Center Events

Sebastian Bosch - Graduate Student, Advisor: Stephen Dewhurst, PhD

Despite the transformation of HIV-1 infection into a chronic but manageable condition through combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART), HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) continue to affect as many as 45% of persons living with HIV. Microglia are the main cell type that HIV productively infects within the central nervous system (CNS) and in pathologic settings such as HAND, can contribute to neuroinflammation and tissue damage. One way that microglia communicate with other cell types is through the secretion of exosomes, which can transfer nucleic acids, proteins and additional biological mediators to other CNS cell types. HIV infection alters the content of these exosomes, including their mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) cargo, and we hypothesize that this may contribute to synaptodendritic damage in recipient neurons. Altered exosome content in the context of HIV-1 infection may additionally contribute to reactivation of bystander microglial cells. Microglia become reactivated upon infection by HIV-1, resulting in morphological changes, secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and an increase in synaptic pruning activity, which collectively contribute to neurocognitive decline associated with HAND. Most previous studies to assess the contents of microglial exosomes have taken a highly reductionist approach, in which microglia have been exposed to a single HIV-1 protein, such as Tat or Nef. To address this, we have begun to develop both in vitro and in vivo models for HIV infection of human microglia. As a first step, we have induced the differentiation of cultured WA09 human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) towards CD43+/CD235a+ human pluripotent stem cells (HPSCs). We have then either: (A) engrafted the HPSCs into Rag2/IL2r x human mCSF knockin mice for development of a humanized microglial mouse model or (B) further differentiated the HPSC in vitro, towards CD45/CD11b+ human microglia. In parallel, we are also developing methods for exosomes from cultured microglia. We have successfully isolated exosome-like particles from HIVNanoLuc CHME5 cells, a microglial cell line containing an integrated HIV-1 YU2 provirus expressing NanoLuciferase (that enables simple monitoring of proviral activation following TNF-α treatment). Exosome like-particles were examined by nanoparticle tracking analysis to determine their size and density; these studies confirmed the presence of particles with the size distribution (30-150nm) of canonical exosomes. Furthermore, we showed these exosome-like particles contained the tetraspanins CD63 and CD9, further supporting their identity as microglia derived exosomes. Ultimately, our goal is to use our in vitro and in vivo experimental models for HIV infection of human microglia, to characterize HIV-induced changes in the RNA content of microglial exosomes, and their biological/functional effects on exposed but uninfected “bystander” microglia and neurons.

 Dec 15, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Steve Gill, PhD - Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology

 Dec 09, 2022 @ 9:00 a.m.

 Kornberg Medical Research Building | 3-9624

Justin Brennan - Graduate Student, Advisor: Yan Sun, PhD

Defective viral genomes (DVGs) are truncated derivatives of their parental viral genomes unable to replicate in the absence of a full-length helper virus. DVGs have been observed in most RNA viruses and play critical roles in viral pathogenesis and viral evolution. Specifically, the copy-back type of DVGs (cbDVGs) are potent inducers of the antiviral response during Mononegavirales infection including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. RSV is among the most consequential causative agents of severe pediatric respiratory illness worldwide and RSV cbDVGs in pediatric patients correlate with enhanced antiviral responses; thus cbDVGs are potential candidates for antivirals and vaccine adjuvants. Currently, little is known about the mechanisms governing cbDVG generation or species-specific functions of cbDVGs, limiting our ability to utilize cbDVGs to mitigate pathology caused by viral infections. Our lab has previously shown that RSV cbDVG generation is not a stochastic process and identified three genomic “hotspots” (R1, R2 and R3) mediating the formation of cbDVGs. Moreover, the introduction of an 8U mutation into R1 was observed to reduce its role in cbDVG formation during infection. Here, I expanded on these studies by generating a mutant virus with a similar mutation in R2 (R2-8U). WT and R2-8U cbDVGs were enriched by high MOI passaging. Strikingly, RNA-seq analysis of DVG enriched virus stocks (HD) showed that the frequency of R2 cbDVGs produced by R2-8U was largely reduced, while R2 cbDVGs dominated WT HD. Unexpectedly, R2-8U HD contained a 1.5 log increase in total cbDVG reads and frequency relative to WT HD. To test how these large differences in cbDVG composition and total amount affect viral infection and antiviral responses, A549 cells were infected with WT HD (enriched with R2 cbDVGs) and R2-8U HD (enriched with R3 cbDVGs) at the same MOI. Interestingly, WT HD and R2-8U HD induced similar expression levels of IFNB1, IFNL1 and ISGs despite a greater abundance of cbDVGs contained in R2-8U HD than WT HD, suggesting that R2 cbDVGs more efficiently induce the interferon response than R3 cbDVGs. Additionally, qPCR targeting specific cbDVG species indicated that R3 cbDVGs replicate faster than R2 cbDVGs. Taken together, these data further support our lab’s previous findings that cbDVG generation is genetically manipulable and provide evidence for the broader hypothesis in the Mononegavirales field that different cbDVGs have distinct functions.

 Dec 08, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K307 (3-6408)

Megan L. Falsetta (Wood), PhD - Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology

 Dec 05, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Upper Auditorium (3-7619)

Joshua Munger, PhD - Professor, Departments of Biochemistry & Biophysics and Microbiology & Immunology

 Dec 02, 2022 @ 9:00 a.m.

 Kornberg Medical Research Building | 3-9624

Mukta Palshikar - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Juilee Thakar, PhD

 Dec 01, 2022 @ 1:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-207 (2-6408)

Darline Castro-Melendez - Graduate Student, Advisors: Kristin Scheible, MD, Paige Lawrence, PhD

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent synthetic chemicals widely used in industrial processes and consumer goods, and they are ubiquitous in the environment and people. Epidemiological studies have associated exposure to PFAS with detrimental effects on the immune system, and fetuses and infants are particularly susceptible to environmental exposures due to their rapid growth and developing systems. During fetal development, each immune cell type develops at different gestational stages, thus perturbations during pregnancy could alter the normal establishment of these immune layers. There is strong evidence of PFAS-associated immunotoxicity and its effects on vaccine responses; however little attention has been drawn to how these compounds affect early life T cell development. Here we hypothesize that maternal PFAS exposure during pregnancy disrupts infant T cell development in humans. In our cohort of 199 human subjects, our preliminary data suggest a modulation of the IL-21 producing CD4+ population, a cell type that supports antibody maturation, revealing a possible link to suppressed antibody responses associated with PFAS. Using a systems immunology approach, we show the phenotypic and time-dependent complexity within the CD4+ T cell pool at birth, six and twelve months of age through high-dimensional single-cell analysis. We further identify specific immune population clusters associated with PFAS exposure during pregnancy; our data gives us further insight into the complexity of the immune response during infancy and the impact of antenatal exposures on reshaping the fetal developmental program.

 Dec 01, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K307 (3-6408)

Ma Rie Kim - PhD Candidate, Supervised by Dr. Minsoo Kim

Zoom Passcode:  000412

Abstract: Neutrophils have traditionally been defined as terminally differentiated innate immune cells with homogeneous phenotypes and antimicrobial functions. However, growing evidence highlights the previously underappreciated diversity and heterogeneity of this cell type. Rather than mere changes in number or morphology, neutrophils have been demonstrated to have transcriptional plasticity, mainly studied in context of the tumor microenvironment or chronic inflammations. Whether neutrophil heterogeneity affects functional adaptations to acute infections or in severe inflammation remains largely unknown. Furthermore, it is yet unknown what homeostatic factors induce neutrophil heterogeneity and the implications of the resulting phenotypic and functional diversity on the host response to inflammation and infection.

Here, we demonstrate that neutrophils are primed by microbiome-derived factors in the blood at homeostasis that leads to anti-inflammatory transcriptional changes. We show that this homeostatic priming is variable among individuals and that this heterogeneity is reflected in the phenotypes and functions of neutrophils in response to inflammatory stimuli. Using mouse models, we demonstrate that increased microbiome exposure via gut-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) leads to favorable outcomes to systemic inflammation, such as sepsis. Collectively, our data suggest that functional heterogeneity of neutrophils is primed by microbiome-derived factors at homeostasis, leading to altered host response to subsequent infection.

 Dec 01, 2022 @ 11:00 a.m.

Terry Wright, PhD - Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Microbiology & Immunology

 Nov 18, 2022 @ 9:00 a.m.

 Kornberg Medical Research Building | 3-9624

David J. Barnard - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Martin Pavelka, PhD

 Nov 17, 2022 @ 1:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-207 (2-6408)

Kala Hardy - Graduate Student, Advisor: Toru Takimoto, PhD

Many viruses evade the host innate immune response to replicate efficiently within the host. In the case of SARS-CoV-2, nonstructural protein 1 (nsp1) is known to play a major role in immune evasion by inducing general shutoff of host protein translation. Its C-terminal domain binds to the mRNA entry site in ribosomes, thus inhibiting host protein synthesis and expression of antiviral proteins. Nsp1 is expressed by all human coronaviruses (CoVs), but its functions and strategy to induce host shutoff are not fully understood. Nsp1 of human alpha-CoV (α-CoV) NL63 and 229E lacks the C-terminal domain known to be essential for the shutoff activity of SARS-CoV-2 nsp1. However, I found that the shutoff activity of α-CoV NL63 was much greater than that of SARS-CoV-2, suggesting that it induces general shutoff by a different unrecognized mechanism(s). I found that, in contrast to nsp1 from SARS-CoV-2, NL63 nsp1 localized in the nucleus and significantly decreased the amount of reporter gene mRNA in whole cell lysates. To determine how it is affecting mRNA, I labeled newly synthesized mRNAs in nsp1-expressing cells and found that NL63 nsp1 prevented de novo RNA synthesis. Strikingly, in cells transfected with NL63 nsp1 as well as in NL63-infected cells, Rpb1 (the catalytic subunit of RNA Polymerase II) disappeared, suggesting that NL63 nsp1 may initiate Rpb1 degradation via the cell’s “last resort” pathway to clear stalled RNA Pol II. This does not appear to be a conserved mechanism among α-CoV nsp1s, as 229E nsp1 has much weaker shutoff activity and does not affect reporter gene mRNA levels. To further elucidate the mechanism of nsp1-induced shutoff, I constructed a series of chimeric α-CoV nsp1s to identify the key domain(s) involved in shutoff activities, and I plan to rescue NL63 viruses containing these chimeras. This research will investigate the impact of nsp1-mediated shutoff on host innate responses to infection as well as the mechanism of Rpb1 degradation by NL63 nsp1.

 Nov 17, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Elsa Bou Ghanem, PhD - Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University at Buffalo

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) remain the leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly. Our work aims to understand the age-driven changes in neutrophil responses against these bacteria and the underlying pathways driving immune-senescence for improved therapeutic/preventative options. Th seminar will focus on 1) how neutrophil responses are altered with age, 2) the role of ROS production by the mitochondria in antibacterial function of these innate immune cells, and 3) how these responses are controlled by extracellular adenosine signaling.

 Nov 14, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Upper Auditorium (3-7619)

Host: Steven Gill, PhD

Mark Sangster, PhD - Professor, Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology

 Nov 11, 2022 @ 9:00 a.m.

 Kornberg Medical Research Building | 3-9624

Chantelle Lehone White - Graduate Student, Advisor: Andrea Sant, PhD

Although there has been much research into immunity generated by SARS-CoV-2 infection, there is little known about cellular immunity to endemic, seasonal human coronaviruses (sHCoVs). Understanding CD4 T cell memory generated by intermittent sHCoV infections is important as it may reveal whether α-sHCoVs and β-sHCoVs, which utilize distinct receptors and potentially alternative tropisms, induce similar immunity. Additionally, cross-reactive memory generated by sHCoV infections may be recalled upon exposure to SARS-CoV-2, impacting vaccination and infection outcomes. To evaluate these issues, CD4 T cells isolated from PBMCs collected prior to 2020 were stimulated with peptides representing the translated region of the Spike (S), S1 and S2 domains or Nucleocapsid (N) proteins from each sHCoV as well as influenza proteins as a comparator. The magnitude and functional potential of CD4 T cells were quantified by EliSpot assays and multiparameter flow cytometry. These studies revealed that the magnitude and specificity of CD4 T cell responses to sHCoV S and N varied across individuals, with a significant age-associated decline in the response magnitude. There was a notable bias towards the S2 domain, highlighting the impact of repeated exposures to conserved sHCoV epitopes and potential to be called into SARS-CoV-2 responses. CD4 T cells elicited by each virus demonstrate distinct functional potential, particularly NL63 and HKU1-reactive CD4 T cells that exhibit robust cytotoxic potential. These studies reveal the age and strain specific variability in both the magnitude and functionality of sHCoV-reactive CD4 T cells across individuals. Such variability could reveal the cellular consequences associated with periodic encounters with sHCoV as well as the potential impact of these memory responses on subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infections.

 Nov 10, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Lara Abramowitz, PhD - Staff Scientist, Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, NIDDK/NIH

 Nov 07, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Upper Auditorium (3-7619)

Host: Jacques Robert, PhD

Matthieu Paiola, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow, Robert Lab, Department of Microbiology & Immunology

 Nov 04, 2022 @ 9:00 a.m.

 Kornberg Medical Research Building | 3-9624

Michael Sportiello - Graduate Student, Advisor: David Topham, PhD

After an acute respiratory infection is cleared, most T cells that controlled the infection die off. Tissue resident memory CD8 T cells (TRM) remain in the lung, poised to fight off a recurrent infection. As demonstrated in mouse models, these TRM have large impacts on the survival and morbidity of repeated infection. While many have studied this subset to understand what causes differentiation into this essential T cell subset, a master regulator of this phenotype remains elusive. To these ends, RNA sequencing and ATAC sequencing experiments of TRM were conducted after viral clearance to investigate the existence of a master regulator. Transcription factor Nfil3 became a likely candidate after integrated omics and differential expression and accessibility analyses. Its downstream targets were also enriched. Flow cytometry to fully characterize the levels of Nfil3 in all T cell subsets of the lung, spleen, and draining lymph node was conducted 2, 7, 14, and 43 days post infection (dpi). At days 7, and 14 dpi, Nfil3 correlated with pre-TRM markers. At 43 dpi, Nfil3 was highest in TRM and lowest in central memory T cells. Finally, experiments were performed to investigate if Nfil3 played a causal role in TRM development or maintenance. Lentivirus constructs to over- or under-express Nfil3 were then created to transduce T cells, and an inducible mouse model was created to flox out Nfil3 at different points during and after infection. Preliminary results paint a picture of Nfil3 playing an important role in the differentiation of T cells post infection, and future work should move to human cells to investigate Nfil3 in humans.

 Nov 03, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Gowri Muthukrishnan, PhD - Assistant Professor, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, Department of Orthopedics

 Oct 31, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Upper Auditorium (3-7619)

Scott Gerber, PhD - Professor, Departments of Surgery and Microbiology & Immunology

 Oct 28, 2022 @ 9:00 a.m.

 Kornberg Medical Research Building | 3-9624

Tara Vrooman - Graduate Student, Advisor: Scott Gerber, PhD

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy that is currently the fourth leading cause of cancer related deaths, with a 5-year survival rate of only 10%. Surgical resection is the only successful cure thus far, but even with resection there is an 80% chance of recurrence. Immunotherapy, which involves stimulating the immune system to recognize and destroy tumor cells, has emerged as a viable therapy for a variety of tumors, but has been largely unsuccessful in treating PDAC due to the inherent suppressive nature of this malignancy. However, recent data suggests that the efficacy of immunotherapy may be enhanced when combined with standard of care treatments such as radiotherapy. Our laboratory has developed a novel treatment that combines the potent antitumor immune cytokine, interleukin-12 (IL-12) with highly effectivestereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), which results in remarkable tumor control and cure in a preclinical orthotopic model of PDAC.

Due to the high likelihood of recurrence in this malignancy, we investigated whether this combinatorial treatment approach can promote long-lasting antitumor immunity. Our data demonstrated that mice cured of primary PDAC tumors following SBRT + IL-12 therapy are protected against tumor rechallenge for as long as 8 months post-cure. Importantly, transfer studies revealed that CD4+ memory T cells, but not CD8+ memory T cells are the predominant immune subset responsible for long-lasting immunity. We further characterized this CD4+ T cell memory subset and determined that the cells within the peripheral lymphoid tissues expressed phenotypic markers for central memory T cells (Tcm), which have been reported to be ideal for providing durable antitumor immunity. Additionally, while investigating the cured pancreas 6-8 months after treatment, we observed pronounced changes in tissue architecture by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry, with adipose rich areas containing abundant CD4+ T cells, which exhibited a tissue-resident memory (Trm) phenotype of CD44+, CD62L-, & CD69+. These data suggest that local SBRT + IL-12 therapy results in the presence of long-lived Trm cells in the pancreas that may be poised to attack recurrent tumor cells.Future plans will translate these findings into a clinical trial where PDAC patients eligible for surgical resection will first receive treatment with SBRT + IL-12 in a neoadjuvant setting before surgery. We hypothesize this innovative combination therapy will act as an in-situ vaccine and induce memory cells toprotect against PDAC recurrence

 Oct 27, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6804)

Alessandro Venosa, PhD - Assistant Professor, University of Utah

EHSC Seminar Series Highlighted Topic: Air Pollution and Pulmonary Toxicity

 Oct 27, 2022 @ 11:00 a.m.

 Medical Center | 4-8820

Sydney Simpson, PhD - Senior Scientist Research & Development, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics

In early 2020 SARS-CoV-2 rapidly spread across the globe and was declared a pandemic in mid-March 2020. Less than one month later Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, an in vitro medical diagnostic device manufacturer, released the first high-throughput SARS-CoV-2 antibody assay to aid in diagnosis of infection and allow for early monitoring of the spread of the virus across the US. Ortho released another four SARS-CoV-2 assays world-wide within the next year to continue in the battle to understand and control COVID-19. Ortho Clinical Diagnostics rapid response to the Covid-19 pandemic illustrates the positive impact scientists in industry can have on society and support evolving government guidance and policies. Several in vitro diagnostics assays developed during a world-wide pandemic, their uses and implications, and their positive role in managing the Covid-19 public health crisis will be discussed.

 Oct 24, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Upper Auditorium (3-7619)

Andrea Sant, PhD - Professor, Center for Vaccine Biology & Immunology

 Oct 21, 2022 @ 9:00 a.m.

 Medical Center | K-207 (2-6408)

Yuhang Shi - Graduate Student, Advisor: Ruth Serra-Moreno, PhD

 Oct 20, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Edward Schwarz, PhD - Professor, Center for Musculoskeletal Research

 Oct 14, 2022 @ 9:00 a.m.

 Medical Center | k-207 (2-6408)

Edward Schwarz, PhD - Professor, Departments of Orthopedics and Microbiology & Immunology

 Oct 14, 2022 @ 9:00 a.m.

 Kornberg Medical Research Building | 3-9624

John Miller - Graduate Student, Advisors: Rachael Turner, M., PhD and Minsoo Kim, PhD

 Oct 13, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Zirui Zhou - MBI Student, Advisor: Michelle Dziejman, PhD

 Sep 15, 2022 @ 12:30 p.m.

 Medical Center | k-307 (3-6408)

Shelby Peres - MBI Student, Advisor: Martin Pavelka, PhD

 Sep 15, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K=307 (3-6408)

Robin Stephens, PHD, MA - Associate Professor and Director, Neuroinflammation Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School

Persistent infection generates Th1/Tfh Hybrid effector T cells and effector memory T cells (Teff, Tem) in the long term, and both contribute to protection in Plasmodium infection. While specific antibody levels remain stable after the acute phase of P. chabaudi infection, the decay of T cells corresponds with loss of protection from re-infection. We tested chronic vaccine vector MCMV to prolong protection. Boosting live malaria vaccine with MCMV-B5: i) prolonged vaccine protection to heterologous infection at day 200, ii) increased parasite-specific T cells and promoted a highly-differentiated Teff phenotype. Importantly, chronic MCMV infection itself improved protection from P. chabaudi infection and promoted maintenance of pre-activated CD8a+ dendritic cells through IFN-g. Our findings suggest a mechanism to boost CD4 T cell immunity using chronic vaccines, which may be broadly applicable to infections that require T cell-based immunity.

 Sep 12, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Upper Auditorium (3-7619)

Host: Felix Yarovinsky, MD

Sara Ahmed; Tyrus Perdue - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Felix Yarovinsky, MD; PhD Candidate, Advisor: Cynthia Monaco, MD, PhD

 Sep 01, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Cassandra Houser - PhD Candidate in Microbiology & Immunology

 Jul 18, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Ryan Case Method Room 1-9576

Host: Dr. Paige Lawrence, Microbiology & Immunology Program, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry

Katharine F. Tomberlin - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Michelle Dziejman, PhD

 Jun 28, 2022 @ 1:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Ryan Case Method Rm (1-9576)

Sean A. Nelson - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Andrea Sant, PhD

 Jun 23, 2022 @ 9:00 a.m.

 Medical Center | Adolph Aud. (1-7619)

Host: Microbiology & Immunology

Taylor Uccello - PhD Candidate in Microbiology & Immunology

https://urmc.zoom.us/j/96694259171?pwd=ZGJTWlNpQmFaZVBWamRNZDdVN0tIZz09 Passcode: 168998

 Jun 03, 2022 @ 1:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Adolph Auditorium 1-7619

Host: Dr. Scott Gerber, Microbiology & Immunology Program

Katharine Tomberlin - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Michelle Dziejman, Ph.D.

 May 26, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

Zanah Francis - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Marty Pavelka, Ph.D.

 May 19, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

Peter Walter, PhD - SVP & Institute Director, Altos Labs - Bay Area Institute of Science
Distinguished Professor Emeritus
University of California, San Francisco
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics

 May 16, 2022 @ 9:30 a.m.

