Pathology Microbiology And Immunology

Vanderbilt University researcher William Mitchell, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues in Germany and Canada have demonstrated a method for detecting “cell-free” tumor DNA in the bloodstream. Read More

A newly identified “atheroprotective” gene is a tool for exploring plaque pathophysiology and may be a good target for therapies to slow atherosclerosis progression. Read More

New structural findings reveal how "gatekeeper" proteins participate in the secretion systems bacteria use to infect host cells. Read More

Jim Cassat, M.D., Ph.D., a pediatric infectious disease specialist who joined the Vanderbilt faculty this summer, loves taking care of children with bone infections and doing research to understand the host-pathogen interactions during these invasive infections. Read More

Twelve members of Vanderbilt's faculty have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for their “scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.” Read More

Understanding how zinc and the host’s immune response control H. pylori’s cancer-causing potential could suggest new therapeutic strategies to reduce infection and cancer risk. Read More

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can share resources to cause chronic infections, Vanderbilt investigators have discovered. The findings shed light on a long-standing question in infectious diseases and may inform new treatment strategies. Read More

Vanderbilt University researchers are closer to understanding the link between obesity, chronic inflammation and type 2 diabetes. Read More

Simple heat treatments may give the frog immune system a boost and help it fight off a deadly fungal pathogen, according to a new study published July 10 in the journal Nature. Read More

Vanderbilt investigators identify a new therapeutic target for the inflammatory lung disease sarcoidosis. Read More

A subpopulation of bone cancer cells may be responsible for driving clinically aggressive behavior, suggesting new treatment options. Read More

Ebola. Chikungunya. Influenza. What’s to be done about these headline-grabbing, debilitating, often lethal viruses? Read More

James Cassat, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Pediatrics and Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, has received a Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) Career Award for Medical Scientists. Read More

The protein MTBP is overexpressed in an aggressive type of breast cancer, and it regulates another protein implicated in many cancer types, suggesting that it may be a good target for new therapeutics. Read More

The fungicide amphotericin B may be a useful treatment for a frog fungus that is killing amphibians worldwide. Read More

Understanding how the immune system responds to the respiratory virus HMPV is crucial for developing vaccines and anti-viral treatments. Read More

A newly identified receptor allows mammalian reovirus to infect neurons, shedding light on factors important for viral encephalitis. Read More

Understanding how to control the generation of regulatory T cells could have important implications for treating autoimmunity and cancer. Read More

Simple heat treatments may give the frog immune system a boost and help it fight off a deadly fungal pathogen, according to a new study published July 10 in the journal Nature. Read More

Virus-like particles containing a protein from human metapneumovirus are a promising vaccine candidate for this respiratory virus. Read More