Pathology Microbiology And Immunology

  • Illustration of human intestinal tract

    Crystal structure reveals secrets of virulent bacterium

    Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have obtained the crystal structure of a toxin from the bacterium Clostridium difficile (“C. diff”) — the leading cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea in the United States. Read More

    Jan 14, 2016

  • Vanderbilt University

    College of American Pathologists lauds Washington’s contributions

    Mary (Kay) Washington, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the College of American Pathologists (CAP). Washington was one of eight physician members honored during the organization’s recent annual meeting. Read More

    Jan 7, 2016

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    Detect and defend against pathogens

    Understanding factors, such as the receptor TLR9, that detect and defend against pathogens may lead to therapeutic approaches that promote an effective immune response to treat infections. Read More

    Nov 4, 2015

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    Biomarker for intestinal tumors

    A new marker could be useful for diagnosing and treating neuroendocrine tumors of the small intestines. Read More

    Oct 21, 2015

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    Healing without scarring

    Drugs that inhibit the Wnt signaling pathway can regenerate injured skin and may be useful in treating fibromatosis, degenerative joint disease and cancer. Read More

    Oct 16, 2015

  • conceptual - glowing cell

    Tolerating a transplant

    A new genetic model has generated new strategies for promoting tolerance to transplants – and improving long-term transplant outcomes – in the background of autoimmune disease. Read More

    Oct 1, 2015

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    Keep your coat on, virus!

    A compound acting on serotonin receptors delays a critical step during reovirus cell entry, reducing viral infectivity. Read More

    Sep 22, 2015

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    Framework for studying cell responses

    Vanderbilt investigators have developed a framework for studying cellular responses that could be used to identify the agents driving a range of biological processes in health and disease. Read More

    Aug 26, 2015

  • Vanderbilt University

    Rathmell to lead new Center for Immunobiology

    Jeffrey Rathmell, Ph.D., has been recruited to Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) to lead a new Center for Immunobiology, a structure supported by the Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, the Department of Medicine and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC). Read More

    Aug 20, 2015

  • Neurons

    Origins of neuroblastoma

    Vanderbilt researchers are exploring how neuroblastoma tumors begin and progress, knowledge that could provide new treatments for this pediatric cancer. Read More

    Aug 12, 2015

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    Skaar receives American Asthma Foundation award

    Eric Skaar, Ph.D., MPH, the Ernest W. Goodpasture Professor of Pathology, has received a Scholar Award from the American Asthma Foundation (AAF). Read More

    Aug 6, 2015

  • Vanderbilt University

    How to trick a wily virus

    Vanderbilt investigators have discovered how human antibodies induced during testing of an experimental “bird flu” vaccine kill the virus. Read More

    Jul 24, 2015

  • Medical societies honor VUMC’s Cover, Williams

    Medical societies honor VUMC’s Cover, Williams

    Two physicians from Vanderbilt University have been elected to membership in two of the nation’s oldest and most respected medical honor societies — the Association of American Physicians (AAP) and the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI). Read More

    Jun 11, 2015

  • arm with IV line

    Study identifies C. diff toxin receptor, suggests new treatment approaches

    Vanderbilt University investigators have identified a cellular receptor for a toxin from Clostridium difficile (“C. diff”) — the leading cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea in the United States. Read More

    Jun 4, 2015

  • Vanderbilt University

    Vanderbilt University honors 28 as emeriti faculty

    Twenty-eight retiring faculty members were recognized during Vanderbilt’s Commencement ceremony May 8, when the university honored their years of service and bestowed on them the title of emeritus or emerita faculty. Read More

    May 8, 2015

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    Kids more likely to react to blood transfusions

    Pediatric patients have a significantly higher incidence of transfusion reactions compared to adults, according to a study by Vanderbilt University researchers. Read More

    May 4, 2015

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    RNA defects in multiple sclerosis

    Vanderbilt researchers have discovered that profound defects exist in the integrity of structural RNA molecules in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. Read More

    Apr 30, 2015

  • Vanderbilt University

    Cates lands grant to study desmoid tumor genetic factors

    The Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation (DTRF) has awarded Justin Cates, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, with one of its five research grants for his work studying growth/recurrence determinants related to genetic factors in desmoid-type fibromatosis (DTF) patients. Read More

    Apr 16, 2015

  • coronavirus

    Contributors to coronavirus ‘fitness’

    Understanding the role that host membrane modification plays in coronavirus replication is essential for developing novel approaches to block the viruses that cause SARS and MERS. Read More

    Feb 24, 2015

  • Vanderbilt University

    Targeting HIV’s “cap”

    New findings underscore the attractiveness of the HIV capsid – the structure that encloses the viral genome – as a therapeutic target. Read More

    Feb 10, 2015