University of Virginia-Main Campus · Microbiology & ImmunologyGut Microbiome and Infection Unit
Brady L Spencer · Charlottesville, Virginia
Research Focus
Dr. Brady L Spencer's lab at the University of Virginia explores how certain bacteria can disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome, especially in newborns. Their research focuses on Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a bacterium that can lead to severe infections in infants. The lab studies how GBS uses specific proteins to damage the gut lining, alter immune responses, and potentially cause systemic infections. Understanding these mechanisms aims to improve our knowledge of treatment and prevention strategies for neonatal infections.
Group B Streptococcusintestinal microbiotaneonatal infectionsimmune responsemucosal barriers
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate GBS perturbation of the intestinal microbiota during infant intestinal colonization.
AIM 02Evaluate anti-GBS mucosal immune responses during infant intestinal colonization.
AIM 03Determine mechanisms of GBS-mediated inflammation and barrier damage in intestinal epithelium.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturein vitro modelingRNA sequencingflow cytometryWestern blotimmunohistochemistrymicroscopyanimal models
Output against the department
Publications41bottom 7% of dept.451st of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations782bottom 4% of dept.465th of 486
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.