31 March - 03 April 2025
The Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2025 will take place Monday 31 March–Thursday 3 April at Liverpool ACC
The Conference takes place over four days and consists of scientific symposia, workshops, fora, professional development sessions, Prize Lectures, Hot Topics and much more.
Further information will be announced in the build-up to the meeting on our social media channels, and you can follow us on Bluesky @microbiologysociety.org and X @MicrobioSoc using the hashtag #Microbio25.
As part of the preparations for Microbiology Society events due to be held in 2024, the Microbiology Society Council has further discussed the implementation of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 mitigations and has agreed the following:
Personal responsibility:
Attendance at any Microbiology Society event is a personal choice, and Council expects delegates to take personal responsibility for their actions to minimise the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
Ventilation:
The Microbiology Society will continue to work with venues to seek assurance that these are adequately ventilated.
Vaccination and pre-event testing:
We strongly urge all delegates to ensure they are as fully vaccinated as practicable, which we recognise will depend on their age and home country, and to test before travelling to any of our events. Delegates should not attend if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, should they wish to, delegates should feel comfortable wearing a mask in any of our venues.
Mask usage and lateral flow tests:
A limited number of masks (FFP3) and lateral flow tests will be available upon request at all Microbiology Society events should any delegates wish to use them. However, these will not be routinely supplied.
The Microbiology Society Council will continue to monitor the situation and update these mitigations as required.
The Microbiology Society is a charitable membership organisation and our Annual Conference is run for the benefit of our members and the wider microbiology community. This event is supported by revenue generated from our journals. We therefore request that any delegates working for commercial publishers or competing Society publishers do not engage in any promotional or commissioning work for their own journals while at the meeting. If delegates do engage in any promotional activities, they may be asked to leave the event.
Join us for an inspiring forum led by the Members Panel of the Microbiology Society. This session is dedicated to showcasing specific actions and initiatives that are building a more inclusive research environment. We invite members to share their impactful activities and successful strategies, providing a platform to exchange practical ideas and solutions. This is an opportunity to learn from each other’s triumphs and challenges, raising awareness of the needs of underrepresented and historically marginalised groups. Abstract submissions are welcomed from all career stages for talks and posters. Topics can range from diversity initiatives in microbiology, overcoming barriers to inclusion, to actionable ideas for achieving equity across various settings, from academia to industry. We particularly encourage submissions detailing the development and implementation of novel approaches and initiatives. Be a part of this dynamic session to inspire and be inspired, and to gather actionable insights that can drive positive change in your own sphere of influence.
Aisha Baba-Dikwa, Arindam Mitra, Blanca Perez Sepulveda, Bruno Silvester Lopes, Guerrino Macori.
13:00 - 13:03
Sharon Brookes (Mums in Science, UK)
13:03 - 13:06
Sara Henderson (University of Bradford, UK)
13:06 - 13:09
Sharon Brookes (Mums in Science, UK)
13:10 - 13:20
Skylar Gay (University of Virginia, USA)
13:20 - 13:30
13:30 - 13:45
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will be a recurring topic for symposia at Annual Conference. The theme selected for Annual Conference 2025 is Mechanisms & Regulation. We invite submissions on antibiotic drug uptake, efflux, modification, tolerance/persistence and target evolution. We also encourage submissions on regulation and evolution of AMR. Supported by Warwick Antimicrobial Screening Facility.
Enas Newire, Dany Beste, Nick Tucker
Michelle Buckner (University of Birmingham, UK)
15:00 - 15:30
Muhammad Yasir (Quadram Institute Bioscience & Centre for Microbial Interactions, UK)
15:30 - 15:45
Qingqing Xu (Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, China & University of Cambridge, UK)
15:45 - 15:50
Vicky Bennett (University of Bath, UK)
15:50 - 16:05
16:05 - 16:25
Adam Roberts (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK)
16:25 - 16:55
Rojus Urbonas & Martina Chukwu (Imperial College London, UK)
16:55 - 17:10
Alistair Davies (The Animal and Plant Health Agency, UK)
17:10 - 17:15
Priyanshu Raikwar (University of Oxford, UK)
17:15 - 17:30
We welcome abstracts on any aspect of learning or teaching microbiology as well as any aspect of engaging a wider audience with microbiology. This year, we particularly welcome abstracts on artificial intelligence, antimicrobial resistance, and low-budget projects, but will consider abstracts on any topic. We are happy to receive abstracts from colleagues in any setting e.g. clinicians, technicians, those in industry, etc.
Mel Lacey, Alison Graham
Education and Outreach Network
15:00 - 15:15
Jody Winter (Nottingham Trent Univeristy, UK)
15:15 - 15:45
Kitty Guo (University of Dundee, UK)
15:45 - 16:00
16:00 - 16:15
Catherine Lawler (University of Birmingham, Dubai, UAE; Bath Spa University, UK)
16:15 - 16:30
Lucy Hunter (University of Glasgow, UK)
16:30 - 16:35
Cheryl Walter (University of Hull, UK)
16:35 - 16:40
Maisie Czernuszka, University of Salford, UK Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, UK
16:40 - 17:30
Matt Hutchings, John Innes Centre, UK
16:40 - 17:30
Chris Delaney, University of Glasgow, UK
16:40 - 17:30
Natalie Beveridge, Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK
16:40 - 17:30
Joseph Weaver, Newcastle University, UK
16:40 - 17:30
Zubaida Hassan, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Nigeria
16:40 - 17:30
Edward Hutchinson, MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK
16:40 - 17:30
Genetics and genomics forum will consider offered papers on all aspects of the genes and genomes of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes and their mobile elements, including their sequencing, transcription, translation, regulation, chromosome dynamics, gene transfer, population genetics and evolution, taxonomy and systematics, comparative genomics, metagenomics, bioinformatics, and synthetic biology. Supported by Clent Life Science.
Fiona Whelan (University of Manchester, UK)
15:00 - 15:15
Edward Feil (University of Bath, UK)
15:15 - 15:30
Isabelle Potterill (University of Birmingham, UK)
15:30 - 15:45
15:45 - 16:15
Kasia Parfitt (University of Oxford, UK)
16:15 - 16:30
Ryan Teo (University of Birmingham, UK)
16:30 - 16:45
Mathew Beale (Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK)
16:45 - 17:00
Seungwon Ko (University of Oxford, UK)
17:00 - 17:15
Rebecca Devine (John Innes Centre, UK)
17:15 - 17:30
This forum will consider offered papers on all aspects of microbial (prokaryotic and eukaryotic) metabolism, physiology and molecular biology. This will focus on fundamental and translational research in this area. This would include the metabolism and physiology of bacteria, archaea and eukaryotic microbes, including pathogens; biochemistry and structure of cells, cell growth and division; cell architecture and differentiation; synthesis and transport of macromolecules; ions and small molecules; development signalling and communication, sensing and cellular responses and also how this work informs microbial engineering, antimicrobial drug development, and other potential applications. All speakers will be selected from the submitted abstracts. Supported by Labtech International and Calibre Scientific.
Fiona Sargison (University of Oxford, UK)
15:00 - 15:15
Joseph Pollacco (University of Oxford, UK)
15:15 - 15:30
Arianne Babina (University of Glasgow, UK & Uppsala University, Sweden)
15:30 - 15:45
Lucas Balis (John Innes Centre, UK)
15:45 - 16:00
Dimitra Panagiotopoulou (University of Nottingham, UK)
16:00 - 16:15
16:15 - 16:30
Fabrizio Alberti (University of Warwick, UK)
16:30 - 16:45
Ainsley Beaton (John Innes Centre, UK)
16:45 - 17:00
Rubén de Dios (Brunel University of London, UK)
17:00 - 17:15
Ahmed Hazazi (University of Liverpool, UK & Jazan University, Saudi Arabia)
17:15 - 17:30
Microbiomes play a critical role in the health of humans and animals, as well as in plants and ecosystems. This session, run over two days, will focus on the functional role of microbiomes in each of these niches, and their impact in health and disease. We welcome abstracts relating to all human and animal-associated microbiomes, including the gut, skin, lung, and oral environments. We also welcome abstracts addressing the influence of microbiomes on plant and ecosystem health. This includes ecosystem stability and biodiversity, soil fertility and agriculture, plant disease resistance and stress tolerance, and climate control. This session aims to bring together the wider microbiome research community with a view to highlighting the latest methodologies to study function and exploring the important role of microbiomes across the broader research theme. Supported by Biomarker Technologies (BMK) GmbH -.
Stephen Kelly, Florence Abram, Jerry Reen, Aoife Mulry, Guerrino Macori, Nicky O'Boyle, John Kenny
Jack Gilbert (University of California San Diego, USA)
15:00 - 15:30
Lizbeth Sayavedra (Quadram Institute Bioscience, UK)
15:30 - 15:45
Jack Whitehouse (University of Surrey, UK)
15:45 - 16:00
Alison Graham (University of Galway & GlasPort Bio, Ireland)
16:00 - 16:05
Shana Hepping (Leiden University, Netherlands)
16:05 - 16:10
Mahboobeh Behruznia (University of Birmingham, UK)
16:10 - 16:15
16:15 - 16:30
Lindsay Hall (University of Birmingham and Quadram Institute Biosciences, UK)
16:30 - 17:00
Arunabh Sharma (UKSH Kiel, Germany)
17:00 - 17:15
Rui Santos (Northumbria University, UK)
17:15 - 17:30
This session will address the intersection of the climate crisis and infectious viral disease. We will discuss how the climate crisis is driving the emergence and geographic expansion of varied pathogens, from emerging zoonotic pathogens to established arthropod-borne viruses and their vectors. Projections indicate a vast increase in the risk posed to immunologically naïve individuals as the climate changes. Outbreaks of disease are already exacerbating public health challenges that result from the absence of treatments and vaccines for many of these infections. Speakers from a variety of disciplines, including disease modelling, virology and vector biology will explore the unintended consequences of climate change, such as increased cross-species viral transmission risks. This symposium aims to deepen our understanding of these dynamics and highlight the urgent need for innovative solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change on global infectious disease patterns.
Ben Brennan, Clive McKimmie
Greg Albery (Trinity College Dublin, Ireland)
15:00 - 15:30
Liam Barningham (University of Leeds, UK)
15:30 - 15:45
Maeve Louise Farrell (University College Dublin, Ireland)
15:45 - 16:00
16:00 - 16:15
Clive McKimmie (University of York)
16:15 - 16:45
Philie Hollinghurst (The Pirbright Institute, UK)
16:45 - 17:00
Aitor Casas Sanchez (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK)
17:00 - 17:15
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will be a recurring topic for symposia at Annual Conference. The theme selected for Annual Conference 2025 is Mechanisms & Regulation. We invite submissions on antibiotic drug uptake, efflux, modification, tolerance/persistence and target evolution. We also encourage submissions on regulation and evolution of AMR. Supported by Warwick Antimicrobial Screening Facility.
Enas Newire, Dany Beste, Nick Tucker
Cara Boutte (UT Arlington, USA)
10:15 - 10:45
Jordan Pascoe (University of Surrey, UK)
10:45 - 11:00
Monika Subanovic (Maynooth University, Ireland)
11:00 - 11:15
Laura Carrilero (University of Sheffield, UK)
11:15 - 11:20
Paul Denny (EMBL-EBI, UK)
11:20 - 11:35
11:35 - 11:45
Michael Brockhurst (University of Manchester, UK)
11:45 - 12:15
Matthew Shepherd (University of Manchester, UK)
12:15 - 12:30
Charlotte Cornbill (University of Warwick, UK)
12:30 - 12:45
Emerging eukaryotic microbial pathogens pose significant risks to public health, biodiversity, and global ecosystems. These pathogens can cause severe diseases in humans, animals, and plants, leading to significant morbidity, mortality, and economic loss. Factors such as climate change, global travel, and agricultural practices drive their emergence and spread, creating new opportunities for transmission and infection. Addressing these threats requires a multidisciplinary approach, including the characterisation of pathogen biology, robust surveillance systems, advanced diagnostic tools, and effective treatments and prevention strategies. This session will focus on diverse emerging eukaryotic pathogens, emphasising the need for innovative methods to understand their complex biology and spread. Early identification and rapid response are essential to prevent outbreaks, minimize impacts on health systems, and safeguard food security and natural ecosystems. By stimulating these discussions, we aim to better protect public health and maintain ecological balance.
Calvin Tiengwe, Fiona Henriques-Mui, Girish Beedessee
Robert Moon (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK)
10:15 - 10:40
Clare Hamilton (Moredun Research Institute, UK)
10:40 - 11:05
Huan Jiang (Univeristy of Bristol, UK)
11:05 - 11:20
11:20 - 11:40
Christopher Rice (Purdue University, USA)
11:40 - 12:05
Ronnie Mooney (Univeristy of Strathclyde, UK)
12:05 - 12:20
Sonja Rückert (University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany)
12:20 - 12:45
We welcome abstracts on any aspect of learning or teaching microbiology as well as any aspect of engaging a wider audience with microbiology. This year, we particularly welcome abstracts on artificial intelligence, antimicrobial resistance, and low-budget projects, but will consider abstracts on any topic. We are happy to receive abstracts from colleagues in any setting e.g. clinicians, technicians, those in industry, etc.
Mel Lacey, Alison Graham
Jo Rushworth (University of Lincoln, UK)
10:15 - 10:45
Sophie Haslam (University of Liverpool, UK)
10:45 - 11:00
Liam Cremona (University of Warwick & University of Birmingham, UK)
11:00 - 11:15
11:15 - 11:30
Georgios Efthimiou (University of Hull, UK)
11:30 - 11:45
Monika Gostic (Aberdeen University, UK)
11:45 - 12:00
Speakers TBC
12:00 - 12:45
Genetics and genomics forum will consider offered papers on all aspects of the genes and genomes of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes and their mobile elements, including their sequencing, transcription, translation, regulation, chromosome dynamics, gene transfer, population genetics and evolution, taxonomy and systematics, comparative genomics, metagenomics, bioinformatics, and synthetic biology. Supported by Clent Life Science.
Kitty Guo (University of Dundee, UK)
10:15 - 10:30
Elizabeth Cummins (University of Oxford, UK)
10:30 - 10:45
Lucy Dillon (Queen's University Belfast, UK)
10:45 - 11:00
Muriel Dresen (University of Cambridge, UK; Freie Universität Berlin & University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany)
11:00 - 11:15
11:15 - 11:30
Kaitlin A Schaal (University of Liverpool, UK)
11:30 - 11:45
Katarzyna Sidorczuk (Quadram Institute Bioscience & Earlham Institute, UK)
11:45 - 12:00
Matthew Adams (University of Birmingham, UK)
12:00 - 12:15
Caroline Jarvis (Quadram Institute Bioscience, UK)
12:15 - 12:30
Chantelle Endeley (Nottingham Trent University & University of Nottingham, UK)
12:30 - 12:45
This forum will consider offered papers on all aspects of microbial (prokaryotic and eukaryotic) metabolism, physiology and molecular biology. This will focus on fundamental and translational research in this area. This would include the metabolism and physiology of bacteria, archaea and eukaryotic microbes, including pathogens; biochemistry and structure of cells, cell growth and division; cell architecture and differentiation; synthesis and transport of macromolecules; ions and small molecules; development signalling and communication, sensing and cellular responses and also how this work informs microbial engineering, antimicrobial drug development, and other potential applications. All speakers will be selected from the submitted abstracts. Supported by Labtech International and Calibre Scientific.
Matthew Sullivan (University of East Anglia & Centre for Microbial Interactions, UK)
10:15 - 10:30
Bethany Hardman (Durham University, UK)
10:30 - 10:45
William Earl (Durham University, UK)
10:45 - 11:00
Annarita Ricciardelli (University of Naples "Federico II", Italy)
11:00 - 11:15
11:15 - 11:30
Mengru Yang (University of Liverpool, UK)
11:30 - 11:45
Emmanuele Severi (Northumbria University & Newcastle University, UK)
11:45 - 12:00
Ellen Harrison (University of Exeter & Marine Biological Association, UK)
12:00 - 12:15
Selvin Solis (University of Surrey, UK)
12:15 - 12:30
Isabel Askenasy (University of Cambridge, UK)
12:30 - 12:45
Microbiomes play a critical role in the health of humans and animals, as well as in plants and ecosystems. This session, run over two days, will focus on the functional role of microbiomes in each of these niches, and their impact in health and disease. We welcome abstracts relating to all human and animal-associated microbiomes, including the gut, skin, lung, and oral environments. We also welcome abstracts addressing the influence of microbiomes on plant and ecosystem health. This includes ecosystem stability and biodiversity, soil fertility and agriculture, plant disease resistance and stress tolerance, and climate control. This session aims to bring together the wider microbiome research community with a view to highlighting the latest methodologies to study function and exploring the important role of microbiomes across the broader research theme. Supported by Zymo research.
Stephen Kelly, Florence Abram, Jerry Reen, Aoife Mulry, Guerrino Macori, Nicky O'Boyle, John Kenny
Colin Hill (University College Cork, Ireland)
10:15 - 10:45
Chandra Lekha Ramalingam Veena (University of Sheffield, UK)
10:45 - 11:00
Elena S. Gusareva (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
11:00 - 11:15
Chloe Callow (University of Reading, UK)
11:15 - 11:20
Rebecca McHugh (University of Glasgow, UK)
11:20 - 11:25
Parshatd Govindasamy (Florida International University, USA)
11:20 - 11:25
11:25 - 11:45
Sinead Waters (University of Galway, Ireland)
11:45 - 12:15
Anjali Chander (King's College London; Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, UK)
12:15 - 12:30
Christopher Bridges (Michigan State University, USA)
12:30 - 12:45
Over a hundred years ago Peyton Rous demonstrated that an infectious agent could promote tumorigenesis which, many years later, paved the way for the discovery of oncogenes in retroviruses and, subsequently, proto-oncogenes in the host genome. This symposium will cover the underlying mechanisms of how viruses transform cells to persist in the host and the pathogenesis they cause. Furthermore, it will also feature how viruses (both oncogenic and non-oncogenic) have been re-purposed to target and kill cancer cells - highlighting how viruses can cause, and be used to kill, cancer.
