Microbial Glycobiology – September 8-12, 2024

For over 25 years, this conference has brought together an outstanding group of well-established and emerging leaders, along with a diverse group of early-career scientists and students to discuss fundamental and mechanistic aspects of microbial glycobiology, with a strong commitment to apply that knowledge in areas including biomedicine, bioengineering, and biotechnology.

This year’s sessions will provide a unique platform for scientists who study the role of glycans in host-microbe interactions, microbial survival, and pathogenesis. The scientific program is structured to bring researchers together to share their latest results (including unpublished data) that will advance the field. The major themes will specifically cover the significance of glycans in bacterial cell envelope biosynthesis and function, and their role of glycans in cell signaling. The program also includes discussion on host-pathogen interactions in health and disease, microbiome modulation, chemical glycobiology and glycoengineering, glycoimmunology, and glycoconjugate-based vaccine development.

Goals and Takeaways

Conference sessions will present the latest research and foster discussion on:

· Glycan in microbial physiology and pathogenesis

· Glycan processing in microbiomes

· Structural biology and chemical biology of proteins involved in the biosynthesis, degradation, transport, and modification of glycans

· Chemical glycobiology and glycoengineering

· Glycoimmunology and glycoconjugate-based vaccine development

Program Topics

· The bacterial cell envelope

· Host-pathogen interactions

· Microbial Carbohydrate Active Enzymes (CAZYmes)

· Glycans processing/degradation by the gut microbiota

· Glycans processing/degradation by the marine microbiota

· Glycoimmunology and glycoengineering

· Glycans in virus infections

· Glycovaccines

· Chemical biology of microbial glycans

Workshops

A Meet the Experts session will bring together experienced researchers in key areas to push the limits not only on what questions to ask but how to ask them. Trainees, early-career investigators, and junior faculty are highly encouraged to attend.

A Career Development Workshop will showcase experts working in academia and industry to provide guidance and opportunities for early-career researchers to plan their career trajectories.

Keynote Speaker

Jochen Zimmer, PhD, Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA