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.

Development of novel analytical and spectroscopic methods for biodiagnostic and biosensing purposes. Application of surface-enhanced vibrational spectroscopy for the detection and classification of biomedically important pathogens.

Major focus is to determine the mechanisms by which viruses invade the nervous system and cause neurological diseases. In the meantime, also develops strategies to combat virus infection with vaccines and anti-viral agents.

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

Use mathematical and computational approaches to investigate infectious disease dynamics on both the within-host and between-host levels.

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.

Research is focused on understanding the biology and pathogenesis of virus infections with the goal of improving animal and human health.

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.

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.

Laboratory is interested in how immunological memory develops and is maintained after infection. In particular, they study the cellular cues instructing CD8 memory cell trafficking and homeostasis in non-lymphoid tissues, the sites of initial pathogen encounter.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a human respiratory tract pathogen causing bronchitis and pneumonia, especially in older children and young adults. Research encompasses M. pneumoniae colonization of host respiratory epithelium, including the role and mechanism of gliding motility, as well as development of a nanotechnology-based platform for rapid and accurate detection of mycoplasma infections.

Research program consists of identifying and characterizing surface antigens that are expressed by the gram negative bacteria Moraxella catarrhalis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, and Burkholderia mallei, with emphasis on molecules functioning as adherence factors.

Major research interests are in the development of new synthetic methods that lead to the construction of biologically active molecules with pharmacological properties. Special emphasis is given to molecules that may serve as antimicrobial agents (i.e. antibacterial, antifungal) or inhibitors of clinically important enzymes which we test in the laboratory.

Roles of metalloproteins (hydrogenases and oxidative stress resistance enzymes) in pathogenic bacteria, particularly in Helicobacters and Enterobacteriaceae. Physical characteristics of the enzymes, their maturation, and their differential expression in animal hosts are of interest.

The filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, the most frequent agent of invasive aspergillosis, grows by highly polar tip extension which allows it to penetrate and severely damage host tissue. Lab is investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying polar growth of this pathogen.

Involved primarily with RSV and influenza-related clinical research projects. Research has been involved in addressing public health-related issues, especially vaccines, infections in child care, various RSV-related projects, and unusual/unique microbiology/infectious disease-related cases.

Research focuses primarily on understanding the pathogenesis of tuberculosis and related mycobacterial diseases although a new program examining the virulence mechanisms and survival strategies of Francisella tularensis has been rapidly developing. Current collaborative international activities include tuberculosis diagnostic test development in Mexico and Buruli ulcer pathogenesis studies in Ghana.

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.

Primary research focuses on the discovery and biochemical analysis of factors that intracellular bacterial pathogens employ upon host cell invasion to disrupt phagosome-lysosome fusion pathways and general host membrane dynamics. Also interested in mechanisms eukaryotic cells utilize to identify specific membrane compartments during protein trafficking.

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.

Laboratory focuses on the interface of influenza viruses with human and domesticated animal populations. Studies involve the ability of influenza to cross species barriers, how the virus evolves to enable cross-species transmission and intervention strategies to address influenza-related disease; including novel detection and phenotyping technologies, vaccines, and therapeutics.

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.

Research focuses on the transmission dynamics of tuberculosis and its bi-directional interaction with HIV.

Particularly interested in the 3D structure of polysaccharides and lipids from pathogenic bacteria and in the properties that may be exploited in the design of carbohydrate-based vaccines. Employ a number of biophysical techniques, including computational simulation, x-ray diffraction and mass spectrometry.