7th ASM Conference on Candida and Candidiasis

性状（由申请方提供）：白色念珠菌是一种寄生于皮肤和粘膜表面的真菌。它也是这些表面的机会性疾病以及内部传播疾病的媒介。虽然皮肤和粘膜表面的感染可能是显著发病的原因，并且每年影响数百万美国人，但它们不像播散性疾病那样危及生命。在20世纪80年代中期，越来越多的研究人员被吸引到疾病的发病机制的研究。为了满足这一群体之间交流思想的需要，1987年举行了第一届ASM念珠菌和念珠菌病会议，约有115人出席。从那时起，不仅研究人员的数量增加了，而且疾病患者的数量也增加了。口腔粘膜疾病是艾滋病的一种常见并发症，念珠菌已成为导致医院内血流感染的第四大原因。近年来，出现了唑类耐药菌株，非白念珠菌分离株的频率增加，特别是那些固有耐药的菌株。 该会议每三年举行一次，是从事念珠菌感染的生物学、流行病学和发病机制研究的研究人员的首要论坛。然而，在2002年的第六次会议上，绝大多数人投票决定将会议安排在两年期。因此，第七届会议将于2004年3月24日至28日在得克萨斯州奥斯汀的凯悦酒店举行。第七届会议的目标是继续提供论坛，介绍最先进的研究和研究人员见面，并讨论他们的工作非正式。第七届会议预计将有300 - 400人出席，并展示150-200张海报。口头和/或海报会议将涵盖的主题包括：1）交配和遗传学，2）流行病学和人口研究，3）信号和形态发生，4）生物膜和病原体相互作用5）基因组学和蛋白质组学，6）药物和耐药性，7）细胞壁和表面分子，8）诊断和治疗，9）宿主反应。发言者和与会者预计将代表念珠菌研究人员的国际社会，既建立和新的调查人员以及学生和学员出席。许多发言者，除了至少12名研究生和博士后助理，将从摘要中选出。美国国立卫生研究院通过各种研究所和方案，慷慨地支持了这次会议以及前两次会议的许多美国演讲者和与会者，希望美国国立卫生研究院将与ASM和私人来源一道，为即将于2004年举行的第七次会议提供财政援助。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Candida albicans is a commensal that colonizes skin and mucosal surfaces. It is also an agent of opportunistic disease of these surfaces as well as internal disseminated disease. While infections of cutaneous and mucosal surfaces may be a cause of significant morbidity and affect millions of Americans annually, they are not life threatening as is disseminated disease. In the mid-1980's a growing number of researchers were attracted to the study of pathogenesis of disease. In response to the need for exchange of ideas among this group, the first ASM Conference on Candida and Candidiasis was held in 1987 with an attendance of about 115. Since this time not only have the number of researchers grown but so have the number of patients with disease. Oral mucosal disease is unfortunately a nearly universal complication of AIDS and Candida has now become the fourth leading cause of nosocomial blood stream infections. In recent years there has been an emergence of azole resistant strains and increased frequency of non-albicans isolates, particularly those that are inherently drug resistant. This conference has been held every three years and is the premier forum for researchers engaged in study of the biology, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of candidal infection. However, at the 6th Conference in 2002 a large majority voted that the meeting by placed on a two-year schedule. Accordingly, the 7th Conference will be held March 24-28, 2004 at the Hyatt Regency in Austin, Texas. The goal of the 7th Conference is to continue to provide the forum to present the state of the art research and for investigators to meet and discuss their work informally. This 7th Conference is expected to have an attendance of 300 - 400 and the presentation of 150-200 posters. The topics that will be covered in the oral and/or poster sessions include: 1) mating and genetics, 2) epidemiology and population studies, 3) signaling and morphogenesis, 4) biofilms and pathogen interactions 5) genomics and proteomics, 6) drugs and resistance, 7) cell wall and surface molecules, 8) diagnosis and treatment, and 9) host response. Speakers and attendees are expected to represent the international community of Candida researchers with both established and new investigators as well as students and trainees present. Many of the speakers, in addition to at least 12 graduate students and postdoctoral associates, will be selected from abstracts. NIH through various institutes and programs has generously supported many of the American presenters and attendees of this conference, as well as the previous two conferences and it is hoped that NIH will join ASM and private sources in providing financial assistance for this upcoming 7th Conference in 2004.