News
June 1, 2020
Cholera studies reveal mechanisms of biofilm formation and hyperinfectivity
April 20, 2020
A series of publications from microbiologist Fitnat Yildiz’s lab provides new understanding of cholera biofilms and why the bacteria in biofilms are so highly infectious.
Coastal fog linked to high levels of mercury found in mountain lions, study finds
November 26, 2019
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz have discovered elevated levels of mercury in mountain lions, the latest indication that the neurotoxin is being carried in fog, deposited on the land, and making its way up the food chain.
Rachel Carson College: Training the green generation
November 19, 2019
UC Santa Cruz’s eighth college is a haven for sustainability-minded, environmentally conscious students hoping to lead and empower others .
Postdoc Hanh Lam awarded prestigious NIH grant
September 5, 2019
Hanh Lam, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, has received the NIH Pathway to Independence Career Development Award.
Postdoctoral researcher Hanh N. Lam receives NIH K99
August 26, 2019
Postdoctoral researcher Hanh N. Lam receives an NIH K99 career training grant on novel antibiotics discovery
Researcher and Lecturer Peter Weiss receives Clean Air Leader Award
May 8, 2019
Peter Weiss , researcher and lecturer at UCSC, was recently recognized as a Clean Air Leader by the Monterey Bay Air District.
Alumnus Miles Duncan Publishes in Nature Communications
November 29, 2018
METX alumnus Miles Duncan discovers genetic mechanisms of how prey bacteria avoid killing by a bacterial predator.
Network Analysis of Protein Adaptation: modeling the functional impact of multiple mutations
April 17, 2018
METX Associate Professor Manel Camps and Rachel Karchin, Associate Professor at John Hopkin's Institute for Computational Medicine at Johns Hopkins, describe an advanced analysis of mutation dependencies to infer structure-function information on enzymes.
Outstanding Poster Award for Zheng and Lin
November 9, 2017
Undergraduate Students win Outstanding Poster Award at a National Conference
METX Ph.D. Will Sause identifies new mechanism for Helicobacter pylori to down regulate the host inflammatory response
March 13, 2017
Jaime Hernandez Discovers How Microbes Use Arsenic to Fuel an Unusual Form of Photosynthesis
November 21, 2016
Jaime Hernandez-Maldonado, Ph.D. student in METX in the Saltikov Lab, recently discovered how microbes use the toxic compound arsenic to fuel an unusual form of photosynthesis.
Peter Weiss – Mercury in California’s Fog
August 31, 2016
Peter Weiss, research associate at the University of California Santa Cruz, explains why fog, and not rain, collects mercury from the atmosphere and what that could mean for coastal environments.
Contamination from Marine Mammals May Hamper Recovery of California Condors
August 24, 2016
Biologists have discovered high levels of pesticides and other contaminants from marine mammals in the tissues of endangered California condors living near the coast that they say could complicate recovery efforts for the largest land bird in North America.
Another Successful Year for METX Grads, Postdocs, and Alumni
July 6, 2016
Congratulations to METX Graduate, Emma Hiolski and to continuing grads, postdocs, and alumni for their recognitions.
A Passion for The Ocean, Emma Hiolski
June 06, 2016
The PhD Candidate talks about her interest in understanding the food web of the ocean, and how it affects human health.
Success And Celebration
June 25, 2015
Congratulations to METX Graduates, Andrew Cheng, PhD; Miles Duncan, PhD; and Anna Lepore, Masters. And to continuing grads, postdocs, and alumni for their recognitions.
Successful METX Students; Recent Graduates and Fellowship Recipients
August 4, 2014
With four recent graduates and three prestigious fellowship awardees, the Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology Department at UCSC toasts the success of its students.
METX Students Receive Scholarships Awards.
August 8, 2013
William Sause, a current METX Ph.D student and David Zamorano Sanchez, a post-doc working for METX Prof. Yildiz, have both received prestigious scholarships awards.
With Condors on the Brink, California Considers a Lead-Bullet Ban for Hunters
June 18, 2013
The California legislature is considering a bill that would ban the use of lead bullets in hunting across the state. It would be the first statewide ban in the country and in the midst of a tense national debate over gun rights, the bill, AB 711, is raising controversy.
A Sensitive and Selective Cellular Target of Manganese Exposure
March 13, 2013
Little is known about how cells respond to manganese (Mn) over the transition from physiologic to toxicologic exposure, though how cells respond may shed light on the mechanism(s) of Mn neurotoxicity.
Hair as a biomarker of Mn Exposure
February 28, 2013
A new study by Donald Smith, Ph.D., from the University of California, Santa Cruz, describes a process to accurately, and non-invasively, determine levels of manganese (Mn) exposure in children and adults,
Close encounter with a biofilm
August 7, 2012
In a collaborative effort from two research laboratories in UC Santa Cruz and UC Berkeley, researchers have developed a novel super-resolution approach to observe in real-time how bacteria form biofilm.
Lead poisoning blocks recovery of California condor population
June 25, 2012
Study confirms lead-based ammunition as primary source of lead in condors and shows population cannot recover as long as lead contamination persists.
METX Researcher finds mercury in fog
April 2, 2012
A research group lead by METX Researcher Peter Weiss-Penzias discovered that fog contains unusually high amounts of the neurotoxin monomethylmercury (MMHg).
Ulcer-causing bacteria tamed by defect in cell-targeting ability
November 21, 2011
Without the ability to swim to their targets in the stomach, ulcer-causing bacteria do not cause the inflammation of the stomach lining that leads to ulcers and stomach cancer.
UCSC cholera biofilm team wins Deloitte QB3 Award for Innovation
October 31, 2011
A team of UC Santa Cruz researchers working to find new drugs to fight cholera has won a $10,000 Award for Innovation
UCSC team makes final round of QB3 Award for Innovation contest
October 13, 2011
A UCSC research team is among five finalists competing for online votes to win a $10,000 innovation prize.
UCSC Minority Academic Enrichment Programs Celebrate 100th Ph.D.
October 04, 2011
UCSC's nationally recognized MBRS and IMSD programs celebrate the 100th Ph.D. to pass through their doors—Dr. Carolina Reyes. These two NIH-funded programs are designed to increase the number of young underrepresented minority students who earn doctorates and pursue research careers.
Five UCSC students win Fulbright scholarships
September 30, 2011
Five UC Santa Cruz students in four disciplines are winners of Fulbright scholarships for a year of research and study abroad. They will travel to China, Germany, Italy, and Mexico for the 2011-2012 academic year.
Alum Miles Duncan Publishes in Nature Communications
May 20, 2011
METX alum Miles Duncan discovers genetic mechanisms of how prey bacteria avoid killing by a bacterial predator and his paper is published in Nature Communications. Read the entire paper here: Vibrio cholerae motility exerts drag force to impede attack by the bacterial predator Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus
Library exhibit honors faculty and the books that influenced them
April 01, 2011
During the month of April, an exhibit in the Science and Engineering Library will recognize UCSC faculty who have attained tenure or received promotion and showcase the books that have influenced them.
Fulbright Scholar Program funds prof's environmental work in Chile
January 4, 2011
Environmental toxicologist Russell Flegal is busy with teaching and research projects during a six-month visit to Chile as a Fulbright Scholar.
Condor poisoning linked to lead bullets
July 6, 2010
UCSC researchers present the strongest evidence to date that hunting ammo is poisoning endangered California Condors (Nature.com)
History of Exposure to Lead
March 17, 2010
UCSC researchers use technique to analyze history of lead exposure in sequential segments of condor feathers.
Cholera bacteria show adaptability to changing environments
December 06, 2009
Understanding the behavior of cholera bacteria between epidemics and how the pathogen moves between different environments could help prevent outbreaks.
Lead poisoning threatens a vulnerable albatross population
October 28, 2009
Populations of Laysan albatross face severe declines due to widespread lead poisoning of chicks unless comprehensive cleanup measures gain momentum, according to a recent study.
