91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ

Branching Out: Branched-chain Amino Acids as Key Metabolites in Staphylococcus aureus Physiology and Virulence

What’s so special about the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)? We already know that they’re the most abundant amino acids found in proteins, and they drive protein folding. Many bacteria have the genes that direct BCAA synthesis, but intriguingly, some species like S. aureus restrict endogenous BCAA synthesis in order to use environmental amino acid availability to regulate virulence gene expression. In this lecture, I will describe our efforts to understand the role of BCAAs in gene regulation. As diffusible molecules that are consumed by staphylococci in infected tissues, they potentially spatially regulate gene expression on the single-cell level. This heterogeneity is clinically important and may affect how we approach the development of new therapeutics.  
 

Need a Pep Talk? Role of Oligoendopeptidase F Proteins in Controlling Staphylococcal Virulence

Oligoendopeptidase F (PepF) proteins belong to the M3 family of zinc-dependent peptidases found in all domains of life. In animals, this class of enzymes is important for processing peptides that have roles in neuronal signaling and antimicrobial defense. M3 family members are also found in nearly all low G+C gram-positive bacterial genera, spirochetes and proteobacteria. However, the bacterial subclass peptidases are enigmatic. Most PepFs are functionally uncharacterized putative cytoplasmic enzymes, with the exception of Lactococcus lactis PepF proteins that have been suggested to be involved in signal peptide degradation or protein turnover, and a PepF homolog in Bacillus subtilis that affects asymmetric cell division. During a transposon mutagenesis screen, we discovered that 2 Staphylococcus aureus PepF proteins are essential for full activity of the SaeR/S two-component system. SaeR/S was discovered nearly 30 years ago and controls the synthesis of over 20 virulence factors, and disrupting pepF paralogs is correlated with attenuated virulence in a mouse infection model. In this lecture, I’ll discuss our progress to define and characterize a novel system modulating one of the most important regulators of virulence factor production in S. aureus. 
 

Chewing the Fat: Lipids as Second Messengers in Staphylococcus aureus Signal Transduction

Two-component systems (TCSs) are the predominant signal transduction systems in bacteria for monitoring their external environment. Typical TCSs contain a membrane histidine kinase with a large extracellular domain that binds a ligand. The resulting autophosphorylation and phosphoryl transfer to a response regulator DNA binding protein adjusts gene expression. We discovered a subclass of TCS histidine kinases that is responsive to the lipid composition of the bacterial phospholipid bilayer. In this lecture, I will discuss our efforts to combine classical genetic and biochemical techniques with native mass spectrometry and spatial lipidomics to understand the mechanism by which branched-chain fatty acids and cardiolipin alter the activity of these histidine kinases. Parallels with eukaryotic lipids as second messengers will be discussed. 
 

Lean on Me (for Lipids): Metabolic Synergy Between Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis During Polymicrobial Infection

While some bacterial infections are caused by a single species, we now know that most infections are polymicrobial in origin. We know that the activities of these species are often synergistic, as interactions between species enhance virulence, persistence and tolerance to antibiotics. The end result is patient outcomes that are typically worse in co-infection compared to mono-infection. Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections. The bacterium is also the most common organism isolated from chronic wounds and is frequently found with the opportunistic pathogen Enterococcus faecalis. Despite these frequent observations, our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms governing these interactions in chronic wounds is incomplete. S. aureus is highly dependent on branched-chain fatty acids derived from isoleucine to construct its cell wall. We recently discovered a second biosynthetic pathway to generate fatty acid precursors in this organism that appears to function alongside the well-studied branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex. In this lecture, I will discuss our recent results suggesting that E. faecalis supplies metabolic intermediates for S. aureus membrane biogenesis via this new pathway, promoting its growth and persistence. This pathway may allow S. aureus to adapt its metabolism and enhance its survival in the nutrient-limited and competitive settings of polymicrobial infections. Detailed understanding of this metabolic synergy is the important first step toward developing novel therapeutics to combat these complex infections. 

In addition to providing lectures for Branch meetings, 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturers are available to participate in career development and mentoring activities for trainees at Branch meetings. This 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturer has indicated interest in doing the following:

• Attend poster sessions and oral presentations.
• Judge posters and/or oral presentations.
• Give separate lecture for students.
• Participate in informal gatherings/discussions—at dinner, reception, etc.
• Attend an 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Student Chapter meeting. 
• Participate in a career forum.
• Hold a “Meet the Speaker” session.  

