Todd M Bell
Professor
Veterinary Pathology
toddbell@iastate.edu
515-294-2110
Patterson
ISU Directory Link
Bell Lab Website
General
Education & Certifications
George Mason University, National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases
- Ph.D. in Biosciences (Microbiology), Virology focus, May 2017
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Walter Reed Military Medical Center
- Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Pathologists, 2010
- Wednesday Slide Conference Coordinator, 2008-2009
Iowa State University, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, 2002
- President, Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2000
Iowa State University
- Animal Science 1995-1998: completed prerequisites for veterinary school admission
Professional Experience:
US Army, Colonel, Retired (August 2023, 21 years of active duty service)
- Director, Foundational Sciences, USAMRIID, July 2020-April 2023
United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID)
Fort Detrick, MD
- Acting Deputy Commander, USAMRIID, March 2022 – June 2022
United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID)
Fort Detrick, MD
- Commander, Public Health Activity-Japan, June 2018-July 2020
Camp Zama, Japan
- Military Deputy to the Science Director, USAMRIID, August 2017 - May 2018
United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID)
Fort Detrick, MD
- Ph.D. Candidate, GMU, August 2014-August 2017
George Mason University National Center for Biodefense & Infectious Diseases (NCBID)
Manassas, VA
- Chief, Molecular Pathology, USAMRIID, October 2010 – August 2014
United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID)
Fort Detrick, MD
- Resident, AFIP, Veterinary Pathology Program June 2007 – September 2010
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Walter Reed Military Medical Center, Washington, DC
- Group Veterinarian and Deputy Surgeon 2005-2007
10th Special Forces Group, Fort Carson, CO and Iraq (2006)
- Chief, Bahrain Branch Veterinary Services 2004-2005
Area Support Group, Kuwait, Manama, Bahrain and Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
- Chief, Andrews AFB Branch Veterinary Services 2002-2004
Andrews AFB, MD
Teaching
V Pth 7342 -- Anatomic Pathology I (Dual-listed with 542)
Basic pathology with emphasis on disease in animals and introduction to diseases by system.
V Pth 6040 -- Pathology Case Seminar
Description and interpretation of microscopic lesions and clinical pathology data collected from cases of natural and experimental disease.
V Pth 5700 -- Systemic Pathology I
Pathology of the respiratory, reproductive, endocrine, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular systems. Emphasis on pathogenesis and anatomic pathology correlated with interpretive clinical pathology where appropriate.
V Pth 5710 -- Systemic Pathology II
Pathology of the integumentary, urinary, digestive, lymphoid, and nervous systems and special senses. Emphasis on pathogenesis and anatomic pathology correlated with interpretive clinical pathology where appropriate.
Research Focus & Interests
The Bell lab is focused on elucidating host-viral interactions at the cellular and systemic levels in order to develop antiviral countermeasures.
Honors & Awards
- TEAM AWARD: 2025 recipient of the ISU Award for Outstanding Achievement in Interdisciplinary Team Research
- Dr. William O. Reece Award for Outstanding Academic Advising, 2025
- U.S. Army: Office of the Surgeon General Annual Wolfpack Award, 2020
- TEAM AWARD : Awarded for having established the Department of Defense SARS-CoV-2 laboratory in Japan in March of 2020 in response to the absence of testing, in coordination with the CDC, US Embassy-Tokyo, US Navy, and US Air Force.
- U.S. Army: A Proficiency Designator, 2019
- Awarded to officers recognized as leaders in their specialty through extensive publication and active national professional organization membership; considered eminently qualified to chair a department, division, or service; have attained full professional status; and have obtained national prominence in their field.
- Best Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation, George Mason University, College of Biosciences, 2017
- COL (Ret) William Inskeep Award, 2010
- Given to resident best demonstrating professionalism, mentorship, and selfless service during veterinary pathology residency.
Leadership/Committees/Council
- Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) Fall 2025 - present
- Research Advisory Committee, Iowa State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 2023-present
- International Development Committee, Iowa State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 2023-2025
- Director of Graduate Education, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Iowa State University, Aug 2023-present.
- Director’s Governance Council, Board of Directors for USAMRIID, 2020-June 2023.
