2018 Biology of Spirochetes Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Seminar

Recipient Organization
GORDON RESEARCH CONFERENCES, INC
512 LIBERTY LN
WEST KINGSTON,RI 02892-1502

Performing Department
Medicine

Non Technical Summary
This application is submitted to request support for the Gordon Research Conference on the Biology of Spirochetes (BoS GRC) and the Gordon Research Seminar (GRS, organized by and targeted to researchers in training), to be held January 20-26, 2018, at the Ventura Beach Marriott in Ventura, CA. This scientific meeting serves as the world's only conference that brings together researchers focused on the structurally and taxonomically unique phylum of bacteria, Spirochaetae. Spirochetes are the etiologic agents of many globally significant emerging and re-emerging INFECTIOUS DISEASES that affect ANIMAL HEALTH, including leptospirosis, intestinal spirochetosis, and digital dermatitis; many are harbored by animals and spread to humans. The 2018 BoS GRC and GRS programs are designed to highlight the diversity of research in spirochete biology and how they cause disease. Our Aims are to promote presentation and discussion of diverse and cutting-edge research on spirochetes, including ecology, epidemiology, emergence, and evolution of the phylum, fundamental biology and virulence attributes of a variety of spirochetes, and the host responses critical to both clearance and to causation of disease, and to promote career development for all scientists. Most of the major advances in spirochete research in more than 20 years evolved from discussions and collaborations fostered by the BoS GRC and GRS. The 2018 BoS GRC and GRS are designed to foster future collaborations based on shared and synergistic interests in, and thought-provoking discussions of, this diverse phylum.

Animal Health Component

25%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

50%

Applied

25%

Developmental

25%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
311	3999	1100	100%

Knowledge Area
311 - Animal Diseases;

Subject Of Investigation
3999 - Animal research, general;

Field Of Science
1100 - Bacteriology;

Keywords

Goals / Objectives
This application is submitted in response to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Request for Applications (RFA) for the Foundational Program, specifically focusing on Animal Health and Disease, Program Area Priority Code - A1221. The Gordon Research Conference on the Biology of Spirochetes (BoS GRC) and the Gordon Research Seminar (GRS, organized by and targeted to researchers in training), to be held January 20-26, 2018, at the Ventura Beach Marriott in Ventura, CA, serve as the world's only scientific meetings that bring together researchers focused on the structurally and taxonomically unique phylum of bacteria, Spirochaetae. Spirochetes are the etiologic agents of many globally significant emerging and re-emerging INFECTIOUS DISEASES that affect ANIMAL HEALTH, including leptospirosis, intestinal spirochetosis, and digital dermatitis. The 2018 BoS GRC and GRS programs are designed to highlight the diversity of research in spirochete biology and disease pathogenesis. Our primary goal is to promote presentation and discussion of diverse and cutting-edge research on the Biology of Spirochetes, including ecology, epidemiology, emergence, and evolution of the phylum, fundamental biology and virulence attributes of spirochetes, and the host responses that are crucial to both clearance and disease pathogenesis. A second, critical goal is to promote career development for all scientists. Most of the major advances in spirochete research in the past 20 years evolved from discussions and collaborations fostered by the BoS GRC and GRS. The 2018 BoS GRC and GRS are designed to foster future collaborations based on shared and synergistic interests in, and thought-provoking discussions of, this diverse phylum.

Project Methods
Formal talks in which the speakers will present their latest data, designated time for discussion after each talk, and ample time each day for less formal discussion of results, methods, ideas, innovations, and strategies and priorities going forward.

Progress 03/01/18 to 02/28/19

Outputs
Target Audience:The conference had a total of 188 attendees. There were 172 from academia, 11 from government and 5 from industry. Forty percent of the attendees were woman. There were 64 students and postdocs, 44 professors, 26 research scientists, 7, research directors, 17 assistant professors, 23 associate professors, 3 physcians and 4 other. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Speakers, discussion leaders, poster presenters and attendees simultaneously contributed to and benefited from the collective skills and experience shared throughout the conference. The funding provided was invaluable to the success of the Conference. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Conference program was published on the GRC website. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Spirochetes constitute a deeply-branching phylum of bacteria originally defined by their helical or sinusoidal shape, double membrane ultrastructure, and periplasmic flagella. The agents of Lyme disease, syphilis, leptospirosis, relapsing fever, periodontal disease, and intestinal spirochetosis pose enormous and growing global threats to human and animal health. Pathogenic spirochetes are renowned for their ability to rapidly disseminate and cause extensive tissue damage by eliciting inflammatory responses, and to establish persistent infection. To reflect the diversity of research in the spirochete world, the 2018 BoS GRC had an exciting program that covered topics from fundamental aspects to the research frontiers of spirochete biology. The conference included presentations on ecology, evolution, epidemiology, genomics, pathogenic mechanisms/virulence attributes, and the role of the host immune response in clearance and in pathogenesis.

Publications

Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Conference Program