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Houston C diff & Microbiome Conference

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Houston C diff & Microbiome Conference

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Bioscience Reseach Collaborative, Rice University, 6500 Main St., Houston

Registration & Abstract Submission CLOSED


The Houston C diff. & Microbiome Conference aims to bring together research trainees and researchers from infectious diseases laboratories in the Texas Medical Center, Houston and the surrounding area for a lively forum to discuss the latest findings and cutting-edge developments from their labs as well as foster new and exciting collaborations.

A major focus of the conference is to provide an outlet for trainees and junior scientists to share their work, discuss their data with leading scientists, and inspire the next generation of Clostridiodes difficile/ microbiome researchers.

In addition to two keynote speakers, abstracts are invited and competitively selected for oral presentation. Remaining abstracts will be presented during the course of one or more poster sessions, allowing every participant a chance to highlight their research. Attendees are encouraged to submit abstracts on their most recent or as-yet-unpublished work.


Sponsored by Acurx Pharmaceuticals

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Tentative Schedule

8:00-9:00 am Check-in
8:50-9:00 am Welcome Remarks: Kevin Garey, UHCOP
9:00-9:45 am Keynote 1 - Tor Savidge, Convener
Speaker: Blake Hanson, UTHSC
Title: TBD
10:00-11:00 am Abstract Presentations 1-4, Conveners: Rob Britton and Sara Dann
10:00 am 1: Taryn Eubank, UHCOP
Title: "Efficacy and safety of ibezapolstat compared with vancomycin for the treatment of Clostridioides difficile infection: a phase 2, randomized, double-blind study"
10:15 am 2: Francisca Cid-Rojas, TAMU
Title: "Characterization of a hypersporulating Clostridioides difficile strain"
10:30 am 3: Merilyn A. Beebe, TAMU
Title: "Phenotypic characterization of C. difficile ribotypes"
10:45 am 4: Travis J. Carlson, UTSA
Title: "The Majority of Adults with Discordant Clostridioides difficile Testing Results are Treated for C. difficile Infection Despite Alternative Explanations for Their Diarrhea"
11:00 am-12:00 pm Abstract Presentations 5-8, Conveners: Daniel Paredes-Sabja and Margaret Conner
11:00 am 5: Marjorie Pizarro-Guajardo, TAMU
Title: "C. difficile interaction with the complement system: Implications in pathogenesis"
11:15 am 6: Javier Sanchez-Peralta, TAMU
Title: "Determining the role of cysteine rich proteins CDEC in exosporium assembly and morphogenesis of C. difficile spores"
11:30 am 7: Osiris K. López-García, TAMU
Title: "Bioluminescence-spore tagging approach to track sporulation dynamics and biodistribution of Clostridioides difficile spores in the gastrointestinal tract"
11:45 am 8: Zhilei Chen, TAMU HSC
Title: "Engineer DARPin-based oral protein therapeutics for treating C. difficile infection"
12:00-1:15 pm Lunch & Poster Presentations
1:15-2:00 pm Keynote 2 - Cesar Arias, Convener
Speaker: Xinyun (Sherry) Cao, UTSW
Title: "Towards novel antibiotics discovery: transcription and regulation of C. difficile"
2:00-3:00 pm Abstract Presentations 9-12, Conveners: Travis J. Carlson and Jinhee Jo
2:00 pm 9: Henok A. Tegegne, BCOM
Title: "Hi-C Metagenomic Characterization of the Host-Antimicrobial Resistome in Clostridioides difficile Infection"
2:15 pm 10: Chetna Dureja, TAMU HSC Institute
Title: "Evaluation of De Novo Fatty Acid Biosynthesis as a Narrow-Spectrum Approach for Clostridioides difficile infection"
2:30 pm 11: Ann M. McKelvey, TAMU HSC Institute
Title: "Investigating Fitness Costs of Fidaxomicin-Resistant Clostridioides difficile"
2:45 pm 12: Hossaena Ayele, UTSPH
Title: "Understanding Gut Microenvironment Perturbation with Moxifloxacin Therapy: Implications for Clostridioides difficile Risk"
3:00-4:00 pm Abstract Presentations 13-16, Conveners: Eugenie Basseres and Zhilei Chen
3:00 pm 13: Katherine J. Wozniak, BCOM
Title: "Understanding Clostridioides difficile RT023 xylitol utilization"
3:15 pm 14: Andie deTranaltes, Houston Methodist Hospital
Title: "Characterization of Clostridiodes difficile Colonization in Critically Ill Patients"
3:30 pm 15: Joshua N. Brehm, TAMU
Title: "Investigating the role of Clostridioides difficile small, acid-soluble spore proteins during spore outgrowth"
3:45 pm 16: Morgan S. Osborne, TAMU
Title: "The impact of YabG mutations on C. difficile spore germination and processing of spore substrates"
4:00 pm Closing Remarks & Directions to Happy Hour - Julian Hurdle
4:30 pm-sunset Happy Hour - Little Woodrow's, Rice Village, 5611 Morningside Dr.

Organizing Committee

Robert Britton, Ph.D., Professor, Baylor College of Medicine

Kevin Garey, Pharm.D., M.S., Professor, University of Houston

Julian Hurdle, Ph.D., Professor, Texas A&M University Institute of Biosciences and Technology

Joseph Sorg, Ph.D., Professor, Texas A&M University

Contact

Questions? Please contact Kevin Garey at kgarey@central.uh.edu or 832-842-8386.