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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
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Friday, October 30, 2026
Microbiology Seminar 🔬 Wednesday 11/4/26 12-1PM CRB Austrian Auditorium Jeremiah Faith, PhD "Microbiome therapeutics: a golden era or another lost generation" faithlab.mssm.edu
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Friday, October 30, 2026
ProK and Virology Trainee Seminar🦠💉 Tuesday 11/3/2026 12 – 1 PM 209 Johnson Pavilion
Departmental Events
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ProK and Virology Trainee Seminar
Tuesday, Nov 10: 12pm; 209 Johnson Pavilion
Briana Cruga, Santiago Frangos Lab :: Jerry Lin, PhD, Roark Lab
“Visualizing DNA quaternary structures that regulate Type I-C CRISPR adaptation to viral DNA”
"Structural basis of V2 apex recognition by rapidly developed broadly neutralizing HIV antibodies”
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Microbiology Seminar
Wednesday, Nov 11: 12pm in Austrian Auditorium, RRB (CRB)
Ralph Baric, PhD :: UNC
"Models for Emerging Virus Vaccine Safety"