Active projects
Environmental Determinants of Infectious Disease
Our research group is broadly interested in exploring the topic of how environmental change affects transmission and incidence of infectious diseases, with a specific focus on the ecology and epidemiology of waterborne diseases.
Representative Publications:
Tallis & Lubchenco et al. 2014. Nature.
Levy et al. 2012. Human Health as an Ecosystem Service.
Eisenberg et al. 2008. Environmental Health Perspectives.
Levy 2004. EcoHealth.
Representative Publications:
Tallis & Lubchenco et al. 2014. Nature.
Levy et al. 2012. Human Health as an Ecosystem Service.
Eisenberg et al. 2008. Environmental Health Perspectives.
Levy 2004. EcoHealth.
PAASIM Study
In the PAASIM study (Pesquisa Sobre o Acesso à Água e a Saúde Infantil em Moçambique), we are testing if and how improvements in water supply in urban areas of Mozambique reduce or delay enteric pathogen infection, alter gut microbiome composition, and affect enteric dysfunction and other health outcomes in infants. Results will contribute novel findings to inform policy on how to optimize investments to improve child health in low-income, urban settings. This work is co-led by Matthew Freeman at Emory University and is funded by an R01 grant from NIAID. Other collaborators include Rassul Nalá at Instituto Nacional de Saude, Joe Brown at UNC, Kostas Konstantinidis at Georgia Tech, Josh Garn at UNR, Tom Clasen and Lance Waller, at Emory, and Mozambican water agencies.
Representative Publications:
Levy et al. 2023. BMJ Open.
Victor et al. 2022. PLOS Water.
Representative Publications:
Levy et al. 2023. BMJ Open.
Victor et al. 2022. PLOS Water.
Proyecto EcoMID
In Proyecto ECoMiD (Enteropatógenos, Crecimiento, Microbioma, y Diarrea) we are carrying out a community-based birth cohort study in Ecuador to examine interactions between the gut microbiome conditions and enteric infections. We will test the hypothesis that infants with a more diverse gut microbiome are less likely to develop acute diarrhea, and are less likely to experience long-term negative health outcomes such as environmental enteric dysfunction and growth faltering, as a consequence of enteric infections. This research will guide interventions designed to help develop a healthy infant gut microbiome. This work is co-led by Joe Eisenberg at University of Michigan and is funded by an R01 grant from NIAID. Other collaborators include Gabriel Trueba at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Kostas Konstantinidis at Georgia Tech, Gwen Lee and Andy Jones at University of Michigan, Juan Leon at Emory University, and Ben Arnold at UCSF.
Representative Publications:
Lee et al. 2021. BMJ Open.
Uruchima et al. 2023. Curr. Developments Nutrition.
Sosa-Moreno et al. 2022. AJTMH.
Representative Publications:
Lee et al. 2021. BMJ Open.
Uruchima et al. 2023. Curr. Developments Nutrition.
Sosa-Moreno et al. 2022. AJTMH.
Human movement & Pathogenic E. coli
In Proyecto EcoZUR (E. coli en Zonas Urbanes y Rurales), we are using fine-scale genetic data to understand the role that human travel between urban and rural regions plays in determining the distribution of circulating strains of pathogenic E. coli in northern coastal Ecuador. The research approach combines a classic epidemiological case-control study design with whole genome sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, and data on human movement. This project was supported by a K01 career grant from NIAID, and carried out in collaboration with Gabriel Trueba at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, William Cevallos at Universidad Central del Ecuador, and Kostas Konstantinidis at Georgia Tech.
Representative Publications:
Montero et al. 2023. AJTMH.
Rothstein et al.2023. MEEGID.
Soto-Girón et al. 2021. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.
Meziti et al. 2021. Appl. Environ. Microbiol.
Jesser and Levy. 2020. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases.
Peña-Gonzalez et al. 2019. AEM.
Smith et al. 2018. TMIH.
Representative Publications:
Montero et al. 2023. AJTMH.
Rothstein et al.2023. MEEGID.
Soto-Girón et al. 2021. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.
Meziti et al. 2021. Appl. Environ. Microbiol.
