Support Our Research

The Microbiology department harbors a collaborative scientific community whose
members share a passion for microbes and scientific exploration. We are uncovering
the mechanisms used by diverse microbes to survive in nature and to interact with 
host organisms. Our research ranges from understanding fundamental biological
mechanisms to addressing specific infectious disease challenges that are critical 
for human health.

Upcoming Events

OCt 5

Microbiology Monday Talks: Noon - 1:00pm, VSC1031 
Dong and Moffitt Labs
Please see Micro-Events weekly email for more information

Oct 6

Microbiology Tuesday Seminar: 12:30pm - 1:30pm, VSC1031
Norma Cecelia Martinez-Gomez, UC Berkeley
Please see Micro-Events weekly email for more information

OCT 13

Microbiology Tuesday Seminar: 12:30pm - 1:30pm, VSC1031
Alex Gao, Stanford University
Please see Micro-Events weekly email for more information

OCT 19

Microbiology Monday Talks: Noon - 1:00pm, VSC1031 
Schmidt and Rubin Labs
Please see Micro-Events weekly email for more information

OCT 20

Microbiology Tuesday Seminar: 12:30pm - 1:30pm, VSC1031
Yousuf Khan, Stanford University
Please see Micro-Events weekly email for more information

David Knipe

New Mechanism of Antiviral Immunity Discovered

David Knipe has filled in a missing detail of how the immune system is able to respond to an invading virus within one hour of infection. Insights could help fine-tune viral vectors that are used for immunizations, gene therapies, and to fight cancer.

Silvi Rouskin

ARPA-H Funds HMS-Led Pilot Project to Develop New Class of RNA Medicines

Silvi Rouskin leads a multi-institution pilot project to accelerate the development of RNA medications that would use genetic switches called riboswitches to regulate genes within the human body.

Jonathan Abraham

Scientists Reveal How the Monkeypox Virus Replicates

Jonathan Abraham's article in Nature reveals how shape changes during the assembly of viral proteins switch on replication in monkeypox virus.

David Knipe

David Knipe at ASV2026

Micro's David Knipe recently gave the Bernard Fields Lecture on "Sensing of Viral and Host DNA in Virus-Infected Cells: A New Mechanism for Activating the cGAS Pathway" at the annual American Society for Virology meeting at the University of Minnesota, July 27-30

Anna Brogan

Anna Brogan receives Sternberg Thesis Prize

Congratulations to Anna Brogan of the Rudner lab on being awarded the Nat L. Sternberg Thesis Prize for outstanding Ph.D. work in the field of bacterial molecular biology. Anna will be presenting at the 2026 Molecular Genetics of Bacteria and Phages Meeting at the University of Wisconsin, August 3-7

PK

The ancient weapons active in your immune system today

Quanta Magazine
Philip Kranzusch, a microbiologist at Harvard Medical School, was one of the first researchers to discover that a key component of human immunity also exists in bacteria.

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