Award Abstract #0326999
The Effect of Anthropogenic Disturbance on the Dynamics of Sin Nombre

NSF Org:	EF Emerging Frontiers
Initial Amendment Date:	January 16, 2004
Latest Amendment Date:	April 29, 2009
Award Number:	0326999
Award Instrument:	Continuing grant
Program Manager:	Samuel M. Scheiner EF Emerging Frontiers BIO Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date:	January 1, 2004
Expires:	December 31, 2010 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$1926443
Investigator(s):	M. Denise Dearing dearing@biology.utah.edu (Principal Investigator) Stephen St. Jeor (Co-Principal Investigator) Frederick Adler (Co-Principal Investigator) Thomas Cova (Co-Principal Investigator) Matthew Samore (Co-Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	University of Utah 75 S 2000 E SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84112 801/581-6903
NSF Program(s):	ECOLOGY OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, BE: NON-ANNOUNCEMENT RESEARCH
Field Application(s):	0000099 Other Applications NEC
Program Reference Code(s):	SMET, BIOT, 9251, 9232, 9183, 9178, 7242, 1355, 1228
Program Element Code(s):	7242, 1629

ABSTRACT

Sin Nombre hantavirus (SN) is a recently discovered virus carried by deermice that causes disease with high mortality in humans. Several recent studies have proposed that human disturbance of habitat significantly affects the number of deermice infected with SN. Given unprecedented rates of disturbance and limited understanding of the mechanisms governing variation in SN infection, a thorough study of how disturbance affects SN dynamics is warranted. The central focus of the proposed study is to determine how human disturbance affects SN prevalence in deermice and other reservoirs. To address this issue, a multifaceted research program is proposed that includes empirical and theoretical work. The field data will be used to determine the underlying mechanisms responsible for differences in prevalence. These ground-based data will be used to generate predictive mathematical models of prevalence using aerial and satellite images.

The broader impacts of this study include education, interdisciplinary research and national security. Several undergraduate and graduate students will be trained as part of this research. The project unites scientists from diverse fields (geography, mathematics, ecology, virology). Lastly, the research will yield critical information on the biology of Sin Nombre virus, which is listed as a biological agent of concern for national security.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

C. A. Clay, E. M. Lehmer, A. Previtali, S. St. Jeor, M. D. Dearing. "The role of host heterogeneity in Sin Nombre virus transmission," Proceedings of the Royal Society B, v.276, 2009, p. 1305.

E. M. Lehmer, C. Clay, E. Wilson, S. St. Jeor and M. D. Dearing. "Differential resource allocation in deer mice infected with Sin Nombre Hantavirus," Physiological Biochemistry and Zoology, 2007.

E. M. Lehmer, C. Clay, E. Wilson, S. St. Jeor and M. D. Dearing. "Differential resource allocation in deer mice infected with Sin Nombre Hantavirus," Physiological Biochemistry and Zoology, v.80, 2007, p. 151.

E. M. Lehmer, M. D. Dearing, C. Turnbull, J. Pearce-Duvet, J. Boone and S. St. Jeor. "Differential regulation of pathogens: the roles of habitat structure and density in predicting prevalence of Sin Nombre Hantavirus," Oecologia, v.155, 2008, p. 429.

F. R. Adler, J.M.C. Pearce-Duvet, MD Dearing. "How host population dynamics translate into time-lagged prevalence: an investigation of Sin Nombre virus in deer mice," Bulletin of Mathematical Biology, v.80, 2008, p. 236.

Jessica M.C. Pearce-Duvet, Stephen C. St. Jeor, John D. Boone and M. Denise Dearing. "Changes in Sin Nombre virus prevalence across seasons: the interaction between habitat, sex, and infection in deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus).," Journal of Wildlife Diseases, v.42, 2006, p. 819.

M. ANDREA PREVITALI,1,5 ERIN M. LEHMER,2 JESSICA M. C. PEARCE-DUVET,1,3 JEREMY D. JONES,1 CHRISTINE A. CLAY,4 BRITTA A. WOOD,1 PATRICK W. ELY, SEAN LAVERTY AND M. DENISE DEARING. "INVESTIGATING THE ROLES OF HUMAN DISTURBANCE, PRECIPITATION, AND DISEASE ON THE SURVIVAL AND REPRODUCTIVE PROBABILITIES OF DEER MICE (PEROMYSCUS MANICULATUS)," ECOLOGY, 2009.

M. Bego, D. Bawiec, D. Dandge, B. Martino. D. Dearing, E. Wilson, S. St. Jeor. "Development of an ELISA to detect Sin Nombre virus-specific IgM from deer mice," Journal of Virological Methods, v.151, 2008, p. 204.

M. DENISE DEARING, M. ANDREA PREVITALI, JEREMY D. JONES, PATRICK W. ELY, AND BRITTA A. WOOD. "Seasonal Variation in Sin Nombre Virus Infections in Deer Mice: Preliminary Results," Journal of Wildlife Diseases, v.45, 2009.

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