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Dr. Kaganer in the field with students

Alyssa Wetterau Kaganer

I am a conservation geneticist with broad interests in developing and deploying novel molecular techniques for the protection and conservation of free-ranging wildlife. My research focuses on untangling host-pathogen-microbiome interactions in wildlife disease, and building new noninvasive or minimally invasive methods for the study of wildlife and their pathogens. 

In addition to pursuing my research interests, I am passionate about advancing accessibility in physical and virtual research spaces. I enjoy training undergraduate and veterinary students in molecular biology techniques and outreach activities to connect elementary, middle, and high school students with conservation science. 

Select Publications

2024

Real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) is robust for chronic wasting disease detection in white-tailed deer retropharyngeal lymph nodes. . Darish J, Kaganer A, Hanley B, Schuler K, Schwabenlander M, Wolf T, Ahmed M, Rowden G, Larsen P, Kobashigawa E, Tewari D, Lichtenberg S, Pedersen J, Zhang S, Sreevatsan S. . Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation.

2023

Immune priming prior to pathogen exposure sheds light on the relationship between host, microbiome and pathogen in disease. . Kaganer AW, Ossiboff RJ, Keith NI, Schuler KL, Comizzoli P, Hare MP, Fleischer RC, Gratwicke B, Bunting EM . Royal Society Open Science

2022

Aquatic eDNA can advance monitoring of a small-bodied terrestrial salamander and amphibian pathogen . Kaganer, A. W., Stapleton, G. S., Bunting, E. M., & Hare, M. P. . Environmental DNA

2021

Genetically modifying skin microbe to produce violacein and augmenting microbiome did not defend Panamanian golden frogs from disease. . Becker, M. H., J. A. N. Brophy, K. Barrett, E. Bronikowski, M. Evans, E. Glassey, A. W. Kaganer, B. Klocke, E. Lassiter, C. R. Muletz-Wolz, C. A. Voigt, R. C. Fleischer, and B. Gratwicke . ISME Communications
Environmental DNA-derived pathogen gene sequences can expand surveillance when pathogen titers are decoupled in eDNA and hosts. . Kaganer, A. W., L. D. Nagel, T. E. Youker-Smith, E. M. Bunting, and M. P. Hare . Environmental DNA

2016

Exploring Perceptions about Chronic Wasting Disease Risks among Wildlife and Agriculture Professionals and Stakeholders . Schuler, K. L., A. M. Wetterau, E. M. Bunting, and H. O. Mohammed . Wildlife Society Bulletin

For More Info

Contact Information

amw268@cornell.edu

Projects

Active Projects

young buck with mouth open against green tree background

RT-QuIC Project

To improve testing capabilities for CWD, we are building capacity for a new test for prions, Real-Time Quaking Induced Conversion (RT-QuIC)...

Wood frog eyes, nose, face, and head macro portrait

Ranavirus Environmental RNA (eRNA)

Exploring the potential of environmental RNA (eRNA) for ranavirus surveillance...

Completed Projects

Marbled Salamander

Pathogen and Species Detection by eDNA 2017

Developing advanced tools to improve detection of aquatic pathogens and endangered species...

Hemidactylium scutatum, the four-toed Salamander

Four-toed Salamander eDNA 2018

Finding the unseen...advances in conservation

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