Parasite Development Demystified

Isabelle Coppens, PhD, and colleagues have discovered how Toxoplasma gondii--an opportunistic parasite that causes toxoplasmosis and is responsible for damage to the brain, eyes and other organs--interacts with its host cell and successfully obtains essential host nutrients. more

Molecular Microbiology and Immunology integrates many disciplines (biochemistry, infectious diseases, virology, parasitology, molecular biology, immunology, ecology structural biology) concerned with the study of the transmission, immunobiology, and pathogenesis of bacterial, parasitic, viral, immunological and infectious diseases of public health importance. Research is at the population, organismal, cellular, and molecular levels. The central premise of this broad approach to the study of disease is that public health problems can best be addressed by understanding basic biological mechanisms. Our research aims to advance the understanding of the biology of disease and to use this knowledge to solve public health problems. Research takes place in the laboratory, in the clinic, and in the field, as the faculty works to combat such enormous public health problems as malaria, sexually transmitted diseases, mosquito-borne encephalitis, tuberculosis, diarrhea, measles, AIDS, and autoimmune diseases.

We offer master of health science (MHS), master of science (ScM), and doctorate (PhD) degree programs. Our graduates go on to careers as faculty members and research scientists in colleges, universities, medical schools, research institutes, government agencies and in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.