Department of Veterinary Pathobiology

The Department of Veterinary Pathobiology (VTPB) focuses on advancing animal and human health through innovative research, preparing next-generation veterinary and biomedical professionals and scientists through impactful teaching, and supporting animal health care through expert clinical laboratory service. Protecting the health of animals and humans requires understanding the causes of disease, biological mechanisms of disease, and the body’s defense mechanisms against disease. Expertise in VTPB spans infectious diseases, pathology, biomedical genetics, and cell biology. VTPB research strengths are in the areas of infectious diseases and immunology, antimicrobial resistance and stewardship, genetics of disease susceptibility and resistance, and wildlife ecosystems and conservation genetics. VTPB faculty members teach courses in undergraduate, graduate, and veterinary medicine professional programs. Instruction at the undergraduate level includes courses in biomedical microbiology, virology, and parasitology, introduction to immunology, mechanisms of disease, biomedical genetics, poultry diseases, and great diseases of the world. VTPB faculty members also provide high-impact research and other experiential learning opportunities to undergraduate students, including study abroad programs into South Africa and Costa Rica. Students learn to investigate the mechanisms of health and disease at the molecular, cellular, organismal, or population levels.

VTPB 212 Genetics in the News

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Use of contemporary news articles from the popular press to delve into the science of genetics and genomics and their methodologies to gain a deeper understanding of how data is analyzed and interpreted leading to news headlines. Prerequisites: Sophomore classification or approval of instructor; high school or college course in biology recommended.

VTPB 221 Great Diseases of the World

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Great infectious and parasitic diseases; introduction to the major diseases affecting humans and other mammals including plague, tuberculosis, AIDS and malaria. Prerequisite: Freshman or sophomore classification.

VTPB 285 Directed Studies

Credits 0 to 4. 0 to 4 Other Hours. Directed individual study of selected problems in microbiology, parasitology, immunology, genetics or pathology as approved by instructor. Prerequisites: Approval of department head; freshman or sophomore classification.

VTPB 289 Special Topics in...

Credits 1 to 4. 1 to 4 Lecture Hours. Selected topics in an identified area of veterinary pathobiology. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Freshman classification.

VTPB 301/RWFM 309 Wildlife Diseases

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Basic mechanisms of diseases as they occur in wildlife populations; interplay of habitat requirements, individual physiological requirements and disease producing mechanisms of varied wildlife species. Prerequisite: Junior classification or approval of department head. Cross Listing: RWFM 309/VTPB 301.

VTPB 303 Medical Communication in the International Community

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. To develop an awareness that there is a culture associated with the practice of veterinary and human medicine in other countries. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.

VTPB 334 Poultry Diseases

Credits 4. 3 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours. Poultry sanitation and diseases. Prevention and control of environmental, nutritional, parasitic and contagious diseases. Prerequisites: BIOL 107 or BIOL 111; junior or senior classification.

VTPB 405 Biomedical Microbiology

Credits 4. 3 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours. Fundamentals of bacteriology, mycology, virology, infectious diseases, immunology and identification of pathogenic microorganisms. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in BIOL 112 and CHEM 228; grade of C or better in MATH 142, MATH 147, MATH 151, or MATH 171; grade of C or better in PHYS 202; junior or senior classification.

VTPB 407 Advanced Veterinary Microbiology Laboratory

Credits 1 to 3. 1 to 4 Lab Hours. Modular course (one credit per module) that covers immunological and molecular techniques used with bacteria, parasites and viruses in animals for diagnostic and identification purposes. Prerequisites: VTPB 405, VTPB 409 and VTPB 438 or concurrent enrollment; junior or senior classification.

VTPB 408 Clinical Microbiology

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Conceptual basis for understanding pathogenic microorganisms and the mechanisms by which they cause disease in the human body; operates in an integrated manner with the spectrum of microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites, describing the factors common to all infectious diseases; molecular biology, pathology and immunology explain the mechanisms for spread, immune response and recovery. Prerequisites: VTPB 405 or BIOL 456 and VTPB 409 or BIOL 454.

VTPB 409 Introduction to Immunology

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Diverse concepts relative to immunologic mechanisms inherent to domestic and laboratory animals. Prerequisite: Advanced classification.

VTPB 410 Cell Mechanisms of Disease

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Mechanisms, morphologic manifestations and clinical signs of disease processes at the cellular level. Prerequisites: CHEM 227 and CHEM 228, or equivalent; junior or senior classification; biomedical sciences major, biomedical engineering major or related field.

VTPB 411 One Health and Tropical Ecology

Credits 3. 2 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours. Traditional lectures, guest lectures, field excursions, field laboratories, discussions, readings, student oral presentations and case studies; form and function of healthy ecosystems, various forms of ecosystem perturbation and how perturbations influence ecosystem, animal, and human health.

VTPB 415 Immunogenetics and Comparative Immunology

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Genetic mechanisms used to diversify immune receptors; immunoglobulins, T cell receptors, major histocompatibility complex, natural killer cell receptors, toll-like receptors and many others; selected comparative and veterinary examples of different immune recognition systems; evolution of the immune system. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification, GENE 320/BIMS 320 and VTPB 409 or approval of instructor.

VTPB 421 Infectious Diseases of Humans and Animals

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Pathogenesis of selected bacterial pathogens of humans and animals; bacterial virulence factors, host immune responses; current concepts of extracellular, facultative intracellular and obligate intracellular bacterial diseases. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification.

VTPB 425 Biomedical Microbiology

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Fundamentals of microbiology: bacteriology, mycology, virology, infectious diseases, immunology and identification of pathogenic microorganisms; specific emphasis on infectious diseases of humans and animals. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in BIOL 112, CHEM 258, and PHYS 202; grade of C or better in MATH 142, MATH 147, MATH 151, or MATH 171; junior classification in Biomedical Sciences; may have concurrent enrollment with VTPB 426.

