Fluorescence microscopy of a roundworm. Photo Credit: McMaster University

Can Gut Bacteria Help Protect the Brain? UF Research Explores the Microbiome’s Role in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

by Dana Saunders
November 4, 2026

Quick Answer: Research from the University of Florida’s Department of Microbiology and Cell Science explores how gut microbes may influence proteostasis, the cellular process that keeps proteins properly folded, functional and cleared when ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Daniel Czyz, Department Of Microbiology And Cell Science, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences
Blog Banner_Gut Image. Image Mildly inflamed colonic mucosa - gram negative stained pink microscopic image at 20x

Gut Feeling: Why the Microbiome Became Health Science’s Biggest Obsession

by Dana Saunders
October 23, 2026

Everyone Is Googling Their Gut: Why Microbiome Science Deserves a Graduate Degree Google searches for "gut health" have more than doubled in three years. Here is the plot twist: 41% of U.S. consumers still say they do not know about the gut ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Professional Development, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching,
Tags: Department Of Microbiology And Cell Science, Master Of Science Degree, Microbiome In Health & Disease, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences
Circular blue, orange, and white line icon depicting the 5 research focus areas at UF's Department of Microbiology and Cell Science

From Glaciers to Genomes: What Microbiology and Cell Science Research Looks Like at UF

by Dana Saunders
October 14, 2026

Quick Answer The University of Florida's Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, an R1 research university, organizes faculty research into five areas: Microbial Ecology, Host-Microbe Interactions, Plant Molecular Biology and Microbe ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching,
Tags: Department Of Microbiology And Cell Science, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences
close-up of reed plants growing in shallow muddy water.

“Flesh-Eating Bacteria” Is a Scary Phrase. The Microbiology Behind Vibrio vulnificus Is Even More Interesting.

by Dana Saunders
September 30, 2026

Quick Facts Organism: Vibrio vulnificusType: Gram-negative, curved, rod-shaped bacteriumHabitat: Warm saltwater and brackish coastal waterCommon sources: Open wounds exposed to coastal water, raw or undercooked shellfishHighest risk: People ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, UF/IFAS, Water
Tags: Environmental Microbiology, Flesh-eating Bacteria, IFAS, Soil And Water Sciences, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Vibrio Vulnificus
Beer being poured into a clear glass on tap

Beer, Bourbon and Biology: The Fermentation Careers Hiding Inside a Microbiology Degree

by Dana Saunders
August 26, 2026

Think a microbiology degree only leads to a hospital or a research bench? Pour yourself something cold and think again. With students heading back to campus this month, a few things are predictable. New notebooks. New roommates. New routines. ... READ MORE

Category: Professional Development, UF/IFAS
Tags: Department Of Microbiology And Cell Science, Microbiology And Cell Science, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences
Sargassum seaweed along the seashore 2026

Sargassum Summer: Florida’s 2026 Record Sargassum Bloom Is More Than a Beach Problem

by Dana Saunders
August 10, 2026

Quick Facts What it is: Sargassum is a free-floating brown seaweed that drifts across the open ocean. Where it comes from: The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, a massive accumulation of floating algae stretching from West Africa to the Gulf ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Events, Invasive Species, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Department Of Microbiology And Cell Science, Sargassum Bloom, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences

Is a Master’s Degree in Microbiology Worth It? Why Now May Be the Best Time to Invest in Your Future

by Dana Saunders
July 23, 2026

Great graduate programs don't just prepare you for your next job. They prepare you for what's next. For decades, earning a graduate degree followed a familiar path: build experience, return to school, earn another credential and advance your ... READ MORE

Category: Professional Development, UF/IFAS
Tags: Department Of Microbiology And Cell Science, Microbiology And Cell Science, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences

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