Clinical Professor

Serology Section Head, Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (VMDL)

• DVM, Shanxi Agricultural University, China
• MS, Northwest A&F University, China
• PhD, Kansas State University
• Postdoc, Texas A&M University
• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (Immunology and Virology)

Building Address: VETMED E111-1
Phone Number: 573-882-3427
Email: zhangmz@missouri.edu

VETERINARY DIAGNOSTICS

As a board-certified veterinary virologist and immunologist, I oversee the Serology/Virology section of the VMDL. My team assists the stakeholders in the diagnosis and surveillance animal diseases using various traditional and modern immunologic methods. The Serology section works closely with other sections within he VMDL to provide comprehensive diagnostic services to clients. The Serology section also works closely with federal and state agencies on disease control and prevention, such as USDA, Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA), Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHS). The Serology section plays a major role in Missouri’s chronic wasting disease program.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Development of QT-QuIC and MEMS Biosensor for the diagnosis of chronic wasting disease (CWD)
• Development novel assays and tools for the detection of pathogens in clinical and environmental samples.
• Diagnostic investigation of unique clinical cases
• Collaborative research via expertise in traditional veterinary immunology and virology

TEACHING

• Diagnostic serology and virology in Pathology and Special Species Medicine (V_PBIO 6647) for DVM rotation students
• Training residents in diagnostic serology and virology

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• E. Kobashigawa, S. A. Muhsin, A. Abdullah, K. Allen, S. Russell, E. A. Sinnott, M.Z. Zhang, M. Almasri, Shuping Zhang. Comparative study of immunoassays, microelectromechanical systems-based biosensor, and RT-QuIC for the detection of chronic wasting disease prion in retropharyngeal lymph node samples of white-tailed deer. BMC Vet. Res. In press. 2024
• E. Kobashigawa, S. Russell, M.Z. Zhang, E.A. Sinnott, M. Connolly, S. Zhang. RT‑QuI detection of chronic wasting disease prion in platelet samples of white‑tailed deer. BMC Vet. Res. 20:152, 2024. doi: 10.1186/s12917-024-04005-y.
• S. A. Muhsin, A. Abdullah, E. Kobashigawa, M. Al-Amidie, S. Russell, M. Z. Zhang, S. Zhang, M. Almasri. A microfluidic biosensor for the diagnosis of chronic wasting disease. Microsyst Nanoeng 9:104, 2023. doi: 10.1038/s41378-023-00569-1.
• S.A. Muhsin, E. Kobashigawa, M. Al-amidie1, S. Russell, M. Zhang, S. Zhang, and M. Almasri. A microfluidic biosensor for rapid detection of endemic chronic wasting disease. The 35^th IEEE International Conference on MEMS 2022.
• Warang, M. Zhang, S. Zhang, Z. Shen. A panel of real-time PCR assays for the detection of Bourbon virus, Heartland virus, West Nile virus, and Trypanosoma cruzi in major disease transmitting vectors. J Vet Diagn Invest 33(6):1115-1122, 2021. doi: 10.1177/10406387211039549.
• M. Yang, C. Zhang, S.A. Hansen, W.J. Mitchell, M.Z. Zhang, S. Zhang. Antimicrobial efficacy and toxicity of novel CAMPs against P. aeruginosa infection in a murine skin wound infection model. MBC Microbiology. 19(1):293, 2019. doi: 10.1186/s12866-019-1657-6.
• Z. Shen, M.Z. Zhang, R.W. Stitch, W.J. Mitchell, S. Zhang. Development of a tickborne pathogens QPCR panel for detection of Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, and Lyme Disease Borrelia for animal patients. J Microbiol Meth. 151:83-89, 2018.