Eight challenges in modelling disease ecology in multi-host, multi-agent systems

Michael G Buhnerkempe; Mick G Roberts; Andrew P Dobson; Hans Heesterbeek; Peter J Hudson; James O Lloyd-Smith

doi:10.1016/j.epidem.2014.10.001

Eight challenges in modelling disease ecology in multi-host, multi-agent systems

Epidemics. 2015 Mar:10:26-30. doi: 10.1016/j.epidem.2014.10.001. Epub 2014 Dec 9.

Authors

Michael G Buhnerkempe¹, Mick G Roberts², Andrew P Dobson³, Hans Heesterbeek⁴, Peter J Hudson⁵, James O Lloyd-Smith⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. Electronic address: michael.buhnerkempe@ucla.edu.
² Institute of Natural & Mathematical Sciences, New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study and Infectious Disease Research Centre, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
³ Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA; Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, USA.
⁴ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.
⁵ Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; The Huck Institute for Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
⁶ Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Abstract

Many disease systems exhibit complexities not captured by current theoretical and empirical work. In particular, systems with multiple host species and multiple infectious agents (i.e., multi-host, multi-agent systems) require novel methods to extend the wealth of knowledge acquired studying primarily single-host, single-agent systems. We outline eight challenges in multi-host, multi-agent systems that could substantively increase our knowledge of the drivers and broader ecosystem effects of infectious disease dynamics.

Keywords: Community ecology; Food webs; Maintenance; Multiple hosts; Multiple pathogens.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Communicable Diseases / epidemiology*
Communicable Diseases / transmission
Ecology
Food Chain
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Humans
Life Cycle Stages
Models, Statistical
Population Dynamics

Grants and funding

Y99 TW999999-06/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States