Tuberculosis: Understanding the Disease Across Scales
Mar 23–26, 2026 | Southern Sun Cape Sun, Cape Town, WC, South Africa
Scientific Organizers:
Maximiliano Gutierrez, Digby F. Warner, Bree B Aldridge, and Margarida Saraiva
In Person
On Demand
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Mar 23–26, 2026 | Southern Sun Cape Sun, Cape Town, WC, South Africa
Scientific Organizers: Maximiliano Gutierrez, Digby F. Warner, Bree B Aldridge, and Margarida Saraiva
Maximiliano Gutierrez, PhD
Francis Crick Institute
Maximiliano Gutierrez, Ph.D., is a Principal Group Leader at the Francis Crick Institute in London, United Kingdom. Dr. Gutierrez is widely known for his discoveries on innate immune cellular pathways and is regarded as a pioneer in the efforts to use live imaging and correlative imaging approaches to study host and pathogen interactions in tuberculosis. He is a Wellcome Trust investigator and member of the Medical Research Council infection and immunity board. Dr. Gutierrez has organized and co-organized several conferences and is the co-founder of the UK Cellular Microbiology Network Meeting series.
Digby F. Warner, PhD
University of Cape Town
Digby Warner, Ph.D., is Professorial Director of the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and Co-Director of the Wellcome-funded Discovery Research Platform for Infection. An expert in Mycobacterium tuberculosis physiology and metabolism, his research explores DNA repair and replication pathways in M.?tuberculosis and their role in drug resistance; vitamin B12-dependent pathways in mycobacterial metabolism; and the impact of drug resistance on mycobacterial physiology. Over the past decade, he has pioneered work to understand the host, environmental, and mycobacterial factors enabling M. tuberculosis transmission. He has co-organized several conferences and seminar series.
Bree B Aldridge, PhD
Tufts University
Bree Aldridge, Ph.D., is a Professor of Molecular Biology and Microbiology and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Tufts University. She has pioneered the use of quantitative cell biology with a focus on mycobacteriology, computational biology, mathematical modeling, and the development of experimental-computational platforms for tuberculosis drug development. Her research focus will transform TB treatments through the rational design of shorter, more efficient multi-drug regimens. She is a member of the TB Drug Accelerator and is a fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers. She has co-organized several conferences and seminar series.
Margarida Saraiva
i3s
Margarida Saraiva, Ph.D., is a Group leader at i3s (Porto, Portugal) dedicated to the study of host-pathogen interactions in tuberculosis. As an expert on the scale of M. tuberculosis diversity and its impact on disease progression, Dr. Saraiva studies how genetically distinct isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis manipulate the host immune response to drive diseases of different severities. She has been an organizer of several scientific meetings and has served as President of the Portuguese Society for Immunology (2018–2021).
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In Person
On Demand
***Meeting program subject to change.
Available Formats: = In Person = On DemandMonday, March 23, 2026
Fundraising
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Registration
4:00–8:00 PM
3rd Floor Foyer
Welcome Mixer
6:00–8:00 PM
VOC South
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Breakfast
7:30–8:30 AM
Individual Hotel
Poster Setup
8:00–8:30 AM
VOC South
Coffee Available
8:00–8:30 AM
3rd Floor Foyer
Poster Viewing
8:00–5:00 PM
VOC South
Welcome Remarks
8:30–8:40 AM
VOC North
Keynote Address
8:40–9:30 AM
VOC North
* Maximiliano Gutierrez, Francis Crick Institute
Valerie Mizrahi, University of Cape Town
Physiology of Mtb and Drug Discovery
Physiology of Mtb and Drug Discovery
Tuberculosis Genetics Across Scales
9:30–11:45 AM
VOC North
* Mahdad Noursadeghi, University College London
Session Chair
Session Chair
Jeremy Rock, Rockefeller University
Mtb Genetics and Biology
Mtb Genetics and Biology
Stephanie Boisson-Dupuis, The Rockefeller University
Human Genetic and Immunologic Determinants of Tuberculosis
Human Genetic and Immunologic Determinants of Tuberculosis
* Maha Farhat, Harvard Medical School
Genotypes and Phenotypes in TB
Genotypes and Phenotypes in TB
Dmytro Butov, Kharkiv National Medical University
Short Talk: Dominance of Lineage 2 Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Strains in Ukraine During War: Genomic Insights into National Drug-Resistance Surveillance
Short Talk: Dominance of Lineage 2 Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Strains in Ukraine During War: Genomic Insights into National Drug-Resistance Surveillance
Coffee Break
10:00–10:20 AM
3rd Floor Foyer
Lunch
12:30–1:30 PM
Riempies
Poster Session 1
1:00–2:30 PM
VOC South
Symposia Spotlight 1: Human in vitro Models
2:30–4:00 PM
VOC North
Anne Goldfeld, Harvard Medical School
Early Restriction of TB Infection in HIV Uninfected and Infected Primary Hematopoietic Cells and a New Alveolar Type II Pulmonary Organoid Model
Early Restriction of TB Infection in HIV Uninfected and Infected Primary Hematopoietic Cells and a New Alveolar Type II Pulmonary Organoid Model
* Jakson Luk, The Francis Crick Institute
An Autologous Human iPSC-derived Multicellular Alveolus-on-Chip Reveals Early Pathological Events of M. Tuberculosis Infection
An Autologous Human iPSC-derived Multicellular Alveolus-on-Chip Reveals Early Pathological Events of M. Tuberculosis Infection
* Richa Mishra, Heidelberg University
Disrupting Cord Architectures To Accelerate Antibiotic Action In Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infections
Disrupting Cord Architectures To Accelerate Antibiotic Action In Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infections
Gesa Krueger, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut
Differential Host Responses to Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and Mycobacterium Bovis Unveiled by a 3D Model of Bovine Tuberculous Granulomas
Differential Host Responses to Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and Mycobacterium Bovis Unveiled by a 3D Model of Bovine Tuberculous Granulomas
Vijaya Vaishnavi V, Indian Institute of Science
Three-dimensional (3D) Granuloma-on-a-chip Platform for Studying Host-Pathogen Interaction in Tuberculosis
Three-dimensional (3D) Granuloma-on-a-chip Platform for Studying Host-Pathogen Interaction in Tuberculosis
Rinku Rinku, CSIR-IMTech Chandigarh
Activation of Antibiotics Beyond the Confines of Bacterial Cellular Boundaries—A Strategic Resistance Mechanism that Defies Conventional Inhibition: Mtb Biofilms
Activation of Antibiotics Beyond the Confines of Bacterial Cellular Boundaries—A Strategic Resistance Mechanism that Defies Conventional Inhibition: Mtb Biofilms
Coffee Available
4:00–4:30 PM
3rd Floor Foyer
Mtb Infection of Host Cells
4:30–7:00 PM
VOC North
* Dany J. V. Beste, University of Surrey
Session Chair
Session Chair
* Maximiliano Gutierrez, Francis Crick Institute
Mtb Infection of Human Macrophages in Time and Space
Mtb Infection of Human Macrophages in Time and Space
Trude Helen Flo, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Host Cell Defense Against Mtb Infection
Host Cell Defense Against Mtb Infection
Volker Briken, University of Maryland
Molecular Mechanisms of Mtb-Host Cell Interactions
Molecular Mechanisms of Mtb-Host Cell Interactions
Naomi E Okugbeni, South African Medical Research Council
Short Talk: Understanding the Role of Mitochondrial Interactions in Autophagic Recognition and Clearance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: From Cell Lines to Clinical Translation in Humans
Short Talk: Understanding the Role of Mitochondrial Interactions in Autophagic Recognition and Clearance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: From Cell Lines to Clinical Translation in Humans
Anca Dorhoi †, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut
Short Talk: Hypoxia Reshapes the Endolysosomal Landscape and Function in Macrophages
Short Talk: Hypoxia Reshapes the Endolysosomal Landscape and Function in Macrophages
Anthony Reynolds, University of Washington
Short Talk: A Systems Biology Approach to Defining the Phosphoregulators of Primary Human Macrophage Responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection
Short Talk: A Systems Biology Approach to Defining the Phosphoregulators of Primary Human Macrophage Responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection
Reto Guler, University of Cape Town
Short Talk: Atorvastatin as a Host-Directed Therapy for Tuberculosis
Short Talk: Atorvastatin as a Host-Directed Therapy for Tuberculosis
On Own for Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Breakfast
7:30–8:30 AM
Individual Hotel
Poster Setup
8:00–8:30 AM
VOC South
Coffee Available
8:00–8:30 AM
3rd Floor Foyer
Poster Viewing
8:00–5:00 PM
VOC South
Tuberculosis Disease Across Populations
8:30–11:30 AM
VOC North
* Digby F. Warner, University of Cape Town
Tuberculosis Aerobiology
Tuberculosis Aerobiology
Hanif Esmail, University College London
Tuberculosis Across the Disease Spectrum
Tuberculosis Across the Disease Spectrum
Adrie J Steyn, Africa Health Research Institute & UAB
Tuberculosis Infection in Tissues
Tuberculosis Infection in Tissues
Jayne S Sutherland, MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM
Identification of Protective Immunity in Mtb-Exposed Household Contacts from The Gambia
Identification of Protective Immunity in Mtb-Exposed Household Contacts from The Gambia
Paul Ogongo, University of California, San Francisco
Short Talk: Antigen-driven Heterogeneity of CD4 T cells Reveals Preferential Induction of Th17 Responses by Variable M. tuberculosis Antigens.
