Elizabeth H. Schwartz

Elizabeth H. Schwartz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Auburn University, where she also serves as Assistant Dean for Biomedical Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from Emory University (1996) and a B.S. from Auburn University (1989). Her research is centered on host-microbe interactions, with a focus on antigen-presenting cell biology and the dynamics of immune responses.

• B.S. - Auburn University, 1989
• Ph.D. - Emory University, 1996

Her research interests span immunology, microbiology, and metabolic responses to infection. She investigates how gut microbiota influence immune function, particularly in dendritic cells and myeloid lineages. Recently, her lab has transitioned to using cockroach models (American and German cockroaches) to study host-microbe interactions in germ-free and gnotobiotic systems, enabling precise control over microbial communities.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in longitudinal microbiome analysis, metabolic phenotyping during infection and obesity, and the role of bacteriophages in microbiome restructuring. Her work integrates immunology with systems biology, often using murine, porcine, bovine, and now insect models to uncover conserved mechanisms of host defense.

Dr. Schwartz has mentored numerous graduate students, many of whom have completed Ph.D. and Master’s theses on topics ranging from myeloid cell differentiation to gut microbiome dynamics. Her lab fosters collaboration and innovation, with students frequently working across projects. She teaches key courses such as BIOL 5500 Immunology and BIOL 4970 Case Studies in Infection and Immunity.

Current research in the Schwartz Lab is focused on cockroach immunology, including phagocytosis, melanization, antimicrobial proteins, and the impact of gut microbiome on insecticide resistance. The lab uses both germ-free and defined microbial models to dissect innate immune mechanisms in a novel invertebrate system.