Can We Reverse the Rise of Antibiotic Resistance? 

Antibiotic resistance seems like an unavoidable consequence of the widespread use of antibiotics to prevent and treat bacterial infections. In this lecture, I will review the challenge of resistance evolution from clinical, epidemiological and experimental perspectives. I will then assess a range of proposed strategies that hold the potential to slow or even reverse the rise in antibiotic resistance. Specific strategies include, the use of multiple drugs (cocktails, cycling, mixing), diagnostics and non-conventional therapies (e.g., anti-virulence drugs, phage therapies). I will focus on diagnostic-informed, patient-specific control strategies that have the potential to effectively treat patients now and into the future.
 

Challenges and Opportunities in the Treatment of Chronic Infections 

Infection medicine currently faces 2 major and growing crises that impact the ability of M.D.s to treat bacterial infections with our current arsenal of antibiotics. The first is widely recognized—the evolution of antibiotic resistance. The second receives less attention—chronic polymicrobial infections where appropriate antibiotics often fail to resolve infections. I will review the challenges of chronic infection treatment, spanning the problems of biofilms, polymicrobial microbiomes, physiological adaptation and evolutionary adaptation. I will then discuss potential paths forward to improve treatment outcomes, with a focus on “personalized medicine” strategies, coupling diagnostics with adaptive treatment regimes.
 

Socio-microbiology: Cooperation and Conflict in Microbes

The evolution of cooperation is a fundamental problem in biology: why help another individual to survive and reproduce if this comes at a cost? What prevents cooperators being outcompeted by “cheats” that contribute less to collective, cooperative activities? In recent decades, microbiologists have discovered an increasing and fascinating array of cooperative behaviors in bacteria, spanning collective modes of foraging, transport, shelter and defense. These discoveries raise the question: what makes these behaviors robust against competition with cheats (loss-of-function mutants that can reap the rewards but don’t pay the costs)? In this lecture I will review the other-worldly social lives of bacteria, together with experimental evidence that these cooperative behaviors are vulnerable to cheats. I will then discuss how cooperators are able to succeed, dependent on details of their ecology. I will end with a review of how the emerging field of socio-microbiology holds therapeutic potential—for example, through the development of “cheat therapies” to limit pathogenesis.

Decoding Bacterial Language: Learning to Speak “Quorum Sensing” 

Several decades of molecular research has resulted in an impressive body of knowledge on how bacteria produce signal molecules, and how bacteria respond to these molecules. Together, these processes define “quorum sensing” (QS)—central to the study of bacterial cell-cell communication. But why are they talking to each other? What are they saying? We know surprisingly little on these basic functional questions. The default answer is that bacteria use QS to sense density—turning on behaviors when “quorate” (high density)—yet a menu of other sensing behaviors are now recognized (e.g., diffusion sensing, competition sensing, efficiency sensing, etc.). In this lecture I will review basic molecular knowledge on QS and our current understanding of the functional roles of cell-cell communication. I will also assess the applied relevance of QS research, including potential applications for the development of “quorum quenching” therapeutics.

The Evolution of Virulence—Why Do Pathogens Make Us Sick? 

One of the most basic and important questions about pathogens is why they damage the very source of their livelihood—their hosts? In other words, why aren’t virulent pathogens that kill their hosts outcompeted by harmless commensals? In this lecture I will critically review existing answers to the “why be virulent” question, highlighting that leading models such as the “virulence-transmission tradeoff” hypothesis conflict with the basic biology of most bacterial pathogens. After shooting down earlier theory (including my own), I will outline ways forward based on an ecological perspective of bacterial opportunistic pathogens, which flags that virulence is often a side-effect of generalist organisms simply getting into the wrong place and causing disease.

In addition to providing lectures for Branch meetings, 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturers are available to participate in career development and mentoring activities for trainees at Branch meetings. This 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturer has indicated interest in doing the following:

• Attend poster sessions and oral presentations.
• Judge posters and/or oral presentations.
• Give separate lecture for students.
• Participate in informal gatherings/discussions—at dinner, reception, etc.
• Attend an 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Student Chapter meeting. 
• Participate in a career forum.
• Hold a “Meet the Speaker” session.

