Nathan C. Nieto
Department of Biological Sciences
College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Sciences
Northern Arizona University
617 S. Beaver St.
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5640
Email: [email protected]
Office: (928) 523-8034
Wettaw 235
Research Interest
My research focuses on the ecological maintenance and evolution of infectious diseases in wild animals and
how this translates into transmission of disease to humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. I use a mixture of
microbiology, molecular biology and population ecology to investigate empirical infectious disease dynamics
in wild animal populations.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Comparative Pathology, 2008, University of California Davis, School of
Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA.
Dissertation: Sylvatic maintenance of granulocytic anaplasmosis in the western United States.
Master of Arts (MA), Biological Sciences, 2004, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA.
Thesis: Prevalence of Chytridiomycosis in Red-legged frog (Rana aurora aurora) larvae in and
around Redwood National Park with notes on other parasites.
Bachelor of Science (BS), Wildlife Management and Biology, 2000, Humboldt State University, Arcata,
CA.
Senior thesis: Morphological analysis of the ontogenetic sequence of the pacific giant salamander
(Dicamptodon tenebrosus).
Peer-reviewed publications
2012
Coker, M. R., W. M. Rauw, N. C. Nieto, D. Thain, and M. B. Teglas. 2012. Hematologic and IgG responses
of heifers experimentally infected with the agent of epizootic bovine abortion. Veterinary Clinical
Pathology 41(3): 344-352
Nieto, N. C., K. Khan, G. Uhllah, and M. B. Teglas. 2012. The emergence and maintenance of vector-borne
diseases in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of
Pakistan. Frontiers in Systems Biology 3: 250. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2012.00250
Nieto, N. C., M. B. Teglas, K. M. Stewart, T. Wasley, and P. L. Wolff. 2012. Detection of relapsing fever
spirochetes (Borrelia hermsii and Borrelia coriaceae) in free-ranging mule deer (Odocoileus
hemionus) from Nevada, United States. Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases 12(2): 99-105
J. K. Gorman, B. R. Hoar, N. C. Nieto, J. E. Foley, 2012. Evaluation of Anaplasma phagocytophilum
infection in experimentally inoculated sheep and determination of Anaplasma spp seroprevalence in 8
free-ranging sheep flocks in California and Oregon. American Journal of Veterinary Research 73(7):
1029-1034
2011
Teglas, M. B., S. Mapes, E. Hodzic, and N. C. Nieto. 2011. Co-infection of Ornithodoros coriaceus with
the relapsing fever spirochete, Borrelia coriaceae, and the agent of epizootic bovine abortion.
Journal of Medical and Veterinary Entomology 25(3): 337-343
Foley, J. E., D. Rejmanek, K. Fleer, and N. C. Nieto. 2011. Nidicolous ticks of small mammals in
Anaplasma phagocytophilum-enzootic sites in northern California. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 2:
75-80
Rejmanek, D., N. C. Nieto, N. Barash, and J. E. Foley. 2011. Temporal patterns of tick-borne granulocytic
anaplasmosis in California. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 2: 81-87
Foley, J. E. and N. C. Nieto. 2011. The ecology of tick transmitted infections in the redwood chipmunk
(Tamias ochrogenys). Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 2: 88-93
2010
Nieto, N. C., S. Leonhard, J. E. Foley, R. S. Lane. 2010. Coinfection of western gray squirrel (Sciurus
griseus) and other sciurid rodents with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Anaplasma
phagocytophilum in California. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 46(1): 291-296
Nieto, N. C., E. Holmes, and J. E. Foley. 2010. Survival of immature Ixodes pacificus ticks (Acari:
Ixodidae) estimated using field-placed enclosures. Journal of Vector Ecology 35(1): 43-49
Nieto, N. C., J. E. Madigan, and J. E. Foley. 2010. The dusky-footed woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes) is
susceptible to infection by Anaplasma phagocytophilum originating form woodrats, horses and dogs.
Journal of Wildlife Diseases 46(3): 810-817
Gorman, J. K., M. Gabriel, N. J. MacLachlan, N. C. Nieto, J. E. Foley, and S. J. Spier. 2010. Pilot
immunization of mice infected with an equine strain of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis.
