DAY 1|Monday, 28 September, 2026
09:30 – 10:30 Registration & Coffee
10:30 – 11:00 Opening Remarks & YouPIs welcoming
11:00 – 12:30 Oral Session I | Microbiology & Virology
Chairs: Dr. Haralabia Boleti, Dr. Beatriz Martinez-Gonzalez
● Development of 16s rRNA PCR/ sequencing assay for the molecular investigation of
bacterial meningitis and pneumonia directly in clinical samples: diagnostic and public
health impact
Constantinos Karamalis, National Meningitis Reference Laboratory, University of West
Attica
● Development of a non-culture MLST assay for molecular typing of Neisseria meningitidis
directly in clinical specimens
Stelmos Simantirakis, National Meningitis Reference Laboratory, University of West Attica
● Molecular detection of Haemophilus influenzae capsule: comparative study of bexA and
bexD genes
Athina Rafaela Alexopoulou, National Meningitis Reference Laboratory, University of West
Attica
● Design and Antiviral Profiling of ACC519CN, a Sartan-Derived Broad-Spectrum Antiviral
Candidate
Evangelia Christou, Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute
● In vitro study of Neutrophil defense against Helicobacter pylori hints at a potential new
immune evasion mechanism
Aristotelis Petris, Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute
● β-Defensins: Multifunctional Mediators of Infection, Inflammation, and Host Defense
Angelos Kandilas, Department of Microbiology, National and Kapodistrian University of
Athens
12:30 – 13:30 Poster Session I
13:30 – 14:30 Lunch Break
14:30 – 15:45 Oral Session II | Health & Pathogens
Chairs: Dr Ioannis Rabias, Dr. Niki Vassilaki
● Laboratory detection and genetic characterization of polioviruses strains in children at a
refugee facility center in Leros
Georgia Tzouganatou, Diagnostic Department & Public Health Laboratories, Hellenic
Pasteur Institute
● Whole genome sequencing of Respiratory Syncytial Virus circulating in Greece (2025–
2026): identification and detection of resistance mutations
Konstantina Dragoumani, National Influenza Reference Laboratory of Southern Greece,
Hellenic Pasteur Institute
● Molecular characterization of ftsI alleles and their association with β-lactam susceptibility
in Haemophilus influenzae
Panagiota Kallila, National Meningitis Reference Laboratory, University of West Attica
● Single-nuclei transcriptome sequencing reveals distinct brain cell responses to nervous
necrosis virus infection in European sea bass
Dimitra K. Toubanaki, Department of Microbiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute
● Biochemical and Functional Characterization of a Fatty Acid- and Retinol-Binding Protein
from the Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita
Maria-Eirini Lekka, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens
15:45 – 16:30 Coffee Break
16:30 – 17:00 Greek Women In STEM: Advancing, Supporting & Empowering Women in
STEM
Maria Pechlivanidou, PhD, Greek Women in STEM
17:00 – 18:00 Keynote Lecture|Engineered microbes for early-stage drug discovery against
neurodegenerative and other protein misfolding diseases
Georgios Skretas, PhD, Director of Institute for Bio-innovation, Biomedical Sciences
Research Center "Alexander Fleming"
Chair: Dr. Georgios Patrinos