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
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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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***Meeting program subject to change.
Available Formats: = In Person = On DemandMonday, March 23, 2026
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Registration
4:00–8:00 PM
Welcome Mixer
6:00–8:00 PM
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Breakfast
7:30–8:30 AM
Poster Setup
8:00–8:30 AM
Poster Viewing
8:00–5:00 PM
Welcome Remarks
8:30–8:40 AM
Keynote Address
8:40–9:30 AM
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
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, Massachusetts General Hospital
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
Lunch
11:45–12:45 PM
Poster Session 1
12:30–2:30 PM
Symposia Spotlight 1: Human in vitro Models
2:30–4:00 PM
Anne Goldfeld †, Harvard Medical School
The Role of Type I and III Interferon Signaling in Restriction of Early TB Infection of HIV Uninfected and Infected Cells and a New Alveolar Type II Pulmonary Organoid Model
The Role of Type I and III Interferon Signaling in Restriction of Early TB Infection of HIV Uninfected and Infected 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
Mtb Infection of Host Cells
4:30–7:00 PM
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
Deepali Aggarwal †, CSIR-IMTECH
Short Talk: Fundamental Role Of Spatial Positioning Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis In Mycobacterial Survival In Macrophages
Short Talk: Fundamental Role Of Spatial Positioning Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis In Mycobacterial Survival 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
Poster Setup
8:00–8:30 AM
Poster Viewing
8:00–5:00 PM
Tuberculosis Disease Across Populations
8:30–11:30 AM
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
Award Recipient Acknowledgement
9:50–9:55 AM
Lunch
11:30–12:30 PM
Poster Session 2
12:30–2:30 PM
Career Roundtable
1:45–2:45 PM
Panel Discussion: TB Community, Engagement and Adherence
3:00–4:30 PM
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Tuberculosis Models Across Scales
5:00–7:30 PM
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
David M Tobin †, Duke University School of Medicine
Short Talk: Host Eicosanoid Signals Define A Granuloma-Associated Fibroblast Population Coordinating Mycobacterial Containment
Short Talk: Host Eicosanoid Signals Define A Granuloma-Associated Fibroblast Population Coordinating Mycobacterial Containment
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
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
Poster Setup
8:00–8:30 AM
Poster Viewing
8:00–5:00 PM
Imaging Mtb Physiology
8:30–11:30 AM
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
Amit Singh, Indian Institute of Science
Mycobacterial Persistence and Drug Tolerance
Mycobacterial Persistence and Drug Tolerance
Mireille Kamariza, University of California, Los Angeles
Visualising the Mtb Cell Wall
Visualising the Mtb Cell Wall
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
Lunch
11:30–12:30 PM
Poster Session 3
12:30–2:30 PM
Symposia Spotlight 2: Imaging
2:30–4:00 PM
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
Keith D Kauffman †, NIAID, National Institutes of Health
CSF1-Receptor Signaling Is Required for Control of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection in Rhesus Macaques
CSF1-Receptor Signaling Is Required for Control of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection in Rhesus Macaques
Yue (Rachel) Chen †, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Tuberculosis, 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 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
Tuberculosis Immunology
4:30–6:15 PM
Margarida Saraiva, i3s
Regulation of the Immune Response by Diverse M. tuberculosis Isolates
Regulation of the Immune Response by Diverse M. tuberculosis Isolates
Katrin D Mayer-Barber, NIAID, National Institutes of Health
Cellular Mechanisms of Immunity in Tuberculosis
Cellular Mechanisms of Immunity in Tuberculosis
Christina L Stallings, Washington University School of Medicine
Immunological Control of Mtb
Immunological Control of Mtb
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
Meeting Wrap-Up: Outcomes and Future Directions (Organizers)
6:15–6:45 PM
On Own for Dinner
6:45–8:00 PM
Friday, March 27, 2026
Departure
12:00–11:59 PM
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