Our work on equine rhodococcal pneumonia has included pulmonary & mucosal immunity, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, DNA vaccines, and developing methods for studying cellular immune responses in horses. Another important aspect of this work is neonatal immunity, since a successful vaccine would probably need to be administered early in life. Currently we are looking at the role of non-traditional, MHC-unrestricted T lymphocytes and hypothesize that these immune cells recognize unique R. equi lipid antigens presented by CD1 molecules.

The long term goal is to contribute to the development of novel vaccines in animals, especially a vaccine that will prevent rhodococcal pneumonia.

I have also worked for some time on Babesia bovis, an Apicomplexan protozoa that significantly limits cattle production in much of the world. Babesia species replicate within erythrocytes and cause a disease resembling malaria.  This research is primarily collaborative now, and I collaborate with Dr. Don Knowles on Babesia equi and B. caballi, which are important protozoal pathogens affected horses.

• B.A.: Miami University, Oxford, Ohio; 1977
• D.V.M.: Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio;  1981
• Residency in Anatomic Pathology: University of Florida - Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Gainesville, Florida; 1982-84
• Ph.D.: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; 1989 (Immunology & Infectious Disease)

Clinical Specialty:

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Pathology (DACVP); 1985.

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