Matthew Reeves, Richard Stanton
Ethan Morgan (University of Sussex, UK)
10:15 - 10:45
Daisy Theobald (University of Leeds, UK)
10:45 - 11:00
Wiyada Wongwiwat (Imperial College London, UK)
11:00 - 11:15
11:15 - 11:30
Fiona Errington-Mais (University of Leeds, UK)
11:30 - 12:00
Ines Ferreira (University of St Andrews, UK)
12:00 - 12:15
Alan Parker (Cardiff University, UK)
12:15 - 12:45
Just because a bacterial pathogen is lesser known, does not mean that it is not a potential threat to health. The aim of this session is to expand our knowledge on these bacteria, through both laboratory and bioinformatics approaches. Abstracts are encouraged from a wide range of research topics that cover emerging/re-emerging diseases, zoonoses, pathogenicity, public health, tropical diseases, epidemiology, and diagnostics/therapy. Overall, this half-day symposium will shed light on the importance of unrecognised threats to public health and identifying critical research gaps in scientific knowledge. Supported by MicrobesNG.
Kasia Parfitt, Sam Sheppard, Alan McNally
Eshwar Mahenthiralingam (Cardiff University, UK)
14:45 - 15:15
Kate Cox (Nottingham Trent University, UK)
15:15 - 15:30
Daniel Whiley (Nottingham Trent University, UK)
15:30 - 15:45
15:45 - 16:00
Amber Barton (Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK)
16:00 - 16:15
Geng Zou (University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Huazhong Agricultural Univeristy, Wuhan, China)
16:15 - 16:30
Ziming Wu (Queen's University Belfast, UK)
16:30 - 16:45
Sylvain Brisse (Institut Pasteur, France)
16:45 - 17:15
This session will explore the innovative uses of microorganisms in the production of alternative proteins. Covering the latest research and technological advancements, we will highlight how fungi, bacteria, and algae are being used to create sustainable, nutritious, and scalable protein sources. Attendees will gain insights into microbial biomass and precision fermentation processes, genetic engineering, and biotechnological applications that are driving the future of food. Join us to discover how microbiology is at the forefront of solving global challenges related to food security and sustainability through the development of alternative proteins. Supported by SBi Scientific Bioprocessing.
Jordan Price, Alison Smith, Chris Cooper
Alessia Buscaino (University of Kent, UK)
14:45 - 15:15
Katarzyna Polanowska (ENOUGH, Netherlands)
15:15 - 15:45
Leah Bannon (University College Cork, Cork, Ireland)
15:45 - 16:00
16:00 - 16:15
Andrew Spicer (Algenuity, UK)
16:15 - 16:45
Catherine Elton (Qkine, UK)
16:45 - 17:15
The Knocking Out AMR forum will consider submissions across the key themes of surveillance, diagnostics, novel antimicrobials, vaccination, policy and education initiatives relevant to tackling the global challenge of Anti-Microbial Resistance. We strongly encourage impactful papers addressing the One Health aspects of AMR, including agriculture, veterinary, human and environmental microbiology, AMR and Climate Change, and AMR in the Global South. We look forward to a range of submissions across these key themes. Speakers will be selected from the submitted abstracts. Supported by Illumina.
Tina Joshi, Catrin Moore, Enas Newire, Dany Beste
Wissarut Srisakvarangkool (Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand)
14:45 - 15:00
Anita Grasso (Trinity College Dublin, Ireland)
15:00 - 15:15
Alexander Kingdon (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK)
15:15 - 15:20
Melanie Hay (Royal Veterinary College, UK)
15:20 - 15:35
Raymond Kiu (University of Birmingham & Quadram Institute, UK)
15:35 - 15:50
Alice Graham (University of Nottingham, UK)
15:50 - 16:05
16:05 - 16:20
Lucy Evans (University of Sussex, UK)
16:20 - 16:35
Meghana Srinivas (Maynooth University, Ireland)
16:35 - 16:40
Lesley Hoyles (Nottingham Trent University, UK)
16:40 - 16:55
Angus O'Ferrall (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK)
16:55 - 17:10
Shauna O'Shea (Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research & Maynooth University, Ireland)
17:10 - 17:15
Just as imposters lurk undetected in the popular online game “Among Us”, pathogenic fungi often evade conventional treatments and pose a growing challenge to global health and agriculture. The selection of resistance and virulence traits as a result of extensive use of fungicides and environmental conditions such as pollution and climate change raise the threat of fungal disease in animals and plants ever further. This issue is underscored by the WHO, which has noted the rising threat of fungal pathogens and their increasing resistance to a limited number of available antifungal drugs. Collaborative efforts in surveillance, responsible antimicrobial use, and environmental stewardship are crucial. Additionally, innovations in drug development, improved diagnostics, and infection control strategies are essential to combat this evolving threat. This session will focus on the challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance in fungi and explore strategies to mitigate its impact. Supported by BMG Labtech.
Albert Bolhuis, Campbell Gourlay
Albert Bolhuis (University of Bath, UK)
14:45 - 15:05
Campbell Gourlay (University of Kent, UK)
15:05 - 15:25
Yuk Yam Cheung (Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong)
15:25 - 15:40
Ashwaq Alawaji (University of Liverpool, UK; College of Applied Medical Science, Saudi Arabia)
15:40 - 15:55
15:55 - 16:05
Amelia Barber (Friedrich Schiller University, Germany)
16:05 - 16:45
Zahid Manzoor (Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Pakistan)
16:45 - 17:00
Brogan Richards (University of Nottingham, UK)
17:00 - 17:15
The microbes of a urogenital tract represent a dynamic and often poorly studied facet of human health. Microbes found here can play important roles in maintaining health, influencing the transmission of infectious pathogens, and affecting fertility and pregnancy outcomes. In this session we will discuss the importance of inter-kingdom relationships; integrating bacteria, microbial eukaryotes and viruses; within the urogenital microbiota, cover the mechanisms of host-microbe dialogue, and determine the value of microbiome research from clinical perspectives. All research involving fundamental and clinical microbiology, diagnostics, and interventions are welcome for submission.
Mathew Diggle, Conor Feehily, Robert Hirt
Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz (University of Arizona, USA)
14:45 - 15:15
Steve James (Quadram Institute, UK)
15:15 - 15:30
Phoebe Crossley (University of Arizona, USA; University of Glasgow, UK)
15:30 - 15:45
Sophie Stephens (Imperial College London, UK)
15:45 - 15:50
Isobel Garratt (University of Bath, UK)
15:50 - 15:55
15:55 - 16:15
Lyle McKinnon (University of Manitoba, Canada)
16:15 - 16:45
Anthony Slate (University of Huddersfield & Glasgow Caledonian University, UK)
16:45 - 17:00
Alasdair T. M. Hubbard (Nottingham Trent University, UK)
17:00 - 17:15
This session covers topics relating to human and animal antiviral innate immunity, including host responses to cytokines and infections, activities of anti-viral proteins, and strategies to boost these defensive processes.
Carlos Maluquer de Motes & Anna Cliffe
Verena Schultz (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK)
14:45 - 14:57
Mohammad Khalid Zakaria (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK)
14:57 - 15:09
Emma Davies (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK)
15:09 - 15:21
Adriana Tubb (The Pirbright Insitute & University of Surrey, UK)
15:21 - 15:33
Hannah Ashby (University of Surrey, UK)
15:33 - 15:45
15:45 - 16:03
Joanne Kite (University of Cambridge, UK)
16:03 - 16:15
Kaitlin Donovan (Queen's University Belfast, UK)
16:15 - 16:27
Rebecca Sumner (University of Surrey, UK)
16:27 - 16:39
Amani Alhazmi (University of Leeds, UK; Jazan University, Saudi Arabia)
16:39 - 16:51
Miranda Nel (The Roslin Institute, UK)
16:51 - 17:03
Matin Mahmoudi (The Roslin Institute, UK)
17:03 - 17:15
Viruses continue to serve as powerful molecular probes for unraveling the biochemical and cellular underpinnings of life. This workshop spans a broad array of topics, from the strategies viral proteins employ to facilitate entry and the intricacies of viral gene expression and replication, to the detailed mechanisms driving virus assembly, the formation of viral replication factories, and viral egress. This session highlights structural, biophysical, and targeted reductionist approaches to uncover these processes.
Alex Borodavka & Stephen Graham
James Coburn (University of Leeds, UK)
14:45 - 14:57
14:45 - 17:15
Federico De Angelis (The Roslin Institute, UK)
14:57 - 15:09
Harriet Mears (The Francis Crick Institute & University of Bristol, UK)
15:09 - 15:21
James Kirk (The Pirbright Institute & University of Bristol, UK)
15:21 - 15:33
Lauren Kerfoot (University of Surrey, UK)
15:33 - 15:45
David Noyvert (University of Cambridge, UK)
16:03 - 16:15
Philippa Hall (University of Leeds, UK)
16:15 - 16:27
Mariana Marques (The Pirbright Institute, UK)
16:27 - 16:39
Katie A Latham (City St George's University of London, UK)
16:39 - 16:51
Matthew Turnbull (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK)
16:51 - 17:03
Swetha Vijayakrishnan (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK)
17:03 - 17:15
Understanding the molecular and cellular basis of viral pathogenesis and disease is an essential for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for viral diseases. This workshop will highlight novel research into viral pathogenesis and the development of antivirals, covering a wide range of clinically important viral pathogens and associated diseases.
Anna Smielewska & Ethan Morgan
Morgan Barton (Coventry University & University of Warwick, UK)
14:45 - 14:57
Emily Clayton (University of Oxford, UK)
14:57 - 15:09
Samuel Richardson (The Pirbright Institute, UK)
15:09 - 15:21
Amy Napier (University of Oxford, UK)
15:21 - 15:33
15:33 - 16:03
Rosa Cassidy (University of Leeds, UK)
16:03 - 16:15
Libby Duignan (University of Liverpool & CPI, UK)
16:15 - 16:27
Finn Grey (The Roslin Institute, UK)
16:27 - 16:39
Murshida Begum (University of Surrey, UK)
16:39 - 16:51
Christine Goffinet (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK)
16:51 - 17:03
Maitreyi Shivkumar (De Montfort University, UK)
17:03 - 17:15
RNA biology influences almost every part of virus lifecycles, from transcription, RNA stability and translation to replication, packaging and evasion of viral RNA recognition by the host. In this forum novel insights in RNA biology from across viral taxa are presented.
Hannah Burgess & Andrew Broadbent
Oya Cingöz (Charite - Institute of Virology, Germany; MRC - Centre for Virus Research (CVR), University of Glasgow, UK)
14:45 - 14:57
Rebecca Panteli (University of Cambridge, UK)
14:57 - 15:09
Maia Beeson (The Roslin Institute, UK)
15:09 - 15:21
Olivia Platt (The Francis Crick Institute, UK)
15:21 - 15:33
Fangzheng Wang (University of Oxford, UK)
15:33 - 15:45
15:45 - 16:03
Kieran Dee (MRC- Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, UK)
16:03 - 16:15
Ziyi Yang (Francis Crick Institute & UCL, UK; A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore)
16:15 - 16:27
Nuno Santos (The Francis Crick Institute, UK)
16:27 - 16:39
Adam Rayment (University of Cambridge & The Pirbright Institute, UK)
16:39 - 16:51
Ge Wu (The Pirbright Institute, UK)
16:51 - 17:03
Alistair Tweedie (University of Surrey, UK)
17:03 - 17:15
There is so much more to getting research into the clinic or the marketplace than just having a good idea and proving it works. Regulation and Policy create the enabling environment within which your research will be used. Awareness of these powerful levers and the constraints they may place upon your work should be included from initial planning of the research to avoid lengthy and time-consuming delays later. Similarly, most academic research requires transitioning into a commercially viable enterprise to achieve impact. Understanding how investors evaluate investment opportunities, and what the journey towards commercial success is also important. This session will include presentations from people involved in Policy, Regulation and investors, as well as examples from researchers to bring these potentially dry topics to life for the bench scientist. This will be followed by a round table featuring the presenters with a Q&A session taking questions from the floor. Supported by Vidiia.
Petra Oyston, Nicola Holden, Geertje van Keulen
Chair: Geertje Van Keulen/Nicola Holden
10:15 - 10:20
Isabel Webb (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, UK)
10:20 - 10:40
Matthew Gilmour (Quadram Institute, UK)
10:40 - 11:00
11:00 - 11:10
11:10 - 11:40
Jo Fothergill (University of Liverpool, UK)
11:40 - 12:00
Jonny Hazell (Royal Society, UK)
12:00 - 12:20
Geertje Van Keulen (Swansea University Medical School, UK)
12:20 - 12:35
12:35 - 12:45
Offered papers (and associated posters) will be presented in areas related to clinical, veterinary and plant infections caused by microbial pathogens. This will include detection and diagnosis, identification, typing and epidemiology, pathogenesis, virulence, host response and immunity, treatment and prevention, antimicrobial agents and resistance, transmission and models of infection. Eligible abstracts can be entered into the Infection Science Award competition, with the awardees invited to the Federation of Infection Societies annual meeting. Supported by Stratech Scientific.
Alyssa Hudson (University of Exeter & Royal Devon University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK)
10:15 - 10:35
Ioannis Baltas (University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust & UCL Institute of Child Health, UK)
10:35 - 10:55
Helen Savage (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine & North Bristol NHS Trust, UK)
10:55 - 11:15
11:15 - 11:30
Pok-Man Ho (University of Cambridge, UK)
11:30 - 11:45
Thomas Thompson (Queen's University Belfast, UK)
11:45 - 11:50
Aaron Curtis (Maynooth University, Ireland)
11:50 - 12:05
Hannah V. Pye (Quadram Institute Bioscience & Centre for Microbial Interactions, UK)
12:05 - 12:10
Cecilia Kyanya (Wellcome Sanger Institute & University of Cambridge, UK)
12:10 - 12:25
Yueran Hou (University College Dublin, Ireland)
12:25 - 12:30
Oluwatosin Orababa (University of Warwick, UK)
12:30 - 12:45
Just as imposters lurk undetected in the popular online game “Among Us”, pathogenic fungi often evade conventional treatments and pose a growing challenge to global health and agriculture. The selection of resistance and virulence traits as a result of extensive use of fungicides and environmental conditions such as pollution and climate change raise the threat of fungal disease in animals and plants ever further. This issue is underscored by the WHO, which has noted the rising threat of fungal pathogens and their increasing resistance to a limited number of available antifungal drugs. Collaborative efforts in surveillance, responsible antimicrobial use, and environmental stewardship are crucial. Additionally, innovations in drug development, improved diagnostics, and infection control strategies are essential to combat this evolving threat. This session will focus on the challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance in fungi and explore strategies to mitigate its impact. Supported by BMG Labtech.
Albert Bolhuis, Campbell Gourlay
Norman van Rhijn (University of Manchester, UK)
10:15 - 10:55
Michael Graz (Biophys Ltd, UK and University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
10:55 - 11:10
Jordan Pratt (Queens University Belfast, UK)
11:10 - 11:25
11:25 - 11:35
Helen Cockerton (University of Kent, UK)
11:35 - 12:15
Peter Henderson (University of Strathclyde, UK)
12:15 - 12:30
Ben Caswall (St George's University of London, UK)
12:15 - 12:30
The arrival of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) approaches is changing the microbiology research landscape. The requirement for computationally demanding analyses has precipitated solutions from divergent philosophies of data analysis, sometimes from separate communities. Machine learning and statistical inference have overlapping knowledge discovery aims and approaches. However, machine learning focuses on optimizing prediction, whereas statistical inference focuses on understanding the processes relating variables. In this session we will explore the strengths (and weaknesses) of AI and ML in microbiology. Drawing on examples from across the microbiological world, we aim to outline the different aspirations, precepts, and resulting methodologies, and examine the potential of AI as an emerging analytical approach. The session will conclude with a panel discussion addressing opportunities, challenges, and standards related to the application of AI in microbiological research, with a particular focus on the necessity for rigorous validation.
Florence Abram, Sam Sheppard, Trevor Cickovski
Daniel Wilson (University of Oxford, UK)
10:15 - 10:40
Nadya Urakova (European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), UK)
10:40 - 10:50
Tania Dottorini (University of Nottingham, UK)
10:50 - 11:15
11:15 - 11:35
Nicola Segata (University of Trento, Italy)
11:35 - 12:00
Katie Brown (Queen's University Belfast, UK)
12:00 - 12:10
Florence Abram (University of Galway, Ireland)
12:10 - 12:20
12:20 - 12:45
The microbes of a urogenital tract represent a dynamic and often poorly studied facet of human health. Microbes found here can play important roles in maintaining health, influencing the transmission of infectious pathogens, and affecting fertility and pregnancy outcomes. In this session we will discuss the importance of inter-kingdom relationships; integrating bacteria, microbial eukaryotes and viruses; within the urogenital microbiota, cover the mechanisms of host-microbe dialogue, and determine the value of microbiome research from clinical perspectives. All research involving fundamental and clinical microbiology, diagnostics, and interventions are welcome for submission.
