[IHD Roster]

The Immunity and Host Defense study section reviews applications involving host defense, systemic and mucosal immunity.

Specific areas covered by IHD:

• Host-microbe interactions: Innate and acquired host immune responses to specific pathogenic organisms including viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites; host responses to commensal microbes; host factors, including genetic predisposition or resistance to infection.
• Innate immunity to microorganisms: Cells, receptors, cytokines, chemokines, and soluble mediators that provide early protection from injury due to pathogens and their products or responses to commensal organisms. Innate immune cells include but are not limited to NK cells, phagocytes, gamma/delta and NK T cells, B-1 cells, dendritic cells, and mast cells. Receptors include but are not limited to molecules that are expressed by these cells and are used in innate immunity, including chemokine and other G-protein coupled receptors, Toll-like receptors, NK cell activation and inhibitory receptors, phagocytic receptors, pattern recognition receptors, Fc receptors, adhesion receptors, co-stimulatory molecules, and cytokine receptors.
• Mucosal immunity: Host immune responses in mucosal sites to specific pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites and regulation by commensal microbes. Topics include but are not limited to induction and modulation of mucosal immune responses. Studies include comparison of mucosal immunity versus systemic immunity, differentiation of immune responses in the mucosa and peripheral lymphoid tissues, and immune cell migration to mucosal sites, including inductive and effector sites.
• Host defense: Innate and acquired immune responses that protect the host from deleterious effects of pathogens, including basic mechanisms of immune responses to limit pathogen invasion and toxicity, and development of animal models of potential bioterrorism agents.
• Immune response to gene therapy agents: Immune responses that limit the effectiveness of treatment through gene transfer, including response to gene therapy vectors and gene products.

IHD has the following shared interests within the IMM IRG:

• With Innate Immunity and Inflammation [III]: If the primary focus of an application is innate immunity in general, assignment may be to III. If the primary focus of an application is innate immunity in relation to a specific pathogen, assignment may be to IHD.
  
  
• With Hypersensitivity, Autoimmune, and Immune-mediated Diseases [HAI]:  Applications dealing with inflammation of the lung and airway epithelium and with immunologic aspects of digestive sciences, including inflammatory bowel diseases, may be referred to HAI. Applications dealing with basic mucosal immunity and inflammation may be referred to IHD.
  
  
• With Vaccines Against Microbial Diseases [VMD]: Applications dealing with basic mucosal immunity and inflammation may be referred to IHD. Applications dealing with modulation of mucosal immunity from the point of view of developing a vaccine may be referred to VMD.

IHD has the following shared interests outside the IMM IRG:

• With the Infectious Diseases and Microbiology [IDM] IRG:  Applications dealing with host-pathogen responses may be assigned to IDM if the application focuses primarily on the pathogen. Applications dealing with host-pathogen responses may be assigned to IHD if the application focuses primarily on the host immune response. If focus is host-pathogen interactions, assignment should be based on the central thrust of the application.
  
  
• With the AIDS and Related Research [AARR] IRG:  Applications dealing with immune responses to HIV may be assigned to AARR. Applications dealing with specific immune responses to other pathogenic organisms may be assigned to IHD.
  
  
• With the Digestive Sciences [DIG] IRG: Mucosal receptors for pathogens, inflammation, and innate immunity are areas of shared interest between DIG and IHD. Applications where the focus is gastrointestinal physiology or pathology, including injury and inflammation, may be assigned to DIG. Where the focus is basic or multi-organ aspects of the immune response or leukocyte biology may be assigned to IHD.
  
  
• With the Respiratory Sciences [RES] IRG:  Studies of the lung airway epithelium could be referred to RES if the focus of the study is unique to the respiratory system.  If the utility of the study results could extend beyond the respiratory system, assignment could be to IHD.
  
  
• With the Biobehavioral and Behavioral Processes [BBBP] IRG: Interactions of behavioral stress, emotion, personality, sickness behavior, and psychopathology with the immune system are shared interests. When such studies focus primarily on behavioral effects they could be assigned to BBBP; when such studies focus primarily on immune effects they could be assigned to IHD.