Elizabeth Holda successfully defended her Master’s thesis focusing on the role of synanthropic flies as vectors of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes in livestock production environments. Using metagenomics approaches, her research offers insights into how flies may contribute to the spread of disease and resistance in agricultural settings.

Research Overview

Utilizing metagenomics techniques, Elizabeth’s study systematically identified the genetic material present in environmental samples, revealing the presence of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes carried by flies. This research underscores the potential health risks posed by flies in livestock environments and highlights the need for effective management strategies to mitigate these risks.

In her thesis, Elizabeth presented a comprehensive analysis of pathogen diversity carried by synanthropic flies across various livestock production environments. For example, utilizing the Chao Diversity Index, a metric for estimating species richness, her metagenomic data revealed distinct patterns of microbial diversity associated with both environmental samples and insect vectors. As shown int he ridge plot, there were notable variances in pathogen diversity across different farms and sample types, such as water, feed, feces, and multiple fly species. Particularly, samples from feces and certain fly species showed higher diversity indices, suggesting they are significant reservoirs for a broader range of pathogens. These findings emphasize the importance of managing insect populations and monitoring environmental conditions to mitigate the risk of pathogen transmission in livestock settings. The research not only contributes to our understanding of biosecurity but also serves as a valuable resource for developing strategies to protect animal and human health against the backdrop of rising antimicrobial resistance.

The research was supported by AgriLife Research, which provided the necessary funding. Elizabeth’s work benefited greatly from the collaboration and guidance of Drs. Phil Kaufman and Matt Taylor, who served as committee members.

Following the defense, our lab and friends joined for a celebratory dinner.

Congratulations Elizabeth!