Gordon Conference: Biology of the Spirochetes

简介（由申请人提供）：第六届戈登螺旋体生物学研究会议将于2004年1月或2月在加州文图拉举行。螺旋体生物学会议是独一无二的。这是唯一一个正在进行的国际会议，专门讨论所有具有医学重要性和生物学相关性的螺旋体，这是一种独特的真细菌。许多螺旋体是病原体，可引起多种疾病，包括梅毒、莱姆病、回归热、钩端螺旋体病、牙周病、牛数字性皮炎以及猪和人的痢疾。历史上，螺旋体一直很难研究。这些细菌通常对营养要求苛刻，有些尚未在体外成功培养。目前还没有对几种螺旋体进行基因操作和突变分析的方法。在研究不同螺旋体的小组之间交流思想的机会是过去会议的最大好处之一，特别是在遗传操作的新技术领域。伯氏疏螺旋体、苍白密螺旋体、齿状螺旋体基因组序列的应用和遗传学进展以及钩端螺旋体新测序项目正在提供丰富的新信息。这些数据被整合到正在进行的关于这些细菌的生理、结构、发病机制和免疫生物学的研究中。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The sixth Gordon Research Conference on the Biology of Spirochetes will be held in January or February 2004 in Ventura, California. The Biology of Spirochetes Conference is unique. This is the only ongoing international meeting devoted to discussions on basic research of all medically important and biologically relevant spirochetes, a unique group of Eubacteria. Many spirochetes are pathogens and cause a variety of diseases, including syphilis, Lyme disease, relapsing fever, leptospirosis, periodontal disease, digital dermatitis of cattle, and swine and human dysentery. Historically, spirochetes have been difficult to study. These bacteria often have fastidious nutritional requirements, and some have yet to be successfully cultured in vitro. Methods for genetic manipulation and mutational analysis of several spirochete species do not exist. The opportunity for exchange of ideas among groups working on different spirochetes has been one of the greatest benefits of past conferences, particularly in the area of new techniques for genetic manipulation. The application of genetic advancements and the availability of genomic sequences for Borrelia burgdorferi, Treponema pallidum, T. denticola, and new sequencing projects in Leptospira spp. are providing a wealth of new information. Combined, these data are being integrated into ongoing studies on the physiology, structure, pathogenesis, and immunobiology of these bacteria. Each of the previous Biology of Spirochetes conferences have been highly successful, receiving high praise by attendees, forging new collaborations, providing a forum for presenting state-of-the-art research on these bacteria, and helping to set new research directions. As in previous conferences, we expect attendance at he 2004 conference to reach the maximum of 150 faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and industrial scientists. A broad spectrum of scientists of representing different research interests, geographic locations, and seniority will be invited to attend. Special efforts will be made to insure strong attendance of young investigators (graduate students, post-docs, and junior faculty), and achieve a balance in gender and ethnicity of attendees. The oral and poster presentations are organized to provide many opportunities for discussion, the exchange of ideas, and development of collaborations. Funding from the National Institutes of Health is requested to partially offset the travel and registration expenses of the participating graduate students fellows, and junior faculty members.