People

Roles: Faculty Investigator, Potential MFF (REU) Host, Potential Postdoc Mentor, Potential Undergraduate Mentor

Research Areas: Animal Hosts, Genetics, Genomics and Cell Biology of Infection, Veterinary/Clinical Research

The main focus of our research program is to elucidate key mechanistic components in enveloped viruses and their host cells that: 1) mediate viral entry into cells, 2) elicit cell immune responses, and 3) mediate viral egress from cells. These studies are leading to the development of diagnostic tools, new techniques, antiviral agents, and vaccines. Within the enveloped viruses, we focus a significant portion of our efforts on deadly zoonotic viruses with pandemic potential, such as Nipah, Hendra, influenza, and the coronaviruses.  

Roles: Faculty Investigator, Potential MFF (REU) Host

Research Areas: Animal Hosts, Bacteria, Disease Ecology and Evolution, Microbiota and Microbiomes

Our research explores the impact of host behavior and nutritional needs on the evolution of intestinal symbionts. Current projects include the study of signals that coordinate the physiology and development of intestinal bacteria with the feeding activity of their host. We are also interested in the roles microbes play in providing nutritionally important organic molecules to herbivorous hosts.

Roles: Faculty Investigator

Research Areas: Animal Hosts, Bacteria, Disease Ecology and Evolution, Genetics, Genomics and Cell Biology of Infection, Microbiota and Microbiomes, Viruses

The August lab is interested in infection-based and environment signals that trigger inflammation. We are particularly interested in signals regulated by the Tec family kinases, and how they regulate activation of cells such as mast cells and T cells to drive their differentiation and production of inflammatory cytokines.

Roles: Faculty Investigator

Research Areas: Agriculture Research, Animal Hosts, Genetics, Genomics and Cell Biology of Infection, Viruses

The Blissard lab addresses fundamental questions on the biology and pathology of virus-insect interactions. A primary focus is the study of viral envelope glycoproteins and their interactions with host insect cells and cell proteins during viral entry and egress. Another focus are is understanding the gene expression program of the insect pathogenic virus, Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) and the transcriptional responses of the host insect cell.

Roles: Faculty Investigator, Potential MFF (REU) Host, Potential Postdoc Mentor

Research Areas: Agriculture Research, Bacteria, Genetics, Genomics and Cell Biology of Infection, Microbiota and Microbiomes, Plant Hosts

Our research centers on crop diseases caused by bacteria in the genus Xanthomonas, focusing on TAL effector proteins injected by the bacteria to manipulate expression of specific host genes important for disease development. Our lab also studies plant disease resistance mechanisms triggered by TAL effectors in some host genotypes, and, to understand TAL effector origins and evolution, we study TAL effector like-proteins in other biological systems.

Roles: Faculty Investigator, Potential Postdoc Mentor

Research Areas: Animal Hosts, Disease Ecology and Evolution, Genetics, Genomics and Cell Biology of Infection, Microbiota and Microbiomes

I study how microbes in the human microbiome are transmitted among individuals, using a wide range of approached including shotgun metagenomics of microbiome communities, culture-based methods, and single-cell analyses. Another main focus is horizontal transmission of genes between members of the microbiome, specifically focusing on genes conferring antibiotic resistance.

Roles: Faculty Investigator, Potential Postdoc Mentor

Research Areas: Animal Hosts, Bacteria, Disease Ecology and Evolution, Fungi, Genetics, Genomics and Cell Biology of Infection, Microbiota and Microbiomes, Veterinary/Clinical Research, Viruses

The Buchon lab focuses on the impact of pathogens and the microbiota on body homeostasis. We use systemic infection as a model for septicemia, and the gut response to infection as a model for mucosal immunity. Genomic and genetic approaches allow us to characterize new pathways involved in both resistance and tolerance to infection. Specifically, we are interested in the three-way dialogue between gut microbes, intestinal stem cells, and gut structure and function.

Roles: Faculty Investigator, Potential MFF (REU) Host

Research Areas: Agriculture Research, Bacteria, Fungi, Microbiota and Microbiomes, Plant Hosts, Viruses

My research program explores soil microbiome dynamics and their impacts on ecosystem and plant health. Students will use genomics and culture-based experiments to understand how soil bacteria response to plant root exudates. They will gain skills in microbiology and bioinformatics, and learn concepts in community ecology and bacterial genome evolution.

Roles: Faculty Investigator

Research Areas: Animal Hosts, Genetics, Genomics and Cell Biology of Infection, Veterinary/Clinical Research, Viruses

We study positive and negative interactions between viruses and antibodies. We are particularly interested in maternal antibodies, which are transferred from mother to infant to protect against neonatal infections. However, these antibodies can also block the infant response to vaccines. Despite this phenomenon being identified decades ago, the mechanisms underpinning this interference are still a mystery. We are working to discover how maternal antibodies interact with infant antibody responses, which paves the way for development of new vaccine strategies.

Roles: Faculty Investigator, Potential Undergraduate Mentor

Research Areas: Agriculture Research, Disease Ecology and Evolution, Genetics, Genomics and Cell Biology of Infection, Microbiota and Microbiomes, Plant Hosts, Viruses

Numerous studies demonstrate that vector-borne pathogens influence host characteristics, resulting in altered host-vector interactions and enhanced transmission. We seek to determine the molecular mechanisms that underlie this phenomenon and use this knowledge to develop innovative control strategies using genetic and biochemical approaches. Current focuses are on changes in plant signaling and defenses, cell biology, and protein functions in response to insect vectors.