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NEWS
Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Key to Stopping Zika Virus Spread
In 2016, the World Health Organization called the Zika virus epidemic a “public health emergency of international concern” due to the virus causing birth defects for pregnant women in addition to neurological problems. Since then, researchers have wrestled with different strategies for controlling the spread of Zika virus, which gets transmitted to humans from female mosquito bites. One approach, which was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency in May, will release more than 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes into the Florida Keys in 2021 and 2022. These “suicide mosquitoes” are genetically-altered to produce offspring that die before emerging into adults…
Cats May Help Increase Empathy, Decrease Anxiety for Kids with Autism
As a former school nurse in the Columbia Public Schools, Gretchen Carlisle would often interact with students with disabilities who took various medications or had seizures throughout the day. At some schools, the special education teacher would bring in dogs, guinea pigs and fish as a reward for good behavior, and Carlisle noticed what a calming presence the pets seemed to be for the students with disabilities. Now a research scientist at the MU Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, Carlisle studies the benefits that companion animals can have for families. Although there…
MU Research Project to Study COVID-19 Immunity
Blood draws will detect COVID-19 antibody presence over time Scientists conducting an interdisciplinary research project at the University of Missouri are taking blood draws of MU students, faculty and staff who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 to examine their antibody levels over a period of time. The project is designed to better understand how the human body’s immune system responds to COVID-19 post-infection. “We have learned a lot about this disease over the past several months, but there is more that needs to be understood – for instance, how do different members of the population – particularly the younger,…
Mizzou Researchers Obtain Funding for COVID Related Animal Modeling Projects
A team of researchers at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Veterinary Pathobiology recently obtained two grants from the National Institutes of Health that focus on finding more effective animal models for COVID-19 research. The team includes members of several of the MU’s unique resources including Elizabeth Bryda, PhD, director of the MU Animal Modeling Core and the NIH-funded Rat Resource and Research Center, Craig Franklin, DVM, PhD, DACLAM and Jim Amos-Landgraf, PhD, co-directors of the NIH-funded Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Center, Aaron Ericsson, DVM, PhD, director of the MU Metagenomics Center, Daniel Davis, PhD, assistant director…
Painting a Clearer Picture of COVID-19
MU researchers team up with 8th grader, MU undergrad to identify mutations in virus that may be causing its high infectivity. When Saathvik Kannan’s father, a faculty member at the University of Missouri, saw his friend, Kamlendra Singh, a research professor at MU, on television being interviewed for his research identifying possible treatments for COVID-19, he called Singh to congratulate him on his work. After learning that his friend’s son, Saathvik, had experience with and a passion for computer programming, Singh invited the 8th grader, who was a student at West Middle School in Columbia, Missouri, at the time, to…
Placenta Can Indicate How Body Responds to Opioids During Pregnancy
MU scientists discover possible biological markers for identifying opioid use disorder Scientists at the University of Missouri have discovered possible biological markers that they hope could one day help identify the presence of an opioid use disorder during human pregnancy. Cheryl S. Rosenfeld, an author on the study, said women often take opioids for pain regulation during pregnancy, including oxycodone, so it’s important to understand the effects of these drugs on the fetal placenta, a temporary organ that is essential in providing nutrients from a mother to her unborn child. Rosenfeld is a professor of biomedical sciences in the College…
Detecting Pancreatic Cancer at Treatable Stages
MU researchers identify novel RNAs that could serve as biomarkers for early disease detection. Pancreatic cancer is rarely detected at its early stages because symptoms often do not present themselves until after the cancer has progressed. By then, invasive procedures such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiation are often needed to treat the cancer. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Medicine have identified novel pieces of biological information, such as RNA, which may serve as biomarkers for early detection of pancreatic cancer. “If we can identify the potential for disease development as early…
Mizzou’s Laboratory for Infectious Disease Research Turns Focus to COVID-19
The Laboratory for Infectious Disease Research (LIDR) at the University of Missouri is a regional biocontainment laboratory located on the Columbia campus. The LIDR is critical for collaborating scientists who perform research on infectious diseases and is part of our nation’s effort to protect public health. In recent months, COVID-19 has become an important topic of research for the scientists who work in the LIDR. Jeffrey Adamovicz, PhD, is the LIDR’s director. He is responsible for the safe operation of the facility and providing support for users, ensuring they can complete their intended research. “The LIDR facilitates regional research on…
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