The mission of the Department of Molecular Microbiology is to provide an outstanding scientific environment for scientists interested in all aspects involving the roles of microbes in biology.
We are particularly interested in questions in microbial pathogenesis, the study of how microbes intereact with their hosts in ways that both cause or avoid disease, and how this knowledge can be used to improve human health and conrol infectious diseases. The collaborative and collegial nature of Microbiology is well suited for the similarly-minded research environment of Washington University, and we strive to bring cutting-edge methods from all disciplines and medical sciences across the University to bear on these questions.
As a department, we take great pride in the training of the next generation of scientists, including students and postdoctoral follows, and mentoring the careers of faculty as they emerge as scientific leaders.
Recent Papers
Whole genome sequencing of experimental hybrids supports meiosis-like sexual recombination in Leishmania
Ehud Inbar1☯, Jahangheer ShaikID1,2☯, Stefano A. IantornoID1,3, Audrey Romano1, Chukwunonso O. Nzelu1, Katherine Owens2, Mandy J. Sanders3, Deborah DobsonID2, James A. CottonID3, Michael E. Grigg1, Stephen M. BeverleyID2☯, David SacksID1☯*
A platform for glycoengineering a polyvalent pneumococcal bioconjugate vaccine using E. coli as a host.
Harding CM, Nasr MA, Scott NE, Goyette-Desjardins G, Nothaft H, Mayer AE, Chavez SM, Huynh JP, Kinsella RL, Szymanski CM, Stallings CL, Segura M, Feldman MF. Nat Commun. 2019 Feb 21;10(1):891. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-08869-9. PMID: 30792408 [PubMed - in process]
Secretory Microneme Proteins Induce T-Cell Recall Responses in Mice Chronically Infected with Toxoplasma gondii.
Saraav I, Wang Q, Brown KM, Sibley LD. mSphere. 2019 Feb 27;4(1). pii: e00711-18. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00711-18. PMID: 30814319 [PubMed - in process]