Biodiversity, Genomics, Disease / Epidemiology, Ecology, and Applications

During November 7-8 the Ghent University (Belgium) will be the host of an international conference devoted to The Biology of Vibrios: Biodiveristy, Genomics, Disease/Epidemiology, Ecology, and Applications. This two-day specialized conference will provide researchers and scolars from around the world with the opportunity to hear prominent scientists discuss cutting edge research. Attendees may also share their research with their peers at the poster sessions or with an oral presentation. Detailed information concerning the scope of the conference, the conference program and other practical information such as the forms for registration and abstract submission can be found on the conference website.

We are constantly searching for new channels for advertising the VIBRIO2005 conference. Therefore, we invite you to forward this message to your colleagues and co-workers and to incorporate a link to the conference website on the homepage of your institution. If you have any further question on the conference, please feel free to contact the following members of the organization committee by email:
* Peter Dawyndt (Peter.Dawyndt@UGent.be)
* Dirk Gevers (Dirk.Gevers@UGent.be)
* Fabiano Thompson (fabiano.thompson@terra.com.br)

or send your questions to the conference secretariat:

VIBRIO2005
Laboratory of Microbiology
Ghent University
K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35
B-9000 Gent
Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)9 264 51 04
Fax: +32 (0)9 264 50 92

About Vibrio 2005
There have been tremendous developments in the study of the biology of vibrios over the last two decades. Nearly 80 species are now officially recognized today, some of which have well known ecological roles in nature. V. cholerae remains one of the main scourges of mankind, killing thousands of people yearly worldwide. Other vibrios e.g. V. anguillarum, V. harveyi and V. salmonicida are threats to reared marine animals. Vibrios are abundant in the marine environment and within the tissues/organs of several hosts e.g. fish and shellfish. More recently, certain vibrios have been associated with the mortality of corals and other cnidarians, worldwide. A wide range of biotechnological applications e.g. vaccine development, environmental monitoring and production of bioactive compounds are currently under way using vibrios. Seven species have their whole-genome sequences available or approaching completion allowing detailed genomic and post-genomics analyses. Clearly, it is timely to bring together researchers committed to the study of the biology of vibrios. The goal of this meeting is to have a forum of discussion of the present knowledge on vibrios as well as to identify the main research needs for future projects. Cutting-edge studies covering the four main streamlines of current research i.e. Biodiversity, Ecology & Applications, Genomics, and Disease & Epidemiology will be presented during Vibrio 2005. The meeting is targeted at bacterial taxonomists, microbial ecologists, genome researchers, health management workers and students.

Session topics
The conference is organized in four separate sessions, each taking up half a day of the conference schedule, covering the following topics:
* Taxonomy
* Ecology & Applications
* Genomics
* Disease & Epidemiology

Scientific Committee
* Brian Austin (Heriot-Watt University, UK)
* Rita Colwell (University of Maryland, USA)
* Tetsuya Iida (Osaka University, JP)
* Staffan Kjelleberg (University of New South Wales, AU)
* Karl Klose (University of Texas at San Antonio, USA)
* Balakrish Nair (Centre for Health and Population Research, BD)
* Frans Ollevier (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, BE)
* Jean Swings (Ghent University, BE)
* Fabiano Thompson (Universidade Estadual de Campinas, BR) (fabiano.thompson@terra.com.br)

Local Organizing Committee
* Dr. Peter Dawyndt (Peter.Dawyndt@UGent.be)
* Dr. Dirk Gevers (Dirk.Gevers@UGent.be)
* Prof. Dr. ir. Jean Swings (Jean.Swings@UGent.be)
* Annemie Struyvelt (Annemie.Struyvelt@UGent.be)