Colorado State University’s One Health Institute recently announced the selection of two CSU faculty One Health pilot projects to address One Health issues in a community-based project and four students for the first Student One Health awards. The One Health Institute funds faculty pilot awards annually and has provided student award funding for the first time.
The faculty pilot projects for this year focus on addressing an infectious disease or health issue that affects the health of people, animals and the environment in a community-based project. Two interdisciplinary research teams will implement the One Health approach to better understand and develop solution-oriented approaches aimed at mitigating, managing and preparing communities to respond to health and infectious disease threats in the following projects.
Tackling Tick-Borne Diseases in Colorado Trails
Principal investigator: Karla Saavedra Rodriguez, Ph.D., assistant professor, Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Center for Vector Borne Diseases and Rocky Mountain and High Plain Vector-borne Diseases Center, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, CSU
Collaborators: Seth Davis, Ph.D., assistant professor, Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Warner College of Natural Resources, CSU; Elizabeth Hemming-Schroeder, Ph.D., assistant professor, Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Center for Vector Borne Diseases, and Rocky Mountain and High Plain Vector-borne Diseases Center, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, CSU; Emma Harris, Ph.D., research scientist, Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Center for Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, and Rocky Mountain and High Plain Vector-borne diseases Center, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, CSU; Valeria Scorza, Ph.D., assistant professor, Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, CSU; Colorado State Parks and Wildlife; Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; Colorado National Parks; and Larimer County Parks
Colorado’s extensive trail networks, attracting millions of visitors annually, serve as critical habitats for ticks, which can transmit diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Colorado tick fever. To address this public health concern, this project will implement a passive tick and disease surveillance program at trailheads in Larimer and State Parks. By encouraging hikers to submit tick samples in collaboration with Parks and Wildlife agencies, the research team will work to enhance tick-borne disease monitoring efforts.
This project will map tick populations, track pathogen prevalence, and analyze trail landscapes and visitor behaviors. This holistic approach will provide crucial insights into the dynamics of tick-borne diseases, informing targeted disease control strategies and public awareness campaigns. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and community engagement, this project embraces the One Health approach and prompts collective action against zoonotic diseases.
Combatting Leptospirosis in Rural Guatemala
Principal investigator: Valeria Scorza, Medica Veterinara (DVM), Ph.D., instructor, Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, CSU
Collaborators: Lindsay Beck-Johnson, Ph.D., research scientist III, Biology, College of Natural Sciences, CSU; Sangeeta Rao, Ph.D., associate professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Daniel Olson, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor, Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health; Global Health Protection, Central America Office; Colorado One Health Research Consortium; Center for Human Development; and the University of Colorado Center for Human Development in Southwest Guatemala
Leptospirosis, prevalent in tropical and underserved communities, lacks comprehensive data on its risks, notably in Southwest Guatemala’s Trifinio region. This project aims to determine zoonotic disease prevalence in the region, where residents face heightened risk factors including close animal contact, limited access to clean water, and inadequate rodent control. With a high incidence of acute illness potentially linked to Leptospira, researchers hypothesize Leptospirosis poses a significant health threat to both humans and animals. Through a One Health approach, the study will screen individuals and animals for Leptospira antibodies, assess the environmental presence of the bacteria, and utilize geographic information systems to identify factors leading to transmission.
This research will provide insights into leptospirosis risk drivers and burdens within the community. The interdisciplinary team, with expertise in zoonotic diseases and ecological dynamics, aims to generate actionable information to elevate Leptospirosis from a neglected disease to a priority for regional and global health initiatives.
The first student One Health Awards
The One Health Institute has started a new award to support student research to implement a One Health project that addresses an issue at the interface of humans, animals, plants and the environment.
These student awards will support student research projects toward their degree and provide students with experience writing grants, managing awards and reviewing grants. Students successful in this funding period will review awards submitted in the following year. We are pleased to support four student One Health projects in 2024.
Investigating Mosquito Dispersal and co-breeding in Ethiopia
Student: Sabrina Gobran, Ph.D. Student, graduate research assistant, Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, CSU.