Jesser and Levy. 2020. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases.
Peña-Gonzalez et al. 2019. AEM.
Smith et al. 2018. TMIH.
animal feces EXPOSURE
A number of human pathogens can be found in animal feces, yet the feces from these animals pose a currently unquantified risk to human health. It is possible that WASH interventions may fail due to persistent exposure to fecal pathogens of animal (zoonotic) origin. In close collaboration with Matthew Freeman's research group at Emory University, we are working to explore the potential human health risks of exposure to animal feces in low-income settings through our Cheep Cheep project. Cheep Cheep aims to identify and mitigate exposure risks to poultry-associated pathogens in children in Maputo, Mozambique, and is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. We are also investigating how and why infants living in Northern coastal Ecuador are exposed to environmental and animal contaminants, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Southern Florida, Emory University, the University of Michigan, and the University of San Francisco de Quito, as an NIAID funded extension to our ECoMid project, described further above.
Representative Publications:
Ballard et al. 2023. IJHEH.
Delahoy et al. 2018. IJHEH.
Penakalapati et al. 2017. ES&T.
Zambrano et al. 2014. TRSTMH.
Representative Publications:
Ballard et al. 2023. IJHEH.
Delahoy et al. 2018. IJHEH.
Penakalapati et al. 2017. ES&T.
Zambrano et al. 2014. TRSTMH.
Climate & Health
Our group is engaged in several studies of the seasonality of enteric diseases and the impact of climate on incidence of diarrheal diseases. This work has been funded by the NIH Fogarty International Center as well as the Fogarty GeoHealth Hub in Peru.
Representative Publications:
Cromar et al. 2022. Annals of the American Thoracic Society
Delahoy et al. 2021. Environmental Health
Kraay et. al. 2020. Environmental Health Perspectives.
Deshpande et al. 2020. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Lee et al. 2018. Env. Health Perspectives
Levy et al. 2018. Current Env. Health Reports
Levy et al. 2016. Journal of Infectious Diseases
Levy et al. 2016. Environmental Science & Technology
Carlton et al. 2016. International Journal of Epidemiology
Philipsborn et al. 2016. Journal of Infectious Diseases
Mellor et al. 2016. Science of the Total Environment
Carlton et al. 2014. American Journal of Epidemiology.
Ahmed et al. 2013. PLoS ONE.
Levy et al. 2009. International Journal of Epidemiology.
Representative Publications:
Cromar et al. 2022. Annals of the American Thoracic Society
Delahoy et al. 2021. Environmental Health
Kraay et. al. 2020. Environmental Health Perspectives.
Deshpande et al. 2020. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Lee et al. 2018. Env. Health Perspectives
Levy et al. 2018. Current Env. Health Reports
Levy et al. 2016. Journal of Infectious Diseases
Levy et al. 2016. Environmental Science & Technology
Carlton et al. 2016. International Journal of Epidemiology
Philipsborn et al. 2016. Journal of Infectious Diseases
Mellor et al. 2016. Science of the Total Environment
Carlton et al. 2014. American Journal of Epidemiology.
Ahmed et al. 2013. PLoS ONE.
Levy et al. 2009. International Journal of Epidemiology.
Former Projects
International Training in Environmental Health
Our group was involved for many years in a GeoHealth hub in Peru, led by Kyle Steenland at Emory University and Gustavo Gonzalez at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Together with colleagues at Universidad de Chile we developed an annual week-long environmental health training program in Peru, taught summer school courses at the Universidad de Chile, and carried out 1:1 training in environmental health topics for Peruvian students, researchers, and government agencies. This work was supported by the NIH Fogarty International Center.
Representative Publications:
Delahoy et al. 2021. Environmental Health.
Delahoy et al. 2020. Pediatric Inf. Dis. J.
Muñoz-Quezada et al. 2017. International Journal of Environmental Health Research.
Pino et al. 2015. Annals of Global Health.
Gonzales et al. 2014. Rev. Per. Med. Exp. Salud Publica.
Muñoz-Quezada el al. 2013. Neurotoxicology.
Muñoz-Quezada et al. 2012. Environment International.
