Department Graduate Students - Current Students

Melia DeVivo, Ph.D. - Veterinary Sciences
Indiana, Pennsylvania
Project: Epidemiology of chronic wasting disease in mule deer in the endemic area of Wyoming
Advisor: Dr. Todd Cornish
Project Summary: The effects of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) populations are poorly understood.

Melia DeVivo, Ph.D. - Veterinary Sciences
Indiana, Pennsylvania
Project: Epidemiology of chronic wasting disease in a mule deer in the endemic area of Wyoming
Advisor: Dr. Todd Cornish
Project Summary: The effects of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) populations are poorly understood. This study was designed to investigate the epidemiology of CWD in a free-ranging mule deer population in the CWD endemic area of Wyoming. Our first hypothesis is that CWD alters the behavior and activity patterns of free-ranging mule deer, resulting in differences in landscape use between CWD-positive and CWD-negative deer. Our second hypothesis is that CWD is negatively impacting mule deer populations by reducing the average lifespan of CWD-positive deer, and consequently their lifetime reproductive contribution to the population. Additionally, CWD-positive deer may produce fewer fawns compared to CWD-negative deer due to their diminished ability to adequately care for their young. Our study objectives are to determine disease status, pregnancy rates, and genetic susceptibility of free-ranging mule deer annually and monitor these deer using radio-telemetry and global positioning system (GPS) collars throughout their lifespan to determine: a) survival rates; b) home range size and habitat use; c) dispersal rates; d) migration patterns; e) daily activity patterns; and f) fawn productivity/recruitment. We will compare our results between the two sub-populations (CWD-positive and CWD-negative deer) and attempt to determine the role of CWD in population decline by calculating a population growth rate (λ) curve in response to CWD prevalence.
Biosketch: Melia’s first wildlife job was working for the Pennsylvania Game Commission on research regarding elk calving habitat and survival in north-central PA as an undergrad at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). She graduated from IUP in 2007 with her B.S. in Pre-Medicine and then went on to receive her M.S. in Biology, also from IUP in 2009. While pursuing her M.S. degree, she became increasingly interested in wildlife diseases and was fortunate to have the opportunity to enroll at the University of Wyoming in 2010 to conduct research on chronic wasting disease in a free-ranging mule deer population. Currently, Melia is wrapping up her third field season and will be capturing deer in February 2013 for her fourth and final field year. She plans on graduating in the fall of 2014 and remaining in the Rocky Mountain West. In her “free time”, Melia enjoys downhill skiing, hiking, and crocheting while listening to RadioLab and This American Life.

Amanda Dougherty, Ph.D. - Veterinary Sciences with a Minor in Environment and Natural Resources
Dakota, IL
Project: Immune responses and cytokine mRNA expression in brucellosis infected elk with comparison to a murine model and evaluation of recombinant S19 deletion mutants

Amanda Dougherty
Dakota, IL
Project: Immune responses and cytokine mRNA expression in brucellosis infected elk with comparison to a murine model and evaluation of recombinant S19 deletion mutants
Advisor: Dr. Gerry Andrews
Project Summary: This project looks at the immune response of elk by measuring levels of cytokine mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In addition, the murine model will be used to identify cytokine expression patterns in response to infection and use for comparison to naturally occurring infections in target species. B. abortus S19 knockout mutants will be generated to characterize genes, assess gene function and role of virulence during infection.
Biosketch: B.A. in biology and biochemistry from Knox College, M.S. from UW and currently working on a PhD with a minor in Environment and Natural Resources. In my free time, I raise dairy goats, pack goats, chickens, the occasional turkey, a very naughty (but adorable) dog and a cat.

Xiaotang Du, Ph.D. - Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences
Guangzhou, China
Project: Peptide aptamers against prion proteins as therapeutic and analytic tools
Advisor: Dr. Hermann Schatzl

Xiaotang Du, Ph.D. - Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences
Guangzhou, China
Project: Peptide aptamers against prion proteins as therapeutic and analytic tools
Advisor: Dr. Hermann Schatzl
Project Summary: The purpose of this project is to use combinatorial aptamer technology to identify, characterize and improve tools which bind to the cellular prion protein (PrP) in a way which makes it ineligible for prion conversion
Biosketch: M.D. with expertise in infectious diseases

David R. Edmunds, Ph.D.
Peterborough, Ontario Canada followed by Roanoke, VA
Project: Effects of Chronic Wasting Disease on Population Demography and Landscape Use in White-tailed Deer in Wyoming
Advisor: Dr. Todd Cornish

David R. Edmunds, Ph.D.
Peterborough, Ontario Canada followed by Roanoke, VA
Project: Effects of Chronic Wasting Disease on Population Demography and Landscape Use in White-tailed Deer in Wyoming
Advisor: Dr. Todd Cornish
Project Summary: This project was designed to determine how chronic wasting disease(CWD) impacts free-ranging white-tailed deer behavior, population growth, and landscape use in a highly endemic CWD area of Wyoming.
Biosketch: Dave plans to attend veterinary school at CSU in the fall after the completion of his Ph.D. He completed his bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Sciences with minors in Biology, Chemistry and Forestry at Virginia Tech in 2002.

