A5048528826- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Gut microbiota and health
- Malaria Research and Control
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Travel-related health issues
- Colorectal Cancer Screening and Detection
- Global Cancer Incidence and Screening
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Dysphagia Assessment and Management
- Cervical Cancer and HPV Research
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Bioinformatics and Genomic Networks
University of Florida
2015-2024
Florida College
2022-2023
University School
2023
Cornell University
2023
University of KwaZulu-Natal
2023
Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa
2023
Gheskio Centers
2023
Stellenbosch University
2023
University of Washington
2023
UF Health Shands Hospital
2023
Abstract Coronaviruses have caused three major epidemics since 2003, including the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In each case, emergence of coronavirus in our species has been associated with zoonotic transmissions from animal reservoirs 1,2 , underscoring how prone such pathogens are to spill over and adapt new species. Among four recognized genera family Coronaviridae human infections reported so far limited alphacoronaviruses betacoronaviruses 3–5 . Here we identify porcine...
Coronaviruses have caused three major epidemics since 2003, including the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In each case, coronavirus emergence in our species has been associated with zoonotic transmissions from animal reservoirs 1,2 , underscoring how prone such pathogens are to spill over and adapt new species. Among four recognized genera of family Coronaviridae - Alphacoronavirus, Betacoronavirus, Deltacoronavirus, Gammacoronavirus human infections reported date limited alpha-...
We isolated a novel coronavirus from medical team member presenting with fever and malaise after travel to Haiti. The virus showed 99.4% similarity recombinant canine recently identified in pneumonia patient Malaysia, suggesting that infection this and/or variants occurs multiple locations.
Abstract In March 2024, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert in response to a rapid increase Oropouche fever cases across South America. Brazil has been particularly affected, reporting novel reassortant lineage of virus (OROV) and expansion previously non-endemic areas beyond Amazon Basin. Utilising phylogeographic approaches, we reveal multi-scale process with both short long-distance dispersal events, diffusion velocities line human-mediated jumps. We identify...
Introduction: Non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) such as gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction are common, yet little is known about how modifying dietary intake impacts PD symptoms. The aim this study in individuals with was to determine whether a Mediterranean diet intervention feasible and affects GI function, intestinal permeability fecal microbial communities. Methods: A single-arm, 5-week conducted eight people PD. Daily weekly questionnaires were administered changes Urine...
Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which share island of Hispaniola, are last locations in Caribbean where malaria still persists. Malaria is an important public health concern with 17,094 reported cases 2014. Further, on January 12, 2010, a record earthquake devastated densely populated areas including many healthcare laboratory facilities. Weakened infrastructure provided fertile reservoirs for uncontrolled transmission infectious pathogens. This situation results unique challenges...
Public health measures are poised for transition from malaria control to elimination on the island of Hispaniola. Assessment reservoir asymptomatic infections which acute cases may derive is critical plan and evaluate efforts. Current field technology ill suited detecting sub-microscopic infections, thus highly sensitive survey methods capable virtually all needed. In this study prevalence infection with Plasmodium falciparum was determined in patients seeking medical care primarily...
Our evolutionary and structural analyses revealed that the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike gene is a complex mosaic resulting from several recombination events. Additionally, fixation of variants has mainly been driven by purifying selection, suggesting presence conserved features. dynamic simulations identified two main long-range covariant movements novel glycoprotein, showed that, as result duality, they are preserved. The first movement involves...
Abstract After an initial wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Haiti summer 2020 (primarily lineage B.1), seropositivity for anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunoglobulin G (IgG) was ~40%. Variant P.1 (gamma) introduced February 2021, with initially limited introduction followed by exponential local dissemination within this unvaccinated population prior exposure to earlier SARS-CoV-2 lineages.
Abstract Since early 2022, in the aftermath of two extreme weather events, Malawi experienced its largest ever cholera outbreak, with over 58,000 reported cases and 1,761 deaths as May 2023. We generated 49 high-quality, near-complete Vibrio cholerae genomes from isolates collected between December 2022 March 2023 all three regions Malawi. Using phylogenetic methods 2159 publicly available genomes, we present evidence suggesting that outbreak strains originated Pakistan estimated most recent...
Abstract Objectives To describe the epidemiology of malaria in pregnancy Haiti. Methods Cross‐sectional study among pregnant women six departments After obtaining informed consent, whole blood samples and demographic surveys were collected to investigate prevalence, anaemia socio‐behavioural risk factors for infection, respectively. A total 311 screened Plasmodium falciparum infection using a rapid diagnostic test ( RDT ), microscopy novel, quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain...
