LSU Vet Med researchers present at preeminent virology conference
July 08, 2024
Esteemed researchers from the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine had the honor of presenting their work at the American Society for Virology 2024 conference. Held in June in Columbus, Ohio, this top international conference in virology showcased their research findings, underscoring LSU Vet Med's unwavering commitment to discovery and innovation in the field of virology.
Dr. Nicholas Magazine, post-doctoral fellow in the LSU Vet Med Department of Pathobiological Sciences (PBS), presented his research on SARS-CoV-2 evolution and adaptation to human codon preferences. Mr. Ivan Martinez-Espinoza, PhD candidate in PBS, presented his work on the antiviral effect of interferon epsilon against respiratory pneumoviruses. The researchers were awarded the competitive PBS MegaRobo-Biocytogen Travel Awards. Dr. Magazine and Mr. Martinez-Espinoza were awarded the MegaRobo-Biocytogen Travel Award from the PBS Department. Dr. Pavulraj Selvaraj, research assistant professor in PBS Professor Dr. Shafiqul Chowdhury's lab, presented his research on vaccine development against Rift Valley fever in calves and sheep. Dr. Pavulraj received a Travel Award from the ASV 2024 conference.
Travel Awards are designed to promote the dissemination of nationally and internationally competitive research programs in biological and biomedical sciences that have the potential to advance animal and human health.
Pictured are LSU Vet Med speakers, from left to right: Ivan Martinez-Espinoza, PhD candidate, ASV 2024 Speaker; Dr. Pavulraj Selvaraj, Research Assistant Professor, ASV 2024 Speaker; Dr. Shafiqul Chowdhury, Professor, Attending ASV 2024; Dr. Joel Baines, LSU Vet Med dean (2014-2021), Attending ASV 2024; Dr. Nicholas Magazine, Postdoctoral Associates, ASV 2024 Speaker; and Dr. Weishan Huang, Associate Professor, Attending ASV 2024.
Pictured, from left to right, are Dr. Nicholas Magazine, postdoctoral associate in Dr. Weishan Huang's lab, who presented his research on SARS-CoV-2 evolution and adaptation to human codon preferences, Dr. Pavulraj Selvaraj, Research Assistant Professor in Dr. Shafiqul Chowdhury's lab, who presented his research on vaccine development against Rift Valley fever in calves and sheep, and Mr. Ivan Martinez-Espinoza, PhD candidate in Dr. Antonieta Guerrero-Plata's lab, who presented his work on the antiviral effect of interferon epsilon against respiratory pneumoviruses.
About LSU Vet Med: Bettering lives through education, public service, and discovery
The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is one of only 33 veterinary schools in the U.S. and the only one in Louisiana. LSU Vet Med is dedicated to improving and protecting the lives of animals and people through superior education, transformational research, and compassionate care. We teach. We heal. We discover. We protect.