About Us
Department News
New Insights Into how Genes Turn On and Off
Dr. Janine LaSalle, Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, in conjunction with researchers at the University of British Columbia, have shed new light on methylation, a critical process that helps control how genes are expressed. Her paper, titled "The human placenta methylome" was published online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
In addition to enhancing our understanding of epigenetics, this work could influence cancer research and help illuminate how environmental toxins affect fetal development.
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Departmental Mission Our Mission is to develop new approaches for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and immunologic disorders. Department programs are integral to the School's new Initiative on Infectious Diseases. Researchers use state-of-the-art technologies of genomics, proteomics and imaging to study the genes and proteins of the pathogens and their hosts to identify novel targets for prevention and therapy.
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Host-Microbe Interactions at UC Davis |
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The Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology is spearheading efforts to examine the interactions between microbial agents and their host organisms.
Download the Granlibakken Host-Microbe Research Retreat 2012 Program
Click on the links below to learn more. |
Maria Winter (seated), Dr Andreas Baumler, Dr Marijke Keestra
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UC Davis Researchers discover how cells distinguish friend from foe Dr Andreas Baumler, Professor in the department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at UC Davis, and his team have shown how the innate immune system distinguishes between dangerous pathogens and friendly microbes. Like burglars entering a house, hostile bacteria give themselves away by breaking into cells. However, sensing proteins instantly detect the invasion, triggering an alarm that mobilizes the innate immune response. This new understanding of immunity could ultimately help researchers find new targets to treat inflammatory disorders. The paper, titled "Manipulation of small Rho GTPases is a pathogen-induced process detected by NOD1" was published in Nature on March 31. |
Destanie Cummings receives Best Poster award
The UC Davis 2013 Interdisciplinary Graduate and Professional Student Symposium has awarded Destanie Cummings third place for her poster presentation on the “Role of Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in ASD and its Impact on Behavior”. Destanie is a second year Immunology Graduate Student who is working in the lab of Dr. Paul Ashwood in the Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology.
