Brucellosis is among the leading communicable diseases worldwide and the disease poses a substantial public health burden in the Middle East, resulting in long-term illness in humans and significant economic loss in livestock production.

In addition, some Brucella sp are classified as Category B bioterrorism agents by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

My guest today was awarded a $3 million grant by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) of the U.S. Department of Defense to study one of the most important infectious diseases in humans and livestock in Iraq.

Joining me today to discuss brucellosis and the work in Iraq is Jeff Foster, Ph.D. Dr. Foster is an associate professor at Northern Arizona University's Pathogen and Microbiome Institute.