February 26-27, 2025
We're grateful for your participation and engagement throughout the event. For your convenience, this archive includes the full schedule, speaker lineup, and session details as they occurred. Whether you’re revisiting highlights or exploring content you may have missed, we hope you find this a helpful resource. We look forward to seeing you at future conferences.
7:30–8:30 a.m.
Registration I Refreshments I Browse Posters
8:30–8:45 a.m.
Opening Remarks
8:45–10:00AM
Keynote: Unraveling the Complex Drivers of AMR: Antibiotics, Pathogens, and Ecosystems (Determinants) Presenter: Devendra Shah
10:00–10:15 a.m.
Break
10:15–10:40 a.m.
Title: Decoding Resistance: Omics Technologies are Part of the Future of Antimicrobial Therapy
Presenter: Dielson Vieira
10:40–11:05 a.m.
Title: Phage Therapy in the Era of Antimicrobial Resistance
Presenter: Lindsay Gielda
11:05–11:30 a.m.
Title: Improving Antimicrobial Stewardship Behaviors: Lessons Learned from Two Systematic Reviews
Presenter: Wendy Beauvais
11:30–11:50 a.m.
Determinants Q&A
11:50 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Lunch
12:45–2:00 p.m.
Keynote: The Role of Amoebae in the Emergence of Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment and Considerations for One Health (Dynamics)
Presenter: Fiona Henriquez-Mui
2:00–2:25 p.m.
Title: Emergence and Selection of Antibiotic Resistance in Granulomas: A Computational Approach
Presenter: Elsje Pienaar
2:25–2:40 p.m.
Break
2:40–3:05 p.m.
Title: Development of Antibiotic Resistance in Point-of-use Water Filtration Systems
Presenter: Zhi (George) Zhou
3:05–3:30 p.m.
Title: A Prescription for Change: Reducing Antimicrobial (mis) Use in Livestock Operations
Presenter: Mindy Anderson
3:30–3:50 p.m.
Dynamics Q&A
3:50–6:00 p.m.
Reception & Poster Session
8:30–9:45 a.m.
Keynote: A Comprehensive Strategy to Mitigate AMR Informed by Omics-based Environmental Surveillance (Deterrence)
Presenter: Amy Pruden
9:45–10:10 a.m.
Title: Innovative Strategies in Clostridioides difficile Management: Vaccine Development and Drug Discovery
Presenter: Ahmed Abdelkhalek Hassan
10:10–10:25 a.m.
Break
10:25–10:50 a.m.
Title: Can we Eliminate AMR by Introducing New Drugs
Presenter: Karen Bush
10:50–11:15 a.m.
Title: Preventing AMR: Dosing Matters Too
Presenter: John M Allen
11:15–11:35 a.m.
Deterrence Q&A
11:35 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Keynote Panel Q&A
11:35 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks & Poster Awards
Devendra Shah, BVSC (DVM), MVSC, PhD
Unraveling the Complex Drivers of AMR: Antibiotics, Pathogens, and Ecosystems
This talk explores the intricate interactions between antibiotics, bacterial pathogens, and ecosystems—encompassing the host, microbial communities, and surrounding environment. It challenges the oversimplified view of antibiotic use and resistance, highlighting the dynamic factors that drive antimicrobial resistance (AMR). By adopting a more holistic perspective, we can gain a deeper understanding of AMR, moving beyond the simplistic focus on resistance to consider the broader ecological and biological forces in shaping parsimonious solutions.
Dielson Vieira, DVM
Decoding Resistance: Omics technologies are part of the future of antimicrobial therapy?
How omics technologies, with a focus on lipidomics, can deepen our understanding of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobial activity. Also discuss collaborative efforts to study the microbiome of Guinea pigs in Peru and its implications for AMR, aiming to improve both local and global health outcomes.
Lindsay Gielda, PhD
Phage Therapy in the Era of Antimicrobial Resistance
The use of bacteriophage as an alternative treatment to antimicrobial resistant bacteria has experienced a renaissance in recent years. Serratia marcescens, a ubiquitous opportunistic pathogen with robust natural and acquired mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance is an ideal model organism to study the evolution of antimicrobial resistance and phage interactions. We have characterized a novel environmentally derived bacteriophage with temperature and host specificity against S. marcescens that is able to induce prophage excision in S.marcescens. We are currently examining the phageome of clinical and environmental isolates to better understand the role of phage in antimicrobial resistance and susceptibility to bacteriophage therapeutics.
Wendy Beauvais, PhD
Improving antimicrobial stewardship behaviors: lessons learned from two systematic reviews
Improving antimicrobial stewardship is a complex challenge that relies on changing human behaviors, for example prescribing behaviors or compliance with treatment. Our research group has conducted two systematic reviews to assess the strength of evidence to support interventions to change behaviors relating to infectious disease control. In this presentation I will summarize and compare the findings, and try to identify some themes that can be applied to improving antimicrobial stewardship across different sectors.
Fiona Henriquez-Mui, PhD
The role of amoebae in the emergence of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in the environment and considerations for One Health
Free-living amoebae (FLA) represent a diverse group of predatory protists that play a major role in the health of their ecosystem by regulating bacteria via phagocytosis and promoting soil health. Some, such as Acanthamoeba and Naegleria are emerging pathogens, becoming more common as a likely result of current planetary phenomena, such as climate change. The co-evolution of many bacteria with FLA has resulted in the development of symbiosis, allowing intracellular survival of bacteria. This has the potential to contribute to the survival of clinically important bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Legionella species. In our work, we aim to elucidate how the symbiotic relationship can protect bacteria in FLA from antimicrobials and allow survival during disinfection or treatment processes in the environment and within highly polluted areas. We explore the role of predator-prey interactions within these ecosystems and hypothesise how the close relationships between bacteria and predatory protists may contribute to the survival and the emergence of bacterial antimicrobial resistance within the context of ‘One Health'.
