CELLULAR CROSS-TALK DURING CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS IN CATTLE

Cryptosporidiosis (Crypto), poses a global public health threat characterized by life-threating diarrhea in neonates, but severe disease in mature cattle and people is uncommon. Despite substantial economic losses to the cattle industry and the public, effective preventative and therapeutic interventions are lacking. This is in part due to gaps in our understanding of the factors limiting the development of clinical disease in adult cattle but increased disease susceptibility in newborn calves. The proposed study will utilize a robust culture system that mirrors in vivo infection to systematically evaluate development of protective immunity against Crypto -- permitting the development of rational and effective therapies.