Advisors: Elizabeth Hemming-Schroeder, Ph.D., assistant professor, Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Center for Vector Borne Diseases, and Rocky Mountain and High Plain Vector-borne Diseases Center, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, CSU.
The recent arrival of the Asian mosquito species, Anopheles stephensi, in the Horn of Africa may have been facilitated by urban growth, environmental shifts, and increased global connectivity. This new presence carries serious implications, potentially upsetting local ecosystems and raising health risks for both people and animals. An. stephensi mosquitoes often breed alongside Aedes mosquitoes, which spread diseases like dengue and yellow fever, suggesting an opportunity to tackle both types of mosquitoes with the same control methods.
This project aims to understand why An. stephensi and Aedes mosquitoes are spreading in Ethiopia, targeting their breeding sites more effectively. An. stephensi can carry malaria and chikungunya virus, posing a threat to disease control efforts. By using advanced techniques to track mosquito movements and assess environmental influences on their spread, researchers aim to provide valuable insights for developing sustainable mosquito control strategies in Ethiopia. These findings will inform policymakers and health officials to guide the implementation of effective control measures.
Developing Oral Avian Vaccine for WNV Transmission Control
Student: Michelle Savran, DVM/Ph.D. student, graduate research assistant, Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, CSU.
Advisors: Brian Foy, Ph.D., professor, Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, CSU; Gregory Ebel, Sc.D., professor, Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Director, Center for Vector-Borne and Infectious Diseases, CSU.
This project aims to develop and assess a strategy to reduce West Nile virus transmission by targeting birds, the main reservoir of the virus, with an orally administered recombinant probiotic WNV vaccine. The vaccine will utilize a probiotic bacterium called Lactobacillus acidophilus (rLA) as a delivery platform, as it has been successful in vaccinating birds against different diseases. It can be freeze-dried and mixed with birdseed for non-invasive administration to susceptible wildlife. Researchers will create a construct of the probiotic that expresses WNV antigens, aiming to trigger positive immune responses in model bird species.
Researchers will measure birds’ immune responses to WNV exposure to evaluate the vaccine’s efficacy. The team hopes to disrupt the transmission cycles between mosquitoes and birds to provide an alternative to traditional insecticide-based mitigation strategies.
Leveraging Data for Comprehensive WNV Surveillance
Student: Robert “Toby” Koch, MPH, Ph.D. student, Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, CSU.
Advisor: Gregory Ebel, Sc.D., professor, Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Director, Center for Vector-Borne and Infectious Diseases, CSU.
Fort Collins is hot spot for West Nile Virus in the United States, prompting efforts to establish a robust surveillance program. Despite the wealth of available data from positive mosquito samples, much remains untapped. This project aims to harness this data to analyze the emergence and persistence of new WNV strains in the area, pinpointing areas for targeted control measures and understanding WNV spread. The research team will develop a method to track WNV strains’ movements over time and space, distinguishing between short-lived and long-lasting strains.
Once persistent strains are identified, computational models will examine associated weather patterns, land types, and geographic locations. Experimental analysis will measure strain characteristics, pinpointing the factors driving WNV introduction and persistence in Fort Collins. This interdisciplinary approach aims to provide insights for control strategies and enhance understanding of WNV spread.
Understanding Bat Diets for Virus Transmission Prediction
Student: Kalani Williams, Ph.D. candidate, Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, CSU.
Advisor: Rebekah Kading, Ph.D., associate professor, Medical Entomology, Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, CSU.
Diet significantly influences animal behavior, dictating their movements and interactions with other species. Understanding the diets of viral reservoir species, such as bats, is crucial for assessing the risk of disease transmission. In Uganda’s Mount Elgon region, various bat species have been found carrying coronaviruses and other viruses. Fecal samples have been collected from these bats to study their diet, but researchers hypothesize that many of the plants and insects found in these samples have not been genetically sequenced before, making identification challenging.
This study aims to create a database of genetic information from local plants and insects in the Mount Elgon region to accurately identify the components of bat diets. With this data, researchers will develop a model to predict bat foraging behavior across the landscape. By combining this model with viral surveillance data and land-use maps, previously unrecognized areas of nocturnal bat activity in human settlements can be identified, aiding in disease prevention efforts.
