The Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (IDM) is committed to training the next generation of scientists and public health professionals to enhance the control of infectious diseases in the human population.
News
Of mice and humans: What to know about the diseases mice can spread in the region
Danielle Tufts, an assistant professor of infectious diseases and microbiology and immunology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, says that simply seeing a mouse does not mean disease transmission is imminent or likely. But risk does increase with prolonged exposure, improper cleanup of droppings or nests, and contact with ticks that rely on mice as hosts.
Tiny new brain organoid model helps embody how viruses affect the brain
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Schools of Public Health and Medicine have developed advanced cellular models that closely mimic the structure and function of the human brain, providing a powerful new platform to study how human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other neurotropic viruses damage the brain and spinal cord.
Kuchipudi lab takes aim at bird flu, emerging diseases
Funding totaling $4.1 million will fuel four novel studies focused on diseases that spread between animals and humans, including highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses, which have been found in more than 120 bird and mammalian species, including cattle, cats, and dogs. H5N1 has also spread to people in close contact with dairy cattle and poultry—causing at least one human death—since 2024.