Tuesday, 6 February 2018 | 12:00 noon
Professor of Pathology, Lousiana State University, Dep. of Pathobiological Sciences,Baton Rouge-Louisiana, USA
Comparative Pathobiology as Diagnostic and Research Tool for Advancements in Animal and Human Health
(Host: M. Giacca)
The Department of Pathobiological Sciences (PBS – https://www.lsu.edu/vetmed/pbs/index.php) at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine is fully engaged in research, diagnostic activity and teaching. Research emphasis is on infectious diseases, with strong programs in viral and bacterial pathogenesis, immunity and resistance to infectious agents, vector-borne diseases, and the use of Geographic Information Systems to study disease distribution and risk factors. Comparative pathology is the science that considers human disease processes in comparison with those of other animals. Board certified veterinary pathologists have the appropriate qualifications to be protagonists in diagnostic activities and research in this field by fostering excellence in pathology, to protect and improve animal, human and environmental health for the betterment of society. The PBS ACVP board certified pathologists participate and collaborate to the departmental and extra departmental studies and in particular in the following projects and areas of investigation:
- Pathogenicity, pathogenesis of rickettsial diseases including Rickettsia conorii R. rickettsii and R. felis; Roles of conserved Sca proteins from R. conorii and R. rickettsii inthe interaction with endothelial cells; identification of mammalian receptors for Spotted Fever Group rickettsiae; generation of protective humoral immune responses against SFG rickettsiae using established models of infection;
- Viral vectors for vaccine development against Human herpesvirus 1 and 2, and Equine herpesvirus 1, Feline herpesvirus 1 and Bovine herpesvirus 1
- Viral immunology focused on innate immunity, dendritic cells and respiratory viruses studying the immune response to respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumo virus;
- Molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for neutrophil recruitment, priming, and activation in bacterial infected lungs, smoke-exposed lungs, and smoke-exposed lungs and organs followed by infection in the lungs and other organs/tissues; in particular determining the role of pattern recognition receptors (TLRs and NLRs)and their adaptors with the development of the innate immune response in the lung in animal models; bacterial pathogens studied include bacterial pneumonic agents such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Legionella pneumophila.
- Pathogenesis of zoonotic endemic and foreign arboviral diseases including Zika, West Nile virus, Equine encephalomyelitides viruses
- Infectious diseases and vaccine development of aquatic animals, particularly Edwardsiella ictaluri, Francisella asiatica, and Photobacterium damselae sub.Piscicida
- Pathogenesis of natural diseases occurring in animals, particularly vertebrates from the necropsy and tissue biopsy submissions through the LA Animal Diagnosticlaboratory (LADDL)
- Forensic Pathology cases, via LADDL, since we are committed to the investigation of possible animal cruelty cases
- Diseases of endangered species and exotic animal collections, in particular avian and reptiles, in collaboration with the veterinary teaching hospital groups
- Collaborations with the Tulane Primate Center on vaccines, treatments and diagnostic tools for infectious diseases such as AIDS, Lyme disease, malaria and tuberculosisand other zoonotic infectious agents
- Collaborations with the College of Agriculture on animal nutrition studies such as special diets, hypovitaminosis and hyperammonemia in aquatic veterbrates
Our continuous diagnostic activity on animals and tissue samples brings to our attention new and different aspects of natural pathological entities and infectious,degenerative, and neoplastic diseases.