Dr. Charles E. Bell, Professor, Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine Title: TBA Host: Dr. Sandra Weller

Dr. Tuo Wang Associate Professor, Michigan State University Host: Dylan MurrayAdaptive Remodeling of Fungal Cell Walls in Response to Stress: Insights from Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy Invasive fungal infections pose a serious threat to human health due to their high mortality rates, prompting efforts to target fungal cell wall polysaccharides for antifungal development. Using solid-state NMR, we uncovered structural adaptations in pathogenic fungi that enhance antifungal tolerance through remodeling of carbohydrate networks and cell wall architecture.About Dr. Wang:Tuo Wang earned his B.S. degree from Nankai University (Tianjin, China) before beginning his graduate research at Iowa State University in 2010 under the supervision of Prof. Mei Hong. In 2014, he moved to MIT with Dr. Hong and obtained his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from MIT in 2016. He then continued in Dr. Hong's group for a brief postdoctoral training. In July 2017, he joined Louisiana State University as an Assistant Professor and was later promoted to Associate Professor in August 2021. In August 2022, he joined Michigan State University as the Carl Brubaker Associate Professor of Chemistry. His independent research focuses on adapting 13C, 15N, and 1H solid-state NMR approaches to characterize carbohydrate structure across a diverse range of complex and heterogeneous biosystems, including intact cells of pathogenic fungi, lignocellulosic plant biomass, microalgae, and, more recently, wetland soil.Publications:Proton-Detected Solid-State NMR for Deciphering Structural Polymorphism and Dynamic Heterogeneity of Cellular Carbohydrates in Pathogenic Fungi (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.5c04054) Molecular architecture of chitin and chitosan-dominated cell walls in zygomycetous fungal pathogens by solid-state NMR (http://Molecular%20architecture%20of%20chitin%20and%20chitosan-dominated%20cell%20walls%20in%20zygomycetous%20fungal%20pathogens%20by%20solid-state%20NMR)Wang Lab Website (https://tuowanglab.wordpress.com/)

This workshop will go over best practices in community partner compensation. Participants will learn why compensation is essential to reciprocal partnerships, examine ethical andequitableframeworks, and receive guidance on how to compensate community partners at UConn.

GI Grand Rounds conferences take place weekly on Wednesdays at noon via Webex. Please contact Amy Pallotti to be added to detailed conference announcement emails.