Blogs

Member Spotlight Recap: Phase Genomics, Empowering Next-Generation Metagenomics

By Nicole Reynolds posted 14 days ago
Next-generation metagenomics is essential for advancing our understanding of microbial communities and their interactions at an unprecedented level of detail. Traditional methods such as 16S rRNA sequencing or low-pass shotgun sequencing provide a broad overview of microbial communities but often lack the resolution to detect fine-scale differences and interactions. Here's a detailed explanation of why next-generation metagenomics is crucial: High-Resolution Analysis : Traditional methods tend to show that microbial communities are similar at a higher taxonomic level, such as family or genus. However, next-generation metagenomics allows for strain-level ...

5 Minutes with Dr. Treen Huo

By Nicole Reynolds posted 16 days ago
Today, we explore the world through the eyes of Dr. Treen Q. Huo. Dr. Huo is the CEO of Nano Discovery Inc. and a Professor at the University of Central Florida. Tell us a little about your background . Dr. Huo: I am originally from China but have lived in the US for 30 years. I was trained as a chemist and received my doctoral degree in chemistry from the University of Miami in 1999. My first academic job was as an Assistant Professor at North Dakota State University, and then I joined the University of Central Florida in 2005 (for the warmer weather indeed!). My primary research interest is to develop new diagnostic ...

5 Minutes with Ivan Liachko

By Nicole Reynolds posted 06-19-2024
Spend 5 minutes getting to know Ivan Liachko, CEO at Phase Genomics, as he discusses how phage technologies assist in the fight against AMR and led to the creation of Phase Genomics, which has developed a unique genomic resource that serves as the world's largest source of antimicrobial proteins known as lysin.

4 Takeaways from the 2024 NIAMRRE Annual Conference

By Matthew Hadley posted 06-14-2024
4 Takeaways from the 2024 NIAMRRE Annual Conference The NIAMRRE Annual Conference is the organization’s biggest event, and this year was no different. Now that it’s been about a month since the conference was held in Columbus, Ohio, I’d like to step back and look at some of the impacts the event had on the growing community of members and attendants. As the Communications Specialist for NIAMRRE, my job at the conference was capturing what I saw through the lens of a camera. I had the privilege of being a fly on the wall during many extraordinary moments over the three days at the Blackwell Inn and Pfahl Conference Center. 1. A Commitment ...

Member Spotlight Recap: Nano Discovery Inc.

By Nicole Reynolds posted 06-10-2024
In the ever-evolving landscape of livestock management, ensuring the health and productivity of animals is paramount. Dr. Treen Huo, CEO and co-founder of Nano Discovery, has been at the forefront of developing a tool to enhance animal health through advanced immunological monitoring. Her recent presentation sheds light on how the D2Dx Immunity Test is transforming our approach to livestock immunity. Introducing the D2DXImmunity Test Dr. Huo introduced the D2Dx Immunity Test, a cutting-edge tool designed to monitor the humoral immunity of various animal species. This test evaluates the levels of immunoglobulins (Ig), specifically IgG, which ...

May 22 is Infectious Diseases Pharmacist Day!

By Guest Blogger posted 05-22-2024
The Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP) is excited to have NIAMRRE as a partner in celebrating the fourth Infectious Diseases Pharmacists Day “ Join the Fight: Pharmacists Engaging Communities in Antibiotic Stewardship” on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 . ID Pharmacists Day is a day to recognizes the amazing work pharmacists within the infectious diseases field do regarding antimicrobial stewardship, patient advocacy, and policy/guideline development. Not only do ID pharmacists offer expertise in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, they provide optimal recommendations regarding dos ing, drug interactions, and even diagnosing infections. ...

Member Spotlight Recap: ISCAID

By Nicole Reynolds posted 04-25-2024
The International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID) stands as a beacon in the realm of veterinary infectious disease management and antimicrobial stewardship. Recently, Dr. Claire Fellman, DVM, PhD,, DACVIM, DACVCP, and President-Elect of ISCAID, unveiled a comprehensive overview of ISCAID's endeavors and future trajectories. ISCAID's Mission: Dr. Claire Fellman shed light on ISCAID's pivotal mission: to propel the understanding and management of infectious diseases in companion animals forward. With a firm commitment to evidence-based guidelines, ISCAID endeavors to enhance clinical outcomes, advocate for responsible antimicrobial ...

Analyzing Public Health Antibiotic Stewardship Data for Salmonella

By Nicole Reynolds posted 04-03-2024
In a recent presentation at the College of Act at Penn State, Dr. Nkuchia Mikanatha shed light on the pressing issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) from a human perspective. Funded by state agencies, the FDA, CDC, and Penn State, Dr. Nkuchia Mikanatha emphasized the importance of approaching AMR research with a collaborative mindset, while also highlighting the need for scientific responsibility in expressing views. AMR presents a significant challenge in the United States, with 2.8 million infections occurring annually. Salmonella alone accounts for over 16 cases per 100,000 individuals, showcasing the profound impact of AMR on public health. To delve deeper ...

Addressing Global Change in Plant Pathology

By Nicole Reynolds posted 03-30-2024
Dr. Veronica Roman-Reyna, an assistant professor at Penn State, with a specialization in plant microbiology, embarks on a exploration of genomics in agricultural systems. Her research is driven by a relentless pursuit to understand and mitigate the impact of plant pathogens on crop health and agricultural sustainability. Delving into Genomic Epidemiology Dr. Roman-Reyna's research revolves around unraveling the genomic epidemiology of plant pathogens. By harnessing advanced sequencing technologies, she aims to dissect the genetic architecture underlying plant diseases, shedding light on their emergence and spread within agricultural ecosystems. Insights ...

Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance in Puerto Rican Dairy Farming at Penn State

By Nicole Reynolds posted 03-28-2024
Collaborations often serve as catalysts for groundbreaking discoveries. This rings especially true for a recent endeavor led by Dr. Edward Dudley and a team of researchers from Penn State University, alongside collaborators in Puerto Rico. Their mission? To confront the critical issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within the realm of dairy farming in Puerto Rico. At the heart of this collaborative effort are the dedicated individuals comprising the research team: Undergraduate Researchers : Zoe Gold Blum and Aaron Horac, two undergraduates, have been pivotal in investigating the presence of foodborne pathogens in wastewater treatment facilities. ...

Penn State: Bridging Microbiome Science and Antimicrobial Resistance: A One Health Perspective

By Nicole Reynolds posted 03-26-2024
Dr. Nichole Ginnan, the Research Project Manager at the One Health Microbiome Center at Penn State, brings a wealth of experience in agricultural microbiomes and sustainable agriculture. With a focus on developing alternatives to antimicrobial use, Dr. Ginnan's expertise lies in microbial biological controls. In her discussion of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) from a microbiome science perspective, she highlights the center's unique approach. The One Health Microbiome Center, under Dr. Seth Bordenstein's leadership, stands out as the first microbiome center to formally integrate a One Health approach. This integration brings together experts from diverse fields, ...

Exploring Research Operations at Penn State's Ganda Laboratories

By Nicole Reynolds posted 03-22-2024
At Penn State's Ganda Laboratory, led by Dr. Erika Ganda, a team of researchers is exploring agricultural health through a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach. Their work, grounded in the principles of One Health, aims to understand the complex interactions between antibiotics, microbes, and animal health, with a focus on practical solutions for sustainable agriculture. The journey began with a study of mastitis, a common dairy cow ailment characterized by inflammation of the mammary gland. w This initial foray into the dairy value chain proved pivotal, sparking a keen interest in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the role of microbiomes in shaping ...

Press Release: NIAMRRE Leadership Council Nominations Now Open

By Nicole Reynolds posted 03-19-2024
AMES, IOWA (March 12, 2024) – The National Institute of Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Education (NIAMRRE) seeks nominations for the NIAMRRE Leadership Council for terms beginning July 1, 2024. The NIAMRRE Leadership Council is a group of individuals that function in an advisory capacity to the NIAMRRE Executive Director and Operations Center. This group differs from the NIAMRRE Advisory Council in that they may work externally from member institutions, providing review of administrative and fiduciary accountability and applying a high level, national and global perspective to NIAMRRE strategies and program prioritization. The Leadership Council meets ...

