Past STCEID News

James Chambers Named UTSA's 2024 Innovator of the Year
(December 2024) – Dr. Chambers is an internationally recognized biochemist with multiple patents that have benefited public health and safety. He is one of three founders of the Phage Refinery, a company dedicated to screening and isolating environmental phages.
UTSA Today

James Chambers, Chiung-Yu Hung, and Karl Klose honored in UTSA’s 2024 Innovation Awards
(December 2024) – Dr. Chambers and Dr. Hung recognized for licensing activity; Dr. Klose recognized for his NAI Senior Member induction.
UTSA Today

Fungal Blooms May Affect Severity of C. difficile Infection
(June 2024) – Fungal colonization appears to have a symbiotic relationship with Clostridioides difficile that can influence the severity of disease, according to Dr. Jesús Romo who discussed his work at the ASM Microbe 2024 in Atlanta.
Infectious Disease Special Edition

Jose Lopez-Ribot Recognized for Research on Fungal Infections
(April 2024) – Dr. Lopez-Ribot is nationally recognized for developing strategies to diagnose, prevent, and treat candidiasis.
UTSA Today

Karl Klose Honored by NAI for Impact on Medical Industry
(February 2024) – The NAI's Senior Members program recognizes academic innovators who have "growing success in patents, licensing, and commercialization, while educating and mentoring the next generation of inventors."
UTSA Today

Dr. Jesús Romo Selected for Prestigious Hinton Award
(November 2023) – The award recognizes outstanding contributions toward fostering the research training of minorities and increasing diversity in microbiology.
UTSA Today

UTSA Researchers Discover New Method to Inhibit Cholera Infection
(November 2023) – Drs. Karl Klose and Cameron Lloyd coauthored a research article that investigates a novel strategy for inhibiting the spread and infection of Vibrio cholerae, the bacteria responsible for cholera.
UTSA Today

Drs. Astrid and Sandra Cardona: Sisters in STEM Leverage Individual Research Talents to Fight Autoimmune Disease
(October 2023) – At UTSA, both sisters have been committed to promoting research excellence and student success.
UTSA Academic Affairs

UTSA Academy of Distinguished Researchers Inducts Dr. Astrid Cardona
(September 2023) – The Academy honors outstanding faculty scholars and is dedicated to fostering a culture of exceptional research practices at UTSA and creating a collective of faculty advocates.
UTSA Today

Dr. Jesús Romo Selected for the 2024 ASM William A. Hinton Award for Advancement of a Diverse Community of Microbiologists
(September 2023) – The award recognize leading scientists and researchers in the field for their professional accomplishments and contributions to research, education, clinical laboratories, service and scientific diversity.
American Society for Microbiology

Drs. Chiung-Yu Hung and Jose Lopez-Ribot Elected Senior Members of National Academy of Inventors
(July 2023) – NAI senior members are active faculty members, scientists and administrators from NAI member institutions who have demonstrated remarkable innovation producing technologies that have brought or aspire to bring real impact on the welfare of society.
UTSA Today

Dr. Jose Lopez-Ribot Featured on Texas Public Radio's Petrie Dish
(April 2023) – In the episode "Killer fungi may not be the last of us but scientists are concerned," Dr. Lopez-Ribot discusses the threat posed by fungi.
Texas Public Radio

Dr. Chiung-Yu Hung Named Innovator of the Year at the UTSA Innovation Awards
(November 2022) – An expert in the field of Coccidioides, Dr. Hung recently received a $6.8M NIH grant to establish a research center targeting valley fever, plus she has filed six patents, all related to Coccidioides.
UTSA Today

Dr. Bernard Arulanandam Named Vice Provost for Research at Tufts University
(April 2022) – Dr. Arulanandam is a nationally recognized immunologist, prior STCEID director, and current UTSA vice president for Research, Economic Development and Knowledge Enterprise (REDKE).
UTSA Today

Dr. Thomas Forsthuber a University Excellence Award Winner
(April 2022) – Dr. Forsthuber received the President’s Distinguished Faculty Award in Research.
University Excellence Awards

UTSA Students to Gain Fundamental Knowledge in Disease Development, Prevention
(March 2022) – Dr. Janakiram Seshu is guiding the research efforts to study molecular mechanisms leading to Lyme disease.
UTSA Today

New Doctoral Program in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Addresses Critical Workforce Shortage
(March 2022) – The UTSA College of Sciences’ Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology (MMI) will launch a new Ph.D. program in molecular microbiology and immunology beginning Fall 2022.
UTSA Today

Dr.  Thomas Forsthuber Elected a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI)
(February 2022) – NAI Senior Members are active faculty members, scientists, and administrators who have demonstrated remarkable innovation producing technologies that have brought or aspire to bring real impact on the welfare of society. They also have growing success in patents, licensing, and commercialization.

Dr. Chiung-Yu Hung Receives $6.8M in NIH Funding to Establish Research Center Targeting Valley Fever
(February 2022) – Dr. Hung will lead UTSA mycology and immunology researchers in the establishment of a research center developing therapeutics and vaccines against valley fever.
UTSA Today

Dr. James Chambers Recognized by World-Renowned Scientific Council
(January 2022) – Dr. Chambers is being honored for “distinguished development of threat agent detection, innovative contributions to the understanding of Francisella tularensis, and the promotion of scholarship and scientific discovery in teaching and public outreach.
UTSA Today

Dr. Althea Campuzano Awarded 2nd Best Talk at the 9th Annual Vaccine Development Center of San Antonio Conference
(November 2021) – The conference was held on November 10-11, 2021. Recognition also goes to her mentor, Dr. Chiung-Yu Hung, for this accomplishment!

Witte Museum Visitors Get Interactive Lessons in Microbiology from UTSA Scientists
(November 2021) – A team of MMI scientists greeted people when they entered the UTSA area. Three laboratory stations showed some of the fun things possible when working with microbes.
UTSA Today

Our Take: To Boost or Not To Boost: An Immunological Quandary
(November 2021) – Drs. Bernard Arulanandam and Neal Guentzel express their views in light of the ongoing debate about COVID vaccine boosters.
UTSA Today

Dr. Astrid Cardona Named as a Fellow in the Third Cohort of the iAspire Leadership Academy
(September 2021) – The program aims to help STEM faculty from underrepresented backgrounds ascend to leadership roles at institutions of higher learning.
UTSA Today

Black Fungus Expert Dr. Soo Chan Lee Says Conditions Are in Place for Another Fungi Epidemic
(June 2021) – Dr. Lee is one of world's leading experts of mucormycosis, also known as the black fungus.
UTSA Today

Dr. Karl Klose Featured in 'Frontliners' Episode 1
(September 2020) – 'Frontliners' is a new limited series from RYOT in partnership with Yahoo News that tells the story of the coronavirus pandemic from the point of view of individuals doing what they can to help their communities.
Yahoo

Dr. Karl Klose is Leading a Team of Scientists Developing a Novel Vaccine to Combat COVID-19
(April 2020) – Dr. Klose's vaccine prototype has already been developed to an advanced stage where they are now working with scientists at Southwest Research Institute on formulations for eventual human use.
UTSA Today

Drs. Bernard Arulanandam and Karl Klose Part of Panel Discussion on Efforts to Monitor and Treat COVID-19
(April 2020) – Dr. Arulanandam moderated and Dr. Klose was one of the researchers discussing efforts during the pandemic before answering public questions via livestream chat.
UTSA Today

Dr. Chiung-Yu Hung Recognized at UTSA's University Excellence Awards
(April 2020) – Dr. Hung received the President's Teaching Award for Research Achievement.
UTSA Today

PhD Student Carol Chase Discovers Passion for Immunology as Lab Volunteer
(February 2020) – Carol discovered her passion for immunology while volunteering in an autoimmunity lab. In Dr. Forsthuber's lab, she is looking for blood biomarkers to monitor the progression of multiple sclerosis.
UTSA Today

Vaccine Development Center of San Antonio Researchers Win $18 Million Contract to Develop a Tularemia Vaccine to Protect Military
(February 2020) – Founded in 2012 by UTSA, SwRI, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, and UT Health San Antonio, the Vaccine Development Center of San Antonio leverages the strength, expertise and assets of San Antonio's four leading research institutions to identify and develop promising vaccine candidates to promote public health.
UTSA Today

50th Anniversary Scholars Speaker Dr. Karl Klose Discusses the Global Antibiotics Crisis
(November 2019) – In honor of its anniversary year, UTSA 50th Anniversary Scholars Speaker Series are monthly talks featuring some of UTSA's most renowned faculty.
UTSA Today

Dr. Bernard Arulanandam Named UTSA Vice President for Research, Economic Development and Knowledge Enterprise
(October 2019) – Dr. Arulanandam will cultivate the university's research partnerships, shape UTSA's research operations, commercialization activities and centers and institutes, and more fully integrate the university's economic development initiatives into the knowledge enterprise to guide UTSA in achieving its 10-year strategic plan.
UTSA Today

Dr. Bernard Arulanandam Inducted into the National Academy of Inventors
(April 2019) – The honor recognizes Dr. Arulanandam for demonstrating a prolific spirit of innovation in creating and facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society.
UTSA Today

Dr. Althea Campuzano Is a Born-and-Bred UTSA Scientist Tackling the "Silent Epidemic"
(March 2019) – Dr. Campuzano has spent her entire collegiate career at UTSA. She did undergraduate research under Dr. Seshu, Cell and Molecular Biology doctoral program research under Dr. Wormley, and is now conducting postdoctoral research under Dr. Hung.
UTSA Today

Dr. Floyd Wormley Jr. Elected an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow
(January 2019) – The AAAS bestows the lifetime honor of being an elected Fellow in recognition of a member's extraordinary achievements in advancing science. Dr. Wormley's election by his peers recognizes his "distinguished contributions to the field of medical mycology, immunology and host-pathogen interactions."
UTSA Today

Dr. Bernard Arulanandam Elected Fellow of National Academy of Inventors
(December 2018) – The honor recognizes Dr. Arulanandam for demonstrating a prolific spirit of innovation in creating and facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.
UTSA Today

Dr. Kirsten Hanson Featured in UTSA Today Spotlight
(December 2018) – Dr. Hanson conducts research focused on the cellular and developmental biology of Plasmodium parasites, the causative agents of malaria.
UTSA Today

Dr. Chiung-Yu Hung Receives $1.9 Million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(July 2018) – The five-year grant will support the development of a multivalent vaccine against Coccidioides infection.
UTSA Today

Dr. Astrid Cardona Featured in UTSA Today Q&A
(June 2018) – Dr. Cardona's work involves studying diseases of the brain, specifically those that cause inflammation and degeneration.
UTSA Today

2018 Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry Showcase Award Winners Announced
(May 2018) – Joshua Anderson and Javier Valencia, both from Dr. Seshu's lab, received Best-in-Show awards at the 2018 Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry Showcase.
UTSA Today

STCEID Awards Doctoral Scholarships
(January 2018) – Cellular and Molecular Biology students Natalia Castro-Lopez and Jonathon Keck are the recipients of the 2018 UTSA South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases doctoral scholarships. Each student will receive $26,500 to help complete their doctoral work.

