Jeffrey T. LeJeune, D.V.M., Ph.D., Head

Research areas: preharvest control of human foodborne pathogens and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in the animal host and the environment. Projects integrate epidemiological principles with traditional and molecular biological approaches to elucidate the effects of the animal host, environment, and pathogen on the epidemiology of important bacterial foodborne diseases. Other areas of interest include other bacterial zoonoses and infectious diseases of farmed fanfish.

lejeune.3@osu.edu

 

David A. Benfield, Ph.D., Professor, FAHRP, Associate Director, OARDC

Research areas: virology, molecular virology, viral pathogenesis, diagnosis of viral infections


Renukaradhya Gourapura, D.V.M., Ph.D., Assistant Professor

My laboratory research focus is on mucosal immunology related to respiratory infections and zoonotic diseases of food animals. Mucosal delivery of potent vaccines is gaining increased attention to increase the breadth of cross-protective immunity. We are interested to understand mucosal immune responses in pigs and other species of food animals, following viral and bacterial infections and mucosal delivery of vaccines. At present we are making use of bacteria based candidate adjuvants to potentiate the efficacy of modified live virus and biodegradable nanoparticle-entrapped inactivated virus vaccines, administered by intranasal route, to protect against genetically variant porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus and influenza virus infections in pigs. We are also aimed to understand host-pathogen interactions, viral pathogenesis, and immune evasion mechanisms at mucosal sites of food animals. Recently, our laboratory has discovered invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell in pigs, and iNKT cell plays a pivotal role in generation of cross-protective immunity against influenza in mice. We are interested to exploit iNKT cell-mediated adjuvanticity to influenza virus vaccines in a pig model.

gourapura.1@osu.edu

Juliette Hanson, D.V.M., Clinical Veterinarian, Animal Care Manager

hanson.104@osu.edu


Daral J. Jackwood, Ph.D., Professor

Research areas: determining the molecular basis for pathogenicity and immunogenicity of pathogens that infect poultry, including infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). Recombinant DNA techniques are being used to develop new control and diagnostic procedures for pathogens. The work involves identification of genes coding for virulence factors or immunogenic proteins and cloning and expression of these genes in appropriate systems. Major research interests include molecular epidemiology and improving molecular diagnostics and control measures used for an immunosuppressive viral disease in poultry.

jackwood.2@osu.edu


Mahesh Khatri, Ph.D., Research Scientist

Research areas: mucosal immununology of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus, identification of potential mucosal candidate adjuvants and studying protective mucosal immune response to infectious diseases.

khatri.14@osu.edu

 

Chang-Won Lee, D.V.M., Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Research areas: microbiology, molecular virology, avian influenza

lee.2854@osu.edu


Gireesh Rajashekara, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Research areas:  Microbiology, bacteriology

rajashekara.2@osu.edu

 

Linda J. Saif, Ph.D., Distinguished University Professor, Member of National Academy of Sciences

Research areas: diagnosis, molecular characterization, pathogenesis, vaccine design, and immunity to enteric and respiratory viruses of swine and cattle. Emphasis is also on studies of disease pathogenesis and immunity using animal models of human enteric viral infections (rotavirus, noroviruses) and of respiratory viruses (coronaviruses). Current emphasis is on passive immunity and mucosal B- and T-cell and cytokine immune responses to enteric viruses; design of genetically engineered vaccines; and studies of mucosal adjuvants, immunomodulators, and delivery systems.

saif.2@osu.edu


Qiuhong Wang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Research Scientist

Research areas: virology, Calicivirus

wang.655@osu.edu