News

Congratulations to M&I 2012-2013 Graduates!

Lynette Roesch — 2013-05-20T14:55:00Z

Twelve M&I graduate students completed their PhD work during this past academic year. Below is a short summary of the doctoral work and current activities/plans:

Aadra Bhatt completed her PhD in May 2013 in Blossom Damania’s lab, working on Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesviral cancers with an emphasis on signaling and metabolism. She will perform a short postdoctoral fellowship in the Damania laboratory before pursuing an advanced degree in medicine.

Cristine Campos completed her dissertation in Peggy Cotter's lab in March 2013, and her research was on autotransporter protein-mediated pathogenesis in Burkholderia pseudomallei. Cristine is currently applying for post-doctoral research positions.

Kimberly Coggan completed her Ph.D. in December 2012. Her research in Matt Wolfgang’s laboratory focused on the intricate regulation of type IV pilus biogenesis genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Kimberly is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Novan Therapeutics.

Rukie de Alwis completed her PhD in May 2013. In Aravinda de Silva’s lab, she studied how human antibodies interact with dengue virus to enhance or neutralize infection. Rukie discovered a novel class of neutralizing antibodies that bind complex epitopes which are only expressed on intact virus particles. She is currently interviewing for postdoctoral positions.

Meghan Feltcher defended her dissertation in April 2013. Meghan's research was conducted in the laboratory of Miriam Braunstein and focused on understanding the mechanistic basis of the SecA2 protein export pathway of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Meghan will soon start a postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Sarah Grant and Jeffery Dangl at UNC.

LeShara Fulton completed her PhD in April 2013 in Jon Serody’s lab, working on the biology of graft-versus-host disease as a complication of allogeneic bone marrow or stem cell transplantation. She will perform a brief postdoctoral fellowship in the Serody laboratory prior to pursuing an advanced degree in a health care-related field.

Bronwyn (Bonnie) Gunn completed her thesis work January 2013 in Mark Heise’s laboratory, where she studied how alphavirus interactions with the host mannose binding lectin pathway affect virus-induced arthritis. She is currently performing her postdoctoral work with Dr. Galit Alter at Harvard University.

Mark Johnson completed his dissertation in December 2012. His work, carried out in Roland Tisch's laboratory, focused on the development of adenovirus-associated vectors for the purpose of genetically modifying pancreatic beta cells in vivo and suppressing the autoimmune response of type 1 diabetes.

Flor Evangelista Montoya completed her PhD in December 2012 in Zhi Liu’s lab. She studied the role of IgG autoantibodies and functional interactions with desmosomal proteins in endemic pemphigus. She is currently a Visiting Professor at the National University of Trujillo, Peru.

Crystal (CJ) Neely completed her PhD in February 2013. Working in the laboratory of Bruce Cairns and Rob Maile, CJ investigated the cellular mechanisms of immune dysfunction after burn injury. CJ is now a postdoctoral fellow with Peter Murray at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, investigating macrophage responses to infection and other acute and chronic diseases.

Christopher Noel completed his dissertation research in Peggy Cotter's lab in November 2012, studying the mechanism of two-partner secretion in Bordetella pertussis. Chris is currently applying for postdoctoral research positions.

Amy Wollish completed her dissertation in June 2012. She worked in Mark Heise’s laboratory, where she studied innate immune sensing mechanisms that protect from virus-induced encephalitis. She is currently performing her postdoctoral research with Joanne Kurtzberg and Andrew Balber at Duke University.

Kari Debbink and Rukie de Alwis received G. Philip Manire Graduate Student Excellence in Research Awards

Lynette Roesch — 2013-05-20T14:55:00Z

The Department of Microbiology and Immunology is pleased to announce that Kari Debbink, a graduate student in Ralph Baric’s lab, and Rukie de Alwis, a graduate student in Aravinda de Silva’s lab, are the 2013 G. Philip Manire Graduate Student Excellence in Research Award recipients.

Kari’s research focuses on the molecular evolution of norovirus and how this virus can escape from herd immunity. Her work is instrumental in defining viral sites that are critical for the emergence of new pandemic GII.4 norovirus strains. Her contributions to the field have been recognized and are reflected in her numerous oral presentations at national and international meetings. Kari has not only been an extremely productive graduate student with multiple publications, but she is also a very active member of our graduate program and in science outreach.