Dissemination of Listeria monocytogenes Following Foodborne Infection 

The facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes faces several different bottlenecks in the gastrointestinal tract to cause life-threatening systemic infections. This lecture will describe the foodborne model of murine infection developed by the D’Orazio lab and highlight what we know about the mechanisms used by the bacteria to invade the intestinal mucosa, avoid clearance by phagocytes in the underlying lamina propria, transit to the draining lymph nodes and then use cell-to-cell spread to exit into the bloodstream.
 

Axonal Migration of Neurotropic Strains of Listeria monocytogenes 

The most common form of listeriosis in ruminants is a brainstem infection called rhombencephalitis. These infections also happen in humans and can occur in young, otherwise healthy individuals, suggesting that the pathogenesis is a function of the bacterial virulence rather than any deficiency in the immune status of the host. This lecture will highlight our work to understand how certain neurotropic strains of L. monocytogenes have the ability to invade cranial nerves in the gut and then used actin-based motility to spread within an axon all the way to the brainstem.
 

Listeria monocytogenes: A Model Intracellular Pathogen That Has Taught Us So Much About Innate and Adaptive Immunity 

Systemic listeriosis has been a favored infection model used by immunologists for decades because it induces a robust cytotoxic T cell response that results in sterilizing immunity with long-lasting protective memory. The intravenous model of infection is highly reproducible and the bacteria can be manipulated genetically making it a very useful model system. This lecture will highlight how L. monocytogenes has been used to better understand all facets of a protective immune response, including vaccine development.  

In addition to providing lectures for Branch meetings, 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturers are available to participate in career development and mentoring activities for trainees at Branch meetings. This 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturer has indicated interest in the following: 

• Attend poster sessions and oral presentations.
• Judge posters and/or oral presentations.
• Give separate lecture for students.
• Participate in informal gatherings/discussions—at dinner, reception, etc.
• Attend an 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Student Chapter meeting. 
• Participate in a career forum.
• Hold a “Meet the Speaker” session.
• This speaker is a first generation college student and would especially enjoy talking to first-gen students in any capacity.  

Bacteriophage-Host Interactions That Shape Fitness and Evolution 

This lecture covers topics focused on the evolution of phage resistance and its impact on bacterial fitness, ranging from host colonization to antibiotic resistance.
 

Insertion Sequence Driven Evolution of the Microbiota

We have developed bioinformatic tools to study a diverse class of mobile elements known as insertion sequences. This lecture highlights the utility of these tools to study microbial communities and discusses recent discoveries that are reshaping the way we think about the function of the microbiota.
 

Charting Anitphage Defenses Using Conserved Mobile Genetic Element Genes 

This lecture presents our work using bioinformatics and bacterial genetics showing that broadly conserved serine recombinase genes are proximal to a variety of antiphage defense systems. Many of these are uncharacterized phage defense systems. 
 

Enterococcal Colonization of the Intestine

This lecture explores the molecular biology of the enterococcal cell surface and how it supports intestinal colonization and interactions with host mucosal immunity.  

In addition to providing lectures for Branch meetings, 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturers are available to participate in career development and mentoring activities for trainees at Branch meetings. This 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturer has indicated interest in doing the following:

• Attend poster sessions and oral presentations.
• Judge posters and/or oral presentations.
• Participate in informal gatherings/discussions—at dinner, reception, etc.
• Attend an 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Student Chapter meeting. 
• Participate in a career forum.
• Hold a “Meet the Speaker” session.  

Is the Atmosphere a Microbially Active System?

The growth and activity of bacteria have been extensively studied in nearly every environment on Earth, but there have been limited studies focusing on the air. Suspended bacteria (outside of water droplets) may stay in the atmosphere for time frames that could allow for growth on volatile compounds, including the potent greenhouse gas methane. Our lab has been studying these bacteria to understand the functions of the atmospheric microbiome. Learn about our results and the unique techniques to sample and study aerobiology.
 

Life in the Slow Lane, Anaerobic Dechlorination of Dioxins in Sediments 

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic pollutants found in the environment. Learn about dichlorination by anaerobic organohalide respiring bacteria (OHRB) from our work, including that on the Passaic River in New Jersey, which is highly contaminated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TeCDD), one of the most toxic of the PCDD/F congeners. The aims of this work are to provide methods for monitoring the slow process of dechlorination in contaminated sites and lead to new in situ treatment technologies. 

