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GeoGators present 7 posters at EPI Day 2023

  There was strong GeoGator representation at the 2023 EPI Day hosted by UF’s Emerging Pathogens Institute – with the SEER Lab and QDEC Lab submitting undergrad, graduate, and faculty posters. Undergrad Researchers Aryn O’Dell (SEER Lab) – Evaluating livestock commingling in a brucellosis risk zone in Kazakhstan Jaclyn Siu (SEER Lab) – Spatial Investigation of […]

Latest SEER Lab publication evaluates Orbivirus exposure rates for non-native wildlife from free range preserves in North Florida

As part of SEER Lab‘s long-running collaboration with the Cervidae Health Research Initiative (CHeRI), this latest paper, lead by Jeremy Orange and Dr. Jason Blackburn, evaluated exposure rates to bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) in non-native wildlife managed on large preserves in Northern Florida. The wildlife/deer ranching industry represents one of […]

Evidence of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus and Bluetongue Virus Exposure in Nonnative Ruminant Species in Northern Florida

BLACKBURN, DINH, ORANGE – Evidence of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus and Bluetongue Virus Exposure in Nonnative Ruminant Species in Northern Florida Jeremy P. Orange, Emily T.N. Dinh, Olivia Goodfriend, Scott B. Citino, Samantha M. Wisely, Jason K. Blackburn Article first published online: 12 JAN 2021 Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine DOI: 10.1638/2019-0174 ABSTRACT: Epizootic […]

Convergent evolution of diverse Bacillus anthracis outbreak strains toward altered surface oligosaccharides that modulate anthrax pathogenesis

BLACKBURN, NORRIS – Convergent evolution of diverse Bacillus anthracis outbreak strains toward altered surface oligosaccharides that modulate anthrax pathogenesis Michael H. Norris, Alexander Kirpich, Andrew P. Bluhm, Diansy Zincke, Ted Hadfield, Jose Miguel Ponciano, Jason K. Blackburn Article first published online: 28 DEC 2021 PLOS Biology DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001052 ABSTRACT: Bacillus anthracis, a spore-forming gram-positive bacterium, […]

Meet the Geographer: Morgan Walker

Morgan Walker Pronouns: she/her or they/them Spatial Epidemiologist and GIS Lab Manager Spatial Epidemiology & Ecology Research Laboratory (SEER Lab) University of Florida Adviser: Dr. Jason Blackburn Focus Area: Geospatial Analysis and Techniques Medical Geography in Global Health  Research Statement: I am broadly interested in disease ecology and spatial epidemiology. My research focuses on transmission […]

Animal carcasses may increase grazing potential and anthrax transmission risk for elk and bison, but differently

The latest publication led by SEER Lab #MedGeo M.S. Alum, and full-time Spatial Epidemiologist Morgan Walker is available in Royal Society Open Science. In this study, Walker and others examined how ungulates, primarily plains bison and elk, use animal carcasses on the Montana landscape. Working with SEER Lab partners at Turner Enteprises, Inc. (TEI) out […]

Sex-Specific Elk Resource Selection during the Anthrax Risk Period

BLACKBURN, RYAN, YANG – Sex-Specific Elk Resource Selection during the Anthrax Risk Period Anni Yang, Kelly M. Proffitt, Valpa Asher, Sadie J. Ryan, Jason K. Blackburn Article first published online: 01 OCT 2020 The Journal of Wildlife Management DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21952 ABSTRACT: Anthrax, caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is a zoonosis affecting animals and […]

Meet the Geographer: Dr. Mike Norris

Dr. Mike Norris Pronouns: he/him Research Assistant Professor Associate Director, SEER Lab University of Florida Focus Areas: GeoSpatial Analysis & Techniques Medical Geography in Global Health (MGGH) Research Statement: I have studied Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei (the etiological agents of glanders and melioidosis, respectively) for the past 12 years at the University of Hawai’i and […]

Dr. Blackburn participates in Vietnam One Health University Network Panel

As part of a SEER Lab’s long-term research partnership in Vietnam, Dr. Jason Blackburn participated as an invited guest panelist for the most recent meeting of the Vietnam One Health University Network (VOHUN) One Health Biorisk Management Series. Dr. Blackburn joined over 150 participants from 21 countries. The focus of the workshop was on brucellosis, […]

MedGeo study on epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus seroprevalence in wild Florida deer

GAINESVILLE, FL – The latest #MedGeo paper from SEER Lab‘s Maria Uribasterra, Jeremy Orange, Dr. Emily Dinh, and  Dr. Jason Blackburn describes the seroprevalance of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) in wild white-tailed deer from North Florida. This study was part of the larger Cervidae Health Research Initiative (CHeRI), directed by Dr. Samantha Wisely from […]