Rukie did her dissertation research on the role of antibodies in Dengue virus infection. It has been unclear why certain antibodies enhance and others neutralize Dengue virus, and Rukie was able to identify a complex structure on the outer membrane of Dengue virion that is critical for neutralization. These data have been critical in our understanding of how neutralizing antibodies interact with different Dengue virus serotypes. Rukie’s characterization of novel epitopes has been acclaimed by many researchers as a key step towards a Dengue virus vaccine.

About Phil Manire and the awards in his memory . . .

The Manire awards for the most significant and impressive doctoral research projects are given in memory of Dr. G. Philip Manire, a friend and mentor to many people in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology. Phil served as Chair from 1966 to 1979, years that were marked by a major growth in faculty and international recognition for molecular biology, microbiology, and immunology research at UNC. However, Phil's most lasting professional contribution was his nurturing leadership style that cemented a spirit of collegiality and family among a department of very diverse interests and personalities.

In 2004, the Department of Microbiology & Immunology set up a trust fund in remembrance of Phil's contributions to the intellectual life of the department and his devotion to graduate education. The fund provides for an annual award to recognize outstanding research by a senior graduate student in the department. Nominations for the award are solicited from the faculty each Spring, and a committee evaluates the applicants based on the quality and significance of the student’s research. The award is considered to be the most prestigious departmental recognition of a graduate student’s research accomplishments

Barb Vilen: Connections between lupus and atherosclerosis

Lynette Roesch — 2013-04-29T16:59:38Z

The Alliance for Lupus Research website features an article on Barb Vilen, who discusses her ALR-funded research on BAFF and lupus-associated diseases.

Reminder/Update: M&I Symposium and Alumni Reunion (May 16-17, 2013)

Lynette Roesch — 2013-04-29T16:50:00Z

Dear M&I students/postdocs/faculty/staff/colleagues (past and present):

If you have not already done so, please be sure this is on your calendars and register at the link below! On May 16, our Department will be hosting a full-day symposium featuring M&I alumni and new M&I faculty talking about their research in virology, immunology, and microbial pathogenesis. The following day, additional M&I alumni will be featured in a program that will include participants from many other UNC bioscience departments. Social events will be taking place each day, and you’ll be getting more information when you register at

http://tinyurl.com/bfrecgs

Registration assures that you will have a seat at Thursday's symposium, including lunch and refreshments; that you'll get free drinks at the M&I student/postdoc poster session (afternoon of May 16) and at the West End Wine Bar (reserved for this event with live music on the evening of May 16); that you'll be able to sign up for tours to preview our new departmental space (afternoon of May 17); and that you'll be invited to attend a reception at the Ackland Art Museum (evening of May 17). There’s even a 5K run on the morning of May 18, with proceeds benefiting the high school outreach program NC DNA Day (sign up at http://ncdnaday.org/5K/).

This is all part of the Carolina Biosciences Alumni Reunion (http://tinyurl.com/al9kpkz), celebrating the 5th anniversary of the highly successful BBSP (Biological & Biomedical Sciences Program) that unifies biosciences graduate admissions, programs and curricula.

Thursday’s M&I Symposium:

8:30 – 8:40   Bill Goldman (Baseman lab, 1980) – M&I Professor and Chair (2008)
Introductory Remarks

8:40 – 9:15   Tem Morrison (Kenney lab, 2004) – Assistant Professor, Univ. of Colorado School of Medicine
Clearance and Persistence of Arthritogenic Alphaviruses

9:15 – 9:50   Robert Rickert (Clarke lab, 1992) – Professor, Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute
Probing the signal transduction pathways that govern normal and aberrant B lymphocyte differentiation

9:50 – 10:15 Tony Richardson – M&I Assistant Professor (2008)
Host immunometabolism and Staphylococcus aureus disease outcomes

10:15 – 10:45 Coffee Break

10:45 – 11:20 Duncan Krause (Baseman lab, 1982) – Professor and former Chair, Univ. of Georgia
Mycoplasma pneumonia Terminal Organelle Form and Function: A Random Walk