In addition to providing lectures for branch meetings, 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturers are available to participate in career development and mentoring activities for trainees at branch meetings. This 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturer has indicated interest in doing the following:

• Attend poster sessions and oral presentations.
• Judge posters and/or oral presentations.
• Give separate lecture for students.
• Participate in informal gatherings/discussions—at dinner, reception, etc.
• Attend an 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Student Chapter meeting. 
• Participate in a career forum.
• Hold a “Meet the Speaker” session.
• Other: Mentoring undergraduates in job or graduate applications; mentoring post-docs in preparing for academic job applications; the speaker is a first-generation college student and would especially enjoy talking to first-gen students in any capacity.

The Do’s and Don’ts for Microbiology Testing of Cell and Gene Therapies 

This talk will provide a story of lessons learned at the NIH following 2 high profile contamination events in 2015. For several decades, the clinical microbiology lab at the NIH had performed sterility testing for a variety of investigational drug products (INDs) used in clinical trials. Limited environmental monitoring cultures were also performed to meet checkbox requirements. Following the contamination events in 2015, including the shutdown of the hospital pharmacy and the major revamping of manufacturing facilities, a clearer understanding of cGMP requirements prevailed, leading to the creation of a new sterility lab dedicated solely to the microbiology testing for cellular therapies on the NIH campus. Lessons learned from the NIH experience are important to share with other academic clinical research centers that may be participating in product testing in support of hospital services, such as compounding pharmacies and cell therapy labs.
 

Clinical vs cGMP Micro—Is there a Role for Clinical Microbiology in Pharmaceutical Testing? 

As cellular therapies emerge as frontline treatment options for an increasing number of disease states, more tertiary care centers and hospitals are onboarding as participants in clinical trials. As such, on site microbiology labs (usually the diagnostic clinical microbiology lab) are often asked to assist with product testing, environmental monitoring, personnel qualification and/or aseptic processing assessments. This talk will provide a side-by-side comparison on the regulatory expectations required for cGMP microbiology testing juxtaposed against clinical microbiology requirements. The differences are “night and day,” and it is important that any lab providing testing services in support of cGMP functions understands the FDA requirements for pharmaceutical testing.
 

Practical Steps to Ensure FDA Compliance if Performing Microbiology Testing for Hospital Pharmacies and Cell Therapy Labs

Many clinical laboratories participating in testing services in support of hospital pharmacies and/or cell therapy labs may not have the resources to separate cGMP services from the clinical lab. This talk will provide an overview of practical steps that can be adopted to at least meet minimum requirements for cGMP and USP testing.

Preparing for an FDA Inspection 

Microbiology testing in support of patient care services, such as hospital pharmacies and cellular therapy labs, requires compliance with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In the pharmaceutical sector, the FDA relies heavily on expert agencies, such as the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), for the establishment of standards and expectations. The FDA code of federal regulations (CFR) and USP are not typical reference sources for clinical microbiology labs. This talk will provide an overview on how to prepare for and what to expect in an FDA inspection of a microbiology lab that is performing testing services in support of aseptic facilities, such as compounding pharmacies and biological therapeutic and/or drug manufacturers.

Important Highlights for Using MALDI-TOF MS for Mold Identification 

The identification of mold by MALDI-TOF MS has lagged significantly behind its bacterial counterparts. Since the development of the NIH Mold Database (published 2013), the microbiology lab at the NIH has been routinely providing rapid mold identification by MALDI-TOF MS for the last decade. A large multi-center study led by the NIH resulted in ground-breaking discoveries with regards to the impact of spectral acquisition methods on test reproducibility. This finding has since prompted Bruker to develop a filamentous fungi specific acquisition program to improve identification rates. Nevertheless, organism representation still relies heavily on the use of supplemental databases. This talk will provide an overview of the most updated literature and the NIH experience for identifying molds by MALDI-TOF MS, highlighting pitfalls for any lab considering test implementation. 

