This dissertation uses manipulative experiments to explore amphibian-Bd infection dynamics. Although there has been almost two decades research since the discovery of Bd, many questions still remain regarding what conditions mediate chytridiomycosis virulence. My research shows how certain host and pathogen factors can influence disease virulence. Identifying how host and...
Tanzania has seen a steady decrease in HIV prevalence over the past decade; however, the current HIV prevalence is 4.8% among Tanzanian adults. HIV testing is the first step in the treatment cascade and is key to getting those living with HIV in Tanzania linked to care and reducing their...
The diverse community of bacteria living within and on host organisms, known as the microbiome, has an important role in maintaining host health. Dysbiosis, known as a change in the healthy community of the microbiome, has been associated with a number of diseases across host organisms and body sites including...
Invasive species are a growing global economic and ecological problem. Invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois spp.) are known to have extreme negative effects on coral-reef communities in the Bahamas, so understating their distribution within and among reefs, what limits their local movements, and the effects they have on native prey species...
Humans and viral disease are inextricably intertwined. Viral disease plays an immeasurable role in human life, from the disease and economic burden associated with every facet of contending with human viral disease, to managing the consequences of viral disease in organisms important to our food supply, economy, and entertainment. The...
In this dissertation I will demonstrate a novel application of self-exciting point process models to mass shooting data. I will also introduce two adaptations to the traditional nonparametric Hawkes process modeling framework. One such modification allows for the estimation of the additional productivity introduced by an event that is not...
Marine mammals are top predators that are essential for the health and function of our oceans. These top predators are often affected by various factors that can be detrimental to their populations. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate undetermined causes of deaths and to better understand known diseases in...
Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of Johne’s disease, a chronic granulomatous enteritis that plagues domestic and wild ruminants globally. During the silent stages of Johne’s disease, infected animals intermittently shed bacteria for years prior to clinical diagnosis during advanced disease stages. This strategy allows MAP to...
To examine the macrophage response to M. avium, I compared inflammasome and cytosolic sensor expression and activation. My result demonstrated that virulent strains of M. avium (A5 and 104) suppress IL-1β production and induce IFN-β production in macrophages. M. avium mutants deficient at DNA export in the biofilm exhibited reduced...
Melanocytes are dendritic, pigment-producing cells located in the skin and are responsible for its protection against the deleterious effects of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR), which include DNA damage and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS). They do so by synthesizing photoprotective melanin pigments and distributing them to adjacent skin cells (e.g.,...