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Biology of Spirochetes

Gordon Research Conference

January 22 - 27, 2012
Chair Patricia A. Rosa
Vice Chair Ben Adler
Ventura Beach Marriott
2055 Harbor Boulevard
Ventura, California, United States
 Venue and Travel Information

Conference Description

The Biology of Spirochetes GRC is devoted to discussions of leading edge fundamental research of all medically important and biologically relevant spirochetes, which comprise a unique group of Eubacteria. Many spirochetes are pathogens and cause a variety of serious human and animal diseases, including syphilis, leptospirosis, Lyme borreliosis, relapsing fever borreliosis, periodontal diseases, digital dermatitis and dysentery. The highly interactive format and focus on cutting edge, unpublished results that are the requested and established norm for this conference provide a forum for cross-fertilization of ideas by members of the international community working on these bacteria and help delineate common research objectives. This conference provides an optimal setting for early career scientists to introduce themselves and their research to the spirochete community, interact with established investigators and plan the next steps of their careers. A proactive approach has been taken and will be extended to promote active participation by students, fellows, new investigators, women and members of under-represented groups.

A strong effort was made to develop an innovative program for the 2012 Biology of Spirochetes GRC that covers the breadth of spirochete research on basic and clinically relevant topics, with invited speakers in each session typically describing work on Leptospira, Treponema, Borrelia and other less studied spirochetes. Invited and confirmed speakers in every session include both leading established scientists and productive new investigators. New for the 2012 conference was the decision to replace the late-breaking session with a normal session, but include presentations in each session by more junior scientists doing cutting-edge research chosen from submitted abstracts by a selection committee. The aim of this approach is to provide visibility to an even greater number of early career scientists, as well as allow more time for the presentation and discussion of their work in the context of related talks by established investigators.

