Microbiome Influence on Epithelial-immune Crosstalk 

Microbiome Influence on Epithelial-immune Crosstalk 

Thursday, April 16, 2026
8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Room 205

MAJOR SYMPOSIUM B 

Microbiome Influence on Epithelial-immune Crosstalk 

Chairs: 

Tiffany Scharschmidt, UCSF, USA 

Ramnik J. Xavier, Massachusetts Gen. Hosp., USA 

Speakers: 

Christopher D. Johnston, Univ. of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Cntr., USA, TBD 

Laura L. Kiessling, MIT, USA, Probing the function of human immune lectins 

Tiffany Scharschmidt, UCSF, USA, Early life immune-microbe crosstalk in skin 

Thaddeus Stappenbeck, Cleveland Clinic, USA, Micro-communities of microbes that modulate immune responses 

Ramnik Xavier, Harvard Med. Sch., Broad Inst., USA, Gut microbes, metabolites, and mucosal homeostasis