Dr Barbieri is an assistant professor in the Department of Population Health at University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. She is specialize in Extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) – which encompass avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) and Neonatal meningitis E. coli (NMEC). She has been studying their characteristics, looking for the prevalence of virulence genes, drug resistance and their role in pathogenesis by using molecular biology tools to elucidate their relationship with their host. Currently, Dr Barbieri research focuses are on antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors in ExPEC of poultry isolates (broilers, turkeys and layers) and investigate the molecular basis for biofilm formation as well as their relationship with human pathogens.
Interests:
– Poultry microbiology and foodborne pathogens
– Extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli prevalence of virulence genes
– Colistin resistance (mcr-1 to mcr -8) in Escherichia coli.
– APEC prevalence of virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance
