LSU Health Shreveport - Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Today, March 24, is World Tuberculosis (TB) Day. On this date in 1882, Robert Koch announced the discovery that Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the causative agent of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis has recently returned (after COVID was at the top for a couple of years) as the top infectious disease in the world, with over 10 million new cases per year and over 1 million deaths. Multi- and extremely drug-resistant TB remains a persistent problem. In recent years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has noted an increase in TB incidences in the Americas, including the USA in recent years. The department's very own Dr. Sadiya Parveen Nesson focuses on understanding how Mtb perturbs host metabolic pathways in both immune and non-immune cell types at the single-cell level. She hopes to identify new pathways to target and develop effective TB drugs.

Support LSU Health Shreveport’s School of Graduate Studies on LSU Giving Day, happening March 19!

Gifts to the Brent Reed, PhD Memorial Student Support Fund provide need-based financial support to our student researchers at the School of Graduate Studies. These dedicated future scientists are essential to advancing healthcare and biotechnology.

Give Early: lsuhsfoundation.org/givingday2025/

This week, Dr. Michelle Dziejman presented a seminar on some of the work being done in her lab. Dr. Dziejman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at UR Medicine.

Dr. Dziejman was invited to LSU Health Shreveport by Dr. Gestal to serve as an Outside Reviewer for senior student Katie Parrish. One Outside Reviewer is required for each Advisory Committee for students in the Microbiology and Immunology Ph.D. program. The Outside Reviewer enhances the quality of the review process and reinforces for the benefit of the student and faculty that the student's research is state-of-the-art, scientifically valid, and truly worthy of the doctoral degree.

Dr. Dziejman's seminar was titled "Do-si-do in Vibrio: A Reciprocal Regulation Story”

Thanks for visiting us at LSUHS, Dr. Dziejman!

Don't forget to join us this afternoon for our monthly coffee hour!🙂☕🧁

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY!

The Pathogen-Host Interactions & Immunology Research & Education (PHIIRE) program is an 8-week summer research program ran by the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Center for Applied Immunology and Pathological Processes.

This year, the program will be run June 9th to August 1st, 2025.

This research program in infectious disease and immunology is a perfect opportunity for undergraduate students interested in perusing research as a part of their scientific or clinical career goals!

Deadline for applications is February 28, 2025!

https://schoolofgradstudies.lsuhs.edu/academics/microbiology-and-immunology/undergraduate-fellowship/phiire-program

LSU Health Shreveport LSU Health Shreveport School of Graduate Studies

Is there a link between viral infection and multiple sclerosis? 🤔What is the relationship between type IV pili and phage defense? 🦠

Find out in this week's ASM Journal Highlights! 😃

🔬TfpY is a conserved accessory protein found in type IV pili (T4P)-expressing bacteria. While T4P are often phage receptors, research in suggests TfpY does not mediate phage defense, but instead facilitates efficient pilus assembly/function. https://asm.social/2gN

🥼In : a case of refractory pneumonia due to persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection in an immunocompromised host. The infection was successfully treated with extended course nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. Read the report: https://asm.social/2gQ

🩸The WHO calls for development of sensitive & specific diagnostic tools to help eliminate schistosomiasis. In , researchers identify a circulating carbohydrate antigen as a highly specific and sensitive target for schistosomiasis serology. https://asm.social/2gP

🖥️The MultiTax-human database integrates data from multiple sources and uses advanced classification techniques to provides high-resolution reference tool specifically designed for human microbiome research. : https://asm.social/2gO

🧠Evidence for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) as the trigger of multiple sclerosis (MS) is compelling, yet viral mechanisms & their relation to MS neuroinflammation & demyelination are unclear. This review explores the link between MS & infection: https://asm.social/2gM

Want more of the latest research published in ? Check out:https://asm.social/2gL

And stay tuned for another !✨

This week, junior student Romaisa in Dr. Yurochko’s lab presented her first library seminar. This type of seminar is just one of the stepping stones required for completion of the Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology.

Library seminars give students the opportunity to mine the literature, present, and discuss an area of research not directly related to their dissertation research project.

LSU Health Shreveport LSU Health Shreveport School of Graduate Studies

This week, junior student Shaghayegh Akbari in Dr. Jangra’s lab presented her first library seminar. This type of seminar is just one of the stepping stones required for completion of the Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology.

Library seminars give students the opportunity to mine the literature, present, and discuss an area of research not directly related to their dissertation research project.
LSU Health Shreveport
LSU Health Shreveport School of Graduate Studies

The Journal of Virology® (JVI) is launching a free seminar series. 🎉 Sign up today!

Join the JVI Co-Editors in Chief for the first-ever webinar of the Journal of Virology Seminar Series. This exciting new series aims to foster community engagement and scientific collaboration while bringing virology research to life. In the first webinar of the series, the Co-EICs will walk through what participants can expect from future episodes.

What you’ll learn:

✅ Get a sneak peek at upcoming seminars' hot topics and renowned presenters.

✅ Stay informed on the latest breakthroughs and trends in virology.

✅ Explore the grand challenges shaping the future of virology—understand tomorrow's toughest questions today!

✅Get insider tips on getting your research published in ASM's Journal of Virology.

🔗 Register today: https://asm.social/2dw

ASM South Central Branch Members,

You are invited to the upcoming webinar on December 9th at 12:30 pm! The American Society of Microbiology (ASM) is undergoing structural changes and attending this webinar is an amazing opportunity to understand how these changes contribute to the future of microbiology.

Check the zoom meeting information below and we hope to see you there!

Meeting ID: 912 0517 9206
Passcode: 407956

This week, junior student Jamal Inusah in Dr. Yurochko’s lab presented his second library seminar. This type of seminar is just one of the stepping stones required for completion of the Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology.

Library seminars give students the opportunity to mine the literature, present, and discuss an area of research not directly related to their dissertation research project.

LSU Health Shreveport
LSU Health Shreveport School of Graduate Studies

CPHM Career Advancement Webinars These 3 webinars will further your understanding of Clinical & Public Health Microbiology (CPHM) labs. The webinars will cover lab regulations, certifications, state licenses, lab structure and more.

Congrats, Nick First🎉

🎉 Congratulations to our Graduate Student of the Month: Nicholas First! 🎉
Nick is making impressive strides in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, working in Dr. Gestal’s lab. His research focuses on “Elucidating the Role of Eosinophils in Pulmonary Mucosal Immunity,” aiming to uncover how eosinophils—often associated with allergies—play a crucial role in defending against Bordetella species, the bacteria responsible for respiratory diseases.
A notable highlight of Nick’s journey in graduate school is his recent publication in Cell Reports 2023!
Outside of his research, Nick enjoys playing video games and spending time with friends and his cat, Tripping Hazard.
Keep up the great work, Nicholas!

Chemistry Nobel goes to developers of AlphaFold AI that predicts protein structures This year's prize celebrates computational tools that have transformed biology and have the potential to revolutionise drug discovery.

This week, junior student Zach Martin in Dr. Woolard’s lab presented his second library seminar. This type of seminar is just one of the stepping stones required for completion of the Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology.

Library seminars give students the opportunity to mine the literature, present, and discuss an area of research not directly related to their dissertation research project.

LSU Health Shreveport LSU Health Shreveport School of Graduate Studies