Overview

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The Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2016 was held from 21–24 March at the Arena and Convention Centre (ACC), Liverpool, UK.

The Society's Annual Conference attracts over 1,200 UK and international delegates, and is one of Europe’s largest annual gatherings of microbiologists. Whether you are a veteran microbiologist or just starting out in your career, attending the Microbiology Society’s Annual Conference is a must for all of those with an interest in microbiology.

If you have any questions please email [email protected]

Follow us on Twitter @MicrobioSoc

Updates on the Annual Conference 2016 can be found using the hashtag: #Microbio16


Image: Liverpool waterfront. ACC Liverpool.

Programme

Type

Session

Abstracts

Abstract submission is now closed.

All submitted oral abstracts are available in the online Programme.

Posters

All posters can be displayed throughout the Conference.

The poster abstracts book can be downloaded below:

 

Poster abstract book

 

Viewing times

Monday 21 March
19:00–21:00

  • Membrane transporters
  • Nutritional immunity: Metals at the host–pathogen interface

Tuesday 22 March
19:00–21:00

  • Microbial evasion of host defences
  • Post-translational modifications of proteins
  • Mining microbial diversity for pleasure and profit
  • Mycobacteria
  • The 'Red Queen' and the genome: conflict in shaping microbial evolution

Wednesday 22 March
19:00–21:00

  • Virus workshop: Positive strand RNA viruses
  • Virus workshop: DNA viruses
  • Virus workshop: CVN
  • The model microbe – how far can it go?
  • Environmental and applied microbiology forum
  • Virus workshop: Restriction factors
  • Prokaryotic infection forum
  • Virus workshop: Positive strand RNA viruses, ds RNA viruses including plant viruses
  • Prokaryotic cell biology forum
  • Prokaryotic genetics forum
  • Insights from within: Current advances in understanding microbial interactions with insects
  • Virus workshop: Retroviruses
  • Global transcriptional landscape: Small changes, big effects
  • Novel tools for manipulation of genes and genomes
  • Virus workshop: Viral haemorrhagic fevers

In order to ensure your poster presentation is displayed correctly, you are asked to comply with the following:

  • Size of display: standard A0 size 841mm(w) x 1189mm(h) - your poster should not exceed these measurements.
  • Posters must be portrait orientation.
  • Posters will be displayed on poster boards measuring 1m(w) x 2m(h), one to a side.
  • Posters can ONLY be fixed by velcro (provided at conference).
  • Your viewing time and details on setting up and taking down will be advised prior to the conference.
  • Details on your poster number and location will be available onsite.
  • You are required to be available by your poster, during the designated time, to discuss the work presented.
  • Kindly note that the Society cannot forward any posters not collected after the conference.
  • Please ensure you remove your poster by the designated time. Posters that are not removed by this time may be disposed of by the venue.

We have created a guide on how to give a poster presentation, which can be downloaded below:

 

How to... give a poster presentation

 

Oral presentations

In order to ensure your presentation runs smoothly, you are asked to comply with the following:

  • PowerPoint presentations - PC version - are brought to the conference on a USB memory stick.
  • PowerPoint presentations - Mac version - can only be accepted if you bring your own laptop and connecting cables.
  • Your presentation is given to the venue a/v support staff in the Speaker Preview Room at least 2 hours in advance of your presentation to ensure compatibility with the equipment available.

We have created a guide on how to give an oral presentation, which can be downloaded below:

 

How to... give an oral presentation

 

A companion video on top tips for presentation is also available:

 

Registration

Online registration for the Annual Conference is now closed. Registrations will now only be accepted onsite.

What's included in your registration fee?
  • Admission to all scientific sessions
  • Admission to lunch time and evening engagement and networking events
  • Full access to the trade exhibition
  • Entrance to the social programme
  • Lunch Monday to Thursday
  • Tea and coffee breaks Monday to Thursday
  • Vouchers for two free drinks during the poster viewing sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening
  • A delegate bag and conference material
  • A conference programme book
  • Access to an online abstracts book
  • Certificate of participation
  • CPD Points
Conference Grants

Applications for funding to attend the Annual Conference 2016 have now closed. Applicants will be notified of the outcome by 10 February 2016.

The Society offers funds via the Conference Grant schemes to support the attendance of members at all stages of their careers:

See the relevant pages for further details including application forms and full terms and conditions.

Eligible Full members requiring funding can apply via the Travel Grant scheme. Members may apply to the 1 March 2016 closing date for the Annual Conference alone.

For all Conference Grants enquiries, please contact [email protected]

Registration rates

Registration Categories

(all rates are per day)

Early Bird
Registration Fees

Available until

23:59, Monday 22 February 2016

Full Price
Registration Fees

Available until

23:59, Monday 14 March 2016

Late
Registration Fees

Onsite only, available from

Sunday 20 March 2016

 

Per day
Per day
Per day

Affiliate

£140

£150

£160

Full Concessionary Member

£50

£60

£70

Full Member

£70

£80

£90

Honorary Member

£0

£0

£0

International Associate Member resident in all other countries (excluding UK and Ireland)

£140

£150

£160

International Associate Member resident in lower-middle income economies***

£50

£60

£70

International Associate Member resident in low income economies***

£0

£0

£0

Postgraduate Student Member

£50

£60

£70

Undergraduate Student Member

£0

£0

£0

Non-Member

£150

£160

£170

CVN Member (Attendance Tuesday PM and All Day Wednesday)

£120

£130

£140

CBMNet Member (Attendance All Day Monday and Tuesday AM)

£120

£130

£140

*** See:

List of Lower-Middle-Income and Low-Income Economies

 

Onsite Registration

The Registration Desk will be located in the foyer at the ACC Liverpool and open as follows:

  • Sunday 20 March: 16:00 – 20:30
  • Monday 21 March: 07:00 – 21.00
  • Tuesday 22 March: 07:00 – 21.00
  • Wednesday 23 March: 07:00 – 21.00
  • Thursday 24 March: 07:30 – 15:00
Registration confirmation

Upon registration you should receive an automated confirmation email. Please contact [email protected] if after 24 hours this has not been received.

Visa applications

If you need a letter of invitation for a visa application, we will be happy to supply this after we have received full payment. To find out if you need a visa to visit the UK, please visit the UK visa and immigration website.

It is the policy of the Microbiology Society not to supply an invitation letter to any delegate without payment and we will not reply to any request from an unregistered delegate. When the delegate has paid, the Conference Office will email back a confirmation/receipt letter and, upon request, a letter of invitation, which may be used to obtain the necessary visa.

Please note that all conference delegates are responsible for their own travel and visa arrangements; the Microbiology Society will not take any responsibility for travel or visa problems.

Payment information

All registration fees must be paid in full BEFORE arrival at the conference. Any outstanding registration fees must be paid before admittance will be granted to the conference.

Cancellations

Refunds are not provided, however substitutions of attendees can be made at any time by contacting [email protected].

Speakers

Invited speakers

Every year we invite international speakers to represent all areas of microbiology. Each person below is highly recognised in their field.

  • Josephine Abi-Ghanem (University of Bordeaux, France)
  • Roberto Amato (Wellcome Trust, Sanger Institute, UK)
  • Daniel Anderson (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA)
  • Ingo Autenrieth (University of Tübingen, Germany)
  • Jürg Bähler (University College London, UK)
  • Mona Bajaj-Elliot (University College London, UK)
  • Christopher Basler (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA)
  • Matthew Baylis (Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, UK)
  • Dörte Becher (University of Greifswald, Germany)
  • Jules Beekwilder (Wageningen University, Netherlands)
  • Kirsten Benjamin (Amyris Incorporated, USA)
  • Anne Bertolotti (University of Cambridge, UK)
  • Robert Beynon (University of Liverpool, UK)
  • Paul Bienasz (The Rockefeller University, USA)
  • Roslyn Bill (Aston University, UK)
  • Kate Bishop (The Francis Crick Institute, UK)
  • Damer Blake (Royal Veterinary College, UK)
  • Koos Boomsma (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
  • Catharine Bosio (Rocky Mountain Laboratories, USA)
  • Andrew Bowie (Trinity College Dublin, Ireland)
  • Paola Branduardi (University of Milan, Italy)
  • Nichole Broderick (University of Connecticut, USA)
  • Priscille Brodin (Inserm, France)
  • Igor Brodsky (University of Pennsylvania, USA)
  • Daniel Brooks (University of Nebraska, USA)
  • Roland Brosch (Institut Pasteur, France)
  • Nigel Brown (University of Edinburgh, UK)
  • Arturo Casadeval (John Hopkins, USA)
  • Jennifer Cavet (University of Manchester, UK)
  • Tracey Chapman (University of East Anglia, UK)
  • Sara Cherry (University of Pennsylvania, USA)
  • James Chong (University of York, UK)
  • Tim Claussen (Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Austria)
  • Stewart Cole (EPFL, Switzerland)
  • Pascale Cossart (Institut Pasteur, France)
  • Sarah Coulthurst (University of Dundee, UK)
  • Rocky Cranenburgh (Prokarium, UK)
  • Ileana Cristea (Princeton University, USA)
  • Sue Crosthwaite (University of Manchester, UK)
  • Allister Crow (University of Cambridge, UK)
  • Jean-Marc Daran (Delft University of Technology, Netherlands)
  • Anne Dell (Imperial College London, UK)
  • Emma Denham (University of Warwick, UK)
  • Petra Dersch (Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Germany)
  • Angela Douglas (Cornell University, USA)
  • David Drew (University of Stockholm, Sweden)
  • Michael Eisenbach (Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel)
  • Tom Ellis (Imperial College London, UK)
  • Tobias Engl (Johannes Gutenberg University, Germany)
  • Rachel Exley (University of Oxford, UK)
  • Mike Ferguson (University of Dundee, UK)
  • Andres Floto (University of Cambridge, UK)
  • Gad Frankel (Imperial College London, UK)
  • Catarina Gadelha (University of Nottingham, UK)
  • Lucy Gilbert (The James Hutton Institute, UK)
  • Louise Glass (University of California, Berkeley, USA)
  • Matthew Goddard (University of Lincoln, UK)
  • Stephen Gordon (University College Dublin, Ireland)
  • Caroline Goujon (University of Montpellier, France)
  • Neil Gow (University of Aberdeen, UK)
  • Dave Grainger (University of Birmingham, UK)
  • Jørgen Hansen (Evolva, Denmark)
  • Iain Haysom (Bath Spa University, UK)
  • Peter Henderson (University of Leeds, UK)
  • Heiko Herwald (Lund University, Sweden)
  • Roger Hewson (Public Health England, UK)
  • Hubert Hilbi (University of Zurich, Switzerland)
  • Saskia Hogenhout (John Innes Centre, UK)
  • Matthias Horn (University of Vienna, Austria)
  • Paul Hoskisson (University of Strathclyde, UK)
  • Alan Huett (University of Nottingham, UK)
  • Matthew Hutchings (University of East Anglia, UK)
  • Sara Jabbari (University of Birmingham, UK)
  • Dirk jan Slotboom (University of Groningen, Netherlands)
  • Francis Jiggins (University of Cambridge, UK)
  • Kayla King (University of  Oxford, UK)
  • Jonas Klingström (Karolinska Institute, Sweden)
  • Eugene Koonin (NIH, USA)
  • Lars Leichert (Ruhr University Bochum, Germany)
  • Bruno Lemaitre (Global Health Institute, Switzerland)
  • Debbie Lindell (Technion University, Israel)
  • Kaspar Locher (ETH Zurich, Switzerland)
  • Craig MacLean (University of Oxford, UK)
  • Tamsin Majerus (University of Nottingham, UK)
  • Mike Malim (King's College London, UK)
  • Luisa Martinez-Pomares (University of Nottingham, UK)
  • Anthony Maurelli (University of Florida, USA)
  • Richard McCulloch (University of Glasgow, UK)
  • Anthony McDonnell (AMR Review, UK)
  • Helen McShane (University of Oxford, UK)
  • Mike Merrick (John Innes Centre, UK)
  • Jason Micklefield (University of Manchester, UK)
  • Mary Miller (Baton Rouge Community College, USA)
  • Nigel Minton (University of Nottingham, UK)
  • Nancy Moran (University of Texas, USA)
  • John Morrissey (University College Cork, Ireland)
  • Elke Mühlberger (Boston University, USA)
  • William Navarre (University of Toronto, Canada)
  • Sergey Nejentsev (University of Cambridge, UK)
  • Elke Nevoigt (Jacobs University, Germany)
  • Simon Newstead (University of Oxford, UK)
  • Ellen Nisbet (University of Cambridge, UK)
  • Julie Norville (Harvard Medical School, USA)
  • Marco Oggioni (University of Leicester, UK)
  • Scott O'Neill (Monash University, Australia)
  • Nina Papavasiliou (The Rockefeller University, USA)
  • Ian Paulsen (Macquarie University, Australia)
  • Bronwen Percival (Neal's Yard Dairy, UK)
  • Andreas Pichlmair (Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Germany)
  • Stefan Pöhlmann (German Primate Center, Germany)
  • Bert Poolman (University of Groningen, Netherlands)
  • Stephen Porter (University of Exeter, UK)
  • Tal Pupko (Tel-Aviv University, Israel)
  • Beth Purse (Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK)
  • Amparo Querol (Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, Spain)
  • Manuela Raffatellu (University of California, Irvine, USA)
  • Lalita Ramakrishnan (University of Cambridge, UK)
  • Jan Rehwinkle (University of Oxford, UK)
  • Adam Roberts (University College London, UK)
  • Ian Roberts (Institute of Food Research, UK)
  • Colin Robinson (University of Kent, UK)
  • Eric Rubin (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, USA)
  • Maria Salvato (University of Maryland School of Medicine, USA)
  • Karin Sauer (Binghamton University, USA)
  • Gavin Screaton (Imperial College London, UK)
  • Nigel Scrutton (University of Manchester, UK)
  • Ryan Seipke (University of Leeds, UK)
  • Oonagh Shannon (Lund University, Sweden)
  • Carmel Shortiss (University College Cork, Ireland)
  • Gerd Siebold (Ulm University, Germany)
  • Maggie Smith (University of York, UK)
  • Thierry Soldati (University of Geneva, Switzerland)
  • Catherine Stanton (Teagasc, Ireland)
  • Karen Stevenson (Moredun Research Institute, UK)
  • Ipek Tasan (University of Illinois, USA)
  • Gavin Thomas (University of York, UK)
  • Chris Thompson (University of Manchester, UK)
  • Ana Maria Tomás (Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Portugal)
  • Renee M. Tsolis (University of California, USA)
  • Miguel Valvano (Queen's University Belfast, UK)
  • Gerben van Ooijen (University of Edinburgh, UK)
  • Ronald Van Rij (Radboud University Medical Center, Netherlands)
  • Jos van Strijp (University Medical Center Utrecht, Netherlands)
  • Kevin Waldron (Newcastle University, UK)
  • Martin Warren (University of Kent, UK)
  • Friedemann Weber (Institute of Virology, Germany)
  • Eilike Weber-Ban (ETH Zurich, Switzerland)
  • George Weinstock (The Jackson University, UK)
  • Bruce Whitelaw (The Roslin Institute, UK)
  • Miranda Whitten (Swansea University, UK)
  • Tom Wileman (University of East Anglia, UK)
  • Robin Williams (Royal Holloway, UK)
  • Duncan Wilson (University of Aberdeen, UK)
  • Alan Wolfe (Loyola University, USA)
  • Ronald Wong (Institute of Molecular Biology, Germany)
  • Pei Yong-Shi (University of Texas, USA)
Venue and Accommodation

Accommodation

All accommodation can be booked online through Reservation Highway, who have secured a range of options to suit all budgets throughout Liverpool at discounted rates.

 

Annual Conference 2016 Hotel List

 

 

Annual Conference 2016 Reservation Highway Accommodation Booking Form

 

Accommodation in a guesthouse is also available. For further information and booking, please contact Reservation Highway.

Phone: +44 (0)1423 525577
Email: [email protected]

Venue

The conference will be held at the ACC Liverpool:

Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool
Kings Dock
Liverpool Waterfront
L3 4FP

General enquiries: +44(0)151 475 8888
Email: [email protected]

Venue map

 

Venue map

 

Directions

Please see the detailed map and directions on the ACC Liverpool website.

By car

If you are travelling using a sat nav, please use postcode L3 4FP. If your device doesn't recognise ACC Liverpool, you can try the following:

  • Use the postcode L3 4BX with the following coordinates LAT:53.396007 LONG:-2.99118).
  • Enter the city as 'Liverpool' and the road name as 'Queen's Wharf'.

From the Wirral, Wales and the M53, leave the M53 motorway at junction 3 (Birkenhead) and follow the A552 for the Birkenhead (Queensway) Tunnel and Liverpool City Centre.

From the south, leave the M6 at junction 21A and take the M62 to Liverpool. At the end of the M62, follow signs for Liverpool City Centre along Edge Lane, and then follow signs for the Waterfront.

From the north, leave the M6 at junction 26 and follow signs for M58 Liverpool. Follow to the end of the M58 and then take signs for A59 Liverpool. Continue to follow signs for Liverpool City Centre until picking up signs for the Waterfront.

The Liverpool Waterfront Car Park is signposted as 'Waterfront' on the city-wide 'available spaces' signage.

By air

Liverpool John Lennon Airport is the nearest international airport to the ACC Liverpool. The express bus service Route 500 runs between the airport and Liverpool City Centre, taking approximately 25 minutes and stopping within a five-minute walk of Liverpool ACC. For a timetable and route map please visit the Arriva Bus website. Please see the Liverpool Airport website for further details.

National Express coaches run from Manchester Airport to Liverpool Coach Station and takes 50 minutes. Please see the National Express website for information about coach times and fares. Please see the Manchester Airport website for further information and a journey planner.

By rail

ACC Liverpool is a 20-minute walk from Liverpool Lime Street. You can also transfer at Lime Street onto the underground Wirral Line trains to James Street station (10-minute walk) or catch the CityLink bus (every 12 minutes) directly to ACC Liverpool. If travelling from outside Merseyside, you can catch an underground train to James Street station from Lime Street station, inclusive of the cost of your ticket.

Information about train times and fares are available from the National Rail enquries website.

Virgin Trains

Virgin Trains offer discounted group travel for groups of between three and nine passengers travelling together. This currently stand at a 20% discount off Advance tickets booked through their website – for more information, visit the group tickets page of their website.

By bus

Most Liverpool city centre-bound buses will call at either Queen Square bus station (a 15-minute walk) or Liverpool ONE Bus Station, which is only a five-minute walk to ACC Liverpool.

The CityLink bus links Queen Square Bus Station, James Street rail station, Lime Street station and Liverpool ONE Bus Station to ACC Liverpool. The CityLink bus service operates every 12 minutes as a circular service around the city centre.

For up-to-date information on all bus, train and ferry services, call Traveline Merseyside on 0151 236 7676, open 8am to 8pm every day of the week, or visit the Merseytravel website.

Coach

For information about travel by coach please visit the National Express website.

Car parking

Please see the ACC Liverpool website for details on local car parks.

General information

If this is your first conference, we have created a guide to help you get the most out of your attendance. This can be downloaded below:

 

How to... get the most out of your first conference

 

Registration

Registration opens at 07:00 each day and will be located by the main entrance at the ACC Liverpool. If you have any questions or need support, please visit the Conferences team here.

Badges

Badges are issued by the Microbiology Society and are only to be used by the named person for the days indicated. For security purposes, badges must be worn at all times during the Conference.

Certificates of attendance

A certificate of attendance can be requested at the Registration Desk or requested by email from [email protected]

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

The Conference has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (114 credits), the Royal College of Pathologists (30 credits) and the Institute of Biomedical Science (38 credits). Ask at the Professional Development information desk for further information, or contact [email protected]. Those wishing to claim CPD credits should sign a daily register held at the Professional Development information desk, which is located next to registration.

Mobile phones

Please ensure your mobile phone is switched to silent mode or off during the scientific sessions.

Programme changes

While every effort has been made to ensure the programme is accurate, changes are unavoidable and we will ensure updates are provided throughout the Conference online.

Posters

Posters will be presented in Hall 2 and presenters will be by their posters on the day of their related session. An abstracts book can be located on our website and links to abstracts for oral presentations are now in our online programme.

Passport to Prizes

For a chance to win with our Passport to Prizes competition, you need to complete the quiz sheet in your delegate's bag. The prize draw will take place on Wednesday evening at the Microbiology Society stand and your entries must be in by lunchtime on Wednesday to be counted.

Photography and filming at the Conference

The Society will be carrying out filming and photography throughout the Conference. The images and videos will be used to promote the Conference and the activities of the Society. They may be used online, in Society publications, or for other PR and marketing purposes.

If you do not wish to appear in photographs or films, please make this known to a member of the team.

Recording

Only recording set up with prior permission is authorised.

Dietary requirements

All disclosed dietary requirements made at the point of registration have been shared with the catering team at the ACC in advance. However, please ensure you ask for advice if required and the team will do their best to accommodate your needs.

Twitter

Delegates, exhibitors and speakers tweeting from the Conference are invited to include the hashtag #Microbio16 in their tweets. A Twitter feed will be displayed in the exhibition area. You can follow the Society on Twitter @MicrobioSoc.

Wi-Fi

The Wi-Fi has kindly been sponsored by Elsevier. To log on, go to your internet settings and select the network option Free_Wi-Fi. This will take you to the ACC Liverpool landing page, where you can click the 'free access' button.

Exhibition
Confirmed exhibitors
Exhibitor New England BioLabs

 

Exhibitor Garland Science Exhibitor Taylor & Francis

 

Exhibitor Nature Publishing Group
Exhibitor Vitech Science Ltd Exhibitor Sheffield Hallam University Exhibitor Cambio Ltd
Exhibitor Merck Millipore Exhibitor Applikon Biotechnology Exhibitor eLife
Exhibitor Constant Systems Exhibitor University of Dundee Jalview Exhibitor MP Biomedicals
Exhibitor Microbes NG Exhibitor Clontech Exhibitor PHE
Exhibitor Biolegio Exhibitor Bioline Exhibitor Li-Cor
Exhibitor Marketing Edinburgh Exhibitor Stratech Exhibitor Eppendorf
Exhibitor floor plan
Download floor plan Download exhibitor list

Exhibitor and Promotion Guide

The exhibition and sponsorship opportunities at the Annual Conference have now ended. To enquire about exhibition bookings for next year's event, please contact [email protected]