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The inhabitants of Earth are mostly microbes, and their activities are central to human welfare. Microbes can cause disease, but a properly functioning microbiome is essential for health. Microbes spoil food, but drive many forms of food production. Microbes mediate organismic decay, but catalyze numerous geochemical processes essential for life on Earth.

Research in the Penn Microbiology Department focuses on infectious agents that threaten global health, with an emphasis on understanding molecular mechanisms and developing key new methods. Areas of focus include SARS-CoV-2, HIV, pathogenic bacteria of the airway and gut, cancer causing viruses, emerging infectious diseases, and the human microbiome. On the host side, faculty study many areas of immunology related to infection, including innate and adaptive immunity, tumor immunology and vaccine development.

Penn Micro on Bluesky

Go to Department of Microbiology's Bluesky

Departmental Events

ProK and Virology Trainee Seminar
Tuesday, Sept 22: 12pm; 209 Johnson Pavilion

Lorenzo Serra, Price Lab :: Lorie Marchitto, PhD, Hahn Lab

"Inhibition of RNA splicing is a novel therapeutic strategy for disruption of nuclear replicating viruses"

“Enhanced B Cell Priming Induces Broadly Neutralizing HIV-1 Apex Antibodies”
Microbiology Seminar
Wednesday, Sept 23: 12pm in ***SCTR Rubenstein Auditorium***

Laura Cook, PhD :: Binghamton Univ

"Bacterial determinants of Streptococcal Carriage and Disease”

More Events