Pathogenesis and Host Responses to Infectious Agents

Microbial pathogens, host responses to infection, and pathogen manipulation of host cell biology are the focus of investigation for UVA faculty from a range of disciplines. Many are members of the Carter Immunology Center  and the Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research.

The following interdisciplinary faculty conduct research and instruct fellows in this area:

Agaisse, Hervé

Genetic approaches, cellular and molecular biology of intracellular pathogen infection

Casanova, James E.

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

Criss, Alison K.

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of Neisserial pathogenesis

Derré, Isabelle

Host/pathogen Interaction - Chlamydia Infection

Hahn, Young S.

Immune regulation for HCV infection and chronic liver inflammation

Hughes, Molly A.

Biodefense and emerging pathogens

Kendall, Melissa M.

Bacterial cell signaling, host-pathogen interactions, intestinal pathogens

Marie, Chelsea

Human intestinal parasitology

Moonah, Shannon N.

Host-pathogen interactions; molecular parasitology; mucosal inflammation; immunopathology and repair. Our research interests evolved from studying a parasite that causes inflammation of the gut, similar to IBD.

Petri, William A.

Immune mechanisms of defense against COVID-19 and enteric (diarrheal) infections

Ramakrishnan, Girija

Microbial Pathogenesis

Shin, Jae Hyun

Clostridium difficile infection, infection in aged host, microbiome-immune response interactions, innate immune response

Sifri, Costi D.

Hospital epidemiology, immunocompromised infectious diseases, molecular pathogenesis and epidemiology, innate immunity

Warren, Cirle A.

Prevention and treatment of C. difficile infection. Role of microbiota in health and disease. Infections in special populations- elderly, pregnant women and racial/ethnic minority groups.