Labs
Dong Lab
Our research group is interested in the molecular adaptation mechanisms by which bacteria survive in stress environment and interact with competing species. Bacteria have developed complex regulatory networks that control gene expression to respond to different environmental stimuli from the host and the environment.
Jenne Lab
The Jenne lab is interested in the innate immune response to infection. With intravital microscopy, we are able to directly visualize, in real-time, the host immune response, “seeing” leukocytes within live animals. Using this approach, we are able to track and characterize the interactions between host immune cells, the invading pathogen, and surrounding tissues.
De Buck Lab
Main areas of study are: 1) Molecular Biosensor development 2) Susceptibility and transmission of Johne′s disease; 3) Map pathogenesis, 3) Host immune response after Map infection and vaccination strategies, 4) Early biomarkers of Map infection, 5) Bacterial genomics and molecular epidemiology, 6) Bovine mastitis, 7) Coagulase Negative Staphylococci, and 8) Digital Dermatitis
Careem Lab
With a view of economic and public health importance of respiratory viral infections, the Careem Lab research program focuses on (a) studying mucosal innate immune responses to respiratory viral infections (b) identifying key immunological mediators involved in innate immune responses elicited at respiratory mucosa, particularly in lungs (c) designing infection control strategies based on immune modulators to prevent respiratory viral infections.
Cobo Lab
Our lab investigates the biological function of small cationic host defense peptides (cathelicidins and defensins) secreted by white blood cells and the epithelia cells in mammals. The main focus of our lab is to discover the underlying mechanisms of cathelicidins and defensins which can have an important beneficial roles in tissue homeostasis, including regulation of harmful inflammation and control of microbial pathogens.
Gilch Lab
How does prion infection influence cellular pathways such as vesicle trafficking, and how does this relate to neurodegeneration? Can we use peptide aptamers for interference with prion propagation in vivo? Does the PrPc-PrPSc binding interface differ between prion strains? Is there a relationship between the biochemical properties of CWD prions and the remarkable prion shedding (e.g. in saliva, urine, feces) observed in cervids infected with CWD?
Gilleard Lab
We utilize molecular genetic and genomic approaches to study parasitic nematode worms which include a large number of important pathogens. The main focus of our lab is to study the mechanisms of drug (anthelmintic) resistance and to investigate how the underlying causal mutations arise and spread in parasitic nematode populations. The aim is to improve diagnosis, identify new targets for control and provide an evidence base for sustainable management of resistance.
Schaetzl Lab
Our work over the past 23 years focused on the cellular and molecular biology of prion diseases. Prion diseases are fatal infectious neurodegenerative disorders of man and animals, and their manifestation can be sporadic, genetic, or acquired by infection. Examples are BSE (mad cow disease) in cattle, scrapie in sheep and goat, chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer and elk, and CJD in humans.