In addition to providing lectures for branch meetings, 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturers are available to participate in career development and mentoring activities for trainees at branch meetings. This 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturer has indicated interest in doing the following:

• Attend poster sessions and oral presentations.
• Judge posters and/or oral presentations.
• Give separate lecture for students.
• Participate in informal gatherings/discussions—at dinner, reception, etc.
• Attend an 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Student Chapter meeting. 
• Participate in a career forum.
• Hold a “Meet the Speaker” session.
• Other: Arrange for a student to shadow Lau in the sterility laboratory to learn about cGMP testing and pharmaceutical microbiology. 

A Plague on Both Your Houses: Using Yersinia pestis to Better Understand Leukocyte Biology

Macrophages and neutrophils are our innate immune system’s first responders to infection. These leukocytes have both antimicrobial and inflammatory responses that are essential in controlling infection. Successful bacterial pathogens have evolved a multitude of mechanisms to evade and even subvert the actions of these cells. As such, bacteria have proven to be valuable tools in defining the molecular mechanisms involved in leukocyte responses. In this lecture, I will discuss how researchers have used Yersinia pestis to better understand macrophage and neutrophil responses to infection and the discovery of virulence strategies used by this pathogen to establish the lethal infection known as the plague.
 

Got Zinc? Bacterial Mechanisms to Overcome Nutritional Immunity 

Metals like iron, zinc, and manganese are co-factors for many proteins and are essential nutrients for all organisms on our planet, including bacteria. However, high concentrations of metals can also prove toxic to bacteria. Because of the double-edged nature of these metals, we have evolved strategies of both metal limitation and intoxication to inhibit bacterial infections, a concept generally referred to as nutritional immunity. However, all successful pathogens have, in turn, evolved mechanisms to specifically overcome nutritional immunity. In this lecture, I will introduce the concept of nutritional immunity and provide examples of virulence factors that allow bacteria to overcome this key innate barrier to infection. We will also discuss how these mechanisms can be targeted as potential novel antimicrobial strategies. 
 

Safety First! What it Takes to Work in a BSL-3 Laboratory 

Many emerging and re-emerging pathogens require special facilities and procedures to allow scientists to safely carry out studies needed to develop new vaccines and therapeutics. Biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) laboratories incorporate elevated biosafety and biosecurity practices to safely conduct research with pathogens at a risk for aerosol transmission and protect laboratorians, the environment and our communities. In this lecture, I will discuss how researchers and biosafety experts use BSL-3 practices to mitigate risk to safely and securely conduct research essential for public health.  

In addition to providing lectures for Branch meetings, 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturers are available to participate in career development and mentoring activities for trainees at Branch meetings. This 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturer has indicated interest in doing the following:

• Attend poster sessions and oral presentations.
• Judge posters and/or oral presentations.
• Give separate lecture for students.
• Participate in informal gatherings/discussions—at dinner, reception, etc.
• Attend an 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Student Chapter meeting. 
• Participate in a career forum.
• Hold a “Meet the Speaker” session.  

Using the Force for Good and Evil: A Role for Cell Surface Amyloids in Fungal Biology and Disease

This lecture talks about force-activated amyloids in fungal cell adhesion and their roles in biofilms and host-pathogen interactions. It discusses amyloid structure and function in both functional and pathological contexts. I talk about how each student, post-doc and collaborator brought specific talents and drove the discovery process.

Force-Induced Cell Wall Amyloids A-D: Ale, Biofilms, Commensalism and Disease

This lecture talks about amyloid adhesins in fungal cell adhesion and their roles in biofilms and host-pathogen interactions. I talk about how each student, post-doc and collaborator brought specific talents and drove the discovery process.

Building the Wall: Lessons From the Yeasts 

Fungal cell walls are marvels both as barriers and as functional organelles. I talk about homologies and evolution of animal extracellular matrix and fungal walls and how evolution has shaped walls. I talk about how each student, post-doc and collaborator brought specific talents and drove the discovery process.

How To Be “The Best-Qualified Candidate” 

Tales of how Ph.D. students with dissertations about yeast biology end up in real paying jobs. We discuss the roles of experimental and communications skill sets, as well as support networks.

On and Off the Pathway: Careers in Science 

This talk illustrates how the scientists in our research group blended their science with their outside lives to make 3 major discoveries: 1) how adhesins are covalently linked to cell walls, an idea leading to the most common yeast surface display techniques for mass screening and for industrial processes; 2) The process of cell wall anchorage in yeast, now the target of a medical antifungal in phase 3 trials and an agricultural anitfungal in the process of licensing; and 3) The role of functional amyloids in sensing flow and strengthening biofilms.

In addition to providing lectures for Branch meetings, 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturers are available to participate in career development and mentoring activities for trainees at Branch meetings. This 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturer has indicated interest in doing the following:

• Attend poster sessions and oral presentations.
• Judge posters and/or oral presentations.
• Give separate lecture for students.
• Participate in informal gatherings/discussions—at dinner, reception, etc.
• Attend an 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Student Chapter meeting. 
• Participate in a career forum.
• Hold a “Meet the Speaker” session.
• Other: I am an on-line mentor for 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ and NRMN, and I have also mentored in person at all levels, from high school to post-tenure faculty. I would available after visits to communicate and discuss with any interested 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ member. 

Why Do Pathogens Continue to Emerge and Reemerge? An Update

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases defines “emerging infectious diseases/pathogens” as those “that have newly appeared in a population or have existed but are rapidly increasing in incidence or geographic range.” The 21st century has seen a concerning number of old foes and novel microbial agents emerge [or reemerge] globally. SARS-CoV-2, mpox, Ebola, Nipah, Marburg, Candida auris, ringworm, antimicrobial resistant pathogens, arboviruses and many other dangerous microbes are in the headlines daily. This presentation will discuss several pathogens, examining pathology, epidemiology, treatment, prevention and other microbiological and infectious disease aspects to consider going forward.
 

Antimicrobial Resistance [AMR] as it Relates to Biofilm: Mechanics, Surfaces and Problems that Need Solving

One of the biggest challenges in environmental infection prevention is the re-contamination/re-growth of pathogens on surfaces. Maintaining an environment of care with minimal bioburden is critical to prevent transmission of infectious agents to susceptible patients. Implementation of proper surface cleaning and disinfection processes is one of the most important strategies to prevent health care-associated infections [HAIs] which can hinge upon using the right chemicals. Recent advances with disinfection chemistries include continuously active disinfectants (CADs) that continuously kill microbes, providing additional protection against re-transmission of pathogens.
 

Breaking Down the Science of AMR for Patients and the Public 

AMR is an umbrella term, which explains how bacteria, viruses and other microbes [fungi] can develop resistance to medications like antibiotics, making infections harder to treat, due to their ability to evade the drugs designed to kill them. This presentation will describe this serious global health threat, primarily driven by overuse and misuse of medications, and discuss the importance of understanding how resistance occurs to inform responsible antibiotic use, prevent further complications and safeguard the effectiveness of future treatments. Examples of AMR pathogens will be given.
 

Rabies: A New Look at an Old Foe! 

This presentation will provide information on rabies virus and public health education. As an inaugural member of the Texas Oral Rabies Vaccination Program in Texas, which has eliminated canine rabies in Texas, I used my training as a Visiting Scientist with CDC Rabies Virus Laboratory to help create the Texas Department of State Health Services Regional Reference Rabies Virus Variant Typing Laboratory. This lecture will discuss rabies virus diagnosis, epidemiology and specimen types.
 

TED Talks & Science Communication: Telling Your Story!

This presentation will discuss my personal experience with the TED Talk process, how to leverage one’s research and subject matter expertise at the international level, how to identify effective strategies to synergize one’s expertise in social media channels, media interviews, authoring explainer articles and working globally in a One Health framework.
 

The Resurgence of Vaccine-Preventable Infections: A U.S. Update

When enough individuals neglect or choose to not receive their immunizations, the entire community immunization rates drop, and disease often occurs. Why do vaccine-preventable diseases occur in the United States? There are many factors to consider, such as low immunization rates, vaccine hesitancy, globalization and microbial adaptation. Immunization by vaccination prevents diseases, disabilities and deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), such as cervical cancer, poliomyelitis, measles, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis A and B, bacterial pneumonias, rotavirus diarrheal diseases and bacterial meningitis. A review and update will be provided on the current resurgence of VPDs in the U.S.
 

Professional Identity and the Intersection of Medical Laboratory and Public Health Practice 

This presentation will explore the intersection between public health and the medical laboratory professional identity. It is intended for laboratory leaders and other personnel in the public health and medical laboratory environment.

