Casselli presents Lyme disease research at international conference
Posted on April 20, 2026 by Lindsay Hughes
Timothy Casselli, Ph.D., an assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine, was invited to present his research at the 2026 Gordon Research Conference on the Biology of Spirochetes, an internationally recognized meeting that brings together leading scientists studying spirochete bacteria.
Hosted biennially, the Gordon Research Conference is a premier forum for advancing research on pathogens responsible for diseases such as Lyme disease, syphilis and leptospirosis. The meeting is known for its highly collaborative and interactive format, where investigators share cutting-edge, often unpublished findings and engage in in-depth discussions spanning fundamental biology to translational research.
At the conference, held in Pomona, California, Casselli presented his team’s development of a novel laboratory model that replicates how Borrelia burgdorferi — the bacterium that causes Lyme disease — invades the central nervous system and triggers inflammatory responses. This model provides a controlled system for studying the mechanisms underlying neurological Lyme disease, or neuroborreliosis.
Using this approach, Casselli’s lab is identifying key sites of central nervous system invasion and investigating factors that influence disease development. These include bacterial genes that contribute to strain-specific differences in neuroborreliosis, host genetic and immune responses that affect susceptibility, and contextual factors such as the site of infection that may shape disease outcomes.
The research aims to clarify how B. burgdorferi gains access to the central nervous system and what drives disease progression. Ultimately, the work seeks to identify why only some infected individuals develop neurological complications, uncover new biomarkers for neuroborreliosis, particularly in the absence of reliable non-invasive diagnostic tools, and inform the development of more targeted treatments.
“As a new investigator, an invitation to present at a Gordon Research Conference reflects that our work is making a recognized impact within the field,” Casselli said. “This opportunity provided outstanding visibility for my laboratory, the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and the Whiddon College of Medicine, while fostering meaningful engagement with leading experts in the field of Lyme disease and other spirochete-borne disease research.”
Casselli joined the University of South Alabama in January 2025. He earned his Ph.D. in immunology and infectious diseases from Washington State University and completed postdoctoral training at the University of North Dakota.