Department of Molecular Microbiology
The Department of Molecular Microbiology teaches introductory courses in microbiology and pathogenic microorganisms for first-year medical students and graduate students. In conjunction with the Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences (DBBS) program in Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, the department also offers a number of advanced courses that are primarily designed for graduate students but also open to medical students. Advanced elective research activities are offered by faculty in the department.
Website: | http://www.microbiology.wustl.edu |
Sean P. J. Whelan, PhD
Department Chair
Christina L. Stallings, PhD
Program Director
Visit our website for more information about our faculty and their appointments.
A
Shabaana Abdul Khader, PHD
Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
Professor of Pathology and Immunology
PHD Madurai Kamaraj University 2002
Mushtaq Ahmed, MS, MS, PHD
Assistant Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
MS Anna University Chennai 1997
BS Madurai Kamaraj University 1993
MS Madurai Kamaraj University 1995
PHD Madurai Kamaraj University 2004
Natalia S Akopyants, MS, PHD, MS1
Instructor in Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
MS Moscow State University 1980
PHD Inst of BioOrg Chem-Rus A of S 1988
MS1 Moscow State University 1981
B
Wandy L. Beatty, PHD
Associate Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
BS Montana State University 1989
PHD Univ of Wisconsin Madison 1994
Stephen M Beverley, PHD
Ernest St. John Simms Distinguished Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
PHD University of California 1979
BS California Institute Technolo 1973
Louis-Marie Bloyet, PHD
Instructor in Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
PHD University of Lyon 2015
Tamara L. Brent, PHD, MD
Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
Alumni Endowed Professor of Molecular Microbiology
BA Johns Hopkins University 1983
PHD Johns Hopkns University Medic 1991
MD Johns Hopkns University Medic 1991
Anne Elizabeth Mayer Bridwell, PHD, DVM
Instructor in Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
BA Kenyon College 2003
PHD Wake Forest University 2015
DVM Virginia Tech 2009
C
Michael G Caparon Jr, PHD
Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
PHD University of Iowa 1985
BS Michigan State University 1981
D
Siyuan Ding, PHD
Assistant Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
PHD Yale University 2014
BS Fudan University 2009
Deborah E Dobson, PHD
Associate Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
PHD University of CA Berkeley 1981
BS University of Illinois 1976
Karen W Dodson, PHD
Instructor in Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
BA University of Missouri 1983
PHD Washington Univ in St. Louis 1990
F
Mario Federico Feldman, PHD
Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
PHD Universidad del Buenos Aires 2004
H
Henry V Huang, PHD
Associate Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
BA Occidental College 1972
PHD California Institute Technolo 1977
Scott James Hultgren, PHD
Helen L Stoever Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
BS Indiana University Bloomington 1981
PHD Northwestern University 1987
K
Sebla Bulent Kutluay, PHD
Assistant Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
PHD Michigan State University 2009
L
Jennifer K Lodge, PHD
David T Blasingame Distinguished Professor (primary appointment)
Senior Associate Dean for Research
Vice Chancellor for Research
BS Oberlin College 1979
PHD Washington Univ in St. Louis 1988
Carolina Beatriz Lopez, MS, PHD
Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
MS Pontificia Universidad Catolic 1995
BS Pontificia Universidad Catolic 1992
PHD Mount Sinai School of Medicine 2002
O
Paul D Olivo, MD, PHD
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
MD University of Florida 1981
PHD University of Florida 1982
BA George Washington University 1972
R
Charles M Rice III, PHD
Adjunct Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
BS University of California 1974
PHD California Institute Technolo 1981
S
Laurence David Sibley, PHD
Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
Alan A and Edith L Wolff Distinguished Professor
PHD Louisiana St University 1985
BA Oberlin College 1978
Asya Smirnov, DVM, PHD
Instructor in Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
DVM Moscow State Academy of Veteri 1993
PHD Hebrew University 2005
Christina Leigh Stallings, MA, PHD, MS
Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
MA Columbia University 2001
PHD Columbia University 2005
MS Columbia University 2002
BS Mary Washington College 1999
T
Niraj Harish Tolia, PHD
Adjunct Assoicate Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
PHD Watson Sch of Biological Scien 2004
BS Imperial College 1999
V
Joseph Paul Vogel, PHD, BS2, BS1
Associate Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
PHD Princeton University 1993
BS Minnesota State University 1986
BS2 Minnesota State University 1986
BS1 Minnesota State University 1986
W
David Wang, PHD
Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
Professor of Pathology and Immunology
BS Stanford University 1992
PHD Mass Inst of Technology (MIT) 1998
Sean P. J. Whelan, PHD
Marvin A Brennecke Distinguished Professor of Molecular Microbiology (primary appointment)
Head of the Department of Molecular Microbiology
PHD University of Reading 1993
Molecular Microbiology Research Electives
During the fourth year, opportunities exist for many varieties of advanced clinical or research experiences.
