{"id":8,"date":"2018-07-11T11:54:22","date_gmt":"2018-07-11T16:54:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tamuvetmed.wpengine.com\/arenaslab\/?page_id=8"},"modified":"2026-03-24T15:34:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T20:34:37","slug":"news","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vetmed.tamu.edu\/arenaslab\/news\/","title":{"rendered":"News"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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February 2026<\/h3>\n

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\"PortraitA warm welcome to Gaelle Kamdjo of Cameroon who is visiting our laboratory for several months where she will be engaged in Lateral Flow Assay production, optimization and standardization, as well as PCR of tissue samples associated with our Cameroon brucellosis research project.<\/p>



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\"MapAn article entitled, Canine peritoneal and pleural larval mesocestoidosis with sarcoma development<\/a>, was published in Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports. This is a case report of peritoneal and pleural larval mesocestoidosis in a dog, molecularly identified as \u201cMesocestoides sp. M2\u201d. Mesocestoides spp. are enteric cestodes that utilize dogs and other carnivores as the definitive hosts with no previously documented association with neoplasia. Infection likely occurred in Turkey, prior to the dog\u2019s arrival into the United States. It is hypothesized that the sarcoma may have developed due to chronic infection with the mesocestoidid.\n<\/p>
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\"PortraitWelcome to Dr. Salome Rave, a veterinarian, recently graduated from the National University of Colombia, who is joining our laboratory to further develop her research skills and continue her professional training regarding the mitigation of infectious diseases. She is passionate about theriogenology and herd health, and a lover of farm animals. We welcome her to the laboratory..<\/p>


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January 2026<\/h3>\n
\"MapAn article entitled, Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among livestock owners, traders, and slaughterhouse inspectors in Cameroon reveals marginal understanding of livestock and human brucellosis<\/a>, was published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. Brucellosis is an endemic, zoonotic disease in many regions worldwide, with the highest risk of infection in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the true extent of the disease in Africa remains largely unknown. In Cameroon, a country in western Central Africa, Brucella abortus is endemic in livestock, and the bacteria have been found in milk sold at community markets throughout the country. This study sought to understand the knowledge, attitudes, and biosecurity practices of those closely working with animals throughout the livestock supply chain from farm to slaughter. Three KAP surveys were conducted among livestock owners, traders, and slaughter facility inspectors at live markets and abattoirs in the Far North, North, and West regions of the country due to their pivotal importance in the national and international supply chain. Findings revealed a minimal understanding of brucellosis and limited biosecurity practices across the network of owners, traders, and abattoir inspectors which likely contribute to the persistence of B. abortus as endemic in the country and region as a whole. This study provided insights into animal and public health risks and is aimed toward aiding policymakers in developing interventions to reduce the disease burden.<\/p>
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\"Photograph\nA hearty welcome to Dr. Borin Sear of the Kingdom of Cambodia who is joining with our laboratory through a USDA\/FAS Faculty Exchange Program for Veterinary Science and Medicine sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture from January 13th through May 5th, 2026. During his stay in the U.S., Dr. Sear\u2019s training will be focused on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) issues that connect to international trade and will help participating Fellows to revise and modernize their class outlines for introduction at their home university upon their return. The activities include upgrading their technical knowledge in their subject area, learning new teaching methods through class observation and new research methods through experience in the lab, through short courses, and\/or one-on-one instruction session. Fellows will also learn about public\/private grants\/funding opportunities as well as proposal writing. In addition to educational modernization, participating Fellow will travel to laboratories, farms, agribusinesses, and government offices to gain an understanding of how the veterinary science and animal health systems operate in the United States.<\/p>
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December 2025<\/h3>\n
\"MapAn article entitled, Scoping review of brucellosis in Armenia: persistent neglect, significant knowledge gaps, and a necessity for innovative research, surveillance, and control<\/a>, was published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease which is endemic in many regions of the world including Armenia, a small country situated in the South Caucasus. In order to better understand the epidemiological landscape of brucellosis in Armenia, we conducted a scoping review of studies addressing both human and animal brucellosis within the country. Comprehensive database and manual searches identified only 19 relevant articles published between 1982 and 2023. Reported individual seroprevalence estimates for animal brucellosis ranged dramatically from 0.26 to 18.04% (median\u20143.33%) in cattle and from 0.75 to 29.90% (median\u20141.94%) in small ruminants. Only one study investigated swine; however, the sample size was too small and precluded meaningful interpretation. None of the studies identified the Brucella species or strains involved, leaving unresolved the question of the primary livestock reservoirs. In humans, brucellosis was predominantly reported among individuals residing in rural areas, with an average incidence of approximately 8 cases per 100,000 population per year. Although constrained by limitations due to the scarcity of available data, this review highlights the neglected nature of brucellosis in Armenia underscoring the potential public health risk posed by this bacterium. Reporting inconsistencies, the absence of readily available diagnostic tools, and the lack of standardized testing procedures hinder an accurate assessment of the disease burden. This review summarizes and identifies critical gaps in research and control efforts, offering insight that can support the need for a comprehensive, long-term national surveillance and control strategy.\n<\/p>
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November 2025<\/h3>\n
\"MapAn article entitled, Prevalence study in Cameroon identifies Brucella abortus<\/em> as the endemic Brucella<\/em> species in livestock<\/a>, was published in Nature Communications<\/em>. In sub-Saharan Africa, brucellosis is considered endemic in many countries based on serological evidence, although the presence and distribution of specific Brucella<\/em> species remain unverified due to limited bacteriological confirmation. This cross-sectional study investigated Brucella<\/em> prevalence in 4612 animals (cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs) from slaughterhouses in the Far-North, North, and West regions of Cameroon sampled between February 2021 and May 2023. The analysis included serology (Rose Bengal Test and indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay), culture, real-time PCR, and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Results showed only Brucella abortus<\/em> is present in livestock, primarily affecting cattle (8.3%) and goats (7.3%). NGS revealed the local B. abortus<\/em> strain is related to the clade from Uganda and Sudan, indicating it is endemic to Africa, rather than introduced from outside the continent. These results confirmed the presence of a genetically distinct African lineage and reinforce brucellosis as a major concern for both animal and public health. The study emphasizes the critical need for coordinated surveillance systems to support evidence-based control strategies, enhance disease monitoring, and reduce the risk of transboundary transmission. See the VMBS News Article<\/a> regarding this important publication.\n<\/p>\n
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\"PhotoDrs. Angela Arenas, Christopher Laine and Sonia Vection attended the 77th Annual Brucellosis Research Conference held from November 4th to 7th, 2025, in San Jos\u00e9, Costa Rica, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel San Jos\u00e9 La Sabana. This multidisciplinary gathering brought together a global community of researchers, scientists, and policymakers to tackle the significant public health challenge of brucellosis. This bacterial disease affects both humans and animals, particularly in developing countries. These research conferences highlight the global impact of brucellosis and foster international collaboration. Oral Scientific presentations took place every day, with half-day sessions dedicated to different research topics with each session will have its own poster session.\n<\/p>\n
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\"PhotoAt the Brucellosis Research Conference, Dr. Sonia Vection gave an oral presentation on November 5th entitled, \u201cTowards the validation of a real-time PCR assay for the detection of Brucella DNA in different types of animal samples\u201d wherein she specifically addressed the detection of Brucella DNA and identification of B. melitensis in tissues using culture positive and naive tissue samples.\n<\/p>
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September 2025<\/h3>\n

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\"photograph\nWelcome to Juan Pablo Mejia Gomez, a veterinarian student intern from the National University of Colombia. Juan Pablo will join the laboratory 5 months, learning about the development of safe and effective vaccines for veterinary use, the global impact of zoonotic diseases and their importance on public health, laboratory techniques, scientific research and methodologies, and to grow professionally to be able to give back to his university and country.<\/p>



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\"photographThe Arenas-Gamboa Laboratory received Animal Health and Disease Research Capacity Funding from Texas A&M AgriLife Research for research proposal titled, Vaccine Efficacy Studies Against Brucellosis in Goats<\/em>. Brucellosis is one of the most economically significant zoonoses worldwide, impacting food production and the health of humans, livestock, and wildlife. Brucella melitensis<\/em>, the main cause in small ruminants, leads to abortions, stillbirths, and infertility, and can also infect cattle, wildlife, and humans\u2014primarily through unpasteurized dairy or contact with infected animals. The only commercially available vaccine for B. melitensis<\/em> is Rev-1, developed in the 1950s. However, Rev-1 can cause abortions in pregnant animals, is resistant to streptomycin and partially resistant to rifampicin, is virulent to humans, and can be shed in milk\u2014posing public health risks. The Arenas-Gamboa laboratory is seeking to evaluate the protective efficacy of a new, live attenuated vaccine candidate for use in pregnant goats. It is their expectation to deliver a vaccine with superior safety and efficacy profiles than that of the Rev-1 vaccine.<\/p>\n

August 2025<\/h3>\n
\"RuralAn article entitled “Millions Of Malaria Diagnoses May Actually Be Brucellosis, Texas A&M Researchers Find” was written and published through the Press Center of Texas A&M University, highlighting our research involving the misdiagnosis of human brucellosis as Malaria. The article can be seen here<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n


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June 2025<\/h3>\n
\"worldAn article entitled, What do we really know about brucellosis diagnosis in livestock worldwide? A systematic review<\/a>, was published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases<\/em>. Brucellosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease that can affect domestic and wild animals worldwide. Diagnosis of the disease is not straightforward and usually requires several tests to be conducted for an accurate diagnosis. Guidelines for recommended use of assays are provided by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) which describe the experimental protocols and interpretation of the results for each test. However, the vast number of available assays and the numerous ways they can be combined make it challenging to gain a clear understanding of brucellosis epidemiology worldwide. This systematic review provided an overview of the different diagnostic tests and strategies used worldwide for the diagnosis of brucellosis in livestock. Experimental methods and interpretations were analyzed and compared with WOAH recommendations to assess compliance with their guidelines in an effort to provide a better understanding of the epidemiology of the disease worldwide.\n<\/p>\n

