Microbiology and Infectious Disease Home Page

Ticks and mosquitoes are small but dangerous vectors that transmit a range of serious diseases, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, West Nile virus, and dengue. The severity of tick and mosquito seasons is influenced by environmental factors like climate, habitat, and host availability, and experts warn that rising temperatures may increase both the spread and complexity of these infections.

By MCL Education • October 3, 2025

Breaking away from an 80-year-old testing approach used to identify neurosyphilis infections, Mayo Clinic Laboratories has introduced a new, highly sensitive and specific method to confirm disease presence. The innovative test – the only one of its kind available in the U.S. – is IgG antibody index that detects antibodies specific to the disease-causing agent Treponema pallidum.

By Robin Huiras • October 1, 2025

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., recently joined the Advisory Board for a webinar discussion on 2024 lab market trends. Dr. Morice covered the current lab market outlook, the priority trends, and opportunities for future growth.

By Luci Gens • August 27, 2024

Bobbi Pritt, M.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' new assay identifies less-common tick-borne bacteria in whole blood. The assay is recommended when tick-borne bacterial infection is suspected but standard testing is unrevealing.

By Barbara J. Toman • April 2, 2024

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., professor of laboratory medicine and pathology and clinical virologist at Mayo Clinic, to discuss why measles is in the news again and how we can prevent measles outbreaks.

By Luci Gens • March 28, 2024

Globally, five million deaths are associated with bacterial antimicrobial resistance each year, but the complexity of the issue is there is no single solution because we need to use antibiotics. It’s about finding a different way to live with it.

By Elizabeth Harty • January 11, 2024

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to welcome the new year and discuss the increase of respiratory viruses.

By Luci Gens • January 11, 2024

Robin Patel, M.D., explains how a new Mayo Clinic Laboratories' assay can identify central nervous system pathogens that standard tests fail to detect. Rapid, precise diagnosis is essential to preventing long-term effects from these infections.

By Barbara J. Toman • January 2, 2024

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss current respiratory virus activity and the importance of staying up-to-date on preventive vaccines.

By Suzanne Ferguson • November 30, 2023

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, to discuss the seasonal outlook of respiratory viruses, including influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

By Suzanne Ferguson • September 28, 2023

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. They discuss the uptick of COVID-19 cases and the strains of the virus that are currently circulating.

By Suzanne Ferguson • September 21, 2023

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by Nancy Wengenack, Ph.D., director of the Mycology and Mycobacteriology Laboratories at Mayo Clinic, to talk about leprosy and why it’s been in the news recently. Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a rare infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae.

By Suzanne Ferguson • September 14, 2023

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic. They talk about murine typhus, also known as flea-borne typhus, and the recent increase in cases in Los Angeles County and Texas.

By Suzanne Ferguson • August 31, 2023