Amazing work by our very talked student Yagmur Keser. Basal IFN are key to many epithelial functions.

Basal IFNλ2/3 signaling is required for ISG expression and viral control in human intestinal epithelial cells Author summary Interferon-lambdas (IFNλs) are antiviral molecules that help protect the surfaces of our body, such as the gut and lungs, from infection. While IFNλs are best known for being produced d...

Excited to share: We show that basal IFNλ2/3 signaling helps human intestinal epithelial cells stay ready for viral infections, even before an acute infection. A reminder that a lot of innate immune defense happens quietly in the background. journals.plos.org/plospathogen...

Save the date for our exciting Southeastern Virology Conference in 2026! Looking forward to seeing everyone there.

Happy International Women’s Day!

Investigating how the intestines respond to infections. Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite that infects the intestinal tract, causing the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis. A common route of infection is drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food. Victoria Karaluz is an undergraduate student at the University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She studies within the department of molecular genetics and microbiology, working with EPI members Megan Stanifer and Steeve Boulant on intestinal infections. The research within the lab has found that certain pathogens, like the parasite Cryptosporidium parvum, are influenced by the lack of oxygen in the gut, also known as hypoxia. The parasite has been found to replicate more in a hypoxic environment. Let's stay connected. -------------------------------------------- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UFEPI Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uf_epi/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emerging-pathogens-institute Follow us on X: https://x.com/UF_EPI #Hypoxia #Intestine #Virus #Parasite #Research #StudentResearch #EPIresearch #UFresearch #UFEPI #UF

Working with EPI members @meganstanifer.bsky.social and @boulantlab.bsky.social, #UF undergraduate student Victoria aims to tackle the pathogens that infect our intestines. Her research focuses on how a low-oxygen environment impacts parasites.

Watch the full video: bit.ly/3WUWLNE.

Does anyone know what is the motivation for the complete attack on the NIH? Is it to remove any funding with DEI links? Or is it holding the NIH hostage to ensure that congress confirms RFK quickly?

So stressful. This has huge implications across the country. Thousands of jobs are at stake with this decision.

Late Christmas party with the lab. Last weekend, amazing laser tag adventure with my lab and the lab of @meganstanifer.bsky.social .
After shooting at each other, we had amazing food in our place. We are very grateful to have such great teams surrounding us.

We are live on bluesky. Together with @meganstanifer.bsky.social we love organoids enteroids and enteric viruses. We also found type III interferon fascinating.

Enteric viruses and hypoxia — a relationship that can improve treatment EPI member Steeve Boulant, Ph. D., and members of his lab at the University of Florida study viruses that attack the gastrointestinal tract, such as rotavirus, norovirus and astrovirus. The team has found a connection between gut oxygen levels and the immune response generated by cells. Hypoxia, low levels of oxygen, can make enteric viruses more infectious. This research can lead to the development of specific drugs that can target different enteric viruses. Let's stay connected. -------------------------------------------- Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UFEPI Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uf_epi/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emerging-pathogens-institute Follow us on X: https://x.com/UF_EPI #GutHealth #EntericVirus #GutVirus #GastrointestinalHealth #Rotavirus #Norovirus #Astrovirus #research #UFEPI #EPIresearch

Check out all the cool work being done in the other half of the Boulanifer lab.

Watch the full video 📹: bit.ly/4hXrDpN.

The Boulanifer lab had our first UF Master student defense! Gianna did great and we brought the German hat tradition to UF.

We had our first Boulanifer lab retreat this weekend. Lots of science and good food!