April 2025<\/h3>\n
\"graphAn article entitled, Malaria misdiagnosis substantially contributes to the underestimation of global human brucellosis incidence<\/a>, was published in BMC Pub Health<\/em>. Brucellosis is a neglected and re-emerging zoonotic disease of nearly worldwide distribution. Recently, a new model utilizing publicly available data estimated a global annual incidence of at least 1.62\u20132.10 million cases. However, global and regional knowledge gaps result in misdiagnosis. This study incorporated misdiagnosis to assess the potential impact on incidence estimates. Specifically, we examined the potential impact of misdiagnosing brucellosis as malaria. Assuming a conservative misdiagnosis range of 0.25-4.00%, this paper show that there could be up to an estimated 7.45 million cases of human brucellosis misdiagnosed as malaria which would significantly impact the global annual incidence estimation of brucellosis showing that enhanced efforts are needed to identify misdiagnosed cases in countries where both diseases are endemic.\n<\/p>\n

March 2025<\/h3>\n
\"GaelleA warm welcome to Gaelle Kamdjo of Cameroon who is visiting our laboratory for several months where she will be engaged in Lateral Flow Assay production, optimization and standardization, as well as PCR of tissue samples associated with our Cameroon brucellosis research project.\n<\/p>\n



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\"PortraitWelcome to Juan Garz\u00f3n Duarte and Salome Rave, veterinary students from the National University of Colombia, who are joining our laboratory for a 5-month internship. Juan\u2019s goal is to further his education in the immunology and pathophysiology of infectious diseases with an interest in integrating necropsy findings and clinical signs with vaccine safety in farm animals. Salome\u2019s desire is to further develop her research skills and continue her professional training regarding the mitigation of infectious diseases, and is very passionate about theriogenology and herd health, and a lover of farm animals. We welcome them both to the laboratory.\n<\/p>
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January 2025<\/h3>\n
\"JuanitaA warm welcome goes out to Juanita Chaparro Camargo, a veterinarian student intern from the National University of Colombia. Juanita will stay with us 6 months with the desire to learn about the development of safe and effective vaccines for veterinary use, the global impact of zoonotic diseases and their importance on public health, laboratory techniques, scientific research and methodologies, and to grow professionally to be able to give back to her university and country, and make an impact on animal, human and environmental health.\n<\/p>\n

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December 2024<\/h3>\n
\"VetOn December 11-12, 2024, our TAMU team conducted a Veterinary and Lab Worker Workshop to 3 laboratory personnel and 10 veterinarians from across all 10 regions of Armenia at the capital city of Yerevan. Training topics included: 1) Basics of brucellosis and biosecurity in the field, 2) Proper donning and doffing of personal protective equipment for biological sampling, 3) Demonstration and use of electronic tablets in administering livestock sample surveys, 4) Demonstration of proper labelling, packaging, transportation, and storage of samples, 5) Hands-on sample collection of blood for serum, and identification and confirmation of retropharyngeal and submandibular lymph nodes, and 6) the use of portable equipment for serum preparation. Initial training was followed by 2 days of field verification through practicums in the regions of (Kotayk and Ararat) to observe participants proper use of PPE, proper identification and collection of tissue samples, packaging and shipping of samples and serum processing.\n<\/p>\n
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\"BrucellosisOn December 13, 2024, a Brucellosis Summit was held in Yerevan, Armenia to inform Armenian government officials and other stakeholders of the importance and design of our research project in Armenia entitled \u201cBye, Bye Brucellosis: A comprehensive approach to prevent, detect and control brucellosis in Armenia.\u201d The Summit appeared to be a success with stakeholders understanding the importance and relevance of the project. Those in attendance included officials from the country\u2019s Food Safety Inspection Services, Ministry of Economy (which includes the Veterinary Department), Ministry of Health, Ministry of Defense, National Center for Disaster Control (NCDC), Ministry of Internal Affairs, Security Council, and Ministry of Environment, as well as various non-governmental organizations and international agencies (such as FAO and CH2M Jacobs).\n<\/p>\n
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November 2024<\/h3>\n
\"AdrianWe are excited to welcome to Dr. Adrian Mu\u00f1oz Bucio from the National Autonomous University of Mexico as postdoctoral research associate in our laboratory. Dr. Mu\u00f1oz is a veterinarian with a PhD in Animal Production and Health Sciences. His primary interest is in host-pathogen interactions, specifically analyzing immune response for vaccine development and tissue-dependent gene expression of Brucella virulence factors during abortion and immune evasion.\n<\/p>\n


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August 2024<\/h3>\n
\"Markets,A TAMU team composed of Angela Arenas, Christopher Laine, and Anna Yeritsyan traveled to Armenia August 21-28, 2024 to conduct a pre-assessment of country conditions associated with our project entitled \u201cBye, Bye Brucellosis: A comprehensive approach to prevent, detect and control brucellosis in Armenia.\u201d Official meetings were conducted with the State Food Safety Service (SFSS), Head of the Republican Veterinary Sanitary and Phytosanitary Center of Laboratory Services (RLEDP), Deputy-Head of the Food Safety Inspection Body, Head of the Veterinary Department and the Head of the International Affairs Department. Sites visited included RLEDP headquarters and the diagnostic laboratory, several large urban markets, and dog clinics and shelters in Yerevan; regional diagnostic laboratories, slaughterhouses, rural communities and farms and suburban dairies and meat markets in 3 regions of the country (Shirak, Aragatsotn, and Tavush); and a live animal market in Armavir. Assessment was made of the research and diagnostic capacity at the RLEDP laboratory and at regional laboratories, brucellosis surveillance and testing protocols, sample collection procedures, animal traceability measures, slaughterhouse and farm practices, along with types of pastoral systems employed for livestock throughout the country. Additionally, assessment was made of human consumption practices of dairy products and practices regarding the management of stray dogs in the country. This assessment provided the team with critical insight for the implementation of the research project in-country.\n<\/p>\n
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June 2024 – September 2024<\/h3>\n
\"SmallholderA total of 6 informational workshops for smallholder livestock owners and milk merchants were conducted in the French and Fulfulde languages in various towns in three regions of Cameroon (North, West, and Adamaoua regions). A total of 163 participants attended the workshops and learned of our ongoing research project in Cameroon and the resultant identification of Brucella in both livestock and milk sold in local milk markets. In these workshops, participants learned the basics of what brucellosis is, how it is transmitted, and the clinical manifestations of the disease both in livestock and humans. Most participants did not realize that humans could contract brucellosis from their livestock and that Brucella<\/em> is readily transmitted to people through the drinking of unpasteurized milk from infected animals. Through the course of the workshops, most of the livestock owners were brought to the realization that they have observed the clinical signs of brucellosis on their farms. Almost all participants attested to the fact, that prior to this workshop, they had been uninformed about the risk to themselves and their families through the consumption of unpasteurized milk and the handling of reproductive tissues from their aborted animals. Participants learned how they should safely dispose of potentially infected reproductive wastes, how to thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water after handling them, and how they should boil their animal\u2019s milk prior to human consumption. Participants left the workshops with an understanding of the clinic signs they might see in their animals and the importance of alerting their local veterinarians when such signs are observed.\n<\/p>\n

May 2024<\/h3>\n
\"WorkshopCameroonian PhD student, Gaelle Kamdjo (LANAVET), traveled to ARC-Biotechnology Platform, Onderstepoort, South Africa where she spent 2 weeks working on Next Generation Sequencing of DNA from Cameroonian isolates and tissues. During her stay, she was trained on 1) Preparation of DNA samples for NGS, 2) Fragmentation of DNA using an ultrasonicator, 3) Purification of fragments of the required size, 4) Repair of DNA ends and addition of adaptor sequences, 5) Use of specialized sequencing equipment, 6) Amplification of DNA fragments, 7) Preparation of libraries, and 8) Quality control.\n<\/p>\n


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\"Workshop\"Dr. Angela Arenas organized and held a two-day Brucellosis Fundamentals Workshop held May 16-17, 2024 at Texas A&M University. Seven content experts from the US and Europe convened in College Station to deliver this workshop to 14 participants from 5 different countries. Topics included 1) Epidemiology of Brucellosis, 2) Animal Diagnostics, 3) Human Diagnostics, 4) Best approaches to diagnosing animal brucellosis, 5) Brucellosis in Europe, 6) Approaches for Next Generation Sequencing, 7) Brucella Vaccines, 8) Best approaches for disease control in endemic countries, 9) Importance of scientific rigor for brucellosis publications, and 10) Framing national policies.\n\n<\/p>\n
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\"Workshop\"Dr. Arenas\u2019 research team was instrumental in hosting the 76th Annual Brucellosis Research Conference of the International Brucellosis Society held May 18\u201319 at Texas A&M University at the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center, College Station, Texas. Over 70 researchers from 10 different countries attended with 25 oral presentation and 14 posters presented.

During the conference, \"Gaelleour Cameroonian graduate student Gaelle Kamdjo gave an oral presentation entitled \u201cBrucella abortus<\/em>, a neglected biothreat in Cameroon: seek and you shall find,\u201d on the research done towards determining the endemic Brucella<\/em> spp. and prevalence in livestock in Cameroon which will serve to enhance the capabilities of the Cameroonian government, as well as human and animal health services, to prevent, detect, and respond to brucellosis throughout the country.<\/p>

\"PierrePierre Gontao gave an oral presentation entitled \u201cBrucellosis in Cameroon: Isolation and molecular characterization of Brucella abortus<\/em> in milk intended for human consumption,\u201d on the research done towards determining the presence of Brucella abortus<\/em> in milk sold for human consumption in Cameroon which will serve to help determine human risk.\nTogether, Gaelle and Pierre presented a poster entitled \u201cMolecular characterization of Brucella abortus<\/em> in dogs intended for human consumption,\u201d on the research done towards determining the presence of Brucella abortus<\/em> in dogs sold for human consumption in Cameroon which will also serve to help determine human risk.
\"ColinGraduate student Colin Etherington gave an oral presentation entitled, \u201cA new Point-of-Care Lateral Flow Assay for the Detection of Bovine Brucellosis\u201d wherein he described the preliminary development of a lateral flow assay (LFA) to detect Brucella<\/em>-specific antibodies in bovine serum which utilizes a newly discovered immunodominant antigen specific for Brucella<\/em> on the test line and anti-bovine antibodies (IgG) on the control line. Preliminary results show that this assay appears to be a promising candidate for the development of a rapid point-of-care diagnostic test for the diagnosis of bovine brucellosis.
\"SoniaDr. Sonia Vection gave an oral presentation entitled, \u201cWhat do we really know about brucellosis diagnosis in livestock worldwide? A systematic review\u201d. An evaluation of 232 published studies revealed that only 28% of the studies followed WOAH recommendations in terms of sample chosen, diagnostic test utilized, methods used to perform the test and interpretation of results, concluding that significant gaps in currently available literature lead to an inaccurate picture of brucellosis epidemiology in livestock.

