The Wadsworth Center was prominently represented at the annual Molecular Genetics of Bacteria and Phages meeting (“Phages”) in Madison, Wisconsin – one of the premier international conferences in microbial genetics. The meeting drew more than 350 researchers from around the world, spanning senior investigators to first-year trainees.
Dr. Jon Paczkowski, Principal Investigator in the Division of Genetics, was an invited speaker in the Systems Biology session. His presentation, “Expanding the LuxR-type Receptor Repertoire: RhlR Integrates Dual Inputs to Orchestrate Quorum Sensing Gene Regulation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa,” showcased the Wadsworth Center’s leadership in advancing understanding of bacterial communication and pathogenesis.
Equally notable, six Paczkowski Laboratory trainees – Autumn Pope, Caleb Mallery, Megan Schumacher, Amanda Kurtz, Elizabeth Key, and Annmarie Chang – presented their research. Topics ranged from proteolytic degradation of quorum-sensing receptors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa to novel inhibitor design for targeting quorum-sensing receptors in Vibrio vulnificus. Each trainee received significant feedback from peers and senior scientists, underscoring both the scientific impact of their work and the strength of the Wadsworth Center’s training environment. Collectively, this participation reflects the Center's dual role in advancing cutting-edge microbial genetics research while cultivating the next generation of public health scientists.
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| Autumn Pope | Caleb Mallery | Megan Schumacher |
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| Amanda Kurtz | Elizabeth Key | Annemarie Chang |
