The “Brain-Eating Amoeba” Seeks Confinement and Crawls Persistently Through Narrow Spaces
Join Us for an Evening of Networking, Discussion and Dinner Sponsored by the Northeast Branch, American Society for Microbiology, the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science of Central New England, and UMASS Dartmouth Departments of Biology and Medical Laboratory Science.
Wednesday, April 15, 6:00-9:00pm at Rachel’s Lakeside, 950 State Road, Dartmouth, MA.
with
Katrina Velle, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Integrative Biology, Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.
Katrina Velle is a cell biologist interested in pathogenic microbes, including the “brain-eating amoeba” Naegleria. She received her PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology from UConn and began working with Naegleria as a postdoc at UMass Amherst. Her lab here at UMass Dartmouth is supported by an NIH R00 Award and by Amazing Aven’s Quest for Amoeba Awareness. The lab investigates the basic cell biology driving pathogenic behaviors in Naegleria. In this lecture, Dr. Velle will highlight her recent work exploring how Naegleria cells migrate in distinct environments. Dr. Velle will show three migratory behaviors that could contribute to disease. By understanding these behaviors and their underlying cell biology, the Velle lab seeks to identify targets for new and much needed therapeutics.
An admission ticket includes the lecture and dinner.
Fee: $35 per person:
-members of NEB-ASDM & ASCLS
$45 per person – nonmembers
$20 Students/trainees
NEB Contact: Irene George, NEBranch-ASM@comcast.net
Registration deadline is April 8, 2026
Evening Program:
Social Time: 6:00pm. Dinner: 6:30pm Lecture: 7:30pm
For more information and to register please click here