[BACP Roster]

The Bacterial Pathogenesis Study Section reviews proposals that focus primarily on the bacterial pathogen, or the pathogen side of the host pathogen relationship, e.g., studies focused on mechanisms of bacterial: commensalism, infection, and disease.  Appropriate studies relevant to biodefense are included.

Specific areas covered by BACP:

• Genetic and biochemical characterization of determinants of pathogenicity, including: capsules, toxins, and supramolecular structures
• Genetic and biochemical mechanisms of virulence regulation
• Functional genomic and proteomic approaches for understanding pathogenesis
• Composition of the indigenous microbiota and its role in health and disease
• Role of bacterial behavior and developmental processes in the host pathogen interaction, including: biofilms, chemotaxis, sporulation, and stress responses
• Mechanisms of persistence and transmission
• Ecology of bacterial pathogens
• Role of bacteriophages in pathogenesis
• Animal models of infection
• Exploration of small molecules and drugs as modulators and regulators of virulence

BACP has the following shared interests within the IDM IRG:

• With Prokaryotic Cell and Molecular Biology [PCMB]:  Studies directed at basic mechanisms in the bacteria themselves, including in pathogenic bacteria, could be assigned to PCMB.  Studies directed at understanding the biology of pathogenicity could be assigned to BACP.
  
  
• With Host Interactions with Bacterial Pathogens [HIBP]: Studies that focus on bacterial factors that affect host cells, or the host component of the host-pathogen interaction, could be assigned to HIBP.  Studies that focus on the bacterial pathogen or on the pathogen component of the host-pathogen interaction could be assigned to BACP.
  
  
• With Drug Discovery and Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance [DDR]: Studies of target identification, characterization, and validation could be assigned to DDR if the focus is the antimicrobial agent rather than the target.  Studies that focus on antimicrobial target identification and validation could be assigned to BACP.

BACP has the following shared interests outside the IDM IRG:

• With the Genes, Genomes, and Genetics [GGG] IRG: Genetic studies of bacterial pathogenicity could be assigned to BACP.  Studies whose results will be broadly applicable could be assigned to GGG.
  
  
• With the AIDS and AIDS-Related Research [AARR] IRG:Applications dealing with bacterial pathogens involved in AIDS-related infections could be assigned to BACP when the focus is on the pathogen, unless conducted in the context of HIV infection, in which case they could be referred to AARR.
  
  
• With the Musculoskeletal, Oral, and Skin Sciences [MOSS] IRG: Oral microbiology applications may be reviewed in MOSS or in BACP or in HIBP.  When the emphasis of an application involving bacteria that colonize the oral cavity is on the pathogen or mechanisms of pathogenesis and/or colonization, the application could be referred to BACP or HIBP.  When the emphasis is on the response of tissues of the oral cavity, assignment could be to MOSS.
  
  
• With the Cardiovascular Sciences [CVS], Digestive Sciences [DIG], Respiratory Sciences [RES], and Renal and Urological Sciences [RUS] IRGs:  Although some applications involving bacterial infectious diseases may be appropriately referred to study sections focused on a specific organ system or to HIBP; if focus is on the pathogen, the application could be referred to BACP or HIBP.
  
  
• With the Surgical Sciences, Biomedical Imaging, and Bioengineering [SBIB] IRG: Applications focusing on local and/or disseminated infection (i.e., post operative wound infection, abscess or sepsis) could be referred to SBIB; applications which focus on the pathogen, could be referred to BACP or HIBP.
  
  
• With the Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience [BDCN] IRG: Bacterial diseases of the nervous system are a shared interest between BDCN and BACP.  Applications that focus on the infective agent could be assigned to BACP while those that focus on the manifestations in the nervous system could be assigned to HIBP or BDCN.  Neurological manifestations of other infections could be referred to BDCN.