Oct 18, 2023
Plague and anthrax are feared diseases due to high mortality
rates following pulmonary exposure, and both are considered
potential bioweapons.
Dr. Virginia Miller, professor at the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill and ASM President, studies plague, as well as other
Gram negative bacteria. Dr. Theresa Koehler, emeritus professor at
UTHealth Houston and ASM president-elect, is an expert in
anthrax.
microTalk caught up with Dr. Miller and Dr. Koehler at ASM Microbe
2023 in Houston to discuss these biothreat agents.
Dr. Miller discusses why she studies plague, the differences
between bubonic and pneumonic plague, why Klebsiella pneumoniae
poses a growing health threat, and what it was like being John
Mekalanos’ first Ph.D. student.
Dr. Koehler discusses why anthrax is considered a potential
bioweapon, why significant scientific progress was made following
the anthrax attacks of 2001, why gardeners shouldn’t worry about
catching anthrax, and her first failed experiment. Both
discuss their vision for ASM and the role it plays in
microbiological research and society.