Connie J Gebhart

Connie J Gebhart is a Professor in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on host-pathogen interface biology, microbiome dynamics, and antibiotic resistance, particularly in veterinary contexts involving swine and equine infectious diseases.

Her research interests center on bacterial pathogens such as Lawsonia intracellularis and Streptococcus suis, with emphasis on pathogenesis, virulence mechanisms, diagnostics, and vaccine impacts. She investigates proliferative enteropathy in pigs and foals, co-infections, gut microbiome alterations, and antimicrobial susceptibility. Her work integrates molecular biology, genomics, immunology, and epidemiology to improve animal health and disease control.

The trends in her recent publications highlight a sustained focus on Lawsonia intracellularis and Streptococcus suis, with increasing use of genomic and metagenomic approaches, diagnostic assay development (e.g., MALDI-TOF MS), and exploration of host immune responses and microbiome interactions. Her research bridges basic science with practical applications in livestock health and food safety.

Scientific contributions and leadership are evident through her role as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on 18 funded projects from agencies such as the USDA and industry boards like the National Pork Board and Boehringer Ingelheim. She has contributed to major reference works and published over 136 research outputs, including articles, reviews, and book chapters.

Dr. Gebhart has advised numerous collaborators and junior researchers, particularly in projects involving swine diseases and bacterial pathogenesis. Her grants have supported studies on pathogen transmission, vaccine efficacy, and novel diagnostic tools. She leads research teams that include postdoctoral scientists, graduate students, and veterinary researchers, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in veterinary microbiology and infectious disease.

She is actively involved in laboratory-based research focusing on bacterial culture, molecular characterization, host-cell interaction assays, and microbiome analysis. Her team collaborates extensively within the University of Minnesota and with external partners in industry and government, contributing to a robust network in veterinary infectious disease research.