Skip to main content

Exploring host-pathogen interactions and immunological mechanisms.

Upcoming Seminars and Events

No upcoming events.

News and Publications

Recent Publications

Emergence, climate-driven expansion, and diversification of a European Vibrio vulnificus lineage (L4) with multi-host pathogenic potential.

Carmona-Salido H, Salvador-Clavell R, Jäckel C, Schulze I, Satchell KJF, Hammerl JA, Amaro C 

Emerg Microbes Infect 2026 Dec;15(1):2601370. pii:2601370

Repurposing drug screen for the identification of helicase inhibitors from viruses of pandemic concern.

Inniss NL, Rzhetskaya M, Kich RP, Gleason E, Taha TY, Zapatero-Belinchón FJ, Rosecrans J, Pedrero-Classen V, Huang K, D...

SLAS Discov 2026 Aug;41:100311. doi:10.1016/j.slasd.2026.100311

Structural insights into RNA recognition by the Staphylococcus aureus exoribonuclease YhaM.

Mattingly JM, Lipońska A, Tanquary J, Yap MF, Dunham CM 

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2026 Jun 23;123(25):e2600028123. doi:10.1073/pnas.2600028123

The prenylated pUS2 protein of pseudorabies virus contributes to phosphorylation of connexin 43 and suppression of gap junctional intercellular communication.

Tishchenko A, De Boeck B, Van Waesberghe C, van Raemdonck F, Fuchs W, Klupp BG, Mettenleiter TC, Vickman O, Smith GA, F...

J Virol 2026 Jun 18;:e0077326. doi:10.1128/jvi.00773-26

Analysis of the heterogenous structural states of the hexameric ATPase PilU of the type IV pili from Vibrio cholerae.

Guo Y, Shukla S, Minasov G, Inniss NL, Klose T, Tokars VL, Mondragón A, Otwinowski Z, Borek D, Satchell KJF 

Protein Sci 2026 Jun;35(6):e70609. pii:e70609

What We Do

The Department of Microbiology-Immunology is a basic science department at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Our dedicated faculty are leaders in bacteriology, virology and immunology, and are committed to training the next generation of scientists, including students and postdoctoral fellows.

Research

We examine pathogen-host cell interactions and dissect the molecular mechanisms involved in regulation of the immune response. 

EXPLORE OUR AREAS OF FOCUS

Education

Our faculty members also teach undergraduate, graduate and medical students at Northwestern University and Feinberg.

SEE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Center for Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases

The Center for Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases (CSBID) is a consortium of laboratories using state-of-the-art, high-throughput structural biology methods to determine the three-dimensional structures of protein targets from pathogens in the NIAID Category A-C priority lists and organisms causing emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

VISIT THE CSBID SITE

Basic Science Administration

Our department is supported by the Basic Science Administration group. The team provides assistance related to research and financial administration, professional affairs, facilities and communications.

VISIT BASIC SCIENCE ADMINISTRATION SITE

Physician-Scientist Training & Resources

The Starzl Academy offers a wide range of resources, mentorship opportunities and formal training programs to help our residents and fellows excel as physician-scientists.

Visit the Starzl Academy Site

Health Equity

Our vision is to make Northwestern, our communities, all communities, our lives and the world a better place — with everyone having the chance and responsibility for reaching their own pinnacle of health.

Visit the Office of Health Equity

MD students see patients as part of the Education-Centered Medical Home program.