Microbes are all around us. Cells and organisms have evolved elaborate mechanisms to reap the benefits of commensal microbes and to resist the pathogenic ones. The astronomical diversity of microbes pose an extraordinary challenge on the host to respond accordingly. Emerging research indicates that the immune system can also counteract other non-self entities, such as cancer cells. BMCB laboratories use a wide range of classical and contemporary approaches to study host-microbe interactions, including elucidating the structure and function of the microbes and microbial proteins, as well as investigating the cellular pathways and immune responses that enable the hosts to respond to microbes appropriately.