Audrey Lau
Dr. Lau explores how a group of parasites known as Apicomplexa cause disease and interact with hosts. Among the most widely recognized apicomplexan species infecting animals are Babesia and Theileria, pathogens that threaten the health of domestic animals worldwide. Dr. Lau’s long-term goal is to enhance prevention and treatment for Apicomplexan parasites.
Dr. Lau’s recent research compares the genome of an attenuated strain of Babesia (one that has been altered to be less virulent) with that of the original strain to trace any changes that occurred during the attenuation process. Attenuated strains have been shown to protect animals from the disease, working as a vaccine. Dr. Lau hopes to discover what genetic changes are needed to transform the killer pathogen into a life-saving vaccine.
She seeks to understand how virulence arises, which will be crucial to developing better mechanisms for controlling and possibly eliminating many infectious diseases. Dr. Lau’s exploration of host-pathogen interactions has the potential to substantially improve animal health and to reduce the economic impact of diseases on resource-poor farmers.
Dr. Lau serves as an assistant professor of parasitology in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology and in the School for Global Animal Health.