Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis
The Graduate Program in Immunology & Microbial Pathogenesis offers interdisciplinary biomedical research training leading to the Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D., and M.S. degrees.
Faculty members and students explore diverse areas of inquiry related to the medical implications of microbes and the human body’s response to them.
Current research areas include:
Immunology
Effects of man-made pesticides and herbicides and heavy metals on the immune system
- Biochemistry of inflammatory cytokines
- Immune response in bacterial and viral diseases
- Regulation of signal transduction in immune responses
- Molecular aspects of cell signaling as it relates to cancer chemotherapy and cell growth
- Peptide and DNA vaccines for contraception
- Cytotoxic T cells in transplant rejection and disease pathogenesis
Microbiology
- Physiology of pathogenic microbes
- Microbial genetics
- Mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis
- Microbial virulence factors
- Chemotaxis and motility
- Interactions between microbes and their hosts
- Molecular mimicry and structure-function relationship of bacterial virulence factors
- Microbial biofilms
- Bacterial diseases including Lyme Disease, cystic fibrosis, inflammatory bowel (Crohn’s) disease, and streptococcal infections
Graduate education in this program emphasizes independent research training. Once you acquire a strong foundation in the core biomedical concepts, you will have flexibility in choosing advanced coursework in specific areas of interest.