UMass Sesquicentennial
  • Interested in careers in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry? Click to read more...

    New! Master's of Science Concentration in Applied Molecular Biotechnology.

    Interested in careers in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry? The Microbiology Department is now accepting applications for the Applied Molecular Biotechnology (AMB) professional M.S. degree program. AMB is a one year program (2 semesters and one summer) specifically designed for students interested in careers in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Read more »

  • Read more about this image: Griffith laboratory works to decipher bacterial communication

    Griffith laboratory works to decipher bacterial communication

    Research in the Griffith laboratory is focused on understanding how individual bacteria within a population communicate with one another to regulate biological processes as a group. Bacteria have historically been viewed as autonomous organisms; however, it is becoming clear that individual bacteria in a population work in concert to perform a variety of biological processes as a group. Read more »

  • Morita lab investigates the molecular mechanisms of mycobacterial pathogenesis

    Morita lab investigates mechanisms of mycobacterial pathogenesis

    The Morita lab focuses its research on the cell wall biogenesis in mycobacteria. Components of cell wall and underlying plasma membrane are important virulence determinants, and Dr. Morita’s group has published a series of papers delineating the complex pathways that govern the biosynthesis of phosphatidylinositol-based glycolipids such as phosphatidylinositol mannosides, lipomannan, and lipoarabinomannan. Read more »

  • Lopes lab discovers novel regulation of model genes in yeast

    Lopes lab discovers novel regulation of model genes in yeast

    The Lopes lab recently reported novel transcription regulation of two genes, INO1 and PHO5, which are longstanding models for eukaryotic gene regulation. It was well documented that the Ino2p/Ino4p bHLH proteins regulate INO1 transcription in response to inositol. Ameet Shetty discovered that the Cbf1p bHLH protein also regulates INO1 transcription by a mechanism that involves cooperativity with Ino2p/Ino4p and recruitment of a chromatin remodeling complex. Read more »

News & Announcements

Microbiology Graduate Degrees Awarded

May 2013:  Congratulations to the Microbiology Class of 2013!  Three members of the Class of 2013 received recognition for their academic accomplishments:  Michael Boucher was named a UMass 21st Century Leader for far-ranging achievement, initiative and social awareness; Rebecca Cottman was selected as this year's Microbiology student speaker at the CNS Graduation Ceremony and Benjamin Waldman was chosen as a Barry M. Goldwater Scholar.

On Friday, May 10, 2013, the following students from the Microbiology Graduate Program were awarded degrees at the University of Massachusetts Graduate School Commencement:  Tawanna Childs, Ph.D.; Jeniffer Concepción, Ph.D.; Shawn Massoni, Ph.D.; Katir Patel, Ph.D.; Timothy Bain, M.S.; Kristina Boguslawski, M.S.; Maria Calapai, M.S.; Robert Delgado, M.S.; Jaclyn Izbicki, M.S.; Devesh Shrestha, M.S. and Megan Strough, M.S.

Morita Receives Award from Mizutani Foundation

March 2013:  Yasu Morita, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, was awarded a one-year grant from the Mizutani Foundation for Glycoscience for his research project, "Primordial endoplasmic membrane in bacteria with roles in glycan biosynthesis."  Read more

Nüsslein’s Research Identifies a New Concern About Deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest

January 2013:  Klaus Nüsslein, Associate Professor of Microbiology, led an international team of microbiologists to investigate the influence of land use change from pristine rain forest to agricultural pasture on soil microbial communities.  The research identified a troubling net loss in diversity among the microbial organisms responsible for a functioning ecosystem as a consequence of deforestation. This loss in genetic variation of bacteria could reduce the resilience of the rainforest ecosystem. Research findings have been reported in the current issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and have also been highlighted by the Editor of the journal Science."  Read more.

Rich Develops New Approach for Treating Malaria
December 2012:  Stephen Rich, Associate Professor of Microbiology, along with Pamela Weathers from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Doug Golenbock from the UMass Medical School, have designed a new whole-plant based strategy for treating malaria.  The research development utilizes the plant Artemisia annua which has been used to treat fever in Asia.  Research findings have been reported in the current issue of the journal PLOS ONE.  Read more
DeAngelis and Group of Researchers Receive Grant from the Joint Genome Institute

December 2012:  Kristen DeAngelis, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, and a group of researchers recently received a $500,000 grant from the Joint Genome Institute at the U.S. Department of Energy to identify soil microbes in Harvard Forest and track how they break down forest litter in a simulated warmer climate.  Read more

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