Rebecca Legere
Assistant Professor
Equine Internal Medicine
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
TAMU Mailstop: 4475
Research and Scholarly Interests
- Aerosol medicine & pharmacology
- Respiratory immunology
- Neonatal immunology
- mRNA therapeutics & immunoprophylaxis
- In vitro cell culture models
- Critical care monitoring
Dr. Becky Legere is an early-career investigator and equine internist with clinical and research interests focused on equine respiratory disease, neonatal immunology, and developing practical technologies to improve treatment and management of critical illness in horses and other large animal patients. She earned a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering prior to veterinary school, focused on biosensors, and worked as a systems engineer in the medical device industry before returning to academia. She earned a M.S. in Equine Science focused on exercise physiology, while preparing for veterinary school. Next, she earned her D.V.M. at Kansas State University, followed by a private practice equine internship. She completed a large animal internal medicine residency at Auburn University, primarily in equine medicine. While there, she also earned a M.S. in Biomedical Sciences focused on equine metabolic syndrome. Most recently, she completed a post-residency PhD program in the Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University, primarily focused on investigating mRNA-based strategies for preventing Rhodococcus equi in foals.
Her clinical and research interests are focused on the intersection of aerosol medicine, respiratory physiology and immunology, and neonatal medicine in horses. The Legere Laboratory for Equine & Veterinary Innovation (LLEVI) is centered around developing practical and innovative solutions for clinical problems in horses and other large animal patients while developing the next generation of trainees as clinician-scientists. Through this work, she strives to bring together horse owners, practitioners, researchers, and industry to work towards common goals and generate real-world improvements for horse welfare and quality of care.
Outside of work, Dr. Legere enjoys spending time outside with her border collies, watching rugby and hockey, and enjoying live music.
EDUCATION
- PhD in Biomedical Sciences, Concentration in Infection & Immunity
Texas A&M University, Anticipated Graduation in Dec. 2024 - MS in Biomedical Sciences
Auburn University, Dec. 2019 - Large Animal Internal Medicine Residency, Equine-Focused
Auburn University, 2016-2019 - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, 2011-2015
- MS in Animal Science, Concentration in Equine Science
Sul Ross State University, 2008-2011 - BS in Biomedical Engineering, Concentration in Bioelectrics & Biosensors
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2003-2007
- Equine immunology
- Equine pharmacology
- Respiratory therapeutics
- mRNA therapeutics
- Medical device development
Legere RM, Poveda C, Ott JA, Bray JM, Villafone EG, Petri da Silveira P, Kahn SK, Martin CL, Mancino C, Taraballi F, Criscitiello MF, Berghman L, Bordin AI, Pollet J, Cohen ND. Intramuscular but not nebulized administration of a mRNA vaccine candidate against Rhodococcus equi stimulated humoral immune responses in neonatal foals. Am J Vet Res. 2023. 11:1-12. Invited submission. PMID: 38056076
1st description of a mRNA vaccine candidate in equids or in neonatal veterinary species
Legere RM, Allegro AR, Affram Y, Petri da Silveira B, Fridley JL, Wells KM, Oezguen N, Burghardt RC, Wright GA, Pollet J, Bordin AI, de Figueiredo P, Leibowitz JL, Cohen ND. Equine bronchial epithelial cells are susceptible to cell entry with a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus but reveal low replication efficiency. Am J Vet Res. 2023. 84(9):1-11. Invited submission. PMID: 37442546
1st documentation of SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility in equine lung, using pseudovirus model functionalized with spike protein
Cohen ND, Kahn SK, Bordin AI, Gonzalez GM, Petri da Silveira B, Bray JM, Legere RM, Ramirez-Cortez SC. Association of pneumonia with concentrations of virulent Rhodococcus equi in fecal swabs of foals before and after intrabronchial infection with virulent R. equi. J Vet Intern Med. 2022. 36(3):1139-45. PMID: 35322902
Legere RM, Cohen ND, Poveda C, Bray JM, Barhoumi R, Szule JA, de la Concha-Bermejillo A, Bordin AI, Pollet J. Safe and effective aerosolization of in vitro transcribed mRNA to the respiratory tract epithelium of horses without a transfection agent. Sci Rep. 2021. 11(1):371. PMID: 33432084
1st documentation of successful aerosolized mRNA delivery in equine airways; Featured in industry press: “Aerosol Delivery of Naked mRNA;” at: https://www.trilinkbiotech.com/blog/aerosol-delivery-of-naked-mrna-part-2/
Legere RM, Taylor DR, Davis JL, Bello K, Parker C, Judd RL, Wooldridge AA. Pioglitazone in equids increases high molecular weight adiponectin concentrations and decreases insulin after oral sugar. J Equine Vet Sci. 2019. 82:102797. PMID: 31732109
Legere RM, Wooldridge AA, Sandey M, Hanson RR, Cole R. Phaeohyphomycotic rhinitis caused by Bipolaris hawaiiensis in a horse. J Equine Vet Sci. 2019. 82:102798. PMID: 31732112
Legere R, Jung SW, Groover E. ECG of the Month: Accelerated idioventricular rhythm secondary to electrolyte imbalances in a horse. JAVMA. 2019. 254(5):591-4. PMID: 30779626
Schumacher J, Legere R. Eosinophilic intestinal diseases of the horse. Equine Vet Educ. 2017. 30(9):472-4. doi: 10.1111/eve.12723