Shannon Jones Hostetter

Biography

Shannon Jones Hostetter is an Assistant Professor of Veterinary Pathology Lowa State University.

Research Interest

Dr. Shannon Hostetter's work is in the role of Shiga toxin (Stx) production and dissemination in proinflammatory cytokine alterations observed in clinically-affected patients. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a systemic complication of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection, is the number one cause of renal failure in children in the United States. The goals are to 1) clarify the role of Stx in inflammation during Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection 2) identify specific interactions between Stx and neutrophils to assess the potential role of this leukocyte in Stx transport during STEC infection and 3) assess the efficacy of an oral Stx-binding agent at preventing systemic disease following STEC inoculation. The animal model used is edema disease of swine, a naturally occurring STEC disease of weaned swine caused by host-adapted strains of E. coli. Experimentally infected swine are colonized in the intestinal tract and approximately 30% of individuals develop clinical edema disease manifested by neurological symptoms due to systemic Shiga toxemia. Edema disease has been used as an animal model to study HUS based on the similar pathogenesis between the two diseases. Dr. Hostetter is also interested in comparative clinical pathology, and is currently working with several other investigators to analyze/interpret clinical pathology samples for their research studies.