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Stephen Melville

Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
melville
5038 Derring Hall (MC 0406)
926 West Campus Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24061
USA

Major Field of Interest

Bacterial Pathogenesis

Current Research

  1. The assembly and functions of type IV pili in the Gram-positive anaerobic pathogenic bacterium, Clostridium perfringens.
  2. Identifying the cellular mechanisms responsible for secretion of toxins by C. perfringens.
  3. The interactions of C. perfringens with the host immune system.  Specifically, the molecular mechanisms that allow the bacteria to kill, and avoid being killed by, phagocytic cells of the immune system, macrophages and neutrophils.
  • 1995-2001: Assistant Professor, The University of Tennessee, Memphis, School of Medicine, Memphis, TN
  • 1993-1995: Post-doctoral fellow and Lecturer, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Mentor: Dr. Abraham L. Sonenshein
  • 1988-1992: Post-doctoral fellow, University of California at Los Angeles. Mentor: Dr. Robert P. Gunsalus
  • 2018: Editorial Board of the Journal of Bacteriology
  • 2017: Certificate of Teaching Excellence, College of Science
  • 2014: Outstanding Teaching Award, Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech
  • 2011: Outstanding Teaching Award, Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech
  • 2008: Outstanding Teaching Award, Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech
  • 1985-1987: Department of Animal Science research assistantship, awarded for academic achievement, University of California, Davis
  • 1982: Outstanding Graduating Senior, Department of Microbiology, San Diego State University
  • 1980-1982: Academic scholarship, San Diego State University