SCHOLARS@TAMU

As a veterinary microbiologist, I provide diagnostic service and consultation to clinicians and support collaborative research performed at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at Texas A&M University. As a researcher, my interests are two-fold. I study host-pathogens interaction of vector-borne spirochetes that cause Lyme disease and Relapsing Fever. My laboratory members and I examine immunoevasion mechanisms of Borrelia burgdorferi, a causative agent of Lyme disease and work towards identifying novel vaccine candidates. The long-term goal is to develop an efficacious second-generation vaccine against Lyme disease. The other area of my interest is antimicrobial resistance. Specifically, we analyze extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae that are isolated from clinical specimens derived from companion animals. The increasing ESBL prevalence in E. coli and Klebsiella spp. represents a huge challenge for veterinary practitioners as therapeutic options for these ESBL-producing bacteria are very limited. The ultimate goal is contribute to overall understanding of antimicrobial resistance in companion animals, which in turn will help to prevent animal health threats associated with antimicrobial resistance in the veterinary clinics.