Aditya Gupta is a researcher at the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service where he investigates the molecular diversity and transmission of Sarcocystis parasites in livestock. In this Postdoc Portrait interview, he shares how his work focuses on characterizing parasite genomes to identify zoonotic risks and mitigate significant economic losses in the cattle industry.
Molecular Tools for Studying Parasites
Q | What drew you to parasitology?
My interest in molecular parasitology developed gradually through exposure to microbiology, molecular biology, and infectious diseases during my academic training. Early in my career, I was fascinated by how these tiny parasites could influence entire ecosystems and human health. During my doctoral research on fish parasites (Myxozoa), I became particularly interested in these parasites with complex life cycles involving fish and aquatic oligochaetes. My current work on Sarcocystis expanded this interest further when I began studying foodborne parasites in meat samples. Seeing how these organisms can remain undetected in food yet potentially affect consumers reinforced the importance of this field causing immense losses to the cattle industry. The opportunity to apply molecular tools and genomics to uncover hidden risks in the food supply continues to drive my curiosity. I am especially drawn to research that not only advances scientific understanding but also translates into practical recommendations for improving food safety and human health.
Q | What scientific problem are you trying to solve?
Foodborne parasites remain underrecognized despite their potential impact on human and animal health causing significant economic losses. My research focuses on understanding the diversity, transmission, and food safety risks of parasites such as Sarcocystis in livestock, particularly in beef consumed by the public. Through molecular detection, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis, I investigate how these parasites circulate between cattle, wildlife, and humans. By analyzing meat samples and characterizing parasite genomes, I aim to identify species that may pose risks to humans (zoonotic) and clarify their life cycles and transmission pathways. We are also working on a Sarcocystis falcatula genome causing deadly disease in birds which is only the second genome in this field. Ultimately, my goal is to generate data that can inform risk assessments, improve surveillance strategies, and guide simple mitigation approaches, such as proper freezing and cooking practices in congruence with the One Health approach. By integrating molecular parasitology with public health relevance, I hope to strengthen food safety systems and improve awareness of parasitic infections linked to meat consumption.
Spreading Safe Food Handling Awareness to Reduce Risk
Q | What’s one thing you learned from working with foodborne parasites that you didn’t expect?
One unexpected realization was how widespread and genetically diverse foodborne parasites can be, even in well-regulated food systems. I initially assumed that routine inspection and modern processing would significantly limit the presence of parasitic organisms in retail meat. However, molecular analyses revealed that parasite DNA can still be detected in samples, highlighting how these organisms often go unnoticed because they do not always cause visible changes. It’s unbelievable that Sarcocystis cruzi’s prevalence rate could go up to 100 percent and still be unnoticeable. Another surprising aspect was the complexity of their transmission cycles, which frequently involve wildlife reservoirs interacting with livestock. Additionally, I learned that relatively simple interventions, such as freezing meat before cooking, can effectively reduce risks. This reinforced the idea that research findings can translate into practical, accessible solutions. The experience shifted my perspective from purely academic investigation toward research that directly informs public awareness and diagnostics as well as preventive strategies.
Q | If your research succeeds, what could it change for science or society?
My research could improve how foodborne parasites are monitored and understood within modern food systems. By identifying species present in meat and clarifying their transmission pathways, this work could contribute to evidence-based risk assessments and updated food safety guidelines. This will reduce the huge economic losses which is caused to the cattle industry every year. Sometimes the whole carcass has to be discarded. Our research will help alleviate these challenges to the farmers. For human health, the impact could be simple but meaningful in spreading awareness of safe food handling practices and reducing the risk of parasitic infections.
Q | What question are you most excited to answer next?
I am most excited to determine which Sarcocystis species present in livestock have the greatest potential to infect humans and how frequently these transmission events occur. We recently found that one of the cattle species (Sarcocystis sigmoideus) has been found to be transmissible to humans in Europe. This includes using genomic approaches to distinguish closely related species and understanding how wildlife reservoirs contribute to contamination of the food chain. Answering this question would help prioritize surveillance efforts and refine recommendations for reducing risk at both the production and consumer levels.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
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