In addition to providing lectures for Branch meetings, 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturers are available to participate in career development and mentoring activities for trainees at Branch meetings. This 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturer has indicated interest in doing the following:

• Attend poster sessions and oral presentations.
• Judge posters and/or oral presentations.
• Give separate lecture for students.
• Participate in informal gatherings/discussions – at dinner, reception, etc.
• Attend an 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Student Chapter meeting. 
• Participate in a career forum.
• Hold a “Meet the Speaker” session.
• Meet online with students, early professionals, and other colleagues to discuss my career journey and provide a sounding board for questions and concerns.  

Consequences of Viral-Bacterial Synergy 

Interkingdom interactions between bacteria and viruses play critical roles at the host–pathogen interface with both synergistic and antagonistic relationships being operative. These studies encompass the virulence strategies that are specifically operative during viral-bacterial co-infection that impact several cellular processes to drive the heightened pathogenic cascade observed both clinically and experimentally.
 

Evolutionary Constraints of Antibiotic Resistance 

Instrumental in the development of resistance is a bacterium’s inherent ability to survive transient exposure to antibiotics giving the population the opportunity to accumulate genomic changes, gradually leading to full clinical resistance. A critical aspect in the development of resistance is the contribution of transient cell-states of tolerant bacterial populations, whose prominent role in subsequent development of resistance and in antibiotic treatment failure is becoming increasingly recognized. We have undertaken a multi-faceted approach to interrogate the mechanisms of antibiotic tolerance and the restrictions on the emergence of antibiotic resistance using a combination of experimental evolution and high-throughput genetics.
 

Pneumococcal Pathogenesis

The pneumococcus is a remarkedly adaptable pathogen, being able to not only colonize the human host asymptomatically, but also cause serious disease in a diverse array of host niches. Using high-throughput genetic screens, we have identified several key virulence determinants that are operative at specific host niches, such as colonization, pneumonia and bloodstream infections. This seminar focuses on the strategies the pneumococcus utilizes to infect such disparate host niches and means by which these virulence mechanisms can be disarmed to treat infections more effectively.  

In addition to providing lectures for Branch meetings, 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturers are available to participate in career development and mentoring activities for trainees at Branch meetings. This 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturer has indicated interest in doing the following:

• Attend poster sessions and oral presentations.
• Judge posters and/or oral presentations.
• Give separate lecture for students.
• Participate in informal gatherings/discussions—at dinner, reception, etc.
• Attend an 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Student Chapter meeting. 
• Participate in a career forum.
• Hold a “Meet the Speaker” session.  

Waste Not, Want Not 

Advances in molecular biology and technology are enabling us to monitor public health at an unprecedented scale with many novel approaches emerging, including analysis of wastewater. Wastewater-based epidemiology or WBE is unbiased, cheap, scalable and sustainable. It has been employed across the globe to surveil SARS-CoV-2 in communities and is being investigated for the detection of other emerging pathogens, such as avian influenza and mpox. Researchers and educators alike are responding to the challenge of detecting known and emerging pathogens by developing new isolation and detection techniques, and by preparing the next generation of wastewater scientists.
 

Airborne Transmission of Microbes 

Surrogate viruses can be safely used instead of pathogenic microbes to monitor and study the spread of viruses in aerosols, revealing how humidity, airflow and occupancy can affect the prevalence and diversity of microbes in the air. We are studying how quickly and far microbes can travel in real-world settings, such as classrooms, and how interventions, such as masks or increased airflow, can be leveraged to prevent their spread, depending on the context.
 

What Can Microbes Teach Us about the Built Environment?

We have long studied microbes in the built environment, examining their presence on elevator buttons, on hand dryers and on vending machines. We are most interested in how antimicrobials are being used in building products, ranging from paint to wall coverings and carpets. Are the antimicrobials we are using in these products contributing to the emergence of resistance in clinical pathogens? How can we better design our spaces to not only reduce pathogen spread, but also to support beneficial microbes and their communities that promote our health and well-being?

Science Education and Civic Engagement 

I have spent my career working to develop civic scientific literacy and science engagement among my students. I have helped faculty across this country and beyond to do the same. Science education is civic education when you use high-impact teaching approaches, support student’s sense of belonging, engage students in authentic research experiences and teach through the issues of relevance to our students, which often include wicked, capacious and unsolvable problems that we all must respond to.  

