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CTW: Biofilms in Infectious Disease: Biology to Mathematical Models and Back Again (March 22-25, 2010)

Cosponsored with Ohio State University Medical School

Organizers: John Gunn, Dan Wozniak, and Nick Cogan

Biofilms are important in many human infections, particularly those involving indwelling devices. However, many non-indwelling device bacterial biofilms foster both acute and chronic infections, such as those in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients, the gastrointestinal tract and hepatobiliary system, middle ear, and in the oral cavity. Such infections often persist despite aggressive antimicrobial therapy and intact immunity. While bench experimentation has answered many questions about biofilms, such microbial communities are exceptional candidates for the application of mathematical modeling. These biofilms require nutrient cycling, are subjected to sheer forces, form on a variety of matrices, and are dynamic with organisms joining and exiting the biofilms. The molecular mechanisms underlying persistence are also of significant interest. These linked phenomena are applicable to mathematical models because they allow testing of hypothesis and can direct new experimental efforts: a means to connect the different processes to each other and to weigh their relative contributions. This workshop aims to bring together modelers with bench scientists and clinicians working on biofilm-involved human infections. Both sides will benefit dramatically from obtaining a better understanding of one other's expertise and research directions, with the expectation of new research collaborations.

Accepted Speakers

  • Nick Ashbolt (National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
  • Bill Costerton (Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Allegheny-Singer Research Institute)
  • David Davies (Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Binghamton)
  • Jack Dockery (Department of Mathematical Sciences, Montana State University)
  • Hermann Eberl (Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Guelph)
  • Mahmoud Ghannoum (University Hospitals Case Medical Center)
  • Kim Lewis (Department of Biology, Northeastern University)
  • Robert Palmer (Oral Infection and Immunity Branch, National Institute of Dental Craniofacial Research - NIH)
  • Matt Parsek (Department of Microbiology, University of Washington)
  • Karin Sauer (Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University)
  • Martin Schuster (Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University)
  • Hal Smith (Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Arizona State University)
  • Fitnat Yildiz (Microbiology & Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz)

Accepted Participants

  • Brian Ahmer (Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University)
  • Lauren Bakaletz (Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital)
  • David Bortz (Applied Mathematics, University of Colorado at Boulder)
  • Jason Calhoun (Department of Othopedics, Ohio State University Medical Center)
  • Nick Cogan (Department of Mathematics, Florida State University)
  • Subinoy Das (Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University)
  • Patrick DeLeenhee (Department of Mathematics, University of Florida)
  • Russell Faust (Nationwide Children's Hospital)
  • Donald French (Department of Mathematics, University of Cinncinati)
  • Ann Griffen (Department of Pediatric Dentistry, The Ohio State University)
  • John Gunn (Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, The Ohio State University)
  • Dan Janies (The Ohio State University Medical Center)
  • Isaac Klapper (Department of Mathematics, Montana State University)
  • Gene Leys (College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University)
  • Sookkyung Lim (Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Cinncinati)
  • Steven Lower (School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University)
  • Kevin Mason (Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, The Research Inst. at Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University School of Medicine)
  • Robert Munson (The Research Inst. at Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University School of Medicine)
  • Mark Shirtliff (Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, Baltimore)
  • Ed Swords (Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest University Health Sciences)
  • Barbara Szomolay (Ctr IntSystemsBio, Imperial College)
  • Hua Wang (Center for Microbial Interface Biology, OSUMC)
  • Mark Wewers (Internal Medicine: Davis Heart and Lung Research Inst., OSUMC)
  • Daniel Wozniak (Infectious Diseases, The Ohio State University)
  • Li-Yan Yin (Orthopedic Department, OSUMC)
  • John Younger (Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan)
  • Tianyu Zhang (Department of Mathematical Sciences, Montana State University)