Diarrheal Diseases
Giardia is a common
diarrheal infection
(Photo: Daniel Fletcher)
Diarrheal diseases—caused by a variety of bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections—are a constant threat to the health of people across the globe. Because these infections are spread by contaminated food and water, they are most common in areas with weak sanitary infrastructure and poor access to clean water. Physical stunting and cognitive impairment are damaging, yet common, consequences. However, the excessive water loss that results from diarrheal infections can be also fatal, particularly among children in developing countries, whose malnutrition and impaired immunity may exacerbate the disease. Overall, two to three million children die each year from diarrheal illnesses. According to the non-profit BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH), there is an urgent need for more affordable drugs, and for diagnostics that can distinguish bacterial, viral and protozoan gut infections, enabling correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Zach Cande, Professor, Molecular and Cell Biology
- Investigating the function of kinesins in pathogenesis, flagellar assembly, and mitosis in Giardia
- Evolution of the actin cytoskeleton in Giardia
Jack Colford, Professor, Epidemiology
- Epidemiology and control of waterborne infectious diseases
Daniel Fletcher, Professor, Bioengineering
- Understanding the method of attachment in the parasitic protozoan Giardia lamblia (in collaboration with professor Zach Cande)
Sangwei Lu, Professor, Infectious Diseases
- Pathogenesis and transmission of Salmonella
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Foodborne pathogens– detection and prevention