Veterinary Therapeutics 11(1): E1-E8
Hunter, J. E., M.J. Mazurek, B. O’Connor, N. C. Nieto, J. E. Foley. 2010. Some ectoparasites and
pathogens of the Point Arena mountain beaver (Aplodontia rufa nigra). Northwest Naturalist 91: 225229
2009
Nieto, N. C., J. E. Foley, J. B. Bettaso, R. S. Lane. 2009. The role of reptiles in the ecology of Anaplasma
phagocytophilum, the causative agent of granulocytic anaplasmosis. Journal of Parasitology 95(5):
1165-1170
Nieto, N. C., J. E. Foley, T. Yuan, and S. J. Spier. 2009. A mouse model of internal abscesses associated
with equine-origin Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. American Journal of Veterinary Research
70(2): 1-6
Foley, J. E., N. C. Nieto, P. Foley, A. F. Barbet. 2009. Antigen Diversity in the Parasitic Bacterium
Anaplasma phagocytophilum Arises from Selectively-represented, Spatially Clustered Functional
Pseudogenes. PLoS One 4(12): e8265
Foley, J. E., N. C. Nieto, and P. Foley. 2009. Emergence of tick-borne granulocytic anaplasmosis
(Anaplasma phagocytophilum) associated with habitat type and change in coast redwood (Sequoia
sempervirens) and peripheral ecosystems. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
81(6): 1132-1140
Foley, J.E., N. C. Nieto, R. Massung, J. Madigan, and R. N. Brown. 2009. There are multiple distinct
ecologically relevant strains or “genospecies” of Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Emerging Infectious
Disease 15(5): 842-843
Chomel, B. B., J. B. Henn, R. W. Kasten, N. C. Nieto, J. E. Foley, S. Papageorgiou, C. Allen, J. E.
Koehler. 2009. Dogs are more permissive than cats or guinea pigs to experimental infection with a
human isolate of Bartonella rochalimae. Veterinary Research 40:27-35
2008
Nieto, N. C. and J. E. Foley. 2008. Evaluation of squirrels (Rodentia: Sciuridae) as ecologically significant
hosts for Anaplasma phagocytophilum in California. Journal of Medical Entomology 45(4): 763-769
Nieto, N. C. and J. E. Foley. September 2008. Tick-borne Coinfection with Borrelia burgdorferi and
Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ixodes ricinus complex ticks, humans, livestock, and wildlife.
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases 9(1): 93-102
Nieto, N. C. and J. E. Foley. 2008. Reservoir competence of the redwood chipmunk (Tamias ochrogenys)
for Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases 9(6): 573-577
Foley, J. E., N. C. Nieto, J. Adjemian, H. Dabritz, and R. N. Brown. 2008. Anaplasma phagocytophilum
infection in small mammal hosts of Ixodes sp. ticks in the western US. Emerging Infectious Disease
14(7): 1147-1150
Foley, J., N. C. Nieto, J. E. Madigan, and J. Sykes. 2008. Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains in the
western US may comprise a genospecies group. Annals of the New York Academy of Science 1149:
94-97
Hoar, B. R., N. C. Nieto, A.F. Barbet, D.M. Rhodes, J.E. Foley. 2008. Sequential coinfection with
Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma marginale in cattle. American Journal of Veterinary
Research 69(9): 1171-1178
Foley, J. E., N. C. Nieto, P. Foley, and M. B. Teglas. 2008. Co-phylogenetic analysis of Anaplasma
phagocytophilum and its vectors, Ixodes spp. ticks. Experimental and Applied Acarology 45: 155177
2007
Nieto, N. C., M. A. Camman, J. E. Foley, J. O. Reiss. 2007. Disease prevalence and severity associated
with integumentary and cloacal parasites in Northern red-legged frog (Rana aurora aurora) tadpoles.
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 78: 61-71
Nieto, N. C., Foley, P., Calder, L., Dabritz, H., Adjemian, J. C., Conrad, P. A., Foley, J. E. 2007. Vectors
and vector-borne pathogens in the rodent guild of the Morro Bay area of Monterey County,
California. Journal of Medical Entomology 44(2): 328-335
Foley, J. E., Nieto, N. C., Clueit, S., Foley, P., Nicholson, W., and Brown, R. N. 2007. Exposure to
zoonotic rickettsial pathogens in northern flying squirrels, Glaucomys sabrinus, in northern
California. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 43(4): 684-689
Published Reviews and Notes
Foley, J. E. and N. C. Nieto. 2010. Ticks: Effects of their expanding range. Veterinary Technician June
2010E1-E3.
Foley, J. E. and N.C. Nieto. 2009. Tularemia. Veterinary Microbiology 140(3-4): 332-338
Foley, J. E. and N. C. Nieto. 2007. Anaplasma phagocytophilum subverts tick salivary gland proteins.