VTPB 426 Biomedical Microbiology Laboratory

Credit 1. 2 Lab Hours. Fundamentals of microbiology: mycology, virology, infectious diseases, immunology and identification of pathogenic microorganisms. Emphasis on infectious diseases of humans and animals. Prerequisites: Junior classification in BIMS; may be taken concurrently with VTPB 425.

VTPB 438 Biomedical Virology

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Fundamental study of nature and characteristics of human and animal viruses; classification, morphology, chemical structure, ability to cause disease and nature of resulting disease. Prerequisite: 3 hours of microbiology or approval of instructor.

VTPB 460 Mammalian Cell Pathobiology

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Cell signaling and organelle perspective of pathogenesis, mechanisms leading to a disease state; fundamental understanding of structural and functional properties of mammalian cells; molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying health-disease transitions. Prerequisites: BIOL 111 and BIOL 112, junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

VTPB 485 Directed Studies

VTPB 487 Biomedical Parasitology

Credits 4. 3 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours. Helminth and protozoan parasites of medical and veterinary importance; life cycles, morphology, taxonomic classification, economic and public health aspects and current topics in parasitic diseases. Prerequisites: BIOL 107 or BIOL 111; junior classification or approval of instructor.

VTPB 489 Special Topics in...

Credits 1 to 4. 1 to 4 Lecture Hours. 0 to 4 Lab Hours. Selected topics in an identified area of microbiology, pathology, genetics, immunology, parasitology, or physiological chemistry. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification and approval of department head.

VTPB 491 Research

Credits 3. 3 Other Hours. Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in biomedical sciences. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor.

Adams, Leslie Garry, Senior Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, Texas A&M University, 1964
PHD, Texas A&M University, 1968

Arenas, Angela M, Associate Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, La Salle University, Colombia, 2002
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2007

Brightsmith, Donald J, Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
PHD, Duke University, 1999

Bryan, Laura K, Clinical Associate Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, University of Georgia, 2011
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2018

Chu, Candice, Assistant Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, National Taiwan University, 2013
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2018

Clubb, Fred J, Clinical Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, Auburn University, 1971
PHD, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1983

Cook, Walter E, Clinical Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, University of California at Davis, 1994
PHD, University of Wyoming, 1999

Criscitiello, Michael F, Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
PHD, University of Miami, 2003

Dabral, Neha, Clinical Assistant Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
BVSc, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, 2008
PHD, Purdue University, 2014

Davis, Brian W, Assistant Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2013

Derr, James N, Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
PHD, Texas A&M University, 1990

Dindot, Scott V, Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2003

Farkas, Tibor, Associate Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest Hungary, 1988

Galloway-Pena, Jessica, Assistant Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
PHD, University of Texas, 2013

Giaretta, Paula Roberta, Clinical Assistant Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2019

Gomes Verocai, Guilherme, Associate Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
BVetMed, Rio de Janeiro Rural Federal University, 2005
PhD, University of Calgary, Canada, 2015

Hamer, Sarah A, Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, Michigan State University, 2011
PHD, Michigan State University, 2010

Hokamp, Jessica, Clinical Associate Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, Texas A&M University, 2008
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2016

Johnson, Mark C, Clinical Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, Texas A&M University, 1988

Jones-Hall, Yava, Associate Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, Tuskegee University, 2003
PHD, Michigan State University, 2011

Klima, Cassidy Lynn, Assistant Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
PHD, University of Saskatchewan, 2015

Langsten, Kendall, Clinical Assistant Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, University of Missouri, Columbia, 2017
PHD, Wake Forest University, 2024

Lawhon, Sara D, Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, Texas A&M University, 1997
PHD, North Carolina State University, 2003

Logan, Linda L, Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, Texas A&M University, 1976
PHD, University of California at Davis, 1987

Lupiani, Blanca M, Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
PHD, University of Maryland-College Park, 1994

Mirhosseini, Negin, Instructional Assistant Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
BVetM, Shahid Bahonar University, 2004
PHD, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine, 2011

Mulenga, Albert, Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
PHD, Hokkaido University, 1999

Musser, Jeffrey M, Visiting Research Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, Virginia Tech, 1989
PHD, North Carolina State University, 2000

Nabity, Mary B, Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, Cornell University, 2002
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2010

Porter, Brian F, Clinical Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, Texas A&M University, 1992

Rech, Raquel R, Clinical Associate Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, Santa Catarina State University, 1999
PHD, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), 2007

Reddy, Sanjay M, Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
BVSc, Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, India, 1986
PHD, University of Maryland, College Park, 1994

Russell, Karen E, Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, Virginia Tech, 1990
PHD, North Carolina State University, 1997

Saleh, Meriam, Clinical Assistant Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
PHD, Virginia Tech, 2017

Scott, H. Morgan, Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, University of Saskatchewan, 1988
PHD, University of Guelph, 1998

Seabury, Christopher M, Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2004

Silkwood, Catherine, Instructional Associate Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2015

Stranahan, Lauren W, Clinical Assistant Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, North Carolina State University, 2016

Subash, Sarguru, Associate Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
BVSc, Madras Veterinary College Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, 2005
PHD, Michigan State University, 2011

Turner, Kenneth E, Lecturer
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, University of Pennsylvania, 1992

Valeris-Chacin, Robert, Assistant Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, University of Zulia, Venezuela, 2001

Vemulapalli, Ramesh, Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
BVSc, Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, India, 1986
PHD, University of Maryland, 1996

Wikander, Yvonne, Clinical Assistant Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
DVM, Oregon State Univeristy, 1989

Yang, Zhilong, Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
PHD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2007