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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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Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Microbiology Seminar 🔬 Today 9/16/26 12-1PM CRB Austrian Auditorium Janelle Arthur, PhD "Microbiome and inflammation-associated intestinal disease" arthurlab.weebly.com
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Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Special Seminar Sponsored by Institute for RNA Innovation Tuesday 9/15/2026 12 - 1 PM JMB CLASS OF 62* Mariano Garcia-Blanco, MD, PhD
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Sunday, September 6, 2026
Virology Seminar Tuesday 9/8/26 12-1 PM 209 Johnson Pavilion Guangda (Brian) Shi, Ph.D., Cherry Lab  “Metabolic Regulation of Pyrimidine Antiviral Efficacy by Uridine Cytidine Kinase 2”
Departmental Events
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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”
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Microbiology Seminar
Wednesday, Sept 23: 12pm in RRB Austrian Auditorium (CRB)
Laura Cook, PhD :: Binghamton Univ
"Bacterial determinants of Streptococcal Carriage and Disease”