Trends in Parasitology 23 (1): 3-5
Goldberg, S. J., Nieto, N. C., Bursey, C., and J. B. Bettaso. 2004. Rana aurora aurora (Northern redlegged frogs) endoparasites. Herpetological Review 35(2): 161-162
Lowe, J. and N. C. Nieto. 2003. Plethodon aggression. Herpetological Review 34(4): 354-355
Professional Presentations
2012
Nieto, N. C., and M. B. Teglas. 2012. Maintenance of endemic tick-borne relapsing fever (Borrelia
hermsii) from the western United States. Poster presentation at the annual meeting for the
International Society of Infectious Diseases, Bangkok, Thailand, June, 2012.
*Nieto, N. C. and M. B. Teglas. 2012. Endemic tick-borne relapsing fever (Borrelia hermsii) in wild
rodents from Nevada and California. Invited presentation to the Mosquito and Vector Control
Association of California, Burlingame, CA, February, 2012.
*Nieto, N. C. 2012. The sylvatic maintenance and evolution of endemic vector-borne disease. Invited
presentation to a course on “One World, One Health,” Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, February,
2012.
2011
*Nieto, N. C. and M. B. Teglas. 2011. Research focus on relapsing fever spirochete ecology and evolution.
Tick-borne disease workshop invited speaker. Invited presentation at the California Department of
Health, Vector-borne disease section workshop on Ticks and Tick-borne diseases, Richmond, CA,
September, 2011.
*Nieto, N. C. 2011. The sylvatic maintenance and evolution of endemic vector-borne disease. Invited
presentation to a course on “One World, One Health,” Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, May 2011.
Bechtel, M. J., D.S. Thain, and N. C. Nieto. 2011. A comparison of microhistology and PCR anlaysis in
assessing desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) diets in central Nevada. Poster session
presented at the 91st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, Portland, Oregon.
2010
Foley, J. E. and N. C. Nieto. 2010. Nidicolous ticks contribute to enzootic maintenance of Anaplasma
phagocytophilum in the western US. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of
Rickettsiologist, Stevenson, Washington, August 2010.
2009
Nieto, N. C. and J. E. Foley. 2009. The ecological role of the redwood chipmunk (Tamias ochrogenys)
for the maintenance of Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the
American Society of Rickettsiologist, Hilton Head, Georgia, August 2009.
*Nieto, N. C., J. E. Foley, A. Barbet, and P. Foley. 2009 Major antigen expression site diversity in
Anaplasma phagocytophilum arises from clustered, over-represented functional pseudogenes.
Presented at the National Institute of Health meeting for PI’s, Evolution of Infectious Disease Grant
recipients, Park City, UT, March 30- April 2 2009.
Foley, J. E., N. C. Nieto, R. Massung, A. Barbet, and J. E. Madigan. 2009 There are multiple distinct
ecologically relevant strains or “genospecies” of Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Presented at the
National Institute of Health meeting for PI’s, Evolution of Infectious Disease Grant recipients, Park
City, UT, March 30- April 2 2009.
Bettaso, J., N. C. Nieto, S. R. Goldberg, C. R. Bursey, A. Picco, and L. Schloegel. 2009. Prevalence of
Parasites and Pathogens in Foothill Yellow-legged Frogs (Rana boylii) in Humboldt County,
California. Amphibian Population Task Force Annual Meeting, Bodega Bay, CA, January 2009.
2008
Nieto, N. C., J. Bettaso, J. E. Foley. 2008. The role of reptiles in the ecology of granulocytic anaplasmosis
(Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in the western United States. Presented to the American Society of
Rickettsiology, Marseilles, France, May 2008.
*Nieto, N. C. and J. E. Foley. 2008. Meta-analysis of Tick-borne Coinfection with Borrelia burgdorferi
and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ixodes ricinus Complex Ticks, Humans, Livestock, and Wildlife.
Invited presentation to the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California, January 2008.
Nieto, N. C. and J. E Foley. 2008. Novel host and vector associations of zoonotic disease in northern
California. Annual meeting of the Entomology Society of America, Reno, NV, November 2008.
2007
Nieto, N. C., Hoar, B., Barbet, A., and Foley, J. E. 2007. Experimental coinfection of cattle with isolates
of Anaplasma marginale and A. phagocytophilum with and without tick saliva. Society of Tropical
Veterinary Medicine Conference, Merida, Mexico, Summer 2007.
