Pathogenesis

Pathogenesis

Many microbes exploit their hosts to obtain essential nutrients for their own propagation. The ability of pathogens to detect host receptors is a pivotal issue which decides their host range. Some microbes do not cause clinically evident diseases in hosts, but some of them develop chronic and acute diseases that lead to mortality.
Pathogenesis
Illustration: Canva

The emphasis of this pathogenesis session is placed on

  • the comprehension of the concepts of microbial pathogenicity and virulence that cause infectious diseases.
  • the understanding of molecular signals and complex virulence systems that microbes opt for to parasitize and cause damage to host immunity.
  • the provision of an overview of the host response to pathogen invasion and epidemiology.

This session encompasses a range of human, animal and plant diseases caused by viral, fungal and bacterial pathogens, as well as the immunology framework.

Prof. William Wade —​ King's College London, UK

Portrait of william wade
Image: William Wade

 

Professor of Oral Microbiology within the Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions at King's College London and Adjunct Professor at the Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, USA

He has been a central figure in the development and application of methods for the characterisation of the oral microbiome in health and disease. He has particular interests in the cultivation of previously uncultivated bacteria and the development and evaluation of antimicrobials and pre- and probiotics for the prevention and treatment of oral diseases.

Pathogenesis I session
March 29, 1:15–2:00 pm CEST

Presentation:
The oral microbiome in health and disease

Prof. Gad Frankel —​ Imperial College London, UK​

Portrait of Gad Frankel
Image: Gad Frankel

Professor of Bacterial Pathogenesis at the Department of Life Sciences and the MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection (CMBI) at Imperial College London

He focuses his research on the molecular pathogenesis of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens and its antimicrobial resistance. Frankel’s group uses the mouse pathogen Citrobacter rodentium to model infections with enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and their host responses. They also look into the antimicrobial resistance mechanisms among drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Apart from that, they study the mechanism of conjugation and the spread of carbapenem resistance plasmids in K. pneumoniae.

Pathogenesis II session
March 31, 1:05–1:50 pm CEST

Presentation: Deconstructing a type III secretion system effector network unravels inherent robustness and plasticity in pathogenesis and immunity