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The Department of Microbiology has several very productive laboratories carrying out research in the area of Bacterial Pathogenesis. The Molecular and Cellular Bacterial Pathogenesis (MCBP) program is strong in part because UAB also has strong research and teaching programs in microbiology, immunology, cell biology, biochemistry, pathobiology, medicine and dentistry. Clinical divisions/departments of particular relevance to this program include Infectious Diseases (both Pediatric and Medicine), Geographic Medicine, Pathology, and Oral Biology. The UAB faculty includes scientists doing basic research on the biology and molecular biology of a number of important pathogens including trypanosomes, onchocerca, streptococci, chlamydia, enteric bacteria, spirochetes, mycoplasma, influenza virus, cytomegalovirus, vaccinia virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and HIV. Other scientists are doing basic immunology research on the action of complement, inflammation, and phagocytes as well as the elicitation specific immune responses to bacterial and viral antigens.
Although each bacterial, viral, or parasitic pathogen is expected to have its own unique combination of mechanisms that permit growth and survival in the host at each stage of the infection process, past observations make it clear that even diverse pathogens may share certain general mechanisms. New discoveries about the pathogenesis of any bacterium, parasite, or virus can often provide important insights in investigations of the pathogenesis of even phylogenetically unrelated pathogens. Thus, to effectively prepare trainees to solve new problems in the future, it is important to bring together students and faculty with interests in a broad array of pathogens. This approach maximizes the exposure of the trainees to the fundamental concepts and techniques involved in microbial pathogenesis research, including those used to study the cell biology and genetics of the pathogens and their hosts. The breadth of not only the pathogenesis and infectious disease research at UAB, but also the visiting seminar speakers in different departments and divisions, and existing course offerings are important to our ability to provide training in bacterial pathogenesis.
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| Preceptors: |
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| David E. Briles, Ph.D., Director |
Jerry McGhee, Ph.D. |
| Scott Barnum, Ph.D. |
Suzanne Michalek, Ph.D. |
| Kevin Dybvig, Ph.D. |
Richard Morrison, Ph.D. |
| Susan Hollingshead, Ph.D. |
Moon H. Nahm, M.D. |
| Edward Hook, M.D. |
Charles Turnbough, Ph.D. |
| John Kearney, Ph.D. |
Janet Yother, Ph.D. |
| Robin Lorenz, M.D., Ph.D. |
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| Trainees: |
Mentor: |
| Laura Boos (Predoctoral) |
Scott Barnum, Ph.D. |
| James Watt (Postdoctoral) |
Susan Hollingshead, Ph.D. |
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