Thrilled to launch the new ASM Student Chapter at Nicholls State University! With microbial threats on the rise, we need more engaged, well-trained young scientists—and these microbiology students are outstanding. Thanks to ASM South Central Branch for their generous support in making this possible!

Excited to share that I’ve accepted the role of Associate Director [upcoming Director (2026)] at UMMC’s Center for Immunology and Microbial Research (CIMR). Mission: drive research and innovation in Mississippi and beyond to combat infectious diseases, immune disorders, and antimicrobial resistance

What a wonderful surprise visit today from former Mississippi INBRE student—and now medical student—Perriann Smith! It was such a pleasure to see her during her very first week of medical school and to reflect on how far she’s come since her time in the lab.

The ASM South Central Branch Meeting is coming this November to Mississippi State University, hosted by Dr. Justin Thornton & colleagues. A great chance to connect with investigators from MS, AR, & LA; share your research; and enjoy time with colleagues. Registration opens soon 🔗 lnkd.in/gC5gXWcX

Outstanding seminar today by Dr. Monica Gestal from M&I @LSU_Shreveport on the pivotal role of eosinophils in Bordetella infections. Grateful to Dr. Bengtén, Director of @UMMCnews CIMR, and Dr. Garrett chair of the CMB Department for helping make this engaging event possible

The end of the beginning. As the SURE program wraps up, we’re filled with gratitude for the passion, dedication, and brilliance of these young scholars—the future of science and medicine in Mississippi. @UMMCnews #FutureScientists #SUREProgram #UMMC

Proud of young Pat Vidal, who’s practicing his talk before his practice talk! Dedication, preparation, and a full passport to Nerd Country.

Excited to welcome Dr. Monica Cartelle Gestal next week for a seminar on Bordetella infection and the key role of eosinophils! Thanks to Dr. Eva Bengten, Director of the Center for Immunology and Microbial Research and Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, UMMC, for organizing this great event!

Heme-mediated selection of encapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae in the lungs by oxidative stress www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Endless thanks to our incredible research team—from mentorship to groundbreaking discoveries. Today, MSRP fellow Daniel Kerr (UMMC) under the outstanding guidance of Dr. Kenichi Takeshita, presented exciting summer data identifying a novel, targetable pathway to reduce pneumococcal colonization.

A wonderful week of science at the @GordonConf on Microbial Adhesion and Signal Transduction; presenting our research, learning, and connecting with colleagues and trainees!

As summer research programs wind down at UMMC, we’re celebrating the incredible work of our trainees from across the Central South. From uncovering how pneumococci colonize the airway to breakthroughs in cancer biology—thank you. The future of science is bright. 🌟🧬

Congratulations to Dr. Babek Alibayov on one of his first first-author papers from his postdoc in the Vidal Lab. Many thanks to all co-authors for their invaluable support in advancing these mechanistic insights into pneumococcal encapsulation

What a great way to head into the 4th of July holiday! Daniel Kerr, MSRP Fellow, just presented compelling data highlighting the impactful translational research underway at University of Mississippi Medical Center! (MSRP: Medical Student Research Program)

Happy to be starting my role as Editor for mBio at the beginning of a new era for the journal. Consider sending your impactful papers to us and support the ASM and Societies in general. journals.asm.org/journal/mbio...

This afternoon’s conversation was a delightful exploration of microbial pathogenesis (Vidal), experimental biophysics (Warncke/Emory) and the intricacies of mitochondrial (Hosler/UMMC) cell biology!

Honored to welcome the MOSAIC Fellows to the Vidal Lab this morning. The future of science and medicine is in their hands—brilliant, driven, and full of promise. They deserve our guidance, support, and unwavering mentorship.

We revised and resubmitted studies (link below) that provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the encapsulation of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the lung. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Wonderful kickoff to the MSRP and SURE programs at UMMC and GradSchoolUMMC. We appreciate their support of the next generation of scientists and physicians. A warm welcome to Daniel Kerr (UMMC, MSRP fellow) and Ella Bennett (Harvard, SURE fellow) as they join the Vidal Lab!

Three of our summer trainees are already presenting their progress! In just a few weeks, they’ve learned to make mutations, perform PCR screening, and carry out phenotypic characterization. Two planning to apply to grad school, and one to a medical specialty. Excited to see where their paths lead!

Thrilled to join this year’s Griffith’s Legacy Conference and represent the vibrant research community of the South Central USA!

We had a wonderful time at Europneumo 2025, incredible science and it was a true pleasure to reconnect with colleagues, long-time friends, and my former mentor, Keith Klugman, from the @gatesfoundation.bsky.social as well as to make new friends and connections! #Europneumo #Europneumo2025

We just showed that Spn throws a metabolic wrench into host cells—blocking pyruvate entry into mitochondria, stalling the TCA cycle, and selfishly ramping up glycolysis (a Warburg-like shift) to stay fit while invading lung cells. Metabolic hijacking at its finest! lnkd.in/gVNdnn3M

Congrats to former Vidal Lab member Landon Murin—a former @UMMCnews–Murrah Base Pair Fellow and now a rising senior at @SouthernMiss for being selected as a Summer Scholar of the National STEPS program! Heading to Raleigh and then Phoenix to take on this incredible opportunity!

Abstract submission for Understanding and Predicting Microbial Evolutionary Dynamics 2025 is now open until 7 July 2025 at 23:59 BST. microb.io/MicroEvo25 #MicroEvo25

Phylogenetic clustering of microbial communities as a biomarker for chemical pollution -in @femsjournals.bsky.social Microbiol Ecol academic.oup.com/femsec/advan...

I'm thrilled to share that I’ve been promoted to Full Professor with Tenure! Deepest thanks to my mentors, trainees, colleagues, collaborators, leadership, and family for their incredible support and encouragement over the years. I’m truly grateful!

Appreciate the University of Colima the invitation to talk in their seminar series!

Proud of our own Dr. Kenichi Takeshita for receiving the Robert Austrian Research Award, honored last week with a commemorative plaque though delayed, means all the more! We are deeply grateful to ISPPD and Pfizer for their invaluable support of the next generation of pneumococcologists!

Nadia and Professor @timothyread.bsky.social spotted at the CDMX International Airport, what are the odds?, such a nice surprise!

We are delighted to host Ella Bennet this summer. Ella was awarded a SURE scholarship from School of Graduate Studies in the Health Science at UMMC to conduct research on pneumococcal pathogenesis in our lab. She is an undergraduate student @harvard.edu University majoring in Biology.

We congratulate Daniel Kerr, an outstanding medical student at University of Mississippi Medical Center, on being awarded an MSRP fellowship to conduct research on one of the most deadly diseases, pneumonia, in the Vidal Lab UMMC Department of Cell and Molecular Biology. Welcome, Daniel!

Todays hero

I am pleased to participate in the International Course on Antimicrobial Resistance & Susceptibility Testing alongside colleagues and friends from Latin America. This course offers an excellent opportunity to engage with experts in microbiology and antimicrobial resistance

Teaching, whether to medical students, graduate students, or discussing with peers in the broader microbiology community, both a privilege and a responsibility. During times of uncertainty, the pursuit of knowledge and the exchange of ideas become even more essential.

Lab dinner to wish Komal Beeton the best in her upcoming internship at Cornell University in NYC and to congratulate Alma Cepeda Reyes on starting a new position as an embryologist at the University of Mississippi Medical Center Fertility clinic.