (IMII) study section reviews grant applications focused on investigation of interspecies interactions among microbes and within microbial communities including bacteria, bacteriophages, fungi, viruses (except HIV), and parasites. Areas of interest include the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the virulence of polymicrobial infections.
Review Dates
Topics
- Biofilm and microbial community (e.g., microbiome, virome, mycobiome), dynamics, structure, communication, and host response
- Cross-species metabolism, including interactions with the host
- Interspecies communication, including mechanisms of quorum sensing and metabolite secretion
- Competition and synergy between microbes (in vitro or in vivo)
- Polymicrobial infection dynamics: microbe-microbe interactions and polymicrobial infection-host responses and host defense/subversion
- Environmental and climate change pressures on microbial communities
- Influence of host environment on polymicrobial systems
Shared Interests and Overlaps
There are shared interests with Bacterial Virulence (BV), and Bacterial-Host Interactions (BHI). Applications focused largely on a single bacterial species may be reviewed in the relevant bacteria-focused study section. Interspecies interactions with other microbes or within microbial communities or polymicrobial research involving both bacterial and other microbes may be reviewed by IMII.
There are shared interests with Digestive System Host Defense, Microbial Interactions and Immune and Inflammatory Diseases (DHMI) in the area of microbial interactions in the gut, including pathogens and the microbiome. Applications that focus on gut physiology may be reviewed in DHMI. Applications focused largely on the microbe(s) may be reviewed in IMII.
There are shared interests with viral study sections, namely Molecular and Cellular Biology of Virus Infection (MCV), Viral Dynamics and Transmission (VDT), and Viral Pathogenesis and Immunity (VPI). Applications focused largely on a single virus may be reviewed in the relevant viral-focused study section. Interspecies interactions with other microbes or within microbial communities or polymicrobial research involving both viruses and other microbes may be reviewed by IMII.
There are shared interests in biofilm formation and interactions among microbes with Prokaryotic Cell and Molecular Biology (PCMB). Applications that focus on the basic genetics, biochemistry, and fundamental biology may be reviewed in PCMB. Applications that focus on infectious diseases may be reviewed in IMII.
There are shared interests with Pathogenic Eukaryotes (PTHE) in the investigation of eukaryotic pathogens. Applications focused largely on a single eukaryotic pathogen may be reviewed in PTHE. Applications that focus on single species biofilms, or interspecies interactions with other microbes or within microbial communities, may be reviewed by IMII.
