International Leptospirosis Society Meeting 2011

描述(申请人提供)：钩端螺旋体病在发展中国家和发达国家都已成为一种全球重要的传染病威胁。世界卫生组织利用全球钩端螺旋体病研究人员社区提供的最佳科学知识，建立了钩端螺旋体病流行病学参考小组(他们都是国际钩端螺旋体病协会的成员)，目的是确定战略，以评估这一疾病的全球负担，以实现改善治疗和控制的目标。近年来，该领域取得了快速进展，发表了5个完整的钩端螺旋体基因组序列，NIAID基因组测序中心为ILS领导人与J.Craig Venter研究所合作组织的大规模钩端螺旋体基因组项目提供了新的资金，发表了基于微阵列和蛋白质组学的研究，并将现代遗传学和免疫学整合到宿主-病原体相互作用的实验阐明中。国际钩端螺旋体病学会第七届会议将于2011年9月19日至22日在墨西哥梅里达的尤卡坦自治大学举行。会议的目的是促进关于钩端螺旋体和钩端螺旋体病不同方面的多学科国际交流，以便将实验室的进展转化为更好的预防和治疗方法。讨论的主题包括：钩端螺旋体病的全球流行病学和疾病负担，钩端螺旋体基因组学和蛋白质组学，分子和细胞发病机制，宿主反应和保护性免疫的机制，以及疫苗开发。参与者将包括该领域的国际专家，以及来自美国、亚洲、澳大利亚、欧洲和非洲的博士后和研究生实习生。演讲者将包括该领域的老牌和新任调查人员。申请的资金将主要用于支持受训人员的旅行和住宿，并分配额外的资金，以支持在基因组水平的科学等高优先研究领域的发言者的旅行费用。将通过美国和国际组织呼吁学员摘要，并将努力针对学员，最近发表的论文和NIH赠款的资深和第一作者。将继续作出具体努力，鼓励代表人数不足的少数群体和妇女提出申请。学员将通过提交一份研究摘要获得支持来竞争支持。摘要将由ILS委员会选出并获得支持。遴选因素将包括摘要的质量，成功的受训者群体将反映地域和性别多样性，特别是来自资源有限的国家的多样性。会议的结果将通过同行评议的出版物进行评估，由与会者，特别是学员发表，说明加强了国际合作努力，包括新的赠款支助和学员的职业发展。 公共卫生相关性：无论是在发展中国家还是发达国家，钩端螺旋体病都已成为一种全球重要的传染病威胁。近年来，随着现代遗传学和免疫学在宿主-病原体相互作用的实验阐明中的整合，该领域取得了快速的进展。NIAID对国际钩端螺旋体病学会第七届科学会议的支持将推动该领域支持最有前途的受训人员，并促进这一领域的国际研究人员之间的交流。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Leptospirosis has emerged as a globally important infectious disease threat in both developing and developed countries. Using the best science available from the global community of leptospirosis researchers, the World Health Organization established the Leptospirosis Epidemiology Reference Group (all of whom are ILS members) with the goal of determining strategies to assess the global burden of this disease towards to goal of improved treatment and control. Rapid advances in the field have taken place in recent years, with publication of five complete Leptospira genome sequences, new funding by the NIAID Genome Sequencing Center of a large scale Leptospira genome project organized by leaders of the ILS in collaboration with the J. Craig Venter Institute, publication of microarray and proteomics-based research, and the integration of modern genetics and immunology into experimental elucidation of host-pathogen interactions. The VIIth meeting of the International Leptospirosis Society will take place at the Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan in Merida, Mexico on from September 19-22, 2011. The purpose of the meeting is to facilitate international, multidisciplinary communication about diverse aspects of Leptospira and leptospirosis towards the translation of laboratory advances to better methods of prevention and treatment. Topics of discussion will include the following: global epidemiology of leptospirosis and burden of disease, Leptospira genomics and proteomics, molecular and cellular pathogenesis, mechanisms of host response and protective immunity, and vaccine development. Participants will include international experts in the field, and postdoctoral and graduate trainees from the United States, Asia, Australia, Europe and Africa. Speakers will include established and new investigators in the field. Funds requested will used to primarily to support trainee travel and accommodations with additional funds allocated to support travel costs for speakers in high priority research areas such as genomic-level science. A call for trainee abstracts will be sent through US and international organizations, and efforts to target trainees will be made to senior and first authors of recently published papers and NIH grants. A specific effort to encourage applications from underrepresented minority and women applications will continue to be made. Trainees will compete for support by submitting a research abstract for support. Abstracts will be selected for support by an ILS committee. Selection factors will include quality of abstract, and the group of successful trainees will reflect geographic and gender diversity especially from resource-limited countries. Outcome of the meeting will be assessed by peer-reviewed publication by participants, particularly trainees, demonstrated enhancement of international collaborative efforts including new grant support, and trainee career advancement. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Leptospirosis has emerged as a globally important infectious disease threat in both developing and developed countries. Rapid advances in the field have taken place in recent years, with the integration of modern genetics and immunology into experimental elucidation of host-pathogen interactions. NIAID support for the 7th Scientific Meeting of the International Leptospirosis Society will advance the field in supporting the most promising trainees and by facilitating communications among the internationally-based researchers in this field.