- George Mason University Institute for Biohealth Innovation Advisory Council, 2022-present
- US Forces Japan Public Health Working Group, Chair, COVID 19 pandemic, 2020
- Human Use Committee (HUC), USAMRIID, 2014
- Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), USAMRIID, 2011-2014
Memberships
Iowa Veterinary Medical Association 2023-Current
The American Society of Virology 2020–Current
The American College of Veterinary Pathology 2010–Current
The American Society for Microbiology 2022–Current
Selected Publications
Nelli RK, Harm TA, Arruda B, Siepker C, Fasina O, Groeltz-Thrush JM, Baker A, Phillips R, Jones B, Espina V, Seger H, Kumar M, Hassan QU, Brixius G, Caceres CJ, Carnaccini S, Gimenez-Lirola L, Plummer PJ, Bell TM. Exploring influenza A virus receptor distribution in the lactating mammary gland of domesticated livestock and in human breast tissue. J Dairy Sci. 2026 Feb;109(2):1891-1906. doi: 10.3168/jds.2025-26950. Epub 2025 Nov 28. PubMed PMID: 41317858.
Twu NC, Teoh YC, Tan CPH, Danudoro R, Cheng X, Espin-Palazon R, Bell T, Giménez-Lirola L, Chowdhury R, Nelli RK. Spatial mapping of influenza and coronavirus receptors in the respiratory and intestinal tract epithelium of beef cattle using advanced PixF image analysis. Sci Rep. 2025 Dec 17;15(1):44029. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-28429-0. PubMed PMID: 41408089; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12712102.
Gorden PJ, Magstadt DR, Baker AL, Arruda BL, Bell TM, Nelli RK. Viral Mastitis Associated with Influenza A in Dairy Cattle. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2025 Jul;41(2):271-283. doi: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2025.02.010. Epub 2025 Apr 7. Review. PubMed PMID: 40199695.
Nelli RK, Harm TA, Siepker C, Groeltz-Thrush JM, Jones B, Twu NC, Nenninger AS, Magstadt DR, Burrough ER, Piñeyro PE, Mainenti M, Carnaccini S, Plummer PJ, Bell TM. Sialic Acid Receptor Specificity in Mammary Gland of Dairy Cattle Infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus. Emerg Infect Dis. 2024 Jul;30(7):1361-1373. doi: 10.3201/eid3007.240689. Epub 2024 Jun 11. PubMed PMID: 38861554; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11210646.
Bell TM, Facemire P, Bearss JJ, Raymond JL, Chapman J, Zeng X, Shamblin JD, Williams JA, Grosenbach DW, Hruby DE, Damon IK, Goff AJ, Mucker EM. Smallpox lesion characterization in placebo-treated and tecovirimat-treated macaques using traditional and novel methods. PLoS Pathog. 2024 Feb;20(2):e1012007. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012007. eCollection 2024 Feb. PubMed PMID: 38386661; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10883539.
Cline C, Zeng X, Bell TM, Shaia C, Facemire P, Williams J, Davis N, Babka A, Picado E, Fitzpatrick C, Golden JW. Temporal changes in pathology and viral RNA distribution in guinea pigs following separate infection with two New World Arenaviruses. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2023 Sep;17(9):e0011620. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011620. eCollection 2023 Sep. PubMed PMID: 37682988; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10511090.
Liu J, Mucker EM, Chapman JL, Babka AM, Gordon JM, Bryan AV, Raymond JLW, Bell TM, Facemire PR, Goff AJ, Nalca A, Zeng X. Retrospective detection of monkeypox virus in the testes of nonhuman primate survivors. Nat Microbiol. 2022 Dec;7(12):1980-1986. doi: 10.1038/s41564-022-01259-w. Epub 2022 Oct 17. PubMed PMID: 36253513.
Mucker EM, Shamblin JD, Goff AJ, Bell TM, Reed C, Twenhafel NA, Chapman J, Mattix M, Alves D, Garry RF, Hensley LE. Evaluation of Virulence in Cynomolgus Macaques Using a Virus Preparation Enriched for the Extracellular Form of Monkeypox Virus. Viruses. 2022 Sep 9;14(9). doi: 10.3390/v14091993. PubMed PMID: 36146799; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9505131.
