4th ASM Conference on Prokaryotic Cell Biology and Development

描述(由申请人提供)：在过去的十年里，对原核细胞内部组织的基本机制以及这与原核发育和多细胞行为的联系已经有了关键的见解。特别是，原核细胞生物学的进步使我们对基本细胞的理解有了基本的见解 包括细胞分裂装置、细胞骨架、细胞壁和参与细菌运动的结构。同样，通过复杂的细胞间通讯系统和细胞内信号转导途径，细胞如何组织和相互作用以分化和形成生物膜也获得了重要的见解。由于细胞分化涉及细胞形状、分裂、代谢和基因表达的重组，对原核细胞分化的研究为了解这些基本的细胞特性提供了重要的见解。这些对细胞功能的洞察至关重要 因为抗药性病原体的流行越来越普遍。开发下一代抗菌药物将需要新的思维，利用我们对原核细胞功能、相互作用和发育的基本机制的日益了解而获得的知识。例如，参与细菌运动的细胞分裂装置、细胞骨架、细胞壁和结构是高度优先的药物靶标。此外，协调细胞行为的细胞-细胞信号机制是至关重要的毒力决定因素，破坏这些信号网络是开发新型抗菌药物的杰出战略。这一主题是这次会议的核心。这次会议的中心目标是将使用最先进的方法的研究人员聚集在一起，解决原核细胞和发育生物学领域最重要的问题，并为他们提供一个分享想法的论坛。因此，计划的演讲将侧重于基本的生化、分子遗传学和细胞生物学方法来解决基本问题--在一个或少数基因和蛋白质水平上的研究--以及揭示整个生物体和生物体群落中调控网络的系统水平的研究。承诺在这次会议上发言的科学家是各自领域的国际领先者。这种接触到该领域最优秀人才的独特途径将为研究生和博士后研究员提供鼓舞人心和非常鼓舞人心的教育体验。核心主题涉及五个被广泛和成功研究的系统：大肠杆菌(细胞分裂、细胞骨架结构、细胞壁生物合成)、枯草芽孢杆菌(细胞周期调节、细胞骨架结构、发育、生物膜形成、细胞壁生物合成)、新月杆菌(细胞周期、分化、极性、细胞骨架结构、细胞壁生物合成)、天蓝色链霉菌(多细胞发育、分化、细胞周期调节、细胞间通讯)和粘球菌(多细胞发育、分化、细胞间通讯、极性)。我们预计这五种生物将构成会议的核心；然而，新兴的模式系统和机会性病原体也将包括在内。 公共卫生相关性：微生物学在过去二十年中的重大发现之一是发现原核细胞在空间上是高度有组织的，并且这个组织与原核发展密切相关。因此，原核细胞的生物学和发育被认为是微生物学的一个重要方面，也是一个非常活跃的研究领域。这一领域的研究包括微生物学、分子遗传学、细胞生物学、生物化学、结构生物学、系统生物学和理论建模。这次由ASM赞助的题为“原核细胞生物学和发展”的会议致力于探索这一关键领域的最新技术。这次会议的目的是：i)促进信息共享，通过将在不同领域和不同生物领域工作的科学家聚集在一起，鼓励开发新的研究方向；ii)促进该领域的初级研究人员，促进研究界内的多样性；以及iii)提供 一种不同领域的科学家之间进行联合互动和讨论的形式。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Over the last decade key insights have been gained into the fundamental mechanisms underlying the internal organization of prokaryotic cells and how this ties in with prokaryotic development and multicellular behavior. In particular, advances in prokaryotic cell biology have led to fundamental insights in our understanding of essential cell structures including the cell division apparatus, the cytoskeleton, the cell wall, and structures involved in bacterial motility. Similarly, important insights have been gained into how cells organize and interact to differentiate and form biofilms by means of sophisticated intercellular communication systems and intracellular signal transduction pathways. Because cell differentiation involves a reorganization of cell shape, division, metabolism and gene expression, the investigation of differentiating prokaryotic cells is providing important insights into these fundamental cellular properties. These insights into cell function are vitally important because of the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistant pathogens. Developing the next generation of antibacterial drugs will require new thinking that takes advantage of knowledge derived from our growing understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of prokaryotic cell function, interactions and development. For example, the cell division apparatus, the cytoskeleton, the cell wall, and structures involved in bacterial motility are high priority drug targets. Furthermore, the cell-cell signaling mechanisms that coordinate cell behavior are vitally important virulence determinants and disrupting these signaling networks is an outstanding strategy for the development of novel antimicrobial therapies. This subject matter is at the heart of this conference. The central goals of this conference are to bring together researchers using the most sophisticated approaches to address the most important questions in the field of prokaryotic cell and developmental biology, and provide a forum for them to share ideas. Thus, presentations are planned that focus on basic biochemical, molecular genetics, and cell biological approaches to fundamental questions - research at the level of one or a small number of genes and proteins - as well as systems-level research uncovering regulatory networks in whole organisms and communities of organisms. The scientists who have committed to speak at this conference are international leaders in their fields. This unique access to the best minds in this field will provide graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with an inspiring and very stimulating educational experience. The core subject matter involves five widely and successfully studied systems: Escherichia coli (cell division, cytoskeletal structures, cell wall biosynthesis), Bacillus subtilis (cell cycle regulation, cytoskeletal structures, development, biofilm formation, cell wall biosynthesis), Caulobacter crescentus (cell cycle, differentiation, polarity, cytoskeletal structures, cell wall biosynthesis), Streptomyces coelicolor (multicellular development, differentiation, cell cycle regulation, intercellular communication) and Myxococcus xanthus (multicellular development, differentiation, intercellular communication, polarity). We expect these five organisms to constitute a core of the meeting; however, emerging model systems and opportunistic pathogens will also be included. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: One of the major discoveries in microbiology in the last two decades is the finding that prokaryotic cells are spatially highly organized and that this organization closely ties in with prokaryotic development. Therefore, prokaryotic cell biology and development is recognized as an important aspect of microbiology and is an area of intense research activity. Research in this area encompasses microbiology, molecular genetics, cell biology, biochemistry, structural biology, system biology, and theoretical modeling. This ASM-sponsored conference entitled "Prokaryotic Cell Biology and Development" is dedicated to exploring the state-of-the-art in this critical field. The aims of this conference are i) to promot information sharing that will encourage the development of new research directions by bringing together scientists working in different areas and on diverse organisms, ii) to promote junior investigators in the field and promote diversity within the research community, and iii) to provide a format for collegial interactions and discussion between scientists in different fields.