11:20 – 11:45 Nat Moorman – M&I Assistant Professor (2010)
The role of host and viral factors in HCMV protein synthesis

11:45 – 12:10 Cary Moody – M&I Assistant Professor (2010)
Understanding the Contribution of the DNA Damage Response to Human Papillomavirus Replication

12:10 – 1:15   Lunch

1:15 – 1:50 Christine Biron (Pagano lab, 1980) – Professor and former Chair, Brown Univ.
Conditioning NK and T Cell Responses to Viral Infections: Experience Matters

1:50 – 2:25     Nancy Haigwood (Edgell lab, 1980) – Director, Oregon National Primate Research Center
Outmaneuvering Envelope to Build a Better HIV Vaccine

2:25 – 2:50 Kristina Abel – M&I Assistant Professor (2009)
From pediatric immunology to pediatric vaccines

2:50 – 3:15 Rita Tamayo – M&I Assistant Professor (2009)
Regulation of Clostridium difficile virulence gene expression

3:15 – 3:45 Coffee Break

3:45 – 4:20 Priscilla Wyrick (Gooder lab, 1971) – Professor and Chair, ETSU (retired)
Estrogen Enhances Chlamydia trachomatis Genital Infection

4:20 – 4:45 Yisong Wan – M&I Assistant Professor (2008)
GATA3 controls T cell function beyond Th2 differentiation

4:45 – 5:10   Ed Miao – M&I Assistant Professor (2011)
Caspase-11 protects against cytosolic bacteria

5:15 – 6:30 Poster Session and Open Bar

Friday will feature an alumni networking breakfast that includes:

Ellen Aho (Cannon lab, 1989) – Professor, Concordia College

John Puziss (Bassford lab, 1991) – Director of Technology Licensing at Yale Univ.

Lani San Mateo (Kawula lab, 1999) – Associate Scientific Director, Janssen R&D

Friday’s program will include two science symposia (morning and afternoon) with alumni speakers from many graduate programs and featuring:

Lewis Lanier (Haughton lab, 1977) – Professor and Chair, UCSF
From Carolina Graduate Student to Biotech and Back to Academics

I’m sure you see why we are excited about a program that features such distinguished participants. For those of you will be traveling back to Chapel Hill for this event, be sure to check http://tinyurl.com/b7akzur for information on special rates at several convenient hotels: The Carolina Inn (where we have already reserved rooms for our speakers), The Franklin Hotel, and Aloft.

Looking forward to seeing you at this big event!

-- Bill

William E. Goldman, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair of Microbiology & Immunology
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Campus Box #7290
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
(919) 966-9580
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Biologist elected as the next Chancellor at UNC - Chapel Hill

Lynette Roesch — 2013-04-29T16:43:44Z

Carol Folt will replace Holden Thorp as Chancellor on July 1. Folt is an internationally recognized environmental scientist who has had a series of senior academic and administrative roles at Dartmouth. See the UNC Gazette News article.

More M&I graduate student awards

Lynette Roesch — 2013-04-12T17:25:00Z

A wide variety of external awards to M&I graduate students were featured at the 2013 Annual Graduate Student Recognition Celebration

Winners of national fellowships and research awards:

Rodrigo Gonzalez (Miller lab): American Society for Microbiology Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship

Ankunda Kariisa (Tamayo lab): American Society for Microbiology Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship

Lauren Neighbours (Heise lab): National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship

Erin Steinbach (Plevy lab): NRSA Fellowship (F30) from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Triangle Community Foundation Gertrude B. Elion Mentored Medical Student Research Award

Winners of travel awards to national conferences:

Kizzie Corbett (de Silva lab): Third Pan American Dengue Research Network Meeting Travel Award

Rodrigo Gonzalez: American Society for Microbiology Travel Award

Megan Meyer: American Society for Investigative Pathology Travel Award

Lauren Neighbours: American Society for Virology Student Travel Award; NIH National Graduate Student Research Festival Travel Award

Also announced at the recognition ceremony:

Richard Watkins (Garcia lab) has been inducted into the Frank Porter Graham Honor Society, whose members are graduate and professional students who have provided outstanding service to UNC and its community.

