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Loyola University Chicago Microbiology and Immunology
Stritch School of Medicine
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Research Tracks

The Department of Microbiology and Immunology is represented by a diverse, yet highly interactive, faculty devoted to excellence in research as well as graduate and medical education. Faculty research is supported by outstanding postdoctoral associates, graduate students and research assistants. Research interests of the faculty are described in the links below.

Microbiology

Jonathan Allen, PhD, Assistant Professor. Understanding molecular mechanisms by which the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is able to cause severe and invasive infections.  

Abby Kroken, PhD, Assistant Professor.  Host-pathogen interaction at the ocular surface leading to bacterial keratitis.

David W. Hecht, MD,  Professor. Molecular Microbiologist. Mechanisms by which Bacteroides fragilis causes serious infections and acquires resistance to antimicrobial agents.

Andrew Ulijasz, PhD, Associate Professor.  Molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis, focusing on the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Karen L. Visick, PhD,  Professor. Microbial Geneticist. Vibrio fischeri-squid mutualism: a model for investigating symbiotic colonization by bacteria.

Alan J. Wolfe, PhD, Professor. Molecular Geneticist. Cellular physiology and gene expression.

Immunology

Katherine L. Knight, PhD, Professor & Chair. Molecular Immunologist. B-lymphocyte development and generation of the antibody repertoire.

Mashkoor Choudry, PhD,  Professor. Department of Surgery. Intestine immunity and epithelial barrier function after alcohol exposure and injury.

Kimberly E. Foreman, PhD,  Associate Professor. Tumor Immunologist. Notch Signaling in Breast Cancer.

Makio Iwashima PhD,  Professor.  Molecular & Cellular Immunologist. Cell biology of T cell subsets.

Phong T. Le, PhD, Professor. Immunologist. T cell development and aging.

Herbert L. Mathews, PhD, Professor. Immunologist. Immune dysregulation and homeostasis.

Clodia Osipo, PhD, Associate Professor. Tumor immunology and investigating the significance of Notch signaling in breast cancer.

Liang Qiao, MD, Professor. Immunologist. Mucosal immunity and vaccine development.

Dorothy K. Sojka, PhD, Assistant Professor. Endometrial health and natural killer cells in the female reproductive tract.

Yee Ling Wu, PhD, Assistant Professor.  Immune regulation of antibody generation and genetic diversity of innate immunity

Virology

Susan C. Baker, PhD,  Professor. Molecular Virologist. The molecular biology and pathogenesis of coronaviruses.

Edward M. Campbell, PhD, Associate Professor. Intracellular immunity mediated by TRIM family proteins.

Thomas M. Gallagher, PhD, Professor. Virologist. Molecular mechanisms of virus assembly and entry.

Bryan C. Mounce, PhD, Assistant Professor. Virus-host interactions at the metabolic interface.

Susan L. Uprichard, PhD, Professor. Virologist. Elucidating the dynamics and molecular mechanisms that determine hepatitis virus infection outcome and therapeutic response.

Labratories and Instrumentation

Each laboratory within the Department of Microbiology and Immunology is well equipped with current technology for reseach in microbiology, virology, and immunology.  Additionally common equipment is available  for use by all investigators including molecular imaging systems for documentation and quantitation of gels, real-time PCR thermocyclers, chromatography systems for biomolecule purification, spectrophotometers for quantitation and biophysical analysis of biomolecules, epifluorescence microscopes, high speed and ultra-centrifuges, scintillation counters, a dark room, and a environmental rooms.  Additionally, numerous core facilities are available on campus for use by investigators. Two of these Core facilities, the DNA Core and Transgenic Core Facility, are located within the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Additional details of these Facilities are provided in the links below.

The DNA Core Facililty

The DNA Core Facility provides friendly service and timely DNA sequencing in an efficient manner by experienced molecular biologists. Sequencing is performed on an ABI® Prism 3100 4-capillary automated genetic analyzer with a capacity of about 35 samples in 24 hours. Sequencing is performed from single or double stranded DNA from plasmids and PCR products. Standard primers can be provided if necessary.

Transgenic Core Facility

The transgenic core facility provides services for a fee related to the production of transgenic mice using standard microinjection protocols. Additionally, custom animal surgeries can be performed and surgical training to research personnel can be provided as well. These services are available to the Loyola community and are provided in accordance with the IACUC policies and regulations.

Core Imaging Facility

The Core Imaging Facility is committed to excellence in research and education by providing expert technical assistance and instrumentation to support investigators requiring confocal and electron microscopy. This facility is equipped with both transmission (Hatachi® H-600 TEM) and scanning electron (JEOL® 840 A SEM) microscopes, four automatic ultramicrotomes, knife breakers, and all of the general equipment and facilities needed for tissue processing and darkroom work. The facility also maintains a Zeiss® LSM-510 laser scanning microscope interfaced to a Zeiss® Axiovert inverted microscope equipped with a variety of lens for high resolution work. Multiple channels allow simultaneous collection of images using the AR® 458/488 and HENE®543 lasers as well as bright-field DIC. Software for image acquisition and analysis is available with the instrument. In addition, there are two workstations with video input from either the SEM or fluorescent light microscope (Leitz® Orthoplan) for computerized image processing and analysis.

Flow Cytometry Facility

The Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorter Facility (FACS Facility) at Loyola is a user-supported research core laboratory that provides flow cytometric and sorting services. The FACS is equipped with FACStar® Plus cell sorter, a FACS 420 cell sorter and a FACS Analyzer flow cytometer. The FACStar® Plus is equipped with an automatic cell deposition device that allows automated single cell cloning of any cell population based on user-defined parameters.

The Department of Microbiology and Immunology is represented by a diverse, yet highly interactive, faculty devoted to excellence in research as well as graduate and medical education. Faculty research is supported by outstanding postdoctoral associates, graduate students and research assistants. Research interests of the faculty are described in the links below.

Labratories and Instrumentation

Each laboratory within the Department of Microbiology and Immunology is well equipped with current technology for reseach in microbiology, virology, and immunology.  Additionally common equipment is available  for use by all investigators including molecular imaging systems for documentation and quantitation of gels, real-time PCR thermocyclers, chromatography systems for biomolecule purification, spectrophotometers for quantitation and biophysical analysis of biomolecules, epifluorescence microscopes, high speed and ultra-centrifuges, scintillation counters, a dark room, and a environmental rooms.  Additionally, numerous core facilities are available on campus for use by investigators. Two of these Core facilities, the DNA Core and Transgenic Core Facility, are located within the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Additional details of these Facilities are provided in the links below.