Agenda - May 21, 2025
Cudworth CEC 102
12:30 PM
Welcome
Dr. J. Victor Garcia-Martinez and Dr. Kathy Hancock
12:45 PM
Student Presentation #1
“The Role of Capsule Production on the Physiology of an Oral Commensal”
Sara Edmonds
1:15 PM
Student Presentation #2
“Elucidating the Molecular Mechanisms of Human Astrovirus Polyprotein Processing”
Samaneh Mehri
1:45 PM
Student Presentation #3
“IRF1 attenuates inflammatory gene programs in B cells and alters pathogenic B Cell subsets in autoimmunity and inflammaging”
Eddie-Williams Owiredu
2:10 PM
Break
3:00 PM
David E. Wells Guest Lecturer
First steps in paramyxovirus infection
Anne Moscona, M.D.
Sherie L. Morrison Professor of Immunology, Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, Pediatrics and Physiology & Cellular Biophysics
Columbia University
4:00 PM
Announcement of the David E. Wells Research Award
4:15 PM
Closing Remarks followed by reception in lobby
About the David E. Wells Guest Lecturer
Anne Moscona, M.D.
Dr. Moscona's lab conducts basic research on paramyxoviruses that cause serious and prevalent childhood diseases, and on newly emerging paramyxoviruses that affect humans. The lab investigates common pediatric respiratory viruses, including parainfluenza viruses and respiratory syncytial virus, as well as emerging lethal henipaviruses such as Nipah and Hendra viruses.
The focus of the laboratory is on the mechanisms of viral entry into host cells during the initial stages of infection. The laboratory is best known for identifying critical roles of the viral receptor-binding protein in activating the viral fusion process during infection. By identifying the mechanism of fusion activation, the team has identified promising targets for interfering with viral entry.
The lab is organized around the interdisciplinary theme of virus-host interactions. Projects draw on molecular biology, cell biology, biophysics, immunology, computational biology, structural biology, and virology.