The Microbiology & Immunology faculty has active research programs in four broad areas which include Gene and Immunotherapy, Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Physiology, Viral Immunology, and Immunopathogenesis. Individual research interests include molecular studies of lymphocyte activation and signal transduction, biowarfare and emerging infectious disease vaccine development, immunology of CNS diseases, regulation of innate immune mechanisms, immune mechanisms involved in atherosclerosis and autoimmunity, immunoglobulin structure and genetics, genetic control of the immune response, transplant immunobiology, complement chemistry, recombinant DNA vaccines, tumor immunology, oncogenes, human monoclonal antiboies, sphingolipid metabolism, microbial physiology, retrovirology (including HIV), pathogenic microbiology, immunology of enteric diseases, gene therapy of cancer including vector development, prevention of nosocomial infection and mechanisms of apoptosis induction.

The department includes jointly appointed physician-scientists from the College of Medicine including members in the departments of Medicine, ENT, Neuroscience and Surgery as well as dentist-scientists from the College of Dental Medicine who have collaborative expertise and research programs, thus enabling access to patient samples and clinical data of interest. Specialized expertise within the department includes development of gnotobiotic animal models, novel vaccines, gene therapy vectors, human monoclonal antibodies, and fuel cell technology.

The field of gnotobiotics involves use of germ-free animal models to study associations between microbial agents and a mammalian host. Gnotobiotics is becoming increasingly important in biomedical research as the widespread use of transgenic and knock-in/knock-out animal models enables the design of increasingly sophisticated investigations, for which even a specific-pathogen-free (SPF) animal resource may not provide adequate protection.

Novel vaccine development is based on a platform technology involving a complex recombinant adenovirus system that stimulates highly potent cellular and humeral immune responses. The technology utilizes a non-replicating recombinant adenovirus genetically engineered to produce protein, and/or glycoprotein antigens derived from disease-causing agents or cancer.

Gene therapy approaches also use adenoviral vectors that deliver apoptosis-inducing molecules. A novel and important new method for directly generating human monoclonal antibodies has been developed.  In the tumor immunology program investigators are seeking to understand ways to improve the treatment of cancer, particular cancers that have a viral etiology.  An emerging program of National interest is bacterial fuel cell technology and waste product management. 

Finally a major effort is underway to develop technology to suppress nosocomial infections in hospitals. This confluence of programs has led to the development of the Center for Gene, Cell, and Vaccine Therapy. The department also hosts a new BSL3 Facility currently undergoing commissioning.

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