UAB Department of Microbiology

08/07/2026

Our State of the Department is almost here!

Join us on Aug. 10 at 10 a.m. as Chair J. Victor Garcia-Martinez, Ph.D., reflects on our accomplishments over the past year and shares what's ahead for the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Microbiology.

We hope you'll join us!

Register here: https://buff.ly/COjpJCx

08/05/2026

Nicholas J. Lennemann, Ph.D. was named an SEBLAB award recipient for his project, titled “Establishment of Jingmenvirus Molecular Platforms for Outbreak Preparedness.” Congratulations, Dr. Lennemann! 👏
UAB Heersink School of Medicine

The Southeastern Biosafety Laboratory Alabama Birmingham (SEBLAB) at UAB is one of 12 Regional Biocontainment Laboratories funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. The SEBLAB serves as a catalyst for scientific and translational discovery on biodefense and emerging infecti...

07/31/2026

Get to know Blaine Johnson, graduate student in the Lund and Randall Labs of the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Microbiology with these 3 quick questions! ⭐

07/30/2026

Welcome to the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Microbiology! 💚
Ilias Kubedinov has joined the department as an International Visiting Scholar in the lab of Michael Niederweis, Ph.D.

07/27/2026

The UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Microbiology's State of the Department is just around the corner!

Join us on Aug. 10 at 10 a.m. as J. Victor Garcia-Martinez, Ph.D., reflects on the department's accomplishments over the past year and shares a look at the opportunities ahead.

Learn more and register: https://buff.ly/COjpJCx

07/22/2026

Carlos J. Orihuela, Ph.D., professor in the UAB Department of Microbiology, has been named the latest recipient of the school's Featured Discovery award.

Orihuela’s study, “Allele-specific zinc metalloprotease B influences cardiac damage during invasive pneumococcal disease,” examined the relationship between heart failure and pneumonia, as well as the bacterial genes that were present in genetic lineages of Streptococcus pneumoniae that more frequently caused heart damage during pneumonia. They identified a specific version of the enzyme Zinc Metalloprotease B that potentiated bacterial tropism to the heart.

Read more at the link in the comments.

07/16/2026

Join us on Aug. 10 at 10 a.m. for the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Microbiology's State of the Department address with J. Victor Garcia-Martinez, Ph.D.

Hear highlights from the past year, including research accomplishments, educational successes, and key developments across the department, along with a look at the opportunities ahead.

Learn more: https://buff.ly/COjpJCx

07/07/2026

Get to know Liz Joiner, B.S., graduate student in the Lennemann Lab of the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Microbiology with these 3 quick questions! ⭐

07/02/2026

Welcome to the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Microbiology! 🎉

We’re excited to welcome our newest volunteers, Pearl Ennis, who has joined the lab of Carlos Orihuela, Ph.D., and Maggie Bearden, who has joined the lab of Sunnie Thompson, Ph.D.

06/30/2026

Carlos Orihuela, Ph.D., and Vipin Chembilikandy, Ph.D., were recently featured by
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration and TSPAN for their research leveraging the space environment to observe how stem cell derived heart tissues respond to bacterial infections, to discover new methods to manage cardiovascular health and infectious diseases.

NASA: https://buff.ly/VU3lcXY

T-Span: https://buff.ly/kslU91p