About

Tony Goldberg is a professor in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. He holds a DVM from the University of Illinois (2000), a PhD in Biological Anthropology from Harvard University (1996), and a BA in Biology and English from Amherst College (1990). His research focuses on the ecology, epidemiology, and evolution of infectious diseases, combining field and laboratory studies to understand how pathogens are transmitted among hosts, across complex landscapes, and over time. The overall goal of his work is to discover generalized mechanisms that govern pathogen transmission, evolution, and emergence, with the aim of improving the health and wellbeing of animals and humans while conserving rapidly changing ecosystems that they share.

Research topics

• Biology
• Ecology
• Medicine
• Geography
• Zoology
• Socioeconomics
• Sociology
• Social Science
• Environmental health
• Genetics
• Animal science
• Law
• Food science
• Internal medicine
• Immunology
• Economics
• Endocrinology
• Veterinary medicine
• Business
• Demography
• Traditional medicine
• Microbiology

Selected publications

• Gut microbiota and parasite dynamics in an Amazonian community undergoing urbanization in Colombia

  mSphere · 2026-01-28

  articleOpen access

  ABSTRACT Studies on human gut microbiota have recently highlighted a significant decline in bacterial diversity associated with urbanization, driven by shifts toward processed diets, increased antibiotic usage, and improved sanitation practices. This phenomenon has been largely overlooked in the Colombian Amazon, despite rapid urbanization in the region. In this study, we investigate the composition of gut bacterial microbiota and intestinal protozoa and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) in both urban and rural areas of Leticia, located in the southern Colombian Amazon. Despite their geographic proximity, the urban population is predominantly non-indigenous, while indigenous communities mostly inhabit the rural area, resulting in notable lifestyle differences between the two settings. Our analyses reveal a reduction in bacterial families linked to non-processed diets, such as Lachnospiraceae , Spirochaetaceae , and Succinivibrionaceae , in the urban environment compared to their rural counterparts. Prevotellaceae , typically associated with non-processed food consumption, shows a significantly higher abundance in urban Leticia. STH infections were primarily detected in rural Leticia, while intestinal protozoa were ubiquitous in both rural and urban areas. Both types of parasites were associated with higher gut bacterial richness and diversity. Additionally, microbial metabolic prediction analysis indicated differences in pathways related to unsaturated fatty acid production and aerobic respiration between rural and urban bacterial microbiomes. This suggests a tendency toward changes in the urban microbiota that may lead to increased susceptibility to non-communicable chronic diseases. These findings provide new insights into the impact of urbanization on gut microbiota dynamics in the Amazonian context and underscore the need for further research into any associated health outcomes. IMPORTANCE Changes in the diversity and composition of gut microbiota in urban populations have been linked to the rise of non-communicable chronic diseases, such as autoimmune conditions, diabetes, and cancer. As developing countries undergo a demographic shift toward increased urbanization, accompanied by changes in diet, housing, and medication use, there is a concerning loss of microbial diversity. Therefore, it is essential to investigate microbiota changes in overlooked populations, such as indigenous communities in the Colombian Amazon basin. A better understanding of local and generalizable changes in gut microbial composition through urbanization may facilitate the development of targeted programs aimed at promoting lifestyle and diet changes to prevent diseases that healthcare systems may be ill-equipped to effectively address.

  PublisherDOI

• In vitro growth and characterization of "Candidatus Sarcina troglodytae” isolated from the brain of a chimpanzee in Sierra Leone

  2026-02-18

  articleOpen access

  “Candidatus Sarcina troglodytae” (“Ca. S. troglodytae”), a proposed bacterial species in the family Clostridiaceae, has been epidemiologically associated with a lethal disease in sanctuary chimpanzees in Sierra Leone, epizootic neurologic and gastroenteric syndrome (ENGS). As sarcinae are known to be difficult to culture, a lack of viable in vitro growth conditions has limited further characterization of this bacterium. Such studies are critical to elucidating the relationship between “Ca. S. troglodytae” and ENGS. Here, we isolate a gram-positive, endospore-forming, coccus and anaerobic bacterial strain, designated JB3T, from brain tissue of a western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) using a reinforced clostridial medium. We describe the growth of strain JB3T at a pH range of 6 to 9 (optimum 6) at 37°C in an atmosphere composed of 5% H2, 5% CO2, and 90% N2 and demonstrate endospore production under alkaline conditions, suggesting the possibility of an environmental reservoir. We identify ethanol as the primary non-gaseous fermentation byproduct which we hypothesize to have relevance for ENGS. Antibiotic susceptibility testing shows susceptibility to common antimicrobial agents with notable resistance to ceftriaxone. By establishing in vitro conditions for the viable culture, propagation, and storage of “Ca. S. troglodytae”, this study lays the groundwork for future infection studies to test hypotheses about pathogenic mechanisms and prevention/treatment measures for ENGS.

