Joshua McDonald, BA
Graduate Teaching Associate
Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Nutrition (OSUN)
College of Education and Human Ecology
(330) 612-1498
mcdonald.654@osu.edu
Associate Member
Primary Food Innovation Center Area: Food Safety
Areas of Expertise: nutritional biology, enteric pathogens, immunology
My research interests focus on the interaction between host nutrition and immune system function, specifically the role Vitamin D plays in host immunity. Food-borne illness from contamination of food products with enteric pathogens, primarily Salmonella, affect millions globally. Because of this, there is a dramatic burden placed on both the agriculture and public health industries to limit exposure to food-borne pathogens and provide effective treatment against infection. Through investigation, I will seek to elucidate mechanisms by which nutritional compounds can improve host immunity against enteric pathogens to limit the incidence of food-borne illnesses and potentially provide better methods of treatment against infection.