\"ChristopherDr. Christopher Laine gave an oral presentation entitled, \u201cMalaria misdiagnosis substantially contributes to the underestimation of global human brucellosis incidence\u201d wherein he described the use of a model utilizing publicly available data to show that malaria misdiagnosis can have a significant impact on global annual incidence estimation for brucellosis.


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\"WorkshopA Veterinary and Public Health Worker Training was provided to 26 participants designed to equip veterinarians, veterinary health workers, abattoir and slaughterhouse workers, and public health workers with an in-depth understanding of brucellosis, and with the means and materials to effectively disseminate knowledge countrywide. The first segment of this training involved an online course being completed prior to an in-person workshop. During the online portion, 8 educational video guided topics were presented to include1) an introduction to brucellosis, 2) economic impact, 3) animal diagnostics, 4) conducting the Rose Bengal Test, 5) sample collection and shipping, 6) general field biosecurity measures, 7) vaccines, and 8) human diagnostics. Participants were tracked during their progression through the course and all materials were provided in the preferred language of the participant (either French and English). Upon completing the online course, our TAMU team of Drs. Angela Arenas, Sonia Vection, and Christopher Laine provided a two day, in-person workshop in Cameroon in which the participants were guided through each of the 8 topics where discussion was encouraged to reinforce what had been learned during the online training Additionally, tabletop scenarios and guided group discussions, and practical group exercises were incorporated into the workshop to reinforce the concepts and translate them into applied skills.\n<\/p>\n
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March 2024<\/h3>\n
\"AngelaAn article entitled, Human exposures to Brucella canis<\/em> from a pregnant dog during an international flight: Public health risks, diagnostic challenges and future considerations<\/a> was published in Zoonoses and Public Health<\/em>. This report documented the exposure of passengers and crew of a commercial international flight to the zoonotic pathogen Brucella canis<\/em> after an infected dog aborted in the passenger cabin of the aircraft. This case demonstrates the challenges associated with brucellosis screening and the risks that airline personnel, airport employees and travellers face when animals with unrecognized zoonotic infections are transported. The transportation of pregnant dogs may present a previously unrecognized public health threat in addition to contributing to unnecessary stress and health risks for pregnant animals. The articles concluded that a multifaceted approach is needed to appropriately reduce public health risks posed by B. canis<\/em> in imported dogs that are sexually intact. Efforts that could reduce the public health risks include: strengthening import surveillance; development of better screening and diagnostic tests for B. canis<\/em>; increased brucellosis screening and quarantine by importers, breeders and organizations involved in the sale or adoption of dogs; and increased awareness by owners of the importance of procuring dogs from responsible sources. Airlines may also wish to consider adopting policies that promote readiness to respond to ill animals and to prevent the transport of pregnant dogs to reduce the risks posed by B. canis<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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\"ResearchDr. Angela Arenas received funding from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) for a five-year project to implement a comprehensive study of brucellosis in Armenia. For the first time in this country, a comprehensive study will be done with appropriate target species and sample types, sample sizes, and diagnostic methods to determine the prevalence of specific strains of Brucella<\/em> that will further the region\u2019s vision of establishing adequate strategies to better diagnose and manage disease spread. The team is scheduled to travel to Armenia in August for a pre-assessment visit to proposed locations for sample collection including slaughterhouses, terminal shelters, and markets to determine if they are adequate for sample collection and will provide sufficient access to the targeted number of samples needed from each species for this research project. The complete VMBS press release may be read here<\/a>.\n\n<\/p>\n


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\"WorkshopA 5-day workshop entitled, Bioinformatics for Bacterial Genomics & Metagenomics Workshop, was held in Pretoria, South Africa was delivered on March 18-22, 2024. Trainers from Northern Arizona University (Jeffrey Foster and John Gillece) and our TAMU team (Angela Arenas and Vince Hardy) traveled to ARC-Biotechnology Platform for the conduction of this 5-day workshop co-hosted by ARC-BTP trainers (Dirk Swanevelder and Quentin Santana). Three of our Cameroonian colleagues from LANAVET (Dr. Abel Wade, Dr. Ranyl Nguena, and Gaelle Kamdjo) participated in this workshop. This training of 11 participants (73% South African and 27% international [Cameron, Nigeria, and Congo]) targeted beginners and took participants from raw metagenome sequence data through all the bioinformatics steps, ending at assembling a phylogenetic tree. The topics of this training included sequencing approaches, sequence read processing (QC, trimming), genome assembly and alignments, genome annotation, taxonomic assignment of metagenome sequence data, and building a phylogenetic tree to understand the relationships among samples. The entirety of the training used an online tool called KBase, which is a software and data science platform intended to make complex tasks in genomics accessible to scientists that lack either the tools and\/or specialized skill sets. During the last day of the workshop, participants were given unknown data sequence sets and were required to use the tools and knowledge learned during the week to identify their organisms down to species and the assembling of a phylogenetic tree.\n

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\"InfectedAn article entitled, Human exposures to Brucella canis<\/em> from a pregnant dog during an international flight: Public health risks, diagnostic challenges and future considerations<\/a>, was published in Zoonoses and Public Health<\/em>. This paper reports the exposure of passengers and crew of a commercial international flight to the zoonotic pathogen Brucella canis<\/em> after an infected dog aborted in the passenger cabin of the aircraft. The public health investigation of this case was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, the Illinois Department of Health and the Illinois Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with a local veterinary clinic and several academic and federal diagnostic laboratories. Passengers, airline personnel and staff from the veterinary clinic where the dogs were treated underwent risk assessments, and clinic staff also received detailed guidance regarding infection prevention practices. This case highlights the importance of Brucella<\/em> spp. screening in sexually intact dogs prior to breeding, purchase, or domestic or international transportation of the dogs.\n

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February 2024<\/h3>\n
\"AngelaDr. Angela Arenas-Gamboa of the CVM with co-principal investigator Dr. Allison Ficht of the School of Medicine was awarded funding from Texas A&M University\u2019s Advancing Discovery to Market (ADM) for their project entitled, \u201cDevelopment and evaluation of a vaccine against brucellosis\u201d. Grants from ADM support faculty-led efforts to transform recent discoveries or innovations into new products for the commercial marketplace. In this round of funding, ADM invited 12 research teams to present their discoveries and innovations to an external committee of investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders for evaluation, and Dr. Arenas\u2019 project was one of 4 projects selected for funding.\n<\/p>\n
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January 2024<\/h3>\n
\"WorkshopA Veterinary and Public Health Worker Training was provided to 19 participants designed to equip veterinarians, veterinary health workers, abattoir and slaughterhouse workers, and public health workers with an in-depth understanding of brucellosis, and with the means and materials to effectively disseminate knowledge countrywide. The first segment of this training involved an online course being completed prior to an in-person workshop. During the online portion, 8 educational video guided topics were presented to include1) an introduction to brucellosis, 2) economic impact, 3) animal diagnostics, 4) conducting the Rose Bengal Test, 5) sample collection and shipping, 6) general field biosecurity measures, 7) vaccines, and 8) human diagnostics. Participants were tracked during their progression through the course and all materials were provided in the preferred language of the participant (either French and English). Upon completing the online course, our TAMU team of Drs. Angela Arenas, Sonia Vection, and Christopher Laine provided a two day, in-person workshop in Cameroon in which the participants were guided through each of the 8 topics where discussion was encouraged to reinforce what had been learned during the online training Additionally, tabletop scenarios and guided group discussions, and practical group exercises were incorporated into the workshop to reinforce the concepts and translate them into applied skills.\n<\/p>\n
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December 2023<\/h3>\n
\"Angela Dr. Angela Arenas was the recipient of a 2023 Scialog Collaborative Innovation Award as part of a multidisciplinary team of early career scientists. The Research Corporation for Science Advancement and the U.S. Department of Agriculture made awards to six teams to launch new research in the detection and mitigation of emerging animal-borne infectious diseases in the final year of the Scialog: Mitigating Zoonotic Threats initiative. The title of her project is, “From Discovery to Field: Improving Diagnostic Assay Accuracy by Protein Engineering”, and she is joined in this research by Dr. Nicholas Wu (Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) and Dr. Crystal Reid (Center for Veterinary Biologics \u2013 Virology, USDA\/APHIS).<\/p>\n
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September 2023<\/h3>\n
\"AnnaWe are excited to welcome to Dr. Anna Yeritsyan, a postdoctoral research associate into our laboratory. Dr. Yeritsyan has a PhD in Agricultural Economics with over 10 years of experience in agribusiness research, consultancy and teaching. She is currently focused on assessing economic feasibility of different strategies for preventing brucellosis by conducting cost-benefit analyses of those interventions. We are happy to have her as a part of our research team.<\/p>\n

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\"Global<\/figure>

An article entitled, Global Estimate of Human Brucellosis Incidence<\/a>, was published in Emerging Infectious Diseases<\/em>. Although brucellosis is a major public health concern worldwide (especially for persons living in resource-limited settings), an evidence-based estimate of the global annual incidence of human cases has been elusive. This article explains how researchers were able to use international public health data to fill in this information gap through application of risk metrics for worldwide and regional at-risk populations. By making estimations using 3 statistical models (weighted average interpolation, bootstrap resampling, and Bayesian inference) and considering missing information, the team was able to estimate an evidence-based conservative incidence of 2.1 million cases of brucellosis each year, which is significantly higher than previously assumed. These models indicate that Africa and Asia sustain most of the global risk and cases for brucellosis, although areas within the Americas and Europe remain of concern. This study reveals that disease risk and incidence are higher than previously suggested and lie mainly within resource-limited settings. Clarification of both misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis is required for future studies as these factors will amplify case estimates. <\/p>\n