Conference Program

SUNDAY
4:00 pm - 8:00 pmArrival and Check-in (Office Closed 6:00 pm - 7:45 pm)
6:00 pmDinner
7:30 pm - 7:40 pmWelcome / Introductory Comments by GRC Site Staff
7:40 pm - 9:30 pmPathogenesis of Spirochete Infections
7:40 pm - 7:50 pm Discussion Leader: Justin Radolf (Univ. of Connecticut Health Center)
7:50 pm - 8:10 pm K.C. Bramwell (Univ. of Utah)
"Identification of genetic loci regulating the severity of Borrelia burgdorferi induced Lyme arthritis"
8:10 pm - 8:20 pm Discussion
8:20 pm - 8:30 pm Abstract Talk: Kurniyati Kurniyati (SUNY at Buffalo)
"A neuraminidase contributes to the biofilm formation, motility and virulence of oral Treponema denticola"
8:30 pm - 8:40 pm Discussion
8:40 pm - 9:00 pm Ashutosh Verma (University of Kentucky)
"Ocular manifestations of leptospiral infection"
9:00 pm - 9:10 pm Discussion
9:10 pm - 9:20 pm Abstract Talk: Hui Wu (Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham)
"Novel virulence factor associated with Treponema denticola periplasmic flagella"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm Discussion
MONDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pmImmunity & Immune Evasion in Spirochete Infections
9:00 am - 9:10 am Discussion Leader: Sheila Lukehart (Univ. of Washington Harborview Medical Center)
9:10 am - 9:30 am Linda Bockenstedt (Yale Univ. School of Medicine)
"Imaging approaches to define immune evasion strategies"
9:30 am - 9:40 am Discussion
9:40 am - 9:50 am Abstract Talk: Ruben Bonilla-Santiago (University College Dublin)
"Characterization of antigen recognition of Leptospira using urinary IgG from reservoir hosts of Leptospirosis"
9:50 am - 10:00 am Discussion
10:00 am Group Photo / Coffee Break
10:30 am - 10:50 am Jorge Benach (SUNY Stonybrook)
"Cholesterol lipids of relapsing fever spirochetes, lipid raft formation and complement-independent bactericidal antibodies"
10:50 am - 11:00 am Discussion
11:00 am - 11:10 am Abstract Talk: Sandra Stewart (Rocky Mountain Labs, NIAID, NIH)
"Inactivation of the locus for antigenic variation in the Relapsing Fever Spirochete Borrelia hermsii"
11:10 am - 11:20 am Discussion
11:20 am - 11:40 am Juan Salazar (Connecticut Children's Medical Center)
"Innate immunity in the course of secondary syphilis: deciphering the paradox"
11:40 am - 11:50 am Discussion
11:50 am - 12:00 pm Abstract Talk: Artem Rogovskyy (Washington State University)
"Role of VlsE in host reinfection by the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi"
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm Discussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pmFree Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pmPoster Session
6:00 pmDinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pmSpirochete Evolution, Ecology & Transmission
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm Discussion Leader: Alan Barbour (Univ. of California, Irvine)
7:40 pm - 8:00 pm Tom Schwan (Rocky Mountain Labs, NIAID, NIH)
"Adaptations for the acquisition and transmission of the tick-borne relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia hermsii"
8:00 pm - 8:10 pm Discussion
8:10 pm - 8:20 pm Abstract Talk: Annette Moter (Charite University, Berlin)
"Borrelia persica- the agent of tick-borne relapsing fever in Israel and the Palestinian authority"
8:20 pm - 8:30 pm Discussion
8:30 pm - 8:50 pm Jamie Lloyd-Smith (Univ. of California, Los Angeles)
"Population dynamics of leptospirosis in California sea lions"
8:50 pm - 9:00 pm Discussion
9:00 pm - 9:20 pm Dustin Brisson (Univ. of Pennsylvania)
"Evolution and evolvability of antigenic variation"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm Discussion
TUESDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pmSpirochete Structure, Metabolism and Gene Regulation
9:00 am - 9:10 am Discussion Leader: Nyles Charon (West Virginia University)
9:10 am - 9:30 am Lorenzo Giacani (Univ. of Washington Harborview Medical Center)
"T. pallidum Sigma24 regulon"
9:30 am - 9:40 am Discussion
9:40 am - 9:50 am Abstract Talk: Alexia Belperron (Yale Univ. School of Medicine)
"Measurement of outer membrane protein mobility and membrane fluidity of the Lyme disease bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, using holographic optical tweezers"
9:50 am - 10:00 am Discussion
10:00 am Coffee Break
10:30 am - 10:50 am Nadia Benaroudj (Institut Pasteur)
"Structural and functional characterization of the ferric uptake regulators of Leptospira"
10:50 am - 11:00 am Discussion
11:00 am - 11:20 am Ranjit Deka (Univ. of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)
"Structure and function of Treponema pallidum lipoproteins"
11:20 am - 11:30 am Discussion
11:30 am - 11:40 am Abstract Talk: Christine Miller (Univ. of Texas at San Antonio)
"Role of Borrelia burgdorferi host-adaptation regulator (BadR) in the patho-physiology of the agent of Lyme disease"
11:40 am - 11:50 am Discussion
11:50 am - 12:10 pm Scott Samuels (Univ. of Montana)
"The mechanism of RNA-mediated gene regulation in Borrelia burgdorferi"
12:10 pm - 12:20 pm Discussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pmFree Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pmPoster Session
6:00 pmDinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pmSpirochete Genomics and Proteomics
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm Discussion Leader: Richard Zuerner (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala)
7:40 pm - 8:00 pm Job Lopez (Mississippi State University)
"Identification of genes up-regulated within the tick vector of Borrelia turicatae"
