Research activities in the Department of Microbiology address contemporary topics in cellular processes and applied problems of relevance to modern society. Two exciting areas of research synergism supported by core Departmental faculty and by several associate members of the department are Microbial Genomics & Metabolism and Viral Pathogenesis & the Host Immune System.

Microbial Genomics and Metabolism

Core faculty: Jim Brown, Michael Flickinger, Amy Grunden, Hosni Hassan, Michael Hyman, Eric Miller, Jonathan Olson
Associate faculty: Robert Kelly, Todd Klaenhammer, Paul Orndorff

Microorganisms represent the greatest diversity of life on earth and occupy every conceivable niche. There are now several hundred complete prokaryotic genome sequences available that together encode an enormous metabolic capacity, and most has only been superficially explored. NCSU microbiologists are researching microbial genomes and their functional potential as it relates to cometabolism, oxidative stress responses, RNA control and processing, hyperthermophiles, phage-induced enzymes, nitrogen fixation, lactic acid bacteria and host- pathogen interactions. Collaborative interactions between departmental faculty and researchers across the campus bring modern, interdisciplinary approaches to basic and applied problems in microbiology.

Viral Pathogenesis and the Host Immune System

Core faculty: Scott Laster, Tim Petty, Frank Scholle, Michael Sikes
Associate faculty: Dennis Brown, Fred Fuller, Barbara Sherry

Viruses represent a great threat to the health of human and animal populations. At NCSU, microbiologists are researching various aspects of virus biology and studying how the immune system protects us from viral disease. One major focus area is the interaction between viruses and the innate immune system. Studies with adenoviruses, poxviruses and West Nile virus are probing both cellular anti-viral defense mechanisms and the strategies for active evasion of the immune system that are employed by these viruses. The basic principles that govern development of the adaptive immune system are also under investigation, and other basic and applied research is directed towards the development of anti-viral vaccines.