July 2023<\/h3>\n
\"AngelaAngela Arenas jointly authored a published commentary entitled, \u201cIf You’re Not Confused, You’re Not Paying Attention: Ochrobactrum<\/em> Is Not Brucella<\/em><\/a>\u201d in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology. A group of taxonomists recently merged the genus Brucella<\/em> with the primarily free-living, phylogenetically related Ochrobactrum<\/em> spp. into the genus Brucella<\/em>. This change was founded only on global genomic analysis and the fortuitous isolation of some opportunistic Ochrobactrum<\/em> spp. found in some medically compromised patients. This article argues that clinical and environmental microbiologists should not accept this nomenclature, and advise against its use because 1) it was presented without in-depth phylogenetic analyses and did not consider alternative taxonomic solutions; 2) it was launched without the input of experts in brucellosis or Ochrobactrum<\/em>; 3) it applies a non-consensus genus concept that disregards taxonomically relevant differences in structure, physiology, population structure, core-pangenome assemblies, genome structure, genomic traits, clinical features, treatment, prevention, diagnosis, genus description rules, and, above all, pathogenicity; and 4) placing these two bacterial groups in the same genus creates risks for veterinarians, medical doctors, clinical laboratories, health authorities, and legislators who deal with brucellosis, a disease that is particularly relevant in low- and middle-income countries. Based on all this information, the authors of this commentary urge microbiologists, bacterial collections, genomic databases, journals, and public health boards to keep the Brucella<\/em> and Ochrobactrum<\/em> genera separate to avoid further bewilderment and harm.<\/p>\n

March 2023<\/h3>\n
\"WorkshopA 5-day workshop entitled, Bioinformatics for Bacterial Genomics & Metagenomics Workshop, was held in Pretoria, South Africa was delivered on March 20-24, 2023. Trainers from Northern Arizona University (Jeffrey Foster and John Gillece) and our TAMU team (Angela Arenas and Vince Hardy) traveled to ARC-Biotechnology Platform for the conduction of this 5-day workshop co-hosted by ARC-BTP trainers (Dirk Swanevelder, Quentin Santana, and Adeola Salawu-Rotimi). Three of our Cameroonian colleagues from LANAVET (Dr. Abel Wade, Dr. Ranyl Nguena, and Gaelle Kamdjo) participated in this workshop. This training of 12 participants (67% South African and 33% international) targeted beginners and took participants from raw metagenome sequence data obtained from Cameroonian Brucella samples from our current project, through all the bioinformatics steps, ending at assembling a phylogenetic tree. The topics of this training included sequencing approaches, sequence read processing (QC, trimming), genome assembly and alignments, genome annotation, taxonomic assignment of metagenome sequence data, and building a phylogenetic tree to understand the relationships among samples. The entirety of the training used an online tool called KBase, which is a software and data science platform intended to make complex tasks in genomics accessible to scientists that lack either the tools and\/or specialized skill sets. During the last day of the workshop, participants were given unknown data sequence sets and were required to use the tools and knowledge learned during the week to identify their organisms down to species and the assembling of a phylogenetic tree.\n<\/p>\n
\n

September 2022<\/h3>\n
\"BrucellaPhD students Pierre Gontao and Charles Gomsu Dada presented a poster at the 74th Annual Brucellosis Research Conference in Giulianova, Teramo, Italy entitled \u201cBrucellosis in Cameroon: Isolation, characterization, and prevalence of a zoonotic biothreat\u201d wherein they reported the status of an ongoing Brucella<\/em> prevalence study in Cameroon. Prevalence of the different Brucella<\/em> spp. in Cameroon has not been estimated, nor is the disease impact truly understood. Livestock population estimates in country are 6.3M goats, 5.8M cattle, 3.1M pigs, and 3M sheep. In this study, 369 animals of each livestock species are being sampled from slaughter facilities in multiple cities within each region. Samples collected include serum, milk, urine, vaginal swabs, hygroma fluid, submandibular lymph nodes, and placentas. Serum and milk are subject to Rose Bengal Test (RBT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serology, and all samples are subject to culture and real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Extracted DNA from tissues and isolates are analyzed using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to establish the Brucella species and its relationship to other Brucella<\/em> spp. using phylogenetics. So far, this study has demonstrated that B. abortus is endemic across the country with a high seropositivity in cattle. B. abortus<\/em> positive tissues have been found positive by RT-PCR and negative by culture, possibly indicating chronic infection. It appears that comingling of cattle, goats, and sheep seems to result in cross infection of B. abortus<\/em> (pigs are generally kept separately). This is the first study within Central \/ West Africa to conduct a comprehensive epidemiologic investigation to isolate, characterize, and provide adequate sample sizes to calculate prevalence of this disease..<\/p>\n
\"ModelingDr. Christopher Laine delivered a very popular oral presentation entitled \u201cA new estimate of global human brucellosis incidence\u201d at the 74th Annual Brucellosis Research Conference in Giulianova, Teramo, Italy. This study utilized a novel modelling approach of using both human and animal information to 1) identify at-risk human populations to brucellosis worldwide, 2) estimate risk for populations in which currently there is no data available, 3) estimate the risk of acquiring human brucellosis globally and regionally, 4) estimate an annual incidence, and 5) introduce misdiagnosis as a parameter to adjust these estimates. In contrast to a popular and dubious estimate of 500,000 cases per year, a new calcuation based upon scientific data and computation estimates the figure to be closer to 2.1 million cases per year (which is still a conservative estimate). Conference attendees seemed elated to have an updated estimate supported by scientific data.<\/p>\n

August 2022<\/h3>\n
\"SoniaWe are excited to welcome to Dr. Sonia Vection, a postdoctoral associate from Saint-Geni\u00e8s-de-Malgoir\u00e8s, France into our laboratory. Dr. Vection has a PhD in Infectious Diseases and is currently focused on the development of improved diagnostic tools for animal brucellosis, more particularly B. canis<\/em> which infects dogs, based on new immunodominant proteins. We are happy to have her as a part of our research team.<\/p>\n

\n
\"histological<\/figure>

An article entitled, Primary and memory immune responses against rough Brucella canis<\/em> are less robust compared to smooth B. abortus<\/em> and B. melitensis<\/em> following intratracheal infection in mice<\/a>, was published in Frontiers in Immunology<\/em>. Brucella canis<\/em> is the cause of canine brucellosis, a globally distributed, zoonotic pathogen which primarily causes disease in dogs. B. canis<\/em> is unique amongst the zoonotic Brucella<\/em> spp. as it contains a rough lipopolysaccharide, a trait typically associated with attenuation in gram-negative bacteria. Unfortunately, no vaccine is available against B. canis<\/em>, and vaccine development is hampered by a limited understanding of the immune response required to combat it and the course of infection following a physiologically relevant, mucosal route of inoculation. To address these concerns and analyze the impact of the rough phenotype on the immune response, we infected mice intratracheally with rough B. canis<\/em> or smooth B. melitensis<\/em> or B. abortus<\/em>. Bacterial colonization and histologic lesions were assessed. Despite its rough phenotype, B. canis<\/em> established a persistent infection at the same level of colonization as the smooth strains. However, B. canis<\/em> induced significantly less granulomatous inflammation in the spleen as well as a lack of bronchial-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) hyperplasia in the lungs. These differences coincided with increased IL-10 and decreased IFN-\u03b3 in the spleen of B. canis<\/em>-infected mice. Previous exposure to all Brucella<\/em> strains provided protection against colonization following secondary challenge, although induction of IFN-\u03b3 by T lymphocytes was seen only in the lungs during B. canis<\/em> infection while the smooth strains induced this cytokine in the spleen as well. Neither Brucella<\/em> strain induced significant polyfunctional T lymphocytes, a potential immunomodulatory mechanism that appears to be independent of lipopolysaccharide phenotype.<\/p>\n
\n

May 2022<\/h3>\n
\"Brucellosis<\/figure>

An article entitled, Human brucellosis: Widespread information deficiency hinders an understanding of global disease frequency<\/a>, was published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases<\/em>. Despite brucellosis being a major concern worldwide, particularly for populations residing within resource-limited settings, a suitable estimate of annual incidence is currently nonexistent for human disease. To our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize global human brucellosis frequency by utilizing nationally reported case data supplied to the global intergovernmental public health authorities. The combined records demonstrate that within currently available and established international reporting systems, there are insufficient data to calculate the annual global frequency of human brucellosis. Furthermore, the regional differences in populations represented within reports, as well as actual reported case counts, bias the correct interpretation of the overall human brucellosis disease frequency. This suggests that broadcasting a specific global quantity of new cases each year is misleading and, accordingly, there is presently no way to assess the global public health impact of this disease. In past years, disease prioritization by individual countries, including the reallocation of funds to national surveillance, have been demonstrated to positively impact the completeness and representativeness of the data. In the future, the international community must similarly reallocate resources to understand and fill gaps within the available information. Application of this information can be directed towards effectively pinpointing disease burden and efficient control strategies. The reinstatement of human brucellosis as a priority Neglected Zoonotic Disease by the WHO would substantially facilitate this process.<\/p>\n\n

July 2021<\/h3>\n
\"structure<\/figure>

An article entitled, When the Going Gets Rough: The Significance of Brucella Lipopolysaccharide Phenotype in Host\u2013Pathogen Interactions<\/a>, was published in the Frontiers in Microbiology<\/em>. Brucella<\/em> is a facultatively intracellular bacterial pathogen and the cause of worldwide zoonotic infections, infamous for its ability to evade the immune system and persist chronically within host cells. Despite the frequent association with attenuation in other Gram-negative bacteria, a rough lipopolysaccharide phenotype is retained by Brucella canis<\/em> and Brucella ovis<\/em>, which remain fully virulent in their natural canine and ovine hosts, respectively. B. canis<\/em> and B. ovis<\/em> appear to have compensated for their roughness by alterations to their outer membrane, especially in regards to outer membrane proteins. B. canis<\/em>, in particular, also shows evidence of being less proinflammatory in vivo<\/em>, suggesting that the rough phenotype may be associated with an enhanced level of stealth that could allow these pathogens to persist for longer periods of time undetected. Nevertheless, much additional work is required to understand the correlates of immune protection against the natural rough Brucella<\/em> spp., a critical step toward development of much-needed vaccines. This review will highlight the significance of rough lipopolysaccharide in the context of both natural disease and host\u2013pathogen interactions with an emphasis on natural rough Brucella<\/em> spp. and the implications for vaccine development.<\/p>\n\n

