Associate Professor, BiologyMeier Hall 535978.542.5214
My laboratory focuses on tick-borne infectious diseases, particularly Colorado tick fever (CTF) caused by the Coltivirus Colorado tick fever virus (CTFV) as well as spotted fever group Rickettsiae. We are interested in the host response in infected endothelial cells, as well as the early innate immunological response to these unique pathogens. We utilize a combination of microscopy, molecular, and cell biological approaches to address questions relating to endothelial cell pathobiology and innate immunity.
My lab has also been funded by the USDA to find and examine antibiotic soil producing bacteria that inhibit the rice pathogens Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola.
Rupani, A., Elshabrawy, H. A., & Bechelli, J. (2022). Dermatological manifestations of tick-borne viral infections found in the United States. Virology journal, 19(1), 199. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-022-01924-w?
Wang, L., Rupani, A., Grado, L. A., Lopez Salazara, L. M., Trinidad, L. A., Cook, J. L., & Bechelli, J. (2022). Molecular Detection of Rickettsia felis in Fleas of Companion Animals in East Texas. The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 107(2), 416–419. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.21-0783?
Walker, J. H., Venta, A., Bechelli, J., Brewer, T. M., Boisvert, D., Bick, J., Lewis, R., Wells, J., & Armstrong, T. (2022). Testing the role of inflammation in the relation of childhood maltreatment and suicidal ideation among young adults. Journal of clinical psychology, 10.1002/jclp.23347. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23347?
Suagee-Bedore J, Shost N, Miller C, Grado L, Bechelli J. Age and Body Condition Influence the Post-Prandial Interleukin-1? Response to a High-Starch Meal in Horses. Animals (Basel). 2021;11(12):3362. Published 2021 Nov 24. doi:10.3390/ani11123362
Russell A, Shost N, Burch M., Lopez Salazara LM, Fikes KK, Bechelli J, Suagee-Bedore JK. Serological and Molecular Detection of Anaplasma spp. in Blood From Healthy Horses: A Preliminary Study of Horses in East Texas The Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. Volume 106, November 2021, 103757. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103757??