Rodney Moxley

Rodney Moxley holds the Charles Bessey Professorship in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where his research centers on bacterial pathogens affecting food safety and animal health. His work primarily addresses Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), and Salmonella in cattle and poultry systems.

Dr. Moxley's research program investigates pathogenesis mechanisms, vaccine development, and detection methodologies for foodborne pathogens. Key focus areas include bacterial adhesion in intestinal and urinary tracts, antimicrobial resistance dynamics, and pre-harvest intervention strategies. His laboratory employs gnotobiotic piglet models and chromogenic agar techniques to study host-pathogen interactions and optimize pathogen isolation from meat products.

Analysis of his 2020-2024 publications reveals sustained investigation into STEC/ETEC virulence factors, with increasing emphasis on emerging pathogens (e.g., Escherichia albertii), genetic markers of multidrug resistance, and structure-based vaccinology. His work bridges veterinary diagnostics, food microbiology, and public health through interdisciplinary collaborations.

No scientific awards were documented in the source material.

While specific advising activities and grant details were not provided, Dr. Moxley's extensive publication record spanning two decades indicates significant mentorship of graduate students and leadership in federally funded research on foodborne pathogen control. His team collaborates with USDA agencies and industry partners on pre-harvest interventions targeting pathogen reservoirs in livestock.

Current laboratory efforts focus on developing rapid detection systems for STEC in ground beef, characterizing bacterial community dynamics on cattle hides, and evaluating dietary interventions to reduce pathogen shedding in feedlot systems.