Infectious Disease
Infectious Diseases are still a dominant public health priority, despite many advances related to vaccines and antibiotics. Development of new antibiotics has been severely limited over the past two decades and many microbial pathogens have now acquired resistance to our entire arsenal of treatments. Research efforts at KU are focused on elucidating molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity for select bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Similarly, research efforts are directed towards understanding the immune responses to certain pathogens. Together these efforts will facilitate the development of new antimicrobials and vaccines. Graduate students performing research in this area will gain experience in Microbial Pathogenesis and the Immune Responses.
Select a faculty member below to learn more about their research in this area:

Molecular virology and pathogenesis of herpes simplex virus.

Regulation of bacterial transcription, Development of novel anti-bacterial agents

The impact of ADP-ribosylation on Coronavirus replication and pathogenesis

Mechanisms of pathogenesis for Enterococcus

Molecular Mechanisms of Chlamydia Pathogenesis

ABC transporters and RNAi: anti-foreign genome responses and stem cell regulation.