The Program for the Fall Symposium: A Taste Of Bacteriophage

  • Megan Ulbrich, BS, PhD Candidate – “Special Delivery: A Novel Vibrio cholerae Protein Remodels Host Cytoskeletal Structures.”
  • Kathryn Kaufman, PhD – “Resolving the Structure of Phage-bacteria Interactions, from the Ocean to the Oral Microbiome”
  • Mark Gallo, PhD – “Isolation of Bacteriophage from Whitetail Deer, Odocoileus virginianus: I Study Deer Snot!”
  • Patrick Kenney, MD, MS – “Bacteriophage Discovery in Buffalo: Successes and Challenges”
  • Karen Maxwell, PhD – “Off-switches for CRISPR-Cas9: From Phage Biology to Biotechnology”
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Center for Tomorrow, Flint Road
University at Buffalo, North Campus

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023

Registration Deadline: Friday, September 22, 2023

Dinner fee for WNY ASM Regular Members who paid 2023 Dues*: $15.00

Dinner and Membership fee for WNY ASM Regular Members: $30.00

Dinner and Membership fee for WNY ASM Student Members: $10.00

*If you are unsure of your dues status email Lynn Connors (WNY ASM secretary/treasurer) at .

Pay by Mail


Lynn Connors
23 Chisholm Trail
Orchard Park, NY  14127
H 662-7552; W 829-5184

Make check payable to: WNY/ASM

The Program for the Spring Meeting:

  • Christina Hidalgo, MPH and Rebecca Hoelzl, MPH – “Extreme to Routine: Western Region Communicable Disease Updates”
  • Jonathan Lovell, Ph. D. – “Liposome-Display of Antigens: A Versatile Approach for Vaccine Development”
  • Alexis Morgenstern – “Type 2 Cytokines Diminish S. aureus Invasion of Basal Keratinocytes”
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The Program for the Fall Symposium:

  • Matthew J. Binnicker, Ph.D. – “Monkeypox: Epidemiology, Clinical Presentation and Diagnostic Testing”
  • Esther Babady, Ph. D. – “Clostridium difficile Epidemiology and Diagnostic Challenges”
  • Charles S. Berenson, M.D. – “SER-109, an oral microbiome therapy for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection: Application of microbiome restoration to a critical clinical problem”
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The Program for the Spring Meeting:

  • Cesar de la Fuente, Ph. D. – “Artificial Intelligence Approaches for Antibiotic Discovery”
  • Thomas A. Russo, M.D. – “COVID: Where We Have Been, Where We Are Going Now”
  • John K. Crane, M.D., Ph.D. – “Case Presentation: “From Plaque to Peril: An Aggregation of Risk”
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The Program for the Fall/Winter Symposium:

  • Benjamin Pinsky, M.D., Ph.D. – “Testing for the Diagnosis and Monitoring of COVID-19”
  • Kimberlee A. Musser, Ph.D. – “Next Generation Sequencing for the Analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis”
  • Kenneth Alexander, M.D., Ph.D. – “Experiences with SARS-2 Coronavirus”
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Dear WNY ASM Members and Microbiology Community Friends,

I am honored to be your President for the American Society of Microbiology (ASM) Western New York Branch. The past few years has reminded us how important our field is, so I appreciate your continued dedication and perseverance in these trying times. With our community’s support, we will continue to face and overcome new challenges

The mission and objectives of our organization are to foster interaction among microbiologists in the Western New York State region, to promote scientific knowledge of microbiology and related subjects, and to improve education in microbiology and related fields. To fulfill these objectives, we have traditionally supported biannual continuing education meetings that include accomplished speakers discussing cutting edge findings on exciting topics in microbiology. We will continue supporting these meetings during my time as President.

Our branch planning committee is always looking for new opportunities to continue to support education and development in the microbiology field for members from Western New York. Please contact us if there are suggestions for new avenues you want to see this organization pursue.

We want to support our members in their mission of excellence in research, education and patient care. I thank all members for your interest in our branch, participation at meetings, and valuable contributions as speakers or organizers. Thanks to your active participation, we will continue to have a successful Western New York Branch of the ASM that serves our microbiology community.

Sincerely yours,

Mark Daniel Hicar, MD, PhD

President WNY ASM Branch