{"id":2645,"date":"2012-01-20T17:04:19","date_gmt":"2012-01-20T22:04:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/virol-immunol-microbio\/?page_id=2645"},"modified":"2026-06-16T12:43:55","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T16:43:55","slug":"trainee-seminars","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/virol-immunol-microbio\/seminars\/trainee-seminars\/","title":{"rendered":"Microbiology and Immunology Trainee Seminar Series"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Department of Virology, Immunology & Microbiology (VIM) and Immunology Training Program (ITP) Trainee Seminar\/Journal Club sessions are held on Mondays at 12:00 noon in the X222 VIM conference room.\u00a0 All presentations are in person only, with the exception of defenses which will be hybrid. Email reminders will be sent prior to each seminar.<\/p>\n

Please email kfurness@bu.edu<\/a> if you want to be added to the email listserv.<\/p>\n

Click\u00a0here<\/a><\/u> for previous seminars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Spring 2026 VIM and ITP Trainee Seminar and Journal Club Series<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
January 26<\/td>\nCancelled due to inclement weather<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Thursday,
\nJanuary 29
\n1:00 PM in L112<\/td>\n		DISSERTATION DEFENSE SEMINAR
\n“Characterizing the Unique Sperm Glycan Landscape: Determining the Human Contraception Antibody’s Epitope and the effects of Bacterial Vaginosis Derived Sialidases on Sperm”
\nSarah Dohadwala<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
February 2<\/td>\nSTUDENT SEMINARS
\n“Heterologous Protection against Bacterial Pneumonia”
\nBrittny Garcia<\/strong>, Mizgerd Lab
\nand
\n\u201cDiscovering the CRL4 Complex as a Putative Regulator of Ebola Virus Infection\u201d
\nJillian Grassia<\/strong>, Davey Lab<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
February 9<\/td>\nSTUDENT SEMINARS
\n“Creating Genetically Barcoded Ebola Viruses to Study Viral Population Dynamics”
\nEmil Mah<\/strong>, Sullivan Lab
\nand
\n“Mechanisms driving poly(A)-independent mRNA stability and translation in Arenaviruses”
\nAnnie Wen<\/strong>, Cifuentes Lab<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
February 16<\/td>\nNO SEMINAR<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
February 23<\/td>\nRescheduled to April 15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tuesday,
\nFebruary 24
\n1:00 PM in X222<\/td>\n		DISSERTATION DEFENSE SEMINAR
\n“Characterization of a Novel Genomic Locus with Pro-Viral Function in Orthoflavivirus Infection
\nElizabeth Chavez<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
March 2<\/td>\nSTUDENT SEMINARS
\n“Disentangling Shared and Distinct Gene Signatures of Robust Vaccine Responses”
\nStephanie Hao<\/strong>, Tomic Lab
\nand
\n“An Investigation of Links between Herpesviruses and Neurodegenerative Diseases”
\nLaura Polanco<\/strong>, Cappione Lab<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
March 9<\/td>\nPOSTDOCTORAL FELLOW SEMINARS
\n“Development of a Novel Humanized Mouse Model for Ebola Virus Infection”
\nShilpa Kuttikrishnan, PhD<\/strong>, Misasi Lab
\nand
\n“Bone Marrow Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Post Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection”
\nGiulia Unali, PhD<\/strong>, Douam Lab<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tuesday,
\nMarch 10
\n1:00 PM in L110<\/td>\n		DISSERTATION DEFENSE SEMINAR
\n“Intragenic Transcription from Defective HIV-1 Proviruses Triggers the Melanoma Differentiation-Associated Protein 5 Innate Immune Sensing Pathway”
\nJonathan Kilroy<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Friday,
\nMarch 13
\n12:00 PM in L110<\/td>\n		DISSERTATION DEFENSE SEMINAR
\n“Elucidating Novel Interactions between HIV-1 and Host DNA Responses”
\nAndrew Leal<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
March 16<\/td>\nJOURNAL CLUB
\nBoard, N. L. et al. Bispecific antibodies promote natural killer cell-mediated elimination of HIV-1 reservoir cells. Nat Immunol 25, 462\u2013470 (2024).
\nhttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41590-023-01741-5<\/a>
\nPresenter: Jonathan Eddy<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
March 23<\/td>\nJOURNAL CLUB
\nNikolaitchik, O.A. et al. HIV-1 usurps transcription start site heterogeneity of host RNA polymerase II to maximize replication fitness. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 120(23) e2305103120 (2023).
\nhttps:\/\/www.pnas.org\/doi\/10.1073\/pnas.2305103120<\/a>
\nPresenter:\u00a0Sonia Mukherjee<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
March 30<\/td>\nSTUDENT SEMINARS
\n“Mechanisms of Ebola Virus Entry in CD169+ Macrophages”
\nTiffany Chan<\/strong>, Gummuluru Lab
\nand
\n“A Novel Class of Orthopoxvirus<\/em> Inhibitors, Pyridopyrimidinones (PDPMs), Triggers Aberrant Polymerase Functions that Activate Host Antiviral Pathways”
\nJoelle Johnson<\/strong>, Connor Lab<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
April 6<\/td>\nJOURNAL CLUB
\nCarr, C.R. et al. Deep mutational scanning reveals functional constraints and antibody-escape potential of Lassa virus glycoprotein complex. Immunity 57(9), 2061-2076 (2024).
\nhttps:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S1074761324003194?via%3Dihub<\/a>
\nPresenter: Cameron Ong<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
April 13<\/td>\nPOSTDOCTORAL FELLOW SEMINARS
\n“Innate Immune Sensing Mechanism of SIV Infection”
\nShreya Banerjee, PhD<\/strong>, Gummuluru Lab
\nand
\n“Epithelial Tissue Factor drives Pneumococcal Pneumonia Pathology”
\nBradley Hiller, PhD<\/strong>, Mizgerd Lab<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wednesday,
\nApril 15, 12:00 pm<\/td>\n		POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW SEMINARS
\n“Characterization of Powassan Virus Pathogenesis in C57BL\/6 Mice”
\nDevin Kenney, PhD,<\/strong> Saeed Lab
\nand
\n“Sequencing in Containment: Developing Genomic Surveillance for Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus”
\nEmily LaVerriere, PhD,<\/strong> Connor Lab<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
April 20<\/td>\nNO SEMINAR<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
April 27<\/td>\nSTUDENT SEMINARS
\n“The Human Parainfluenza Virus 3 Replicase is a Functionally Asymmetric L-L Polymerase Dimer”
\nMustafa Tuncay<\/strong>, Fearns Lab
\nand
\n“Development of Human Skin Organoid Models to Uncover Novel Facets of Arthropod-Borne Viral Infections”
\nEmily Wolfe<\/strong>, Douam Lab<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
May 4<\/td>\nPOSTDOCTORAL FELLOW SEMINARS
\n“Defining the Predictive Value of MPS Systems for Antiviral Therapies against Filoviruses and Henipaviruses”
\nJamie Kelly, PhD<\/strong>, Davey Lab
\nand
\n\u201cThe Rickettsial Effector Sca4 has a Conserved Interaction with host Clathrin and a Tick Cell Specific Role in Infection\u201d
\nCassandra Vondrak, PhD<\/strong>, Connor Lab<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Thursday,
\nJune 4
\n1PM in X222<\/td>\n		DISSERTATION DEFENSE SEMINAR
\n\u201cImmunophenotypic and Functional Profiling of Human Mucosal Associated Invariant T Cells Reveals Age-Dependent Frequency Trends, Subpopulation Diversity, and Combinatorial Cytokine Responses\u201d
\nChristina McConney<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
June 8
\n12:00-1:30 PM<\/td>\n		QUALIFYING EXAM SEMINARS
\n“Innate and Adaptive Immune Selection Pressure on HIV-1 Mother-to-Child-Transmission”
\nJonathan Eddy<\/strong>
\nand
\n“HIV-1 Start Site Heterogeneity Shapes Gene Expression and Innate Sensing in T Cells”
\nSonia Mukherjee<\/strong>
\nand
\n“Characterizing Distinct Inhibition Mechanisms among Small Molecule Inhibitors of Lassa Virus Entry”
\nCameron Ong<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wednesday,
\nJune 24
\n1PM in X222<\/td>\n		DISSERTATION DEFENSE SEMINAR
\n\u201cInvestigating the Role of Oncostatin M in Host Defense Against
\nPneumonia\u201d
\nYewoo Lee<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Friday,
\nJune 26
\n1PM in L206x9<\/td>\n		DISSERTATION DEFENSE SEMINAR
\n“Computational Identification and Mechanistic Evaluation of Novel Lassa Virus Entry Inhibitors”
\nBrianna Close<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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