Welcome to the Department of Microbiology & Immunology
The Department of Microbiology & Immunology at the University of British Columbia provides a stimulating environment in which to pursue a graduate or undergraduate research program. Our faculty is internationally recognized for contributions in microbiology, molecular biology and immunology. Students will have the opportunity to experience the most up-to-date molecular approaches to the study of problems in microbiology and immunology.
Latest publications from the Department of Microbiology & Immunology
New Insights Into Tumor Metastasis
Preventing the activation or cycling of the Rap1 GTPase alters adhesion and cytoskeletal dynamics and blocks metastatic melanoma cell extravasation into the lungs.
Freeman SA, McLeod SJ, Dukowski J, Austin P, Lee CC, Millen-Martin B, Kubes P, McCafferty DM, Gold MR, Roskelley CD.
The Rap1 GTPase is a master regulator of cell adhesion, polarity, and migration. We show that both blocking Rap1 activation and expressing a constitutively active form of Rap1 reduced the ability of B16F1 melanoma cells to extravasate from the microvasculature and form metastatic lesions in the lungs. This correlated with a decreased ability of the tumor cells to undergo transendothelial migration (TEM) in vitro and form dynamic, F-actin-rich pseudopodia that penetrate capillary endothelial walls in vivo.
