31st Meeting of the American Society for Rickettsiology

会议总结：第31届美国立克次体病学会会议

Meeting Summary: 31st Meeting of the American Society for Rickettsiology Rickettsial diseases are significant domestic and global causes of morbidity and death. In the United States, tick- borne rickettsial infections are responsible a majority of hospital admissions, ICU admissions, and fatalities. Many new Rickettsia and related species are recognized globally for their increase in prevalence and nearly all are neglected. The absence of an approved vaccine for humans, combined with insufficient laboratory diagnostics and challenging clinical diagnosis, suggest a public health need to examine the biology of rickettsiae. It is now realized that these obligate intracellular bacteria can vary from highly pathogenic to, in some cases, essential mutualistic organisms in arthropod vectors. Fundamental investigations into the differences in rickettsial interactions between vertebrate hosts and arthropod vectors are needed to address critical knowledge gaps. Research into the mechanisms that drive the biological interaction between Rickettsia and hosts in congruent with the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group report to Congress. This report emphasizes that understanding the factors contributing to Rickettsia’s ability to cause disease, would drive innovation and novel countermeasure development. The American Society for Rickettsiology (ASR) has a long history of organizing meetings that foster scientific interactions and intellectual exchange among experts on rickettsial diseases. The 31st Meeting of the ASR will be held June 25-28, 2022 in Greenville, SC, a central venue that will facilitate scientists, investigators and clinicians to gather, exchange ideas, and information, and to establish new multidisciplinary collaborations. Approximately 200 attendees representing early stage investigators, established scientists, and clinicians from academia, government, and industry are anticipated to attend. The conference’s overarching goal is to advance knowledge and stimulate interactions through oral presentations and poster sessions with audience-interactive and networking opportunities. To address the knowledge gaps, we propose a theme for the meeting entitled, “Advances in the Biological and Molecular Mechanisms of Rickettsial Pathogenesis.” The meeting’s aims are to (i) promote scientific exchange among participants through lectures and short talks; (ii) encourage participation by early career investigators and those underrepresented in the biomedical sciences through travel grants, research presentation opportunities, and by involvement in significant meeting organization roles; (iii) present cutting-edge research of diseases caused by arthropod-borne/obligate intracellular pathogens; and, (iv) foster intellectual exchange and networking between early career and established investigators. Participants’ child care needs and disability access will also be addressed. Support for travel awards for early career investigators and trainees from underrepresented groups, cost of coordination, and for audio-visual services and program production is requested.