Cline C*, Bell TM*, Facemire P, Zeng X, Briese T, Lipkin WI, Shamblin JD, Esham HL, Donnelly GC, Johnson JC, Hensley LE, Honko AN, Johnston SC. Detailed analysis of the pathologic hallmarks of Nipah virus (Malaysia) disease in the African green monkey infected by the intratracheal route. PLoS One. 2022;17(2):e0263834. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263834. eCollection 2022. PubMed PMID: 35143571; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8830707..*=co-first author
Liu J, Coffin KM, Johnston SC, Babka AM, Bell TM, Long SY, Honko AN, Kuhn JH, Zeng X. Nipah virus persists in the brains of nonhuman primate survivors. JCI Insight. 2019 Jul 25;4(14). doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.129629. eCollection 2019 Jul 25. PubMed PMID: 31341108; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6675545.
Cashman KA, Wilkinson ER, Zeng X, Cardile AP, Facemire PR, Bell TM, Bearss JJ, Shaia CI, Schmaljohn CS. Immune-Mediated Systemic Vasculitis as the Proposed Cause of Sudden-Onset Sensorineural Hearing Loss following Lassa Virus Exposure in Cynomolgus Macaques. mBio. 2018 Oct 30;9(5). doi: 10.1128/mBio.01896-18. PubMed PMID: 30377282; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6212830.
Koistinen K, Mullaney L, Bell T, Zaki S, Nalca A, Frick O, Livingston V, Robinson CG, Estep JS, Batey KL, Dick EJ Jr, Owston MA. Coccidioidomycosis in Nonhuman Primates: Pathologic and Clinical Findings. Vet Pathol. 2018 Nov;55(6):905-915. doi: 10.1177/0300985818787306. Epub 2018 Aug 2. PubMed PMID: 30071801; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6385601.
Bell TM, Espina V, Lundberg L, Pinkham C, Brahms A, Carey BD, Lin SC, Dahal B, Woodson C, de la Fuente C, Liotta LA, Bailey CL, Kehn-Hall K. Combination Kinase Inhibitor Treatment Suppresses Rift Valley Fever Virus Replication. Viruses. 2018 Apr 13;10(4). doi: 10.3390/v10040191. PubMed PMID: 29652799; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5923485.
Cashman KA, Wilkinson ER, Shaia CI, Facemire PR, Bell TM, Bearss JJ, Shamblin JD, Wollen SE, Broderick KE, Sardesai NY, Schmaljohn CS. A DNA vaccine delivered by dermal electroporation fully protects cynomolgus macaques against Lassa fever. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2017 Dec 2;13(12):2902-2911. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2017.1356500. Epub 2017 Oct 18. PubMed PMID: 29045192; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5718832.
Bell TM, Espina V, Senina S, Woodson C, Brahms A, Carey B, Lin SC, Lundberg L, Pinkham C, Baer A, Mueller C, Chlipala EA, Sharman F, de la Fuente C, Liotta L, Kehn-Hall K. Rapamycin modulation of p70 S6 kinase signaling inhibits Rift Valley fever virus pathogenesis. Antiviral Res. 2017 Jul;143:162-175. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2017.04.011. Epub 2017 Apr 23. PubMed PMID: 28442428; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5530372.
Bell TM, Shaia CI, Bearss JJ, Mattix ME, Koistinen KA, Honnold SP, Zeng X, Blancett CD, Donnelly GC, Shamblin JD, Wilkinson ER, Cashman KA. Temporal Progression of Lesions in Guinea Pigs Infected With Lassa Virus. Vet Pathol. 2017 May;54(3):549-562. doi: 10.1177/0300985816677153. Epub 2016 Jan 1. PubMed PMID: 28438110.
Kendra JA, de la Fuente C, Brahms A, Woodson C, Bell TM, Chen B, Khan YA, Jacobs JL, Kehn-Hall K, Dinman JD. Ablation of Programmed -1 Ribosomal Frameshifting in Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Results in Attenuated Neuropathogenicity. J Virol. 2017 Feb 1;91(3). doi: 10.1128/JVI.01766-16. Print 2017 Feb 1. PubMed PMID: 27852852; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5244343.
Bell TM, Bunton TE, Shaia CI, Raymond JW, Honnold SP, Donnelly GC, Shamblin JD, Wilkinson ER, Cashman KA. Pathogenesis of Bolivian Hemorrhagic Fever in Guinea Pigs. Vet Pathol. 2016 Jan;53(1):190-9. doi: 10.1177/0300985815588609. Epub 2015 Jul 2. PubMed PMID: 26139838.
