Seventh International Symposium on Pertussis

描述（由申请人提供）：百日咳仍然是世界范围内的一个重大健康问题，每年造成近50万人死亡。在美国，这种疾病通过接种疫苗得到了控制，但没有完全消除，但已经确定了疫苗改进的领域。第七届百日咳：基因组、发病机制和免疫国际研讨会将于2002年9月18日至22日在英国剑桥举行。目标参与者包括百日咳领域的研究人员，特别强调百日咳博德泰拉的发病机制和免疫反应的基本机制，但将向任何感兴趣的人开放。预计将有200至300名科学家、临床医生、疫苗制造商以及公共卫生和监管官员出席。会议的目标是展示前沿研究和促进新思想的综合。主题包括：已知和潜在毒力因子（黏附和毒素）的最新信息、毒力因子表达的调控、博德特拉氏菌基因组信息、宿主基因表达的微阵列分析、流行病学研究和临床试验的经验教训、免疫反应和其他人类发病调查。在最后一次会议中，我们将尝试建立百日咳发病机制的统一模型。为了鼓励参与，我们将采用互动海报的形式。会议期间，将提供带有所讨论问题的图解大纲的海报，供与会者在上面写，提供他们希望解决的见解或问题。该领域的专家将对海报进行总结并得出总体结论。这次会议将导致对这种有机体的生物学有更大的科学认识，并有望开发更有效的手段来控制这种疾病。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Whooping cough remains a significant health problem worldwide causing nearly half a million deaths a year. This disease has been controlled, but not eliminated, by vaccination in the U.S., but areas for vaccine improvement have been identified. The Seventh International Symposium on Pertussis: Genome, Pathogenesis and Immunity will be held 18th thru 22nd of September, 2002, in Cambridge England. Targeted participants include researchers in the field of pertussis with a special emphasis on basic mechanisms of Pathogenesis and immune responses to Bordetella pertussis but will be open to any interested party. Anticipated attendance is 200 to 300 scientists, clinicians, vaccine maufacturers, and public health and regulatory officials. The goals of the meeting are to present cutting-edge research and promote synthesis of new ideas. Topics to be covered include: Updated information on known and potential virulence factors (adhesions and toxins), Regulation of virulence factor expression, Information from the Bordetella genomes, Microarray analysis of host gene expression, Lessons from epidemiologic studies and clinical trials, Immunologic responses, and other investigations of pathogensis in humans. In the last session, we will attempt to develop a consolidated model of pertusis pathogenesis. To encourage participation we will use an interactive poster format. Posters with a diagrammatic outline of the problems under discussion will be available throughout the meeting for participants to write on, offering both insights or questions they hope will be addressed. Experts in the area will summarize the poster and draw overall conclusions. This meeting will lead to a greater scientific understanding of the biology of this organism, and the promise for developing a more effective means to control this disease.