 Medical Center | Class of '62 Auditorium and Atrium

Host: Genetics Day is sponsored by the University Committee for Interdisciplinary Studies (UCIS) and organized by the Departments of Biomedical Genetics and Biology

Mary Kate Moran - PhD Candidate, Advisors: Lisa Beck, M.D. and Steven Gill, Ph.D.

 May 12, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Upper Auditorium (3-7619)

Zhenqiang Yao, PhD - Associate Professor, University of Rochester
Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

 May 09, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Upper Auditorium (3-7619)

Host: Microbiology and Immunology Department Seminar Series: Joint Faculty Candidate

Hannah Bell - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Michelle Dziejman, PhD

 May 09, 2022 @ 9:30 a.m.

Host: Microbiology & Immunology Ph.D. Thesis Seminar

Andrew Martin - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Felix Yarovinsky, M.D.

 May 05, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

Lisa Beck, MD - Professor, Dermatology

 Apr 29, 2022 @ 8:30 a.m.

Host: CVBI

Michael Lutz - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Toru Takimoto, D.V.M., Ph.D.

 Apr 28, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

Sydney Simpson, PhD - Senior Scientist, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics

 Apr 25, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Host: Ruth Serra-Moreno, PhD and Microbiology and Immunology Department Seminar Series

Scott Gerber, PhD - Associate Professor, Surgery / Microbiology and Immunology/Radiation Oncology

 Apr 22, 2022 @ 8:30 a.m.

 Medical Center | Lower Adolph Auditorium (1-7619)

Host: CVBI

Aizan Embong - PhD Candidate, Advisor: David Topham, Ph.D.

 Apr 21, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

Josh Munger, PhD - Professor, Biochemistry & Biophysics, Univ. Rochester

 Apr 20, 2022 @ 3:30 p.m.

 Kornberg Medical Research Building | 3.9624

Leigh Knodler, PhD - Associate Professor, Paul G. Allen School for Global Health
College of Veterinary Medicine
Washington State University

 Apr 18, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-207 (2-6408)

Host: Microbiology and Immunology Department Seminar Series: Special Faculty Candidate Seminar

Kristin Scheible, MD - Professor, Pediatrics / Microbiology and Immunology

 Apr 15, 2022 @ 8:30 a.m.

 Medical Center | Lower Adolph Auditorium (1-7619)

Host: CVBI

Ashwin B.R. Kumar - PhD candidate in BioPhysics, Advisor: David Topham, PhD

 Apr 14, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Host: Microbiology and Immunology Student Seminar

Ashwin Kumar - PhD Candidate, Advisor: David Topham, Ph.D.

 Apr 14, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

Katrina Korfmacher, PhD - Professor, Environmental Medicine, Univ. Rochester

 Apr 13, 2022 @ 3:30 p.m.

Sergio M. Pontejo, PhD - Research Fellow, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology
National Institute of Allery & Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

 Apr 12, 2022 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Ryan Case Method Room (1-9576)

Host: David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology: Faculty Candidate Seminar

Henri Tiedge, PhD - Distinguished Professor, Physiology and Pharmacology, Neurology, Medicine
Downstate Health Sciences University

 Apr 11, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Upper Auditorium (3-7618)

Host: Microbiology and Immunology Department Seminar Series

Ya-Chi Ho, MD, PhD - Assoc. Professor, Infectious Disease & Microbial Pathogenesis - Yale University

 Apr 08, 2022 @ 11:00 a.m.

 Medical Center | Class of '62 Auditorium

Host: Medical Scientist Research Symposium

Felix Yarovinsky, PhD - Professor, Microbiology and Immunology, CVBI

 Apr 08, 2022 @ 8:30 a.m.

 Medical Center | Lower Adolph Auditorium (1-7619)

Host: CVBI

Christie Gilbert - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Steven Gill, Ph.D.

 Apr 07, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

Regina Rowe, MD - Professor, Pediatrics, Univ. Rochester

 Apr 06, 2022 @ 3:30 p.m.

 Kornberg Medical Research Building | 3.9624

Margaret Schwarz, MD - Professor, Pediatrics Indiana University School of Medicine

 Apr 05, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Lower Adolph Auditorium (1-7619)

Sheyda Azimi, PhD - Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgia Institute of Technology

 Apr 04, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-207 (2-6408)

Host: Microbiology and Immunology Department Seminar Series: Faculty Candidate

Jared Benjamin - MS Candidate, Advisor: Ruth Serra-Moreno, PhD

 Apr 04, 2022 @ 10:00 a.m.

 Medical Center | K307 (3-6408)

Bailey Kinn; Clare Heffernan - MS Candidate, Advisor: Paul Dunman, Ph.D.; MS Candidate, Advisors: Charles Chu, Ph.D. and Jacques Robert, Ph.D.

 Mar 31, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

James Gurney, PhD - Cystic Fibrosis Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Georgia Institute of Technology

 Mar 31, 2022 @ 10:00 a.m.

 Medical Center | K207 (2-6408)

Host: Dept. of Microbiology & Immunology Seminar Series

Chris Anderson, PhD - Professor, Pediatrics, Univ. Rochester

 Mar 30, 2022 @ 3:30 p.m.

Elizabeth Evans, PhD - Chief Operating Officer Vaccinex, Senior Vice President, Discovery and Translational Medicine

 Mar 28, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Upper Auditorium (3-7618)

Host: Ruth Serra-Moreno, PhD & Microbiology and Immunology Department Seminar Series

John DiPersio, MD, PhD - Chief, Division of Oncology
Washington University School of Medicine

 Mar 25, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

Host: The Wilmot Cancer Institute Series Inaugural Lowry Seminar

Brian Altman, PhD - Professor, Biomedical Genetics

 Mar 25, 2022 @ 8:30 a.m.

 Medical Center | Adolph (Lower) Auditorium (1-7619)

Host: CVBI

Shuyang Sue Qin - PhD Candidate, Advisors: Peter Prieto, M.D., M.P.H.
Scott Gerber, Ph.D.

 Mar 24, 2022 @ 1:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Adolph Auditorium (1-7619)

Ian Stone - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Andrew Samuelson, Ph.D.

 Mar 24, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Yan Sun, PhD - Professor, MBI, Univ. Rochester

 Mar 23, 2022 @ 3:30 p.m.

 Kornberg Medical Research Building | 3.9624

Karli M. Norville - PhD Candidate, Advisor: John Frelinger, Ph.D.

 Mar 23, 2022 @ 10:00 a.m.

Jean Celli, PhD - Professor, Paul G. Allen School for Global Health
College of Veterinary Medicine
Washington State University

 Mar 21, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Meera Singh, PhD - Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology: Stroke Division

 Mar 18, 2022 @ 8:30 a.m.

 Medical Center | Upper Auditorium (3-7619)

Host: CVBI

Caroline Junqueira, PhD - Associate Professor, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation
Research Associate, Boston Children’s Hospital
Harvard Medical School

Dr. Junqueira is an Associate Professor at Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Brazil) and a Research Associate at Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and an Affiliate Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences. Her current research work is focused on effector immunological  mechanisms against intracellular pathogens and cancer, with emphasis on Plasmodium spp infections.

 Mar 17, 2022 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Adolph (Lower) Auditorium (1-7619)

Host: David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology & Immunology

Andy Phan; Jordana Schmierer - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Toru Takimoto, D.V.M., Ph.D.; PhD Candidate, Advisor: Yiping Zhu, Ph.D.

 Mar 17, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Andrew Cameron, PhD - Assistant Director, Clinical Microbiology, Univ. Rochester

 Mar 16, 2022 @ 3:30 p.m.

 Kornberg Medical Research Building | 3.9624

Eva Nogales, PhD - Professor; Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA

 Mar 16, 2022 @ 1:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Class of '62 (G-9425)

Host: Dr. Lynne Maquat, PI, and Dr. Jeffrey Hayes, Co-PI, NIH T32 in Cellular, Biochemical and Molecular Sciences (Co-sponsored by GWIS)

Adam Geber; Ankit Dahal - PhD Candidate, Advisor: David Topham, Ph.D.; PhD Candidate, Advisor: Minsoo Kim, Ph.D.

 Mar 10, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 ()3-6408)

Ruth Serra-Moreno, PhD - Professor, MBI, Univ. Rochester

 Mar 09, 2022 @ 3:30 p.m.

Nir Drayman, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Savas Tay Lab, School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago

 Mar 08, 2022 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Ryan Case Method Room (1-9576)

Host: David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology & Immunology and Department of Microbiology & Immunology

Ralph DeBerardinis, MD, PhD - Chief and Professor, Division of Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism
Children’s Medical Center Research
Institute at UT Southwestern
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)

Ralph DeBerardinis earned a B.S. in biology from St. Joseph’s University and M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. DeBerardinis performed postdoctoral research in Craig Thompson’s laboratory in the Penn Cancer Center from 2004 to 2007. Here, he performed seminal work elucidating the importance of metabolism to tumorigenesis. He joined the faculty of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in 2008 and joined the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI) in 2012. He holds the Joel B. Steinberg, M.D. Chair in Pediatrics, and he is a Sowell Family Scholar in Medical Research and a Robert L. Moody Faculty Scholar. Dr. DeBerardinis became a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator in 2018 and was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2020. 