Polyphenol-rich cranberry extracts decrease intestinal inflammation, alter gut microbiota, and permeability in obese mice, but the effect has not been investigated adults who are obese. The purpose of this randomized double-blind, cross-over feeding study (BMI = 37.4 ± 1.2 kg/m2) otherwise healthy (n 36) 35.4 1.3 years was to determine effects consuming 480 mL a high polyphenolic or control beverage daily for 2 weeks on gastrointestinal permeability, markers inflammation immune function,...
Abstract Cholera causes substantial illness and death in Africa. We analyzed 24 toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 strains isolated 2015–2017 from patients the Great Lakes region of Democratic Republic Congo. Strains originating southern Asia appeared to be part T10 introduction event eastern identified 2 main strain lineages, most recently a lineage corresponding sequence type 515, V. cluster previously reported Lake Kivu region. In 41% fecal samples cholera patients, we also novel ICP1...
Abstract The 2010 cholera epidemic in Haiti was thought to have ended 2019, and the Prime Minister of declared country cholera-free February 2022. On September 25, 2022, cases were again identified Port-au-Prince. We compared genomic data from 42 clinical Vibrio cholerae strains 2022 with 327 other 1,824 collected worldwide. isolates homogeneous closely related environmental circulating during 2012–2019. Bayesian hypothesis testing indicated that shared their most recent common ancestor an...
In February and March, 2020, environmental surface swab samples were collected from the handle of main entry door a major university building in Florida, as part pilot surveillance project screening for influenza. Samples taken at end regular classroom hours, between dates 1–5 19-March 4, 2020. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus was isolated on four 19 days sampled. Both SARS-CoV-2 detected sample 21, Based sequence analysis, Florida strain (designated UF-11) identical to strains being identified...
Abstract The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) variants concern (VOC) has raised questions regarding vaccine protection against SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, transmission, and ongoing virus evolution. Twenty‐three mildly symptomatic “vaccination breakthrough” infections were identified as early January 2021 in Alachua County, Florida, among individuals fully vaccinated with either the BNT162b2 (Pfizer) or Ad26 (Janssen/J&J) vaccines. genomes successfully...
Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta variant has caused a dramatic resurgence in infections the United Sates, raising questions regarding potential transmissibility among vaccinated individuals. Methods Between October 2020 and July 2021, we sequenced 4439 SARS-CoV-2 full genomes, 23% of all known Alachua County, Florida, including 109 vaccine breakthrough cases. Univariate multivariate regression analyses were conducted to evaluate...
Abstract In depth evolutionary and structural analyses of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) isolated from bats, pangolins, humans are necessary to assess the role natural selection recombination in emergence current pandemic strain. The SARS-CoV-2 S glycoprotein unique features have been associated with efficient viral spread human population. Phylogeny-based genetic algorithm methods clearly show that events between progenitors infecting animal hosts led a mosaic...
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strain UF-8, with an in-frame 12-nucleotide deletion within open reading frame 3a (ORF3a), was isolated from a 78-year-old COVID-19 patient in March 2020.
Toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 serotype Ogawa was introduced involuntarily into Haiti in October 2010, and virtually all of the clinical strains isolated during first 5 years epidemic were Ogawa. Inaba identified intermittently prior to 2015, with diverse mutations resulting a common phenotype. In percentage infections due began rapidly increase, supplanting as dominant subsequent 4 years. We investigated molecular basis switch confirmed that had same level mRNA expression wbeT genes, well...
The tick-borne apicomplexan parasite, Babesia bovis, a highly persistent bovine pathogen, expresses VESA1 proteins on the infected erythrocyte surface to mediate cytoadhesion. cytoadhesion ligand, VESA1, which protects parasite from splenic passage, is itself protected host immune response by rapid antigenic variation. B. bovis relies upon segmental gene conversion (SGC) as major mechanism vary structure. Gene has been considered form of homologous recombination (HR), process for Rad51 are...
Peripheral immunity is thought to be dysregulated in Parkinson's disease (PD) and may provide an avenue for novel immunotherapeutic interventions. Gut microbiota a potential factor modulating immunotherapy response. Considering the possibly complex role of gut-brain axis PD, we used preclinical model determine effects gut dynamics mice receiving intervention compared controls. A total 17 M83 heterozygous transgenic were this study. Mice treatment arm (N = 10) received adoptive cellular...
The malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, was introduced into Hispaniola and other regions of the Americas through slave trade spanning 16th 19th centuries. During this period, more than 12 million Africans were brought across Atlantic to Caribbean Americas. Since is holoendemic in West Africa, a substantial percentage these individuals carried parasite. St. Domingue on Hispaniola, now modern-day Haiti, major port disembarkation, still actively transmitted there. We undertook detailed...