Steven Dilberger-Lawson

Title

Research Associate III

Office Building

Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory

Office

114

Mailing Address

Animal Disease Research 114
Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences-Box 2175
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007-0001

Education

• B.S. in biological science | University of California, Davis
• Ph.D. in biological science/virology | South Dakota State University

Academic Interests

• Diagnostic test development and reagent (monoclonal antibody) production
• Molecular biology and molecular diagnostics
• Veterinary virology
• Transboundary and emerging diseases

Areas of Research

Dr. Lawson’s research interests focus on advances in viral diagnostics for the swine production industry. Over the last 15 years, his research has involved characterizing molecular mechanisms of disease and viral persistence of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Currently, his research is focused on developing antibody reagents for improved viral diagnostics and developing molecular tools for investigating parameters of virus-host immunity. This includes developing new assays for porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) and senecavirus A (SVA). Dr. Lawson’s laboratory brings expertise within areas of molecular biology including gene cloning, protein expression and purification, and the development of reverse genetic systems for research. He and colleagues have relied on the development of expressed antigen and monoclonal antibody production for use as diagnostic tools for the development of a wide range of new diagnostic testing platforms including IFA, ELISA and the Luminex-based fluorescent microsphere immunoassay (FMIA). These assays fill a diagnostic need for the swine industry to rapidly detect multiple pathogens and provide important tools for disease surveillance and testing of vaccine candidates for the prevention of disease.

Publications

1. Joshi, L.R., Fernandes, M.H.V., Clement, T., Lawson, S., Pillatzki, A., Resende, T.P., Vanucci, F.A., Kutish, G.F., Nelson E.A., Diel, D.G. 2016. Pathogenesis of Senecavirus A infection in finishing pigs. Journal of General Virology. Oct. 14 doi:10.1099/jgv.0.000631.
2. Diel, D.G., S. Lawson, F. Okda, A. Singrey, T. Clement, M. H. V. Fernandes, J. Christopher-Hennings, E. A. Nelson. 2016. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus: an overview of current virological and serological diagnostic methods. Virus Research. doi:10.1016/j.virusres.2016.05.013.
3. Hain, K.S., L.R. Joshi, F. Okda, J. Nelson, A. Singrey, S. Lawson, A. Pillatzki, G.F. Kutish, E.A. Nelson, E.F. Flores, D.G. Diel. Immunogenicity of a Recombinant Parapoxvirus Expressing the Spike Protein of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus. 2016. Journal of General Virology. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.000586.
4. Okda, F., *S. Lawson, X. Liu, A. Singrey, T. Clement, J. Nelson, J. Christopher-Hennings, E.A. Nelson. 2016. Development of monoclonal antibodies and serological assays including indirect ELISA and fluorescent microsphere immunoassays for diagnosis of porcine deltacoronavirus. BMC Veterinary Research 12:95. doi: 10.1186/s12917-016-0716-6.
5. Clement, T., A. Singrey, S. Lawson, F. Okda, J. Nelson, D. Diel, E.A. Nelson, J. Christopher-Hennings. 2016. Quantitation of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus neutralizing antibodies in sow serum, colostrum, milk and piglet serum after feedback. J. Swine Health and Production 24:147-153.
6. Okda, F., X. Liu, A. Singrey, T. Clement, J. Nelson, J. Christopher-Hennings, E.A. Nelson, *S. Lawson. 2015. Development of an indirect ELISA, blocking ELISA, fluorescent microsphere immunoassay and fluorescent focus neutralization assay for serologic evaluation of exposure to North American strains of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus. BMC Veterinary Research 11:180. doi:10.1186/s12917-015-0500-z.
7. Jane Christopher-Hennings, Karla P. C. Araujo, Carlos J. H. Souza, Ying Fang, Steven Lawson, Eric A. Nelson, Travis Clement, Michael Dunn, Joan K. Lunney. 2013. Opportunities for bead-based multiplex assays in veterinary diagnostic laboratories. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation.  
8. Li Y., Zhu L., Lawson SR, Fang Y. 2013. Targeted mutations in a highly conserved motif of the nsp1β protein impair the interferon antagonizing activity of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. Journal of General Virology Sept.; 94 (Pt 9):1972-83.
9. Sun Z., Lawson S., Langenhorst R., McCormick KL, Brunick C., Opriessnig T., Baker R., Yoon KJ, Zhang W., Huber VC, Fang Y.  2013. Construction and immunogenicity evaluation of an epitope-based antigen against swine influenza A virus using Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin B subunit as a carrier-adjuvant. Vet Microbiology June 28;164(3-4):229-38. (Co-first author with Sun)
10. Lawson SR.,  Li Y., Patton J., Langenhorst RJ., Sun Z., Jiang Z., Christopher-Hennings J., Nelson EA., Knudsen D., Fang Y., Chang KO. 2012. Interleukin-1β expression by a recombinant porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. Virus Res. Feb.; 163(2): 461-8.
11. Langenhorst RJ, Lawson SR, Kittawornrat A., Zimmerman JJ, Sun Z., Li Y., Christopher-Hennings J., Nelson EA, Fang Y. 2012. Development of a fluorescent microsphere immunoassay for detection of antibodies against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus using oral fluid samples as an alternative to serum-based assays. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology. Feb.; 19(2):180-9. (Co-first author with Langenhorst)