Short Talk: Antigen-driven Heterogeneity of CD4 T cells Reveals Preferential Induction of Th17 Responses by Variable M. tuberculosis Antigens.
Jérôme Nigou, IPBS, CNRS - Université de Toulouse
Short Talk: Identification of Bacterial Cell Envelope Factors That Influence Tuberculosis Disease and Treatment Outcome
Short Talk: Identification of Bacterial Cell Envelope Factors That Influence Tuberculosis Disease and Treatment Outcome
Coffee Break
9:30–9:50 AM
3rd Floor Foyer
Award Recipient Acknowledgement
9:50–9:55 AM
VOC North
Career Roundtable
11:30–12:30 PM
VOC North
Miriam J Urasa, East Central and Southern Africa Health Community
Senior Program Officer
Senior Program Officer
Carl Feng, University of Sydney
Professor
Professor
Munyaradzi N Musvosvi, University of Cape Town
Chief Research Officer
Chief Research Officer
Alexander Schmidt, Gates Foundation
Deputy Director
Deputy Director
Lunch
12:30–1:30 PM
Riempies
Poster Session 2
1:00–2:30 PM
VOC South
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
3rd Floor Foyer
Tuberculosis Models Across Scales
5:00–7:30 PM
VOC North
* Divya Tiwari, Queen Mary University of London
Session Chair
Session Chair
Carl Feng, University of Sydney
Spatial Mapping of Granulomas
Spatial Mapping of Granulomas
Vivek V. Thacker, University of Heidelberg
Organ on Chip Models of Tuberculosis
Organ on Chip Models of Tuberculosis
Alissa C Rothchild, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Innate Immune Responses to Mtb in the Lung
Innate Immune Responses to Mtb in the Lung
Paul T Elkington †, University of Southampton
Short Talk: Talk Title to be Announced
Short Talk: Talk Title to be Announced
Shabaana A Khader, University of Chicago
Short Talk: A Novel Th17-Inducing Mucosal Vaccine for Tuberculosis
Short Talk: A Novel Th17-Inducing Mucosal Vaccine for Tuberculosis
Veronica Szewczyk-Rozek, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology
Short Talk: Reconstructing The Evolution Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Using Historical Medical Collections
Short Talk: Reconstructing The Evolution Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Using Historical Medical Collections
Marco Silva, i3S
Short Talk: Identifying Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Genetic Determinants of Disease Severity
Short Talk: Identifying Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Genetic Determinants of Disease Severity
On Own for Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Breakfast
7:30–8:30 AM
Individual Hotel
Poster Setup
8:00–8:30 AM
VOC South
Coffee Available
8:00–8:30 AM
3rd Floor Foyer
Poster Viewing
8:00–5:00 PM
VOC South
Imaging Mtb Physiology
8:30–11:30 AM
VOC North
* Tiago Beites, i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto
Session Chair
Session Chair
* Bree B Aldridge, Tufts University
Single-Cell Growth Behaviors of Mtb
Single-Cell Growth Behaviors of Mtb
Giulia Manina, Institut Pasteur
Microbial Individuality during Infection
Microbial Individuality during Infection
Mireille Kamariza, University of California, Los Angeles
Visualising the Mtb Cell Wall
Visualising the Mtb Cell Wall
Jamie N Blaza †, Universtiy of York
Short Talk: Remission Spectroscopy Resolves the Mechanism of Action of Bedaquiline Within Living Mycobacteria
Short Talk: Remission Spectroscopy Resolves the Mechanism of Action of Bedaquiline Within Living Mycobacteria
James Gomez, Broad Institute
