31st Annual Conference on Microbial Pathogenesis

Four keynote speakers presented:

• J. Andrew Alspaugh, MD
  Duke University School of Medicine
  “Hidden in Plain Sight: Microbial Immune Avoidance”
  Mycology speaker, sponsored by the Department of Microbiology and Immunology
• Peggy Cotter, PhD
  University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, School of Medicine “CDI/CDS System Mediated Cooperation, Competition, and DNA Transposition in Burkholderia”
  Bacteriology speaker, sponsored by Beckman-Coulter
• John M. Dye, Jr., PhD
  USAMRIID
  "Flipping your mindset: an Ebola virus inspired tale"
  Virology speaker, sponsored by the Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology
• Patricia Johnson, PhD
  UCLA Molecular Biology Institute
  “Host:parasite interactions between the sexually transmitted parasite: Trichomonas vaginalis and its human host”
  Parasitology speaker, sponsored by the Department of Biochemistry

Four student researchers, all Erwin Neter Award finalists, presented their research:

• Christian Ahearn
  Murphy Lab, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
  “Discovery of a putative nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae human respiratory epithelial cell invasin”
• Taylor Glausen
  Blader Lab, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
  “Identification of Toxoplasma gondii genes that induce seizures”
• Stephanie Monticelli
  Ward Lab, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center
  “The role of poxvirus EV-specific glycoproteins in cell binding and entry”
• Shannon Murphy
  Dörr Lab, Department of Microbiology, Cornell University
  “Vibrio cholera encodes a cell wall hydrolase adapted for zinc- starved enivronments”

Two post-doctoral researchers presented their work:

• Amanda Bloom, PhD
  Panepinto Lab, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
  “Cryptococcal thermotolerance is linked to antigen masking and cell cycle progression via mRNA decay-dependent reprogramming”
• Megan Jones, PhD
  Visser Lab, Department of Oral Biology, UB School of Dental Medicine
  “The MSP protein of Treponema denticola interrupts activity of phosphoinositol processing in neutrophils”
  

Jay Leipheimer, PhD student.
Mentor: John Panepinto, PhD.

Christian Ahearn, PhD student.
Mentor: Timothy Murphy, MD.

Paige Daniels, PhD student.
Mentor: James Bangs, PhD.

Joseph Smith, PhD.
Mentor: Laurie Read, PhD.

• A Murine Model Of Age-related Susceptibility To Influenza Streptococcus Pneumoniae Co-infection.
  Joma, Basma H., Nalat Siwapornchai, Sara E. Roggensack, Vijay K. Vanguri, Bruce Davidson, Anders P. Hakasson, Simin Meydani, John M. Leong, and Elsa N. Bou Ghanem.
• A Role For The NAD+ Dependent Histone Deacetylase HST1 In Candida Parapsilosis Pathogenicity.
  Rupert, Christopher B, and Laura N Rusche.
  AMRI Antimicrobial Screening Services And Capabilities.
  Carr GJ, Jacobson RK, Notaro MJ, Curtis R.
  
• An Investigation Into The Function Of Vaccvinia Virus Protein F15.
  Ivey, Emily, Ward, Brian.
  
• Binding To The Ribosome By EIF4B Drives Yeast Translational Control In Response To Membrane Stressors.
  Liu, Xiaozhuo; Moshiri, Houtan; Walker, Sarah E.
  
• Both Complement And Antibody-mediated Opsonophagocytic Killing Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae By PMNS Decline With Age.
  Simmons, Shaunna, Bhalla, Manmeet and Bou Ghanem, Elsa N.
  
• Characterization Of Induced Antibiotic Tolerance In Acinetobacter Baumannii.
  Chojnacki Michaelle, Blanchard Catlyn, Jacobs Anna and Dunman Paul.
  
• Comparison Of Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations Obtained Using Agar Dilution Versus Microbroth Dilution Methods.
  Jacobson, Rachael K., Marysa J. Notaro, Grant J. Carr.
  
• Contribution Of Peroxide Detoxifying Elements To Proteus Mirabilis Pathogenecity.
  White, Ashley N., Learman, Brian S., Armbruster, Chelsie E.
  
• Defining The Minimal Genetic Elements Required For T3SS-Mediated V. Cholerae Colonization.
  Tomberlin, Katharine; Dziejman, Michelle.
  
• Developmental Regulation Of CYB And COIII mRNA Editing In Trypanosoma Brucei.
  Smith, Joseph, Brianna Tylec, and Laurie Read.
  
• Discovering Proteins Interacting With MRF In Mycobacterium Tuberculosis.
  Peeples, Caroline.
  
• Discovery Of A Putative Nontypeable Haemophilus Influenzae Human Respiratory Epithelial Cell Invasin.
  Ahearn, Christian P. and Murphy, Timothy F.
  
• Efficacy Of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy With Chlorin E6 For The Treatment Of Biofilm-associated Otopathogens.
  Bair, Kirsten L., Hansen, Lisa A., Luke-Marshall, Nicole R., Campagnari, Anthony A.
  
• Elucidating Mechanisms Of Regulation For The LFR Islet In Staphylococcus Aureus Clonal Complex 30.
  Gilbert, Christie, Vore, Kelly, Gill, Steven.
  
• Elucidating The Cellular Target Of Albocycline In Staphylococcus Aureus.
  Scherzi, Tyler, Dunman, Paul M.
  
• Examining Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase Expression In The Human Placenta.
  Alexander, Aria; Mentor: Latchney, Sarah; PIs/Co-mentors: Murphy, Shawn; Sujo, Martha.
  
• Examining The Interactions Of Bacteriophage And Quorum Sensing Inhibitor On Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilm Degradation.
  Magiera, Quinn; Freedenberg, Alex; Nearhood, Brooke, Ardelean-Growden, Irina; Picardo, Kristin PhD; Mattiacio, Jonelle.
  
• Extracellular Adenosine Inhibits Binding Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae To Lung Epithelial Cells.
  Yeoh, Jun Huia; Lamneck, Claire; Bhalla, Manmeeta; Leong, John M. and Bou Ghanem, Elsa N.
  
• Extracellular Adenosine Signaling Reverses The Age-driven Decline In The Ability Of Neutrophils To Kill S. Pneumoniae.
  Bhalla, Manmeet; Yeoh, Jun Hui; Tchalla, Essi Y.I.; Herring, Sydney E. and Bou Ghanem, Elsa.
  
• Genetic Analysis Of The Mycobacterial L,D-Transpeptidase Pathway.
  Francis, Zanah, Sanders, Akeisha, Pavelka, Martin.
  
• Glycosylation Of Transferrin Receptor (TFR) In Bloodstream Form Trypanosoma Brucei: Steric Constraints Control GPI-GLYCAN Modification.
  Koeller, Carolina M., Tiengwe, Calvin, Schwartz, Kevin J. & Bangs, James D.
  
• Harnessing Unique Glycan-binding Adhesins Of Oral Streptococci As Glycobiological Tools.
  Cross, Benjamin, Thamadilok, S., Bensing, B., Khedri, Z., Deng, L., Yu, H., Vickerman, M.M., Chen, X., Tettelin, H., Iverson, T., Sullam, P., Varki A., Ruhl, S.
  
• High Content Imaging Assay For The Detection Of Intracellular Infection.
  Notaro MJ, Driscoll CM, Jacobson RK, O’Bara MA, Dean KM, and Betzenhauser MJ.
  
• Identification Of Toxoplasma Gondii Genes That Induce Seizures.
  Glausen, Taylor, Gabriela Carrillo, Jeroen Saeij, Jon Boyle, Michael Fox, and Ira Blader.
  
• IL-34 Alters Macrophage Killing Ability.
  Giangreco, Matthew; Metcalfe, Sarah; Almarghlani, Ammar; Croft, Andrew; Kay, Jason.
  
• Importance Of A Toxoplasma Gondii Oxygen Sensing Protein, TGPHYA, During Mice Infection.
  Cordonnier, C., Blader, I. J.
  
• Interaction Of Endopeptidase RIPA And PBP PONA2 And Implications For Cell Wall Stability Of Mycobacteria.
  Edelen, Samantha, Martinelli, Dan Patru, Maria-Magdalena and Pavelka, Martin.
  
• Macrophage-commensal Dynamics Under Inflammatory Activation.
  Metcalfe, Sarah; Panasiewicz, Michelle; Jones, Megan; Vanyo, Stephen; Visser, Michelle; Kay, Jason.
  
• Neutrophils Are Required For Induction Of Protective Memory Responses Following Vaccination With The Anti-pneumoccocal Conjugate Vaccine Prevnar 13.
  Tchalla Essi Y. I., Bhalla Manmeet and Bou Ghanem, Elsa N.
  
• OMVS From Recombinant Yersinia Pestis Can Be An Excellent Candidate Vaccine.
  Wang, Xiuran, Amit K. Singh, Xiangming Zhang and Wei Sun.
  
• Outer Membrane Proteins Of Oral Treponemes Critically Disorder Neutrophil Function.
  Vanyo, Stephen T., Jones, Megan M., Visser, Michelle B.
  
• Pandemic Spread Of blaKPC-2 Among Klebsiella Pneumoniael ST11 In China Is Associated With INCFII-Like Plasmids.
  Fu, Pan, Tang Yu, Li Gang, Yu Lianhua, Wang Yong, Jiang Xiaofei.
  
• Post-transcriptional Regulation Of The Virulence Factor UREASE In Cryptococcus Neoformans.
  Stovall, Anna and Panepinto, John.
  
