UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center postdoctoral associate Pamela S. Salvador Dutra, Ph.D., won first place in the postdoctoral poster competition at EPI Research Day 2026.
UF College of Veterinary Medicine Ph.D. candidate Nimra Khalid, D.M.V., won first place in the pre-doctoral poster competition at EPI Research Day 2026.
University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions student Sarah Acra won first place in the undergraduate research poster competition at EPI Research Day 2026.
While rare, hantavirus outbreaks are deadly. This genus of viruses is primarily transmitted from rodents to humans. Only one strain, known as Andes virus, has been documented to potentially spread from person to person, although such transmission is rare and typically requires close contact.
Florida reports one of the highest rates of locally acquired Hansen's disease, or leprosy, in the United States. This disease affects the skin and nerves and is primarily caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. Although it is curable, the emergence of new cases has drawn the attention of medical professionals.
Out of the hundreds of fungal disease-causing pathogens in humans, only four are considered "critical risks" to human health. The deadliest, Cryptococcus neoformans, colonizes the brain, but can be found all around us. University of Florida Emerging Pathogens Institute member breaks down key questions surrounding this intriguing yet sinister fungus.
Burton H. Singer, Ph. D., a prolific member of the University of Florida Emerging Pathogens Institute, passed away on Feb. 15, 2026. With former faculty positions at Princeton University, Yale School of Public Health and Columbia University, Singer authored over 1,300 publications over seven decades.
In this study, we investigated how each type of IFNλ (IFNλ1, IFNλ2, and IFNλ3) contributes to antiviral readiness in human intestinal epithelial cells. By selectively removing each IFNλ, we discovered that IFNλ2 and IFNλ3, but not IFNλ1, are essential for maintaining this built-in antiviral state. Cells lacking IFNλ2/3 became highly vulnerable to a wide range of viruses and lost the ability to activate key antiviral genes. Our findings reveal a previously unrecognized hierarchy among IFNλs and highlight IFNλ2/3 as critical guardians of gut antiviral defense, even before infection occurs.
Human norovirus (HuNoV) is the leading cause of foodborne illnesses in the United States, recognized for its environmental persistence and sanitizer resistance. However, limited data exist on its persistence in agricultural water. This study assessed the survival of HuNoV GII, its cultivable surrogate Tulane virus, and Escherichia coli TVS 353 in preharvest agricultural water collected from a Florida farm (treatment) compared with phosphate-buffered dilution water (BPDW, control). These findings demonstrate the long-term persistence of enteric pathogens in preharvest agricultural water and underscore the critical need for risk-based water safety strategies.
Whooping cough affects the upper respiratory tract. A bacterial infection by Bordetella pertussis damages the airways, leading to severe and uncontrollable coughing fits. It's most dangerous to children, especially infants under 12 months of age.
