Department of Pathology Microbiology and Immunology

November 17, 2016

Sarcoidosis research, patient care focus of newly created center

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has established a Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence under the direction of Wonder Drake, M.D., associate professor of Medicine and Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology.

By Wayne Wood
November 17, 2016

Stem cells promote tolerance

Blood-forming stem cells play a role in immune tolerance and acceptance of organ transplants, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered.

By Leigh MacMillan
November 10, 2016

Links between immune cells and metabolism explored

At the intersection of immunology and metabolism is a burgeoning new field: immunometabolism. It’s an area where Vanderbilt has exceptional strengths, said Jeffrey Rathmell, Ph.D., Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Immunobiology.

By Leigh MacMillan
November 7, 2016

Early study finds antibody that ‘neutralizes’ Zika virus

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have isolated a human monoclonal antibody that in a mouse model “markedly reduced” infection by the Zika virus.

By Bill Snyder
tug-of-rope pair
November 3, 2016

VUMC investigators find pathogens work together to infect host

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus — two pathogens that frequently co-infect the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis — appear to cooperate with each other, Vanderbilt investigators have discovered. When pseudomonas is starved for metal by the host, it shuts down the production of factors that would normally kill staph, promoting a co-infection.

By Leigh MacMillan
October 20, 2016

Preparing for a return of pox

To prepare for the potential of a smallpox return, Vanderbilt researchers are isolating and studying naturally occurring antibodies from the blood of previously infected or immunized people.

By Bill Snyder