Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Wayne Barnes, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: barneswm@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Research summary
Possible cure for MS: intravenous access by myelin-binding aptamer; PCR at one temp; RT-enabled Taq pol.
Key words
DNA, aptamers, technology development, brain therapy

Rebecca Bart, PhD
Associate Faculty Member
- Email: rbart@danforthcenter.org
Program affiliation
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Research summary
Combining genetics with molecular and computational biology to learn about the mechanisms used by hosts and pathogens to recognize and respond to one another and the environment
Key words

Ivan Baxter, PhD
Member
- Email: ibaxter@danforthcenter.org
Program affiliation
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Computational and Systems Biology
Research summary
We use High-thoughput elemental profiling to understand how plants adapt to their soil environment
Key words
Ionomics, Genetics, Genomics, Gene by Environment Interactions, Plants

Stephen Beverley, PhD
Ernest St. John Simms Distinguished Professor
- Email: stephen.beverley@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Immunology
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Research summary
Molecular genetics of protozoan parasites - virulence and their viruses
Key words
parasites, viruses, microbial pathogenesis, macrophage, virulence, glycobiology, vaccination

Joshua Blodgett, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: jblodgett@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Research summary
Interdisciplinary questions surrounding bacterial small molecule production
Key words
Streptomyces, biosynthesis, genome mining, antibiotics, regulation & genetics

Arpita Bose, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: abose@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Computational and Systems Biology
Research summary
Microbial metabolisms and their influence on biogeochemical cycling
Key words

Alexander Bradley, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: abradley@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Research summary
Examination of modern and ancient biogeochemical cycles; the coevolution of life and the Earth.
Key words
Organic & isotope geochemistry, geobiology, microbiology

Michael Caparon, PhD
Professor
- Email: caparon@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Research summary
Genetics and virulence of the pathogenetic streptococci
Key words
bacteriology, gene expression, inflammation, microbial pathogenesis, toxin

James Carrington, PhD
President
Program affiliation
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Research summary
Focus on the biogenesis, functions, and evolutionof small RNA-directed silencing pathways in multicellular eukaryotes
Key words
genomics, functional genomics, biogenesis, systems biology, silencing pathways, plant biology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, RNA pathways

Ram Dixit, PhD
Professor and Biology Department Chair
- Email: ramdixit@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Molecular Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Research summary
Molecular mechanisms of cytoskeleton organization and function
Key words
cytoskeleton, molecular motors, cell morphogenesis, cell wall biogenesis, plant biology