Dr. Apichai Tuanyok is a microbiologist specializing in melioidosis, a deadly tropical disease caused by B. pseudomallei, which is also classified as a Tier 1 biothreat agent. Born and educated in Thailand, with a Ph.D. from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, he has spent more than two decades investigating the disease from both public health and biodefense perspectives. Dr. Tuanyok’s work spans genetic genomics, antibiotic resistance, bacteriophage therapy, and vaccine development: all grounded in the One Health approach that links human, animal, and environmental health. His global collaborations, especially in Thailand, support advancements in diagnostics, treatment, and preparedness against potential biological threats. Outside the lab, he’s an avid traveler and gardener who enjoys exploring Florida’s beaches and growing tropical fruit in his backyard.
Read the full interview here:
Can you provide a brief introduction about yourself and your academic background?
I was born and raised in Thailand and attended Prince of Songkla University. I completed my Ph.D. in tropical medicine at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, University of Liverpool, graduating in 2000. After that, I returned to Thailand to teach at Mahidol University. During my Ph.D., my focus was on medical microbiology, specifically investigating bacterial pathogens.
When I returned to Thailand, I discovered a disease I had never heard of before: melioidosis. In my first year back, I learned about the disease and decided to devote my career to studying it. I left Thailand a year later to do my postdoctoral work in Canada at the University of Calgary. Afterwards, I moved to the U.S., where I have now been for about 19 years.
I learned to be a laboratory teacher while working as research faculty at Northern Arizona University. Then I became a research-emphasis faculty here at the University of Florida, where I’ve been for 11 years. At that time, UF wanted to recruit faculty whose research could interest the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. Since the Burkholderia pseudomallei and B. mallei pathogens causing melioidosis and glanders, respectively, are classified as Tier 1 biothreat agents requiring biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) containment, my research is funded by these departments.
My passion for this field is still as strong as when I started. When I was in Thailand learning about the disease, I once witnessed a patient die in front of me from melioidosis-induced pneumonia and sepsis. I had taken a medical student to observe the case, and when I realized I didn’t even know what the disease was until a senior physician told me, I decided then to dedicate my career to studying it.
Because it’s classified as a tropical disease, melioidosis isn’t widely studied in the U.S. What ultimately brought me here was the post-9/11 concern over bioterrorism. After the anthrax attacks, the U.S. became highly focused on preventing biological threats. The germs that cause melioidosis and glanders could potentially be used as biological weapons, and my goal has been to improve security through better understanding and prevention of such threats.
What is the primary focus of your research?
My research covers nearly every aspect of melioidosis, including genetics, genomics, vaccine development, and drug resistance. I use the One Health approach. One Health is a collaborative, multidisciplinary framework that recognizes the interconnection between people, animals, and ecosystems. It underlies much of my work to better understand both the public health and biodefense aspects of the disease.
I look at melioidosis from the perspectives of public health and defense. In regards to public health, the disease has a high mortality rate of around 40% because the bacterium is resistant to many antibiotics. We aim to improve diagnostics and develop new drugs and vaccines for protection. Because the disease has potential as a bioweapon, we also focus on developing vaccines and countermeasures to protect both civilians and military personnel, particularly those deployed to endemic regions.
Why is your research important? What impact does it have on the field or society?
Melioidosis is a neglected tropical disease with a high fatality rate and limited treatment options. By studying it, we aim to reduce global mortality, improve diagnostics, and create effective vaccines. On the defense side, understanding and preparing for possible biological threats helps strengthen both public health systems and national security.
Can you describe any current research projects you are working on?
Our current project focuses on drug resistance. We recently published a study investigating the genetic basis of resistance to ceftazidime, a key antibiotic used to treat sepsis. We are also developing bacteriophage therapy, which is using viruses that infect and kill bacteria to combat antibiotic-resistant strains. We published related work last year and are continuing to engineer bacteriophages that can kill bacteria more effectively. This could become a future treatment in combination with antibiotics.
Another ongoing effort involves vaccine development. One of my Ph.D. students, Jason Thornton, a U.S. Army veterinarian, has worked with me on developing a vaccine that accounts for the genetic diversity of melioidosis strains in different countries.
Our projects center on bacteriophage research, drug resistance, and vaccine development, all grounded in the One Health principle since the disease affects both humans and animals.
What methodologies or approaches do you use in your research?
We work in a high-containment BSL-3 laboratory at the Emerging Pathogens Institute. In the past, we also used a facility at Communicore for animal research.We use high-containment techniques, personal protective equipment (PPE), and extensive genome sequencing to understand the genetic diversity of B. pseudomallei across different regions, such as the U.S. and Australia.
Are you collaborating with any other researchers or institutions? If so, how do these collaborations enhance your work?
We collaborate with a group in southern Thailand, where the disease is more prevalent. Most of our samples come from there since cases in the U.S. are rare and typically involve travelers returning from Asia. Environmental surveys in Thailand’s Songkhla Province have helped identify how people contract the bacteria from soil and other environmental sources. We also run a clinical trial there to develop new diagnostic techniques and regularly train Thai students at UF.
We also collaborate with researchers at University College Dublin in Ireland to test vaccines against melioidosis, funded by the UK Medical Council. Our lab is responsible for testing the vaccine in mice.
Have you received any notable awards or recognitions for your research?
As a student in the UK, I received the Young Investigator’s Award at the 5th Conference of the Federation of Infection Society (1998, Manchester, England).
In 2012, I received the NHMRC Research Excellence Award from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia for my work on bacterial genetic diversity.
Outside of your research, what other interests or hobbies do you have?
I love to travel. After the COVID-19 pandemic, I paused for a while, but now I try to travel every year, both for work and fun. I recently visited Japan and travel to Thailand yearly because of my collaborations there.
I enjoy being in Florida. It reminds me of my hometown in Thailand because of the proximity to the ocean. My family enjoys living here; we often visit the beach, and I especially enjoy gardening. I’ve been growing tropical fruits like mangoes and papayas in my backyard, though it’s not easy!
How can others learn more about your work or get in touch with you?
Email: tuanyok@ufl.edu
Phone: (352) 294-8269
Lab Facebook: Tuanyok Burkholderia Laboratory
Google Scholar: Apichai Tuanyok, PhD
What is your general advice for anyone who wants to do what you do?
Passion is the key. I’ve trained many undergraduate students who went on to become physicians and scientists, and the common factor among those who succeed is genuine passion.
You have to truly enjoy what you’re doing in this field. For me, the motivation comes from wanting to help save lives. During COVID-19, I paused my melioidosis research to open the lab for vaccine testing because I believe in using science to make a difference.
Interviewer: Julia Martin, UF Undergraduate
Interview with Apichai Tuanyok, PhD
Transcribed: 11/10/2025
