Microbiology and Immunology Hosts Annual Research Symposium
Posted on October 28, 2026
The Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine hosted its fourth annual Microbiology and Immunology Research Symposium on Sept. 25, bringing together students to present their research, exchange ideas and receive feedback from fellow researchers.
Held in the Terrace Room at the Student Center, the symposium featured 11 student presentations on the biological and immunological aspects of infectious diseases and related basic science research. The event gives students experience presenting their work in a conference-style setting while fostering collaboration and providing opportunities to gain feedback from outside perspectives.
Jacqueline Stephens, Ph.D., professor and Claude B. Pennington Jr. Endowed Chair in Biomedical Research at the LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center, delivered the keynote presentation, “More than meets the eye: What fat cells taught me about disease and discovery.” Stephens discussed her scientific research and career trajectory.
Sicily Hardy received the symposium’s Best Presentation Award for her research, “Urinary pyridone ribosides impact UPEC growth and virulence.”
Oluwagbenro Adesunloro received the Outstanding Young Scientist Award, which recognizes a well-rounded student who exemplifies academic excellence, leadership and service to the discipline.
Members of the symposium planning committee: Oluwagbenro Adesunloro, Hoa Tran, Brianna
Mitchell, Manley Hicks, Sarah Macon-Foley and Shovon Lal Sarkar.
Both award recipients were recognized during an awards ceremony and reception at the USA Faculty Club.
The reception also recognized the student members of the 2026 planning committee for their contributions to organizing and executing the event. Committee members were Adesunloro, Sarah Macon-Foley, Manley Hicks, Brianna Mitchell, Shovon Lal Sarkar and Hoa Tran. Timothy Casselli, Ph.D., served as planning committee chair and symposium moderator.
View the 2026 Microbiology and Immunology Research Symposium abstract book.
Student presenters and their projects:
- Oluwagbenro Adesunloro (Shea Lab) – “Amyloid-β beyond the brain: evidence for local and systemic induction during urinary tract infection”
- Shovon Lal Sarkar (Macaluso Lab) – “Differential production of tick saliva microRNAs associated with Rickettsia infection”
- Allen Okine (Macaluso Lab) – “Comparison of Rickettsia quantification and estimation of bacterial load per plaque”
- Sarah Macon-Foley (Hermance Lab) – “Defining the cutaneous immune microenvironment during tick co-feeding on hosts with prior virus exposure”
- Elisa Pizzocaro (Casselli Lab) – “Evaluation of amyloid-β processing in the central nervous system during experimental Lyme neuroborreliosis”
- Manley Hicks (Elliott Lab) – “Uncovering the molecular mechanisms of macrophage exhaustion in monoclonal antibody therapies”
- Sicily Hardy (Shea Lab) – “Urinary pyridone ribosides impact UPEC growth and virulence”
- Brianna Mitchell (Elliott Lab) – “Antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis of monoclonal antibodyopsonized B cells triggers human macrophage cytokine release”
- Hoa Tran (Audia Lab) – “Caspase-1 deficiency alters actin cytoskeletal organization in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells”
- Qudus Ojomo (Barrington Lab) – “Dominant-negative Stat3V463Δ mutation drives macrophage dysfunction in a model of STAT3 Hyper IgE Syndrome”
- Ahmed Garba (Hermance Lab) – “Detection, in vitro propagation, and quantification of Rickettsia buchneri”