• Protein Arginine Methylation Regulates Long Non-coding RNAs In Cryptococcus Neoformans.
  Kalem, Murat C., John C. Panepinto.
  
• Random Transposon Mutagenesis Of Providencia Stuartii Identifies Factors Critical For Mono- And Polymicrobial Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI).
  Johnson A.O., Forsyth V.S., Smith S. N., Zhao, L., Wu W., Mobley H.L.T., and Armbruster C.E.
  
• Regulated mRNA Degradation Influences Translatome Reprogramming, Cell Wall Remodeling, And Cell Cycle Control To
  
• Promote Host Temperature Adaptation In Cryptococcus Neoformans.
  Bloom, Amanda L. M., Richard Jin, Elizabeth Wohlfert, and John C. Panepinto.
  
• Response Of NOR And NOS Contributes To Staphylococcus Aureus Virulence And Metabolism.
  Favazzo, Lacey J., Gill, Ann Lindley, Farnsworth, Christopher, W., Mooney, Robert, A. and Gill, Steven R.
  
• Role Of The CarP Protein In Impairment Of Immune Cell Migration By Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.
  Anselmi, Natalie K., Jones, Megan M., Khan, Raisa S., King, Michelle, Patrauchan, Marianna, Visser, Michelle B.
  
• Role Of The NAD*-Dependent Deacetylases SIR2 And HST1 In Morphological Transition Of Candida Albicans.
  Zhao, G. and Rusche, LN.
  
• Roles Of Innate-like T Cells In Macrophage Mediated Response To Mycobacterium Marinum In Xenopus.
  Rhoo, Kun Hyoe1, Khan, Adil, Roy, Sobhan, Pavelka, Martin, Adams, Erin and Robert, Jacques.
  
• Selective Copii Vesicles Mediates Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-dependent Trafficking In The Early Secretory Pathway Of Trypanosoma Brucei.
  Sharif, Mohamed and Bangs, James D.
  
• Specificity In Temperature-responsive Translatome Reprogramming: A Role For HSP70?
  Knowles, Corey, Bloom, Amanda L.M., Panepinto, John C.
  
• Streptococcus Gordonii Binding To Dental Biofilm Components: Role Of Different Adhesins.
  Alsantli, Maram; Vickerman, M. Margaret; Ruhl, Stefan.
  
• TBET+ TREGS Protect Against Lethal Immunopathology During. T. Gondii Infection.
  Warunek, Jordan, Richard M. Jin, Johanne Lamothe, Matthew Garris and Elizabeth A. Wohlfert.
  
• The MSP Protein Of Treponema Denticola Interrupts Activity Of Phosphoinositol Processing In Neutrophils.
  Jones, Megan M., Vanyo, Stephen T. and Visser, Michelle B.
  
• The Role Of A2A Adenosine Receptor In Streptococcus Pneumoniae Infection.
  Herring, Sydney E., Bhalla, Manmeet, Hui Yeoh, Jun, Tchalla, Essi Y. I., and Bou Ghanem, Elsa N.
  
• The Role Of Effector Protein VOPZZ In Non-O1, Non-O139 Vibrio Cholerae Pathogenesis.
  Bell, Hannah; Schlesener, Cory; Gregoire, Stacy; Dziejman, Michelle.
  
• The Role Of Poxvirus EV-specific Glycoproteins In Cell Binding And Entry.
  Monticelli, Stephanie R. and Ward, Brian M.
  
• TN-SEQ Reveals Differences In Host Environment Between Young And Aged Mice During Streptococcus Pneumoniae Lung Infection.
  Siwapornchai, Nalat, Sara E. Roggensack, Zoie Magri, Samantha Bottom-Tanzer, Federico Rosconi, Elsa Bou Ghanem, Simin N. Meydani, Andrew Camilli, Tim van Opijnen, John M. Leong.
  
• Toxoplasma F-box Protein 1 And Its Importance For A Critical Step In Parasite Replication.
  Baptista, C. G., Deng, B., West, C. M. , Blader, I. J.
  
• Translational Control Promotes Oxidative Stress Resistance In The Human Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus Neoformans.
  Leipheimer, Jay, Amanda L. M. Bloom, Yana Salei and John C. Panepinto.
  
• Trichophyton Rubrum Lysm Proteins Bind To Fungal Cell Wall Chitin And To The N-linked Oligosaccharides Present On Human Skin Glycoproteins.
  Patel, Pavan, Bibekananda Kar and Stephen Free.
  
• Turnover Of Variant Surface Glycoprotein In African Trypanosomes.
  Garrison, Paige, Khan Umaer, Peter Bush, and James D. Bangs.
  
• Vibrio Cholerae Encodes A Cell Wall Hydrolase Adapted For Zinc-starved Environments.
  Murphy, Shannon, Alvarez, Laura, Adams, Myfanwy , Liu, Shuning, Chappie, Joshua, Cava, Felipe, Dörr, Tobias.