pathology microbiology and immunology Archives

Pioneers of Discovery: Investigator seeks to debug cancer’s ‘bad software’

Jan. 9, 2014—Beyond genetics — that’s the call Oliver McDonald, M.D., Ph.D., heard during the year between college and medical school he spent in a lab at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.

Defusing ‘C. diff’ infection

Nov. 8, 2013—Clostridium difficile (“C. diff”) infection is a leading cause of hospital-associated diarrhea, and the frequency and severity of infections are on the rise. D. Borden Lacy, Ph.D., associate professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, and colleagues recently demonstrated that the C. difficile toxin, TcdB, induces rapid cell death of human colon cell lines and pig colonic...

Frog-killing fungus paralyzes amphibian immune response

Oct. 17, 2013—A fungus that is killing frogs and other amphibians around the world releases a toxic factor that disables the amphibian immune response, Vanderbilt University investigators report Oct. 18 in the journal Science.

Lacy’s crystallographic research achievements recognized

Sep. 19, 2013—D. Borden Lacy, Ph.D., associate professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biochemistry, will receive the 2014 Margaret Etter Award from the American Crystallographic Association (ACA) for outstanding achievement and exceptional potential in crystallographic research demonstrated by a scientist at an early stage of their independent career.

Nobel laureate Beutler to speak at VU Sept. 23

Sep. 12, 2013—Nobel laureate Bruce Beutler, M.D., will discuss his research on innate immunity during a noon seminar Monday, Sept. 23, in 208 Light Hall.

‘Proofreader’ key to coronavirus growth

Sep. 12, 2013—A coronavirus protein is required for replication of the viral genome and may be a good treatment target for SARS and other diseases caused by coronaviruses.

Probing intestinal immune cell roles

Aug. 28, 2013—A new in vitro system will allow investigators to explore how immune system T cells develop specialized functions.

Correa honored by gastroenterological society

Jun. 20, 2013—The American Gastroentero-logical Association (AGA) has honored Pelayo Correa, M.D., with its Distinguished Achievement Award, which recognizes an individual for contributions to research that have advanced the science and practice of gastroenterology.

Factor’s yin-yang tumor effects

Jun. 10, 2013—A factor produced by most malignant cells can both promote and inhibit tumor growth – an insight that is critical to using cancer drugs developed to block this factor.

Vanderbilt to host seventh international conference on tetraspanin scaffolding

Jun. 7, 2013—Experts from around the world will come to Vanderbilt June 18-21 for the seventh international summer research conference to discuss the role of tetraspanins and related membrane scaffolding proteins in biology and disease. Much of the communication that takes place between a cell and its environment is performed by transmembrane proteins. The availability and activity...

Salt revs stomach bug’s cancer impact

May. 13, 2013—A high-salt diet worsens the carcinogenic effects of Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that colonizes the stomachs of half of the world’s population.