Seventh International Symposium on Pertussis

描述(申请人提供)：百日咳仍然是一个严重的全球健康问题，每年导致近50万人死亡。这种疾病在美国通过接种疫苗得到了控制，但并未被根除，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，特别强调百日咳的基本发病机制和对百日咳杆菌的免疫反应，但将向任何感兴趣的各方开放。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，促进新想法的合成。将涵盖的主题包括：已知和潜在毒力因子(粘连和毒素)的最新信息，毒力因子表达的调节，来自波尔德泰氏菌基因组的信息，宿主基因表达的微阵列分析，流行病学研究和临床试验的教训，免疫学反应，以及人类病原学的其他调查。在最后一次会议中，我们将尝试建立一个百日咳发病机制的综合模型。为了鼓励参与，我们将使用互动海报格式。在整个会议期间，将提供带有正在讨论的问题的图表大纲的海报，供与会者在其上书写，提供他们希望得到解决的见解或问题。该领域的专家将对海报进行总结，并得出总体结论。这次会议将使人们对这种有机体的生物学有更深入的科学了解，并有望开发出更有效的方法来控制这种疾病。

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.