Conference: Systems Microbiology: Beyond Microbial Genomics, to be held in Portland, Oregon on June 2004

越来越多的微生物基因组序列的可用性导致了生物学上的一场革命，使生物学家能够研究微生物对各种因素的全局反应，包括变化的外部环境、信号分子和遗传信息的横向转移。测量全局基因表达和整个细胞蛋白互补的技术；或proteome& # 8212;除了其他新颖的、高通量的测量外，作为功能基因组学研究工作的一部分，越来越多地应用于微生物测序。这些技术的结果，在分析和整合到计算模型中时，揭示了细胞中复杂的调节和代谢网络，以及以前未表征的基因和信号转导途径的功能。随着这项研究的发展和新技术的发展，将进一步深入了解微生物种群和群落的功能，并将作为基因组序列功能预测的基础。尽管这些技术为生物学研究提供了巨大的希望，但也有重要的限制和进一步发展的机会，最终用户必须认识到这一点。本次研讨会由美国微生物学会（AAM）召集，将继续讨论2000年美国微生物学会的报告&amp；微生物基因组：生命蓝图，&#8221；*停止。本次研讨会的重点将是如何科学地利用微生物基因组学的进步和对单个微生物和微生物群落的功能理解的进展。我们计划于2004年6月4日至6日在俄勒冈州波特兰召开这次讨论会。研讨会参与者将讨论该领域的发展方向，并确定该研究的科学机遇、挑战和益处。一个重要的方面将是确定必须解决的资源和技术差距，以便推进这一领域。讨论会的结果将发表在一份报告中。广泛disseminated& # 8212;这将引起包括科学界、资助机构和教育工作者在内的各种受众的兴趣。本次研讨会将邀请35-40名科学家参加。美国微生物学会将为与会者提供旅行支持，包括机票、地面交通、现场住宿和餐饮以及其他与出席相关的费用。正在向联邦机构、国际组织、基金会和企业部门寻求资金来抵消这些费用。

The availability of genome sequence for an increasing number of microorganisms is resulting in a revolution in biology and enabling biologists to study global responses of microorganisms to a variety of factors, including changing external environment, signaling molecules, and the lateral transfer of genetic information from their neighbors. Technologies for measuring global gene expression and the entire cellular proteincomplement—or proteome—in addition to other novel, high-throughput measurements, are increasingly being applied to sequenced microorganisms as part of functional genomics research efforts. The results from these technologies, when analyzed and integrated into computational models, are revealing complex regulatory and metabolic networks in cells and the functions of previously uncharacterized genes and signal transduction pathways. As this research evolves and new technologies are developed, further insights into the function of microbial populations and communities will be gained and will serve as a basis for functional predictions from genome sequences. Although these technologies offer great promise for biology research, there are also important limitations and opportunities for further developments that must be recognized by end users.This colloquium, convened by the American Academy of Microbiology (AAM), will pick up where the 2000 AAM report, “Microbial Genomes: Blueprints for Life, ” * left off. The focus of this colloquium will be on how to capitalize scientifically on the advances in microbial genomics and progress towards a functional understanding of individual microorganisms and microbial communities. We plan to convene this colloquium June 4-6, 2004, in Portland, Oregon. Colloquium participants will discuss where the field is heading and identify scientific opportunities, challenges, and benefits of this research. An important aspect will be the identification of resource and technology gaps that must be addressed in order to advance the field. The results of the colloquium will be published in a report— widely disseminated—that will be of interest to a diverse audience, including the scientific community, funding agencies, and educators.A group of 35-40 scientists will be invited to participate in this colloquium. The American Academy of Microbiology will provide travel support for the participants, including airfare, ground transportation, on-site lodging and meals, and other expenses related to attendance. The funds are being sought from federal agencies, international groups, foundations, and the corporate sector to offset these expenses.