Dr. Garry Sunter Received a $1 Million DARPA Award to Aid Food Security
(October 2017) – Dr. Sunter's goal is to develop a technology that enlists insects to deliver genetic therapies that improve the health of vulnerable, mature plants.
UTSA Today

Dr. Jose Lopez-Ribot Inducted into the UTSA Academy of Distinguished Researchers
(July 2017) – he Academy of Distinguished Researchers selects and honors outstanding faculty who are accomplished scholars and who share UTSA's continuing commitment to research excellence; to foster the highest quality of research and scholarly activity by UTSA faculty; and to promote the University's vision as a premier public research university.
UTSA Today

Dr. Thomas Forsthuber Selected as a Biomedical Research Exemplar
(April 2017) – The Research Exemplar Project honors individuals doing high-quality, high-impact, federally-funded research who also maintain an impressive reputation for professionalism and integrity in their work.

Dr. Bernard Arulanandam Elected to Fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology
(April 2017) – The American Academy of Microbiology recognizes excellence, originality, and leadership in the microbiological sciences.
UTSA Today

Dr. Floyd Wormley Jr. Selected for a 2017-18 U.S. Fulbright Scholar Award
(April 2017) – The Fulbright Program aims to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

Dr. Janakiram Seshu Receives $404,250 NIAID Grant to Support Lyme Disease Research
(February 2017) – Dr. Seshu's research focuses on better understanding and preventing the spread of Lyme disease; in particular, how the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium is able to adapt to its immediate environment inside the tick vector or infected mammalian hosts.
UTSA Today

Dr. Mark Eppinger's Study Describes New Strategies for Investigating Microbial Outbreaks
(July 2016) – Dr. Eppinger's study published in Frontiers in Microbiology describes innovative strategies to track disease-causing pathogens like E. coli. He hopes his research will aid in halting and preventing large-scale outbreaks.
UTSA Today

Dr. Janakiram Seshu Explores New Method to Stop the Spread of Lyme Disease
(May 2016) – According to a new study co-authored by Dr. Seshu, medication that is normally used to lower cholesterol could stop the spread of Lyme disease.
UTSA Today

Drs. Jose Lopez-Ribot and Floyd Wormley Jr. Elected to Fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology
(February 2016) – The American Academy of Microbiology recognizes excellence, originality, and leadership in the microbiological sciences.

Dr. Kirsten Hanson Receives $670,000 Grant to Fight Malaria
(February 2016) – Dr. Hanson has received a $670,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop novel liver-stage antimalarial treatments to stop the parasite that causes malaria.
UTSA Today

Dr. Karl Klose Named Fellow by the American Academy of Microbiology
(March 2015) – Elected by his peers for his lifetime scientific contributions to the field of microbiology, Dr. Klose has studied how bacteria cause disease, with the goal of developing new vaccines and therapeutics, specifically to combat cholera and tularemia.
UTSA Today

Dr. Bernard Arulanandam Selected by Peers as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
(November 2014) – The AAAS is the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of the journals Science, Translational Medicine and Science Signaling. It includes 261 affiliated societies and academies of science and serves 10 million individuals.
UTSA Today

UTSA Infectious Disease Center Awards $23K Scholarship to Graduate Student Julie Tudyk
(October 2014) – The annual $23,000 STCEID doctoral scholarship will help the Canadian native advance her doctoral research on Erk2 signaling in lymphocytes and autoimmunity. She is particularly interested in understanding mechanisms of disease and developing treatments.
UTSA Today

UTSA Microbiologists Discover Regulatory Thermometer that Controls Cholera
(September 2014) – Dr. Karl Klose has teamed up with researchers at Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, to understand how humans get infected with cholera.
UTSA Today

Dr. Karl Klose Receives Department of Defense Contract to Study Tularemia
(August 2014) – The funding from the DoD's Defense Threat Reduction Agency is one of the largest contracts UTSA has received this year for its research in infectious disease. It will support research that will bring scholars one step closer to developing a vaccine against tularemia.
UTSA Today

