Credit: Peter Allen, Kevin Fisher, Brian Long

Microbiology and immunology research and training in the MCDB Department focuses on the study of mechanisms of regulation of gene expression and function in microorganisms including bacteria and ciliates, cultured animal cells, and animal models of infectious disease. Host interactions with microbial and viral pathogens, the molecular bases of pathogenesis, and mechanisms of innate and adaptive immunity that confer protection from infectious disease are some of the areas of investigation by MCDB faculty and their students and postgraduate fellows. Interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches spanning biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, genomics and bioinformatics are utilized in studies of microbiological processes and structures with potential applications that include disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

Affiliated Faculty

Professor
Molecular mechanisms of self/non-self recognition in non-vertebrates; characterization of stem cells and development processes underlying regeneration and aging.
Assistant Professor
Combining biochemistry and cell biology to understand the regulation of membrane-bound organelles.
Molecular genetics and biochemistry of bacterial contact-dependent growth inhibition (CDI) systems; mechanisms of tmRNA- and ArfA-mediated ribosome rescue.
Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Cellular communication between bacteria, including mechanisms and biology of contact-dependent growth inhibition; epigenetic gene regulatory mechanisms.
Professor
Microbial pathogenesis; innate and adaptive immune responses to infection; microbial sepsis; vaccine and antimicrobial development.
Research Professor
Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
Bio-inspired catalytic nanofabrication, tunable photonic materials and dynamic self-assembly. Applications to semiconductors, high-power batteries, electro-optics, IR and solar energy.
Research Professor
Professor Emeritus
Tetrahymena genetics and genomics; genetic, physical and sequence mapping of the germline and expressed genomes of the unicellular eukaryote, Tetrahymena thermophila.
Professor Emeritus
Collaboration with the Low and Hayes labs on contact-dependent growth inhibition systems in bacteria.
Research Professor,
and C.A. Storke II Professor and Distinguished Professor, Emeritus
Antiviral innate immunity and interferon action, with focus on the roles of double-stranded RNA in translational control by the PKR kinase and A-to-I RNA editing by the ADAR1 deaminase.
Associate Teaching Professor
Associate Dean- Division of Undergraduate Education
Instruction and mentorship of biology majors; research into how mentorship and improved course structure influence student academic success and retention in the major.