  PublisherDOI

• Viruses and Parasites in Swamp Rabbits (Sylvilagus aquaticus): A Baseline Survey to Aid Conservation Efforts.

  PubMed · 2026-05-12

  articleSenior author

  Technical advancements have enabled the discovery of potential pathogens in an ever-broadening range of wildlife taxa. To further the scope of this body of knowledge and to inform conservation efforts, we examined potential disease agents present in swamp rabbits (Sylvilagus aquaticus) of southeastern Missouri, USA, during winter 2023. This region represents the northernmost portion of the species' range and is characterized by an intermixed landscape of preferred bottomland hardwood forest and agricultural landcover. Concerns about infectious disease threats to swamp rabbits have increased since the emergence of rabbit hemorrhagic disease, caused by rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2; Caliciviridae, Lagovirus europaeus), that has spread to domestic, wild, and feral rabbits and hares, predominantly in the western and midwestern USA. We applied metagenomic and metabarcoding methods, designed to characterize communities of viruses and parasites, to noninvasively collected rabbit fecal samples. We identified seven viruses and eight parasite genera that probably infect mammals. Although some relatives of these agents cause disease, none are unexpected in lagomorphs, and none are considered a health concern. Notably, RHDV2 was not detected. These results provide baseline data for future conservation and management efforts, especially if RHDV2 or other pathogens become a concern for swamp rabbits.

  PublisherDOI

• Molecular Characterization of Complete Simian Foamy Virus Genomes from Three Colobine Monkeys Reveals Highly Divergent Evolutionary Trajectories and Identifies Transmission to Humans

  Viruses · 2026-03-04

  articleOpen access

  Simian foamy viruses (SFVs) are ancient retroviruses that co-evolve with nonhuman primates (NHPs), although genomic data from Asian and African monkeys are limited. We report the characterization of three new SFV colobine genomes from two Asian species (Trachypithecus francoisi (Tfr) and Pygathrix nemaeus (Pne)) and one African monkey (Colobus guereza, Cgu), obtained via metagenomics analysis of peripheral blood leukocyte tissue culture isolates. Genomic analyses found conserved structural, enzymatic, and auxiliary genes flanked by long terminal repeats, with all major transcriptional and structural motifs highly preserved. An in-frame Δtas mutation in tissue culture and ex vivo specimens was identified in the SFVpne genome, which may promote viral latency. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that these colobine SFVs have distinct evolutionary trajectories without clustering together, contradicting a strict virus–host co-evolution. We developed a new generic SFV PCR assay using these genomes with increased detection sensitivity for Colobinae SFVs and identified four new human infections with Cgu-derived SFV in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Our findings indicate that SFV evolution in colobine monkeys is shaped by host switching, cross-species transmission, and high viral diversity. Our study underscores the importance of broadening SFV genomic sampling to better understand viral evolution, zoonotic risk, and improved diagnostic capabilities.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Novel orbivirus in Amblyomma tholloni ticks parasitizing African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Zambia

  Virus Genes · 2025-09-22 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Orbiviruses are emerging pathogens of public and veterinary health concern. This study reports the discovery and genomic characterization of a novel orbivirus in adult ticks collected from African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Kafue National Park, Zambia. Six ticks were identified through genetic analyses; one Rhipicephalus maculatus and five Amblyomma tholloni. Salivary gland and blood meal samples were dissected for virus characterization. Total nucleic acids were extracted and reverse-transcribed, and libraries were prepared for deep sequencing. De novo assembly of trimmed sequences recovered four novel viruses designated "zaloxo" to indicate their association with Zambian elephants (genus Loxodonta), abbreviated ZXLV-1 to ZXLV-4. ZXLV-1, a member of the genus Orbivirus, belongs to the same subclade of dsRNA orbiviruses as bluetongue virus, epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus, and African horse sickness virus. ZXLV-2 and ZXLV-3 are most closely related to dsRNA Totiviridae and ssDNA Circoviridae viruses, respectively. ZXLV-4 belongs to the genus Alphapolyomavirus, dsDNA viruses which are ubiquitous in mammals but have unclear associations with disease. While the pathogenicity of these viruses remains unclear, these results suggest that a hidden diversity of viruses likely exists in elephant ectoparasites, warranting attention from the perspective of both health and conservation.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Decreases in chimpanzee respiratory disease signs and enteric viral quantity following implementation of anthroponotic disease prevention protocols at a long-term research site

