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Microbiology

Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program

About

Research in Microbiology 

Research in Microbiology at UVA spans the fundamental molecular processes of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites of major importance to human health.Many fundamental biological processes have been uncovered through the study of bacteria, viruses and eukaryotic unicellular microorganisms, and these studies have also revealed mechanisms by which infectious agents cause disease. Our students and faculty examine how microbes replicate, invade the host cell, colonize the host and interact with the immune system.  To this end we use state-of-the-art experimental approaches drawn from the fields of molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, structural biology, cell biology, physiology, cellular and sub-cellular imaging, genomics and bioinformatics.

The microbiology research community at UVA spans multiple basic science and clinical departments.  It features numerous laboratories that are engaged in highly interactive and collaborative research, with many researchers sharing authorship on high-profile publications.  Our research findings provide insights into basic biology and also provide foundations for translational applications, such as vaccine development and new therapeutic approaches for treating infections.

The robust educational opportunities available include specialized coursework, laboratory rotations, journal clubs, and weekly seminars highlighting the work of trainees as well as that of internationally renowned scientists.

Training in Microbiology at UVA equips our graduates to pursue diverse career options, including postdoctoral positions in academia, as well as jobs in government, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, collegiate teaching, public policy, consulting and patent law.

Faculty

Understanding the Molecular Basis of Macular Degeneration in Order to Hasten the Eradication of Blindness

Molecular Mechanisms for Membrane Transport and Cell Signaling

Role of Arf family GTPases in vesicular transport and cytoskeleton assembly.<br> Cell Biology of bacterial pathogenesis. <br>The innate immune response to bacterial infection.

Herpes Simplex Virus Infection of Neurons

Biophysical Chemistry: Membrane protein structure, function, and dynamics

The maternal and infant microbiome in childhood growth and immunity

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of Neisserial pathogenesis

Host/pathogen Interaction - Chlamydia Infection

Herpesvirus gene expression & RNA biology

Structure and Function of Macromolecular Complexes Using Electron Microscopy

Innate immunity, chronic disease, host-parasite interactions, Toxoplasma gondii, proteomics

Bacterial attachment and biofilms, microbial transport in porous media

Super-resolution fluorescence imaging of bacterial cells

Exploring new therapeutics avenues to treat Multiple Sclerosis.

Mechanisms of Genetic and Metabolic Adaptation in the Malaria Parasite, Plasmodium falciparum

Immune regulation for HCV infection and chronic liver inflammation

Immune response to infectious disease in the CNS

Biodefense and emerging pathogens

Systems-biology approaches to cancer biology and virology.

Bacterial cell signaling, host-pathogen interactions, intestinal pathogens

Regulation of Polarized Morphogenesis

Pathology

Systems biology, infectious disease, cancer, toxicology, metabolic engineering

Bioanalytical tools for inflammatory disease

Microbial Pathogenesis

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Gene Expression; Human Endogenous Viruses; SARS-CoV-2 Protein Trafficking; Post-transcriptional Gene Regulation

Influence of commensal microbes on immune homeostasis, anti-tumor immunity, and metastasis

Gram-positive pathogenesis; type VII secretion; impact of secreted effectors on host-pathogen interactions and immune responses

Viral immunology, Cancer immunology, Aging, Mucosal Immunology

Prokaryotic immune systems, bacteriophage virology, programmed cell death, pore-forming proteins, evolution of immunity, cGAS-STING, protein engineering

Biomembrane Structure and Function; Cell Entry of Enveloped Viruses; Neurosecretion by Exocytosis; Structure of Bacterial Pathogen Membrane Proteins; Lipid-Protein Interactions

Cancer biology and immunology, Immuno-oncology, Immunometabolism, Genetically-engineered mouse models

The immune response to common cold and allergens in health and disease.

Unraveling the role of host microbe interactions in autoimmune diseases

Pathogenesis of infectious diseases and the development of new therapies and vaccines for infectious diseases and cancers.