Sean Gregory receives Dean's Distinguished Dissertation Award

Lynette Roesch — 2013-04-12T17:20:00Z

Sean Gregory won the 2013 Dean’s Distinguished Dissertation Award. Only four of these campus-wide awards are made each year, and Sean was selected for the area of Biological & Life Sciences. Sean was a graduate student in Blossom Damania’s lab and is currently a postdoc with David Knipe at Harvard Medical School.

Reid Roberts receives the 2013 GEAB Impact Award

Lynette Roesch — 2013-04-12T17:14:59Z

Reid Roberts, a graduate student in Jenny Ting’s lab, is one of the winners of the 2013 Impact Awards. The Impact Awards recognize outstanding graduate students in a wide variety of research areas and are privately funded each year through the Graduate Education Advancement Board. On April 10, 2013, Reid presented his doctoral research and received a plaque and cash award at the Annual Graduate Student Recognition Celebration.

Garcia lab: HIV escape from innate immune restriction

Lynette Roesch — 2013-04-12T17:09:44Z

On March 28, 2013, PLoS Pathogens online featured work from Victor Garcia's lab, using humanized ("BLT") mice to demonstrate the role of HIV's vif gene in counteracting host restriction of viral replication. Access the original article, "HIV Restriction by APOBEC3 in Humanized Mice," through PubMed and the UNC News story here.

Lemon lab: Host membrane hijacking by HAV

Lynette Roesch — 2013-04-12T16:39:35Z

Published March 31, 2013 in Nature Advance Online: Stan Lemon's lab shows how a "non-enveloped" picornavirus (hepatitis A virus) can become cloaked in host-derived membranes, providing protection from antibody-mediated neutralization.

Access the online article through PubMed.

See the UNC News story on this article.

Ralph Baric on SARS, 10 years later

Lynette Roesch — 2013-03-21T19:10:00Z

A major News Focus article in the March 15th edition of Science recalls the first pandemic of the 21st century and features comments by M&I Professor Ralph Baric. See PubMed to access the article.

Cohen, Cotter and Damania elected as 2013 Fellows of the American Academy of Microbiology

Lynette Roesch — 2013-03-04T20:20:00Z

In March, 2013, three UNC SoM M&I faculty members were elected as 2013 Fellows of the American Academy of Microbiology (AAM), the honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). Selection for fellowship is a highly competitive annual peer review process, based on scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced the field of microbiology.

The three elected are Myron S. Cohen, MD, the J. Herbert Bate Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, and Epidemiology; Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases; and Director of the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases; and Professors Peggy A. Cotter, PhD, and Blossom Damania, PhD, of Microbiology and Immunology. Myron, Peggy and Blossom join eight other current M&I faculty members who are AAM Fellows: Ralph Baric, Jeff Dangl, Peter Gilligan, Bill Goldman, Virginia Miller, Joe Pagano, Nancy Raab-Traub, and Fred Sparling.

See NC Health Care News story here.

Dittmer lab: Building a better mouse . . .

Lynette Roesch — 2013-02-26T05:00:00Z

. . . for studying KSHV-B cell persistence, hyperplasia, and lymphoma. Hoon Sin and Dirk Dittmer constructed a transgenic mouse that expresses the complete complement of core KSHV latent genes under control of a B cell-specific promoter, creating the first in vivo model that allows functional assessment of the viral micro RNAs.

Visit PubMed to access the Blood Journal article.

Redinbo lab: Multidrug resistance acquisition by Staphylococcus aureus

Lynette Roesch — 2013-02-26T05:00:00Z

PNAS featured an article from Matt Redinbo’s group, and the focus is on the role of a relaxase encoded on an antibiotic resistance plasmid in S. aureus. The authors identify structural features important in conjugation and discuss the implications for how drug resistance is transferred between bacteria.

Get the article through PubMed link below.

Molecular basis of antibiotic multiresistance transfer inStaphylococcus aureus

Damania lab: Switching between KSHV latency and lysis

Lynette Roesch — 2013-02-19T20:30:00Z

In the February 13 issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Blossom Damania’s group uses a cellular kinome siRNA screen and other knockdown experiments to prove that TLKs are involved in control of gammaherpesvirus latency. See the UNC News article here.