Besser, T.

Thomas Besser

Biodiversity and the Natural Suppression of Human Pathogens

Restoring livestock to mixed-vegetable farms allows on-farm fertilizer production and the sale of high-value meat products.  Likewise, diversifying farms with native plants provides habitat for pest-killing birds and predatory insects. Unfortunately, both practices carry the risk of unintentional contamination of produce by human pathogens (e.g., E. coli O157:H7), transmitted through livestock feces or those of […]

Harnessing microcins for control of scours in neonatal calves

Calf diarrhea (scours) is a major animal health challenge for cattle producers because it causes dehydration, depression, mortality, and long-term reduction in vitality of infected animals. Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC; K99) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC; e.g., serovars O157:H7, O26 and O111) can cause enteric colibacillosis in calves, and EHEC strains are also significant food […]