January 2021<\/h3>\n
\"South<\/figure>

An article entitled, AgSecure Africa ProgrammeTM: A Blended Training Approach for Africa<\/a>, was published in the Journal of Veterinary Medical Education<\/em>. This innovative training program was developed in partnership with the South African Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research to train veterinarians, animal health technicians, researchers and laboratory personnel. Three blended courses consisting of both virtual and in person delivery were provided with the intent of contributing to the better prevention, detection and control of infectious diseases of livestock and poultry of significant importance for the region with a strong emphasis on transboundary animal diseases. A \u201ctrain the trainer\u201d model of instruction was employed to equip participants with the ability to train and share knowledge with colleagues and small-holder farmers in their various communities and regions. The design of this program was to increase the capacity of veterinarians and veterinary diagnosticians to safely and accurately diagnose infectious livestock diseases and to also empower small-holder farmers with the knowledge needed to safely and securely manage their livestock and be a first line defense in the prevention and control of infectious livestock diseases. Course materials were submitted and approved for accreditation by the South African Veterinary Council becoming the first international training program to achieve this. Approval of these courses led to licensed veterinarians and animal health technicians being awarded continuing professional development credits upon their successful completion of courses. <\/p>\n

\"Epididymal<\/figure>

A research article entitled, Characterization of epididymal and testicular histologic lesions and use of immunohistochemistry and PCR on formalin-fixed tissues to detect Brucella canis<\/em> in male dogs<\/a>, was published in the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation<\/em>. In male dogs, Brucella canis<\/em> frequently causes epididymitis, ultimately resulting in testicular atrophy and infertility. Although B. canis<\/em> predominantly affects the epididymis, the misleading term \u201corchitis\u201d is still commonly used by clinicians. Of additional concern, diagnosis in dogs remains challenging because of variable sensitivity and specificity of serologic assays and fluctuations in bacteremia levels in infected dogs, reducing the sensitivity of blood culture. In this study, we described the histologic lesions in the scrotal contents of 8 dogs suspected of being infected with B. canis<\/em> and clinically diagnosed with orchitis. We explored the possibility of using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and real-time PCR (rtPCR) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues to detect the presence of B. canis<\/em>. Epididymitis of variable chronicity was identified in all 8 dogs, with only 3 also exhibiting orchitis. Using rtPCR, the presence of B. canis<\/em> was identified in 4 of 8 dogs, with 3 of these 4 dogs also positive by IHC. These results suggest that rtPCR and IHC are promising techniques that can be used in FFPE tissues to detect B. canis<\/em> when other detection techniques are unavailable. Additionally, accurate recognition of epididymitis rather than orchitis in suspect cases could aid in accurate diagnosis.<\/p>\n

\"Histological<\/figure>

A review article entitled, Evaluation of the safety profile of the vaccine candidate Brucella melitensis<\/em> 16M\u0394vjbR<\/em> strain in goats<\/a>, was published in Vaccine<\/em>. Small ruminant brucellosis is caused by the Gram negative cocci-bacillus Brucella melitensis<\/em>, the most virulent Brucella<\/em> species for humans. In goats and sheep, middle to late-term gestation abortion, still-births and the delivery of weak infected offspring are the characteristic clinical signs of the disease. Vaccination with the currently available Rev. 1 vaccine is the best option to prevent and control the disease, although it is far from ideal. In this study, we investigate the safety of the B. melitensis<\/em> 16M\u0394vjbR<\/em> strain during a 15-month period beginning at vaccination of young goats, impregnation, delivery and lactation. None of the animals that received the vaccine candidate exhibited any clinical signs associated with vaccination nor shed the vaccine strain through saliva, vagina or the milk. Gross and histopathologic changes in all nannies and offspring were unremarkable with no evidence of tissue colonization or vertical transmission to fetuses. Altogether, these data demonstrated that vaccination with the mutant strain 16M\u0394vjbR<\/em> is safe for use in the non-pregnant primary host. Previous to this investigation, the B. melitensis<\/em> 16M\u0394vjbR<\/em> strain had been studied only in terms of safety and efficacy in the mouse model. In this study, for the first time, the safety and immunogenicity developed by the vaccine strain candidate was demonstrated in the natural host for over a 15 month period. <\/p>\n

\"Porcine<\/figure>

An article entitled, Porcine babesiosis caused by Babesia<\/em> sp. Suis in a pot-bellied pig in South Africa<\/a>, was published in the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation<\/em>. Babesiosis is a worldwide, tick-borne disease of economic importance in livestock caused by Babesia<\/em> spp., which are hemoparasitic piroplasms that target host erythrocytes. Cattle, dogs, small ruminants, and wild ruminants are the species most commonly affected, while the diseases is less frequently reported in cats, horses, and pigs. In this article, the authors described a case in a 12-year old pot-bellied pig from South Africa that died after a history of anorexia and reluctance to rise for 2 days. A complete necropsy, blood smear cytology, reverse line blot (RLB) hybridization and 18S rRNA sequencing were performed. Numerous Babesia<\/em> spp. hemoparasites and a moderate regenerative anemia were identified on blood smear, and the rRNA sequencing revealed a 100% identity to the published sequence of Babesia<\/em> sp. Suis isolated from pigs in Italy. This case of babesiosis emphasizes the increasing importance of public awareness in regions where porcine babesiosis has been historically rare, such as in southern Africa. Multiple environmental and evolutionary pressures on tick vectors and related causative agents are anticipated to cause widened the spread of tickborne diseases in the future. As a result, babesiosis should be considered a possible differential diagnosis for pigs that present with lethargy, anemia, icterus, and hemoglobinuria.<\/p>\n\n

September 2020<\/h3>\n
\"Distribution<\/figure>

A review article entitled, Scoping Review of Brucellosis in Cameroon: Where do we stand, and where are we going?<\/a>, was published in PLoS One<\/em>. This scoping review describes the current known status of brucellosis in Cameroon. Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease known to be endemic to parts of western and sub-Saharan Africa. However, the epidemiology for humans and animals remains largely unknown in many of these countries with Cameroon being a typical example. Despite common knowledge that brucellosis affects livestock, the actual number of infected animals remains unknown. The aim of this study was to ascertain relevant and publicly accessible research and knowledge of both human and animal brucellosis in the country, and provide an overview of the factors associated with its known persistence. This review found that seroprevalence from 196 total humans in Cameroon has ranged between 5.6% and 28.1%, and between 3.0% and 30.8% for 14,044 total cattle. As there is no ongoing surveillance program for this disease, it is not currently possible to identify the specific Brucella spp. that are endemic to the country and its regions, although Cameroon has sufficient agricultural systems of cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep to sustain the presence of multiple Brucella<\/em> spp. As surveillance information is the cornerstone of epidemiologic decision making, and is needed to direct policy makers, public health authorities, and veterinary services to appropriate actions, a combination of serological and molecular based diagnostics for surveillance is necessary to identify, quantify, and direct the appropriate public health interventions.<\/p>\n

\"Histological<\/figure>

A research article entitled, Brucella abortus<\/em> and pregnancy in mice: impact of chronic infection on fertility and the role of regulatory T cells in tissue colonization<\/a>, was published in the journal Infection and Immunity<\/em>. Stealthy intracellular bacterial pathogens are known to establish persistent and sometimes lifelong infections. Some of these pathogens also have a tropism for the reproductive system, thereby increasing the risk of reproductive disease and infertility although to date, the pathogenic mechanism involved remains poorly understood. This study demonstrated that Brucella abortus<\/em>, a notorious reproductive pathogen, had the ability to infect the nonpregnant uterus, sustain infection, and induce inflammatory changes during both acute and chronic stages of infection. It was also demonstrated that chronically infected mice had a significantly reduced number of pregnancies compared to naive controls. In order to investigate the immunologic mechanism responsible for uterine tropism, this study explored the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the pathogenesis of Brucella abortus<\/em> infection. It was demonstrated that highly suppressive CD4+FOXP3+TNFR2+ Tregs contribute to the persistence of Brucella abortus<\/em> infection and that inactivation of Tregs with tumor necrosis factor receptor II (TNFR2) antagonistic antibody protected mice by significantly reducing bacterial burden both systemically and within reproductive tissues. These findings support a critical role of Tregs in the pathogenesis of persistence induced by intracellular bacterial pathogens, including B. abortus<\/em>. Results from this study indicate that adverse reproductive outcomes can occur as sequelae of chronic infection in nonpregnant animals and will help to establish immunotherapeutic strategies and approaches to control intracellular bacterial infections with known predilection for the uterus, including brucellosis.<\/p>\n

August 2020<\/h3>\n

Charles Gomsu Dada, Gaelle Guela, and Pierre Gontao completed their TAMU training program in the area of brucellosis diagnostics, biosafety and biosecurity procedures, and epidemiological principles. During their time in Dr. Arenas\u2019 laboratory, they completed training in 1) standard operating procedures (SOPs) for brucellosis research, 2) necropsy and tissue sample collection, 3) media preparation for Brucella<\/em> culture and isolation, 4) Brucella<\/em> culture, characterization, and CFU counting, 5) inactivation of live Brucella, 6) use of Point-of-Care portable PCR diagnostic tool, 7) DNA extraction for PCR, 8) principles of serodiagnostic techniques (FTA cards, performing Rose Bengal Tests), 9) performing iELISA, and 10) histology\/immunohistochemistry techniques.<\/p>\n

\"Laboratory<\/figure>

Students also received epidemiological training from Dr. Christopher Laine in 1) key features and applications of descriptive and analytic epidemiology, 2) sampling techniques, 3) questionnaire design, 4) summarization of data (calculation and interpretation of mean, median, mode, ranges, variance, standard deviation, and confidence intervals), 5) measures of risk and disease frequency, 6) displaying public health data, 7) screening and diagnostic tests, 8) public health surveillance, and 9) investigating outbreaks.<\/p>\n

\"Laboratory<\/figure>

Upon their return to Cameroon, they will begin the collection of tissue samples for the project, and will be able to train laboratory personnel at LANAVET in molecular and serologic methods of brucellosis diagnostics and deeply engrain the laboratory with a culture of high-level diagnostic capacity which will endure beyond the end of the research project.<\/p>\n

July 2020<\/h3>\n
\"Aborted<\/figure>

A research article entitled, Intratracheal inoculation with Brucella melitensis<\/em> in the pregnant guinea pig is an improved model for reproductive pathogenesis and vaccine studies<\/a>, was published in the journal Infection and Immunity<\/em>. Reproductive failure is the hallmark of brucellosis in animals. An uncommon but important complication in pregnant women who become acutely infected with Brucella melitensis<\/em> is spontaneous pregnancy loss or vertical transmission to the fetus. Unfortunately, the mechanism behind reproductive failure is still obscure, partially due to the lack of a proper study model. This study indicates that pregnant guinea pigs are an appropriate animal model to study reproductive disease and offers an improved model to evaluate the ability of vaccine candidates to protect against serious manifestations of the disease.<\/p>\n

