This project aims to identify and evaluate novel antimicrobial compounds for use as a preventive measure against mastitis in the dairy industry, given the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. This will be done by characterizing gene clusters encoding proteins that synthesize antimicrobial compounds in environmental Bacillus isolates, enabling compound classification, isolation, and purification. Upon purification, potency and antimicrobial activity can be assessed to determine whether the compound can serve as an effective preventive against mastitis or other infections that exhibit increased resistance to current antibiotics.

This study aims to identify areas for improvement to mitigate wildlife interactions at dead-handling structures at various swine facilities across the country. Through the creation and implementation of an AI model, this project hopes to automate and simply the process of identifying wildlife presence. With this information, producers will be better equipped to improve their facilities, prevent future biosecurity breaches, and better swine health.

Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of bacterial gastroenteritis; antibiotic resistance in C. jejuni is increasing, making the need or antibiotic sparing strategies that reduce transmission at the agricultural source ever more pertinent. The overall objective of the project is to establish a scalable platform to define phage susceptibility and resistance in C. jejuni by pairing a diverse phage library with a diverse panel of C. jejuni isolates and generating a host phage interaction map that prioritizes candidate resistance mechanisms. This project will deliver foundational tools and feasibility data needed to advance durable phage biocontrol of C. jejuni in poultry.

This project aims to assess disease risks associated with wildlife translocation. The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, along with the state of Minnesota, are planning to translocate elk from northwestern Minnesota to northeastern portions of the state. This research analyzes biological data of the resident white-tailed deer population in order to ensure a successful elk reintroduction effort and provide a baseline for future population monitoring.

This project aims to identify the trematode species infecting the crane population at the International Crane Foundation and categorize individual species as pathogenic or non-pathogenic. These trematodes will be compared against species previously identified in the intermediate host to validate the molecular assays. Once the pathogenicity of the species has been determined, a diagnostic chart comparing species morphology will be created. The overarching goal for this project is to provide veterinarians and technicians with a tool that enables them to quickly and cost-effectively identify trematode species present in fecal sedimentation so they can assess the best course of treatment for the cranes under their care.

In marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), neoplastic B lymphocytes often exhibit downregulation of a key quiescence-associated gene, KLF2, though its significance in disease development is not fully understood. This project aims to characterize KLF2’s cellular proliferative control mechanisms as well as investigate its role as a tumor suppressor gene in canine nodal MZL. To accomplish this, KLF2 expression will be manipulated within several canine B-cell populations to create in vitro models of KLF2 downregulation, upregulation, and homeostatic expression.

This study will analyze data from Thoroughbred racehorses to identify risk factors associated with the development of complex arrhythmias during exercise. Complex arrhythmias can cause exercise-associated death, which poses a significant welfare concern for athletic horses. The major goal is to determine which events in a horse’s veterinary and performance history are linked to developing a complex arrhythmia. This will enable increased monitoring to determine which horses are safe to race and train and which may require additional diagnostics and/or treatment.

This project aims to characterize and evaluate the tissue and cellular responses to epiphyseal drilling of the ischemic femoral head using a piglet model of Legg-Calves-Perthes disease (LCPD). The findings will improve understanding of the mechanism by which this therapy results in bone healing and formation in children affected by LCPD and ultimately facilitate the advancement of improved disease interventions.

This project aims to study the pathophysiology of Juvenile Osteochondritis Dissecans (JOCD). Specifically, we will investigate how the extent of vascular failure and biomechanics stress influence the development and progression of JOCD lesions using a piglet model.

Prions are unique in that they are remarkably resilient, with resistance to inactivation by chemical disinfectants, autoclaving, formaldehyde, and many proteases. This project aims to assess the ability to recover prion seeding activity from stored Immunohistochemistry slides. If possible, this would aid in the diagnoses and research of prion diseases by allowing us to assess samples from past, unique cases, as well as lowering the cost and difficulty of future projects.

This study aims to investigate genetic risk factors underlying calcium oxalate urolithiasis in dogs by identifying and characterizing variants associated with monogenic stone disorders. By linking specific genetic variants to clinical presentation, age of onset and recurrence risk, the study aims to improve prediction of disease outcomes and guide more targeted management and prevention strategies in dogs with this condition.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have improved perioperative outcomes in human medicine by optimizing physiological responses to anesthesia and surgery. This project extends these principles to nonhuman primates by characterizing perioperative blood glucose dynamics as a marker of physiologic response and evaluating their association with recovery and welfare outcomes to inform evidence-based improvements in care across captive settings.

This project examines how brain regions involved in blood pressure regulation, including the subfornical organ, organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, and median preoptic nucleus, may influence the gut microbiome during hypertension. The study uses targeted brain lesions, microbiome analysis, and microbial transplantation in hypertensive rat models to evaluate whether changes in gut microbial communities can alter blood pressure outcomes. The results aim to clarify how interactions between these brain regions and the gut microbiome contribute to hypertension.

This project involves conducting an in vivo quantitative MRI study investigating intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) in dogs. Using advanced imaging techniques such as T2 and T2* relaxation mapping and fat fraction analysis, changes within the nucleus pulposus and surrounding vertebral structures will be evaluated. The goal of this project is to generate objective imaging biomarkers that can improve early detection, disease monitoring, and future treatment strategies for canine IVDD.

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease of humans and many longer-lived companion species alike, but treatment options remain limited. Recent studies have proposed increased oxidative stress as a result of disturbances in redox reaction signaling as a potential culprit for the development of this disease. To better understand the role of oxidative stress, we will evaluate histologic changes in the joints of transgenic mice with oxidative pathway disruptions using QuPath for semi-quantitative grading and histomorphometry.

This project aims to compare the efficacy of manual and automated DNA extraction techniques at assessing the canine urinary microbiome in terms of yield, purity, and sequencing outcomes. The findings will contribute to the establishment of microbial profiling standards for canine patients and increase our understanding of urinary system health as a whole.

This research aims to quantify and identify the expression of the CD64 receptor across different canine leukocyte populations using a monoclonal antibody. These findings will help to determine the effectiveness that the CD64 receptor cells have in their ability to bind to tumor cells and their ability to kill canine osteosarcoma cells in vitro. There is limited understanding on the effector mechanisms and defining the role CD64 plays in the killing of cancer cells can help to engineer more successful immunotherapy treatments.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have transformed perioperative care in human medicine by improving recovery, reducing complications, and supporting overall patient well-being. This project extends these evidence-based principles to nonhuman primates by evaluating how peri-procedural factors influence recovery and identifying indicators of optimal outcomes, with the goal of enhancing welfare and informing best practices in captive settings.

This research aims to determine the impact of a leptin receptor mutation on health problems in Miniature Schnauzer dogs. We will test Miniature Schnauzers from around the world for the mutation and identify its association with hyperlipidemia (high blood lipids). In addition, we will test for an association with diabetes mellitus. The results from this research could change veterinary approaches to diagnosing and treating metabolic conditions in Miniature Schnauzers and other breeds.