Dr. Bernard Arulanandam Chosen as One of Vaccine’s Council of 100
(October 2013) – The Council of 100 is a group of vaccinology experts, chosen by the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Vaccine that serves as a resource for the journal’s editorial board. Duties performed by Council of 100 members include: performing rapid reviews of articles; suggesting articles covering new developments in the field, contributing articles and reviews of current topics, and serving as ambassadors for the journal.
Vaccine

Dr. Floyd Wormley Jr. Chosen To Be a Distinguished Lecturer for the American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
(September 2013) – The ASM Distinguished Lecturer (ASMDL) Program (formerly known as Waksman Foundation for Microbiology Lectures) annually selects a scientifically diverse group of lecturers who are available to speak at local ASM Branch meetings throughout the country. Lecturers are chosen though a competitive nominations process, and only the most distinguished lectures and researches are chosen to participate in the program.

STCEID Research Highlighted in Nature Reviews | Microbiology
(June 2013) – Article: High-Throughput Nano-Biofilm Microarray for Antifungal Drug Discovery Authors: Anand Srinivasan, Jose L. Lopez-Ribot, Anand K. Ramasubramanian, and Kai P. Leung.
American Society for Microbiology mBio

Dr. Janakiram Seshu Leads a Three-Member Team of Investigators to China
(December 2012) – The team visited six Chinese institutions with a goal of establishing links to launch research collaborations related to tick-borne diseases.
UTSA Today

Dr. Astrid Cardona Has Won the 2012 Women of Distinction Award
(May 2012) – The Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC), the leading Hispanic business organization in Texas since 1975, is recognizing the accomplishments and contributions of some outstanding women. Each of the honorees have made a significant difference in our community and have excelled in their professions.
UTSA Today

Dr. Jose Lopez-Ribot to Serve as President of Medical Mycology Society of the Americas
(September 2011) – Dr. Lopez-Ribot has been elected to serve the Medical Mycology Society of the Americas as its 2012 president. Medical mycology is the study of fungal organisms that cause infectious diseases.
UTSA Today

UTSA Receives $4.6 Million to Create Center of Excellence in Infection Genomics
(June 2011) – The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (STCEID) at UTSA will receive $4.6 million over the next five years from the U.S. Department of Defense's Army Research Office to establish a Center of Excellence in Infection Genomics (CEIG) to support microbiology research, teaching and outreach activities aligned with Army priorities. Infection genomics is the scientific discipline in which biologists characterize functional properties of the entire genome of infectious organisms.
UTSA Today

Drs. Karl Klose, Bernard Arulanandam, and Janakiram Seshu Develop International Partnerships in Lebanon
(May 2011) – Drs. Klose, Arulanandam, and Seshu traveled to Beirut on May 9-14 to develop international collaborations with microbiology/immunology researchers and clinicians at the American University of Beirut (AUB) in Lebanon. Their travel was funded by the U.S. Department of State through the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
UTSA Today

Researchers from UTSA and the UT Health Science Center Are Granted a Patent Related to Chlamydia
(May 2011) – UTSA Researchers Dr. Bernard Arulanandam and Dr. Ashlesh Murthy, and UTHSCSA researcher Dr. Guangming Zhong have together received a United States patent based on discoveries the trio made while researching Chlamydia trachomatis, the bacterium that causes chlamydia infections.
UTSA Today

Dr. Ashlesh Murthy Named One of a Dozen Emerging Scholars by Diverse Issues in Higher Education
(March 2011) – Dr. Murthy has been named one of a dozen emerging scholars under the age of 40 in the January 6 issue of Diverse Issues in Higher Education. Murthy, a medical doctor by training and the first graduate student to receive a Ph.D. in Biology from UTSA's Cellular and Molecular Biology program, is one of a trio of San Antonio researchers working with Merck and Co. to develop and commercialize a vaccine to prevent chlamydia infection.
UTSA Today

South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Awards Doctoral Scholarships
(September 2010) – Cellular and Molecular Biology students Tricia Van Laar and Christopher Pierce are the recipients of the 2010 UTSA South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (STCEID) doctoral scholarships. Both students will receive $21,500 to help complete their doctoral work.
UTSA Today