In addition to providing lectures for Branch meetings, 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturers are available to participate in career development and mentoring activities for trainees at Branch meetings. This 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturer has indicated interest in doing the following:

• Attend poster sessions and oral presentations.
• Judge posters and/or oral presentations.
• Give separate lecture for students.
• Participate in informal gatherings/discussions—at dinner, reception, etc.
• Attend an 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Student Chapter meeting. 
• Participate in a career forum.
• Hold a “Meet the Speaker” session.
• Other: I'm open to other ways that I can contribute.  

The Highs and Lows of Enteric Infections 

Explore how bacteria sense host neurotransmitters, the effect of neurotransmitters on bacterial pathogenesis and how microbiota composition change susceptibility to drug addiction.
 

Pour Some Sugar on Me: Gut Pathogen Interactions with the Host and the Microbiota 

Investigate metabolic exchanges between gut pathogens and microbiota, how metabolites derived from the host or microbiota impact pathogenesis and metabolites that also moonlight as signaling molecules.
 

You're Hot and You're Cold: Pathogen-Host-Microbiota Interactions in the Gut-Brain-Axis 

Learn how different neurotransmitters impact bacterial pathogenesis. Explore the utilization of neurotransmitters, their analogs or inhibitors as new anti-virulence approaches. Examine the integration of host and bacterial signaling and its impact on bacterial pathogenesis. 

Metabolic Interactions in Host-Pathogen and Microbiota Interactions in the Gut 

Examine how members of the microbiota harvest host metabolites that can be exploited by pathogens. Explore dietary metabolites in host-pathogen interactions. Learn how metabolism in exploitation of the microbiota by pathogens or microbiota resistance to pathogens.

Inter-Kingdom Chemical Signaling Among the Host-Microbiota and Pathogens: There is a Whole Lot of Talking Going On  

Learn about the integration of AI-3 and epinephrine/norepinephrine signaling to regulate bacterial virulence, the integration of indole and serotonin signaling in bacterial pathogenesis and how interference with inter-kingdom signaling functions as an anti-virulence approach.

In addition to providing lectures for Branch meetings, 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturers are available to participate in career development and mentoring activities for trainees at Branch meetings. This 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturer has indicated interest in doing the following:

• Attend poster sessions and oral presentations.
• Judge posters and/or oral presentations.
• Give separate lecture for students.
• Participate in informal gatherings/discussions—at dinner, reception, etc.
• Attend an 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Student Chapter meeting. 
• Participate in a career forum.
• Hold a “Meet the Speaker” session.

The Invisible Forest: How Tiny Cells Sustain Life in the Open Ocean  

Like trees on land, microbial phototrophs (phytoplankton) in the open ocean provision vast ecosystems with energy and carbon through photosynthesis. This lecture will introduce the diverse array of photosynthetic microbial cells that inhabit the open ocean and dive into the surprising ways they make a living in a dilute and nutrient poor environment to support a thriving ecosystem.  
 

Don’t Mourn for Me When I Die: How Loss of Microbes from the Sea Fuels Global Nutrient and Energy Cycles

Microorganisms in the open ocean die in a range of ways, from lysis by viruses, to engulfment by larger microorganisms, to filtration by large gelatinous zooplankton. But there is beauty and power in this circle of life. This lecture will look at how each of those loss processes are critical to providing different and diverse carbon sources to ecosystems of the open ocean that drive major biogeochemical cycles on Earth.
 

Master of Minimalism: The Simple but Powerful Life of Prochlorococcus 

The cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus is the smallest free-living photosynthetic cell on Earth, even more numerous than all plant cells combined. Discovered just 35 years ago, this amazing cell has much to teach us. This lecture will share the intertwined stories of the tiny cell itself and the scientists who have devoted their lives to learning its secrets. 

In addition to providing lectures for Branch meetings, 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturers are available to participate in career development and mentoring activities for trainees at Branch meetings. This 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀDL Lecturer has indicated interest in doing the following:

• Attend poster sessions and oral presentations.
• Judge posters and/or oral presentations.
• Give separate lecture for students.
• Participate in informal gatherings/discussions—at dinner, reception, etc.
• Attend an 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Student Chapter meeting. 
• Participate in a career forum.
• Hold a “Meet the Speaker” session.