May 2020<\/h3>\n
\"Pasturizing<\/figure>

A review article entitled, Brucellosis in the Middle East: Current Situation and a Pathway Forward<\/a>, was published in the journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases<\/em>. Brucellosis is a bacterial endemic zoonotic disease of global significance with detrimental impacts on public health and food animal production. Bovines and small ruminants, which excrete the bacteria in milk and in reproductive discharges, are major sources of infection for humans and other animals. Contact with contaminated animals and consumption of unpasteurized dairy products are the main routes for human infection. In spite of the considerable progress of knowledge gained and success achieved in brucellosis control in the developed world, this disease continues to be an important burden in the Middle East. In this article, a regional approach toward public awareness of brucellosis is proposed as the first step in mitigating the disease, and the potential benefits and components of such a strategy are discussed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Graphs<\/figure>

A research article entitled, Evaluation of the Efficacy of the Brucella canis<\/em> RM6\/66 \u0394vjbR<\/em> Vaccine Candidate for Protection against B. canis<\/em> Infection in Mice<\/a>, was published in the journal mSphere<\/em>. Brucella canis<\/em> is a highly contagious disease of dogs that can be transmitted to humans. Unfortunately, no vaccine is available to prevent infection in dogs. In this study, the use of a mouse model was evaluated in assessing the canine brucellosis vaccine candidate RM6\/66 \u0394vjbR<\/em> strain. The study reveals that the B. canis<\/em> RM6\/66 \u0394vjbR<\/em> vaccine candidate shows promise as a vaccine for canine brucellosis and validates the mouse model for future vaccine efficacy studies.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Effect<\/figure>

A research article entitled, Vaccine Candidate Brucella melitensis<\/em> 16M\u0394vjbR<\/em> Is Safe in a Pregnant Sheep Model and Confers Protection<\/a>, was published in the journal mSphere<\/em>. As the title suggests, this study revealed evidence that the vaccine candidate Brucella melitensis<\/em> 16M\u0394vjbR<\/em> confers protection and is a safe vaccine that can be used in pregnant sheep as compared to the approved B. melitensis<\/em> Rev. 1 vaccine which causes abortions when given to pregnant animals. Overall, the 16M\u0394vjbR<\/em> vaccine candidate assessed in this study was considered safer than Rev. 1 based on a reduced number of abortions and limited infection in the offspring. Future experiments are needed to further refine the vaccine dose to increase the safety margin and to evaluate protection in pregnant ewes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

April 2020<\/h3>\n
\"Study<\/figure>

A research article was published in the journal Infection and Immunity<\/em> entitled, Interaction of Brucella abortus with Osteoclasts: a Step toward Understanding Osteoarticular Brucellosis and Vaccine Safety<\/a>. Osteoarticular disease is a frequent complication of human brucellosis, but there are currently no vaccines for use in humans, and no in vitro<\/em> models exist for assessing the safety of candidate vaccines in reference to the development of bone lesions. This research study on Brucella<\/em> infection of osteoclasts suggest that osteoclasts play an important role in osteoarticular brucellosis and could serve as a useful in vitro<\/em> model for both analyzing host-pathogen interactions and assessing vaccine safety.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

March 2020<\/h3>\n
\"Number<\/figure>

A review article entitled, Building the Evidence Base for the Prevention of Raw Milk-Acquired Brucellosis: A Systematic Review<\/a>, was published in Frontiers in Public Health<\/em>. This study focused on human brucellosis, one of the infectious diseases commonly acquired through the consumption of raw milk and milk products, and which continues to be a public health threat worldwide. This review identified several gaps and factors that possibly contribute to the increased prevalence of raw milk-acquired brucellosis including inadequate monitoring of the raw milk sales process and lack of approved diagnostic methods for validating the safety of raw milk for human consumption.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Donning<\/figure>

An article entitled, Bench to Shop\u2122: An Interdisciplinary Training Program for Transitioning of Transboundary Animal Disease Research to Commercialization<\/a>, was published in the Journal of Veterinary Medical Education<\/em>. This article details a program designed to enable next-generation researchers to gain an understanding of the business regulations, federal and international processes, and research requirements needed to take Transboundary Animal Disease (TAD) research through technology transition to commercialization. Through an interdisciplinary and blended training participants expanded their professional networks with leaders in industry and regulatory agencies related to production and\/or commercialization of TAD products and deepened their commitment toward keeping our country safe from TADs. Post-program impacts on trainees included advancing products toward commercialization, partnering with connections made through the program, and demonstrating dedication to homeland security by pursuing product development related educational and career opportunities. Overall, results suggest this program provides an added value and should be readily available to the current and future workforce.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

February 2020<\/h3>\n
\"Immersion-Foot-Syndrome\"<\/figure>

Dr. Angela Arenas co-authored an article entitled, Immersion Foot Syndrome in 6 Equids Exposed to Hurricane Floodwaters<\/a> published in the journal of Veterinary Pathology<\/em> concerning a case study of equids which experienced a prolonged exposure to water. In humans this condition is known as immersion foot syndrome, a phenomenon first described in soldiers during World War I and characterized by dermal ischemic necrosis. In this report, the authors describe the pathologic findings of a condition resembling immersion foot syndrome in 5 horses and 1 donkey with prolonged floodwater exposure during Hurricane Harvey.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

December 2019<\/h3>\n
\"Market<\/figure>

Drs. Angela Arenas, Abel Wade, and Christopher Laine traveled to Bafoussam, Cameroon to make observations of livestock practices in the country and assess the human capacity (e.g., administrators, regional delegates, veterinarians, livestock brokers) and physical capacity (e.g., slaughterhouses, slaughter points, abattoirs) to successfully conduct a DTRA funded brucellosis research project.<\/p>\n

\"Kid<\/figure>

In the course of the visit, the team learned the level of knowledge of brucellosis among all stakeholders, the suitability and conditions of abattoirs and slaughterhouses where samples for the study will be collected, and learned of the sources and movements of livestock within Cameroon. The team also gained an appreciation of pastoral ranch management upon government owned land where animals comingle during grazing, and the general lack of pasteurizing milk prior to consumption by the populace was confirmed.<\/p>\n

\"Colleagues<\/figure>

Through this visit, appropriate contacts have been made and the needed groundwork laid for the successful start of tissue sample collection in Bafoussam for this research project. A better understanding of conditions on the ground in Cameroon will provide our trainings of stakeholders in the country to include key aspects of biosecurity tailored to the region and the establishment of important protocols to improve food safety.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

November 2019<\/h3>\n
\"Students<\/figure>

Charles Gomsu Dada, Gaelle Guela, and Pierre Gontao travelled to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa where they engaged in a 1-week training course in the production of Rose Bengal reagent used in the rapid slide agglutination test for Brucella<\/em> detection, and also received training in validation (quality control) and proficiency testing (quality assurance) procedures. During the training, the students successfully produced Rose Bengal reagent and were instructed in general validation and proficiency testing procedure. In applying these principles, students took their newly produced Rose Bengal reagent through the validation process, and were tested in their proficiency in conducting the Rose Bengal Test. Students\u2019 proficiency in making their own Rose Bengal reagent for serologic testing for brucellosis will increase diagnostic capacity in Cameroon which should prove beneficial for that entire region of Africa.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Brucellosis<\/figure>

As chair of the International Brucellosis Society, Dr. Angela Arenas sought funding for and delivered a \u201c101 Workshop on Fundamental Brucellosis\u201d to 28 participants from 10 different countries as a concurrent session at the Annual Brucellosis Meeting in Chicago in November 2019. Instruction was delivered by the best subject matter experts in the field, highlighting the commitment of the brucellosis society to promote and disseminate accurate and reliable information about brucellosis. A complete description of the program and outcomes is outlined here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

October 2019<\/h3>\n
\"PhD<\/figure>

Three PhD students (Charles Olivier Gomsu Dada, DVM; Gaelle Kamdjo Guela, MS; Pierre Gontao, MS) from 3 universities in Cameroon (University of Dschang, University of Yaound\u00e9, and University of Ngaoundere, respectively) were recruited and selected for our Brucellosis Research project in Cameroon through interaction with Dr. Abel Wade, Director of the LANAVET Annex in Yaound\u00e9. These students will spend 5 months of training in Dr. Arenas-Gamboa\u2019s laboratory learning molecular and serological techniques of Brucellosis detection for their work in the project and to increase human capacity of brucellosis detection in Cameroon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

September 2019<\/h3>\n
\"goats<\/figure>

Dr. Angela Arenas was awarded funding from the United States Department of Defense (Defense Threat Reduction Agency) to lead a research project in Cameroon to assess the prevalence of brucellosis in the country as a first step in laying the groundwork for a vaccination campaign against this disease. The team will will evaluate the prevalence of brucellosis in the country and will work to cultivate the Cameroonian government\u2019s capacity to better prevent, detect, and respond to brucellosis. The complete VMBS press release may be read here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Brucellosis<\/figure>

A review article entitled, Brucellosis in Colombia: Current Status and Challenges in the Control of an Endemic Disease<\/a> was published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. This scoping review provides an overview of the brucellosis status in Colombia and the factors associated with its persistence, highlighting the strengths and gaps of adopted countermeasures, and also supplies evidence to policy-makers on the best approaches to mitigate the disease burden of brucellosis in Colombia.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

August 2019<\/h3>\n
\"histology<\/figure>

Finally, after huge efforts working with pigs in BSL2 facilities, analysis of tremendous amounts of samples, and discovery of compelling findings, the study \u201cVaccine Safety Studies of Brucella abortus S19 and S19\u0394vjbR in Pregnant Swine\u201d was accepted for publication in the journal Vaccine X<\/em> as part our journey towards improving live attenuated vaccines for brucellosis.<\/p>\n

This study highlighted the following key points:
\n1) Vaccination with Brucella abortus<\/em> S19 or S19\u0394vjbR<\/em> in pregnant swine did not induce abortion, stillbirths or cause a reduction in litter size.
\n2) Gross and histopathological evaluation did not demonstrate any local or systemic side effects associated with either vaccine.
\n3) At the time of delivery, there was no evidence of the presence of either vaccine strains in fetuses, placentas or sows.
\n4) Both vaccine candidates are safe for use in pregnant swine.<\/p>\n

