The major research focus of Dr. Neely's laboratory involves elucidating mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis using several streptococcal pathogens as virulence models. During her postdoctoral research Dr. Neely developed a unique animal model system for the study of infectious disease using the zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model host. In recent years the zebrafish has become a paradigm for the study of embryogenesis and vertebrate organ development as well as in studying human developmental diseases.

Streptococcal pathogens are the causative agents for a wide variety of different human diseases. Current research in the Neely lab utilizes the zebrafish model to study the virulence mechanisms involved in progression of different types of streptococcal infection. Streptococcus pyogenes is a human-specific pathogen reported to cause diseases ranging from the less serious impetigo and pharyngitis to the more serious invasive infections of cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis and Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome. Streptococcus iniae is a pathogen of fish as well as humans, causing cellulitis and necrotizing dermatitis as well as systemic infections leading to multiple organ failure and invasion into the cerebral spinal fluid. Both of these pathogens cause fatal infections in the zebrafish model, however they differ strikingly in the pathology of infection. S. pyogenes causes a localized necrotic infection while S. iniae causes a systemic infection with invasion into the blood stream and brain. This phenomenon allows us to address questions regarding the requirements for development and progression of different types of infectious disease. Identical types of infection showing very similar pathology occur in humans from various streptococcal pathogens resulting in serious morbidity and mortality. Some of the current research projects in the lab involve using multiple mutagenesis strategies to address specific virulence questions.

In addition, recent advances in the field of zebrafish genetics have highlighted the similarities of the zebrafish immune system to that of humans allowing us to address questions related to host response to infectious disease. The amenability of the zebrafish system to genetic manipulation allows us to directly address the host's role in progression of disease. Another interest in the laboratory is regulation of virulence gene expression. The regulatory mechanisms of several streptococcal virulence genes are currently being analyzed to determine how regulation plays a role in disease.