Monika Gulia-Nuss, an associate professor and graduate program director in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology in the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, is working closely with researchers in Uruguay, where the national government is committed to protection of its important cattle industry from the economic ravages of the cattle tick, which are estimated to be well over $30 million in losses annually. Up to 90% of cattle infected with a fever carried by the tick suffer death, while tick damage to cattle skins impacts the leather industry and tick-borne illness also reduces milk production.