[VB Roster]

The Vector Biology Study Section reviews applications on 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.

Specific areas covered by VB:

• Basic biology, ecology and molecular biology with relevance to vector-borne human pathogens
  
  
• Metabolism and physiology of vectors
  
  
• Development of methods for maintaining arthropods in the laboratory
  
  
• Genetics of vectors, including population genetics
  
  
• Genomics, including comparative and functional genomics, and proteomics
  
  
• Improvements of genetic technology and its application in areas such as reducing vector capacity (including transgenic, selected gene silencing and knockout) and blocking parasite transmission
  
  
• Host immune responses to vectors
  
  
• Pharmacological aspects of arthropod salivary and other secretory products
  
  
• Development, laboratory evaluation, and field-based testing of approaches to control vectors and disease transmission
  
  
• Arthropod symbionts and their use in introducing genes that encode anti-microbial products
  
  
• Vector/host interactions
  • Vector competence
  • Pathogen impact on host fitness
  • Laboratory-based pathogen development    and transmission
  • Pathogen/vector interactions, including biochemical and genetic processes
  • Vector immune responses to pathogens and surrogate vector systems
  • Molecular basis of transmission interference including identification of molecular and cellular targets

VB has the following shared interests within the IDM IRG:

• With Prokaryotic Cell and Molecular Biology [PCMB]: If the emphasis of an application is on the microbe, it could be assigned to PCMB or another appropriate IDM study section. If the emphasis is on the vector, the proposal could be assigned to VB.
   
• With Pathogenic Eukaryotes [PTHE]: If the focus of an application is the pathogen, assignment could be to PTHE.  If the focus is the host vector, then assignment could be by VB.

VB has the following shared interests outside the IDM IRG:

• With the Genes, Genomes and Genetics [GGG] IRG: Projects to sequence vector and vector-borne pathogen genomes could be reviewed in GGG.