Tick surveillance key to tracking emerging disease babesiosis
UF veterinary parasitologist Jeff Gruntmeir shares expertise on babesiosis, an emerging disease spread by ticks.
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UF expert answers questions about the newly approved RSV vaccine
On May 3, the FDA approved a vaccine to prevent respiratory syncytial virus in older adults. Dr. Cindy Prins answers some common questions about RSV disease and the new vaccine.
Q&A: What to know about bird flu
UF microbiologist and virus expert John Lednicky, Ph.D., shares his perspective on the current avian influenza, or bird flu, outbreak in the U.S.
Scientists discover cause of sea urchin die-offs in the Caribbean: a protozoan parasite
The long-spined sea urchin Diadema antillarum is a keystone species. Coral reefs rely on healthy sea urchins to eat algae so coral can thrive. Healthy coral means healthy fish, and their positive impacts continue up the food chain.
Wastewater surveillance researchers identify tools to estimate how many people are represented in a sample
For their study, the investigators, who are also members of UF’s Emerging Pathogens Institute, evaluated population normalization factors, which are used to determine the relative human fecal contribution in a sample. With this information, scientists can control for fluctuations in the population contributing to a wastewater sample throughout time while quantifying the SARS-CoV-2 wastewater concentrations.
What’s below the surface
For this core group of PHHP researchers, who are also members of UF’s Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Water Institute and Emerging Pathogens Institute, there is an urgent need to identify emerging contaminants in Florida’s waters, assess their impact and use that data to inform local, state and federal agencies.
COVID vaccines effective against Omicron, say UF biostatisticians
UF biostatisticians confirm in a recent meta-analysis that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 and getting a booster or two is the best way to protect against severe outcomes.
Extensively drug-resistant Shigella infections are increasing. Here’s what you need to know.
A UF researcher with expertise in infectious bacteria offers commentary and perspective on extensively drug-resistant Shigella infections following a recent CDC warning.
Research day recap: responding to COVID in South Africa and Senegal
The Emerging Pathogens Institute’s annual Research Day event celebrates pathogens research and the people who work in this critical academic space. After three years of meeting virtually, the event was held in person at the Reitz Union on Feb. 16, 2023 on the University of Florida’s campus. Researchers and students exhibited 123 abstracts and posters that probed pathogens and infectious diseases topics spanning from lab research to field investigations and bioinformatic analyses.
UF Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety receives over $7M in renewal funding
Workers in agriculture, fisheries and forestry are among those at greatest risk nationally for injury and work-related health problems. Additionally, work-related fatalities are nearly seven times higher in these industries compared to all other industries in the United States. With the goal of reducing the incidence and severity of chronic and acute health and safety problems in these occupational groups, the University of Florida’s Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety, or SCCAHS, has been awarded $7 million in renewed funding from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
