Faculty of Infectious Diseases

Offer sequencing and genotyping services at the Georgia Genomics Facility, a Core laboratory at UGA. Primary mission is to assist researchers at UGA and at other institutions with their projects.

Application of analytical epidemiologic methods to food animal production medicine and food safety research. Interested in infectious and foodborne diseases of livestock and poultry.

Studies the immune response of bony fishes (teleosts) using the common protozoan parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis as a model system. Laboratory utilizes molecular genetic and biological approaches to study the expression and function of parasite and host genes that are relevant to infection and immunity.

Comparative immunology studies at both cellular and molecular levels with particular emphasis on mechanisms of innate immunity. Model systems include teleost homologues of mammalian NK cells and pattern recognition receptors.

Research focuses on T-cell and B-cell responses in bony fish to infection by the protozoan parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, a common, wide-spread pathogen of fish. Molecular genetic and biological approaches are used to study the expression and function of parasite and host genes.

Interested in the ecology of infectious disease in wildlife and at the interface of wild and domestic animals, especially carnivores. Goals are to bring together concepts and skills of veterinary medicine and ecology to better understand how infectious diseases impact wildlife populations, and to use this understanding to aid in wildlife conservation.

The main aspects of research in laboratory are to improve the diagnosis and control of infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) and avian influenza. In particular, interested in identifying ILTV proteins involve in viral pathogenicity, spread, persistence and design of marker vaccines. The development of new serological assays that allow to monitor and detect influenza infected flocks in the presence of vaccination and to determine the survivability of both viruses in poultry litter and in the poultry house environment in order to improve biosecurity as part of the control of these diseases of poultry.

Primary research interests are infections caused by Rhodococcus equi in foals and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of antimicrobial agents in horses.

Laboratory employs bioinformatics and receptor cross-talk analysis to examine how parasite expressed molecules induce anti-inflammatory signaling and maturation in antigen presenting cells. Also working on vaccines for schistosomiasis, including field testing of the vaccines in China.

Interested in virus and host interactions focusing on the roles of host proteins in replication of paramyxoviruses mumps virus and parainfluenza virus 5. Actively pursuing novel strategies for vaccine development and anti-viral drugs.

Interested in all aspects of wildlife disease, particularly how pathogens affect wildlife populations, communities and ecosystems and primarily with an applied perspective. Aim to integrate ecological principle to inform the fields of conservation medicine and wildlife disease investigation.

Primary research interests lie in the areas of bacterial mechanisms of virulence and vaccine development. All studies in the lab are done with an eye toward translating the findings of basic research into potential therapeutic intervention strategies.

Molecular Virologist with a primary area of research interest in the identification, characterization, prevention, and control of animal coronaviruses. Most work focuses on infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), a coronavirus that causes an upper-respiratory disease in chickens, but lab also conducts research on other coronaviruses of veterinary importance as well as avian influenza virus.

Research focuses on the mechanisms of innate immunity against bacterial, viral parasitic and tumor antigens. Specifically study the pathways of activation of NK cells that are initiated upon contact with infectious insult and the effector molecules produced by NK cells in response to their activation.

Lab studies pathogenic mycobacteria that cause human and/or animal disease. Employ molecular, genetic, microscopic, and infection models to understand how the bacteria senses and adapts to the host immune system.

The molecular epidemiology and population genetics of zoonotic and veterinary bacterial pathogens.

Research focus includes the maintenance and transmission of vector-borne viruses, ecology of infectious diseases, host-parasite interactions, and the molecular epidemiology of viruses.

Research focuses on viral diseases that are important to the poultry industry. Research objectives are: 1.) development of poultry vaccines and species independent diagnostic assays, 2.) increasing knowledge about interactions of cellular proteins with viral replication machinery, and 3.) analysis of determinants that characterize the antigenic makeup of viruses.

Diagnosis and prevention of animals diseases with concentration on Johne’s Disease and leptospirosis in cattle. The research focus on studying the prevalence and developing diagnostic testing methodlogy.

Laboratory studies the mechanisms used by pathogens to modulate the innate immune system in the search for therapeutics that can outwit these maneuvers. Focus is primarily on infections of macrophages, in particular, mycobacterial infections.

Laboratory studies the fundamental mechanisms that govern lysosomal biogenesis and vesicle trafficking. Interested in understanding the role of these processes in both inherited and acquired diseases.

1.) Determination of the role of rickettsial pathogens in naturally infected dogs presenting with thrombocytopenia, circulating morulae or clinical signs suggestive of rickettsial disease 2.) Determination of reference values for protein C in clinically healthy dogs 3. Seroprevalence of, diagnosis of, comparison of different test for canine Lyme disease.

Laboratory investigates the innate host-response from viral (highly pathogenic avian influenza) and fungal (Aspergillus fumigatus) pathogens in several of veterinary models of disease. Characterizing the host-pathogen interaction at different anatomical sites is paramount to understand disease pathogenesis and the development of vaccines.

Research focus is to understand the molecular epidemiology of important multidrug resistant food borne pathogens in animals, food and humans. In addition, characterizing the pathogen to specific strain level is time consuming and very costly. Thus, the molecular characterization of antimicrobial resistance and development of effective detection system for food borne pathogens are the two most important research goals.

Research interest is to develop translational disease intervention strategies for important human viruses and emerging infectious diseases of zoonotic origin. Investigate the mechanisms of immunity and disease pathogenesis associated with infection to better understand the conceptual and functional differences between innate and adaptive immune responses that provide the foundation necessary to facilitate vaccine and antiviral therapeutic protocols. The laboratories leverage the talents of academic, government and industry partners to promote ‘bench-to-bedside’ and ‘bench-to-barnyard’ vaccines and therapeutics.

Works on mathematical models for infectious disease transmission. Additionally, is interested in the interface between animal and human health related to, but not limited to, zoonotic infections.

Molecular details of the interactions between anthelmintic drugs and the nervous systems of parasitic nematodes. Understanding, diagnosing and combating drug resistance in these parasites.