  Biological Conservation · 2025-05-16 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Detection of Novel Fish Viruses in Wisconsin Sportfish: Implications of Co‐Infections for Disease Emergence

  Journal of Fish Diseases · 2025-06-27

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Fishing is a major economic driver in Wisconsin, with approximately 1.4 million licences purchased each year, generating $2.86 billion (USD) for Wisconsin (Fishing Wisconsin 2025). However, recreational angling in Wisconsin faces several threats. Infectious disease is among the most serious of these, along with habitat loss/degradation, pollution and invasive species (Walker and Winton 2010). For example, the introduction of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus into the Great Lakes ecosystem in 2003 caused numerous fish kills across multiple states (Faisal et al. 2012; EPA 2019). The losses resulting from VHSV highlight the importance of new, emerging infectious diseases to the health and sustainability of Wisconsin's fisheries. Emerging viruses are those new to a population, or increasing rapidly in incidence or geographic range (Burrell et al. 2017) and have contributed to considerable mortality in fish populations, leading to economic losses in aquaculture and threats to wild fish stocks (Langdon and Humphrey 1987; Hanson et al. 2001; Deng et al. 2011; Costa and Holmes 2024). An example is infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), a rhabdovirus which causes haemorrhaging and septicemia in fish. A series of outbreaks occurred in British Columbia and Washington State between 1992 and 2012, resulting in Atlantic salmon mortalities of up to 78%. As a result, many smaller farms went bankrupt and tens of millions of dollars were lost to culling of Atlantic salmon to stop the spread of the virus (Lafferty et al. 2015). IHNV has also been associated with mortality in wild juvenile migratory salmon, highlighting the threat IHNV poses to both wild and captive-raised Salmon (Jeffries et al. 2014). Prevention and prompt detection of pathogens are crucial to reduce societal, ecological and economic costs of fish disease (Asad 2023). For fisheries managers, knowledge of which viruses are cause for concern is essential for informing management practices (Nerland et al. 2021). In a previous study, we surveyed sportfish across the state of Wisconsin and used metagenomics to screen for viruses in serum. Through this approach, we identified 19 viruses from 11 viral families; 17 of which had been previously undescribed (Ford et al. 2024). For the present study, we selected six viruses related to known fish pathogens and used newly developed RT-qPCR assays to investigate their geographic occurrence and true prevalence in Wisconsin sportfish. We analysed 453 blood serum samples from four species of fish collected by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as part of surveys of fish health across Wisconsin: walleye (Sander vitreus; n = 114), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus; n = 127), brown trout (Salmo trutta; n = 91) and northern pike (Esox lucius; n = 121). Sampling locations consisted of 44 inland waterbody sites across Wisconsin spanning 12 watersheds (n = 13 to 52; Figure S1, Table S1) and fish appeared to be clinically healthy. Samples were collected from 2016 to 2017 as previously described in Ford et al. (2024). We selected viruses from Ford et al. (2024) for RT-qPCR assay development based on the following criteria: (1) they were present in either bluegill, brown trout, northern pike or walleye, (2) they were related to viruses that had been successfully cultured previously (Kawana and Kaneko 1968; Otsuki et al. 1979; Blindheim et al. 2015; Tattiyapong et al. 2017; Wang et al. 2018; Waltzek et al. 2019) and/or (3) were related to viruses, or were themselves known to be associated with disease in fish (Bacharach et al. 2016; Vendramin et al. 2019; Quinteros et al. 2022). These viruses were: eaulepmac virus 1 and mislepmac virus 1 (f. Matonaviridae), lipesoluc virus 1 (f. Amnoonviridae), pelsanvit virus 1 (f. Peribunyaviridae), tursanvit virus 1 (f. Coronaviridae) and piscine orthoreovirus 3 (f. Spinareoviridae). Primers, probes, gBlocks and RNA standards were designed using PrimerQuest Tool (Integrated DNA Technologies, IA, USA) and checked for specificity using Geneious v2025.0.3 (https://www.geneious.com) and BLAST nucleotide similarity search (Altschul et al. 1990; National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) 2025; Table S2). We extracted RNA using the QIAamp UltraSens Virus Kit (Qiagen, MD, USA) as per manufacturer's instructions, with the exception of the final elution volume of 150 μL. Samples underwent RT-qPCR using the GoTaq Probe 1-Step RT-qPCR System (Promega, WI, USA). We ran reactions in 20 μL volumes containing: 10 μL of 2× master mix, 0.4 μL of 50× RT-Enzyme mix, 1 μL each of 10 μM forward and reverse primers, 0.5 μL of 10 μM probe and 4.6 μL of nuclease free water. We placed samples on 0.1 mL MicroAmp Optical 96-Well Reaction Plates (Thermofisher Scientific, MA, USA)/Hard-Shell 384-Well PCR Plates (skirted; Bio-Rad, CA, USA) alongside a no-template control, a negative extraction control, a gBlock standard and an RNA standard. We then sealed plates with PCR Plate Heat Seal (BIO-RAD, CA, USA) and prepared them on an epMotion 5075 (Eppendorf, CT, USA) liquid handling machine, after which we ran PCRs on a CFX Opus 384/96 Real-Time PCR System (Bio-Rad, CA, USA) with the following cycle settings: 45°C for 15 min, 95°C for 2 min, 40 cycles of 95°C for 15 s and 60°C for 1 min. We ran samples in duplicate and considered them positive if a sigmoidal amplification curve was present in both replicates above the fluorescence threshold. Samples in which only one replicate amplified were repeated until both replicates reached a consensus. Positive amplicons were confirmed by the presence of a band of the predicted length (approximately 100 bp) on a 2% agarose gel. From the Wisconsin DNR fish health survey, a total of 