Special congratulations go to Slim Zriba, Daniel G Garcia, Omar Khalaf and Lance Wheeler for their efforts in field and laboratory work, and all other co-authors that contributed toward the design of the study and the writing of the manuscript including our PI, Dr. Arenas, for leading this project. Thanks to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture \u2013USDA for funding the project and the Graduate student support (SZ) from the Fulbright Foreign Student Program for the Middle East & North Africa (AMIDEAST) \u2013 US Department of State. The complete article may be read here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>

Congratulations to our student Lauren Stranahan for receiving a “T-32 Fellowship” from the National Institutes of Health for the period of 2019-2023. These awards are made to support pre- and\/or postdoctoral fellows training in basic, clinical, and behavioral research to ensures that a diverse and highly trained workforce is available to assume leadership roles in biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research. This is terrific! Well done Lauren!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

July 2019<\/h3>\n
\"\"<\/figure>

A warm welcome to Andrea Camargo, a veterinarian student from the Universidad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Aplicadas UDCA, located in Bogota, Colombia. Andrea will stay with us 5 months as a Visiting Scholar to enhance her research capacities and share interesting experiences working with subunit vaccines at the Immunology Institute of Colombia FIDIC, led by Dr. Manuel Elkin Patarroyo.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>

It was a pleasure to have Janice Park, third-year veterinarian student at TAMU, participating in research in our lab during the summer under the Veterinary Medicine Summer Research Training Program. Janice participated specifically on cloning and purifying immunodominant Brucella<\/em> canis<\/em> proteins as part of our project towards the evaluation of a new vaccine for canine brucellosis and the development of improved diagnostic tests capable of differentiating naturally infected vs. vaccinated animals. Despite the short time, Janice was able to give an oral presentation of the results at a research symposium at TAMU and present a poster in a conference organized by Worcester State University in Massachusetts. Well done Janice! We wish you all the best on continuing your career, and we hope to see you and to collaborate with you again in the future.<\/p>\n

June 2019<\/h3>\n
\"\"<\/figure>

Our research article on the “Characterization of Brucella canis<\/em> infection in mice” was accepted for publication in PLOS one! \u201cFelicitaciones\u201d Lauren Stranahan for this awesome achievement and all the coauthors that contributed to the study. This research extends the knowledge of B. canis infection in mice and identifies multiple similarities to infections with smooth Brucella sp and to natural infections in dogs, and could serve as a useful model to investigate host-pathogen interactions and vaccine candidates as it does for smooth Brucella species. Please click here<\/a> to access to the full article online.<\/p>\n

April 2019<\/h3>\n
\"\"<\/figure>

Great news! We have another research achievement demonstrating the great effort and progress of the neglected zoonotic diseases group led by Dr. Angela Arenas! Our research in NOD-scid IL2r\u03b3null<\/sup><\/em> as a suitable mouse model to study osteoarticular brucellosis and vaccine safety was accepted and published by the journal Infection and Immunity! Special congratulations to our student, Dr. Omar Khalaf, as the first author of this outstanding research. Please click here<\/a> to read this publication.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

March 2019<\/h3>\n
\"\"<\/figure>

After working hard with guinea pigs inside high containment with promising results, Dr. Martha Hensel and coauthors got the research article: \u201cCharacterization of an intratracheal aerosol challenge model of Brucella melitensis<\/em> in guinea pigs\u201d published in PLOS ONE!! Congratulations again, Martha and all coauthors for this outstanding research which has previously received awards in several conferences and seminars! Please click here<\/a> to access this publication.<\/p>\n

January 2019<\/h3>\n

A warm recognition goes to our PI, Dr. Angela Arenas, and our student, Dr. Shakirat Adetunji, for their interesting systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of osteoarticular brucellosis, which was recently published in the PLOS neglected tropical diseases journal. This is great news. Thanks for highlight the importance and challenges of this important problem. Please access this article online<\/a>.<\/p>\n

December 2018<\/h3>\n

Once again, our students did a wonderful job presenting our research projects at the International Brucellosis Society Meeting in Chicago (Dec 1-2, 2018). Following are the titles of the students\u2019 oral presentations:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Characterization of Brucella canis<\/em> infection in mice (presented by Dr. Lauren Stranahan)<\/li>\n
  2. Development of a pregnant guinea pig model for human reproductive brucellosis (presented by Dr. Martha Hensel).<\/li>\n
  3. The role of regulatory T cells in Brucella<\/em>-induced fetal resorption (presented by Dr. Shakirat Adetunji).<\/li>\n
  4. Mature osteoclast support replication and survival of Brucella abortus<\/em> (presented by Dr. Omar Khalaf)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Special congratulations go to Lauren Stranahan and Martha Hensel for finishing first place on best oral presentations.  Good job guys!<\/p>\n

    October 2018<\/h3>\n

    Published article<\/strong>
    \n<\/em>Again, bravo!! Congratulations to Dr. Angela Arenas and Dr. Martha Hensel for your published review article, \u201c A neglected animal model for a neglected disease: guinea pigs and the search for an improved animal model for human brucellosis,<\/em>\u201d which was published by Frontiers in Microbiology<\/em> and can be seen or downloaded     here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/figure>

    Visiting research scholar from Colombia<\/strong>
    \n<\/em>We welcome back Lisa Maria Avila to our laboratory as a visiting Research Scholar, following her graduation as a veterinarian in Colombia. During her stay, she will be participating in developing innovating techniques and tools for the detection of Brucella<\/em>. Lisa will continue enhancing her skills and research capabilities as well as sharing experiences based on her studies, research, and challenges in her country, which is creating interesting international collaborative research networks for the future.<\/p>\n

    September 2018<\/h3>\n
    \"\"<\/figure>

    Warm congratulations to our Ph.D. student, Shakirat Adetunji, for obtaining the people\u2019s choice award presenting research on “The role of regulatory T cells in Brucella<\/em>-induced fetal resorption” during the 3rd Annual Postdoctoral Research Symposium as a \u201cDistinguished Postdoctoral Poster Presentation\u201d at Texas A&M University.<\/p>\n

    August 2018<\/h3>\n

    Congratulations go to Dr. Arenas and our student, Dr. Martha Hensel, for their published article in partnership with the CDC (Dr. Maria Negron): “Brucellosis in dogs and public health risk” which was published in Emerging Infectious Diseases<\/em>, and most amazingly, was selected for a monthly press release!!  Well done! Please access this article online<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    July 2018<\/h3>\n
    \"Ramin<\/figure>

    Welcome to Ramin Bagheri Nejad, a Ph.D. student from the University of Tehran (Iran). Ramin will continue with us as a visiting research scholar for 2 months. Dr. Ramin has more than 10 years of experience with brucellosis vaccine development in his country, and we are pleased to share experiences with him and establish international collaborative research networks.<\/p>\n

    May 2018<\/h3>\n

    A multidisciplinary seed-grant program administered by the vice president for research at Texas A&M titled \u201cT3 Texas A&M Triads for Transformation\u201d which supports great ideas from a mere vision to a proof of concept, selected to fund our project: \u201cNew Trends bring new challenges: Consumption of raw milk and the reemergence of brucellosis in the US\u201d.<\/em> This is an amazing opportunity to develop a comprehensive evidence-based framework to help stop brucellosis spread by 1) developing a diagnostic test for brucellosis in raw milk products, 2) creating an effective plan to increase cultural awareness of the negative effects associated with consumption of raw milk products, and 3) assist policymakers in making evidence-based decisions to assure implementation of a good quality control program for raw milk.<\/p>\n

    January 2018<\/h3>\n
    \"\"<\/figure>

    Grant Awarded<\/em><\/strong>
    \nThe Board of Directors of the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, Inc. (CHF) approved us an awarded the grant: \u201cEvaluation of a new vaccine for canine brucellosis\u201d!! This is amazingly good news that will support us to continue working on this valuable process! Thanks to all who participated to get this done, especially Sankar and Daniel!<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/figure>

    Published article<\/strong>
    \n<\/em>Well done to our student Katherine Franc who did an internship with our lab during the summer of 2017 as well as to our PI, Dr. Arenas, and to Drs. Krecek and H\u00e4sler for the impressive article: \u201cBrucellosis remains a neglected disease in the developing world: a call for interdisciplinary action<\/em>\u201d, which was published in the BMC Public Health journal. If you would like to find out why brucellosis is still a neglected disease in the developing world and the consequences of it, access the article     here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    December 2017<\/h3>\n

    Participation in the Brucellosis Society Meeting
    \n<\/em><\/strong>Our students did a great job sharing their projects and experiences at the International Brucellosis Society Meeting in Chicago, IL, USA (Dec 1-3, 2017), which is a satellite of the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases \u2013 CRWAD. The research shared by our students is listed below:<\/p>\n

    1)    Intratracheal inoculation of the guinea pig as an improved aerosol model for Brucella melitensis<\/em> infection (Martha Hensel, oral presentation)<\/p>\n

    2)    Towards the development of a live attenuated vaccine for canine brucellosis (Lauren Stranahan, poster)<\/p>\n

    3)    NOD-scid IL2r\u03b3null mouse as a model to study Brucella<\/em>-induced osteoarticular disease (Omar Khalaf, poster)<\/p>\n

    Manuscript published (feral swine brucellosis)
    \n<\/em><\/strong>An important research article was published this month in the Zooneses Public Health Journal based on our work in the detection of Brucella spp in feral swine, in partnership with USDA and APHIS. In this study, Brucella spp were cultured from 13% of the feral swine samples taken at two federally inspected abattoirs. These results demonstrate the potential risk of these animals spreading the disease, which was underestimated by the conventional serology tests. The manuscript, titled \u201cIdentification of Brucella spp. in feral swine (Sus scrofa) at abattoirs in Texas, USA,\u201d can be seen     here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    November 2017<\/h3>\n

    Congratulations to our student, Lauren Stranahan, for winning first place in the \u201cYoung Investigator Award in Diagnostic Pathology\u201d category for her poster, \u201cRhodococcus equi<\/em> Infection in Goats: Characterization of Virulence Plasmids,\u201d which was presented at the American College of Veterinary Pathologists Annual Meeting held in Vancouver, B.C., Canada on November 4-8, 2017<\/p>\n

