Michael T. Berton, Ph.D.

Associate Professor & Interim Chair, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics

Dr. Berton’s research program has focused on host cell signaling pathways that regulate innate and adaptive immune responses and the mechanisms that pathogens use to evade host immunity. His laboratory made early contributions to understanding how IL-4 and CD40 signaling pathways regulate germline immunoglobulin heavy chain gene transcription and heavy chain class switching. More recently his lab turned its attention to the role of Toll-Like Receptor signaling in regulating immune responses during infection and described novel regulatory mechanisms in TLR signaling. After directing an extramurally funded research program for 25 years at UT Health San Antonio, Dr. Berton has turned his efforts towards the administrative and educational missions of his Department and the University. He currently serves as Interim Chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics in the Long School of Medicine and as Scientific Director of the UT Health San Antonio Flow Cytometry Core Facility.

Related diseases: Infectious disease, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease.