Southern California Eukaryotic Pathogen Symposium

2024 SCEP symposium agenda

The 14th annual Southern California Eukaryotic Pathogen

SCEP logo

Symposium

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

UC Riverside - SOM ED-II building, room 205

Symposium schedule
Schedule subject to change 
8:30-9am
Breakfast and Registration (SOM Education Building II, room 205, UCR)
Poster set-up (SOM Education Building II – Outdoor Terrace) 
9-9:10am
Welcome to the 14th annual SCEP symposium – Opening remarks
Karine Le Roch, PhD., Director Center for Infectious Disease and Vector Research, UC Riverside
9:10-9:45am
SCEP Morning Speaker, introduced by Karine Le Roch, PhD.
Kent Hill, PhD., Professor, Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics, University of Los Angeles, California
"Dynein Dragon Boat: Atomic Structure of the Trypanosome Axoneme Illuminates Mechanism of Flagellar Beating in Eukaryotes"
9:45-10am
Morning session: Chair: Dr. Rebecca Ruggiero-Ruff, Ph.D., Post-doctoral Fellow, UC Riverside 

 

Jennell Jennett, Nair Lab, Biomedical Sciences, UCR School of Medicine 
"Helminth-Induced Type 2 Immune Responses Protect Against Diet-Induced Obesity via RELMα"
10-10:15am
Christina Hueschen, PhD., Cell and Developmental Biology, UCSD 
"Actin self-organization in gliding Toxoplasma gondii"
10:15-10:30am
Shinhye Chloe Park, Koshy Lab, University of Arizona 
"The Role of a Hypothetical Protein (TGME49_207210) in Toxoplasma gondii Stage Conversion and Persistence"
10:30-10:45am
Maura C Ruyechan, Ralston Lab, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, UC Davis
"Trogocytosis of human cells by Entamoeba histolytica enables protection from human serum complement lysis"
10:45-10:55am
10 minute stretch break
10:55-11:10am
Johann Tailor, Riestra Lab, Dept. of Biology, San Diego State University
"An Immunological Wildfire: Trichomonas vaginalis triggers pyroptosis in ectocervical cells"
11:10-11:25am
Ruhi Patel, PhD., Hallem Lab, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, UCLA 
"Dopamine signaling drives skin invasion by human-parasitic nematodes"
11:25-11:30am
Teaser talks

 

Arrmund Neal, Le Roch Lab, UCR
"Determining the role of PfCRWN-L protein in regulating chromatin structure in the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum"
11:30-11:35am
Arzu Ulu, Wilson Lab, UCR
"Factors contributing to bradyzoite-to-bradyzoite replication following Toxoplasma gondii cyst recrudescence in murine primary astrocytes"
11:35-11:40am
Kyle Anesko, Dillman & Nair, Environmental Toxicology, UCR, Riverside
"Exploring novel immunomodulatory pathways between parasitic nematode excretory/secretory proteins and mammalian host-parasite interactions"
11:40-11:45am
Saarang Kashyap, Zhou Lab, MIMG, University of California, Los Angeles
"Structures of Native Doublet Microtubules from Trichomonas vaginalis Reveal Parasite-Specific Proteins"
11:45am-12:00pm
Break and Squeeze up!
12:00-1:00pm
Keynote Speaker, introduced by Meera Nair, PhD. 

 

Sarah L. Gaffen, PhD., Gerald P. Rodnan Professor, Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh
"All Things Great and Seventeen: At the Crossroads of IL-17 Signaling in Fungal Immunity and Beyond"
1:00-2:30pm
Lunch and Poster Viewing (SOM educational Building - outdoor terrace) 
2:30-2:45pm
Afternoon session: Chair, Karine Le Roch, PhD. 

 

Isabel Romero, Mercer lab, Biological Sciences Department and Cal Poly Pomona 
"Investigating the role of antibodies and complement in neutrophil trogocytic killing of Trichomonas vaginalis"
2:45-3:00pm
Brecken Enright, Schulz Lab, Harvey Mudd College department of Biology
"Investigating the importance of chromatin interacting proteins in mediating transcription of procyclin genes during differentiation of African trypanosomes from the bloodstream to the procyclic form"
3:00-3:15pm
Juliette Uy, Bradley Lab, Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles
"Toxoplasma IMC1 is a central component of the IMC network and plays critical roles in parasite morphology, replication, and infectivity"
3:15-3:30pm
Angelica Lopez, Jimenez Lab, Department of Biological Science, California State University, Fullerton
"Study of an orphan kinesin reveals connections between the contractile vacuole and flagellar structures in Trypanosoma cruzi"
3:30-3:45pm
Katherine Yanes, Lodoen Lab, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine
"Toxoplasma gondii Drives Immune Cell Recruitment to Amyloid Plaques in Alzheimer’s Mice"
3:45-4:00pm
Lauren Wong, Buckley Lab, Biological Sciences, California Polytechnic State University, California
"The role of the Peripheral Cannabinoid Receptor on Neutrophil Egression into the Vagina"
4:00-4:15pm
Marco Martinez, Lima Lab, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
"Investigating the role of the innate immune system in entrapping and neutralizing Toxoplasma gondii by neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)"
4:15-6:00pm
Drinks and Nibbles (SOM Education building II - outdoor terrace) 
Poster presentations (odd numbers 4:15- 4:45pm; even numbers 4:45-5:15pm) Announcement of abstract awards and networking (5:15-6:00pm)