Dr. Ashlesh Murthy Granted $144,500 from NIH to Combat Infertility in Women
(August 2010) – Researchers at UTSA are one step closer to combating the devastating effects of chlamydia in infected women. Dr. Murthy recently received a two-year $144,500 RO3 grant from the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease within the National Institutes of Health to uncover new ways to counteract and prevent the side effects of the disease.
UTSA Today

Ladies First
(May 2010) – With the support of mentors and her own determination, Micaela Vargas leads the way for minority women in science and helps open the door for future generations of successful women in science.
STCEID News Story

UTSA Students Win Research Awards from American Society for Microbiology
(November 2009) – Ann Reyes, Tricia Van Lar, and Steve Rodriguez, all researching topics in microbiology and infectious diseases, won competitive awards for their poster and oral presentations at the annual meeting of the Texas Branch of the American Society for Microbiology, held November 5-7, 2009, at the University of Texas at Tyler.
UTSA Today

UTSA Infectious Disease Researchers Speak at International Conference in Berlin
(October 2009) – In September, ten researchers from the UTSA South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (STCEID) attended the sixth International Conference on Tularemia at the University Hospital Charite, Charite Campus Mitte, in Berlin, Germany.
UTSA Today

South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Awards Scholarships
(September 2009) – The UTSA South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (STCEID) has awarded its inaugural $21,500 doctoral scholarships to students Madhulika Jupelli and Gregor Weber. The funding will help Jupelli and Weber, who are both studying Cellular and Molecular Biology, to complete their doctoral thesis research.
UTSA Today

Drs. Robert Renthal and Jose Lopez-Ribot Win $940,000 in Stimulus Funds to Advance Research
(July 2009) – Dr. Renthal received $390,000 to study the purpose and function of four parts of an insect pheromone receptor's structures. Dr. Jose Lopez-Ribot received $550,000 to study biofilms formed by the fungus that causes infections called candidiasis.
UTSA Today

Dr. Ashlesh Murthy Received a $32,000 Grant from the Semp Russ Foundation of the San Antonio Area Foundation
(June 2009) – Dr. Murthy will use the grant to study the role of CD8-positive T-cells in chlamydia infections. Caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, chlamydia is the nation's most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease.
UTSA Today

UTSA, UTHSCSA, and Merck Partner on Chlamydia Vaccine Development
(April 2009) – The University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio today announced an exclusive license and sponsored research agreement with Merck & Co. Inc. to develop a vaccine for chlamydia, targeting the common sexually transmitted bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.
UTSA Today

Mahulena Maruskova Wins S. Edward Sulkin Award
(November 2007) – Kudos to Mahulena Maruskova for winning the S. Edward Sulkin Award-honorable mention for her oral presentation at the Texas Branch Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology held at Sam Houston State University November 15-17, 2007.The title of her presentation was "Infectivity analysis of Borrelia burgdorferi mutants in pH-regulated genes of lp54." Mahulena is in her third year of Cellular and Molecular Biology doctoral studies in Dr. Janakiram Seshu's laboratory.

Khalid Ali Syed Wins Sam Kaplan Award
(November 2007) – Kudos to Khalid Ali Syed for winning the Sam Kaplan Award – 2nd prize for the best poster presented at Texas Branch Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology held at Sam Houston State University November 15-17, 2007. The title of his poster was "Regulation of virulence genes by the Vibrio cholerae flagellar regulatory hierarchy." Khalid is in his fifth year of Cellular and Molecular Biology doctoral studies in the laboratory of Dr. Karl Klose.

Senator John Cornyn Opens UTSA's $10.6 Million Science Lab
(November 2005) – U.S. Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, joined UTSA President Ricardo Romo and community members to celebrate the opening of the $10.6 million Margaret Batts Tobin Laboratory Building on the UTSA 1604 Campus.
UTSA Today