    October 2017<\/h3>\n
    \"\"<\/figure>

    Reciprocal Visit Uganda
    \n<\/em><\/strong>We spent more than one week in Uganda, East Africa to complete the reciprocal visit under the Fellowship Program: Brucellosis Strategies and Coping Methods<\/em> with our fellow, Dr. Peter Oba (from Uganda). During the visit, we helped Dr. Oba improve his skills and make adjustments based on the local settings and identified key gaps in the area of research, veterinary diagnostics, and vaccine production that could be strengthened through mutual collaborations.<\/p>\n

    In regards to building collaboration, we met with representatives of National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), the Commissioner of Veterinary Regulation and Enforcement Department of Animal Health, National Animal Diseases Diagnostics & Epidemiology Centre (NADDEC), Makerere University- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Biosecurity (COVAB), and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Kampala, among others.<\/p>\n

    Additionally, we joined the fellow in attending the 4th<\/sup> Global Health Security Agenda High Level Ministerial Meeting in Kampala, Uganda where he: gained a better understanding of global health issues (specifically in Uganda), enrolled as a member of the Next Generation Global Health Security Network (NGGHN), and established important networking connections for potential future collaborations in his career.<\/p>\n

    American Society for Microbiology Seminar
    \n<\/em><\/strong>Congrats to our students for their participation in the American Society for Microbiology Texas Branch Seminar held October 19-21, 2017 at Texas A&M University. Here are the fantastic and interesting research topics shared by our students:<\/p>\n

    1)    Regulatory T cells and Brucella<\/em> colonization at the feto-maternal interface of allogeneic pregnant mice (Adetunji Shakirat, poster presentation)<\/p>\n

    2)    OD-scid IL2r\u03b3null mouse as a model to study Brucella<\/em>-induced osteoarticular disease (Omar Khalaf, poster presentation)<\/p>\n

    3)    Kinetics of intratracheal aerosol inoculation in a guinea pig model for Brucella melitensis<\/em> infection (Martha Hensel, oral presentation)<\/p>\n

    We are also excited to announce Martha Hensel won Best Oral Presentation by a Graduate Student!! Congratulations Martha and to all the students for their great presentations!<\/p>\n

    August 2017<\/h3>\n

    The first cohort of 8 scientists of the Bench to Shop Experiential training Course travels to multiple U.S. locations and to South Africa for training. View the details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    A warm congratulations to our PI, Dr. Arenas, along with her partners, Dr. Carlos Rossetti and Estefania Maurizio from the Pathobiology Institute in Argentina, for the publication (PLoS Negl Trop Dis) of their article, \u201cCaprine brucellosis: A historically neglected disease with significant impact on public health,\u201d this month. You can access it by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    April 2017<\/h3>\n

    Our student, Shakirat Adetunji, received the \u201cJohn Paul Delaplane Award\u201d by the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University in recognition for her \u201coutstanding interest and aptitude towards research in infectious diseases of poultry or livestock.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Great job Shakirat!<\/p>\n

    February 2017<\/h3>\n

    Great news! Two of our students were awarded $5,000 to support their research projects under a call for proposals, \u201cSchool of Veterinary Medicine Graduate Student Research Trainee Grant,\u201d by Texas A&M University. Here are the proposals that were awarded:<\/p>\n

    1)    The Role of Regulatory T Cells in Brucella<\/em>-induced Abortion in the Goat (Capra hircus<\/em>) Model (Shakirat Adetunji)<\/p>\n

    2)    NOD-scid IL2r\u03b3null mouse as a model to study Brucella-induced osteoarticular disease (Omar Khalaf)<\/p>\n

    Fantastic job everyone! Congratulations!<\/p>\n

    January 2017<\/h3>\n

    Peter Oba, coming from the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), Uganda, started to build capacities in our lab under the Borlaug Fellowship Program: “Brucellosis Strategies and Coping Methods in Uganda\u201d. Welcome Peter to our lab!<\/p>\n

    November 2016<\/h3>\n

    The review article:”Human brucellosis and adverse pregnancy outcomes” was approved for publication and its “Hot Topic” with 161 downloads in one month! Congratulations Dr. Arenas on leading this process, definitely an important contribution in this area! Click here to access this publication.<\/a><\/p>\n

    October 2016<\/h3>\n

    Was a pleasure having Juana Liz Vidal, MSc student from Universidad de Antioquia, in our lab. It was a very short visit but very intense and productive. Juana got trained in cell culture and other techniques and performed in-vitro killing assays to investigate host-pathogen interaction.  This activity enhanced the research collaboration between Universidad de Antioquia and our research group. Thank you Juana for your visit and good luck with your thesis!!<\/p>\n

    September 2016<\/h3>\n

    The manuscript: “Reticulo-ruminal milk accumulation (ruminal drinking) in five pre-ruminant white-tailed deer (WTD; Odocoileus virginianus) in Texas”, was approved for publication. Our PhD student Shakirat Adetunji is the first author on this article! Cheers!<\/p>\n

    July 2016<\/h3>\n

    Welcome to our summer internships coming from University of Georgia (Katherine Anne Franc) and University of Lincoln (Dr. Tumen Wuliji and Mikel Thompson)! They are supported by the IAAD Veterinary Student Internship Program and the Summer Research Team Program for Minority Serving Institutions, respectively.  We are very glad to have you here and we will enjoy exchanging experiences with you!!<\/p>\n

    May 2016<\/h3>\n

    Three students\u2014two dual MBA\/MD students and one dual MBA\/DVM student\u2014presented their Bench to Shop capstone project<\/a>. Bench to Shop, developed by Drs. Angela Arenas, Tammi \u201cRosina\u201d Krecek, and Heather Simmons, aims to train next-generation scientists to develop the skills to transition products from research to commercialization.<\/p>\n

    February 2016<\/h3>\n

    Great news! our Formula Animal Health research proposal: “Efficacy studies of a brucellosis vaccine for domestic and feral swine” was selected for funding. Now we can continue toward the development of a vaccine brucellosis in pigs! Thanks to our partners in Colorado State University (Dr. Bowen and team) to be part of this important proposal!<\/p>\n

    The manuscript: “The case for live attenuated vaccines against neglected zoonotic bacterial diseases”. in which Dr. Angela Arenas is Co-author, has been accepted for publication in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. Congratulations to Dr. Aseem Pandey for his publication.<\/p>\n

    January 2016<\/h3>\n

    The American Veterinary Medical Association announces the awarded funding of our Bench to Shop training program in their News: \u201cProgram created to help researchers market their discoveries<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n

    November 2015<\/h3>\n

    Congratulations to Dr. Angela Arenas (PI) for being awarded a $1.2 million contract with the DHS Science and Technology Directorate to develop and implement a nationwide scientific business development and management educational program.  This novel training will equip next generation scientists with the skill sets required to transition research discoveries (for example, vaccines or diagnostics) to the marketplace with an emphasis in transboundary animal diseases (TADs). . Viewers are invited to read the full press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Dr. Isaac Mengele received his certificate of completion after a great presentation of his work! Congratulations to him! We will keep working together developing collaborative research efforts focused on the control and prevention of brucellosis and other infectious diseases.<\/p>\n

    We have officially began our project to test the safety and efficacy of a vaccine candidate in goats. Work will be conducted at the Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria – INTA in Argentina. Dr. Carlos Rossetti, a brucellosis expert, and his team members, will be key players in this success. We look forward for a productive and long-lasting collaboration. In the photo: Dr. Winston Morris, Bioq. Mariana Dunleavy, Lic. Flavia Hasenauer, Dr. Estefania Maurizio, Dr. Carlos Rossetti, Dr. Angela Arenas and Dr. Lucas Vagnoni.<\/p>\n

    October 2015<\/h3>\n

    Its our pleasure to have Dr. Isaac Mengele coming from Tanzania in our lab as part of the professional exchange training program, Borlaug Fellowship. Welcome Dr. Mengele! it will be great sharing knowledge and experiences with you!<\/p>\n

    September 2015<\/h3>\n

    We just submitted a manuscript entitled: “Brucellosis seroprevalence and risk factors for abortion in dromedary camels in a pastoral area of Borana, Ethiopia” to the Journal of Infection in Developing Countries – JIDC. Great inter-institutional effort with our partners in Ethiopia to get this done!<\/p>\n

    Our student worker, Lance Wheeler has officially started Vet school, congratulations to him and we wish him the very best!<\/p>\n

    August 2015<\/h3>\n

    On August 2015  the Canine Health Foundation awarded us the grant: “Development of a brucellosis vaccine for dogs” an important project that will help us to step forward in the development of this vaccine and contribute to companion animal health, part of our mission!<\/p>\n

    April 2015<\/h3>\n

    This year our PI received the “Outstanding Young Faculty Award” in recognition of her outstanding record of extramural funding and high-impact research publications. Congratulations to her and all the team! Click here to see picture<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    February 2026 A warm welcome to Gaelle Kamdjo of Cameroon who is visiting our laboratory for several months where she will be engaged in Lateral Flow Assay production, optimization and standardization, as well as PCR of tissue samples associated with our Cameroon brucellosis research project. An article entitled, Canine peritoneal and pleural larval mesocestoidosis with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/page-full-width.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-8","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNews - Arenas-Gamboa Laboratory<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"February 2026 A warm welcome to Gaelle Kamdjo of Cameroon who is visiting our laboratory for several months where she will be engaged in Lateral Flow\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/vetmed.tamu.edu\/arenaslab\/news\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"February 2026 A warm welcome to Gaelle Kamdjo of Cameroon who is visiting our laboratory for several months where she will be engaged in Lateral Flow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/vetmed.tamu.edu\/arenaslab\/news\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Arenas-Gamboa Laboratory\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-24T20:34:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/vetmed.tamu.edu\/arenaslab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/02\/Gaelle_good.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"75 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/vetmed.tamu.edu\\\/arenaslab\\\/news\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/vetmed.tamu.edu\\\/arenaslab\\\/news\\\/\",\"name\":\"News - 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An article entitled, Canine peritoneal and pleural larval mesocestoidosis with…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetmed.tamu.edu\/arenaslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetmed.tamu.edu\/arenaslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetmed.tamu.edu\/arenaslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetmed.tamu.edu\/arenaslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetmed.tamu.edu\/arenaslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vetmed.tamu.edu\/arenaslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2711,"href":"https:\/\/vetmed.tamu.edu\/arenaslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8\/revisions\/2711"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetmed.tamu.edu\/arenaslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}