34th Annual Philadelphia Infection and Immunity Forum (PIIF)
Organized by the Eastern PA Branch and Student Chapter American Society for Microbiology

This annual, student-organized meeting highlights research in microbiology, immunology, and infectious diseases conducted across the greater Philadelphia region. The forum provides an exceptional platform for undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees to present their work, network with peers, and engage with local scientists in a welcoming and supportive environment.

Monday December 1, 2025

8:00 A.M. Registration, Breakfast, and Poster Set-Up
Classroom 2E02

Morning Session- The Lewis W. and Emilie Foster Klahr Classroom (1W03–1W05)

8:30 A.M. Introduction – EPA-ASM Student Chapter Co-Presidents, Evangeline Williams & Mary Marino

8:40 A.M. ASM Membership Benefits – Kyle Rodino, PhD, EPA-ASM Branch President

8:45 A.M. Matthew Weitzman, PhD.
Keynote Speaker: “Dynamic Genomes Interactions during Adenovirus Infection”
Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

9:50 A.M. Aaren Milne: “Characterizing how Chlamydia trachomatis Manipulates the Cytoskeleton”
Graduate student, Thomas Jefferson University; Mentor: Fabienne Paumet, PhD

10:10 A.M. Break

10:30 A.M. Molly Elkins: “The Pathogenesis of Curli:DNA Complexes in Salmonella Biofilms”
Graduate student, Temple University; Mentor: Çagla Tükel, PhD

10:50 A.M. Sonresa Molina-Vidales: “Uterine Natural Killer Cells Require Type I Interferon to Promote Fetoplacental Development“
Graduate student, University of Pennsylvania; Mentor: Scott Gordon, MD, PhD

11:10 A.M. Zachary Capriotti: “HIV Insults, Microglia Remember: Innate Immune Memory as a Driver of HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorders and Implications for Future Cure Strategies”
Graduate Student, Drexel University College of Medicine; Mentor: Zachary Klase, PhD

11:30 A.M Posters, Vendors, and Lunch (1 hour each)

Lunch and vendors in 2E01

Posters in Classroom 2E02

Please remove posters before the start of the afternoon session

11:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. Odd number poster presentations

12:30 P.M. to 1:30 P.M. Even number poster presentations

Afternoon Session- The Lewis W. and Emilie Foster Klahr Classroom (1W03–1W05)

1:35 P.M. Tera Levin, PhD. Keynote Speaker: “The Evolution of Immunity and Pathogenesis within Environmental Battlegrounds”
Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh

2:40 P.M. Emily Konopka: “Adenosine Deaminase-1 Improves Antigen-Specific T Cell Function and Challenge Outcome in Aged Mice following Clostridioides difficile DNA Vaccination”
Graduate student, Drexel University College of Medicine; Mentor: Michele Kutzler, PhD

3:00 P.M. Break

3:20 P.M. Sofía Murga-Garrido, MD, PhD: “Maternal Gut Microbiome Alterations Impair Fetal Epidermal Morphogenesis and Exacerbate Postnatal Pathological Responses to Atopic Stimuli”
Postdoc, University of Pennsylvania

3:40 P.M. 2025 PBL Assay Science Sydney Pesta Lecture

Kimberly Davis, PhD. Keynote Speaker: “Studying Antibiotic Persistence in Yersinia and S. aureus Models of Infection”
Associate Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health

4:45 P.M. Education Committee Presentation and Poster Award Presentations

5:00 P.M. Final Remarks – Classroom 1W03-1W05

Deadlines:

• Oral abstracts due: Friday, November 14th
• Poster abstracts due: Thursday, November 20th

To submit an abstract, go to the following link:

https://forms.gle/swqSfg5An1mR4v357