Dr. Judith Behnsen's lab at the University of Illinois at Chicago studies the interactions between bacteria and fungi in the gut. They focus specifically on how the yeast Candida albicans affects infections caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhimurium. Their research aims to understand the biological mechanisms that increase disease severity when these two pathogens coexist, which could lead to better treatments for polymicrobial infections.

Dr. Masakazu Kamata's lab focuses on developing advanced therapies for cancer treatment through innovative drug delivery systems. By engineering a special polymer called PMPC, they enhance the effectiveness of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), ensuring these drugs can target tumors more accurately and penetrate areas like the brain. This research aims to create safer, more efficient cancer treatments that can improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Jennifer Simkin's lab at the University of Kentucky focuses on understanding how macrophages, a type of immune cell, can promote regeneration in bone and soft tissue following injuries, such as amputations. By studying different types of macrophages in a mouse model, the lab aims to uncover the mechanisms that allow these cells to aid healing and potentially develop new therapies for humans.

Dr. Myron Goodman's lab focuses on understanding how certain bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics, which is a serious health issue worldwide. They study an enzyme called Rum DNA polymerase that causes mutations in bacteria, helping them to quickly become resistant to drugs. By exploring how these mutations occur, the lab aims to find ways to combat antibiotic resistance.

Dr. Carolina B. Lopez's lab at Washington University focuses on understanding how respiratory viruses, particularly the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza viruses, contribute to viral infections and chronic lung diseases. The lab investigates the role of defective viral genomes in disease severity and seeks to explore the long-term impacts of these viral infections on respiratory health. By studying how viruses persist in the body after initial infection, the lab aims to find new ways to reduce the public health burden caused by these common infections.

Dr. Amanda Joy Whipple's research lab at Harvard University focuses on understanding how a specific molecular factor, SNORD116, contributes to Prader-Willi syndrome, a complex neurodevelopmental disorder. Her team is investigating the role of SNORD116 in the biology of neuronal ribosomes, which are essential for protein synthesis in brain cells. By exploring the interactions of SNORD116 and its implications for brain function, the lab aims to uncover potential therapeutic strategies for correcting the unique challenges associated with Prader-Willi syndrome and similar disorders.

Dr. Md A. Motaleb's lab at East Carolina University focuses on studying spirochetes, a group of bacteria responsible for serious diseases like Lyme disease and syphilis. The research aims to understand the unique flagellar proteins that enable these bacteria to move and cause disease. By investigating the molecular mechanisms of spirochete motility, the lab hopes to uncover new treatment strategies for infections caused by these pathogens.

Dr. Douglas L. Black's lab at UCLA focuses on understanding how RNA binding proteins regulate gene expression, particularly through alternative splicing. Their research not only explores the intricate interactions between proteins and RNA but also aims to uncover the mechanisms that lead to misregulation in diseases such as neurodegeneration and cancer. By mapping binding sites of key proteins involved in splicing, they hope to enhance the ability to predict pathogenic mutations affecting gene regulation.

Dr. Samuel M. Behar's lab focuses on understanding how the immune system, particularly CD8 T cells, can effectively combat tuberculosis (TB). They study how the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis evades the immune response and explore new vaccine strategies to enhance T cell responses against TB. The lab also investigates how metabolic stress and conditions like hypoxia affect T cell function, aiming to develop approaches that can restore or improve T cell activity.

Dr. Hazem E. Ghoneim's lab focuses on improving cancer immunotherapies by studying how T cells, key players in the immune system, lose their effectiveness during chronic infections and cancer. The lab aims to understand the epigenetic changes that lead T cells to become exhausted and to develop strategies to rejuvenate these exhausted cells, enhancing their ability to respond to treatment. This innovative research combines advanced genetic engineering techniques with in-depth analyses of T cell function in both lab models and live subjects.

Dr. Erietta Stelekati's lab at the University of Miami focuses on understanding how certain immune cells, specifically CD8 T cells, become dysfunctional during chronic infections and cancer. The lab studies the role of microRNAs, particularly miR-29a, in regulating these cells' ability to react to cancer treatments. By exploring how miR-29a affects the genetic drivers of T cell exhaustion, the lab aims to uncover new strategies to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapies.

Dr. Shabaana A. Khader's lab at the University of Chicago is focused on developing innovative vaccines against tuberculosis (TB). They study how certain immune responses can be enhanced to provide better protection against TB. The lab uses novel adjuvants to boost the immune system's Th1 and Th17 responses, aiming to create more effective vaccines that can tackle both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Dr. Hwan Keun Kim's lab focuses on understanding how our immune system responds to infections from tick-borne pathogens like Rickettsia. They are exploring the development of vaccines that could protect against these diseases, which are becoming more common in the United States. By studying how these bacteria invade and survive in human cells, the lab aims to create effective immunity and identify potential vaccine candidates.

Dr. Katherine Ralston's lab at UC Davis focuses on understanding how the amoeba Entamoeba histolytica causes disease in humans by invading tissues and avoiding immune responses. They discovered a unique method by which this amoeba nibbles on human cells, allowing it to survive and cause harm. The lab uses various techniques to study this process, which has broader implications for understanding microbial behavior and immune evasion.

Dr. Terje Dokland's lab at the University of Alabama at Birmingham studies the structure and assembly mechanisms of the HIV-1 virus. Specifically, the lab is focused on how the virus's proteins are structured and interact during its lifecycle, which is critical for developing new therapies against HIV. The aim is to understand how the HIV virus assembles and matures, which could lead to innovative antiviral strategies.

Professor Michele Leroux’s research focuses on the fascinating interactions between bacteria and viruses, specifically how bacteria protect themselves from viral infections using a process called ADP-ribosylation. This modification helps bacteria disable viral DNA, and her lab investigates the mechanisms behind this process and the evolution of these defenses. By studying the roles of various bacterial and viral proteins, the lab aims to enhance our understanding of bacterial immunity and develop potential therapeutic strategies like phage therapy for treating bacterial infections.

David C. Johnson's lab focuses on understanding how the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) enters host cells, particularly epithelial and endothelial cells. Their research aims to identify and characterize specific cell surface proteins that HCMV uses to infect these cells, which is crucial for developing effective vaccines against the virus. With implications for transplant patients and neonates, this work seeks to uncover new strategies for preventing HCMV-related diseases.

Dr. Anita Sil's lab at UCSF focuses on studying how the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum changes its form and behavior in response to temperature, which is crucial for its ability to infect humans. Their research aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind this transformation, including the role of specific proteins that help the fungus evade the immune system. By exploring these biological processes, the lab hopes to enhance our understanding of fungal infections and find new strategies for treating them.

Dr. Gary Thomas's lab at the University of Pittsburgh is focused on understanding how specific genetic mutations impact neuronal function and behavior. By studying disorders linked to mutations in the PACS1 and PACS2 genes, the lab aims to unravel the cellular mechanisms that lead to neurodevelopmental issues like intellectual disability, epilepsy, and autism. This research could pave the way for developing new therapies for these debilitating conditions.

Dr. Thomas B Thompson's lab at the University of Cincinnati focuses on understanding the TGF-beta family of signaling molecules and how they regulate critical biological processes such as fetal development and adult health. Using cutting-edge techniques from structural biology, biophysics, and computational methods, the lab aims to uncover the details of how these molecules interact and function, which is crucial for developing new therapies for diseases like cancer and cardiovascular issues.