8:00 pm - 8:10 pm Discussion
8:10 pm - 8:20 pm Abstract Talk: Arvind Anand (Univ. of Connecticut Health Center)
"TprC/D is a rare outer membrane protein and porin of Treponema pallidum"
8:20 pm - 8:30 pm Discussion
8:30 pm - 8:50 pm Jarlath Nally (University College Dublin)
"The urinary proteome of reservoir hosts of Leptospirosis"
8:50 pm - 9:00 pm Discussion
9:00 pm - 9:10 pm Abstract Talk: David Smajs (Masaryk Univ.)
"Genetic diversity in Treponema pallidum: implications for pathogenesis, evolution and molecular diagnostics of syphilis and yaws"
9:10 pm - 9:20 pm Discussion
WEDNESDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pmClinical Aspects & Epidemiology of Spirochete Infections
9:00 am - 9:10 am Discussion Leader: Rich Marconi (Viriginia Commonwealth Univ.)
9:10 am - 9:30 am Barbara Johnson (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins)
"What's new in the laboratory diagnosis of Lyme disease?"
9:30 am - 9:40 am Discussion
9:40 am - 9:50 am Abstract Talk: Eric Lewis (Univ. of California, Irvine)
"A fibronectin-binding protein unique to relapsing fever Borrelia species is released into the blood of infected mice"
9:50 am- 10:00 am Discussion
10:00 am Coffee Break
10:30 am - 10:50 am Rudy Hartskeerl (Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam)
"Conventional and molecular detection and characterization of Leptospira"
10:50 am - 11:00 am Discussion
11:00 am - 11:10 am Abstract Talk: Adriana Cruz (CIDEIM, Columbia)
"Emergence of a CD56negCD16bright Natural Killer Cell subset in blood of secondary syphilis patients"
11:10 am - 11:20 am Discussion
11:20 am - 11:40 am Allen Steere (Harvard Medical School)
"Autoimmune responses in Lyme disease"
11:40 am - 11:50 am Discussion
11:50 am - 12:10 pm Albert Ko (Yale School of Public Health)
"Natural History of Leptospirosis"
12:10 pm - 12:20 pm Discussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pmFree Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pmPoster Session
6:00 pmDinner
7:00 pm - 7:30 pmBusiness Meeting
Nominations for the next Vice Chair; Fill out Conference Evaluation Forms; Discuss future Site & Scheduling preferences; Election of the next Vice Chair
7:30 pm - 9:30 pmSpirochete:Host Interactions I
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm Discussion Leader: Caroline Cameron (University of Victoria)
7:40 pm - 8:00 pm John Leong (Tufts Univ. School of Medicine)
"Cell adhesion and tissue tropism by the Lyme disease spirochete"
8:00 pm - 8:10 pm Discussion
8:10 pm - 8:20 pm Abstract Talk: Marija Pinne (UCLA School of Medicine)
"Identification of novel host ligand binding proteins with a leptospiral outer-membrane proteome array"
8:20 pm - 8:30 pm Discussion
8:30 pm - 8:50 pm George Chaconas (Univ. of Calgary)
"Strategies and mechanisms for spirochete survival and dissemination in a mammalian host"
8:50 pm - 9:00 pm Discussion
9:00 pm - 9:10 pm Abstract Talk: John-Paul Lavik (Univ. of Toledo)
"Delineation of Borrelia burgdorferi colonization and dissemination characteristics within murine skin via intravital microscopy"
9:10 pm - 9:20 pm Discussion
THURSDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pmSpirochete Molecular Genetics
9:00 am - 9:10 am Discussion Leader: Michael Norgard (Univ. of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)
9:10 am - 9:30 am Steve Norris (Univ. of Texas Houston Medical School)
"STM analysis of Borrelia pathogenicity"
9:30 am - 9:40 am Discussion
9:40 am - 9:50 am Abstract Talk: Brandon Jutras (University of Kentucky)
"EbfC is a nucleoid-associated protein that acts as a global regulator of gene expression in Borrelia burgdorferi"
9:50 am - 10:00 amDiscussion
10:00 am Coffee Break
10:30 am - 10:50 am Gerald Murray (Monash University)
"The contribution of mutagenesis to our understanding of leptospiral virulence"
10:50 am - 11:00 am Discussion
11:00 am - 11:20 am Ira Schwartz (New York Medical College)
"B. burgdorferi genes required for optimal growth in ticks"
11:20 am - 11:30 am Discussion
11:30 am - 11:40 am Abstract Talk: Poonam Dadwhal (Louisiana State Univ.)
"RpoS is not involved in OspA down-regulation but regulates essential virulence genes remaining to be identified in Borrelia burgdorferi"
11:40 am - 11:50 am Discussion
11:50 am - 12:10 pm M.D. Motaleb (East Carolina Univ.)
"Multiple activities of c-di-GMP in Borrelia burgdorferi"
12:10 pm - 12:20 pm Discussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pmFree Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pmPoster Session
6:00 pmDinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pmSpirochete:Host Interactions II
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm Discussion Leader: Sven Bergstrom (Umea University)
7:40 pm - 8:00 pm Dave Haake (UCLA School of Medicine)
"Host-pathogen interactions in leptospirosis"
8:00 pm - 8:10 pm Discussion
8:10 pm - 8:20 pm Abstract Talk: Simon Houston (Univ. of Victoria)
"Elucidating the mechanism of wide-spread dissemination of Treponema pallidum"
8:20 pm - 8:30 pm Discussion
8:30 pm - 8:50 pm Richard Ellen (University of Toronto)
"Impact of synthetic peptides deduced from Treponema denticola MSP on neutrophil chemotaxis"
8:50 pm - 9:00 pm Discussion
9:00 pm - 9:10 pm Abstract Talk: Theresa Russell (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins)
"A B. burgdorferi protease degrades cartilage proteins: implications for Lyme arthritis"
9:10 pm - 9:20 pm Discussion
FRIDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 amDeparture

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