Animal and public health is seriously threatened by viral, bacterial, and parasitic infectious diseases. These diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, claiming at least 17 million human lives, and indeterminable numbers of animals each year.
With a focus on cutting edge techniques and both basic and translational science, the department is working to address all aspects of infectious diseases. Our strengths lie in immunology, vaccinology, drug discovery, and investigation of host-pathogen interactions, and our graduate programs are highly sought after.
Additionally, our research program is tackling the world’s greatest challenges, such as searching for ways to stop the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
From teaching to research to service, our faculty are highly collaborative—working with other UGA departments and universities on high-level research—and dedicated to providing expertise in disease diagnosis as part of our veterinary diagnostic labs in Athens and Tifton.
For those interested in a research-driven career in academia or industry, we offer a PhD in Infectious Diseases. We also offer master’s degree programs and participate in the College’s DVM-PhD dual degree program.
August
Martin Douglass Doctoral Defense
“Lipid transport to the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria”
1:00 PM Friday, August 13, 2021
CVM H203
Angelo Izzo
“BCG … 100 years-old … but how does it work?”
Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Camperdown, Australia
10:00 a.m. Monday, August 23, 2021
Via Zoom
Andrew Flyak-Cancelled
“Structural characterization of human antibodies that mediate the clearance of Hepatitis C virus infection”
California Institute of Technology
11:10 a.m. Monday, August 30, 2021
Via Zoom
September
Labor Day-no seminar
Monday, September, 6, 2021
Natalia Freuud
“From COVID-19 to Tuberculosis: Antibodies on the Battlefield”
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Tel Aviv University
11:10 a.m. Monday, September 13, 2021
Via Zoom
Diana Cortes-Selva
“Regulation of the lymphoid compartment by the helminth Schistosoma mansoni impacts infant immunity”
Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson
11:10 a.m. Monday, September 20, 2021
Via Zoom
Andrew Flyak
“Structural characterization of human antibodies that mediate the clearance of Hepatitis C virus infection”
California Institute of Technology
11:10 a.m. Monday, September 27, 2021
Via Zoom
October
Emma Troth Doctoral Defense
“Drug discovery and assay development for the brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri”
9:00 a.m. Friday, October 1, 2021
Coverdell S175 and via Zoom
Tania Rozario
“Making heads or tails of tapeworms: Signals that drive regeneration in Hymenolepis diminuta”
UGA
11:10 a.m. Monday, October 4, 2021
Via Zoom
L. Fabiano Oliverira
“Impact of insect vectors derived factors on disease outcome”
National Institutes of Health
11:10 a.m. Monday, October 11, 2021
Via Zoom
Jo Halliday
“Brucellosis in northern Tanzania: multiple pathogen species, multiple livestock hosts, diagnostic challenges and the implications for disease control ”
University of Glasgow
11:10 a.m. Monday, October 18, 2021
Via Zoom
Richard Malley
“Developing Vaccines for the World: A Tale of Affinities”
Harvard Medical School
11:10 a.m. Monday, October 25, 2021
Via Zoom
November
David Serre
“To each its own (transcriptional profile) – single cell analyses of Plasmodium parasites”
University of Maryland
School of Medicine
11:10 a.m. Monday, November 1, 2021
Via Zoom
Karl Seydel
Michigan State University
11:10 a.m. Monday, November 8, 2021
Via Zoom
Alona Botnar Doctoral Defense
“Developing tools to investigate dormancy mechanisms in Plasmodium spp.”
2:00 p.m., Thursday, November 11, 2021
CVM 363
Hal King
Public Health Innovations
Active Food Safety
11:10 a.m. Monday, November 15, 2021
Via Zoom
Kelsey Briggs Doctoral Defense
“Studies of mumps virus RNA synthesis and immunogenicity”
10:00 a.m., Thursday, November 18, 2021
CVM H203 or Via Zoom
Elena Mitsi
Senior Research Assistant
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
“Advances on our understanding of S. pneumoniae immunity using a Controlled Human Pneumococcal Infection model”
11:10 a.m., Monday, November 22, 2021
Via Zoom
Bobbi S. Pritt
Professor
“What’s Bugging You? Tick-borne diseases in the United States”
11:10 a.m., Monday, November 29, 2021
Via Zoom
Marissa Acciani Doctoral Defense
“Investigating glycoprotein-dependent and -independent cell surface attachment mechanisms of hemorrhagic fever viruses”
3:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 30, 2021
CVM H203
December
Ashley Beavis Doctoral Defense
“Development of Paramyxovirus-vectored vaccines”
2:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Via Zoom
Amanda Skarlupka Doctoral Defense
“Broadly-Protective Influenza N1 Neuraminidase Vaccine Development and Characterization”
9:00 a.m., Thursday, December 2, 2021
CVM H203 or Via Zoom
Krishna Latha Doctoral Defense
“The Role of TPL2 in Preventing Immunopathology During Influenza A Virus Infection”
12:00 p.m., Thursday, December 2, 2021
Via Zoom
December 6, 2021
no seminar
