Matt Gray
Specialization: Disease Ecology, Epidemiology, Wetland Ecology
Dr. Gray is the associate director of the UTIA Center for Wildlife Health and specializes in disease ecology. His interests include transmission dynamics of emerging infectious disease and identifying management strategies that can thwart or eradicate outbreaks. Dr. Gray has degrees in wildlife ecology, mathematics and statistics, and uses these skills to unravel complex epidemiological interactions with his students, post-docs, and colleagues. Dr. Gray also studies wetland ecosystems, especially focusing on anthropogenic impacts on wetland communities and management activities to conserve biodiversity.
Wildlife Disease Ecology and Wetland Ecology
- 1. What is the risk of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) invasion to North American salamander populations? We are answering this question by testing the susceptibility of 50+ species with phylogenetic representation across Caudata, and geographical mapping invasion risk in the USA as a combination of species distributions, host susceptibility, and environmental suitability of Bsal.
- 2. What transmission pathways are most influential in contributing to Bsal invasion potential? We are answering this question using a combination of controlled experiments that estimate the probability of transmission due to host contact and the environment under various conditions. Estimates are used to parameterize a system of differential equations that will simulate outbreak scenarios and produce pathway-specific estimates of R0. Identifying influential transmission pathways and the conditions under which outbreaks increase is fundamental to conceiving effective disease management strategies.
- 3. What are the mechanisms of Bsal pathogenesis? Using a combination of controlled experiments and clinical and anatomical pathology diagnostics, we are identifying the causes of Bsal chytridiomycosis. These findings can lead to the development of therapies to treat infected and naïve animals, and increase their resistance or tolerance to Bsal colonization of host skin.
- 4. What is the role of international trade and captive facilities in the evolution of virulent pathogens and spillover to wild populations? We are using a combination of pathogen surveillance in captive and wild populations, and whole genome sequencing to identify novel and chimeric strains and their likely source of origin. Using knock-out approaches, we can identify genes contributing to virulence, which can lead to development of immune therapies. Also, by combining trade and consumer behavioral information, we can produce spatially explicit estimates of spillover likelihood to wild populations.
2415 Fletcher Luck Lane
Knoxville, TN 37996-4563
- PhD, Natural Resources/Conservation, General, Texas Tech University, 2002
- MS, Wildlife Biology, Mississippi State University, 1995
- BS, Wildlife Biology, Michigan State University, 1993
Matt Gray
2415 Fletcher Luck Lane
Knoxville, TN 37996-4563
- PhD, Natural Resources/Conservation, General, Texas Tech University, 2002
- MS, Wildlife Biology, Mississippi State University, 1995
- BS, Wildlife Biology, Michigan State University, 1993
Dr. Gray is the associate director of the UTIA Center for Wildlife Health and specializes in disease ecology. His interests include transmission dynamics of emerging infectious disease and identifying management strategies that can thwart or eradicate outbreaks. Dr. Gray has degrees in wildlife ecology, mathematics and statistics, and uses these skills to unravel complex epidemiological interactions with his students, post-docs, and colleagues. Dr. Gray also studies wetland ecosystems, especially focusing on anthropogenic impacts on wetland communities and management activities to conserve biodiversity.
Wildlife Disease Ecology and Wetland Ecology
- 1. What is the risk of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) invasion to North American salamander populations? We are answering this question by testing the susceptibility of 50+ species with phylogenetic representation across Caudata, and geographical mapping invasion risk in the USA as a combination of species distributions, host susceptibility, and environmental suitability of Bsal.
- 2. What transmission pathways are most influential in contributing to Bsal invasion potential? We are answering this question using a combination of controlled experiments that estimate the probability of transmission due to host contact and the environment under various conditions. Estimates are used to parameterize a system of differential equations that will simulate outbreak scenarios and produce pathway-specific estimates of R0. Identifying influential transmission pathways and the conditions under which outbreaks increase is fundamental to conceiving effective disease management strategies.
- 3. What are the mechanisms of Bsal pathogenesis? Using a combination of controlled experiments and clinical and anatomical pathology diagnostics, we are identifying the causes of Bsal chytridiomycosis. These findings can lead to the development of therapies to treat infected and naïve animals, and increase their resistance or tolerance to Bsal colonization of host skin.
- 4. What is the role of international trade and captive facilities in the evolution of virulent pathogens and spillover to wild populations? We are using a combination of pathogen surveillance in captive and wild populations, and whole genome sequencing to identify novel and chimeric strains and their likely source of origin. Using knock-out approaches, we can identify genes contributing to virulence, which can lead to development of immune therapies. Also, by combining trade and consumer behavioral information, we can produce spatially explicit estimates of spillover likelihood to wild populations.