Texas Tech Research

🦟 Determining Epidemiological Risk for Mosquito-Borne Illness

The Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is one of the deadliest viruses transmitted by mosquitoes in the United States, yet epidemics of the virus in mosquitoes and humans are unpredictable. While infection in humans is rare, it has a very high mortality rate, and survivors are often left with permanent neurological damage.

Dr. Joseph McMillan received a two-year grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease for a project examining this sickness. This funding supports research using stochastic modeling techniques in combination with historical records of EEEV infection prevalence in mosquitoes to test various ecological hypotheses related to the epidemic potential of EEEV during a given transmission season. This research will ultimately provide more insight into how EEEV outbreaks occur.

College of Arts and Sciences, Texas Tech University

Researchers from the Texas Tech Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources are advancing a new genome editing approach that could accelerate the development of stronger, more resilient crops. 🌱

Led by assistant professor Dr. Degao Liu, the project aims to simplify plant biotechnology by developing genome editing methods that eliminate the need for both transgenes and tissue culture, two major challenges in traditional crop editing methods.

Supported by a $468,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, the project tests tomatoes and peppers, crops known for their resistance to conventional transformation and regeneration methods. Target traits include herbicide resistance, salt stress tolerance and improved water-use efficiency, characteristics that are increasingly critical as agriculture faces changing climate conditions and limited resources. This innovative research could help create adaptable solutions for agriculture, climate resilience and water security.

🌿 Building a More Sustainable Future with Agricultural Fiber-Based Packaging

Dr. Laura Fischer was awarded $587,999 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Cooperative State Research Ed & Extension Service for her interdisciplinary project that examines perspectives across multiple stakeholders to foster communication and promote the acceptance of agricultural fiber-based food packaging.

As efforts continue to reduce plastic use in food waste streams, exploring alternative packaging options, such as agricultural fibers, offers an opportunity to decrease reliance on conventional plastics.

Long-term, Dr. Fischer and her team aim to identify the social dynamics and perspectives surrounding this emerging technology and foster discourse between key stakeholders in the supply chain to promote the acceptance of agricultural fiber-based packaging.

This exploration of perspectives allows their team to better understand how producers, consumers, and retailers interact and shape the evolution of ag-fiber bio-products, creating opportunities for informed discourse and deliberation as ag-fiber packaging is incorporated into the marketplace.

Texas Tech Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources