IMMUNOBIOLOGY OF INFLUENZA VIRUS INFECTION: APPROACHES FOR AN EMERGING ZOONOTIC DISEASE

July 29-31, 2007
University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center & Hotel, Athens, Ga.

Visit the meeting website: www.virus-eid-org

Plenary Lecture
Peter C. Doherty, 1996 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine: "The relationship between influenza primary and memory CD8 T cell responses and novel developments in CD8 T cell vaccine design for influenza virus"

Call for Papers
Registration and Abstract submission now open. See the meeting website for more details.
Deadline for abstract submission: June 15, 2007 (5:00 pm EST).
Deadline for early registration: July 2, 2007 (5:00 pm EST).

For more information on the conference facilities visit this page.
Further information: e-mail Stephanie Gavrielides at stephlg@uga.edu.

Meeting Abstract
The majority of emerging infectious diseases are of zoonotic origin (i.e., transmissible between humans and animals causing infection in both species). Many of the most dangerous and easily transmitted of these agents are viruses. The majority of the emerging or re-emerging human viruses lack an effective vaccine or anti-viral drug treatment. The recent emergence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 emphasizes this unmet need. Recent advances in basic and applied research have provided an unparalleled opportunity to understand the interplay between the virus, the host, and the immune system, particularly on matters of immune cells and molecules involved in the generation of immunity, effector mechanisms, and mechanisms involved in the generation and maintenance of immune memory responses. This meeting will assemble basic and applied viral immunologists from academia, government, and industry to foster effective translation of new findings in basic research into effective vaccines and therapies. The goal of the meeting is to accelerate anti-viral vaccine and therapeutic development, to facilitate a rapid response to the threat of emerging viruses, with the focus of the meeting centered on influenza viruses.

Scientific Program
July 29—Keynote Address
• Evening social reception and registration
• Seminar presented by Dr. Peter Doherty, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 1996

July 30—Host response to Influenza and Disease Intervention Strategies
• Six morning presentations by three senior scientists and three junior scientists
• Buffet luncheon
• Afternoon sessions consisting of four senior scientist and two junior scientist presentations with a poster session to follow

July 31—Influenza Biology and Disease Transmission
• Five morning presentations, three by senior scientists and three by junior scientists
• Buffet luncheon
• Afternoon sessions consisting of two senior scientists and four junior scientists followed by a second poster session

This negative stained transmission electron micrograph (TEM) shows recreated 1918 influenza virions that were collected from supernatants of 1918-infected Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells cultures 18 hours after infection.