|
>
College of Agriculture
>
Veterinary Molecular Biology
>
Research
>
Infectious Disease
Department of Veterinary Molecular Biology
Infectious Disease
Infectious Diseases of humans and animals are caused by a wide spectrum of microorganisms
including single-cell bacteria such as Streptococcus and Staphylococc us, multicellular
parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii , viruses such as rotaviruses, or infectious
proteins known as prions (i.e., causative agent of 'mad cow disease'). Faculty within the
department of Veterinary Molecular Biology focus on understanding the details of these specific
groups of infectious agents in order to gain a detailed understanding of the biology of these
microbes and how they produce disease when an infection is established in people or animals.
Bessen Lab |
Investigates the pathogenesis of prion diseases in tissue culture, rodent, and transgenic models of prion disease as well as experimental prion infection of ruminants. Our current research focus is on deciphering the mechanism of prion agent spread along axons and across synapses, the nature of skeletal muscle infection and the implications for food safety, and the how the prion agent is transmitted among deer and elk in chronic wasting disease. |
Cramer Lab |
Research focuses on the host-pathogen interaction between the filamentous mould Aspergillus fumigatus and its mammalian hosts utilizing gene replacement technologies in the fungus and murine models of invasive aspergillosis. Current research is focused on understanding how the fungus tolerates and survives in hypoxic conditions, which are found in vivo during mammalian fungal pathogenesis. We are also interested in identifying antigens for use in vaccine development for patients at risk for invasive aspergillosis infections. |
Hardy Lab |
Studies molecular interactions between enteric viruses and host cells. Our model systems include the rotaviruses that cause severe infantile gastroenteritis and the noroviruses that are primary cause of epidemic food- and waterborne gastroenteritis outbreaks. In each of these systems, we seek to understand the interactions between viral proteins and cellular proteins that regulate viral gene expression, and the interactions that modulate cellular gene expression. |
Lei Lab
|
Investigates the pathogenesis of bacterial pathogens group A Streptococcus and Streptococcus equi. Multidisciplinary approaches are used to identify novel virulence factors and elucidate their functions and pathogenic roles. We also search for new protective antigens of the pathogens and develop a nanoparticle-based adjuvant with ultimate goals of developing subunit vaccines against infections caused by these and other pathogens. |
Radke Lab |
Research focuses on understanding tissue and development related tropisms in Toxoplasma infection and the molecular features of a host cell environment able to dictate the pathogenesis of disease in one cell or tissue type, but not others. We employ forward and reverse genetic approaches to identify and test the biochemical determinants most relevant to the pathogenesis of infection. |
Voyich-Kane Lab
|
Investigates pathogen-directed molecular processes involved in evasion of host defense. Relatively little is known about how pathogens detect components of the innate immune system to respond and survive within the host. Specific projects aim to identify the transcriptional regulatory systems used by S. aureus to detect and respond to human innate immunity. Additional studies investigate the link between the pathogen's ability to detect innate immunity and strain virulence. |
White Lab |
Research focuses on understanding the role of developmental mechanisms in the pathogenesis of Apicomplexa parasites (Malaria, Toxoplasma, Eimeria, and Cryptosporidium). Through genetic, biochemical, and functional genomic approaches, we are deconstructing the pathways controlling the parasite cell cycle and the molecular switches that link parasite growth and development, which these parasites use to evade host defenses. |
| |
|
