Mastitis, an infection of mammary tissue, is a serious problem in dairy cows, requiring the use of antibiotics. There is increasing pressure on the dairy industry to reduce antibiotic use, and researchers are studying alternatives to treat mastitis. MSI PI Luciano Caixeta (assistant professor, Veterinary Population Medicine) leads a team of researchers that has been awarded $500,000 from the USDA - National Institute of Food and Agriculture to refine immunotherapeutic treatments for mammary infections in dairy cattle. A story about this research appears on the College of Veterinary Medicine website: Newly Funded: To Fight Antimicrobial Resistance, Refining Immunotherapy for Dairy Cow Mastitis.
Professor Caixeta uses MSI resources to support multiple projects investigating the microbiome of different parts of the bovine body and its association with health and performance.