Adel Ghnenis, Ph.D. - Veterinary Sciences
Tripoli, Libya
Project: The virulence determinant in plasma membrane of Leishmania protozoa
Advisor: Dr. Chaoqun Yao
Project Summary: Leishmaniasis is disease caused by parasitic protozoa called Leishmania sp

Adel Ghnenis, Ph.D. - Veterinary Science
Tripoli, Libya
Project: The virulence determinant in plasma membrane of Leishmania protozoa
Advisor: Dr. Chaoqun Yao
Project Summary: Leishmaniasis is disease caused by parasitic protozoa called Leishmania sp and transmitted by the bit of sand fly. Depending on the species, the disease has three forms: cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral, the last is the more serious, and without treatment, may lead to death. The main virulence factors of metacyclic promastigotes of Leishmania spp. are localized at the plasma membrane, and they play pivotal roles in the guiding the host-parasite interactions that lead to successful infection. Research is focused in the roles of specific proteins situated in the Leishmania plasma membrane in promoting virulence of the parasite.
Biosketch: I completed my BSc in the veterinary medical sciences from the University of Tripoli, Libya in the year of 1997. After graduation I had the opportunity to participate in animal’s health. I worked as vet for three years. I completed my MSc in molecular parasitology and vector biology from the University of Manchester.UK in the year of 2007. Before I started my Phd, I was appointed as assistant lecture in faculty of science at the University of Jabal Gharbi, Zintan, Libya.

Yinzhu Jin - M.S. - Veterinary Sciences
Yanji, China
Project: Bovine Trichomoniasis in Wyoming beef cattle
Advisor: Dr. Chaoqun Yao
Project Summary: Bovine trichomoniasis is an endemic cattle disease that causes fetal wastage.

Yinzhu Jin - M.S. - Veterinary Sciences
Yanji, China
Project: Bovine Trichomoniasis in Wyoming beef cattle
Advisor: Dr. Chaoqun Yao
Project Summary: Bovine trichomoniasis is an endemic cattle disease that causes fetal wastage. It significantly reduce the economic return of beef cattle industry. No legal drugs are approved for the disease, and the disease control largely depends on prevention. My project focuses on identifying risk factors associated with bovine trichomoniasis, aiming at providing more effective control methods to stop the substantial economic loss.
Biosketch: Obtained B.S. from Sun Yat-sen University in China , and came to UW in 2010.

Alexandria Kesterson, M.S. - Veterinary Sciences
Nashville, Indiana
Project: Evaluation of the Role of Cell-Mediated Immunity in Efficacy of Experimental Alternate Schedule of Live Attenuated RB51 Vaccine against Brucellosis in Cattle
Advisor: Jeff Adamovicz
Project Summary: Her project is to determine if the current cattle vaccine for Brucella

Alexandria Kesterson, M.S. - Veterinary Science
Nashville, Indiana
Project: Evaluation of the Role of Cell-Mediated Immunity in Efficacy of Experimental Alternate Schedule of Live Attenuated RB51 Vaccine against Brucellosis in Cattle
Advisor: Jeff Adamovicz
Project Summary: Her project is to determine if the current cattle vaccine for Brucella abortus, (RB-51), is more effective in preventing infection and or abortion when given in multiple doses. She will focus on veterinary care including vaccinations, artificial insemination, measuring changes in cell-mediated immunity in vaccinated cattle and challenge of the cattle with virulent B. abortus.
Biosketch: UW graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Animal and Veterinary Sciences. She plans to go to vet school after completing her masters.

Shaihla Khan, M.S. - Neuroscience
Mumbai, India
Project: Effect of drug inducded auophagy on prion infection
Advisor: Hermann Schatzl
Project Summary: The rationale here is that autophagy has the capacity to

Shaihla Khan, M.S. - Neuroscience
Mumbai, India
Project: Effect of drug inducded auophagy on prion infection
Advisor: Hermann Schatzl
Project Summary: The rationale here is that autophagy has the capacity to clear prions and that increased levels of autophagy counter-act prion infection
Biosketch: Bachelor’s obtained in India. First M.S. obtained in the U.K. before coming to UW.

Leah Kyle, Ph.D. - Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences
Cody, WY
Project: Investigation of resistance to Chronic Wasting Disease in vitro
Advisor: Dr. Hermann Schatzl
Project Summary: Previous work has identified a structural difference in the PrP protein

Leah Kyle, Ph.D. - Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences
Cody, WY
Project: Investigation of resistance to Chronic Wasting Disease in vitro
Advisor: Dr. Hermann Schatzl
Project Summary: Previous work has identified a structural difference in the PrP protein from deer and other cervids as compared to other mammalian organisms that are not susceptible to Chronic Wasting Disease. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of this structural feature in the misfolding process associated with disease
Biosketch: B.S. in biology with a minor in chemistry received from the University of Oregon.

