Annual Congress on
Microbiology and Microbiologists

Tummalapalli Venkateswara Rao is a emeritus professor and HOD, department of Microbiology in Travancore Medical College, Kerala, India. He completed his MBBS in the year of 1973, post graduate diploma in management of cerebral palsy at the spastic society of India, Bombay and MD (Microbiology) in the year of 1991. He worked as a Professor for the department of microbiology at Sri Dev Urs Medical College, Karnataka, India.

His Research work is Associated with HIV/AIDS screening and research. He was trained at Institute of Immuno Haematology at Indian Council of Medical Research, Bombay on HLA Typing for establishing HLA Laboratory for benefit of the patient undergoing renal and bone marrow Transplantation.

Prof. Maria Rita Gismondo holds degrees in Biology and in Medicine and Surgery at University of Catania, as well as a Specialization in Microbiology and Virology. She is associate Professor of Microbiology since 1987 – first at the’ Institute of Microbiology, Dental School, University of Catania, then at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Milan. Moreover, she is the Director of the Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Virology and Bioemergencies (CLIMVIB) at L. Sacco University Hospital since 1995, including the BSL 4 facility which is a national reference laboratory for pandemics and bioterrorism. She has published over 237 scientific papers and she is member of several scientific international societies. Also, she is responsible of the bioemergency plan for L. Sacco University Hospital. Prof. Gismondo has years of experience in project management at international level. She has implemented, both as Team Leader and as expert, different projects of the European Commission and United Nations on topics involving bio-threats (biorisk, biosafety, biosecurity, biohazardous waste management). In this framework, she has offered her expertise and she has been involved in activities like training courses, workshops, seminars and field missions as well as laboratory risk assessment, need and gap analysis.

Clinical Microbiology, Virology, bio-threats

Akira Kaji has completed his Ph.D. in 1958 at The Johns Hopkins University and did postdoctoral studies from various places including the Rockefeller Institute in New York. He is a Professor of Microbiology at University of Pennsylvania. He has published more than 200 papers in reputed journals.

Protein Synthesis, ribosome recycling in Yeast

Dr. Yury Chernoff have received extensive training in the biological sciences (and specifically, in yeast genetics and molecular biology) during his undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral studies. Since 1995, he has established an independent research lab at Georgia Institute of Technology, with an emphasis on protein biosynthesis, folding, aggregation, and protein-based epigenetic inheritance. His major area of expertise includes yeast models for amyloid and prion disorders. His research has shown that prions can be induced by transient protein overproduction, uncovered the crucial role of chaperones in prion propagation, demonstrated evolutionary conservation of prion-forming properties, and established a yeast system for studying prion species barrier between closely related proteins. His lab also works on the involvement of the cytoskeletal networks and protein quality control pathways in prion and amyloid phenomena, and on development of the yeast-based assays for deciphering the mechanism of amyloid aggregation and toxicity.

Major topics of research in my lab include cellular control of prion formation and propagation (with a specific emphasis on the role of chaperone proteins), and development of the yeast models for studying mammalian and human amyloids, involved in diseases. Our research has demonstrated that prions can be induced by transient protein overproduction and discovered the crucial role of chaperones in prion propagation, shown evolutionary conservation of prion-forming properties, established a yeast system for studying species-specificity of prion transmission, and uncovered links between prions, cytoskeletal networks and protein quality control pathways.

Syra Madad is the Director, System-wide Special Pathogens Program at New York City Health + Hospitals, the nation’s largest municipal healthcare delivery system. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Graduate Biotechnology Program at the University of Maryland University College and Core Faculty in the National Ebola Training and Education Center (NETEC). She has a strong background in academia, teaching in graduate, undergraduate and professional programs with courses ranging from advanced microbiology to bioterrorism and biosecurity. She has held various faculty appointments, including Assistant Professor, Deputy Chair and Director of Education for various academic institutions in Maryland, New York and Texas.

Her Research of Interest ranges from advanced microbiology to bioterrorism/biosecurity. Her research of expertise also includes Ebola Outbreak and Zika Virus.

Dr. Ruey-Chyi Su is currently working as Adjunct professor in University of Manitoba, Canada. Her research interest includes interaction of gene-regulation with environment.

My main research focus has been to understand the molecular mechanisms facilitating the interaction of gene-regulation and environment (e.g., health, inflammation, infection) in disease susceptibility, vaccination and treatment. My research group has two main goals: (1) To define the regulation of innate immunity (interferon pathways) by genetic and environmental (epigenetic) factors, and examine their roles in susceptibility to infection. This study aims at identifying mechanisms of protection against HIV-infection and potential innate adjuvants for optimized vaccination. (2) To define the molecular impacts of HIV-infection on the regulation of host innate immunity and the gene expression of infected cell. This study aims at identifying markers for latent HIV-infected cells, and the altered expression and function of innate immunologic factors in HIV-infected patients.

Dr. Hinkelman is assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM) in Lillington, North Carolina. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Baylor University and completed her doctoral degree in microbiology at the University of Kansas in Dr. Stephen H. Benedict’s laboratory investigating the factors guiding differentiation of human naïve CD4 T cells. After her graduate work, she expanded her immunology research training by studying host immune responses to influenza virus infection as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in the laboratory of Dr. Thomas J. Braciale. Dr. Hinkelman currently teaches microbiology and immunology in both the medical and postbaccalaureate programs. Her current research interests are focused on characterization and function of neutrophil receptors in various disease states and surveillance of sexually transmitted infections in rural populations. She is a member of the American Association of Immunologists (AAI), AAAS and the Society of Self Fellows (society for alumni of the Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship and leadership program at the University of Kansas). Dr. Hinkelman has a long-standing passion for teaching and mentoring students in advanced biological sciences and in training compassionate and knowledgeable health care professionals.

Host Immune responses to Influenza Virus Infection

Akira Kaji has completed his Ph.D. in 1958 at The Johns Hopkins University and did postdoctoral studies from various places including the Rockefeller Institute in New York. He is a Professor of Microbiology at University of Pennsylvania. He has published more than 200 papers in reputed journals.

Protein synthesis, Ribosome recycling step to eukaryotes,