 Mar 08, 2022 @ 10:00 a.m.

Host: URMC Metabolism Meeting Special Seminar

Bonnie Bassler, PhD - Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, Squibb Professor and Chair, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University

 Mar 07, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

Host: Microbiology Graduate Students

Yuexuan Chen - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Ruth Serra-Moreno, Ph.D.

 Mar 03, 2022 @ 12:30 p.m.

Darline Castro-Melendez - PhD Candidate, Advisors: Kristin Scheible, M.D. and Paige Lawrence, Ph.D.

 Mar 03, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

Toru Takimoto, PhD - Professor, MBI, Univ. Rochester

 Mar 02, 2022 @ 3:30 p.m.

 Kornberg Medical Research Building | 3.9624

Miles W. Carroll, Ph.D. - Professor, High Consequence Emerging Viruses Group
Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics
Nuffield Department of Medicine
Oxford University

 Feb 28, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

Host: Brian Ward, Ph.D.

Clive Zent, M.D. - Professor, Department of Medicine: Hematology & Oncology

 Feb 25, 2022 @ 8:30 a.m.

 Medical Center | Class of '62 Auditorium

Host: CVBI

Justin Brennan - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Yan Sun, Ph.D.

 Feb 24, 2022 @ 12:30 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307

Sebastian Bosch - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Stephen Dewhurst, Ph.D.

 Feb 24, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307

Erica Sanchez, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor, Department of Biology
San Francisco State University
Faculty Candidate

 Feb 24, 2022 @ 10:00 a.m.

 Medical Center | 

Host: Dept. Microbiology - Flyer

Yiping Zhu, PhD - Professor, MBI, Univ. Rochester

 Feb 23, 2022 @ 3:30 p.m.

Tonya J. Webb, PhD - Associate Professor, ACS-IRG & DICR Program Director
Department of Microbiology & Immunology
Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of Maryland School of Medicine

 Feb 21, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

Host: Jacques Robert, Ph.D. and NIH/NIAID Predoctoral Training Program in Immunology - T32AI007285

Chantelle White - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Andrea Sant, Ph.D.

 Feb 17, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

Meera Singh, PhD - Professor, Neurology, Univ. Rochester

 Feb 16, 2022 @ 3:30 p.m.

Jacques Robert, PhD - Professor, Microbiology and Immunology

 Feb 11, 2022 @ 8:30 a.m.

 Medical Center | Class of '62 Auditorium (G-9425)

Host: CBVI

Tara Vrooman - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Scott Gerber, Ph.D.

 Feb 10, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | 3-6408 and Zoom

Jacques Robert, PhD - Professor, MBI, Univ. Rochester

 Feb 09, 2022 @ 3:30 p.m.

Sharilyn Almodovar, PhD - Assistant Professor, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology

 Feb 07, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | 3-7619 (Upper Aud.)

Host: Ruth Serra-Moreno, Ph.D.

Michael Sportiello - PhD Candidate, Advisor: David Topham, Ph.D.

 Feb 03, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408) & Zoom

Brian Ward, PhD - Professor, MBI, Univ. Rochester

 Feb 02, 2022 @ 3:30 p.m.

Vera Gorbunova, PhD - Co-Director, Rochester Aging Research Center, Department of Biology

 Jan 28, 2022 @ 8:30 a.m.

Yuhang Shi - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Ruth Serra-Moreno, Ph.D.

 Jan 27, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

Xing Qiu, PhD - Professor, Biostats Computational Biology, Univ. Rochester

 Jan 26, 2022 @ 3:30 p.m.

Tyler Scherzi - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Kirsi Jarvinen-Seppo, M.D., Ph.D.

 Jan 20, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

Jack Werren, PhD - Professor, Biology, Univ. Rochester

 Jan 19, 2022 @ 3:30 p.m.

Marina Sharifi, MD PhD - Fellow, Medical Oncology ABIM Research Pathway, Univ. of Wisconsin

 Jan 14, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

Host: Wilmot Cancer Institute

Noah Salama - PhD Candidate, Advisors: Laura Calvi, M.D. and Minsoo Kim, Ph.D.

 Jan 13, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

Kala Hardy - PhD Candidate, Advisor: Toru Takimoto, D.V.M., Ph.D.

 Jan 06, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center |