John Driver

John Driver is an Associate Professor in the Division of Animal Sciences at the University of Missouri's College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR). He holds a Ph.D. and specializes in immunology with a focus on animal models, particularly in pigs and dairy cows. His research integrates genetic engineering (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9), virology, and microbiome analysis to address challenges in veterinary medicine and infectious disease. Key areas include influenza pathogenesis in swine, uterine microbiome dysbiosis in cattle, and vaccine development leveraging natural killer T cell agonists.

Research Interests:

• Immunological mechanisms in livestock
• Genetic editing for disease resistance
• Vaccine adjuvant systems
• Microbiome-host interactions in reproduction
• Single-cell sequencing applications

His work on α-galactosylceramide adjuvants highlights innovation in vaccinology, while studies on CD4 receptor disruption showcase CRISPR's potential in livestock biotechnology. Collaborative projects with industry address practical challenges like metritis in dairy herds and influenza vaccine efficacy in swine production systems.

Scientific Contributions:

• Pioneered porcine CD4 knockout models
• Developed PLGA-based sustained-release vaccine platforms
• Advanced understanding of uterine microbiome's role in metritis

Labs/Teams: Active in CAFNR's Animal Sciences Division with access to state-of-the-art facilities for genomic analysis, virology, and livestock health research.