Zhen Lu, Ph.D. - Neuroscience
Jinchang, China
Project: The effects of selenium supplementation in mouse models of Huntington's disease
Advisor: Dr. Jonathan Fox
Project Summary: Selenium is a trace element nutrient that has critical roles in brain function. Disruption of brain selenium homeostasis is sufficient to cause neurodegeneration. My project is mainly about studying the role of selenium in the mouse model of Huntington’s disease.

Zhen Lu - Neuroscience
Jinchang, China
Project: The effects of selenium supplementation in mouse models of Huntington's disease
Advisor: Dr. Jonathan Fox
Project Summary: Selenium is a trace element nutrient that has critical roles in brain function. Disruption of brain selenium homeostasis is sufficient to cause neurodegeneration. My project is mainly about studying the role of selenium in the mouse model of Huntington’s disease.
Biosketch: I obtained my Bachelor of Science degree in the School of Pharmaceutical Science, Sun Yat-Sen University, China. When I am not working towards my degree I like to watch movies and hike. I am also a cat and dog lover.

Kelsie Speiser, M.S. - Veterinary Sciences
Casper, WY
Project: Risk analysis of bluetongue virus infection in wild and domestic ungulates in Wyoming using GIS
Advisor: Dr. Myrna Miller
Project Summary: Bluetongue (BT) is an infectious, vector-borne, noncontagious disease

Kelsie Speiser, M.S. - Veterinary Sciences
Casper, WY
Project: Risk analysis of bluetongue virus infection in wild and domestic ungulates in Wyoming using GIS
Advisor: Dr. Myrna Miller
Project Description: Bluetongue (BT) is an infectious, vector-borne, noncontagious disease of wild and domestic ruminants that is transmitted by Culicoides species biting midges. In Wyoming, bluetongue virus (BTV) has been isolated in pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), elk (Cervus canadensis), bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), and domestic sheep (Ovis aries). While BTV is well researched in the laboratory, less is known about natural outbreaks and causative factors that contribute to outbreaks in Wyoming. The prevalence of Bluetongue disease in wild and domestic ungulates in Wyoming is affected by the environmental and spatial factors of precipitation, average temperature, elevation, vegetation type, and land use. Mapping the prevalence of BTV with environmental and spatial factors will identify risk factors. The objectives of this research are to determine presence or absence of bluetongue virus antibody as an indication of prior BTV exposure and correlate seroprevalence with environmental and spatial factors using GIS. Blood serum samples were collected using Nobuto blood filter from hunter-harvested mule deer, pronghorn, and white-tailed deer at hunter check stations in fall 2011 and 2012. Sample data includes age, species, sex and location of harvest. Domestic sheep samples were collected from participating producer flocks and archived samples in storage at the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory. Serum samples will be tested for presence of BTV specific antibodies by a competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and serum neutralization. Seropositive and seronegative animals will be mapped in relation to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data of elevation, average temperature, precipitation, vegetation type, and land-use type, identifying risk factors for BT. Roughly 450 mule deer, 750 pronghorn, 200 white-tailed deer, 20 elk and 2 moose samples have been collected. Bluetongue antibody detection is in progress and the results and analyses are pending.
Biosketch: Kelsie graduated in 2010 with a B.S. in animal and veterinary from the University of Wyoming and is currently working to complete a M.S at the same institution. In the fall she will start veterinary school.

Amy Williams, M.S. - Veterinary Sciences
Bad Axe, MI
Project: Distribution and Feeding Patterns for Tabinid Flies, the Vector of the Arterial Worms of Sheep and Cervids, Elaeophora schneideri
Advisor: Dr. Brant Schumaker

Amy Williams, M.S.
Bad Axe, MI
Project: Distribution and feeding patterns for tabanid flies, the vector of the arterial worms of sheep and cervids, Elaeophora schneideri
Advisor: Dr. Brant Schumaker
Project Summary: Elaeophora schneideri is a parasitic nematode that can cause mild to severe disease in ungulates, particularly in moose and elk. The prevalence of E. schneideri varies within moose herds around Wyoming. To understand what drives these differences, horse flies, which are the vector for the parasite, have been collected from several moose herd units around Wyoming. Collected horse flies will be dissected to determine which species are the major carriers of E. schneideri. In addition, polymerase chain reaction will be used to determine the dominant hosts of horse flies by identifying DNA in the blood-meal. Assessing the most relevant species and host use of horse flies, will allow researchers to better understand the factors that contribute to the pervasiveness of E. schneideri infections in moose populations around Wyoming.
Biosketch: I grew up in the small town of Bad Axe MI, and graduated from Michigan State University in 2003 with a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Management. After graduation, I used field jobs as opportunities to live in new areas across the U.S., and to gain experience across different disciplines. While in Michigan I collected ticks and mosquitoes to identify new areas of disease occurrence. I moved on to study lesser-prairie chickens in Oklahoma, small mammals in Utah, redband trout and coho salmon in Oregon, and monitored chronic wasting disease in Wyoming. Just before beginning a master’s program at the University of Wyoming, I was working on elk and brucellosis for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department as part of the Brucellosis-Feedground-Habitat unit. When not pinning horse flies I enjoy camping, hiking, cross-country skiing, reading sci-fi, birding, and fishing.