Infectious Diseases and Microbiology [Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (IDM) Integrated Review Group] [ F13 Roster ]

F13 reviews fellowship applications involving virology and viral pathogenesis, bacteriology and bacterial pathogenesis, fungal pathogenesis, parasitology and parasitic diseases, the innate and adaptive host responses to these microbes and viruses, and the development of anti-infective agents to treat and prevent infectious disease including issues relating to bioterrorism. Examples of specific areas covered are listed below. Genetics, biochemistry, structure, physiology and behavior of bacteria, archaea, and their phages. Mechanisms of bacterial commensalism, infection, and disease Bacterial factors that alter/affect host cells, or the host aspect of the host pathogen interaction. Protozoal, helminthic, and fungal pathogens in humans, and animal models. Viral structure, genetics, infection and replication; cellular and host responses to viral and prion infections; and mechanisms of disease pathogenesis in plants, animals, and humans. Studies (including clinical) on the emergence, spread, control, and prevention of infectious diseases that affect humans. The identification of novel antimicrobial agents, for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and the study of the evolution, mechanisms, and transmission of resistance. All aspects of arthropod and molluscan intermediate hosts of parasitic (e.g., nematode, helminth, or protozoa), viral, and bacterial pathogens, including model systems, where the intent is to yield information relevant to human diseases. Shared Interests: With F04A (Chemical and Bioanalytical Sciences) regarding antimicrobial therapeutic agents:  Fellowship applications concerned with chemical syntheses of antimicrobial therapeutic agents may be assigned to F04A; fellowship applications that focus on structure-activity relationships in antimicrobial therapeutic agents may be assigned to either F04A or F13. With F04B (Biophysical and Biochemical Sciences): If the focus of an application is on studying chemistry or physics of a macromolecule without reference to its role in infection, assignment may be to F04B. If the focus of the study is to elucidate the role of the molecule in infection, it may be assigned to F13. With F05 (Cell Biology and Development): Fellowship applications that focus on cell biology with potentially broad applications across kingdoms (i.e., crosscutting studies) or that use model organisms in nonpathogenic settings or that use viruses or their components as tools may be assigned to F05. Fellowship applications that concern cell biology studies of microbes where the results will principally apply to microbes may be assigned to F13.  With F07 (Immunology): Fellowship applications focusing on the biology of the immune response to the pathogen may be assigned to F07.  Fellowship applications focusing on the pathogen or pathogenic aspects may be assigned to F13.  With F08 (Genomics, Genetics, DNA Replication, and Gene Expression): Studies using microbes as models that are broadly applicable across kingdoms for genetics, genomics, and molecular aspects of gene expression including chromatin structure function, DNA replication and repair, transcription, RNA processing and translation may be assigned to F08. Genetic studies of microbes where the results will principally apply to microbes could be assigned to F13. With F09 (Oncological Sciences): Fellowship applications concerning viral oncogenesis could be assigned to F09. Fellowship applications that focus on viral replication could be assigned to F13. With F10 (Physiology and Pathobiology of Organ Systems): When the focus of the study is the effect of infection on the organ, assignment could be to F10.  Applications that focus on pathogens or pathogenic mechanisms, even in specific tissues/organs, could be assigned to F13.

F14 (Technology Development): Fellowship applications that are concerned primarily with development of technology for detecting pathogens, high throughput screening technology for identifying inhibitors of these pathogens, and technology for designing and testing vectors for eventual use in recombinant protein production or in gene or drug delivery may be assigned to F14.  Fellowship applications that are concerned primarily with virology and viral pathogenesis, bacteriology and bacterial pathogenesis, fungal pathogenesis, parasitology and parasitic diseases, innate and adaptive host responses to these microbes and viruses, and the development of anti-infective agents to treat and prevent infectious disease may be assigned to F13.