Elsje Pienaar, PhD
Emergence and selection of antibiotic resistance in granulomas: a computational approach
Antibiotic resistant tuberculosis (TB) remains a global challenge. The complex multiscale nature of TB disease spanning molecular, bacterial, host cellular, tissue and population levels complicates the rational design and implementation of resistance minimizing strategies. This session will describe a multi-scale computational, data-driven approach to quantifying the emergence and selection of antibiotic resistance in TB.
Zhi (George) Zhou, PhD
Development of antibiotic resistance in point-of-use water filtration systems
Point-of-use (POU) water filtration systems have been often used to remove contaminants from drinking water but the potential of the development of antibiotic resistance in POU systems has not been fully investigated. This study investigated the development of biofouling and the emergence of antibiotic resistance in activated carbon (AC) and reverse osmosis (RO) POU filters. Microbial growth and horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes were observed in both systems, which were influenced by treatment capacity and nutrient availability. Phosphorus concentration was found to play a significant role in promoting microbial growth and horizontal gene transfer, particularly under nutrient-limited conditions. Understanding the interplay among biofouling, antibiotic resistance, and emerging contaminants is crucial for optimizing water treatment processes and mitigating public health risks.
Mindy Anderson, PharmD, FSVHP, RVT
A Prescription for Change: Reducing Antimicrobial (mis) Use in Livestock Operations
The ability to prescribe antimicrobial’s is a right earned by licensed veterinarians; however, what if that right is at the cost of increasing the prevalence of multi drug resistant organisms? Veterinarians are well educated and regulated on their prescribing practices for food animals with respect to drug residues and take great care to educate the food animal owners about the consequences of the food harvested from that animal with unacceptable amounts of drug detected in that product. What if we were that intentional about educating the farmers and caretakers about the consequences to the public, including themselves and their families, of using the antimicrobials inappropriately?
Amy Pruden, PhD
A Comprehensive Strategy to Mitigate AMR Informed by ‘Omics-based Environmental Surveillance
Deterring the spread of AMR is challenging, given the complex and multifaceted array of factors and processes that drive evolution and spread of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) among pathogens and the microbial communities in which they reside. Ideally, guidance is needed on the optimal use of antimicrobials and antibiotics that serves the purpose for curing or preventing diseases across various One Health applications while also minimizing the potential to spread AMR. Here we will examine insights gained from metagenomic sequencing-based surveillance of wastewater and receiving waters as a comprehensive means to profile ARGs, mobile genetic elements, pathogen markers, and other key genetic contextual information composited across the corresponding human population. We will consider how such surveillance efforts could be packaged towards informing optimal use of antimicrobials and strategies for mitigating the spread of AMR.
Ahmed Abdelkhalek Hassan, BSPharm, PhD
Innovative Strategies in Clostridioides difficile Management: Vaccine Development and Drug Discovery
The increasing severity of Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection is a significant concern that demands immediate attention in prevention and treatment strategies. Our research is dedicated to developing novel vaccines and enhancing therapeutic agents to combat C. difficile infections. In vaccine formulation, despite well-documented risk factors for CDI, an effective vaccine remains unavailable. We propose a multi-antigen vaccine strategy that targets proteins from various stages of the bacterial life cycle, aiming to elicit a stronger immune response. The optimal route of administration will be determined through preclinical studies assessing immune response and protective efficacy. On the drug discovery front, existing treatment options for CDI are inadequate, underscoring the need for innovative therapies. Our preliminary findings indicate that slight modifications to the pharmacokinetic properties of current antibiotics can significantly enhance their efficacy. We aim to improve the solubility, absorption, and metabolic stability of these drugs, thereby increasing their retention in the intestines and enhancing their effectiveness against localized infections. Collaboration is essential to our research, and we invite partnerships with academic and industry experts to expedite the development of effective solutions against C. difficile infections. Through these innovative approaches, we aspire to improve patient outcomes and address the pressing challenge of antibiotic resistance.
Karen Bush, PhD
Can We Eliminate AMR by Introducing New Drugs?
Numerous experts and advisory bodies have been pleading for the development of novel antimicrobial agents to combat the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). As a result, over two dozen new drugs have been approved by the FDA in the past 15 years to prevent or treat infectious diseases. Most of these drugs have mechanisms of action similar to older antibiotics, with creative medicinal chemistry providing molecules with lower potential for selection of resistance, or enhanced binding to microbial targets. However, AMR continues to plague us. Are new agents with novel mechanisms of action the answer to AMR eradication?
John M. Allen, PharmD, BCPS, BCCP, FCCM, FCCP
Preventing AMR: Dosing Matters Too
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat, with estimates noting that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths. The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals and plants are the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant pathogens. In addition, inappropriately low antimicrobial dosing has contributed to the increasing rate of AMR. The development and routine use of antimicrobial dose optimization strategies that adhere to pharmacodynamic principles and maximize antibiotic exposure is crucial to reducing the increasing rate of AMR.
