Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Climatic changes are altering disease dynamics for many species. It is unclear, however, what capacity species have to adapt to these changes, nor the influence patterns of natural genetic variation have on disease spread. Herein, I propose to study interactions between host immune gene variation, disease variants, and neutral population genetic parameters to enhance our understanding of how species respond to rapidly changing disease dynamics, constraints on these processes, and patterns of disease spread. Arctic rabies (AR) provides a model system to understand the capacity for northern species to respond to rapid changes in disease patterns where climatic changes are having a pronounced effect on the dynamics of AR. The AR system includes multiple hosts with contrasting patterns of disease susceptibility and temporal disease exposure, making it possible to test hypotheses regarding the genetic interactions of AR with its hosts. Further, this system presents contrasts in the localization and spread of disease across its circumpolar distribution. Specifically, we will assess: 1) immunogenetic variation derived from adaptive immunity genes and innate immunity genes of hosts using sequence capture and next generation sequencing technologies, 2) whole genome profiling of AR strains from infected hosts, 3) and neutral genes to provide insight into contemporary and historical demographic processes within and among the populations and demographic constraints on local adaptation. This research is innovative by taking the multi-pronged approach of integrating studies of natural genetic variation in hosts and pathogens towards understanding wildlife disease spread, an approach that can be extended to other disease systems. These questions are of practical relevance to Canada given human health impacts from wildlife disease on northern populations and effects on wildlife health and persistence.