RickettsialDiseases:Host-Vector-PathogenInteractions Rickettsialdiseasesaresignificantcausesofmorbidityandmortality.Theyareresponsibleforthemajorityof hospitaladmissions,intensivecareadmissions,andfatalitiesamongalltick-borneinfections.Manyareemerging orre-emerging,havebiothreatimplications,and/orareneglected.Rickettsialdiseaseshavebeenresponsible forthelossofmillionsoflivesandweresecondonlytomalariaasthecauseoffebrileillnessamongtroopsin WorldWarII,theKoreanWar,andtheVietnamConflict.Novaccineforanyrickettsialdiseaseexists,andthe interactionsofthesebacteriawiththeirarthropodvectorsandmammalianhostsarepoorlydefined.Fillingsuch knowledge gaps will improve understanding of rickettsial pathobiology and promote development of novel treatments.Indeed,the2011InstituteofMedicineoftheNationalAcademiesworkshopreport,?Criticalneeds and gaps in understanding, prevention, amelioration, and resolution of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases? emphasizedthatunderstandingthesepathogens?factorsthatenablethemtosurviveandcausediseasewould lead to development of novel countermeasures. The complexity of the challenge of preventing rickettsial diseasesisdue,atleastinpart,totheevolutionaryrelationshipsbetweentheetiologicagents,theirarthropod vectors,andmammalianhosts.TheAmericanSocietyforRickettsiology(ASR)hasalonghistoryofproviding forums that foster scientific interactions and rich intellectual exchange among world-renowned experts on rickettsial diseases. The 28th Meeting of the ASR will be held June 11-14, 2016 in Big Sky, Montana. Approximately200attendeesrepresentingjuniorandestablishedscientistsfromacademia,government,and industryareanticipated.Theconference?soverarchinggoalistoadvanceknowledgeandstimulateinteractions among these researchers through lectures, short oral presentations, poster sessions, and networking opportunities. To address the aforementioned knowledge gap, we propose a small workshop within the framework of the 28th meeting entitled, ?Rickettsial Diseases: Host-Vector-Pathogen Interactions.? The workshop?saimsareto(i)provideaforumthatpromotesscientificexchangeamongparticipantsandexperts throughinvitedkeynoteandplenarylectures,shorttalks,andpostersbyleadersandjuniorinvestigatorsthat study rickettsial and other vector-borne diseases;? (ii) offer a program that presents the latest, cutting-edge research of rickettsial and other diseases caused by arthropod-borne/obligate intracellular pathogens;? (iii) provide a venue that fosters intellectual exchange and networking opportunities between junior and senior investigators;?and(iv)promoteparticipationbythosethatareearlyintheircareersandthatareunderrepresented inthebiomedicalsciences,includingwomen.Effortswillalsobemadetoaccommodateattendeesinneedof childcare.Supportfortheworkshopisrequestedtocoverthecostofcoordination,facilities,travelexpensesfor invitedspeakersandselectedattendees,andforaudio-visualservicesandprogramproduction.
Rickettsial diseases caused by arthropod vector-borne obligate intracellular bacteria have impacted human health throughout history, and these infections continue to emerge or reemerge today. As a means of addressing a fundamental knowledge gap recognized in a recent report by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, the workshop will bring together researchers whose interests center on rickettsiae-vector and rickettsiae-host interactions to foster intellectual exchange and catalyze collaborative research efforts to fill these knowledge gaps and translate research into improved means for preventing, treating, and diagnosing rickettsial diseases. Over 20 committee members representing a mix of senior and junior scientists from diverse and underrepresented groups are on board to participate, and strategic efforts are in place to ensure that attendees that are from underrepresented groups, have disabilities, and have small children are fully engaged in the workshop.
