Research Microbiologist
Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Unit, USDA-NADC-ARS
Ames, Iowa
Dr. Loving is a swine immunologist leading a research program focused on enhancing disease resilience and limiting colonization by foodborne pathogens in the pig. She approaches this through both basic and applied approaches using standard and cutting-edge techniques, as a baseline understanding of porcine immune status is critical for improving pig health for pork production. Thus, Dr. Loving’s research is aimed at first characterizing overall immune status at various stages of a pig’s life (with an emphasis on nursery age) at the cellular level using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, and the molecular level using single-cell RNAsequencing and spatial transcriptomics. In addition, Dr. Loving investigates compounds and microbial metabolites capable of directly impacting host immune cells, including the short chain fatty acid butyrate and beta-glucans. Her lab has identified intestinal and circulating immune cells expressing receptors for these compounds, and identified mechanisms of immunomodulation.
266 - Beta-glucan induced immunomodulation: Transitioning from cell-culture to the whole pig
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
8:40 AM – 9:15 AM CST