[HIBP Roster]

 
The Host Interactions with Bacterial Pathogens Study Section reviews applications involving studies that focus on bacterial factors that alter/affect host cells, or the host aspect of the host pathogen interaction.  Appropriate studies relevant to biodefense are included.

Specific areas covered by HIBP:

• Molecular basis for bacteria-host interactions, including: adherence to, and invasion of, host cells, intracellular replication, and intercellular spread
• Characterization of the role of immunomodulators and other effector molecules in pathogenicity
• Interplay between bacteria and host cell components and processes
• Subversion and manipulation of normal host cell processes
• Genetics and physiology of in vivo survival and growth
• Multiplication and dissemination of bacteria in host tissues
• Manipulation and evasion of innate and adaptive immune responses
• Mechanisms of asymptomatic colonization and the balance between infection and disease, and commensalism and pathogenicity
• Immune response of host to bacteria
• Animal models of infection and disease, including host genetic determinants of susceptibility and resistance and surrogate hosts
• Role of bacterial agents in noninfectious diseases

HIBP has the following shared interests within the IDM IRG:

• With Bacterial Pathogenesis [BACP]: 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 Clinical Research and Field Studies of Infectious Diseases [CRFS]:  Studies of bacterial diseases in human populations or in field-based settings could be assigned to CRFS.  Laboratory and model-based studies of bacterial disease could be assigned to HIBP.

HIBP has the following shared interests outside the IDM IRG:

• With the Health of the Population [HOP] IRG: Studies of health status or health outcomes that employ epidemiological methods and that use persons or groups of persons as the unit of observation could be assigned to HOP.  Studies employing epidemiological methods that use cellular or subcellular units of observation could be assigned to BACP.
  
  
• With the Immunology [IMM] IRG: Applications that emphasize host defense issues but focus on the pathogen may be referred to HIBP. Applications focusing on the immune response may be referred to IMM.  Applications focusing on host-pathogen interactions are a shared interest and may be assigned to HIBP or IMM depending on the central thrust of the scientific questions.
  
  
• With the AIDS and AIDS-Related Research [AARR] IRG:Applications dealing with host interaction with bacterial pathogens involved in AIDS-related infections could be assigned to HIBP when the focus is on the pathogenic response, 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 HIBP or in BACP.  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 HIBP or BACP.  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 IRGs:  Although some applications involving bacterial infectious diseases may be appropriately referred to study sections focused on a specific organ system; if focus is on tissue response to the pathogen, the application could be referred to HIBP or BACP.
  
  
• With the Surgical Sciences, Biomedical Imaging, and Bioengineering [SBIB] IRG: Applications that focus on local and/or disseminated infection (i.e., post operative wound infection, abscess or sepsis) could be referred to SBIB; applications focusing on mechanisms of bacterial recognition (e.g., via Toll-like Receptors), initiation of cytokine cascades, or response to infection in a non-surgical context could be referred to HIBP.
  
  
• With the Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience [BDCN] IRG: Bacterial diseases of the nervous system are a shared interest between BDCN and HIBP.  Applications that focus on the response of the nervous system to a bacterial agent could be assigned to HIBP or to BDCN depending on the focus of the study.  Neurological manifestations of other infections could be referred to BDCN.