Stephen M. Beverley, PhD
McDonnell Pediatric Research Building, 9th Floor
Phone: 314-747-2630
Molecular genetics of protozoan parasites and tropical diseases; biosynthesis of the parasite surface, genomics, virulence and drug action or resistance.
Michael Caparon, PhD
McDonnell Pediatric Research Building, 10th Floor
Phone: 314-362-1485
Molecular genetics and pathogenicity of the streptococci and other pathogenic gram-positive bacteria.
Siyuan Ding, PhD
McDonnell Pediatric Research Building, 9th Floor
Phone: 314-273-3963
Molecular mechanisms of rotavirus replication and pathogenesis; virus-host interactions; innate immune signaling in the intestinal epithelium.
Tamara L. Doering, MD, PhD
McDonnell Pediatric Research Building, 10th Floor
Phone: 314-747-5597
The Doering lab studies the opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, with the dual motivations of elucidating basic biology and identifying potential drug targets. Projects include studies of the synthesis and regulation of the main cryptococcal virulence factor, its polysaccharide capsule, and host-fungal interactions. Current approaches include those of biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, and genetics; studies also include high-throughput analysis of host-pathogen interactions and computational approaches to reconstructing the capsule regulatory network.
Daniel Goldberg, MD, PhD
McDonnell Pediatric Research Building, 9th Floor
Phone: 314-362-1514
Biochemistry of malaria.
Henry Huang, PhD
McDonnell Pediatric Research Building, 8th Floor
Phone: 314-362-2755
RNA virus evolution; molecular biology of alphaviruses; alphavirus gene expression vectors; antiviral drug design.
Scott J. Hultgren, PhD
McDonnell Pediatric Research Building, 10th Floor
Phone: 314-362-6772
Our focus is on the pathogenic mechanisms and disease outcomes in the urinary tract. Work in the Hultgren lab blends multiple scientific disciplines to elucidate bacterial and host mechanisms that determine the onset, course and outcome of interactions between a host mucosal surface and bacterial pathogens. Using genetics, genomics, biochemistry, structural biology, high-resolution imaging, animal models, clinical studies and combinatorial chemistry, we have illuminated new ways in which intracellular lifestyles and community behavior play critical roles in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection. We have uncovered new principles of adhesive pili biogenesis in gram-negative bacteria by the chaperone/usher pathway, delineating the fine molecular details of a donor strand complementation and exchange mechanism by which the energy of final subunit folding is used to complete the assembly and extrusion of pili across the outer membrane. We revealed how uropathogenic Escherichia coli use type 1 pili to invade and establish biofilm-like intracellular bacterial communities within bladder cells as part of a mechanism that subverts host defenses and how quiescent intracellular reservoirs can seed recurrent infections. We have uncovered complex networks that govern mucosal epithelial response to infection, which we have shown determines disease outcome. Further, we have made seminal contributions to our understanding of the pathogenesis and response to other uropathogens, polymicrobial infections and catheter-associated UTIs and to the mechanisms by which bacteria form a directed amyloid fiber, curli, which is important in biofilm formation. Together, this work is changing the way UTIs are evaluated, reshaping models of bacterial infections in general and spawning new technologies to design novel vaccines and antimicrobial therapeutics to diagnose, treat and/or prevent UTIs and their sequelae.
Jennifer Lodge, PhD
McDonnell Pediatric Research Building, 10210A
Phone: 314-286-2125
The Lodge lab’s main focus is on the fungal cell wall and using it to develop vaccine candidates, understand host response, and develop antifungal therapies. Our main model system is Cryptococcus neoformans, a pathogenic fungus that kills almost 200,000 people every year, predominantly patients with AIDS or other immunodeficiencies. We examine the basic biochemistry and molecular genetics of cell wall structure and biosynthesis, and we have used this information to develop antifungal targets and to examine cell wall contributions to protective immunity.
David Sibley, PhD
McDonnell Pediatric Research Building, 9th Floor
Phone: 314-362-8873
We study the intracellular survival mechanisms of protozoanparasites, focusing primarily on the model opportunistic parasite Toxoplasma gondii. We also study Cryptosporidium, an enteric parasite of global importance among young children in developing countries. Current approaches include high-resolution microscopy, genetic mapping of virulence traits, comparative genomic analyses, and the development of animal models for studying pathogenesis and host resistance.
Christina L. Stallings, PhD
McDonnell Pediatric Research Building, 8th Floor
Phone: 314-286-0276
Our main focus is the molecular pathogenesis of mycobacteria. Our laboratory integrates in vivo disease modeling, molecular biology and biochemistry to provide answers to the fundamental biological questions regarding molecular pathogenesis and to yield therapeutic strategies for the treatment of mycobacterial infections.
Joseph P. Vogel, PhD
McDonnell Pediatric Research Building, 10th Floor
Phone: 314-747-1029
Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires' pneumonia, replicates inside alveolar macrophages by preventing phagosome-lysosome fusion.
David Wang, PhD
McDonnell Pediatric Research Building, 8th Floor
Phone: 314-286-1123
Our work focuses on the discovery and characterization of novel viruses. We use functional genomic technologies to identify novel viruses from a variety of clinical samples from diseases of unexplained etiology. We then use epidemiologic, molecular and cellular strategies to define the relevance of newly identified viruses to human disease. A range of new viruses — including polyomaviruses, astroviruses and picronaviruses — are currently under investigation.
Sean P.J. Whelan, PhD
McDonnell Pediatric Research Building, 9th Floor
Phone: 314-286-1585
The Whelan Lab research focus is on the molecular mechanisms that underpin gene expression in nonsegmented negative-strand (NNS) RNA viruses — a group of viruses that includes some of the most significant human pathogens in existence (e.g., rabies, ebola, respiratory syncytial virus, measles, mumps, Nipah viruses). Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has served as an important prototype of the NNS RNA viruses for more than 50 years, and Dr. Whelan has played a leading role in this field that can be traced back to the recovery of infectious virus from cDNA. As independent investigators, Dr. Whelan and his colleagues have led the way to understanding the structure and function of the viral replication machinery. The goals of such studies have been to ultimately inform the development of inhibitors against this group of important pathogens and to advance the use of VSV as a vaccine vector, an oncolytic agent, and a neuronal tracer.
Visit online course listings to view offerings for M30 MolMB.
M30 MolMB 526 Microbes and Pathogenesis
The course will familiarize the student with the diversity of pathogenic microbes and the different ways they can survive and cause disease. It is a concepts-based course, emphasizing the general principles of microbial pathogenesis. Selected pathogenic microbes are used as models to describe pathogen-host interactions in molecular detail. The laboratory will introduce the student to the principles and the basic techniques of diagnostic bacteriology.
Credit 30 units.
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M30 MolMB 900 Research Elective - Molecular Microbiology
Research opportunities may be available. If interested, please contact the Department of Molecular Microbiology.
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