| The faculty in the Department
of Microbiology and Immunology conduct research in the following areas:
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Bacterial Pathogenesis
The bacteriologists in the department focus their research on the strategies
employed by pathogens that mediate an intracellular infection. These pathogens
include Chlamydia, Mycobacterium, and Listeria. Research involves analysis
of both bacterial effectors and the response of the host cell.
Faculty members in this area:
| Paul Bowser |
Infectious and non-infectious diseases of fish, pathogenesis of
important bacterial pathogens of cultured and wild fish, evaluation
of new therapeutic compounds for use in cultured food fish. |
| Hélène Marquis |
Pathogenesis of Listeria monocytogenes, mechanisms
of regulation of specific virulence factors. |
| David Russell |
The biology of intracellular infection, with emphasis on Mycobacteria. |
| Marci Scidmore |
The biology of intracellular infection by the Chlamydia bacterium. |
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Molecular Virology
The department has a broad-reaching program in virology covering viral
infections of animals and humans. Research involves basic mechanisms of
infection and propagation, the induction of disease, and the biology of
viral infections in both farm animals and wildlife. Viral infections studied
include avian flu, avian and equine herpes viruses, canine parvovirus,
reovirus and the retroviruses of fish.
Faculty members in this area:
| Joel Baines |
Molecular biology and biochemistry of herpesvirus
assembly, envelopment, and cellular exit. Herpesvirus neurovirulence.
Cell biology of herpesvirus induced changes in cultured cells. |
| Paul Bowser |
Infectious and non-infectious diseases of fish, pathogenesis of
retrovirus-caused tumors of fish, pathogenesis of rhabdoviral infections
in fish, evaluation of new therapeutic compounds for use in cultured
food fish. |
| James Casey |
Eukaryotic gene regulation, oncogenic transformation, viral replication,
viral pathogenesis, toxicology. |
| Klaus Osterrieder |
Molecular pathogenesis and vaccinology of Equine Herpesvirus and
Marek's Disease Virus. |
| John
Parker |
Cell biology, biochemistry and molecular biology of mammalian
orthoreovirus-host cell interactions. Use of reoviruses as oncotherapeutic
agents. |
| Colin
Parrish |
Structure and function of canine parvovirus, crystallography,
virus assembly, mechanism of host cell invasion. |
| Karel (Ton) Schat |
Avian tumor virology and immunology, molecular biology of Marek's
disease virus and chicken infectious anemia virus, avian virology,
avian immunology, avian intestinal virus infections and intestinal
immunity. |
| Gary Whittaker |
Endocytosis of influenza virus, nuclear transport of influenza
virus, role of protein M1 in assembly of the virus. |
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Parasitology
The parasitologists in the department study the interface of the pathogen
and host at the level of the host’s immune response. This research
focuses on the nature of the protective immune response and how the pathogen
modulates the host response to ensure its success. The parasites studied
include both protozoan and helminth pathogens: Cryptosporidium, Icthyophthirius,
Leishmania, Schistosoma, Toxoplasma, and Trichomonas.
Faculty members in this area:
| Judith
Appleton |
Mucosal immunity in the intestinal tract, specifically
intestinal immunity expressed against parasitic nematodes. |
| Dwight Bowman |
Soil transmitted parasites, parasites of wildlife, biosurveillance. |
| Paul Bowser |
Infectious and non-infectious diseases of fish, pathogenesis of
parasites of cultured and wild fish, evaluation of new therapeutic
compounds for use in cultured food fish. |
| Ted Clark |
Biology of the parasitic protist Ichthyophthirius multifilis (Ich),
fish immunology, vaccine development. |
| Eric Denkers |
Immunity to the intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. |
| Matthias Hesse |
Immune-mediated pathology in a mouse model of schistosomiasis. |
| Susana
Mendez |
Immunology to parasitic diseases (protozoa and helminths), with
especial interest in vaccine development and genetic susceptibility. |
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Immunology
In addition to infection immunology, several investigators in the department
research basic immune function, ranging from sensing of the innate immune
system to developmental biology of the immune system and the effects of
environmental toxins on immune function.
Faculty members in this area:
| Douglas
Antczak |
Pregnancy immunology; immunogenetics; equine immunology. |
| Judith
Appleton |
Mucosal immunity in the intestinal tract, specifically intestinal
immunity expressed against parasitic nematodes. |
| Stephen Bloom |
Drug and environmental toxin effect on the development of the
immune and other systems. |
| Margaret Bynoe |
The molecular basis of antigen induced immune suppression and
the modulation of the innate immune system response in immunity
against cancer. |
| Ted Clark |
Biology of the parasitic protist Ichthyophthirius multifilis (Ich),
fish immunology, vaccine development. |
| Eric Denkers |
Immunity to the intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. |
| Rodney Dietert |
Genetic regulation of macrophage function; immunotoxicity. |
| Matthias Hesse |
Immune-mediated pathology in a mouse model of schistosomiasis. |
| Cynthia Leifer |
Understanding innate immunity from the inside out: Toll-like receptors,
signaling, dendritic cells, and controlling microbial infection. |
| George
Lust |
Genetics and pathogenesis of canine hip dysplasia and equine osteoarthritis.
Molecular genetic markers. |
| Susana
Mendez |
Immunity to parasites and vaccine development; genetic and immunological
components of resistance/susceptibility to protozoan diseases. |
| Klaus Osterrieder |
Role of immunomodulatory proteins in equine herpesvirus1 pathogenesis;
development of Erv-1 as an immunization and/or gene therapy vector. |
| David Russell |
The biology of intracellular infection, with emphasis on Mycobacteria. |
| Karel (Ton) Schat |
Avian antiviral cell-mediated immunity; avian intestinal immunity;
immune response to avian tumor viruses. |
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