Bell TM, Shaia CI, Bunton TE, Robinson CG, Wilkinson ER, Hensley LE, Cashman KA. Pathology of experimental Machupo virus infection, Chicava strain, in cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) by intramuscular and aerosol exposure. Vet Pathol. 2015 Jan;52(1):26-37. doi: 10.1177/0300985814540544. Epub 2014 Jul 2. PubMed PMID: 24990481.
Hammerbeck CD, Brocato RL, Bell TM, Schellhase CW, Mraz SR, Queen LA, Hooper JW. Depletion of Alveolar Macrophages Does Not Prevent Hantavirus Disease Pathogenesis in Golden Syrian Hamsters. J Virol. 2016 Jul 15;90(14):6200-6215. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00304-16. Print 2016 Jul 15. PubMed PMID: 27099308; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4936146.
Martins K, Cooper C, Warren T, Wells J, Bell T, Raymond J, Stuthman K, Benko J, Garza N, van Tongeren S, Donnelly G, Retterer C, Dong L, Bavari S. Characterization of clinical and immunological parameters during Ebola virus infection of rhesus macaques. Viral Immunol. 2015 Feb;28(1):32-41. doi: 10.1089/vim.2014.0085. PubMed PMID: 25514385
Johnston SC, Briese T, Bell TM, Pratt WD, Shamblin JD, Esham HL, Donnelly GC, Johnson JC, Hensley LE, Lipkin WI, Honko AN. Detailed analysis of the African green monkey model of Nipah virus disease. PLoS One. 2015;10(2):e0117817. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117817. eCollection 2015. PubMed PMID: 25706617; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4338303.
Glaros TG, Blancett CD, Bell TM, Natesan M, Ulrich RG. Serum biomarkers of Burkholderia mallei infection elucidated by proteomic imaging of skin and lung abscesses. Clin Proteomics. 2015;12(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s12014-015-9079-4. eCollection 2015. PubMed PMID: 26034464; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4450996.
Bozue J, Cote CK, Chance T, Kugelman J, Kern SJ, Kijek TK, Jenkins A, Mou S, Moody K, Fritz D, Robinson CG, Bell T, Worsham P. A Yersinia pestis tat mutant is attenuated in bubonic and small-aerosol pneumonic challenge models of infection but not as attenuated by intranasal challenge. PLoS One. 2014;9(8):e104524. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104524. eCollection 2014. PubMed PMID: 25101850; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4125294.
Cashman KA, Broderick KE, Wilkinson ER, Shaia CI, Bell TM, Shurtleff AC, Spik KW, Badger CV, Guttieri MC, Sardesai NY, Schmaljohn CS. Enhanced Efficacy of a Codon-Optimized DNA Vaccine Encoding the Glycoprotein Precursor Gene of Lassa Virus in a Guinea Pig Disease Model When Delivered by Dermal Electroporation. Vaccines (Basel). 2013 Jul 18;1(3):262-77. doi: 10.3390/vaccines1030262. PubMed PMID: 26344112; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4494234.
Brocato RL, Hammerbeck CD, Bell TM, Wells JB, Queen LA, Hooper JW. A lethal disease model for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in immunosuppressed Syrian hamsters infected with Sin Nombre virus. J Virol. 2014 Jan;88(2):811-9. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02906-13. Epub 2013 Nov 6. PubMed PMID: 24198421; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3911685.
Alves DA, Bell TM, Benton C, Rushing EJ, Stevens EL. Giant thoracic schwannoma in a rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2010 Nov;49(6):868-72. PubMed PMID: 21205456; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2994058.
Rivero R, Matto C, Adrien Mde L, Nan F, Bell T, Gardiner C. Parasite meningomyelitis in cats in Uruguay. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet. 2011 Jul-Sep;20(3):259-61. doi: 10.1590/s1984-29612011000300017. PubMed PMID: 21961761.
BOOK CHAPTERS and PROCEEDINGS
Bell, Todd M. “Veterinary Pathology, Biodefense and Biomedical Research.” In Huck, Leslie G., and Ronald L. Burke, eds. Military Veterinary Services. Government Printing Office, 2019.
Bell, Todd M. “Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers,” contributor and editor. Medical Management of Biological Casualties Handbook (Blue Book), 8th Edition, 2014.
Bell, Todd M. Proceedings, Veterinary Pathology Wednesday Slide Conference, 2008-2009