Education

· B.S., Texas A & M University
· D.V.M., Texas A & M University, 1983
· Ph.D., Immunoparasitology and Comparative Pathology, Washington State University,
  Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, 1988
· Residency, Veterinary Anatomic Pathology, Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic
  Laboratory, 1983-1987 
· Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Pathologists, 1988

· Immunoparasitology
· Veterinary Diagnostic Pathology
· Experimental Pathology – Veterinary and Comparative

· Thomas S. Gathright Award for Academic Excellence, Texas A & M University (1979)
· Diamond Laboratories Service Award, Texas A & M University (1981)
· Pfizer Leadership Award, Texas A & M University (1982)
· Charles E. Cornelius Young Investigator Faculty Research Award, Univ. of Florida (1989)
· Teacher of the Year for the Veterinary Class of 1992, University of Florida (1990)
· Outstanding Faculty Achievement and Performance Award, University of Florida (1990)
· Teaching Excellence Award in the Basic Sciences, Florida Student Chapter of the American
  Veterinary Medical Association, University of Florida (1991)
· Teacher of the Year for the Veterinary Class of 1993, University of Florida (1991)
· Teacher of the Year for the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida (1991)
· Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award, Pre-Veterinary Student Organization, University of
  Arizona (1997, 2001)
· Outstanding Teaching Award for the Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology,
  University of Arizona (2001)
· Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences,
  University of Arizona (2002)

Dr. Riggs joined the University of Arizona in 1992 after serving as an assistant professor in the Department of Comparative and Experimental Pathology at the University of Florida (1988-1991). His research interests center on the immunobiology and molecular pathogenesis of parasitic protozoal diseases of zoonotic importance. Current research is focused on development of recombinant and synthetic vaccines for cryptosporidiosis; immunotherapy of cryptosporidiosis; definition of the molecular pathogenesis of host cell recognition, attachment, and invasion by Cryptosporidium parvum; structural characterization of C. parvum glycoprotein ligands; animal model development; and improved methods for diagnosis and detection. Since 1989, his research program has been supported by funding as Principal Investigator from the NIH, USDA NRICGP, private foundations, and industry. He has contributed as senior inventor or co-inventor on five patents resulting from research discoveries. National research-related service activities have included memberships on the USDA NRI Competitive Grants Program and NIH AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections Study Sections, and a federal appointment as Chair of the Immunology/Parasitology/Production Disease/Toxicology Study Section for the USDA NRI Competitive Grants Program. 

While a faculty member at the University of Florida, Dr. Riggs' primary assignments were in teaching and diagnostic pathology. He directed the Systemic Pathology course and participated in teaching Applied Pathology in the Professional Veterinary Curriculum, and was involved in training Residents in Veterinary Anatomic Pathology through the College's Necropsy and Surgical Pathology Services. Since joining the University of Arizona, Dr. Riggs has taught a 4-5 credit course in Comparative General Pathology to senior pre-professional undergraduate students  (Mechanisms of Disease VSC 423, 4 cr) and graduate students (VSC 523, 5 cr), and continues to mentor graduate students. Academic service activities have included Faculty Advisor to the Pre-Veterinary Student Organization (1994-pres), membership on the departmental Instructional Programs Committee (1992-2000), Pathobiology Graduate Program Committee (2001-2004), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Curriculum Committee (1994-1998), University Hearing Board (2001-pres), and Institutional Biosafety Committee (2001-pres).

Priest, J.W., A. Mehlert, M.J. Arrowood, M.W. Riggs, and M.A.J. Ferguson. 2003. Characterization of a low molecular weight glycolipid antigen from Cryptosporidium parvum.
Journal of Biological Chemistry 278:52212-52222.

Riggs, M.W. 2002. Recent Advances in Cryptosporidiosis: The Immune Response. Microbes and Infection 4:1067-1080.

Riggs, M.W., D.A. Schaefer, S.J. Kapil, L. Barley-Maloney, and L.E. Perryman. 2002. Efficacy of Monoclonal Antibodies Against Defined Antigens for Passive Immunotherapy of Chronic Gastrointestinal Cryptosporidiosis. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 46:275-282.

Wyatt, C.R., W.J. Barrett, E.J. Brackett, D.A. Schaefer, and M.W. Riggs. 2002. Association of IL-10 Expression by Mucosal Lymphocytes with Increased Expression of Cryptosporidium parvum Epitopes in Infected Epithelium. Journal of Parasitology 88:281-286.

Riggs, M.W., D.A. Schaefer, S.J. Kapil, L. Barley-Maloney, L.E. Perryman, and M.R. McNeil. 2001. Targeted Disruption of CSL Ligand – Host Cell Receptor Interaction in Treatment of Cryptosporidium parvum Infection. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 48:44S-46S.

        * Schaefer, D.A., B.A. Auerbach-Dixon, and M.W. Riggs. 2000. Characterization and Formulation of
          Multiple Epitope-Specific Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies for Passive Immunization Against
          Cryptosporidiosis. Infection and Immunity 68:2608-2616.

        * Langer, R.C. and M.W. Riggs. 1999. Cryptosporidium parvum Apical Complex Glycoprotein CSL
          Contains a Sporozoite Ligand for Intestinal Epithelial Cells. Infection and Immunity 67:5282-5291.

Adjei, A.A., J.T. Jones, M.W. Riggs, and F.J. Enriquez. 1999. Evidence of Thymus- independent Local and Systemic Antibody Responses to Cryptosporidium parvum Infection in Nude Mice. 1999. Infection and Immunity 67:3947-3951.

Riggs, M.W., M.R. McNeil, L.E. Perryman, A. Stone, M. Scherman, and R. O'Connor. 1999. Cryptosporidium parvum Sporozoite Pellicle Antigen Recognized by a Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody is a Beta-mannosylated Glycolipid. Infection and Immunity 67:1317-22.

Enriquez, F.J. and M.W. Riggs. 1998. Role of Immunoglobulin A Monoclonal Antibodies Against P23 in Controlling Murine Cryptosporidium parvum Infection. Infection and Immunity 66:4469-4473.

Riggs, M.W. 1997. Immunology: Host Response and Development of Passive Immunotherapy and Vaccines. In: "Cryptosporidium and Cryptosporidiosis". R. Fayer, Ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, pp. 129-162.

Riggs, M.W., A.L. Stone, P.A. Yount, R.C. Larger, M.J. Arrowood, and D.L. Bentley. 1997. Protective Monoclonal Antibody Defines a Circumsporozoite Like Glycoprotein Exoantigen of Cryptosporidium parvum Sporozoites and Merozoites. Journal of Immunology 158:1787-1795.

* graduate student