Dissertation Defense Schedule
Academic Excellence
Sharing original dissertation research is a principle to which the University of Delaware is deeply committed. It is the single most important assignment our graduate students undertake and upon completion is met with great pride.
We invite you to celebrate this milestone by attending their dissertation defense. Please review the upcoming dissertation defense schedule below and join us!
PROGRAM | Medical Sciences
Development of Multiplex Real-time PCR Assays for the Surveillance of Tick-borne Pathogens in Delaware
By: Michael Buoni Chair: Esther Biswas-Fiss Co-Chair: Subhasis Biswas
ABSTRACT
Tick-borne pathogens are responsible for most vector-based human diseases in the United States. In the United States, nearly 650,000 cases of vector-borne diseases were reported from 2004–2016. Of the 650,000 cases, tick-borne diseases accounted for >75% of these cases. Given the increasing recognition of tick-borne diseases, as well as the increase in the range and distribution of ticks, it is imperative to understand which human pathogens, and in what relative frequency, are carried by tick species in areas populated by humans. To date, few studies exist surveying the presence and distribution of tick-borne pathogens in the state of Delaware. The goal of this study was to create multiplex real-time PCR assays to identify Borrelia burgdorferi, Babesia microti, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and Ehrlichia ewingii from their respective reservoir tick species.
Three multiplex, real-time PCR assays were developed and tested on 1527 ticks from Ixodes scapularis, Dermacentor variabilis, and Ambylomma americanum, three species of ticks relevant to Delaware. The results showed that of a sample of 500 Ixodes scapularis ticks from Delaware, 30.2% were positive for Borrelia burgdorferi, 2.6% were positive for Babesia microti, and 1% were positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Of the 500 D. variabilis ticks tested, 0% were positive for E. chaffeensis and .2% were positive for A. phagocytophilum. Of the 527 A. americanum ticks tested, 4.74% were positive for E. chaffeensis and 1.14% were positive for E. ewingii. These findings support the notion that real-time PCR assays can be used to successfully identify and monitor tick pathogen activity in Delaware.
The Process
Step-by-Step
Visit our “Step-by-Step Graduation Guide” to take you through the graduation process.From formatting your Dissertation to Doctoral Hooding procedures.
Dissertation Manual
Wondering how to set up the format for your paper. Refer to the “UD Thesis/Dissertation Manual” for formatting requirements and more.
Defense Submission Form
This form must be completed two weeks in advance of a dissertation defense to meet the University of Delaware Graduate and Professional Education’s requirements.
