Alexandra Kamins

Curriculum Vitae:

• 2009-2012: Ph.D. Institute of Zoology and University of Cambridge under the supervision of James Wood, Olivier Resitf, Marcus Rowcliffe and Andrew Cunningham. Studying spillover of zoonotic diseases from fruit bats to humans in Ghana, West Africa.
• 2005-2009: B.Sc. in biology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Honors thesis on the impact and survival of aphid symbiotic bacteria in ladybird beetles.
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Research Interests:

I am very interested in the intersection of human and animal health. I am particularly fascinated by zoonotic diseases (caused by pathogens that jump from one vertebrate species to another).

Current project:

Currently, I am investigating sources of contact between humans and fruit bats in Ghana, West Africa and the potential for pathogen spillover. Eidolon helvum (straw-colooured fruit bat), the most common fruit bat in the area, carries antibodies to known zoonotic viruses and bacteria and is also commonly hunted as food.

Aims:

• Characterize the use of E. helvum as bushmeat.
• Identify conservation and public health concerns.
• Identify “risk groups” for zoonotic pathogen spillover.
• Examine actual spillover of known pathogens from fruit bats to humans.