NIAID Archives
Bacterial battle in 3D
Jun. 2, 2022—Using imaging mass spectrometry and microscopy, Vanderbilt researchers visualized how staph bacteria modifies lipids in its membrane to evade immune system-mediated killing.
Study identifies first cellular “chaperone” for zinc, sheds light on worldwide public health problem of zinc deficiency
May. 17, 2022—A team led by Vanderbilt researchers has described and characterized the first zinc metallochaperone: a protein that puts zinc into other “client” proteins.
VUMC team discovers how bacterial pathogen survives without water
May. 5, 2022—Vanderbilt researchers are studying a bacterial pathogen that can survive on hospital surfaces — without water — for months, an ability that has helped it become a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections.
Study advances understanding of bacterial bioterrorism agent
Apr. 7, 2022—Vanderbilt researchers have identified a critical regulatory factor in the bacterium that causes the disease anthrax and has been used as a biological weapon.
Microbiome reflects COVID-19 severity
Mar. 14, 2022—Characterization of the upper respiratory tract microbiome could help predict outcomes for COVID-19 infection, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered.
Technique hastens COVID-19 antibody discovery
Mar. 10, 2022—Optimization of a technique developed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center enables rapid and efficient identification of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against the virus that causes COVID-19.
Invasive strep can defy zinc toxicity
Feb. 28, 2022—Vanderbilt researchers find that invasive Group B Streptococcus strains, a significant risk to pregnant patients and infants, can grow in presence of toxic zinc levels.
Study finds shorter treatment better for young children with outpatient pneumonia
Feb. 3, 2022—A Vanderbilt study found that five days of antibiotics is superior to 10 days for children with community-acquired pneumonia who are not hospitalized.
Impaired neutrophils in autoimmunity
Jan. 27, 2022—Vanderbilt researchers help answer the question of why patients with autoimmune diseases like lupus are more susceptible to bacterial infections: their neutrophils have impaired antibacterial activity.
H. pylori, lipid loss and stomach cancer
Jan. 17, 2022—H. pylori infection — a strong risk factor for stomach cancer — changes the composition of stomach lipids, which could offer new biomarkers for detecting premalignant changes, Vanderbilt researchers discovered.
Salmonella overcomes host resistance
Jan. 13, 2022—The invading pathogen Salmonella, a common cause of food poisoning, can change its metabolism to overcome host resistance to its colonization.
CRISPR screen identifies new anti-inflammatory drug target
Nov. 11, 2021—A novel CRISPR screen developed by Vanderbilt researchers identified a promising new target for anti-inflammatory therapeutics.