Microbiology

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Department Faculty listed by research area

The Department of Microbiology conducts basic and applied research on a wide range of problems that involve microbes: bacteria, viruses and parasites. Microorganisms are ubiquitous, and microbiology is prominent in the daily news, reflecting the ubiquity of microorganisms and their involvement in the health of the Earth and its inhabitants.

The broad scope of research in the department includes:

• Molecular studies of viruses and bacteria that are aimed at understanding these infectious entities so that they can be managed to ameliorate their involvement in disease and maximize their beneficial properties. Our studies involve vaccinia virus, baculoviruses, dengue virus, plant positive strand RNA viruses; Agrobacterium, mycobacteria, Pseudomonas, Clostridium, bacteria of the oceans and soils.
• Studies of the ecology and physiology of bacteria and parasites that are aimed at understanding the roles of these organisms in shaping the environment (bioremediation, contribution to biogeochemical cycles) and causing disease. Our studies involve genomic-based analyses of the contributions of bacteria to nutrient fluxes in the oceans and soils, and studies on diseases of fish.
• Applied studies aimed at vaccine production and the development of biosensors capable of detecting pathogenic bacteria.