microbesadapt.com

Welcome to the McNealy Lab Website at Clemson University!

Microbes inhabit every possible niche on our planet. Through numerous and varied mechanisms, they have adapted to each environment our planet and the occupants of the planet have to offer. This adaptibility also allows many environmental microbes to be opportunistic pathogens of humans. This transition ability - from environmental niche to opportunisitic pathogen - is where the interest of the McNealy lab lie.

In particular, we are currently study two microbes which cause opportunistic disease in humans: Francisella tularensis and Legionella pneumophila. Interestingly, particular strains of these two microbes can both be found in water environments in association with protozoa. However, their mechanisms within the host cell and pathogenicity are very different.

Current opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students are available in the McNealy lab. See the Opportunities Section for more informations. A summer research internship is available for Clemson Undergraduates - Contact the lab for more information. If you'd like to know more about the lab, feel free to contact any of the lab members for information. Please contact Dr. McNealy specifically regarding positions.