14/453 fish tested positive for any one of the six viruses investigated in this study (all controls performed as expected). Bluegill contained the highest diversity of viruses (n = 3), with only a single virus detected in walleye, northern pike or brown trout (Figure 1). Eaulepmac virus 1 and mislepmac virus 1 (f. Matonaviridae) were restricted to bluegill only with a prevalence of 3.1% (4/127) and 7.1% (9/127) respectively. Lipesoluc virus 1, tursanvit virus 1 and piscine orthoreovirus 3 RT-qPCR assays were unable to detect further presence of these viruses in the fish. Pelsanvit virus 1 was the only virus found to be present in multiple fish species, bluegill (0.8%; 1/127) and walleye (0.9%; 1/114), when both species were sampled from the same site. We detected both viruses from the Matonaviridae family in two bluegill. We detected the presence of eaulepmac virus 1 in the Saint Croix, Upper Fox, Upper Wisconsin and Lower Chippewa watersheds (Figure 1). We found Mislepmac virus 1 in the Saint Croix, Upper Fox and Wolf River watersheds and pelsanvit virus 1 in the Upper Wisconsin watershed only. Watersheds with multiple viruses present included; Lower Chippewa, Saint Croix, Upper Fox and Upper Wisconsin. Previously we identified 19 viruses from 103 blood serum samples taken from five freshwater species of fish collected during a state-wide survey of Wisconsin from 2016 to 2020 (Ford et al. 2024). In this current study, we further assessed the prevalence and geographic distribution of six of these viruses using novel RT-qPCR assays run on archived serum samples from across Wisconsin. The most prevalent viruses in this study were both from the Matonaviridae family, eaulepmac virus 1 and mislepmac virus 1, spanning 6 and 4 watersheds respectively, while pelsanvit virus 1 remained contained to the Upper Wisconsin River watershed, as previously described (Ford et al. 2024). We found multiple viruses in several watersheds. We detected both matonaviruses in the Saint Croix, Lower Chippewa and Upper Fox watersheds, and we detected eaulepmac virus 1 and pelsanvit virus 1 (f. Peribunyaviridae) in the Upper Wisconsin watershed. Viral co-infections can have significant effects on virus evolution and are certainly a threat to fish health (Wu et al. 2024). For example, co-infections are prerequisite for recombination between viruses, which can result in increased transmissibility or pathogenicity (Du et al. 2022). The detection of two matonaviruses within the same watersheds, and in some cases, within the same individual bluegill, highlights the potential for the emergence of recombinant viruses in these environments arising from co-infections. To date, only two viruses from the Peribunyaviridae family have been detected in fish, both of which were first identified in Wisconsin. Largemouth bass bunyavirus was detected in largemouth bass during a routine health assessment in 2009; however, its pathogenesis and host range are currently unknown (Waltzek et al. 2019). Pelsanvit virus 1, first described in our previous study (Ford et al. 2024) was detected in walleye. In this current study, we detected pelsanvit virus 1 RNA in bluegill, suggesting a possible extension of its host range. Both of our studies found this virus in the Upper Wisconsin River watershed, unlike the largemouth bass bunyavirus (Pool 10 of the upper Mississippi River) suggesting peribunyaviruses in fish are more prevalent in Wisconsin than previously thought. However, we do recognise that any conclusions made in this study are limited by the detection ability of the qPCR assay. The detection rate of viruses in this study was low overall, though this is not uncommon in pathogen surveillance, but may be due to the large extraction elution volume needed for this study or levels of viremia below detectable levels. All fish sampled were apparently healthy at the time of sampling. The clinical effects of these viruses are therefore unclear. However, viruses in the families we have identified can be cultured, and such viruses often grow in cell cultures during investigations of fish kills or in routine health screening. Knowing the prevalence and distribution of these viruses in healthy fish will help determine whether future detections using culture or molecular methods are causally related to morbidity/mortality or whether they are incidental findings. Future studies that isolate these viruses through culture will enable characterisation of their genomes and in vivo experiments, to determine their pathogenicity and transmissibility. T.L.G. and E.M.L. designed the study; W.A.T. collected the samples; C.E.F., I.S. and K.V.R. processed the samples; C.E.F. analysed the data and prepared the manuscript with edits from all co-authors. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. The authors would like to thank the WI DNR Bureau of Fisheries Management for their efforts in the collection of samples used in this project and Nikolas Grueneis for his input in the planning stages. We would like to thank the reviewers for taking the necessary time and effort to review the manuscript. Usage of trade names does not imply endorsement by the US Government. The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The samples used in the study were archived samples previously collected by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for health surveys. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. All data can be accessed from the Supporting Information. Figure S1. Map of sampling locations throughout Wisconsin where L. macrochirus (bluegill), S. trutta (brown trout), E. lucius (northern pike) and S. vitreus (walleye) were collected in this study. Table S2. Primer and probe sequences for the viruses investigated in this study. Table S1. Sampling locations and RT-qPCR results for the four species of fish sampled across Wisconsin from 2016 to 2017. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Novel Bat Adenovirus Closely Related to Canine Adenoviruses Identified via Fecal Virome Surveillance of Bats in New Mexico, USA, 2020–2021