Mathew Diggle, Conor Feehily, Robert Hirt
Pier Lugi Fiori (University of Sassari, Italy)
10:15 - 10:45
Jennifer Morris-Cottell (Micropathology Ltd, UK)
10:45 - 11:00
Tabea Elsener (University of Oxford, UK)
11:00 - 11:15
Olivia Ketley (Cardiff University, UK)
11:15 - 11:20
Ocean E. Clarke (University of Liverpool, UK)
11:20 - 11:25
Zahid Manzoor (Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Pakistan)
11:25 - 11:30
11:30 - 11:45
Lynne Sykes (Imperial College London, The Parasol Foundation Centre for Women's Health and Cancer Research & The Imperial March of Dimes Centre for Preterm Birth Research, UK)
11:45 - 12:15
Lesley Hoyles (Nottingham Trent University, UK)
12:15 - 12:30
Aziz Ur Rehman (University of Cambridge, UK)
12:30 - 12:45
The virosphere - encompassing the entirety of viral ‘life’ on earth - intertwines with the cellular tree of life. It contains a huge diversity of biological forms and functions, much of which remains uncharacterised or undiscovered. However, the majority of virology research focusses on viruses of mammals, particularly humans, and therefore considers only a fraction of the Virosphere. In this session we look beyond a human-centric view to explore the full diversity of viral ecology, evolution and biology.
Joe Grove, Helena Maier
Charlotte Houldcroft (University of Cambridge, UK)
10:15 - 10:45
Arinjay Banerjee (University of Saskatchewan, Canada)
10:45 - 11:00
Emmanuel Kuffour Osei (University College Cork, Teagasc Food Research Centre & APC Microbiome Ireland, Ireland)
11:00 - 11:15
11:15 - 11:30
Mary Petrone (University of Sydney, Australia; Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited, Hong Kong)
11:30 - 12:00
Ulad Litvin (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK)
12:00 - 12:15
Tzachi Hagai (Tel Aviv University, Israel)
12:15 - 12:30
There is so much more to getting research into the clinic or the marketplace than just having a good idea and proving it works. Regulation and Policy create the enabling environment within which your research will be used. Awareness of these powerful levers and the constraints they may place upon your work should be included from initial planning of the research to avoid lengthy and time-consuming delays later. Similarly, most academic research requires transitioning into a commercially viable enterprise to achieve impact. Understanding how investors evaluate investment opportunities, and what the journey towards commercial success is also important. This session will include presentations from people involved in Policy, Regulation and investors, as well as examples from researchers to bring these potentially dry topics to life for the bench scientist. This will be followed by a round table featuring the presenters with a Q&A session taking questions from the floor. Supported by Vidiia.
Petra Oyston, Nicola Holden, Geertje van Keulen
James MacDonald (Solena Materials Limited, UK)
14:45 - 15:05
Daniel Robinson (Economic and Social Research Council, UK)
15:05 - 15:25
15:25 - 15:35
15:35 - 16:05
Sara Holland (Potter Clarkson, UK)
16:05 - 16:25
All speakers
16:25 - 17:15
This forum includes offered papers on any area and any organism relevant to environmental, ecological, applied and industrial microbiology, including (non-human) host–microbe communities and interactions, marine and freshwater microbiology, soil and geomicrobiology, air-, cryo- and extremophile microbiology, climate change, biotechnology, bio-processing and bio-engineering, food microbiology, and other applied and industrial microbial processes, including microbe-mediated biodegradation and bioremediation.
Emily Stevenson (University of Exeter & Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UK)
14:45 - 15:00
Aaron Moses (University of the West of Scotland, UK)
15:00 - 15:15
Liam Haglington (Swansea University, UK)
15:15 - 15:30
Daniel E. Larcombe (University of Strathclyde, UK)
15:30 - 15:45
Matthew Tarnowski (Swansea University, UK)
15:45 - 16:00
16:00 - 16:15
Katherine Baxter (University of Glasgow, UK)
16:15 - 16:30
Emily Radford (Aberystwyth University, UK)
16:30 - 16:45
Josie McQuillan (University of Sheffield, UK)
16:45 - 17:00
Ciara Keating (Durham University, UK)
17:00 - 17:15
Offered papers (and associated posters) will be presented in areas related to clinical, veterinary and plant infections caused by microbial pathogens. This will include detection and diagnosis, identification, typing and epidemiology, pathogenesis, virulence, host response and immunity, treatment and prevention, antimicrobial agents and resistance, transmission and models of infection. Eligible abstracts can be entered into the Infection Science Award competition, with the awardees invited to the Federation of Infection Societies annual meeting. Supported by Stratech Scientific.
Naomi McGovern (University of Cambridge, UK)
14:45 - 15:00
Liam Rooney (University of Strathclyde, UK)
15:00 - 15:15
Aysha Moore-Machacek (University College Cork, Ireland)
15:15 - 15:30
Rebecca Marrow (The Francis Crick Institute & King's College London, UK)
15:30 - 15:45
15:45 - 16:00
Jialun Wu (University of Galway, Ireland)
16:00 - 16:15
Vignesh Shetty (Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK)
16:15 - 16:20
Elizabeth O'Gorman (University College Dublin, UK)
16:20 - 16:35
Shafik Oubihi (University College Dublin, Ireland)
16:35 - 16:40
Tom Arrowsmith (Durham University, UK)
16:40 - 16:55
Jamie James (City St. George's University of London & UK Health Security Agency, UK)
16:55 - 17:00
Celia Jakob (The Pirbright Institute, UK)
17:00 - 17:15
In their natural habitats, microbes live alongside other microbes, and are exposed to a diversity of mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Frequently, this coexistence is beset with conflict, as microbes express a panoply of mechanisms to attack one another and defend themselves. This session offers a window into the complex mechanisms of ‘microbial warfare’: ways in which microbes (and MGEs) interact to outcompete one another and survive, and will include discussions on: MGEs and horizontal gene transfer (HGT), bacteriophage/prophage, plasmids, CRISPR and other genome defence systems, toxin/anti-toxin systems, interference competition/secretion systems and more! It will also allow for conversations around the roles of these elements/systems in microbial adaptation, evolution, community dynamics, and the spread of traits like antimicrobial resistance. This exciting theme will foster a deeper understanding of the importance of communication and defence in microbial communities.
Rebecca Corrigan, James Hall, Chris Cooper, Joao Botelho, Jerry Reen
Tim Blower (Durham University & New England Biolabs, UK)
14:45 - 15:15
Courtney Swink (Marine Biological Association & University of Exeter, UK)
15:15 - 15:30
David Sünderhauf (University of Exeter, UK)
15:30 - 15:45
Anna Olina (University of Exeter, UK)
15:45 - 16:00
16:00 - 16:15
Gemma Atkinson (Lund University, Sweden)
16:15 - 16:45
Victoria Orr (University of Liverpool, UK)
16:45 - 16:50
Jamie Gorzynski (University of Edinburgh, UK)
16:50 - 16:55
Douglas Lyra H. Fonseca (University of São Paulo, Brazil)
16:55 - 17:00
Audrey Sweten (University of Arizona, USA)
17:00 - 17:05
Mariklairi Kiourkou (Northumbria University, UK)
17:05 - 17:10
Cells of the adaptive immune system are critical in the control of viral infections, killing infected cells and preventing viral spread, amongst other mechanisms. This workshop will detail the control of infections by the adaptive immune system, mechanisms by which viruses evade these immune responses and the exploitation of adaptive immunity for the development of vaccines and immunotherapies
Finn Grey & Rowan Casey
Anastasia Lankina (University College London, UK)
14:45 - 14:57
Kirsten Bentley (Cardiff University, UK)
14:57 - 15:09
Richard Stanton (Cardiff University, UK)
15:09 - 15:21
Luke Jones (University of Oxford, UK)
15:21 - 15:33
Emily Park (University of Oxford, UK)
15:33 - 15:45
15:45 - 16:03
Sarah Caddy (Cornell University, USA)
16:03 - 16:15
Charlotte Houldcroft (University of Cambridge, UK)
16:15 - 16:27
Dylan Postmus (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK)
16:27 - 16:39
Ciaran Gilbride (The Francis Crick Institute, UK)
16:39 - 16:51
George Hooper (University of Sussex, UK)
16:51 - 17:03
Ryan Imrie (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK)
17:03 - 17:15
In this session we explore the knowledge of viral replication and host-pathogen interactions gained through systems approaches. Selected talks explore the insights generated via high-throughput molecular techniques and computational approaches in relation to a range of viruses. The session has been loosely divided into DNA viruses/phage before the break and RNA viruses after the break.
Harriet Groom & Ed Emmott
Hanqi Li (University of Cambridge, UK)
14:45 - 14:57
Ines Hofer (University College London & Queen Mary University of London, UK)
14:57 - 15:09
Yuchen Lin (University of Cambridge (CIMR), UK)
15:09 - 15:21
Daniel Nash (University of Cambridge, UK)
15:21 - 15:33
Aparna Kaaraal Mohan (University of Cambridge, UK)
15:33 - 15:45
15:45 - 16:03
Rose Blake (The Roslin Institute, UK)
16:03 - 16:15
Marko Noerenberg (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK)
16:15 - 16:27
Vayalena Drampa (The Roslin Institute, UK)
16:27 - 16:39
Harry Francis (The Pirbright Institute & University of Cambridge, UK)
16:39 - 16:51
Bobbie-Anne Turner (University of Liverpool, UK)
16:51 - 17:03
Stephen Graham (University of Cambridge, UK)
17:03 - 17:15
From viral evolution to host-pathogen interactions, this forum showcases groundbreaking research spanning SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and emerging zoonotic threats. Gain insights into genomic mechanisms, spillover dynamics, and implications for their One-Health implications
Ashley Otter & Connor Bamford
Guilherme Borba Neumann (Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Germany)
14:45 - 14:57
Ananya Hoque (Roslin Institute - University of Edinburgh, UK)
14:57 - 15:09
Yonca Keskek Turk (University of Leeds, UK)
15:09 - 15:21
Shu Zhou (Roslin Institute - University of Edinburgh, UK)
15:21 - 15:33
I'ah Donovan-Banfield (University of Liverpool & NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, UK)
15:33 - 15:45
15:45 - 16:03
Lee Sherry (MRC Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, UK)
16:03 - 16:15
Maria Manali (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK)
16:15 - 16:27
Wilhelm Furnon (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK)
16:27 - 16:39
Hannah Goldswain (University of Liverpool, UK)
16:39 - 16:51
Igor Andrade Santos (The Pirbright Institute, UK)
16:51 - 17:03
Rute Maria Pinto (The Roslin Institute - The University of Edinburgh, UK)
17:03 - 17:15
This session explores the complex interactions between viruses and host cells, highlighting mechanisms of immune evasion, cellular manipulation, and viral reactivation. Insights into these processes reveal key strategies viruses use to thrive and persist within a host.
Lindsay Broadbent & Oya Cingoz
Daniel Weir (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK)
14:45 - 14:57
Anna Cliffe (University of Virginia, USA)
14:57 - 15:09
Aisha Fakhroo (UCL, UK)
15:09 - 15:21
Ruizhe Li (University of Cambridge, UK)
15:21 - 15:33
Marianne Perera (University of Cambridge, UK)
15:33 - 15:45
15:45 - 16:03
Lucy Eke (University of Surrey, UK)
16:03 - 16:15
Christine O'Connor (Cleveland Clinic & Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, USA)
16:15 - 16:27
Léo Debaene (University of Liverpool, UK)
16:27 - 16:39
Kemi Hannah Oladipo (University of Birmingham, UK)
16:39 - 16:51
Rachel Ulferts (The Francis Crick Institute, UK)
16:51 - 17:03
Alasdair Hood (University of Oxford, UK)
17:03 - 17:15
The Careers Session presents an exciting chance for delegates to discover and explore career paths outside those that have been traditionally available to microbiologists. Delegates in attendance will have the opportunity to interact with speakers from industry, clinical, academic and government settings who will share their varying career experiences and trajectories as well as nuggets of wisdom such as their achievements and regrets. At the end of each talk, there will be a brief Q&A session, allowing delegates to ask key questions pertaining to their career stages and fields. A speed networking round will follow the session allowing delegates in attendance to further interface with speakers. Early career researchers wanting to explore their next career options, and mid-career microbiologists considering a career change are invited to attend.
Yinka Somorin (RBridge Research and Advisory, Ghana and Ajayi Crowther University, Nigeria)
10:00 - 10:20
Aurore Poirier (Vidiia, UK)
10:20 - 10:40
Helen McNeil (MicrobesNG, UK)
10:40 - 11:00
11:00 - 11:15
Richard Gibbs (Marks & Clerk LLP, UK)
11:15 - 11:35
Shane Houston (Biomarker Technologies, UK)
11:35 - 11:55
Robyn Braes (Novogene, UK)
11:55 - 12:15
12:15 - 12:30
The Enterobacteriaceae is a diverse family of Gram-negative bacteria that includes significant genera including Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Proteus, Salmonella and Shigella spp. This symposium aims to discuss all aspects of the biology and ecology of these organisms not just in human health but in the environment. Examples may include (but not limited to) horizontal gene transfer in the environment, faecal contamination of water, population biology & genomics, roles in microbiomes and virulence. To capture the diversity of the Enterobacteriaceae, abstracts from rarer members of the family are particularly welcomed. Supported by Maworde.
Nick Tucker, Georgios Efthimiou
Nicola Holden (SRUC, UK)
10:00 - 10:30
David R. Mark (University of Glasgow, UK)
10:30 - 10:45
Samriddhi Thakur (University of Melbourne and Monash University, Australia)
10:45 - 11:00
Hope Okon (University of Greenwich, UK)
11:00 - 11:15
11:15 - 11:30
Emily Addington (University of Glasgow, UK)
11:30 - 11:45
Theano Stoikidou (Queen’s University Belfast, UK)
11:45 - 12:00
Antonia Chalka (University of Edinburgh, UK)
12:00 - 12:15
To Nguyen (Monash University, Australia)
12:15 - 12:20
P. Malaka De Silva (University of Cambridge, UK)
12:20 - 12:25
Alyssa Winder (University of Suffolk, UK)
12:25 - 12:30
This forum includes offered papers on any area and any organism relevant to environmental, ecological, applied and industrial microbiology, including (non-human) host–microbe communities and interactions, marine and freshwater microbiology, soil and geomicrobiology, air-, cryo- and extremophile microbiology, climate change, biotechnology, bio-processing and bio-engineering, food microbiology, and other applied and industrial microbial processes, including microbe-mediated biodegradation and bioremediation.
Rhys Orimaco (University College Dublin, Ireland)
10:00 - 10:15
Zongting Cai (University of Sheffield, UK)
10:15 - 10:30
Rebecca Pearman (Northumbria University, UK)
10:30 - 10:45
10:45 - 11:15
Aileen Lynch (Queen's University Belfast & DAERA, UK)
10:45 - 11:00
Yingying Wang (Nankai University, China)
11:15 - 11:30
Alejandro Marquiegui (University of Manchester, UK)
11:30 - 11:45
Irem Soyler (University of Surrey, UK)
11:45 - 12:00
Arnab Majumdar (Imperial College London, UK)
12:00 - 12:15
Kathleen Dunbar (University of Surrey, UK)
12:15 - 12:30
In their natural habitats, microbes live alongside other microbes, and are exposed to a diversity of mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Frequently, this coexistence is beset with conflict, as microbes express a panoply of mechanisms to attack one another and defend themselves. This session offers a window into the complex mechanisms of ‘microbial warfare’: ways in which microbes (and MGEs) interact to outcompete one another and survive, and will include discussions on: MGEs and horizontal gene transfer (HGT), bacteriophage/prophage, plasmids, CRISPR and other genome defence systems, toxin/anti-toxin systems, interference competition/secretion systems and more! It will also allow for conversations around the roles of these elements/systems in microbial adaptation, evolution, community dynamics, and the spread of traits like antimicrobial resistance. This exciting theme will foster a deeper understanding of the importance of communication and defence in microbial communities.
Rebecca Corrigan, James Hall, Chris Cooper, Joao Botelho, Jerry Reen
Eduardo Rocha (Institut Pasteur, France)
10:00 - 10:30
William Smith (University of Manchester, UK)
10:30 - 10:45
Giuseppina Mariano (University of Glasgow, UK)
10:45 - 11:00
John Bruce (University of Strathclyde, UK)
11:00 - 11:15
11:15 - 11:30
Tatiana Dimitriu (University of St Andrews, UK)
11:30 - 12:00
Matt Craske (University of York, UK)
12:00 - 12:15
Charlotte Chong (University of Cambridge, UK)
12:15 - 12:30
Genetic recombination allows organisms to eliminate deleterious DNA and assemble new beneficial genetic combinations. Eukaryotes evolved meiosis and sexual reproduction as a unique and controlled mechanism for recombination. However, horizontal gene transfer (the primary recombination mechanism in bacteria) also makes new combinations and appears particularly important during endosymbiosis. This session will explore the diversity and extent of genetic recombination across the microbial eukaryotic tree of life, showcasing a variety of mechanisms, organisms and outcomes.
Robert Hirt, Maria Domingo Sananes
Jolien van Hooff (Wageningen University, Netherlands)
10:00 - 10:30
Ivan Garcia-Cunchillos (University of Warsaw, Poland)
10:30 - 11:00
Jasmine Ono (University of Nottingham, UK)
11:00 - 11:15
11:15 - 11:30
Oliver Billker (Umeå University, Sweden)
11:30 - 12:00
Thomas Richards (University of Oxford, UK)
12:00 - 12:30
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most urgent global threats to our healthcare systems, economies, the environment and animal health. As the crisis escalates, it is crucial to adopt a multidisciplinary and cross-sector approach to address the complex challenges it presents. This session provides an opportunity for delegates to hear from current and past projects, including the newly established UKRI transdisciplinary networks which showcase novel approaches to cross-disciplinary working, and to share ideas on collaborative efforts to tackle AMR. Following the presentations, a speed networking round will enable delegates to engage directly with speakers and other attendees, fostering deeper connections and collaborations.
Emily Hugo-Webb, Policy and Engagement Manager, Microbiology Society
Linda Oyama (Queen's University Belfast, UK)
10:00 - 10:10
William Gaze (University of Exeter, UK)
10:10 - 10:20
Dominic Moran (University of Edinburgh, UK)
10:20 - 10:30
Willem Van Schaik (University of Birmingham, UK) and Kate Baker, (University of Cambridge, UK)
10:30 - 10:40
Matthew Gilmour, Lisa Marchioretto, Marie McIntyre (Quadram Institute, UK)
10:40 - 10:50
Seshasailam Venkateswaran (Queen Mary University of London, UK)
10:50 - 11:00
Michael Bromley (University of Manchester, UK) and Darius James-Armstrong (Imperial College London, UK)
11:00 - 11:10
11:10 - 11:25
Rachel Baird (Food Standards Agency)
11:25 - 11:35
Dorina Timofte (University of Liverpool, UK)
11:35 - 11:45
Louisa Jenkin (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council)
11:45 - 11:50
Thiru Vanniasinkam (Charles Sturt University, Australia) and Michael Dillon (University of Plymouth, UK)
11:50 - 11:55
11:55 - 12:30
Joe Grove, Helena Maier, Trisna Tungadi
Adrian Fox (Fera Science Ltd, UK)
10:00 - 10:30
Ryan Cook (Quadram Institute Bioscience, UK)
10:30 - 10:50
Carlos Maluquer de Motes (University of Surrey, UK)
10:50 - 11:10
Thomas Peacock (The Pirbright Institute & Imperial College London, UK)
11:10 - 11:30
Hugo Bisio (IGS, France)
11:30 - 12:00
Refreshments & Exhibition (Hall 2)
13:00 - 15:00
Champions of Change: Celebrating Actions Advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
13:00 - 13:03
Sharon Brookes (Mums in Science, UK) Champions of Change: Celebrating Actions Advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
13:03 - 13:06
Sara Henderson (University of Bradford, UK) Champions of Change: Celebrating Actions Advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
13:06 - 13:09
Sharon Brookes (Mums in Science, UK) Champions of Change: Celebrating Actions Advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
13:10 - 13:20
Skylar Gay (University of Virginia, USA) Champions of Change: Celebrating Actions Advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
13:20 - 13:30
Champions of Change: Celebrating Actions Advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
13:30 - 13:45
Hall 1 President's Address
14:00 - 14:05
I'ah Donovan-Banfield, Nikea Pittman, Kishana Taylor (Black Microbiologists Association), Hall 1 EDI Prize Lecture: If Not Now, When? Building a Community to Empower Black Microbiologists
14:05 - 14:25
Nicola Veitch, Leighann Sherry , Hall 1 EDI Prize Lecture: Embedding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion into Biosciences Undergraduate Curricula through Staff-Student Partnerships
14:25 - 14:45
Michelle Buckner (University of Birmingham, UK) AMR – Mechanisms and Regulation (Part 1)
15:00 - 15:30
Education and Outreach Network Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 1)
15:00 - 15:15
Fiona Whelan (University of Manchester, UK) Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 1)
15:00 - 15:15
Fiona Sargison (University of Oxford, UK) Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 1)
15:00 - 15:15
Jack Gilbert (University of California San Diego, USA) The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 1)
15:00 - 15:30
Greg Albery (Trinity College Dublin, Ireland) Virus Symposium: Impact of the Climate Crisis on Emerging Viruses
15:00 - 15:30
Jody Winter (Nottingham Trent Univeristy, UK) Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 1)
15:15 - 15:45
Edward Feil (University of Bath, UK) Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 1)
15:15 - 15:30
Joseph Pollacco (University of Oxford, UK) Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 1)
15:15 - 15:30
Muhammad Yasir (Quadram Institute Bioscience & Centre for Microbial Interactions, UK) AMR – Mechanisms and Regulation (Part 1)
15:30 - 15:45
Isabelle Potterill (University of Birmingham, UK) Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 1)
15:30 - 15:45
Arianne Babina (University of Glasgow, UK & Uppsala University, Sweden) Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 1)
15:30 - 15:45
Lizbeth Sayavedra (Quadram Institute Bioscience, UK) The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 1)
15:30 - 15:45
Liam Barningham (University of Leeds, UK) Virus Symposium: Impact of the Climate Crisis on Emerging Viruses
15:30 - 15:45
Qingqing Xu (Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, China & University of Cambridge, UK) AMR – Mechanisms and Regulation (Part 1)
15:45 - 15:50
Kitty Guo (University of Dundee, UK) Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 1)
15:45 - 16:00
Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 1)
15:45 - 16:15
Lucas Balis (John Innes Centre, UK) Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 1)
15:45 - 16:00
Jack Whitehouse (University of Surrey, UK) The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 1)
15:45 - 16:00
Maeve Louise Farrell (University College Dublin, Ireland) Virus Symposium: Impact of the Climate Crisis on Emerging Viruses
15:45 - 16:00
Vicky Bennett (University of Bath, UK) AMR – Mechanisms and Regulation (Part 1)
15:50 - 16:05
Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 1)
16:00 - 16:15
Dimitra Panagiotopoulou (University of Nottingham, UK) Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 1)
16:00 - 16:15
Alison Graham (University of Galway & GlasPort Bio, Ireland) The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 1)
16:00 - 16:05
Virus Symposium: Impact of the Climate Crisis on Emerging Viruses
16:00 - 16:15
AMR – Mechanisms and Regulation (Part 1)
16:05 - 16:25
Shana Hepping (Leiden University, Netherlands) The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 1)
16:05 - 16:10
Mahboobeh Behruznia (University of Birmingham, UK) The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 1)
16:10 - 16:15
Catherine Lawler (University of Birmingham, Dubai, UAE; Bath Spa University, UK) Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 1)
16:15 - 16:30
Kasia Parfitt (University of Oxford, UK) Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 1)
16:15 - 16:30
Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 1)
16:15 - 16:30
The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 1)
16:15 - 16:30
Clive McKimmie (University of York) Virus Symposium: Impact of the Climate Crisis on Emerging Viruses
16:15 - 16:45
Adam Roberts (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK) AMR – Mechanisms and Regulation (Part 1)
16:25 - 16:55
Lucy Hunter (University of Glasgow, UK) Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 1)
16:30 - 16:35
Ryan Teo (University of Birmingham, UK) Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 1)
16:30 - 16:45
Fabrizio Alberti (University of Warwick, UK) Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 1)
16:30 - 16:45
Lindsay Hall (University of Birmingham and Quadram Institute Biosciences, UK) The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 1)
16:30 - 17:00
Cheryl Walter (University of Hull, UK) Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 1)
16:35 - 16:40
Maisie Czernuszka, University of Salford, UK Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, UK Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 1)
16:40 - 17:30
Matt Hutchings, John Innes Centre, UK Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 1)
16:40 - 17:30
Chris Delaney, University of Glasgow, UK Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 1)
16:40 - 17:30
Natalie Beveridge, Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 1)
16:40 - 17:30
Joseph Weaver, Newcastle University, UK Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 1)
16:40 - 17:30
Zubaida Hassan, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Nigeria Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 1)
16:40 - 17:30
Edward Hutchinson, MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 1)
16:40 - 17:30
Mathew Beale (Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK) Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 1)
16:45 - 17:00
Ainsley Beaton (John Innes Centre, UK) Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 1)
16:45 - 17:00
Philie Hollinghurst (The Pirbright Institute, UK) Virus Symposium: Impact of the Climate Crisis on Emerging Viruses
16:45 - 17:00
Rojus Urbonas & Martina Chukwu (Imperial College London, UK) AMR – Mechanisms and Regulation (Part 1)
16:55 - 17:10
Seungwon Ko (University of Oxford, UK) Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 1)
17:00 - 17:15
Rubén de Dios (Brunel University of London, UK) Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 1)
17:00 - 17:15
Arunabh Sharma (UKSH Kiel, Germany) The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 1)
17:00 - 17:15
Aitor Casas Sanchez (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK) Virus Symposium: Impact of the Climate Crisis on Emerging Viruses
17:00 - 17:15
Alistair Davies (The Animal and Plant Health Agency, UK) AMR – Mechanisms and Regulation (Part 1)
17:10 - 17:15
Priyanshu Raikwar (University of Oxford, UK) AMR – Mechanisms and Regulation (Part 1)
17:15 - 17:30
Rebecca Devine (John Innes Centre, UK) Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 1)
17:15 - 17:30
Ahmed Hazazi (University of Liverpool, UK & Jazan University, Saudi Arabia) Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 1)
17:15 - 17:30
Rui Santos (Northumbria University, UK) The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 1)
17:15 - 17:30
Refreshments & Exhibition (Hall 2)
17:30 - 18:30
Bruno Silvester Lopes (Teesside University, UK), Linda Oyama (Queen's University Belfast, UK) and Enas Newire (Middlesex University, UK), Hall 12 Champions' Showcase: World AMR Awareness Week 2024
17:35 - 18:00
Level-1, Hall 2 Foyer Get Involved drop-in: Black Microbiologists Association
17:45 - 18:15
Level -1, Hall 2- Exhibition Industry sponsored session: High-Throughput Single-Microbe Genomics Enabled by Semi-Permeable Capsules - Sponsored by ATRANDI BIOSCIENCES
17:45 - 18:15
Professor Richard Lenski, Hall 1 Prize Medal Prize Lecture: Dynamics and Repeatability in a Long-Term Experiment with Bacteria
18:30 - 19:15
Reception (Hall 2)
19:15 - 20:00
Registration (Galleria)
07:30 - 09:00
Professor Lindsay Hall, Hall 1 Peter Wildy Prize Lecture: Guardians of the Gut: Bringing Microbiome Science to Life through Public Engagement
09:00 - 09:45
Level-1, Hall 2 Foyer Get Involved drop-in: Shadowing Scheme
09:45 - 10:15
Refreshments & Exhibition (Hall 2)
09:45 - 10:15
Cara Boutte (UT Arlington, USA) AMR – Mechanisms and Regulation (Part 2)
10:15 - 10:45
Robert Moon (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK) BSP/Protistology-UK: Tackling Emerging Eukaryotic Microbial Pathogen Threats
10:15 - 10:40
Jo Rushworth (University of Lincoln, UK) Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 2)
10:15 - 10:45
Kitty Guo (University of Dundee, UK) Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 2)
10:15 - 10:30
Matthew Sullivan (University of East Anglia & Centre for Microbial Interactions, UK) Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 2)
10:15 - 10:30
Colin Hill (University College Cork, Ireland) The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 2)
10:15 - 10:45
Ethan Morgan (University of Sussex, UK) Virus Symposium: Viruses and Cancer
10:15 - 10:45
Elizabeth Cummins (University of Oxford, UK) Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 2)
10:30 - 10:45
Bethany Hardman (Durham University, UK) Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 2)
10:30 - 10:45
Clare Hamilton (Moredun Research Institute, UK) BSP/Protistology-UK: Tackling Emerging Eukaryotic Microbial Pathogen Threats
10:40 - 11:05
Jordan Pascoe (University of Surrey, UK) AMR – Mechanisms and Regulation (Part 2)
10:45 - 11:00
Sophie Haslam (University of Liverpool, UK) Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 2)
10:45 - 11:00
Lucy Dillon (Queen's University Belfast, UK) Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 2)
10:45 - 11:00
William Earl (Durham University, UK) Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 2)
10:45 - 11:00
Chandra Lekha Ramalingam Veena (University of Sheffield, UK) The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 2)
10:45 - 11:00
Daisy Theobald (University of Leeds, UK) Virus Symposium: Viruses and Cancer
10:45 - 11:00
Monika Subanovic (Maynooth University, Ireland) AMR – Mechanisms and Regulation (Part 2)
11:00 - 11:15
Liam Cremona (University of Warwick & University of Birmingham, UK) Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 2)
11:00 - 11:15
Muriel Dresen (University of Cambridge, UK; Freie Universität Berlin & University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany) Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 2)
11:00 - 11:15
Annarita Ricciardelli (University of Naples "Federico II", Italy) Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 2)
11:00 - 11:15
Elena S. Gusareva (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 2)
11:00 - 11:15
Wiyada Wongwiwat (Imperial College London, UK) Virus Symposium: Viruses and Cancer
11:00 - 11:15
Huan Jiang (Univeristy of Bristol, UK) BSP/Protistology-UK: Tackling Emerging Eukaryotic Microbial Pathogen Threats
11:05 - 11:20
Laura Carrilero (University of Sheffield, UK) AMR – Mechanisms and Regulation (Part 2)
11:15 - 11:20
Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 2)
11:15 - 11:30
Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 2)
11:15 - 11:30
Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 2)
11:15 - 11:30
Chloe Callow (University of Reading, UK) The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 2)
11:15 - 11:20
Virus Symposium: Viruses and Cancer
11:15 - 11:30
Paul Denny (EMBL-EBI, UK) AMR – Mechanisms and Regulation (Part 2)
11:20 - 11:35
BSP/Protistology-UK: Tackling Emerging Eukaryotic Microbial Pathogen Threats
11:20 - 11:40
Rebecca McHugh (University of Glasgow, UK) The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 2)
11:20 - 11:25
Parshatd Govindasamy (Florida International University, USA) The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 2)
11:20 - 11:25
The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 2)
11:25 - 11:45
Georgios Efthimiou (University of Hull, UK) Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 2)
11:30 - 11:45
Kaitlin A Schaal (University of Liverpool, UK) Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 2)
11:30 - 11:45
Mengru Yang (University of Liverpool, UK) Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 2)
11:30 - 11:45
Fiona Errington-Mais (University of Leeds, UK) Virus Symposium: Viruses and Cancer
11:30 - 12:00
AMR – Mechanisms and Regulation (Part 2)
11:35 - 11:45
Christopher Rice (Purdue University, USA) BSP/Protistology-UK: Tackling Emerging Eukaryotic Microbial Pathogen Threats
11:40 - 12:05
Michael Brockhurst (University of Manchester, UK) AMR – Mechanisms and Regulation (Part 2)
11:45 - 12:15
Monika Gostic (Aberdeen University, UK) Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 2)
11:45 - 12:00
Katarzyna Sidorczuk (Quadram Institute Bioscience & Earlham Institute, UK) Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 2)
11:45 - 12:00
Emmanuele Severi (Northumbria University & Newcastle University, UK) Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 2)
11:45 - 12:00
Sinead Waters (University of Galway, Ireland) The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 2)
11:45 - 12:15
Speakers TBC Education and Outreach Symposium (Part 2)
12:00 - 12:45
Matthew Adams (University of Birmingham, UK) Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 2)
12:00 - 12:15
Ellen Harrison (University of Exeter & Marine Biological Association, UK) Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 2)
12:00 - 12:15
Ines Ferreira (University of St Andrews, UK) Virus Symposium: Viruses and Cancer
12:00 - 12:15
Ronnie Mooney (Univeristy of Strathclyde, UK) BSP/Protistology-UK: Tackling Emerging Eukaryotic Microbial Pathogen Threats
12:05 - 12:20
Matthew Shepherd (University of Manchester, UK) AMR – Mechanisms and Regulation (Part 2)
12:15 - 12:30
Caroline Jarvis (Quadram Institute Bioscience, UK) Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 2)
12:15 - 12:30
Selvin Solis (University of Surrey, UK) Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 2)
12:15 - 12:30
Anjali Chander (King's College London; Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, UK) The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 2)
12:15 - 12:30
Alan Parker (Cardiff University, UK) Virus Symposium: Viruses and Cancer
12:15 - 12:45
Sonja Rückert (University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany) BSP/Protistology-UK: Tackling Emerging Eukaryotic Microbial Pathogen Threats
12:20 - 12:45
Charlotte Cornbill (University of Warwick, UK) AMR – Mechanisms and Regulation (Part 2)
12:30 - 12:45
Chantelle Endeley (Nottingham Trent University & University of Nottingham, UK) Genetics and Genomics Forum (Part 2)
12:30 - 12:45
Isabel Askenasy (University of Cambridge, UK) Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology Forum (Part 2)
12:30 - 12:45
Christopher Bridges (Michigan State University, USA) The Role of Microbiomes in Humans, Animals and Ecosystems (Part 2)
12:30 - 12:45
Lunch & Exhibition (Hall 2)
12:45 - 13:45
Lunch & Exhibition (Hall 2)
12:45 - 13:45
Level-1, Hall 2 Foyer Meet the Members Panel
13:00 - 13:45
Level -1, Hall 2- Exhibition Industry sponsored session: Enhance Microbial World Exploration with Standardized Sample Prep - Sponsored by MP Biomedicals
13:15 - 13:45
Hall 12 Publishing Fundamentals: Q&A session
13:15 - 13:45
Poster Block A & Exhibition (Hall 2)
13:45 - 14:45
Eshwar Mahenthiralingam (Cardiff University, UK) Exploring Hidden Threats: Knowledge Expansion of Understudied Bacterial Pathogens
14:45 - 15:15
Alessia Buscaino (University of Kent, UK) From Microbes to Meals
14:45 - 15:15
Wissarut Srisakvarangkool (Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand) Knocking Out AMR Forum
14:45 - 15:00
Albert Bolhuis (University of Bath, UK) The Fungus Among Us: Confronting Antimicrobial Resistance in Fungi (Part 1)
14:45 - 15:05
Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz (University of Arizona, USA) Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 1)
14:45 - 15:15
Verena Schultz (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Innate Immunity
14:45 - 14:57
James Coburn (University of Leeds, UK) Virus Forum: Biochemistry of Viral Infection
14:45 - 14:57
Virus Forum: Biochemistry of Viral Infection
14:45 - 17:15
Morgan Barton (Coventry University & University of Warwick, UK) Virus Forum: Pathogens & Antivirals
14:45 - 14:57
Oya Cingöz (Charite - Institute of Virology, Germany; MRC - Centre for Virus Research (CVR), University of Glasgow, UK) Virus Forum: RNA in Viral Replication
14:45 - 14:57
Mohammad Khalid Zakaria (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Innate Immunity
14:57 - 15:09
Federico De Angelis (The Roslin Institute, UK) Virus Forum: Biochemistry of Viral Infection
14:57 - 15:09
Emily Clayton (University of Oxford, UK) Virus Forum: Pathogens & Antivirals
14:57 - 15:09
Rebecca Panteli (University of Cambridge, UK) Virus Forum: RNA in Viral Replication
14:57 - 15:09
Anita Grasso (Trinity College Dublin, Ireland) Knocking Out AMR Forum
15:00 - 15:15
Campbell Gourlay (University of Kent, UK) The Fungus Among Us: Confronting Antimicrobial Resistance in Fungi (Part 1)
15:05 - 15:25
Emma Davies (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Innate Immunity
15:09 - 15:21
Harriet Mears (The Francis Crick Institute & University of Bristol, UK) Virus Forum: Biochemistry of Viral Infection
15:09 - 15:21
Samuel Richardson (The Pirbright Institute, UK) Virus Forum: Pathogens & Antivirals
15:09 - 15:21
Maia Beeson (The Roslin Institute, UK) Virus Forum: RNA in Viral Replication
15:09 - 15:21
Kate Cox (Nottingham Trent University, UK) Exploring Hidden Threats: Knowledge Expansion of Understudied Bacterial Pathogens
15:15 - 15:30
Katarzyna Polanowska (ENOUGH, Netherlands) From Microbes to Meals
15:15 - 15:45
Alexander Kingdon (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK) Knocking Out AMR Forum
15:15 - 15:20
Steve James (Quadram Institute, UK) Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 1)
15:15 - 15:30
Melanie Hay (Royal Veterinary College, UK) Knocking Out AMR Forum
15:20 - 15:35
Adriana Tubb (The Pirbright Insitute & University of Surrey, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Innate Immunity
15:21 - 15:33
James Kirk (The Pirbright Institute & University of Bristol, UK) Virus Forum: Biochemistry of Viral Infection
15:21 - 15:33
Amy Napier (University of Oxford, UK) Virus Forum: Pathogens & Antivirals
15:21 - 15:33
Olivia Platt (The Francis Crick Institute, UK) Virus Forum: RNA in Viral Replication
15:21 - 15:33
Yuk Yam Cheung (Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong) The Fungus Among Us: Confronting Antimicrobial Resistance in Fungi (Part 1)
15:25 - 15:40
Daniel Whiley (Nottingham Trent University, UK) Exploring Hidden Threats: Knowledge Expansion of Understudied Bacterial Pathogens
15:30 - 15:45
Phoebe Crossley (University of Arizona, USA; University of Glasgow, UK) Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 1)
15:30 - 15:45
Hannah Ashby (University of Surrey, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Innate Immunity
15:33 - 15:45
Lauren Kerfoot (University of Surrey, UK) Virus Forum: Biochemistry of Viral Infection
15:33 - 15:45
Virus Forum: Pathogens & Antivirals
15:33 - 16:03
Fangzheng Wang (University of Oxford, UK) Virus Forum: RNA in Viral Replication
15:33 - 15:45
Raymond Kiu (University of Birmingham & Quadram Institute, UK) Knocking Out AMR Forum
15:35 - 15:50
Ashwaq Alawaji (University of Liverpool, UK; College of Applied Medical Science, Saudi Arabia) The Fungus Among Us: Confronting Antimicrobial Resistance in Fungi (Part 1)
15:40 - 15:55
Exploring Hidden Threats: Knowledge Expansion of Understudied Bacterial Pathogens
15:45 - 16:00
Leah Bannon (University College Cork, Cork, Ireland) From Microbes to Meals
15:45 - 16:00
Sophie Stephens (Imperial College London, UK) Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 1)
15:45 - 15:50
Virus Forum: Antiviral Innate Immunity
15:45 - 16:03
Virus Forum: RNA in Viral Replication
15:45 - 16:03
Alice Graham (University of Nottingham, UK) Knocking Out AMR Forum
15:50 - 16:05
Isobel Garratt (University of Bath, UK) Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 1)
15:50 - 15:55
The Fungus Among Us: Confronting Antimicrobial Resistance in Fungi (Part 1)
15:55 - 16:05
Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 1)
15:55 - 16:15
Amber Barton (Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK) Exploring Hidden Threats: Knowledge Expansion of Understudied Bacterial Pathogens
16:00 - 16:15
From Microbes to Meals
16:00 - 16:15
Joanne Kite (University of Cambridge, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Innate Immunity
16:03 - 16:15
David Noyvert (University of Cambridge, UK) Virus Forum: Biochemistry of Viral Infection
16:03 - 16:15
Rosa Cassidy (University of Leeds, UK) Virus Forum: Pathogens & Antivirals
16:03 - 16:15
Kieran Dee (MRC- Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, UK) Virus Forum: RNA in Viral Replication
16:03 - 16:15
Knocking Out AMR Forum
16:05 - 16:20
Amelia Barber (Friedrich Schiller University, Germany) The Fungus Among Us: Confronting Antimicrobial Resistance in Fungi (Part 1)
16:05 - 16:45
Geng Zou (University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Huazhong Agricultural Univeristy, Wuhan, China) Exploring Hidden Threats: Knowledge Expansion of Understudied Bacterial Pathogens
16:15 - 16:30
Andrew Spicer (Algenuity, UK) From Microbes to Meals
16:15 - 16:45
Lyle McKinnon (University of Manitoba, Canada) Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 1)
16:15 - 16:45
Kaitlin Donovan (Queen's University Belfast, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Innate Immunity
16:15 - 16:27
Philippa Hall (University of Leeds, UK) Virus Forum: Biochemistry of Viral Infection
16:15 - 16:27
Libby Duignan (University of Liverpool & CPI, UK) Virus Forum: Pathogens & Antivirals
16:15 - 16:27
Ziyi Yang (Francis Crick Institute & UCL, UK; A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore) Virus Forum: RNA in Viral Replication
16:15 - 16:27
Lucy Evans (University of Sussex, UK) Knocking Out AMR Forum
16:20 - 16:35
Rebecca Sumner (University of Surrey, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Innate Immunity
16:27 - 16:39
Mariana Marques (The Pirbright Institute, UK) Virus Forum: Biochemistry of Viral Infection
16:27 - 16:39
Finn Grey (The Roslin Institute, UK) Virus Forum: Pathogens & Antivirals
16:27 - 16:39
Nuno Santos (The Francis Crick Institute, UK) Virus Forum: RNA in Viral Replication
16:27 - 16:39
Ziming Wu (Queen's University Belfast, UK) Exploring Hidden Threats: Knowledge Expansion of Understudied Bacterial Pathogens
16:30 - 16:45
Meghana Srinivas (Maynooth University, Ireland) Knocking Out AMR Forum
16:35 - 16:40
Amani Alhazmi (University of Leeds, UK; Jazan University, Saudi Arabia) Virus Forum: Antiviral Innate Immunity
16:39 - 16:51
Katie A Latham (City St George's University of London, UK) Virus Forum: Biochemistry of Viral Infection
16:39 - 16:51
Murshida Begum (University of Surrey, UK) Virus Forum: Pathogens & Antivirals
16:39 - 16:51
Adam Rayment (University of Cambridge & The Pirbright Institute, UK) Virus Forum: RNA in Viral Replication
16:39 - 16:51
Lesley Hoyles (Nottingham Trent University, UK) Knocking Out AMR Forum
16:40 - 16:55
Sylvain Brisse (Institut Pasteur, France) Exploring Hidden Threats: Knowledge Expansion of Understudied Bacterial Pathogens
16:45 - 17:15
Catherine Elton (Qkine, UK) From Microbes to Meals
16:45 - 17:15
Zahid Manzoor (Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Pakistan) The Fungus Among Us: Confronting Antimicrobial Resistance in Fungi (Part 1)
16:45 - 17:00
Anthony Slate (University of Huddersfield & Glasgow Caledonian University, UK) Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 1)
16:45 - 17:00
Miranda Nel (The Roslin Institute, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Innate Immunity
16:51 - 17:03
Matthew Turnbull (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK) Virus Forum: Biochemistry of Viral Infection
16:51 - 17:03
Christine Goffinet (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK) Virus Forum: Pathogens & Antivirals
16:51 - 17:03
Ge Wu (The Pirbright Institute, UK) Virus Forum: RNA in Viral Replication
16:51 - 17:03
Angus O'Ferrall (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK) Knocking Out AMR Forum
16:55 - 17:10
Brogan Richards (University of Nottingham, UK) The Fungus Among Us: Confronting Antimicrobial Resistance in Fungi (Part 1)
17:00 - 17:15
Alasdair T. M. Hubbard (Nottingham Trent University, UK) Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 1)
17:00 - 17:15
Matin Mahmoudi (The Roslin Institute, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Innate Immunity
17:03 - 17:15
Swetha Vijayakrishnan (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK) Virus Forum: Biochemistry of Viral Infection
17:03 - 17:15
Maitreyi Shivkumar (De Montfort University, UK) Virus Forum: Pathogens & Antivirals
17:03 - 17:15
Alistair Tweedie (University of Surrey, UK) Virus Forum: RNA in Viral Replication
17:03 - 17:15
Shauna O'Shea (Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research & Maynooth University, Ireland) Knocking Out AMR Forum
17:10 - 17:15
Poster Block A, Refreshments & Exhibition (Hall 2)
17:15 - 18:15
Professor George Salmond, Hall 1 Marjory Stephenson Prize Lecture: Phytopathogenesis, Quorum Sensing, Antibiotics, Flotation and Phages
18:15 - 19:00
Registration (Galleria)
08:00 - 09:00
Professor David Aanensen, Hall 1 Translational Microbiology Prize Lecture: Translating insight: linking genomics and epidemiology for public health
09:00 - 09:45
Level-1, Hall 2 Foyer Get Involved drop-in: Knocking Out AMR
09:45 - 10:15
Level -1, Hall 2- Exhibition Publishing Fundamentals: Our publishing portfolio
09:45 - 10:15
Refreshments & Exhibition (Hall 2)
09:45 - 10:15
Chair: Geertje Van Keulen/Nicola Holden Beyond the Lab – Turning Your Research Into Reality (Part 1)
10:15 - 10:20
Alyssa Hudson (University of Exeter & Royal Devon University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK) Infection Forum (Part 1)
10:15 - 10:35
Norman van Rhijn (University of Manchester, UK) The Fungus Among Us: Confronting Antimicrobial Resistance in Fungi (Part 2)
10:15 - 10:55
Daniel Wilson (University of Oxford, UK) The Potential of AI for Microbiology
10:15 - 10:40
Pier Lugi Fiori (University of Sassari, Italy) Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 2)
10:15 - 10:45
Charlotte Houldcroft (University of Cambridge, UK) Virus Symposium: Into the Virosphere: Exploring the Full Diversity of Virology (Part 1)
10:15 - 10:45
Isabel Webb (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, UK) Beyond the Lab – Turning Your Research Into Reality (Part 1)
10:20 - 10:40
Ioannis Baltas (University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust & UCL Institute of Child Health, UK) Infection Forum (Part 1)
10:35 - 10:55
Matthew Gilmour (Quadram Institute, UK) Beyond the Lab – Turning Your Research Into Reality (Part 1)
10:40 - 11:00
Nadya Urakova (European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), UK) The Potential of AI for Microbiology
10:40 - 10:50
Jennifer Morris-Cottell (Micropathology Ltd, UK) Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 2)
10:45 - 11:00
Arinjay Banerjee (University of Saskatchewan, Canada) Virus Symposium: Into the Virosphere: Exploring the Full Diversity of Virology (Part 1)
10:45 - 11:00
Tania Dottorini (University of Nottingham, UK) The Potential of AI for Microbiology
10:50 - 11:15
Helen Savage (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine & North Bristol NHS Trust, UK) Infection Forum (Part 1)
10:55 - 11:15
Michael Graz (Biophys Ltd, UK and University of Copenhagen, Denmark) The Fungus Among Us: Confronting Antimicrobial Resistance in Fungi (Part 2)
10:55 - 11:10
Beyond the Lab – Turning Your Research Into Reality (Part 1)
11:00 - 11:10
Tabea Elsener (University of Oxford, UK) Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 2)
11:00 - 11:15
Emmanuel Kuffour Osei (University College Cork, Teagasc Food Research Centre & APC Microbiome Ireland, Ireland) Virus Symposium: Into the Virosphere: Exploring the Full Diversity of Virology (Part 1)
11:00 - 11:15
Beyond the Lab – Turning Your Research Into Reality (Part 1)
11:10 - 11:40
Jordan Pratt (Queens University Belfast, UK) The Fungus Among Us: Confronting Antimicrobial Resistance in Fungi (Part 2)
11:10 - 11:25
Infection Forum (Part 1)
11:15 - 11:30
The Potential of AI for Microbiology
11:15 - 11:35
Olivia Ketley (Cardiff University, UK) Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 2)
11:15 - 11:20
Virus Symposium: Into the Virosphere: Exploring the Full Diversity of Virology (Part 1)
11:15 - 11:30
Ocean E. Clarke (University of Liverpool, UK) Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 2)
11:20 - 11:25
The Fungus Among Us: Confronting Antimicrobial Resistance in Fungi (Part 2)
11:25 - 11:35
Zahid Manzoor (Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Pakistan) Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 2)
11:25 - 11:30
Pok-Man Ho (University of Cambridge, UK) Infection Forum (Part 1)
11:30 - 11:45
Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 2)
11:30 - 11:45
Mary Petrone (University of Sydney, Australia; Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited, Hong Kong) Virus Symposium: Into the Virosphere: Exploring the Full Diversity of Virology (Part 1)
11:30 - 12:00
Helen Cockerton (University of Kent, UK) The Fungus Among Us: Confronting Antimicrobial Resistance in Fungi (Part 2)
11:35 - 12:15
Nicola Segata (University of Trento, Italy) The Potential of AI for Microbiology
11:35 - 12:00
Jo Fothergill (University of Liverpool, UK) Beyond the Lab – Turning Your Research Into Reality (Part 1)
11:40 - 12:00
Thomas Thompson (Queen's University Belfast, UK) Infection Forum (Part 1)
11:45 - 11:50
Lynne Sykes (Imperial College London, The Parasol Foundation Centre for Women's Health and Cancer Research & The Imperial March of Dimes Centre for Preterm Birth Research, UK) Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 2)
11:45 - 12:15
Aaron Curtis (Maynooth University, Ireland) Infection Forum (Part 1)
11:50 - 12:05
Jonny Hazell (Royal Society, UK) Beyond the Lab – Turning Your Research Into Reality (Part 1)
12:00 - 12:20
Katie Brown (Queen's University Belfast, UK) The Potential of AI for Microbiology
12:00 - 12:10
Ulad Litvin (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK) Virus Symposium: Into the Virosphere: Exploring the Full Diversity of Virology (Part 1)
12:00 - 12:15
Hannah V. Pye (Quadram Institute Bioscience & Centre for Microbial Interactions, UK) Infection Forum (Part 1)
12:05 - 12:10
Cecilia Kyanya (Wellcome Sanger Institute & University of Cambridge, UK) Infection Forum (Part 1)
12:10 - 12:25
Florence Abram (University of Galway, Ireland) The Potential of AI for Microbiology
12:10 - 12:20
Peter Henderson (University of Strathclyde, UK) The Fungus Among Us: Confronting Antimicrobial Resistance in Fungi (Part 2)
12:15 - 12:30
Ben Caswall (St George's University of London, UK) The Fungus Among Us: Confronting Antimicrobial Resistance in Fungi (Part 2)
12:15 - 12:30
Lesley Hoyles (Nottingham Trent University, UK) Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 2)
12:15 - 12:30
Tzachi Hagai (Tel Aviv University, Israel) Virus Symposium: Into the Virosphere: Exploring the Full Diversity of Virology (Part 1)
12:15 - 12:30
Geertje Van Keulen (Swansea University Medical School, UK) Beyond the Lab – Turning Your Research Into Reality (Part 1)
12:20 - 12:35
The Potential of AI for Microbiology
12:20 - 12:45
Yueran Hou (University College Dublin, Ireland) Infection Forum (Part 1)
12:25 - 12:30
Oluwatosin Orababa (University of Warwick, UK) Infection Forum (Part 1)
12:30 - 12:45
Aziz Ur Rehman (University of Cambridge, UK) Urogenital Microbes in Health and Disease (Part 2)
12:30 - 12:45
Beyond the Lab – Turning Your Research Into Reality (Part 1)
12:35 - 12:45
Lunch & Exhibition (Hall 2)
12:45 - 13:45
Lunch & Exhibition (Hall 2)
12:45 - 13:45
Level-1, Hall 2 Foyer Governance opportunities: meet members of our governance
13:00 - 13:45
Enas Newire (Middlesex University, UK), Hall 12 Women Microbiologists in Academia: Challenges and Opportunities
13:00 - 13:45
Level -1, Hall 2- Exhibition Industry sponsored session: Advancing microbial genomics with highly accurate long-read sequencing - Sponsored by Pacific Biosciences
13:15 - 13:45
Poster Block B & Exhibition (Hall 2)
13:45 - 14:45
James MacDonald (Solena Materials Limited, UK) Beyond the Lab – Turning Your Research Into Reality (Part 2)
14:45 - 15:05
Emily Stevenson (University of Exeter & Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UK) Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 1)
14:45 - 15:00
Naomi McGovern (University of Cambridge, UK) Infection Forum (Part 2)
14:45 - 15:00
Tim Blower (Durham University & New England Biolabs, UK) Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 1)
14:45 - 15:15
Anastasia Lankina (University College London, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Adaptive Immunity
14:45 - 14:57
Hanqi Li (University of Cambridge, UK) Virus Forum: Systems Virology
14:45 - 14:57
Guilherme Borba Neumann (Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Germany) Virus Forum: The Virospshere
14:45 - 14:57
Daniel Weir (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK) Virus Forum: Virus: Host Interactions
14:45 - 14:57
Kirsten Bentley (Cardiff University, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Adaptive Immunity
14:57 - 15:09
Ines Hofer (University College London & Queen Mary University of London, UK) Virus Forum: Systems Virology
14:57 - 15:09
Ananya Hoque (Roslin Institute - University of Edinburgh, UK) Virus Forum: The Virospshere
14:57 - 15:09
Anna Cliffe (University of Virginia, USA) Virus Forum: Virus: Host Interactions
14:57 - 15:09
Aaron Moses (University of the West of Scotland, UK) Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 1)
15:00 - 15:15
Liam Rooney (University of Strathclyde, UK) Infection Forum (Part 2)
15:00 - 15:15
Daniel Robinson (Economic and Social Research Council, UK) Beyond the Lab – Turning Your Research Into Reality (Part 2)
15:05 - 15:25
Richard Stanton (Cardiff University, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Adaptive Immunity
15:09 - 15:21
Yuchen Lin (University of Cambridge (CIMR), UK) Virus Forum: Systems Virology
15:09 - 15:21
Yonca Keskek Turk (University of Leeds, UK) Virus Forum: The Virospshere
15:09 - 15:21
Aisha Fakhroo (UCL, UK) Virus Forum: Virus: Host Interactions
15:09 - 15:21
Liam Haglington (Swansea University, UK) Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 1)
15:15 - 15:30
Aysha Moore-Machacek (University College Cork, Ireland) Infection Forum (Part 2)
15:15 - 15:30
Courtney Swink (Marine Biological Association & University of Exeter, UK) Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 1)
15:15 - 15:30
Luke Jones (University of Oxford, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Adaptive Immunity
15:21 - 15:33
Daniel Nash (University of Cambridge, UK) Virus Forum: Systems Virology
15:21 - 15:33
Shu Zhou (Roslin Institute - University of Edinburgh, UK) Virus Forum: The Virospshere
15:21 - 15:33
Ruizhe Li (University of Cambridge, UK) Virus Forum: Virus: Host Interactions
15:21 - 15:33
Beyond the Lab – Turning Your Research Into Reality (Part 2)
15:25 - 15:35
Daniel E. Larcombe (University of Strathclyde, UK) Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 1)
15:30 - 15:45
Rebecca Marrow (The Francis Crick Institute & King's College London, UK) Infection Forum (Part 2)
15:30 - 15:45
David Sünderhauf (University of Exeter, UK) Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 1)
15:30 - 15:45
Emily Park (University of Oxford, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Adaptive Immunity
15:33 - 15:45
Aparna Kaaraal Mohan (University of Cambridge, UK) Virus Forum: Systems Virology
15:33 - 15:45
I'ah Donovan-Banfield (University of Liverpool & NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, UK) Virus Forum: The Virospshere
15:33 - 15:45
Marianne Perera (University of Cambridge, UK) Virus Forum: Virus: Host Interactions
15:33 - 15:45
Beyond the Lab – Turning Your Research Into Reality (Part 2)
15:35 - 16:05
Matthew Tarnowski (Swansea University, UK) Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 1)
15:45 - 16:00
Infection Forum (Part 2)
15:45 - 16:00
Anna Olina (University of Exeter, UK) Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 1)
15:45 - 16:00
Virus Forum: Antiviral Adaptive Immunity
15:45 - 16:03
Virus Forum: Systems Virology
15:45 - 16:03
Virus Forum: The Virospshere
15:45 - 16:03
Virus Forum: Virus: Host Interactions
15:45 - 16:03
Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 1)
16:00 - 16:15
Jialun Wu (University of Galway, Ireland) Infection Forum (Part 2)
16:00 - 16:15
Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 1)
16:00 - 16:15
Sarah Caddy (Cornell University, USA) Virus Forum: Antiviral Adaptive Immunity
16:03 - 16:15
Rose Blake (The Roslin Institute, UK) Virus Forum: Systems Virology
16:03 - 16:15
Lee Sherry (MRC Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, UK) Virus Forum: The Virospshere
16:03 - 16:15
Lucy Eke (University of Surrey, UK) Virus Forum: Virus: Host Interactions
16:03 - 16:15
Sara Holland (Potter Clarkson, UK) Beyond the Lab – Turning Your Research Into Reality (Part 2)
16:05 - 16:25
Katherine Baxter (University of Glasgow, UK) Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 1)
16:15 - 16:30
Vignesh Shetty (Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK) Infection Forum (Part 2)
16:15 - 16:20
Gemma Atkinson (Lund University, Sweden) Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 1)
16:15 - 16:45
Charlotte Houldcroft (University of Cambridge, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Adaptive Immunity
16:15 - 16:27
Marko Noerenberg (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK) Virus Forum: Systems Virology
16:15 - 16:27
Maria Manali (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK) Virus Forum: The Virospshere
16:15 - 16:27
Christine O'Connor (Cleveland Clinic & Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, USA) Virus Forum: Virus: Host Interactions
16:15 - 16:27
Elizabeth O'Gorman (University College Dublin, UK) Infection Forum (Part 2)
16:20 - 16:35
All speakers Beyond the Lab – Turning Your Research Into Reality (Part 2)
16:25 - 17:15
Dylan Postmus (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Adaptive Immunity
16:27 - 16:39
Vayalena Drampa (The Roslin Institute, UK) Virus Forum: Systems Virology
16:27 - 16:39
Wilhelm Furnon (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK) Virus Forum: The Virospshere
16:27 - 16:39
Léo Debaene (University of Liverpool, UK) Virus Forum: Virus: Host Interactions
16:27 - 16:39
Emily Radford (Aberystwyth University, UK) Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 1)
16:30 - 16:45
Shafik Oubihi (University College Dublin, Ireland) Infection Forum (Part 2)
16:35 - 16:40
Ciaran Gilbride (The Francis Crick Institute, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Adaptive Immunity
16:39 - 16:51
Harry Francis (The Pirbright Institute & University of Cambridge, UK) Virus Forum: Systems Virology
16:39 - 16:51
Hannah Goldswain (University of Liverpool, UK) Virus Forum: The Virospshere
16:39 - 16:51
Kemi Hannah Oladipo (University of Birmingham, UK) Virus Forum: Virus: Host Interactions
16:39 - 16:51
Tom Arrowsmith (Durham University, UK) Infection Forum (Part 2)
16:40 - 16:55
Josie McQuillan (University of Sheffield, UK) Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 1)
16:45 - 17:00
Victoria Orr (University of Liverpool, UK) Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 1)
16:45 - 16:50
Jamie Gorzynski (University of Edinburgh, UK) Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 1)
16:50 - 16:55
George Hooper (University of Sussex, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Adaptive Immunity
16:51 - 17:03
Bobbie-Anne Turner (University of Liverpool, UK) Virus Forum: Systems Virology
16:51 - 17:03
Igor Andrade Santos (The Pirbright Institute, UK) Virus Forum: The Virospshere
16:51 - 17:03
Rachel Ulferts (The Francis Crick Institute, UK) Virus Forum: Virus: Host Interactions
16:51 - 17:03
Jamie James (City St. George's University of London & UK Health Security Agency, UK) Infection Forum (Part 2)
16:55 - 17:00
Douglas Lyra H. Fonseca (University of São Paulo, Brazil) Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 1)
16:55 - 17:00
Ciara Keating (Durham University, UK) Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 1)
17:00 - 17:15
Celia Jakob (The Pirbright Institute, UK) Infection Forum (Part 2)
17:00 - 17:15
Audrey Sweten (University of Arizona, USA) Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 1)
17:00 - 17:05
Ryan Imrie (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, UK) Virus Forum: Antiviral Adaptive Immunity
17:03 - 17:15
Stephen Graham (University of Cambridge, UK) Virus Forum: Systems Virology
17:03 - 17:15
Rute Maria Pinto (The Roslin Institute - The University of Edinburgh, UK) Virus Forum: The Virospshere
17:03 - 17:15
Alasdair Hood (University of Oxford, UK) Virus Forum: Virus: Host Interactions
17:03 - 17:15
Mariklairi Kiourkou (Northumbria University, UK) Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 1)
17:05 - 17:10
Poster Block B, Refreshments & Exhibition (Hall 2)
17:15 - 18:15
Professor Cesar de la Fuente, Hall 1 Fleming Prize Lecture: AI for Antibiotic Discovery
18:15 - 19:00
Registration (Galleria)
08:00 - 09:00
Marcel van der Heijden, Hall 1A Hot Topic Lecture: Soil microbiomes & One Health
09:00 - 09:30
Level-1, Hall 2 Foyer Get Involved drop-in: Early Career Forum
09:30 - 10:00
Refreshments & Exhibition (Hall 2)
09:30 - 10:00
Yinka Somorin (RBridge Research and Advisory, Ghana and Ajayi Crowther University, Nigeria) Careers Session: Transitions: Career Paths Outside of Academia
10:00 - 10:20
Nicola Holden (SRUC, UK) Enteric Bacteria: Biology, Diversity and Ecology
10:00 - 10:30
Rhys Orimaco (University College Dublin, Ireland) Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 2)
10:00 - 10:15
Eduardo Rocha (Institut Pasteur, France) Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 2)
10:00 - 10:30
Jolien van Hooff (Wageningen University, Netherlands) Sex, HGT and Symbioses: Genetic Recombination Across the Microbial Eukaryotic Tree of Life
10:00 - 10:30
Linda Oyama (Queen's University Belfast, UK) Tackling AMR through multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration
10:00 - 10:10
Adrian Fox (Fera Science Ltd, UK) Virus Symposium: Into the Virosphere: Exploring the Full Diversity of Virology (Part 2)
10:00 - 10:30
William Gaze (University of Exeter, UK) Tackling AMR through multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration
10:10 - 10:20
Zongting Cai (University of Sheffield, UK) Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 2)
10:15 - 10:30
Aurore Poirier (Vidiia, UK) Careers Session: Transitions: Career Paths Outside of Academia
10:20 - 10:40
Dominic Moran (University of Edinburgh, UK) Tackling AMR through multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration
10:20 - 10:30
David R. Mark (University of Glasgow, UK) Enteric Bacteria: Biology, Diversity and Ecology
10:30 - 10:45
Rebecca Pearman (Northumbria University, UK) Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 2)
10:30 - 10:45
William Smith (University of Manchester, UK) Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 2)
10:30 - 10:45
Ivan Garcia-Cunchillos (University of Warsaw, Poland) Sex, HGT and Symbioses: Genetic Recombination Across the Microbial Eukaryotic Tree of Life
10:30 - 11:00
Willem Van Schaik (University of Birmingham, UK) and Kate Baker, (University of Cambridge, UK) Tackling AMR through multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration
10:30 - 10:40
Ryan Cook (Quadram Institute Bioscience, UK) Virus Symposium: Into the Virosphere: Exploring the Full Diversity of Virology (Part 2)
10:30 - 10:50
Helen McNeil (MicrobesNG, UK) Careers Session: Transitions: Career Paths Outside of Academia
10:40 - 11:00
Matthew Gilmour, Lisa Marchioretto, Marie McIntyre (Quadram Institute, UK) Tackling AMR through multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration
10:40 - 10:50
Samriddhi Thakur (University of Melbourne and Monash University, Australia) Enteric Bacteria: Biology, Diversity and Ecology
10:45 - 11:00
Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 2)
10:45 - 11:15
Aileen Lynch (Queen's University Belfast & DAERA, UK) Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 2)
10:45 - 11:00
Giuseppina Mariano (University of Glasgow, UK) Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 2)
10:45 - 11:00
Seshasailam Venkateswaran (Queen Mary University of London, UK) Tackling AMR through multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration
10:50 - 11:00
Carlos Maluquer de Motes (University of Surrey, UK) Virus Symposium: Into the Virosphere: Exploring the Full Diversity of Virology (Part 2)
10:50 - 11:10
Careers Session: Transitions: Career Paths Outside of Academia
11:00 - 11:15
Hope Okon (University of Greenwich, UK) Enteric Bacteria: Biology, Diversity and Ecology
11:00 - 11:15
John Bruce (University of Strathclyde, UK) Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 2)
11:00 - 11:15
Jasmine Ono (University of Nottingham, UK) Sex, HGT and Symbioses: Genetic Recombination Across the Microbial Eukaryotic Tree of Life
11:00 - 11:15
Michael Bromley (University of Manchester, UK) and Darius James-Armstrong (Imperial College London, UK) Tackling AMR through multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration
11:00 - 11:10
Tackling AMR through multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration
11:10 - 11:25
Thomas Peacock (The Pirbright Institute & Imperial College London, UK) Virus Symposium: Into the Virosphere: Exploring the Full Diversity of Virology (Part 2)
11:10 - 11:30
Richard Gibbs (Marks & Clerk LLP, UK) Careers Session: Transitions: Career Paths Outside of Academia
11:15 - 11:35
Enteric Bacteria: Biology, Diversity and Ecology
11:15 - 11:30
Yingying Wang (Nankai University, China) Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 2)
11:15 - 11:30
Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 2)
11:15 - 11:30
Sex, HGT and Symbioses: Genetic Recombination Across the Microbial Eukaryotic Tree of Life
11:15 - 11:30
Rachel Baird (Food Standards Agency) Tackling AMR through multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration
11:25 - 11:35
Emily Addington (University of Glasgow, UK) Enteric Bacteria: Biology, Diversity and Ecology
11:30 - 11:45
Alejandro Marquiegui (University of Manchester, UK) Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 2)
11:30 - 11:45
Tatiana Dimitriu (University of St Andrews, UK) Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 2)
11:30 - 12:00
Oliver Billker (Umeå University, Sweden) Sex, HGT and Symbioses: Genetic Recombination Across the Microbial Eukaryotic Tree of Life
11:30 - 12:00
Hugo Bisio (IGS, France) Virus Symposium: Into the Virosphere: Exploring the Full Diversity of Virology (Part 2)
11:30 - 12:00
Shane Houston (Biomarker Technologies, UK) Careers Session: Transitions: Career Paths Outside of Academia
11:35 - 11:55
Dorina Timofte (University of Liverpool, UK) Tackling AMR through multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration
11:35 - 11:45
Theano Stoikidou (Queen’s University Belfast, UK) Enteric Bacteria: Biology, Diversity and Ecology
11:45 - 12:00
Irem Soyler (University of Surrey, UK) Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 2)
11:45 - 12:00
Louisa Jenkin (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) Tackling AMR through multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration
11:45 - 11:50
Thiru Vanniasinkam (Charles Sturt University, Australia) and Michael Dillon (University of Plymouth, UK) Tackling AMR through multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration
11:50 - 11:55
Robyn Braes (Novogene, UK) Careers Session: Transitions: Career Paths Outside of Academia
11:55 - 12:15
Tackling AMR through multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration
11:55 - 12:30
Antonia Chalka (University of Edinburgh, UK) Enteric Bacteria: Biology, Diversity and Ecology
12:00 - 12:15
Arnab Majumdar (Imperial College London, UK) Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 2)
12:00 - 12:15
Matt Craske (University of York, UK) Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 2)
12:00 - 12:15
Thomas Richards (University of Oxford, UK) Sex, HGT and Symbioses: Genetic Recombination Across the Microbial Eukaryotic Tree of Life
12:00 - 12:30
Careers Session: Transitions: Career Paths Outside of Academia
12:15 - 12:30
To Nguyen (Monash University, Australia) Enteric Bacteria: Biology, Diversity and Ecology
12:15 - 12:20
Kathleen Dunbar (University of Surrey, UK) Environmental, Applied and Industrial Microbiology Forum (Part 2)
12:15 - 12:30
Charlotte Chong (University of Cambridge, UK) Microbial Warfare: Conflicts Between Species, Strains and Mobile Genetic Elements (Part 2)
12:15 - 12:30
P. Malaka De Silva (University of Cambridge, UK) Enteric Bacteria: Biology, Diversity and Ecology
12:20 - 12:25
Alyssa Winder (University of Suffolk, UK) Enteric Bacteria: Biology, Diversity and Ecology
12:25 - 12:30
A wide range of sessions will be on offer to delegates at Annual Conference 2025, including broad-scope Fora and focused symposia, as well as various professional development and Get Involved activities.
You can explore many of these sessions below, with the full programme available on the Programme tab:
Date: Monday 31 March (PM) & Tuesday 1 April (AM)
Organisers: Enas Newire, Dany Beste, Nick Tucker
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will be a recurring topic for symposia at Annual Conference.
The theme selected for Annual Conference 2025 is Mechanisms & Regulation. We invite submissions on antibiotic drug uptake, efflux, modification, tolerance/persistence and target evolution. We also encourage submissions on regulation and evolution of AMR.
