Microbiology alumni collaborate on COVID-19 wastewater tests

Four vials stand upright beside a Water SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Test
Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic, University of Illinois alumnus David Townsend (BS ’88, microbiology) and members of his team at IDEXX Laboratories have developed a test to monitor the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater that rapidly detects the virus’ genetic material.

New study explores complex phage-host interactions in human gut

Chart depicting phage-bacteria-mammal relationships.
Danielle Campbell, a microbiology PhD graduate of the Whitaker Lab, recently studied the interaction of the active prophage, Bacteroides phage BV01, in its tractable host strain, B. vulgatus ATCC 8482. Bacteroides, known to degrade complex carbohydrates and interact with host immune cells, are one...