  Viruses · 2025-10-08

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Bats host a wide range of viruses, including several high-profile pathogens of humans and other animals. The COVID-19 pandemic raised the level of concern regarding the risk of spillover of bat-borne viruses to humans and, conversely, human-borne viruses to bats. From August 2020 to July 2021, we conducted viral surveillance on 254 bats from 10 species across urban, periurban, and rural environments in New Mexico, USA. We used a pan-coronavirus RT-PCR to assay rectal swabs and performed metagenomic sequencing on a representative subset of 14 rectal swabs and colon samples. No coronaviruses were detected by either RT-PCR or metagenomic sequencing. However, four novel viruses were identified: an adenovirus (proposed name lacepfus virus, LCPV), an adeno-associated virus (AAV), an astrovirus (AstV), and a genomovirus (GV). LCPV, detected in a big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), is more closely related to canine adenoviruses than to other bat adenoviruses, suggesting historical transmission between bats and dogs. All virus-positive bats were either juvenile or adult individuals captured in urban environments; none exhibited obvious clinical signs of disease. Our findings suggest limited or no circulation of enzootic coronaviruses or SARS-CoV-2 in southwestern U.S. bat populations during the study period. The discovery of a genetically distinct adenovirus related to canine adenoviruses highlights the potential for cross-species viral transmission and underscores the value of continued virome surveillance in animals living with and near humans.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Annual (2024) taxonomic update of RNA-directed RNA polymerase-encoding negative-sense RNA viruses (realm Riboviria: kingdom Orthornavirae: phylum Negarnaviricota)

