By Trish Svoboda

Jayme Souza-Neto, an assistant professor at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, is using his expertise as part of a research project, collaborating with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Through a non-assistance co-operative agreement, Souza-Neto is collaborating with USDA researchers to investigate the transmission of arboviruses causing diseases in livestock. Using next-generation sequencing and advanced gene silencing/knockout technologies, Souza-Neto learns about the genes responsive to these viruses, and how they function. This understanding will help researchers in developing strategies to lessen the spread of these diseases.

Once samples are collected, the researchers will use next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics tools to examine the virus species present. The ongoing research project is funded through August 2025.