Emerging Pathogens Institute

There seems to be a new food recall every week. Tomatoes, eggs, cucumbers, deli meats — the list goes on. Why are we seeing more outbreaks from food-borne pathogens? Why are people getting sick from their groceries? Learn more about the big three pathogens responsible for food-related hospitalizations in the United States and what to do to protect yourself from food-borne pathogens. go.ufl.edu/ejdw917

Yesterday was World Zoonoses Day, a day commemorating the first rabies vaccine administered on July 6, 1885. Rabies, caused by rabies virus, is a zoonotic viral disease that causes acute and severe brain swelling in humans and other mammals. The virus can spread to people and mammals through the bites and scratches of an infected, warm-blooded animal. Rabies can cause severe disease and death if patients don’t receive appropriate and urgent post-exposure treatment, also known as post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP, after rabies exposure before symptoms begin. Read more about rabies in Florida: epi.ufl.edu/2026/07/07/rab…

In a small study in the Democratic Republic of Congo led by researchers from the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 6-week-old infants with healthy gut microbiomes were less likely to contract malaria in their first year of life. EPI members Julie Moore, Ph.D., and Connie Mulligan, Ph.D., and UF professor Christopher Dutton, Ph.D., combined their expertise to research whether a healthy gut could protect against malaria in babies. Read more about their findings: go.ufl.edu/yf5vgmw

With the support of a $3.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, the University of Florida and the University of Maryland are working together to develop an environmentally sensitive pathogen warning system for Vibrio species. At UF’s Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, EPI member, Antarpreet Jutla, Ph.D., is working to ensure that all coastal denizens and inhabitants have the information they need on the dangerous waterborne bacteria. Read more about how these researchers are developing AI-enabled tools to predict flesh-eating waterborne pathogens. news.ufl.edu/2026/06/vibrio…

At EPI Research Day 2026, a special guest was on hand — virtually — to answer questions about research abstracts, for anyone who knew where to ask. EPI Information and Technology Manager, Ronald Scott, built a chatbot using NaviGator AI to bring the 10-foot inflatable of Pepper the Cat to life 🐈‍⬛ Read more about the development of Pepper's AI chatbot on our website epi.ufl.edu/2026/06/23/pep…

EPI member Sadie Ryan, Ph.D., has been featured in two media stories, one in the physical July issue of Prevention magazine, and the other in Outside Online. Both focus on mosquito-borne diseases and the impact of climate change — a focal point in Dr. Ryan's research. Click the links below to read Dr. Ryan's features and to learn more about the intersections between arboviruses and climate change! Prevention.com: go.ufl.edu/l95hl74 outsideonline.com/health/wellnes…

"Ebola outbreak”: few phrases carry more weight in the infectious disease community. Four experts from the University of Florida Emerging Pathogens Institute — John Lednicky, Ph.D., Soung Brice, Ph.D., Ira Longini, Ph.D., and Glenn Morris, M.D., M.P.H. & T.M. — gathered to address this specific Ebola strain and the current outbreak, drawing on lessons from previous outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and examining it at a microscopic level to understand how it operates. Read more about the Bundibugyo outbreak on our website! epi.ufl.edu/2026/05/25/old…

Congratulations to Luke Trimmer-Smith, Ph.D., for winning first place in the early-stage investigator poster competition at EPI Research Day 2026! 👏 Trimmer-Smith is an assistant scientist at EPI and secured first place for his collaborative study, antigenically mapping dengue serotypes over five decades. Check out our website to learn more about his research! epi.ufl.edu/2026/05/15/luk…

Congratulations to Pamela S. Salvador Dutra, Ph.D., for winning first place in the postdoctoral poster competition at EPI Research Day 2026! 👏 She accepted the award on behalf of the Dewdney Lab for their dedicated work on fungal infections in the citrus industry. Check out our website to learn more about her research! epi.ufl.edu/2026/05/14/pam…

Congratulations to Nimra Khalid, D.V.M., for winning first place in the graduate poster competition at EPI Research Day 2026! 👏 Her collaborative study explored how a common and safe pesticide targets the energy-generating mechanism of bacterial cells. This research demonstrates that the pesticide could serve as a safe alternative to antibiotics. Check out our website to learn more about her research! epi.ufl.edu/2026/05/13/nim…

Congratulations to Sarah Acra for winning first place in the undergraduate poster competition at EPI Research Day 2026! 👏 She and her team, led by @UFPHHP Associate Professor Tracie Baker, Ph.D., studied the effect of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” on zebrafish. Check out our website to learn more about her research! epi.ufl.edu/2026/05/12/sar…

As an Atlantic cruise ship remains isolated off the South African coast due to a deadly hantavirus outbreak, the world watches with anticipation to learn more about this uncommon but dangerous infectious disease. EPI members Safder Ganaie, Ph.D., John Lednicky, Ph.D. and Amy Vittor, M.D., Ph.D. explain the symptoms, transmission and treatment behind this rare virus. Click the link to learn more: go.ufl.edu/gm8pdoc

What if we could change the future of infectious disease? At @UF, @NormanBeattyMD is leading the charge against #Chagas disease — uncovering how it progresses, where it’s spreading and new treatments. Because experts don’t just study diseases. They stay one step ahead of them.

Out of the hundreds of fungal disease-causing pathogens in humans, only four are considered "critical risks" to human health. The deadliest, Cryptococcus neoformans, which colonizes the brain, can be found all around us. Luis R. Martinez, Ph.D., an associate professor at the University of Florida College of Dentistry and a member of the UF Emerging Pathogens Institute, breaks down key questions surrounding this intriguing yet dangerous pathogen. go.ufl.edu/fl7j6gy

Venom has a few weaknesses, but how accurate are they to real-life organisms? #UFEPI member and infectious disease specialist Megan Stanifer, Ph.D., tells us how much of the #SpiderMan universe is fact versus fiction 🕷 Click the YouTube link in our bio for the full video of her reacting to the movies #SpiderMan3 and #Venom!

How much of the Spider-Man 3 and Venom movie could happen? What’s the science behind Venom’s weaknesses? What even are symbiotes? #UFEPI member and #InfectiousDisease specialist Megan Stanifer, Ph.D., breaks down symbiosis and tells us how much of the #SpiderMan universe is fact versus fiction 🕷 Click the YouTube link in our bio for the full video of her reacting to the movies #SpiderMan3 and #Venom!

UF PHHP and the @UF_EPI hosted a workshop in Taiwan to train international researchers on how to use artificial intelligence to predict and prepare for infectious disease outbreaks. phhp.ufl.edu/2025/11/17/phh…

Did you know that there are approximately one billion cases of seasonal flu each year? 🤧🤒 Dive into all things influenza so you can stay one step ahead of the virus this flu season. go.ufl.edu/jn4e31j

Once thought to be confined to tropical regions, Burkholderia infections are emerging in the United States. What is Burkholderia? What diseases does it cause? How big a concern is it? Read our latest expert Q&A with @TuanyokLab for all the answers. go.ufl.edu/pxz7dm6

FYI, the Smithsonian Museum's National Museum of Natural History (@NMNH) has an educational and informative digital exhibit on epidemics. The #OneHealth approach is featured prominently! Drop in for a virtual visit: naturalhistory.si.edu/exhibits/outbr…