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Helen Davies Memorial Lecture

John Morgan Reunion Auditorium

Tuesday, May 19th, 2026, 12-1pm

Our Department

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.

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Departmental Events

Prokaryotic Seminar
Monday, May 4: 4pm in 209 Johnson Pavilion

Subham Mridha, PhD :: Abt Lab

"Immune driven adaptive evolution of Clostridioides difficile in the intestinal lumen”
Virology Seminar
Tuesday, May 5th: 12pm in 209 Johnson Pavilion

Clara Malekshahi, Moncla Lab :: Jordan Ort, Hensley Lab

“Wild Anseriformes Ecology is Driving the Dissemination of HPAI H5N1 in North America”

“Immune history shapes cross-reactive antibody responses to H5N1 neuraminidase”
Microbiology Seminar
Wednesday, May 6th: 12pm in CRB Austrian Auditorium

Amelia Escolano, PhD :: Wistar

“Rapid elicitation of a new class of neutralizing antibodies against the V3-glycan epitope of HIV-1"

More Events