Nieto, N. C. and J. E. Foley. 2007. Evaluation of sciurids as ecologically significant hosts for Anaplasma
phagocytophilum in California. Wildlife Disease Association Annual Conference, Estes Park, CO,
August 2007.
Nieto, N. C., J. E. Foley, P. Foley, and M. B. Teglas. 2007. Co-phylogenetic analysis of Anaplasma
phagocytophilum and its vectors, members of the Ixodes ricinus complex. American Society of
Rickettsiology, Colorado Springs, CO, September 2007.
Nieto, N. C. and J. Foley. 2007. Mixed evidence for coinfection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and
Borrelia burgdorferi in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife with implications for ecological
interactions. Presented at the National Institute of Health meeting for PI’s, Evolution of Infectious
Disease Grant recipients, Albuquerque, NM, September 2007.
Foley, J., N. C. Nieto, P. Foley, and A. Barbet. 2007. Ecological and evolutionary interactions of
Anaplasma phagocytophilum with its vertebrate hosts are associated with molecular changes in the
major surface protein 2. Presented at the National Institute of Health meeting for PI’s, Evolution of
Infectious Disease Grant recipients, Albuquerque, NM, September 2007.
2006
Nieto, N. C., Foley, J. E., and Foley P.A. 2006. Prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in two high
risk habitats in northwestern California. Association of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual
Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, Fall 2006.
Foley, J.E., Holmes, E., and Nieto, N.C. 2006. Juvenile tick survival estimation and application to a
predictive model for Anaplasma phagocytophilum persistence in nature. Association of Tropical
Medicine and Hygiene Annual Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, Fall 2006.
2004
Nieto, N. C. and Reiss, J. O. 2004. Affects of tadpole disease on native frog populations. Declining
Amphibian Population Task Force (DAPTF) Annual Meeting, Reno, NV, January 2004.
2002
Nieto, N. C. and Reiss, J. O. 2002. Chytridiomycosis in northern Red-legged frog (Rana aurora aurora)
larvae in and around Redwood National Park. Wildlife Disease Association Annual Meeting, Arcata,
CA, Summer 2002.
* invited presentation
Employment History
Research Scientist, University of Nevada Reno, Department of Animal Biotechnology, Reno, NV (07/09current)
Project Scientist, UC Davis, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine
(4/09-07/09)
Post-doc Scientist, UC Davis, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary
Medicine (9/08-4/09)
Graduate Student Researcher-5, UC Davis, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of
Veterinary Medicine (8/04-9/08)
Wildlife Biologist, MGW Biological Consultants Arcata, CA (5/04-8/04)
Wildlife Biologist/GS-05, Redwood Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest Forest Service Res. Station,
Arcata, CA (10/03)
Research Aide, Field crew leader, “Trinity Alps Basin Study”, UC Davis, Department of Entomology
(3/03-9/03)
Teaching Associate, Humboldt State University, Dept. of Biological Sciences (8/01-12/02)
Wildlife Biologist/GS-05, Redwood Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest Forest Service Res. Station,
Arcata, CA (4/02-9/02)
Wildlife Biologist/GS-05, Redwood Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest Forest Service Res. Station,
Arcata, CA (4/00-10/00)
Wildlife Technician, Leopardo Wildlife Associates, Arcata, CA (3/99-9/99)
Veterinary Assistant, Redwood Animal Hospital, Arcata, CA (9/98-3/99)
Current, Pending, and Completed Research Support
Nieto (Co-PI, MB Teglas PI, University of Nevada, Reno) Current
Pakistan/US Science and Technology Cooperation Programs (National Academy of Sciences)
Capacity building, epidemiology, and risk assessment of endemic and emerging tick-borne disease in
NWFP and FATA, Pakistan.
Goals: To provide education to Pakistani scientists in pathogen detection systems, ecology, and
epidemiological analysis of important tick-borne diseases in Pakistan.
Nieto (Co-PI, MB Teglas Co-PI, UNR, M Peacock Co-PI) Current
HATCH-NARI
Chipmunk’s genetic population structure influences relapsing fever prevalence and genotype.
Goals: To test chipmunks throughout the eastern Sierra Nevada Mts. for infection of relapsing fever,
develop microsatellite profiles for the different chipmunk species, and correlate chipmunk population
structure with levels of pathogen prevalence.
Nieto (Co-PI, MB Teglas Co-PI, University of Nevada, Reno) Current
Multi-State HATCH
Reproductive Performance In Domestic Ruminants
Goals: Investigation of the immunological response and infection kinetics of the agent of epizootic bovine
abortion (aoEBA) in beef cattle.
Nieto (Co-PI, MB Teglas Co-PI, University of Nevada, Reno) Current
NIH-R03 Exploratory/Development Research Grant Award program
Endemic maintenance of relapsing fever (Borrelia spp.) genotypes.
Goals: To sequence multiple genomes from areas of increased relapsing fever virulence and apply
ecological and genomic methods to evaluate the determinants of virulence evolution and maintenance of
infectious genotypes in an ecological context.
Nieto (PI, MB Teglas Co-PI and D Salkeld, Stanford University Co-PI) Current
Bay Area Lyme Disease Fund
Estimation of the prevalence of multiple tick-borne diseases in Portola Valley, California.
Goals: To use qPCR and sequencing to define the percentage and type of tick-borne pathogens present in
Portola Valley, Ca.
Nieto (PI, MB Teglas Co-PI, University of Nevada, Reno, K. Khan Co-PI, Veterinary Research Institute,
Peshawar, Pakistan) Pending
Department of Defense: DTRA Thrust Area 6
Emergence and surveillance of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan
Goals: To safely survey for dangerous zoonotic infectious agents in the border region of Pakistan and
Afghanistan. Additionally, to determine the mechanisms of pathogen emergence in the region and
genetically characterize disease causing agents.
Nieto (Co-PI and CR Feldman Co-PI) Pending
United Sates Fish and Wildlife Service.
Biodiversity of the Great Basin’s Anaho Island (Pyramid Lake, Nevada): Phenotypic and genetic
distinction of island reptiles.
Goals: Sample Anaho island and the adjacent mainland herpetofauna to evaluate the species and genetic
diversity present.
Nieto (PI) 9/01-8/03-completed
HSU Department Grant, Biological Science
Survey for diseases of Red-legged Frog larvae
Goals: Collect red-legged frog larvae from multiple sites in and around Redwood National Park.
Histologically examine the buccal cavity for protozoal and fungal parasites. Determine the prevalence of
multiple parasites in red-legged frog larvae in and around Redwood National Park.
Nieto (Co-PI, JO Reiss PI, Humboldt State University) 9/02-8/04-completed
Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities Grant, Humboldt State University
Prevalence of fungal chytridiomycosis in the Northern red-legged frog (Rana aurora aurora) in Redwood
National Park
Goals: Collect red-legged frog larvae and determine the prevalence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
infection, a fatal emerging pathogen of adult frogs in California.
Nieto (Graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, Project Scientist, A Barbet PI, University of Florida, JE
Foley Co-PI, UC Davis) 7/07-7/09-completed
NIH-R01 Evolution of Infectious Disease Grants, NGMIS RO1-GM081714
Evolution of chronic infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum.
Goals: To determine if multiple closely-related strains of A. phagocytophilum with different host tropisms
may circulate in natural ecosystems.
Teaching Experience
Instructor-ANSC 309-Anatomy and Physiology of Reproduction, University of Nevada, Reno. Fall, 2010
Co-instructor-VM 328-Anatomy and Physiology of the Circulatory and Lymphatic System, lecturer for
Anatomy and Physiology, course instructor Dr. Dale Holcomb, University of Nevada, Reno. Spring,
2010 and 2011.
Lecturer-VM 475-Intro. to Epidemiology 1 and 2, Guest lecturer for Domestic Animal Diseases, course
instructor Dr. Mike Teglas, University of Nevada, Reno. Winter, 2010 and 2011.
Co-instructor-VM 200-Companion and Service Animal Science: Care and Management, University of
Nevada, Reno. Winter, 2010.
Co-instructor-MPM 408ab-Planning, critical analysis, ethics, and written and oral communication of
veterinary research, University of California Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. Fall and Winter
Quarter, 2008.
Co-instructor-VME 158-Infectious Diseases in Ecology and Conservation, University of California Davis,
School of Veterinary Medicine. Winter Quarter, 2008.
Lecturer-PHR 214-Emergent Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis, Guest Lecturer for Vector-borne Infectious
Disease: Changing Patterns, course instructor Dr. Aaron Brault, School of Veterinary Medicine,
University of California at Davis. Fall 2006.
Lecturer-WFC 158-Conservation and disease in Amphibians, Guest Lecturer for Disease Ecology, course
instructors Dr. Rosie Woodruff and Dr. Janet Foley, University of California at Davis. Spring 2006.
Lecturer-Bio 05-Biology of the Amphibians, Guest lecturer for Introduction to Zoology, course instructor
Dr. Mike Teglas, California State University Sacramento. 2005.