  Journal of General Virology · 2025-06-13 · 6 citations

  articleOpen access

  In April 2024, following the annual International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) ratification vote on newly proposed taxa, the phylum Negarnaviricota was expanded by 1 new order, 1 new family, 6 new subfamilies, 34 new genera and 270 new species. One class, two orders and six species were renamed. Seven families and 12 genera were moved; ten species were renamed and moved; and nine species were abolished. This article presents the updated taxonomy of Negarnaviricota as currently accepted by the ICTV, providing an essential annual update on the classification of members of this phylum that deepen understandings of their evolution, and supports critical public health measures for virus identification and tracking.

  PublisherDOI

• Gut Microbiota and Parasite Dynamics in an Amazonian Community Undergoing Urbanization in Colombia

  medRxiv · 2025-04-17

  preprintOpen access

  Abstract Studies on human gut microbiota have recently highlighted a significant decline in bacterial diversity associated with urbanization, driven by shifts toward processed diets, increased antibiotic usage, and improved sanitation practices. This phenomenon has been largely overlooked in the Colombian Amazon, despite rapid urbanization in the region. In this study, we investigate the composition of gut bacterial microbiota and intestinal protozoa and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) in both urban and rural areas of Leticia, which is located in the southern Colombian Amazon. Despite their geographic proximity, the urban population is predominantly non-indigenous, while indigenous communities mostly inhabit the rural area, resulting in notable lifestyle differences between the two settings. Our analyses reveal a reduction in bacterial families linked to non-processed diets, such as Lachnospiraceae, Spirochaetaceae , and Succinivibrionaceae , in the urban environment compared to their rural counterparts. Interestingly, Prevotellaceae , typically associated with non-processed food consumption, shows a significantly higher abundance in urban Leticia. STH infections were primarily detected in rural Leticia, while intestinal protozoa were ubiquitous in both rural and urban areas. Both types of parasites were associated with higher gut bacterial richness and diversity. Additionally, microbial metabolic prediction analysis indicated differences in pathways related to unsaturated fatty acid production and aerobic respiration between rural and urban bacterial microbiomes. This finding suggests a tendency towards dysbiosis in the urban microbiota, possibly increasing susceptibility to non-communicable chronic diseases. These findings provide new insights into the impact of urbanization on gut microbiota dynamics in the Amazonian context and underscore the need for further research to elucidate any associated health outcomes. Relevance Changes in the diversity and composition of gut microbiota in urban populations have been linked to the rise of non-communicable chronic diseases, such as autoimmune conditions, diabetes, and cancer. As developing countries undergo a demographic shift towards increased urbanization, accompanied by changes in diet, housing, and medication use, there is a concerning loss of microbial diversity. Therefore, it is essential to investigate microbiota changes in overlooked populations, such as indigenous communities in the Colombian Amazon basin. A better understanding of local and generalizable changes in gut microbial composition through urbanization may facilitate the development of targeted programs aimed at promoting lifestyle and diet changes, to prevent diseases that healthcare systems may be ill-equipped to effectively address.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant R01AI098420

  NIH · $2.3M · 2017

• West Nile virus: Eco-epidemiology of disease emergence in urban areas II

  NSF · $2.3M · 2008–2014

• DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Primate Re-infection with Environmentally Transmitted Parasites: a Field Experiment

  NSF · $20k · 2014–2015

• NIH Grant Z01MH002712

  NIH · $1.2M

• NIH Grant Z01MH002711

  NIH · $843k

Frequent coauthors

• Colin A. Chapman

  George Washington University

  163 shared

• Richard W. Wrangham

  85 shared

• David Hyeroba

  Makerere University

  76 shared

• Kathy Toohey-Kurth

  University of California, Davis

  73 shared

• Bridget B. Baker

  70 shared

• Megan A. Finley

  Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

  68 shared

• W Thiel

  University of Wisconsin–Madison

  67 shared

• David Giehtbrock

  Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

  66 shared

Education

• DVM, MS, Pathobiology

  University of Illinois

  2000

• Ph.D., Anthropology

  Harvard University

  1996

• BA, Biology

  Amherst College

  1990