Emerging and infectious diseases: defending against a dynamic opponent
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases (EID) pose a growing threat to public health each year. Viruses and bacteria alike are major causes of EIDs and as these pathogens mutate, reemergence occurs, leading to the need for advanced understanding of the pathogens' life-cycle and evolution in order to control outbreaks as well as drug resistances. Tularemia, the disease caused by the highly infectious, bacterium, Francisella tularensis (Ft), is commonly acquired via natural infection and is a threat for biological warfare. However, previous data has indicated that Ft may persist in the environment without a host, but the mechanism by which Ft survives in adverse environments is not well understood. Furthermore, HIV, the causative agent of AIDS, has been treated with a combination therapy for the last two decades and has now developed mutations, conveying resistance to drugs within the combined therapy regimen. The goal of this study is to better understand the mechanisms of action that has led to the evolution of each of these very different pathogens in order to provide information necessary to treat these diseases and control the reemergence of these notable pathogens.
Degree
Ph. D.