Short Talk: Integrating Chemical-Genetic Interaction Profiling with High-Throughput Transcriptomics to Expand and Expedite Small-Molecule Discovery for Tuberculosis
Short Talk: Integrating Chemical-Genetic Interaction Profiling with High-Throughput Transcriptomics to Expand and Expedite Small-Molecule Discovery for Tuberculosis
Michelle Mei Kheng Yee, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology
Short Talk: MAPK-ing the Way: ERK1/2 Signaling Orchestrates Macrophage Epithelial Transition and Mycobacterial Granuloma Formation
Short Talk: MAPK-ing the Way: ERK1/2 Signaling Orchestrates Macrophage Epithelial Transition and Mycobacterial Granuloma Formation
Coffee Break
9:30–9:50 AM
3rd Floor Foyer
Lunch
12:30–1:30 PM
Riempies
Poster Session 3
1:00–2:30 PM
VOC South
Symposia Spotlight 2: Imaging
2:30–4:00 PM
VOC North
* Nelita DuPlessis, Stellenbosch University
Session Chair
Session Chair
* Paul T Elkington, University of Southampton
Session Chair
Session Chair
Sefiyat Adebiyi, Stellenbosch University
Spatial Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals a Hypoxia–SPP1 Gradient Defining Immunosuppressive Microenvironments Across TB Granuloma Phenotypes
Spatial Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals a Hypoxia–SPP1 Gradient Defining Immunosuppressive Microenvironments Across TB Granuloma Phenotypes
Yue (Rachel) Chen, Shanghai Pulmonary hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine
Cholesterol-Mediated Rewiring Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Pathogenesis And Host Immunometabolism
Cholesterol-Mediated Rewiring Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Pathogenesis And Host Immunometabolism
Stephanus T Malherbe, Stellenbosch University
Associations Between Subclinical Tuberculosis on FDG PET-CT, IGRA, and TB Progression
Associations Between Subclinical Tuberculosis on FDG PET-CT, IGRA, and TB Progression
Yasin Razak, University of Cape Town
Towards Optogenetic Control of Gene Expression in Mycobacteria
Towards Optogenetic Control of Gene Expression in Mycobacteria
George R Mayson, University of Surrey
Mycobacterial Memory: A Bacterium's Past Protects its Future
Mycobacterial Memory: A Bacterium's Past Protects its Future
Coffee Available
4:00–4:30 PM
3rd Floor Foyer
Tuberculosis Immunology
4:30–6:15 PM
VOC North
* Anca Dorhoi, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut
Session Chair
Session Chair
* Margarida Saraiva, i3s
Regulation of the Immune Response by Diverse M. tuberculosis Isolates
Regulation of the Immune Response by Diverse M. tuberculosis Isolates
Christina L Stallings, Washington University School of Medicine
Immunological Control of Mtb
Immunological Control of Mtb
Mahdad Noursadeghi †, University College London
Short Talk: Common Genetic Determinants of Longitudinal Human in vivo Immune Response to Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
Short Talk: Common Genetic Determinants of Longitudinal Human in vivo Immune Response to Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
William J Branchett, Francis Crick Institute
Short Talk: Type I IFN Activates Neutrophils to Impede M. tuberculosis Control and T cell-Macrophage Interactions in Lung Lesions
Short Talk: Type I IFN Activates Neutrophils to Impede M. tuberculosis Control and T cell-Macrophage Interactions in Lung Lesions
Meeting Wrap-Up: Outcomes and Future Directions (Organizers)
6:15–6:45 PM
VOC North
On Own for Dinner
6:45–8:00 PM
Friday, March 27, 2026
Departure
12:00–11:59 PM
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