pathology microbiology and immunology Archives

EGF receptor found to regulate macrophage inflammation in gut

Oct. 13, 2016—Researchers at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine have uncovered a link between epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling and the inflammatory response to bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal tract.

Targeting norovirus “noxiousness”

Sep. 28, 2016—New discoveries will guide efforts to develop vaccines or antiviral agents for norovirus, the most common cause of infectious diarrhea.

zinc pill on spoon over white background

Study shows excess dietary zinc worsens C. diff infection

Sep. 26, 2016—Too much dietary zinc increases susceptibility to infection by Clostridium difficile — “C. diff” — the most common cause of hospital-acquired infections.

H. pylori and anemia – new evidence

Sep. 22, 2016—The bacterium Helicobacter pylori has been linked to anemia and may be contributing to the incidence and severity of anemia worldwide.

Study explores anti-viral potential of existing drugs

Sep. 15, 2016—Emerging viral infections like Zika keep popping up around the world in such quick succession that medicine is having a hard time keeping up. It can take 15 years and more than a billion dollars to bring a new drug to market.

Restore T cells to fight leukemia

Sep. 14, 2016—Modulation of T cell metabolism thus may represent a new therapeutic avenue for leukemia patients.

Team explores transcription factor’s autoimmunity role

Aug. 11, 2016—Increasing expression of a transcription factor called KLF2 can promote immunological self-tolerance and “tune down” autoimmunity, researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center reported recently.

Study explores low oxygen’s impact on antibody quality

Aug. 11, 2016—Hypoxia (lack of enough oxygen) is bad for the body as a whole, but in the neighborhood where infection-fighting antibodies arise, may be important for keeping proper order.

‘Young Scientist’ showcases high schoolers’ research at Vanderbilt

Jun. 2, 2016—High school students performing advanced research at Vanderbilt have the opportunity to share their findings with the scientific community through a journal of their own.

VUMC researchers seek to crack the code of neonatal sepsis

Jun. 2, 2016—Sepsis, an exaggerated and overwhelming inflammatory response to infection, is a major worldwide killer of babies in the first four weeks of life (neonatal period).

Wound healing society honors VUMC’s Davidson

May. 26, 2016—Jeff Davidson, Ph.D., professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, was honored last month at the joint 27th annual Symposium on Advanced Wound Care and Wound Healing Society meeting in Atlanta for “outstanding lifetime achievement in wound healing.”