OMIG Symposium

COMMENSALISM

Wednesday 7th April 2004 9.00am-3.30pm

As part of the BSDR meeting, University of Birmingham, 6-8th April 2004

The symposium aims to explore the various features of microorganisms that make them commensals. This will include the way they interact with their human host both physiologically and physically in order to colonise, the way they interact with other bacteria, aspects of their growth in mixed communities and how the bacteria sense their own numbers or that of competitors. Also, consideration will be given to how commensal bacteria can switch to a pathogenic role and how we can manipulate the commensal flora to prevent this happening.

The symposium is aimed primarily at microbiologists and immunologists but most aspects will be of interest to members of other specialties. Both general clinical and molecular aspects will be discussed.

We hope to stimulate good attendance by OMIG members as well as provide an informative, themed session for other members of BSDR.

Speakers

Professor Brian Henderson
Eastman Dental Institute, London

Host-bacterial cross-talk

Dr Karen Homer
GKT Dental Institute, London

Physiological interactions in host environments

Dr N Jakubovics
The Dental School, University of Bristol

Bacterial adhesion in host environments

Dr G Gibson
Reading University

Health aspects of probiotics in the gut flora and how to fortify them

Dr M Miller
QMWL

Probiotics: clinical aspects

Dr K Winzer
Nottingham University

Quorum sensing

Dr D Devine
Leeds Dental Institute

Antimicrobial peptides in regulation of commensal and pathogenic microbial populations

Dr J Taylor
School of Dental Sciences, University of Newcastle

Host gene polymorphism and regulation of immune responses to oral microflora