Much of the research in this group focuses on the interplay between pathogens and hosts. Considerable emphasis is placed on the infectious agents themselves (viruses, bacteria and parasites), including host recognition and invasion. The mechanism of action of toxins and pore-inducing proteins are highlighted. Research on host resistance/response pathways includes studies on cellular and humoral immunity. Cutting edge investigations in vaccine development and delivery provide strong clinical applications to this diverse pathogen research program. Other focal areas include molecular pathogenesis in cancer, including oncogene expression and angiogenesis.

Robert C. Alaniz, Ph.D. -- College Station
Assistant Professor
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests: The overarching research goals of the lab are directed toward understanding important host and microbial mechanisms that instruct the development of pathogen-specific effector, memory, and protective T-cell immunity after infection with intracellular bacteria.

Hubert Amrein, Ph.D. -- College Station
Professor
Molecular & Cellular Medicine
Research Interests: Sensory Perception of External Chemical World.

Helene Andrews-Polymenis, D.V.M., Ph.D. -- Bryan
Assistant Professor
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests: Genetic Basis of Intestinal Persistence of Salmonella enterica. We are currently working on the following projects: 1. Understanding the molecular role of STM0557 in intestinal persistence in murine models of infection, 2. Functional Genomics of Salmonellae: Generation of a Complete Deletion Library, 3. In vitro Screening of Complete Deletion Library, 4. In vivo Screening of Complete Deletion Library.

Gabriela Bowden, Ph.D. -- Houston
Joint Assistant Professor
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests: Bacterial virulence factors, adhesins and toxins, protein structure and function, protein expression and regulation.

Jeffrey Cirillo, Ph.D. -- Bryan
Professor
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests: Bacterial Pathogenesis; Host-Pathogen Interactions at the Molecular and Cellular Level.

Allison Rice-Ficht, Ph.D. - College Station
Regents Professor
Molecular & Cellular Medicine
Research Interests: Use of unique biomaterials for controlled release of live and subunit vaccines and A study of alpha crystalline structure and function.

Laura Hendrix, Ph.D. -- Bryan
Assistant Professor
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests: Research in my laboratory is directed toward the purification and identification of specific Bartonella proteins that appear to play a role in disease pathogenesis specifically related to the development of anemia.

Magnus Hook, Ph.D. -- Houston
Regents Professor
Neva & Wesley West Chair
Director, Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases
Member of the GSBS Faculty
Research Interests The molecular pathogenesis of infections and inflammatory diseases. We are interested in two key areas in the pathogenic process; microbial adherence to host tissue and microbial evasion of host defense systems.

David P. Huston, M.D. -- Houston
Professor
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests The overall goal of his laboratory is to understand mechanisms regulating inflammation and thereby develop strategies for modulating immune responses.

Amminikutty Jeevan, M.Sc., Ph.D. -- College Station
Assistant Professor
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests: Our long-term research goals are to delineate the cellular and molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of M. tuberculosis infection after BCG vaccination and to identify the intrinsic mechanism involved in the reactivation of latent M. tuberculosis infection.

Arthur Johnson, Ph.D. -- College Station
Distinguished Professor
Wehner Welch Chair
Research Interests: Protein sorting and folding at membranes; Cytolytic pore-forming bacterial toxins.
The movement of proteins through or into a membranes is examined using primarily fluorescence, FRET, and photocrosslinking. Fluorescence spectroscopy is being used to investigate the movement of misfolded proteins from the ER to the cytosol for degradation (ERAD) and the creation of holes in mammalian cell membranes by bacterial toxins.

Julian Leibowitz, M.D., Ph.D. -- College Station
Professor
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests: The replication of the murine coronavirus MHV (mouse hepatitis virus) and the molecular and genetic basis of its interactions with the host.

David McMurray, M.S., Ph.D. -- College Station
Regents Professor
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests: The overall goal of the current funding period (2005-2011) of my NIH grant is to elucidate the mechanisms by which diet and vaccination influence the protective immune responses to low-dose, pulmonary infection of guinea pigs with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Katja Mertens, Ph.D. -- College Station
Assistant Professor
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests Defense mechanisms against oxidative stress, Development of genetic tools for C. burnetii, and Structure and biosynthesis of the O-specific polysaccharide.

Margie Moczygemba, Ph.D. -- Houston
Assistant Professor
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests: The research focus of our laboratory is to understand the molecular mechanisms controlling interleukin-5 receptor endocytosis and signal termination.

Siegfried Musser, Ph.D. -- College Station
Associate Professor
Molecular & Cellular Medicine
Research Interests: Bacterial Secretion; Nuclear Transport Dr. Musser's laboratory is focused on understanding how proteins cross membranes. Model systems include planar bilayers, vesicles, and live and premeabilized cells. Traditional biochemical and molecular biology approaches are used, in addition to advanced fluorescence methods, including single molecule methods.

John Quarles, M.S., Ph.D. -- College Station
Professor
Department Head
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests: Pathogenesis of viruses and intervention in viral diseases (antiviral drugs, vaccines, interferon) with primary concentration on influenza virus. Capillary culture techniques for the production of cellular products. Flow cytometry and its applications to microbiology. Development of methods for rapid identification of microorganisms. The use of computers in biomedical education.

James Samuel, Ph.D. -- Bryan
Professor
Interim Chair
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests: The obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen, Coxiella burnetii, the etiologic agent of Q fever and a category B biothreat agent. The long-term goal of this research is to understand the molecular pathogenic mechanisms involved in the host-pathogen interaction.

Veronica Sanchez, Ph.D -- College Station
Assistant Professor
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests: Assembly and trafficking of human cytomegalovirus particles: I am particularly interested in the interactions between the virus and the host cell that facilitate nuclear egress of immature particles and their targeting to the site of envelopment.

Jon Skare, Ph.D. -- Bryan
Professor
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests: The goals of my research are to understand how B. burgdorferi causes disease and adapts to different niches it occupies by: (1) addressing the role of attachment, colonization and subsequent dissemination using newly developed genetic methodologies to inactivate genes involved in adherence of B. burgdorferi to host tissues; and (2) understanding how B. burgdorferi responds to oxidative stress via the function of the global regulatory protein BosR.

Vernon Tesh, Ph.D. -- Bryan
Professor
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests: My laboratory studies the pathogenesis of diseases caused by Shiga toxins, a family of genetically and functionally related protein toxins expressed by the enteric pathogens Shigella dysenteriae type 1 and select serotypes of Escherichia coli.

Van G. Wilson, Ph.D. -- Bryan
Professor
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests: Papillomaviruses, keratinocyte biology, sumoylation.
The major goals. Dr. Wilson's lab are to understand the molecular biology of paillomavirus replication and the interplay between the virus and the host cell.

Yi Xu, Ph.D. -- Houston
Joint Assistant Professor
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests: Bacteria and host interactions; bacterial pathogenesis; bacterial activation of the actin cytoskeleton; bacterial breaching of the mucosal barrier.

Dekai Zhang, M.D., Ph.D. -- Houston
Joint Assistant Professor
Institute of Bioscience and Technology
Research Interests: Our laboratory is studying the molecular mechanisms of innate immune recognition by identification and analysis of receptors involved in innate immune recognition and activated signaling pathways. We are particularly interested in the recently identified family of Toll-like receptors, which play a critical role in the mounting of innate immune responses.