© D. Pontier / ECOFECT

Anthropic perturbations such as climate change, habitat fragmentation, etc. will modify distribution of vectors and reservoirs (insects and mammals), and then geographic distribution of vector-borne diseases and zoonosis (diseases transmitted from animals to humans). On the other hand, we must consider increasing urbanization of human population, particularly in South countries as a major factor that can lead to “urbanization” of new infectious diseases. It is estimated that within 30 years, 70% of people will live in urban centers or megacities.

The WP3 presents a triple challenge:

► To integrate all disciplines: ecologists and evolutionists rarely include infectiology and epidemiology in their studies. Reciprocally, infectiology neglects, by necessity, inter-individual heterogeneity (genetic diversity, infectious status, stress, etc.) and the weight of selection pressures acting on infectious agents, vectors and hosts.

► To go to the natural conditions at all levels of organization. These conditions can deeply affect the host response to a pathogen.

► To enrich "classical" approaches specific to each involved domains by appropriating those of the other domains.