Megan Jacob, MS, PhD

Associate Professor, Clinical Microbiology

• mejacob@ncsu.edu
• Office:  919.513.6236
• Additional Positions: Director of Diagnostic Laboratories
• Department: Population Health and Pathobiology

Biography Megan Jacob specializes in foodborne pathogens, food safety, and antimicrobial resistance. At NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Jacob focuses on pre-harvest food safety and transmission dynamics of pathogenic bacteria. She has also developed a research program in veterinary diagnostic microbiology focused on diagnosing and monitoring antimicrobial-resistant organisms in animal populations. In addition to her research, Jacob serves as Director of Diagnostic Laboratories, which offers a range of services in microbiology, parasitology and virology, as well as routine PCRs for specific bacterial species and viral agents. Through this role, Jacob and her team aim to improve the laboratory diagnostic experience for veterinary clinicians, and expand diagnostic opportunities throughout the US and globally.

 

Global Health Research Fields

• Antimicrobial resistance 
• Microbiology
• Food safety

Main Areas of Expertise

• Microbiological and antimicrobial resistance detection techniques and diagnostics
• Epidemiology and ecology of foodborne pathogens
• Transmission dynamics of pathogenic bacteria 

Global Health Research Interests

• Improving food safety by assessing the transmission dynamics of pathogenic bacteria
• Improving global surveillance of antimicrobial resistance by harmonized methods and integrated data systems

Countries of Experience

• China 
• WHO collaboration (providing training for various countries)

Ongoing Projects

• WHO ESBL Tricycle Project

Network (collaborators)

• NC State University, North Carolina | United States
  • Paula Cray, Department of Population Health and Pathobiology
  • Shivaramu Keelara Veerappa, Department of Population Health and Pathobiology
  • Cristina Lanzas, Department of Population Health and Pathobiology
  • Casey M. Theriot, Department of Population Health and Pathobiology
  • Sid Thakur, Department of Population Health and Pathobiology

• Utrecht University, Utrecht | Netherlands
  • Jaap Wagenaar, Professor of Clinical Infectiology

• Advisory Group on Integrated Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (AGISAR), World Health Organization
  • Jorge Matheu, Project Officer, Food Safety & Zoonotic Diseases Dept, WHO

• Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao | China
  • Zhihui Hao

Selected Publications

Sylvester HJ, Griffith EH, Jacob ME, Foster DM. Environmental and management influences on gastrointestinal nematode prevalence on North Carolina goat farms. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2018 Oct; 253(7): 907-17 (Pubmed)

Ferguson KM, Jacob ME, Theriot CM, Callahan BJ, Prange T, Papich MG, Foster DM. Dosing regimen of enrofloxacin impacts intestinal pharmacokinetics and the fecal microbiota in steers. Front Microbiol 2018 Sep; 9: 2190 (Pubmed)

Foster DM, Jacob ME, Warren CD, Papich MG. Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin and ceftiofur in plasma, interstitial fluid, and gastrointestinal tract of calves after subcutaneous injection, and bactericidal impacts on representative enteric bacteria. J Vet Pharmcol Ther 2016 Feb; 39(1):62-71 (Pubmed)

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