Representative Publications:
Delahoy et al. 2021. Environmental Health.
Delahoy et al. 2020. Pediatric Inf. Dis. J.
Muñoz-Quezada et al. 2017. International Journal of Environmental Health Research.
Pino et al. 2015. Annals of Global Health.
Gonzales et al. 2014. Rev. Per. Med. Exp. Salud Publica.
Muñoz-Quezada el al. 2013. Neurotoxicology.
Muñoz-Quezada et al. 2012. Environment International.
EcoDess
We have been working in northern coastal Ecuador since 2003 in conjunction with a team of collaborators at University of Michigan, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Universidad Central del Ecuador, and Trinity College on the Ecologia, Desarollo, Sociedad y Salud (EcoDess) research project. This project aims to understand how changes in the social and natural environment, mediated by road construction, affect the epidemiology of pathogens causing diarrheal diseases, and the spread of antibiotic resistance. This project was supported by grants from the
National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the
National Sciences Foundation's Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases Program.
Representative Publications:
Lee et al. 2020. Water Research.
Moser et al. 2017. American Journal of Epidemiology
Braykov et al. 2016. mSphere.
Zhang et al. 2015. Antibiotic Resistance & Chemotherapy.
Rao et al. 2015. Water.
Levy et al. 2014. Water Research.
Levy et al. 2012. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Eisenberg et al. 2012. Journal of the Royal Society Interface.
Markovitz et al. 2012. International Journal of Epidemiology.
Levy et al. 2009. Environmental Science & Technology.
McLaughlin et al. 2009. Journal of Environmental Health.
Levy et al. 2008. Environmental Health Perspectives.
Eisenberg et al. 2006. Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences.
National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the
National Sciences Foundation's Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases Program.
Representative Publications:
Lee et al. 2020. Water Research.
Moser et al. 2017. American Journal of Epidemiology
Braykov et al. 2016. mSphere.
Zhang et al. 2015. Antibiotic Resistance & Chemotherapy.
Rao et al. 2015. Water.
Levy et al. 2014. Water Research.
Levy et al. 2012. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Eisenberg et al. 2012. Journal of the Royal Society Interface.
Markovitz et al. 2012. International Journal of Epidemiology.
Levy et al. 2009. Environmental Science & Technology.
McLaughlin et al. 2009. Journal of Environmental Health.
Levy et al. 2008. Environmental Health Perspectives.
Eisenberg et al. 2006. Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences.
Atlanta Water Distribution System Study
In collaboration with Christine Moe and others, we carried out two studies of drinking water quality in Metro Atlanta. The first, funded by EPA-STAR, evaluated the impact of water residence time on emergency department visits for gastrointestinal illness. In a sister study, funded by the Water Research Foundation, we used an automated monitoring and sampling device to examine water quality of samples at points in the distribution system using a suite of microbiological indicators of intrusion and regrowth.
Representative Publications:
Levy et al. 2016. Journal of Water and Health
Lu et al. 2016. Journal of Applied Microbiology
Representative Publications:
Levy et al. 2016. Journal of Water and Health
Lu et al. 2016. Journal of Applied Microbiology
Irrigation Water Quality
With funding from the Center for Produce Safety and in collaboration with George Vellidis at University of Georgia and Vincent Hill at CDC, we conducted a series of studies of water quality in irrigation ponds in an agricultural area of southern Georgia. The projects aimed to develop best practices for detection of Salmonella spp. in the ponds, and to understand the impact of rainfall and land use on microbial water quality of the irrigation ponds and irrigation water.
Representative Publications:
Harris et al 2018. Journal of Applied Microbiology.
Lee et al. 2018. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease.
Antaki et al. 2016. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease.
Representative Publications:
Harris et al 2018. Journal of Applied Microbiology.
Lee et al. 2018. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease.
Antaki et al. 2016. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease.
ARSENIC & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Our group collaborated with Molly Kile at Oregon State University on a project investigating the association between arsenic exposure and clinically relevant outcomes of immune function in children in Bangladesh, with funding from NIEHS. We specifically investigated whether arsenic exposure affects morbidity from respiratory and diarrheal illnesses.