Lecturer-Bio 05-Biology of the Reptilia, Guest lecturer for Introduction to Zoology, course instructor Dr.
Mike Teglas, California State University Sacramento. 2005.
Teaching Associate-Zool 110-Intro. to Zoology Lab, Humboldt State University, Dept. of Biological
Sciences, course instructor Dr. John O. Reiss. 2001-2002.
Teaching Associate-Bio 105-Intro. to Biology Lab, Humboldt State University, Dept. of Biological
Sciences, course instructor Dr. Casey Lu. 2001.
Student Mentorship
Postdoctoral Scholars
Fran Sandemier (UNR, Biology Dept.)- training and development of qPCR for Mycolplasma agasizii, assist
in analysis of infection spatial patterns in regards to pathogen genotypes.
Graduate Students
Stephanie Cinkovich (NAU, Biological Sciences, MS Candidate)-advisor, investigation of tick-borne
relapsing fever spirochetes from Arizona wildlife including bats and rodents.
Molly Baechtel (UNR, Animal Science, MS candidate)- committee member, assist in development of PCR
based diagnostics for diet analysis in threatened desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni).
Mike Sun (HSU, Biology Dept., MA candidate)- committee member, assist in the analysis of frog chytrid
infection in red-legged frogs from Redwood National Park, population status 10 yrs later.
Chava Weitzman (UNR, Biology Dept., PhD candidate)- training and development with qPCR, nested-PCR
and sequencing of diverse Mycoplasma agasizii isolates from wild tortoises followed by phylogenetic
analysis and ecological association with genotypes.
Undergraduates
Stephanie Cinkovich (UNR, Animal Science, Wildlife Conservation, BS)- student intern, responsible for
qPCR and sequencing of diverse Borrelia genotypes isolated from wildlife and soft-ticks. Also,
trapped and handled chipmunks, woodrats, and squirrels in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mtns.
Jessica Echegoyen (UNR, Animal Biotechnology, BS)- student intern, designed and ran qPCR and
sequencing of Borrelia DNA extracted from mule deer whole blood.
Sydney Johnson (UNR, Animal Biotechnology)- student intern, analysis of soft-tick DNA using qPCR ad
sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of Borrelia coriaceae from areas throughout Nevada.
Jade Keehn (UNR, Wildlife and Conservation, BS)- committee member for HURA scholars program,
analysis of body size patterns of the herpetofauna of Anaho island, Pyramid Lake, NV
Professional Reviewer
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Journal of Medical Entomology
Journal of Parasitology
Journal of Vector Ecology
Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Parasitology Research
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases
Additional Professional Skills & Experience
In the past few years I have gained a number of skills that may not be evident above. These include
expertise and familiarity with:
 Statistical packages: R, SAS, SPSS, and Excel.
 Phylogenetics software: PAUP, MrBayes, MacClade, Mesquite, MUSCLE, MEGA5, ClustalX
 Molecular techniques: Development of pathogen diagnostics using traditional, nested and
hybridization probe qPCR, and serological analysis with both IFA and ELISA.
 Field biology: I have trapped, anesthetized, and bled >20 species of wild rodents and most of
the herpetofauna in California and Nevada. I have collected both soft and hard ticks in the
field. I am trained in venomous snake handling (Crotalus spp.). I am also trained in both
single-rope (SRT) and double-rope (DRT) arborist tree climbing techniques and have used
them in wildlife research.
 Experimental laboratory animal experience: I have conducted infection experiments (using
Anaplasma spp., Borrelia spp., and Yersinia pestis) in mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, horses, and
multiple species of wildlife. I have trapped wildlife and brought them into laboratory
conditions for infectious disease experimentation.
 Select Agent and BSL-3 experience: I have conducted experiments using live Yersinia pestis,
the causative agent of plague, in culture, animal models, and wildlife species.
Honors
 Burroughs Welcome Award, for travel and presentation at the Ecology and Evolution of
Infectious Disease PI meeting, Albuquerque, New Mexico, December 2007.
 American Society of Rickettsiology, Travel award, to travel to and present the ASR
annual meeting Colorado Springs, CO, September 2007
 University of California Davis AGEP scholars program (2007-2009)
 3 consecutive competitive Block grants in Comparative pathology at Department of
Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California Davis
 Co-chair of the section of papers concerning Anaplasmosis at the Society of Tropical
Veterinary Medicine, Merida, Yucatan, Mex., Summer 2007.