Invited Speakers
Adam Roberts (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK)
Cara Boutte (University of Texas, USA) - Regulation of Mycobacterial cell wall metabolism contributes to antibiotic resistance and tolerance
Michael Brockhurst (University of Manchester, UK)
Michelle Buckner (University of Birmingham, UK) - Transmission and transmission inhibition of AMR plasmids in E. coli and K. pneumoniae
Date: Wednesday 2 April
Organisers: Nicola Holden, Geertje van Keulen, Petra Oyston
There is so much more to getting research into the clinic or the marketplace than just having a good idea and proving it works. Regulation and Policy create the enabling environment within which your research will be used. Awareness of these powerful levers and the constraints they may place upon your work should be included from initial planning of the research to avoid lengthy and time-consuming delays later. Similarly, most academic research requires transitioning into a commercially viable enterprise to achieve impact. Understanding how investors evaluate investment opportunities, and what the journey towards commercial success is also important.
This session will include presentations from people involved in Policy, Regulation and investors, as well as examples from researchers to bring these potentially dry topics to life for the bench scientist. This will be followed by a round table featuring the presenters with a Q&A session taking questions from the floor.
Invited Speakers
Daniel Robinson (ESRC, UK)
Isabel Webb (DSIT, UK) - Update from the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology
James MacDonald (Solena Materials Limited, UK) - From Chance Meeting to Startup – The Journey of Commercialising Novel Biobased Textile Fibres
Jonny Hazell (Royal Society, UK)
Matt Gilmour (Quadram Institute, UK)
Sara Holland (Potter Clarkson, UK) - Research to real impact through IP
Date: Tuesday 1 April (AM)
Organisers: Calvin Tiengwe, Fiona Henriques-Mui, Girish Beedessee
Emerging eukaryotic microbial pathogens pose significant risks to public health, biodiversity, and global ecosystems. These pathogens can cause severe diseases in humans, animals, and plants, leading to significant morbidity, mortality, and economic loss. Factors such as climate change, global travel, and agricultural practices drive their emergence and spread, creating new opportunities for transmission and infection. Addressing these threats requires a multidisciplinary approach, including the characterisation of pathogen biology, robust surveillance systems, advanced diagnostic tools, and effective treatments and prevention strategies.
This session will focus on diverse emerging eukaryotic pathogens, emphasising the need for innovative methods to understand their complex biology and spread. Early identification and rapid response are essential to prevent outbreaks, minimize impacts on health systems, and safeguard food security and natural ecosystems. By stimulating these discussions, we aim to better protect public health and maintain ecological balance.
Invited Speakers
Christopher Rice (Purdue University, USA) - Awareness, drug discovery and diagnostic tools against pathogenic free-living amoebae.
Clare Hamilton (Moredun Research Institute, UK)
Rob Moon (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK) - Understanding host cell tropism in Zoonotic malaria
Date: Monday 31 March
Organisers: Microbiology Society Members Panel
Join us for an inspiring forum led by the Members Panel of the Microbiology Society. This session is dedicated to showcasing specific actions and initiatives that are building a more inclusive research environment. We invite members to share their impactful activities and successful strategies, providing a platform to exchange practical ideas and solutions. This is an opportunity to learn from each other’s triumphs and challenges, raising awareness of the needs of underrepresented and historically marginalised groups. Abstract submissions are welcomed from all career stages for talks and posters. Topics can range from diversity initiatives in microbiology, overcoming barriers to inclusion, to actionable ideas for achieving equity across various settings, from academia to industry. We particularly encourage submissions detailing the development and implementation of novel approaches and initiatives. Be a part of this dynamic session to inspire and be inspired, and to gather actionable insights that can drive positive change in your own sphere of influence.
Date: Monday 31 March (PM) & Tuesday 1 April (AM)
Organisers: Mel Lacey, Alison Graham
We welcome abstracts on any aspect of learning or teaching microbiology as well as any aspect of engaging a wider audience with microbiology. This year, we particularly welcome abstracts on artificial intelligence, antimicrobial resistance, and low-budget projects, but will consider abstracts on any topic. We are happy to receive abstracts from colleagues in any setting e.g. clinicians, technicians, those in industry, etc.
Invited Speakers
Jo Rushworth (University of Lincoln, UK)
Jody Winter (Nottingham Trent University, UK) - Education, outreach and research – the magic is in the mixture!
Date: Thursday 3 April (AM)
Organisers: Nick Tucker
The Enterobacteriaceae is a diverse family of Gram-negative bacteria that includes significant genera including Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Proteus, Salmonella and Shigella spp. This symposium aims to discuss all aspects of the biology and ecology of these organisms not just in human health but in the environment. Examples may include (but not limited to) horizontal gene transfer in the environment, faecal contamination of water, population biology & genomics, roles in microbiomes and virulence. To capture the diversity of the Enterobacteriaceae, abstracts from rarer members of the family are particularly welcomed.
Date: Wednesday 2 April (PM) & Thursday 3 April (AM)
This forum includes offered papers on any area and any organism relevant to environmental, ecological, applied and industrial microbiology, including (non-human) host–microbe communities and interactions, marine and freshwater microbiology, soil and geomicrobiology, air-, cryo- and extremophile microbiology, climate change, biotechnology, bio-processing and bio-engineering, food microbiology, and other applied and industrial microbial processes, including microbe-mediated biodegradation and bioremediation.
Date: Tuesday 1 April (PM)
Organisers: Kasia Parfitt, Sam Sheppard
Just because a bacterial pathogen is lesser known, does not mean that it is not a potential threat to health. The aim of this session is to expand our knowledge on these bacteria, through both laboratory and bioinformatics approaches. Abstracts are encouraged from a wide range of research topics that cover emerging/re-emerging diseases, zoonoses, pathogenicity, public health, tropical diseases, epidemiology, and diagnostics/therapy. Overall, this half-day symposium will shed light on the importance of unrecognised threats to public health and identifying critical research gaps in scientific knowledge.
Invited Speakers
Eshwar Mahenthiralingam (Cardiff University, UK) - Burkholderia bacteria: expanding our knowledge of their taxonomy and pathogenesis using genomics
Sylvain Brisse (Pasteur Institute, France) - Diphtheria agents revisited through the lens of genomics
Date: Tuesday 1 April (PM)
Organisers: Jordan Price, Alison Smith, Chris Cooper
This session will explore the innovative uses of microorganisms in the production of alternative proteins. Covering the latest research and technological advancements, we will highlight how fungi, bacteria, and algae are being used to create sustainable, nutritious, and scalable protein sources. Attendees will gain insights into microbial biomass and precision fermentation processes, genetic engineering, and biotechnological applications that are driving the future of food. Join us to discover how microbiology is at the forefront of solving global challenges related to food security and sustainability through the development of alternative proteins.
Invited Speakers
Alessia Buscaino (University of Kent, UK) - Exploring intra-Species diversity in fungi for novel Mycoprotein production
Andrew Spicer (Algenuity, UK)
Catherine Elton (Qkine, UK)
Date: Monday 31 March (PM) & Tuesday 1 April (AM)
Genetics and genomics forum will consider offered papers on all aspects of the genes and genomes of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes and their mobile elements, including their sequencing, transcription, translation, regulation, chromosome dynamics, gene transfer, population genetics and evolution, taxonomy and systematics, comparative genomics, metagenomics, bioinformatics, and synthetic biology.
Date: Wednesday 2 April
Offered papers (and associated posters) will be presented in areas related to clinical, veterinary and plant infections caused by microbial pathogens. This will include detection and diagnosis, identification, typing and epidemiology, pathogenesis, virulence, host response and immunity, treatment and prevention, antimicrobial agents and resistance, transmission and models of infection. Eligible abstracts can be entered into the Infection Science Award competition, with the awardees invited to the Federation of Infection Societies annual meeting.
Date: Tuesday 1 April (PM)
Organisers: Tina Joshi, Catrin Moore, Enas Newire, Dany Beste
The Knocking Out AMR forum will consider submissions across the key themes of surveillance, diagnostics, novel antimicrobials, vaccination, policy and education initiatives relevant to tackling the global challenge of Anti-Microbial Resistance. We strongly encourage impactful papers addressing the One Health aspects of AMR, including agriculture, veterinary, human and environmental microbiology, AMR and Climate Change, and AMR in the Global South. We look forward to a range of submissions across these key themes. Speakers will be selected from the submitted abstracts.
Date: Monday 31 March (PM) & Tuesday 1 April (AM)
This forum will consider offered papers on all aspects of microbial (prokaryotic and eukaryotic) metabolism, physiology and molecular biology. This will focus on fundamental and translational research in this area. This would include the metabolism and physiology of bacteria, archaea and eukaryotic microbes, including pathogens; biochemistry and structure of cells, cell growth and division; cell architecture and differentiation; synthesis and transport of macromolecules; ions and small molecules; development signalling and communication, sensing and cellular responses and also how this work informs microbial engineering, antimicrobial drug development, and other potential applications. All speakers will be selected from the submitted abstracts.
Date: Wednesday 2 April (PM) & Thursday 3 April (AM)
Organisers: Rebecca Corrigan, James Hall, Chris Cooper, Joao Botelho, Jerry Reen
In their natural habitats, microbes live alongside other microbes, and are exposed to a diversity of mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Frequently, this coexistence is beset with conflict, as microbes express a panoply of mechanisms to attack one another and defend themselves. This session offers a window into the complex mechanisms of ‘microbial warfare’: ways in which microbes (and MGEs) interact to outcompete one another and survive, and will include discussions on: MGEs and horizontal gene transfer (HGT), bacteriophage/prophage, plasmids, CRISPR and other genome defence systems, toxin/anti-toxin systems, interference competition/secretion systems and more! It will also allow for conversations around the roles of these elements/systems in microbial adaptation, evolution, community dynamics, and the spread of traits like antimicrobial resistance. This exciting theme will foster a deeper understanding of the importance of communication and defence in microbial communities.
Invited Speakers
Eduardo Rocha (Pasteur Institute, France) - The contribution of interactions between mobile elements to the bacterial pan-genome
Gemma Atkinson (Lund University, Sweden) - Discovery and characterisation of toxin-antitoxins and other phage defence systems
Tatiana Dimitriu (University of St Andrews, UK) - Conflicts between plasmids and with defence systems drive the evolution of AMR plasmid transmission
Tim Blower (Durham University, UK) - “All the World’s a Phage” - Exploring phage-host interactions
Date: Thursday 3 April (AM)
Organisers: Robert Hirt, Maria Domingo Sananes
Genetic recombination allows organisms to eliminate deleterious DNA and assemble new beneficial genetic combinations. Eukaryotes evolved meiosis and sexual reproduction as a unique and controlled mechanism for recombination. However, horizontal gene transfer (the primary recombination mechanism in bacteria) also makes new combinations and appears particularly important during endosymbiosis. This session will explore the diversity and extent of genetic recombination across the microbial eukaryotic tree of life, showcasing a variety of mechanisms, organisms and outcomes.
Invited Speakers
Ivan Garcia Cunchillos (University of Warsaw, Poland) - The impact of horizontal gene transfer in the acquisition of plastids, the emergent model Rapaza viridis.
Jolien van Hooff (Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands) - Rethinking eukaryotic genome innovation: New perspectives on the prevalence, integration and implications of horizontally transferred genes
Oliver Bilker (Umea University, Sweden)
Thomas Richards (University of Oxford, UK)
Date: Tuesday 1 April (PM) & Wednesday 2 April (AM)
Organisers: Albert Bolhuis, Campbell Gourlay
Just as imposters lurk undetected in the popular online game “Among Us”, pathogenic fungi often evade conventional treatments and pose a growing challenge to global health and agriculture. The selection of resistance and virulence traits as a result of extensive use of fungicides and environmental conditions such as pollution and climate change raise the threat of fungal disease in animals and plants ever further. This issue is underscored by the WHO, which has noted the rising threat of fungal pathogens and their increasing resistance to a limited number of available antifungal drugs. Collaborative efforts in surveillance, responsible antimicrobial use, and environmental stewardship are crucial. Additionally, innovations in drug development, improved diagnostics, and infection control strategies are essential to combat this evolving threat. This session will focus on the challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance in fungi and explore strategies to mitigate its impact.
Invited Speakers
Albert Bolhuis (University of Bath, UK) - Exploring the activity of hydrogen sulphide against dermatophytes
Amelia Barber (University of Jena, Germany) - Searching for the source: how environmental fungi become clinically resistant
Campbell Gourlay (University of Kent, UK) - Candida albicans Utilises Methaemoglobin to Build Ultra-Drug Resistant Polymicrobial Biofilms
Helen Cockerton (University of Kent, UK)
Norman van Rhijn (University of Manchester, UK) - Rising Heat, Rising Threat: How Climate Change Fuels Fungal Pathogens
Date: Wednesday 2 April (AM)
Organisers: Florence Abram, Sam Sheppard, Trevor Cickvoski
The arrival of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) approaches is changing the microbiology research landscape. The requirement for computationally demanding analyses has precipitated solutions from divergent philosophies of data analysis, sometimes from separate communities. Machine learning and statistical inference have overlapping knowledge discovery aims and approaches. However, machine learning focuses on optimizing prediction, whereas statistical inference focuses on understanding the processes relating variables. In this session we will explore the strengths (and weaknesses) of AI and ML in microbiology. Drawing on examples from across the microbiological world, we aim to outline the different aspirations, precepts, and resulting methodologies, and examine the potential of AI as an emerging analytical approach. The session will conclude with a panel discussion addressing opportunities, challenges, and standards related to the application of AI in microbiological research, with a particular focus on the necessity for rigorous validation.
Invited Speakers
Cesar de la Fuente (University of Pennsylvania, USA) – Guest Panellist
Daniel Wilson (University of Oxford, UK) - Machine learning versus statistical inference in microbial genomics
Nicola Segata (University of Trento, Italy) - Machine learning in metagenomics for precision medicine and personalized nutrition
Tania Dottorini (University of Nottingham, UK) - Genomic traits and social determinants of health drive bacterial antimicrobial resistance: current trends and projections to 2050 revealed by machine learning
Date: Monday 31 March (PM) & Tuesday 1 April (AM)
Organisers: Stephen Kelly, Florence Abram, Jerry Reen, Aoife Mulry, Guerrino Macori, Nicky O'Boyle, John Kenny
Microbiomes play a critical role in the health of humans and animals, as well as in plants and ecosystems. This session, run over two days, will focus on the functional role of microbiomes in each of these niches, and their impact in health and disease. We welcome abstracts relating to all human and animal-associated microbiomes, including the gut, skin, lung, and oral environments. We also welcome abstracts addressing the influence of microbiomes on plant and ecosystem health. This includes ecosystem stability and biodiversity, soil fertility and agriculture, plant disease resistance and stress tolerance, and climate control. This session aims to bring together the wider microbiome research community with a view to highlighting the latest methodologies to study function and exploring the important role of microbiomes across the broader research theme.
Invited Speakers
Jack Gilbert (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, USA) - Translating microbiome research into clinical practice.
John Cryan (University College Cork, Ireland)
Lindsay Hall (University of Birmingham, UK) - Exploring dynamics of early life microbiomes
Sinead Waters (University of Galway, Ireland) - Understanding the rumen microbiome to enhance methane mitigation strategies for ruminants
Date: Tuesday 1 April (PM) & Wednesday 2 April (AM)
Organisers: Mathew Diggle, Conor Feehily, Robert Hirt
The microbes of a urogenital tract represent a dynamic and often poorly studied facet of human health. Microbes found here can play important roles in maintaining health, influencing the transmission of infectious pathogens, and affecting fertility and pregnancy outcomes. In this session we will discuss the importance of inter-kingdom relationships; integrating bacteria, microbial eukaryotes and viruses; within the urogenital microbiota, cover the mechanisms of host-microbe dialogue, and determine the value of microbiome research from clinical perspectives. All research involving fundamental and clinical microbiology, diagnostics, and interventions are welcome for submission.
Invited Speakers
Lyle McKinnon (University of Manitoba, Canada) - Immunoregulation in the female genital tract
Lynne Sykes (Imperial College London, UK) - Modulation of the vaginal microbiome as a therapeutic target for preterm birth prevention
Melissa M. Herbst-Kralovetz (University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, USA) - Harnessing Vaginal Microbiome Science for Women’s Health: Emerging Pathogens and Their Role in HPV-Driven Cervical Cancer
Date: Tuesday 1 April (PM) & Wednesday 2 April (PM)
Organisers: Microbiology Society Virus Division
Tuesday PM: Innate Immunity, RNA Biology, Pathogenesis & Anti-virals, Biochemistry of Infection
Wednesday PM: Virospshere, Host:Pathogen Interaction, Systems Approaches, Adaptive Immunity
The virology community has to embrace many different disciplines to understand the diversity of viruses and to study how such small things can have such wide-ranging effects. Historically, the Microbiology Society’s Virus Workshops have tried to capture the amazing variety of virology with pre-determined sessions, alternating between sessions based on virus taxonomy and sessions based on the properties of viruses and how they interact with their hosts. However, the balance of content can change from year to year, making it challenging to divide up offered papers between sessions. From this year, we are opening up the choice of topics for these sessions to all our community. As in previous years there will be 8 half-day workshops (now called ‘Virus Forums') held over two days at the Annual Conference, but the topics will be tailored to reflect the current variety of virus research.
To achieve this, we are asking you to submit your most exciting research to us and to select 2-3 key terms which you think best describe your work. We will then use these keywords to help develop 8 workshops based on the content received. We have retained the previous session titles as options, and have also included an ‘Other’ category – if you are doing something new that doesn’t fit any of the current categories please let us know and we will fit it into a session (or maybe even create a new session!).
