Zijing Cao, a student from The City University of New York – Hunter College, worked with Dr. Rebecca Poulson on influenza A virus in North American wild birds. Abstract: The emergence of highly pathogenic (HP) H5N1 avian influenza in North American wild birds in 2021 has posed significant threats to many species. Understanding the landscape
Ayanna Johnson, a student from Norfolk State University, worked with Dr. Andrew Park on transmission of viruses from birds to horses. Abstract: The spread of influenza from wild birds to horses impacts the livelihood of people in Mongolia, where horses play an important role in their livelihood. Additionally, such cross-species transmission could potentially lead to
Maya Risin, a student from Emory University, worked with Dr. John Drake to study superspreading in macroparasites. Abstract: It is widely understood that host populations harboring macroparasites, which include parasitic helminths and arthropods, typically exhibit skewed infection burdens that give rise to “superspreading”. On the individual level, concurrent infections by multiple parasitic species within an individual
Cecilia Pumpelly, a student at University of Georgia, worked with Dr. Andy Davis to evaluate transmission mode of a nematode parasite infecting beetles. Abstract: Within the estimated one million species of nematodes, there are just as many variations in life cycles. While parasitic nematodes rely on their host for primary development, many will exit their host
Sofia McDonough, a student from Florida State University, worked with Dr. Pej Rohani & Dr. Alpha Forna on density-based algorithms for detecting influenza A virus. Abstract: Influenza A H3N2 viruses mutate over time, leading to different antigenic variants. Viruses that elicit a similar immune response are considered to be part of the same antigenic cluster. It
Karin Ebey, a student from Eckerd College, worked with Dr. Kyle Dahlin and Dr. John Vinson on modelling the effects of demographic and environmental noise on mosquito-borne disease. Abstract: Mosquito-borne diseases are a significant and growing public health burden globally. Predictions about the future spread and impact of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks can help inform direct control
Diana Felipe, a student from Utah State University, worked with Dr. Elizabeth M. Warburton to understand spatiotemporal dynamics of chronic wasting disease in deer. Abstract: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a 100% fatal neurodegenerative disease found in White-tailed deer and other cervid species. CWD is caused by prions which can be transmitted directly and indirectly. Due
T’Kai Adekunle, a student from Savannah State University, worked with Dr. Robbie Richards and Dr. Alex Strauss to understand how predators affect disease dynamics in their prey. Abstract: The healthy herds hypothesis is the idea that predators reduce the spread of disease in prey/host populations. There are three primary mechanisms by which this effect may occur:
Bryna Wilson, a student from Grove City College worked with Dr. Nicole Gottdenker and Juliana Hoyos on associations between land cover and trypanosome infections in kissing bugs. Abstract: Changes in land use and forest cover can affect the transmission of vector-borne diseases by interfering with the ecology of disease vectors. The kissing bug Rhodnius pallescens can
