pathology microbiology and immunology
Bordenstein honored by Genetics Society of America
Feb. 27, 2020—The Genetics Society of America has recognized Seth Bordenstein, an evolutionary geneticist and microbiologist at Vanderbilt, for an initiative that brings real-world scientific research into middle school, high school and college biology classes.
Looking through MudPIT for protein interactions
Feb. 25, 2020—The identification of novel protein interactions and sites of modification in proteins involved in mRNA translation adds to understanding of a process that is an important therapeutic target.
Powering H. pylori pathogenesis
Feb. 6, 2020—Timothy Cover and colleagues report new insights into the sources of energy used by a bacterial “machine” linked to the pathogenesis of stomach cancer.
Zinc uptake by a deadly pathogen
Jan. 13, 2020—The increasingly antibiotic-resistant bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii requires zinc to cause infection, and Vanderbilt researchers have identified the zinc uptake system it uses.
Structural views of a C. diff toxin
Jan. 10, 2020—D. Borden Lacy and colleagues used cryo-electron microscopy to define the structure of a C. diff toxin, providing a framework for the design of novel therapeutics.
VUMC-led team isolates antibody that blocks bird flu
Dec. 12, 2019—VUMC scientists are redoubling their efforts to help people fight off bird flu. Their focus is H7N9, one of the most dangerous of the influenza viruses that have been transmitted from birds to humans.
New tool may speed antibody, vaccine research
Dec. 12, 2019—Antibody discovery and vaccine development research may be on the verge of rapidly expanding with data that previously took decades to acquire, thanks to LIBRA-seq, a new tool developed by Vanderbilt University researchers and their colleagues.
Eight Vanderbilt faculty elected AAAS fellows for 2019
Nov. 26, 2019—Eight Vanderbilt University faculty members have been named 2019 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers.
Imaging host-pathogen battle for metal
Oct. 31, 2019—An unprecedented view of bacterial products within infected tissues opens new opportunities to explore infection biology and devise novel therapeutic strategies.
Less inflammation = better healing
Oct. 17, 2019—Immune cells that produce an anti-inflammatory factor are enriched in fat tissue around the heart and may be good targets to improve heart attack outcomes.
Research team sorts out drug screen false positive results
Oct. 2, 2019—Vanderbilt investigators have identified 13 previously unknown drug compounds that cause false positive screenings for amphetamines, buprenorphine (an opioid), cannabinoids and methadone.
Pua lands NIH Director’s New Innovator Award
Oct. 1, 2019—Heather Pua, MD, PhD, one of 60 investigators to receive the 2019 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, will explore a novel type of cell signaling by RNAs in allergic airway inflammation.