Talk To Us Tuesday

By Matthew Hadley posted 03-14-2024
Hey there! Are you curious about AMR? Are you looking to connect with NIAMRRE and those across the One Health spectrum? If so, let me point you toward Talk To Us Tuesdays, an exciting feature of our Daily Hashtag series on LinkedIn. What is a Daily Hashtag? If you are already following us on LinkedIn, you may have seen some posts using the Daily Hashtag format. We have five unique hashtags for each day of the week. Each with a distinct topic, such as Member Monday, Talk to Us Tuesday, What’s Going On Wednesday, Thank a Researcher Thursday, or Fast Fact Friday. Since it began, the series has been a great tool for our LinkedIn followers to connect with NIAMRRE ...

Member Spotlight Recap: Exciting Opportunities Ahead for NIAMRRE

By Nicole Reynolds posted 02-22-2024
The February Member Spotlight featured new faces on the NIAMRRE staff and a preview of what's to come in 2023. Though Dr. Paul Plummer could not join the rest of the staff, each team member took a moment to introduce themselves and highlight what they are most excited about in 2024. In the last six months, NIAMRRE has welcomed two new faces to the team. Hadley joined the team in September as the Communications Specialist. He has an extensive background in graphic design and marketing. Niki joined the team in November as the Member Development Specialist and has a marketing, strategy, and organizational leadership background. Dr. Kris Johansen, ...

Can’t Wait for the Lightning Talks at the 2024 NIAMRRE Annual Conference

By Kris Johansen posted 02-02-2024
The 2023 NIAMRRE Annual Conference was the first time we had lightning talks during the event. These brief, high level presentations were a really fun way to get a taste of the work our members are doing. We heard about everything from antimicrobial stewardship in companion animals to alternatives to antimicrobial treatments in livestock to infections in wildlife. We also heard about One Health antimicrobial resistance (AMR) programs and communication to rapid, point-of-care diagnostics to genome analysis to better understand AMR. Based on the success of last year’s lightning talks, this year’s conference planning committee decided to have not one, ...

Member Spotlight Recap: SIDP Highlights IDPs Pivotal Role in AMR Prevention

By Nicole Reynolds posted 01-31-2024
We recently got a glimpse into the critical work of professionals shaping the landscape of human healthcare. During the December Member Spotlight on the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists, Dr. Krista Jens, the System Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Manager at Alina Health and the PGY2 ID Residency Program Director at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, dove into the realm of infectious diseases pharmacists – an indispensable role to the healthcare ecosystem. Unseen Guardians: Infectious Diseases Pharmacists Dr. Jens shines a light on the often-misunderstood role of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (IDPs). Board-certified in pharmacotherapy ...

Ruminating on Snow…and AMR

By Kris Johansen posted 01-19-2024
After a very mild start to the winter, the staff here at the NIAMRRE Operations Center have been experiencing extreme winter weather: nearly two feet of snow in the past 10 days, blizzard conditions, and extreme windchills due to actual air temperatures falling to -20 ◦ F. As the snow piles up, so do stories of kindness and commitment—neighbors digging out neighbors, rescued animals, the doctor who braved the brutal conditions on his ATV to reach the rural hospital where he works in time to help deliver a patient’s baby. But just like our paths to our garages, barns and sidewalks are narrowing due to ever-growing piles of snow, so too will our options ...

Here's to Another Year - By Paul Plummer

By Matthew Hadley posted 12-22-2023
Here’s to another year… By Paul Plummer Well, it seems like just yesterday I was writing a note to all of you reflecting on 2022, and now here we are looking back on 2023. It has been another productive and busy year. Although there is far more we could highlight, I wanted to share a few high points that we have collectively achieved over the last year. This winter, the operation center worked with six NIAMRRE members who expressed interest in pursuing a series of collaborative proposals for the USDA APHIS Antimicrobial Resistance Dashboard. We supported these projects by assisting with organizational calls, clearly defining proposal scopes ...

November Member Spotlight Recap: The University of Vermont

By Kris Johansen posted 11-30-2023
NIAMRRE welcomed Dr. John Barlow, Associate Professor in the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Vermont, for the November Member Spotlight. Dr. Barlow’s excellent talk, “AMR on small to medium sized dairy farms in Vermont: is it relevant?” provided insights to the work conducted in his laboratory, which is aimed at helping to support organic dairy farmers in the state, as well as artisanal cheese-making farmers. Dr. Barlow’s group’s work uses a One Health approach and includes food safety, milk quality, and mastitis on farms making farmstead cheese and artisan cheese, antibiotic ...