About the Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics
Who we are
The mission of the MIMG Department is to understand, at the molecular and level, basic microbial pathogenesis, how the immune system attacks and neutralized invading microbes, how microbes evade immune recognition, the genetic and molecular bases of virulence, and how the immune system malfunctions, thereby compromising the host (autoimmunity). Because of increasing complexity and expanding knowledge in the fields of immunology and microbiology, it is imperative to define areas of focus that will concentrate departmental research efforts while maximizing resources. The areas of research focus, which encompass both current and future research efforts within the department include:
Infection, Immunity and Pathogenesis
Research in this area focuses on microbial infections, basic microbiology and the immune response at the mucosal interface. Research in this area encompasses work on bacterial, fungal, parasitic and viral pathogens.
Specific topics include:
Immune responses of the oropharyngeal, respiratory, gut, and reproductive tracts, asthma, pneumonia, sexually-transmitted diseases, colitis, microbiomics & metabalomics and both host and pathogen genomics.
Immunobiology of Vaccines
Research in this area focuses on defining the molecular and cellular immune mechanisms underpinning effective immune responses.
Specific topics include:
Generation and features of T and B cell memory Plasma cell generation and survival Tumor immunology Zika virus
Epigenetics of the Immune Response
Research in this area explores the role epigenetic marks and modifications in shaping immune responses to self and foreign antigens.
Specific topics include:
Immune system development, Antibody production, Response to microbes
What we do
Events & Seminars
Our department hosts a weekly seminar series in which nationally acclaimed experts in the fields of microbiology and immunology are invited to speak. In addition to our departmental seminar program, many other high quality seminars are hosted by various basic science and clinical departments from around the Long School of Medicine, allowing our students and fellows to receive robust and broad exposure to the biomedical and translational sciences.
Institutional Research Cores
The UT Health San Antonio Core Facilities offer a broad range of cutting edge research services and provide educational training opportunities that achieve a vital function of our university’s mission. The core facilities, led by internationally-recognized faculty advisors and expert technical staff, are available to students, faculty and staff across the university and biomedical research community.
