Bacterial-Host Interactions – BHI

Topics

• Molecular basis for bacteria-host interactions including colonization and tissue invasion, intra- and extracellular survival, replication, dissemination, intercellular spread, persistence 
• Bacteria modulators and effector molecules in the manipulation and evasion of host defense
• Interplay between bacteria and host cell components and processes, subversion and manipulation of normal host cell processes as part of the bacterial adaptation
• Development and use of animal infection, disease, and symbiosis models to investigate host determinants of susceptibility and resistance and surrogate hosts 
• Identification and initial characterization of potential vaccine targets for early- and mid-stage vaccine development 

Shared Interests and Overlaps

There are shared interests with Bacterial Virulence (BV). Applications that focus on the bacterial side of the host-pathogen relationship may be reviewed in BV, whereas applications that focus on the host side of the host-pathogen relationship may be reviewed by BHI. Applications that use animal models of infection to assess levels of virulence may be appropriate for BV, whereas applications that use such models to investigate mechanisms of pathogenesis may be more appropriate for BHI. 

There are shared interests in bacterial infections of the central nervous system with Clinical Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumors (CNBT). Applications that emphasize molecular mechanistic models of bacterial infection or pathogenesis and immunity emphasizing the host perspective are reviewed in BHI. Applications that emphasize CNS infectious diseases due to bacterial infection and bacterial-host immune or inflammatory interactions relevant to CNS diseases or disorders are reviewed in CNBT.

There are shared interests with Interspecies Microbial Interactions and Infections (IMII) for studies that investigate the interactions of bacteria with other bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Applications emphasizing the interspecies interactions with other microbes or within microbial communities or polymicrobial research involving both bacteria and other microbes may be reviewed by IMII. Applications focused on bacterial factors that alter/affect host cells, or the host responses due to host-bacterium interaction may be reviewed in BHI.

There are shared interests in bacteria-host interactions with Transmission of Vector-borne and Zoonotic diseases (TVZ). Applications that emphasize the zoonotic or vector-borne life cycles of bacteria may be reviewed in TVZ. Applications that are focused on the general mechanisms by which the bacteria cause disease persistence may be reviewed by BHI.

There are shared interests with Immunity and Host Defense (IHD) in the investigations of the immunologic process of bacterial infections. Applications focused on the immune mechanisms associated with the host response to bacterial infections and those utilizing bacteria as tools to stimulate an immune response may be reviewed in IHD. Applications that focus on the bacterial pathogenesis process, including elements of host defense and evasion of host defense may be reviewed in BHI. 

There are shared interests in vaccine development with Vaccines Against Infectious Diseases (VID). Applications that emphasize measurement of vaccine efficacy or vaccine-induced immune responses as the endpoint may be reviewed in VID. Applications that emphasize early- and mid-stages of vaccine development, such as the identification and initial characterization of protective pathogenic antigens, their cloning and development of vector systems, and the development and immunologic evaluation of the adjuvant systems may be reviewed in BHI.

There are shared interests with Digestive System Host Defense, Microbial Interactions and Immune and Inflammatory Diseases (DHMI), Clinical Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumors (CNBT), and Hepatobiliary Pathophysiology (HBBP). Applications addressing bacterial-host immune or inflammatory interactions relevant to the diseases or disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (DHMI), nervous system (CNBT),and hepatobiliary system (HBPP) due to bacterial infection may be reviewed in the respective study section noted. Applications focused on molecular mechanistic models of bacterial infection or pathogenesis and immunity emphasizing the bacterial perspective may be reviewed in BV or BHI.

There are shared interests in pathogen physiology with Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology A (DMPA). Applications that emphasize developing new antimicrobial drugs may be reviewed in DMPA. Applications that emphasize understanding fundamental processes or pathogenesis mechanisms, or that use known drugs as probes, may be reviewed in BHI.

There are shared interests in bacterial pathogen physiology with Anti-Infective Resistance and Targets (AIRT). Applications that focus on identifying novel drug targets or resistance mechanisms may be reviewed in AIRT. Applications focused on bacterial factors that alter/affect host cells, or the host responses due to host-bacterium interaction may be reviewed in BHI.

There are shared interests with Etiology, Diagnostic, Intervention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (EDIT) in the general area of bacterial pathogens. Applications that focus on population-based studies examining human-bacterial interactions, epidemiology, therapeutics, prophylactics, or diagnostics may be reviewed in EDIT. Applications that focus on mechanistic in vitro studies and animal models of bacterial diseases may be reviewed in one of the bacterial-focused study sections, PCMB, BV, or BHI.

There are shared interests in reviewing studies of effects of molecular probes or prospective therapeutic modifiers of prokaryotic or eukaryotic pathogens with Chemical Biology & Probes (CBP). Applications that emphasize development of novel synthetic or medicinal chemistry approaches are reviewed in CBP. Applications that use known or modestly modified drugs as probes may be reviewed in BHI.

There are shared interests with Adaptive Immunity (AI). Applications associated with infectious disease virulence and pathological outcomes may be reviewed in BHI, whereas applications with a greater focus on the adaptive immune response itself may be reviewed in AI.

There are shared interests with Innate Immunity B (IIB). Applications with a greater focus on innate immune signaling may be reviewed in IIB. Applications associated with infectious disease virulence and pathological outcomes may be reviewed in BHI.

There are shared interests with Innate Immunity A (IIDA (81)). Applications with a greater focus on the innate immune cell processing of the infectious agent antigen may be reviewed in IIDA (81), whereas applications associated with infectious disease virulence and pathological outcomes may be reviewed in BHI.

There are shared interests with Lung Immunology and Infection (LII). Applications addressing bacterial-host immune or inflammatory interactions in the lung may be reviewed in LII. Applications focused on molecular mechanistic models of bacterial infection or pathogenesis and immunity emphasizing the bacterial perspective may be reviewed in BHI.