Department hosts 32nd Gail Cassell Microbiology Research Retreat

The UAB Department of Microbiology hosted the 32nd Gail Cassell Microbiology Research Retreat Oct. 16-18 at Lake Guntersville State Park in Guntersville, Alabama. The retreat continues a decades-long tradition of bringing together faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students for a weekend of scientific exchange and collaboration.

“The Gail Cassell Microbiology Research Retreat is one of the traditions that makes our department special,” said J. Victor Garcia-Martinez, Ph.D., professor and chair, Charles H. McCauley Endowed Chair in Microbiology. “What makes this retreat so unique is that people come away with much more than new scientific ideas. It brings us together to share exciting science, to build collaborations, to mentor the next generation of scientists, and to create memories that stay with us long after the weekend is over. That combination of great science and genuine community is an important part of Dr. Cassell’s legacy and of who we are as a department.”

Throughout the weekend, researchers showcased the breadth of work taking place across the department. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows gave 19 poster presentations and 18 oral presentations, exploring a range of topics, including HIV, tuberculosis, immunology, cancer, viral replication, and bacterial pathogenesis.

Faculty members also shared their research during the final morning of the retreat. Tariq Najar, Ph.D., presented “Gut Instinct: Commensal-Driven T Cell Plasticity as a New Lever for Cancer Immunotherapy.” Hui Hu, M.D., Ph.D., discussed conceptual challenges involving follicular helper CD4+ T cells and progenitor exhausted CD8+ T cells, while Terje Dokland, Ph.D., presented research on the exploitation of helper phages by Staphylococcus aureus pathogenicity islands.

In addition to research presentations, the retreat welcomed Distinguished Alumnus Speaker Ivaylo Ivanov, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunology at Columbia University. Ivanov presented “Back to the Future: Adventures in Microbiology (and Immunology),” sharing his perspective on the field with members of the UAB Microbiology community.

Beyond the presentations, the retreat offered time for attendees to connect with colleagues and build relationships across research groups. A group photo, recreational time, a social hour, dinner, and live music by The Payline rounded out the weekend, complementing the scientific program with opportunities for connection and community.

Poster presentation awards

Graduate students

First place

• Blaine Johnston
  • “Epigenetic Remodeling by EZH2 Contributes to Secondary Antibody Secreting Cell Differentiation”

Second place

• Ousley Langworthy
  • “Downregulation of ST6Gal-1 Mediated Sialylation Promotes CD8+ T Cell Effector Differentiation”

Third place (tie)

• Molly Cavanaugh
  • “ART Suppresses HIV in the CNS of Humanized Mice”
    
• Julia Hochstetler
  • “Ivacaftor potentiates Pseudomonas aeruginosa-commensal biofilm development”

Postdoctoral fellows

First place

• Camila Gonzalez-Arancibia, Ph.D.
  • “Feedforward Regulation Between the Microbiome and Psychostimulant Abuse”

Second place

• Krishna Chinta, Ph.D.
  • “Glucose drives a rapid oxidative burst and immunometabolic reprogramming in human neutrophils during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection”

Staff

First place

• Ritesh Sevalkar, Ph.D.
  • “Hydrogen sulfide oxidation in tuberculosis: Roles of Mtb and host sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase (SQR)”

Second place

• Sajid Nadeem, Ph.D.
  • "Tuberculosis lesions exhibit distinct biometal distribution patterns across diverse histopathological zones”

Oral presentation awards

Graduate students

First place

• Brooke Bengert
  • “Homotypic and heterotypic interactions of astrovirus transmembrane proteins coordinate replication organelle formation”

Second place

• Sarah Perritt
  • “Convergent ER Stress Responses Identify Drivers of Secondary Bacterial Infection”

Third place (tie)

• Federico Prokopczuk
  • “Temperate bacteriophages shape intraspecies competition during Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection”
• Vanesa Radilla-Garcia
  • “What does it take to be a three? Metabolic Requirements for Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 3”

Postdoctoral fellows

First place

• Silvia Santana, Ph.D.
  • “Exploring Mechanisms of Cardiac Damage Following Streptococcus pneumoniae Infection”

Second place

• Muhammad Shahid Riaz, Ph.D.
  • “Bad Bugs, Fatty Microglia: How P. gingivalis Hijacks Brain Immunity”

Congratulations to all the presenters and award recipients for their contributions to the UAB Department of Microbiology's research community.