Melinda Brindley

Dr. Melinda Brindley is an Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator in the Department of Infectious Diseases at the University of Georgia's College of Veterinary Medicine. Her research focuses on viral entry mechanisms, particularly how enveloped viruses utilize cellular lipids for infection. She holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Iowa and completed postdoctoral training at Emory University. Her work spans molecular virology, lipidomics, and environmental impacts on viral transmission.

• Affiliations: Joint faculty in Population Health and Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center.
• Education: BS Microbiology, Arizona State University (2002); PhD Microbiology, University of Iowa (2007).

Research Interests: Dr. Brindley investigates how viruses hijack cellular lipid pathways for replication and entry, including phosphatidylserine dynamics in viral envelopes. She explores environmental temperature effects on arbovirus transmission and develops tools to study high-containment pathogens. Her lab uses advanced lipidomics and virology techniques to uncover mechanisms behind viral pathogenesis.

Key Findings: Recent studies highlight the role of phosphatidylserine in viral entry and the temperature-dependent inhibition of Zika virus replication. Her work bridges basic virology with applied studies on vector-borne diseases.

Advising & Grants: Dr. Brindley mentors a dynamic team of graduate and undergraduate students, focusing on training in virology, lipidomics, and infectious disease research. Her lab has received NIH funding to study cellular lipid trafficking in viral infection and environmental drivers of arbovirus transmission.

Labs & Collaborations: The Brindley Lab collaborates with departments across the College of Veterinary Medicine and external institutions, including Emory University and the CDC. Projects emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to combat emerging viral threats.