Faculty

Research Interests: The Urbano Lab studies microbial-host interactions that involve the actin cytoskeleton. Immune signals such as IFN-g activate host cells to fight infection by stimulating expression of cellular defenses that include actin-binding proteins (ABPs). Our lab aims to characterize the functions of these ABPs in the context of the immune response and learn how actin-based immunity impacts microbial pathogenesis and pathogen clearance. One area of active research involves the role of ABPs in microbial actin-based motility and cell-to-cell dissemination (Listeria, Shigella, Burkholderia, etc.). Additionally, ABPs are important components of the host cell adhesion and motility machinery. Here we aim to understand how immune activation modifies the mechanical properties of cells to mobilize to sites of infection, capture and eliminate microbes.

Research Interests: The Savage lab studies interactions between pathogens, the microbiota, and host. In particular, I currently focus on how the microbiota promotes a heathy colonocyte immunometabolism and how this interaction is altered during disease, putting the host at risk of infection with pathogens and pathobionts. My overall research goal is to understand the basis behind these host-microbiota interactions during health so that host health can be supported with therapeutics during microbial disruption to prevent a loss of colonization resistance.

Research Interests: Dr. Anthony's research focuses on zoonotic and emerging infectious diseases, and specifically on the discovery, ecology, and evolution of viruses. He is interested in the factors that increase the risk of disease emergence in new hosts, including host or viral traits, and in the eco-evolutionary mechanisms that shape patterns of variation across scales.

Research Interests: Epidemiology of dairy cattle health and infectious diseases. Antimicrobial resistance in food animals and stewardship practices to prevent it.

Research Interests: Host-microbe interactions, enteric pathogens, microbial and host metabolism, role of microbiome in inflammatory bowel disease, role of microbiome in the context of colorectal cancer

Research Interests: Ecology of foodborne pathogens, Impact of product shelf life on food safety, antibiotic-resistant genes and pathogens in food production chain

Research Interests: Dr. Shapiro's research interests include transport and fate of zoonotic pathogens in watershed and coastal ecosystems; effects of landscape change and climate variability on disease transmission; impacts of water scarcity and impaired quality on human and animal population health, and food safety. Topics of research projects currently span zoonotic infectious disease; waterborne infectious disease; food safety; wildlife population health; human public health and epidemiology.

Research Interests: Antimicrobial resistance in cattle, with a focus on enteric and zoonotic pathogens, the microbiota, and applied management practices to improve stewardship of antimicrobial drug use

Research Interests: My laboratory uses proteomics and molecular genetics to elucidate how M. tuberculosis disrupts the host immune system