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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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Departmental Events

  • Prokaryotic Seminar

    Monday, Februrary 9: 4pm in 209 Johnson Pavilion

    Joel Babdor, PhD, UPenn

    “Exploring Microbiome Communities and Molecular Cues Shaping Baseline Immune Variations in health and disease”

  • Virology Seminar

    Tuesday, February 10: 4pm in 209 Johnson Pavilion

    Rachel Erickson, Bates Lab

    “Development and characterization of different vaccine platforms for Machupo Virus"

  • Microbiology Seminar

    Wednesday, February 11th: 12pm in CRB Austrian Auditorium

    Sabra Klein, PhD :: Johns Hopkins

    “SeXX matters for respiratory virus pathogenesis”

     

     

     

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