Date: Monday 31 March (PM)
Organisers: Ben Brennan, Clive McKimmie
This session will address the intersection of the climate crisis and infectious viral disease. We will discuss how the climate crisis is driving the emergence and geographic expansion of varied pathogens, from emerging zoonotic pathogens to established arthropod-borne viruses and their vectors. Projections indicate a vast increase in the risk posed to immunologically naïve individuals as the climate changes. Outbreaks of disease are already exacerbating public health challenges that result from the absence of treatments and vaccines for many of these infections. Speakers from a variety of disciplines, including disease modelling, virology and vector biology will explore the unintended consequences of climate change, such as increased cross-species viral transmission risks. This symposium aims to deepen our understanding of these dynamics and highlight the urgent need for innovative solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change on global infectious disease patterns.
Invited Speakers
Greg Albery (Trinity College Dublin, Ireland) - How climate change influences viral emergence by altering animal behaviour and ecology
Jolyon Medlock (UK Health Security Agency, UK)
Thomas Morrison (University of Colorado, USA) - Host and Viral Determinants of Arbovirus Viremia and Dissemination
Date: Wednesday 2 April (AM) & Thursday 3 April (AM)
Organisers: Joe Grove, Helena Maier
The virosphere - encompassing the entirety of viral ‘life’ on earth - intertwines with the cellular tree of life. It contains a huge diversity of biological forms and functions, much of which remains uncharacterised or undiscovered. However, the majority of virology research focusses on viruses of mammals, particularly humans, and therefore considers only a fraction of the Virosphere. In this session we look beyond a human-centric view to explore the full diversity of viral ecology, evolution and biology.
Invited Speakers
Adrian Fox (Fera Science Ltd., UK) - Tomato brown rugose fruit virus: The other global virus pandemic…
Charlotte Houldcroft (University of Cambridge, UK) - A Thirty Thousand Year Perspective on Human DNA Virus Evolution
Chantal Abergel (CNRS Aix-Marseille Université, France)
Mary Petrone (University of Sydney, Australia) - Exploring genetic innovation throughout the evolutionary history of RNA viruses
Date: Tuesday 1 April (AM)
Organisers: Matthew Reeves, Richard Stanton
Over a hundred years ago Peyton Rous demonstrated that an infectious agent could promote tumorigenesis which, many years later, paved the way for the discovery of oncogenes in retroviruses and, subsequently, proto-oncogenes in the host genome. This symposium will cover the underlying mechanisms of how viruses transform cells to persist in the host and the pathogenesis they cause. Furthermore, it will also feature how viruses (both oncogenic and non-oncogenic) have been re-purposed to target and kill cancer cells - highlighting how viruses can cause, and be used to kill, cancer.
Invited Speakers
Alan Parker (Cardiff University, UK) - Development of “precision virotherapies” for the systemic treatment of cancer.
Ethan Morgan (University of Sussex, UK) - Identifying novel therapeutic targets in HPV-associated cancers
Fiona Errington-Mais (University of Leeds, UK) - Rationally designed combination therapies to enhance the efficacy of oncolytic reovirus.
Annual Conference 2025_Invited and offered talks booklet
Annual Conference 2025_Poster abstract booklet
Abstract submission for the Microbiology Society Annual Conference is now closed. The session organisers will review submitted abstracts and submitters will be notified of the outcome directly in December 2024.
Abstracts should be submitted through the Oxford Abstracts system. Both members and non-members of the Microbiology Society are welcome to submit an abstract. By submitting an abstract to this meeting, you are indicating to the session organisers your commitment to attend the event.
Fora
Symposia
Please note that the abstract is the only information session organisers use when deciding whether to accept your work for presentation as an offered talk or poster. If accepted, it will be published in the online programme or poster abstract book for the conference – so think carefully about what needs to be included.
Registration for Annual Conference has officially closed.
We understand this may be disappointing news for those who haven't registered. Be sure to register your interest to receive updates and reminders for Annual Conference 2026.
The Microbiology Society's Annual Conference is the UK's largest annual gathering of microbiologists, and we welcome everyone from across our community to Liverpool in 2025.
Members get heavily subsidised registration fees for Annual Conference and other Society events – both online and in-person. Join now to enjoy these discounts and many other opportunities that are designed for microbiologists at all stages of their careers.
Please note, Annual Conference now offers a single-rate registration fee for each membership category, in alignment with the rest of our programme.
| Membership type | Price |
|
Full member |
£699 |
|
Concessionary member |
£330 |
| Affiliate member For anyone with an interest in microbiology who simply wants to stay in touch. |
£876 |
|
Student member |
£291 |
| Non-member | £1,239 |
What's included in your registration fee?
Upon registration, you should receive an automated confirmation email. Please contact conferences@microbiologysociety.org if this has not been received within 24 hours.
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.
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.
Refunds are not provided; however substitutions of attendees can be made at any time before the event by contacting conferences@microbiologysociety.org.
Applications for the Society Events Grant to support members attending Annual Conference 2025 are now closed.
Grants will act as contributions towards registration, travel, and accommodation expenses only.
Eligible membership categories:
Minimum membership period required:
A minimum membership period of one year and two consecutive membership payments is required. Postgraduates and Undergraduates with three-year memberships will need to have completed one year (three-year membership payment constitutes consecutive payment).
Please read all information carefully on the Society Events Grant page before submitting an application for funding.
Continuing Professional Development
The Society aims to include a professional development offering for its membership and delegates at most of its events. This year’s Annual Conference is no exception and includes a diverse range of CPD related sessions and awards aimed at our Early Career delegates. From career direction and co-chairing, to networking opportunities and publishing support, this year’s Annual Conference will cater to delegates varying professional development needs.
|
Time |
Session |
Speaker (where applicable) |
|
Monday 31 March |
||
|
13:00- 13:45 |
Champions of Change: Celebrating Actions Advancing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
|
Sharon Brookes Sara Henderson Skylar Gay |
|
15:00- 17:30 |
Education and Outreach Network (EON) Symposium (1) |
Various |
|
17:35- 18:00 |
Champions’ Showcase: World AMR Awareness Week 2025
|
Bruno Silvester Lopes Linda Oyama Third speaker TBC |
|
Tuesday 1 April |
||
|
13:15- 13:45 |
Publishing Fundamentals: Q&A session |
Various |
|
10:15- 12:45 |
Education and Outreach Network (EON) Symposium (2) |
Various |
|
Wednesday 2 April |
||
|
10:15- 11:15 |
Infection Science Award (ISA) Awardees 2024 (during the Infection Forum) |
Alyssa Hudson Ioannis Baltas Helen Savage
|
|
11:30- 17:15 |
Infection Science Award ( Finalists 2025 (during the Infection Forum) |
Pok-Man Ho Oluwatosin Orababa Elizabeth O’Gorman Aaron Curtis Jialun Wu Tom Arrowsmith Liam Rooney
|
|
Thursday 3 April |
||
|
10:00- 12:30 |
Careers Session: Transitions: Career Paths Outside Academia |
Yinka Somorin Aurore Poirer Helen McNeil Richard Gibbs Shane Houston Robyn Braes |
|
|
||
|
Throughout Conference |
Early Career Co-chairing Scheme |
|
|
Throughout Conference |
The Sir Howard Dalton Early Career Microbiologist of the Year |
|
Career Session: Transitions: career paths outside of academia
During the career session, delegates will benefit from the different perspectives and career journeys of invited speakers who have transitioned from academia to industry, the legal profession and more. The session’s keynote speakers, Yinka Somorin, is a seasoned research consultant with a wealth of experience in advising on careers outside academia. Delegates will have a chance to have their questions asked and answered during a Q&A round at the end of the session.
Champions of Change: Celebrating Actions Advancing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Join us for an inspiring forum led by the Members Panel of the Microbiology Society. This session is dedicated to showcasing specific actions and initiatives that are building a more inclusive research environment. We invite members to share their impactful activities and successful strategies, providing a platform to exchange practical ideas and solutions. This is an opportunity to learn from each other’s triumphs and challenges, raising awareness of the needs of underrepresented and historically marginalised groups. Abstract submissions are welcomed from all career stages for talks and posters. Topics can range from diversity initiatives in microbiology, overcoming barriers to inclusion, to actionable ideas for achieving equity across various settings, from academia to industry. We particularly encourage submissions detailing the development and implementation of novel approaches and initiatives. Be a part of this dynamic session to inspire and be inspired, and to gather actionable insights that can drive positive change in your own sphere of influence.
Infection Science Award
The Infection Science Award is an exchange scheme that facilitates the most promising trainee and early career presenters from the Federation of Infection Societies (FIS) Annual Conference (Infectious Disease Futures session) to present at the Microbiology Society Annual Conference (Infection Forum) and vice versa. The Award aims to support the exchange of ideas between the two meetings and the career development of early career researchers and trainee scientists and doctors by exposing them to new audiences and networks.
Champions’ Showcase: World AMR Awareness Week 2025
Hear from Society Champions about some of the outreach activities funded by the Society as part of World AMR Awareness Week 2024, to highlight AMR and the Knocking Out AMR project to a variety of communities around the world.
Publishing Fundamentals: Q&A session
Our Publishing Fundamentals programme is developed for early-career researchers and those who want to better understand how academic publishing works, including how to get involved with the Society’s journals as authors, editors, or reviewers. Attendees to this Q&A session will have the opportunity to understand the lifecycle of a manuscript how to write a manuscript, how to prepare your article for submission, and the support the Society provides to authors, reviewers and editors throughout the process.
Education and Outreach Network Symposium
The Education and Outreach Network emphasises aspects of learning or teaching microbiology as well as any aspect of engaging a wider audience with microbiology. The Network’s symposium this year will particularly focus on artificial intelligence, antimicrobial resistance, and low-budget projects and welcomes colleagues in any setting e.g. clinicians, technicians, those in industry, etc.
EC Co-Chairing Scheme
The EC-Co-Chairing scheme offers selected EC Forum members an insightful professional development opportunity to learn about being a session chair from more experienced colleagues. Co-Chairs will receive a letter of thanks from the EC Forum Executive Committee confirming that they participated in the Co-Chairing Scheme and will be recognised in the conference programme.
The Sir Howard Dalton Early Career Microbiologist of the Year Competition
The Sir Howard Dalton Early Career Microbiologist of the Year prize recognises and rewards excellence in science communication by a member in the early stages of their career. With the new set up, the Competition will be split between talks and posters. Talk presentation judging will be led by division chairs with help from session chairs, while posters will be judged by the Early Career Forum Executive Committee with help from the Society’s Champions.
This event has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) for 140 CPD credits and approved by the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) for 24 CPD credits.
The conference will take place at the ACC Liverpool:
Kings Dock, Liverpool Waterfront, L3 4FP
For all car journeys, it’s best to follow the white-on-brown tourist route signs for the Waterfront. These signs are visible on the major routes into the city. ACC Liverpool is situated on the Kings Dock directly adjacent to the south side of the Albert Dock. Upon arrival, the Kings Dock entrance is clearly signposted.
From the North:
Leave the M6 at junction 26 and follow signs for M58 Liverpool. Follow to the end of M58 and then take signs for A59 Liverpool. Continue to follow Liverpool City Centre until picking up signs for the Waterfront.
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, picking up and following signs for Waterfront.
Car Parking Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool
On-site pay and display parking is available 24 hours from Monday-Sunday. Pricing for parking is as follows:
Virgin Trains operates hourly, direct services from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street (with a journey time of two hours). Other long-distance rail services also operate into Liverpool Lime Street station.
ACC Liverpool is a 20-minute walk from Lime Street or a short taxi ride. You can also transfer at Lime Street onto the underground Wirral Line trains to James Street station (10 10-minute walk) or catch the CityLink Route C4 (07:00–20:00) 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.
Ring Traveline Merseyside 0871 200 22 33 for up-to-date information about your bus, train or ferry service. The Traveline is open from 08:00–20:00 every day of the week.
Most Liverpool city centre bound buses will call at either Queen Square bus station (a 15-minute walk) or Liverpool ONE Bus Station (a 5-minute walk). For up-to-date information on all bus, train and ferry services, call Traveline Merseyside on 08712002233, open 08:00– 20:00, 364 days a year or visit: www.merseytravel.gov.uk.
A taxi from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to the city centre will take approximately 20 minutes or the express bus service Route 500 will take approximately 25 minutes, dropping you off within a 5-minute walk of ACC Liverpool.
Please note that ACC Liverpool has several bike racks positioned on the riverside.
To support you in securing your accommodation we provide links to our booking and accommodation services via First Choice.
First Choice has secured negotiated rates at hotels to suit a broad range of budgets.
Book accommodation
If you require any further information for personal or group hotel bookings, please email accommodation@firstchoice-ce.co.uk at any time.
The Society is again teaming up with Nipperbout to provide a free crèche at the Annual Conference 2025. The crèche will be available to all children of delegates between the ages of 0 and 12 years.
All registered delegates will be offered the opportunity to make use of these free childcare services, which will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
How to register your child
In order to register, visit the Nipperbout portal.
Existing account holders who have already used the system can log into their existing account and register for the event using the event code: MIC310324 under Events and Sessions.
Members who have not used the system before can create an account by clicking register, completing the form and entering the event code:MIC310324. You will then be able to request a place for your child in the creche and create your password.
Booking is on a first-come, first-served basis. Confirmation of your booking will be sent prior to the conference.
Please note that you are entering into an agreement with Nipperbout and not the Microbiology Society.
Nipperbout is an award-winning event childcare company with over 25 years of experience. For more information, please visit the Nipperbout website. If you have any queries about this service, please contact: registration@nipperbout.com.
For further information, please contact: conferences@microbiologysociety.org.
Level access routes and toilets are clearly signposted throughout the venue and there are dedicated spaces for wheelchair users to sit in the main auditorium. However, if you would prefer to self-transfer to an auditorium seat, please ask a member of staff who will be happy to assist. Induction loops are available in rooms 1A, 1B, 1C, 3, 4, 11 and 12 as standard and can be provided in other rooms.
All accessible toilets are also signposted as gender neutral and available for anyone requiring gender neutral facilities to use. We collect pronoun information during registration and all name badges either have pronouns printed on them, or a space to add these, should you wish to. Please do respect other delegates personal pronouns.
This year, for the first time, we will have sunflower lanyards available for attendees with hidden disabilities. If you would like one of these lanyards, please ask at the registration desk at any time during the Conference. Stocks will be limited, so please only request one if you consider yourself to have a hidden disability.
There will be seating dotted around the venue should you need to rest, however this can be limited during busy times. If you need support finding seating, please don’t hesitate to ask a member of Society or venue staff.
Please ensure you include your accessibility requirements during registration so that we can provide you with further details if applicable.
We have dedicated areas to accommodate our delegates who may require a quiet space, prayer room or nursing room – these will be signposted in-venue but please ask us if you can’t find what you are looking for. This year, the prayer room is a little walk from the toilets, so please bear this in mind if you need to conduct ablutions before using the room.
We appreciate that with Eid ul-Fitr due to take place on the first day of Conference, delegates celebrating may need to leave sessions early or more frequently than usual.
We work very closely with all our venue catering teams to ensure all dietary requirements can be provided for. Please ensure you include your dietary requirements during registration and please don’t hesitate to let us know, or speak to the venue catering staff, if you can’t see your requirement signposted during the event.
We recently took the decision to remove alcohol from all scientific sessions, including poster sessions, to ensure everyone can participate fully. However, a drinks reception will take place on the evening of Monday 31 March and alcohol will also be available at some social events.
The Early Career (EC) Forum Executive Committee will be hosting an evening of networking and socialising with other early career microbiologists on Monday 31 March 2025. Your ticket includes entry, participation, and a light buffet. Whether it's your first time at Conference and you'd like to meet new people or you'd just like to come and enjoy an evening of fun and socialising, be sure to join this event.
Secure your tickets
Please join a group of Society members for the second Disabled and Neurodivergent Members social at Annual Conference. We welcome all members of the Microbiology Society at any career stage who identify as disabled, neurodivergent (e.g. autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, dyspraxic and more) and/or chronically ill, irrespective of whether they have a formal diagnosis, are awaiting diagnosis or self-identify. Refreshments will be provided at the venue with generous support from the Microbiology Society. Please click the button below for further venue and accessibility information.
Registration for this event has now closed.
Join the Queer in Microbiology group for an evening of fun, networking, and celebration at the fourth installment of the LGBTQ+ Networking Event, which includes a Trans and Nonbinary pre-meet for a second year. The event is open to LGBTQ+ microbiologists and their allies; refreshments will be provided. The venue will be confirmed to attendees closer to the date but is only a short walk from the conference venue. Please click the button below for further information and to secure your place.
Registration for this event has reopened – last remaining tickets available.
Secure your tickets
It's quiz time! Ready to unleash your inner quiz champion? Gather your troops, book your tickets, and prepare to flex your intellectual muscles!
Location within walking distance of the ACC. Venue confirmed via email to attendees; your ticket includes a welcome drink.
Secure your tickets
ExhibitionPLUS is an initiative designed to help you discover other ways members engage with the Society, and provide you with more opportunities to grow your network and customer base.
Annual Conference 2025 offers opportunities for industry over three days to network with delegates across all career stages, oral and poster presenters, and authors publishing in our journals.
Please note our industry sponsored sessions have now sold out. Other package options are available so book now to secure your spot.
If you have any questions about the packages available please email exhibitions@microbiologysociety.org. Limited spaces available. Book early to choose your preferred stand.
attendees
exhibition opportunities
sessions
abstracts
Beckman Coulter Life Sciences
Constant Systems
ProtonDx
VH Bio
Cellexus