Four faculty members at Louisiana State University's School of Veterinary Medicine are investigating respiratory diseases that affect animals and humans. The combined research is supported by more than $3.8 million in extramural grants.
Shafiqul Chowdhury, DVM, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, is researching molecular virology and recombinant vaccine technology of bovine herpesvirus.
Dr. Chowdhury’s long-term goal is to understand the following two specific areas of BHV-1 research:
- How BHV-1 and BHV-5 spread within the nervous system.
. - The role of envelope glycoproteins in the regulation of pathogenicity and immunogenicity of BHV-1.
Both projects are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The researchers investigating respiratory diseases in humans are:
- Samithamby Jeyaseelan, DVM, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences.
. - Maria Antonieta Guerrero-Plata, BSc, MSc, Ph.D., also an assistant professor in the department.
. - Arthur Penn, Ph.D., a professor of toxicology in the Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences and director of the Inhalation Research Facility.