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At Annual Conference 2026 we want to create an environment which is as welcoming and inclusive as possible for all of our delegates. Find out more below about what this might mean for you.

The Microbiology Society’s Microbiology Outlooks, launched in 2025, has published its inaugural article: “When Theory Meets Genomics: Reconciling Game Dynamics and Within-Host Evolution”. The new commentary explores how theoretical models and genomic data can be integrated to understand within-host evolution.  

Cryptococcus neoformans, a pathogen fungi responsible for 112,000 deaths in 2020, is increasingly found in patients alongside the bacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In the paper, published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology, researchers identify for the first time that interaction between the two microorganisms contributes towards worsened disease outcomes in those co-infected.

Thanks to the support of subscribing institutions, the Microbiology Society is pleased to confirm that we have again met our sustainability target for the Journal of General Virology  and the Journal of Medical Microbiology  under the Subscribe to Open (S2O) model for 2026. All content published in these titles in the next year will be published as permanently Open Access (OA). 

In this month's Microbe Talk, Lilly chats with microbiologist Prof Wilhelmina Huston about what science knows so far about the relationship between the vaginal microbiome - the composition of microbes that live on and within the vagina - and sexual health, including her recent research investigating how the microbial composition of the vagina can impact susceptibility to painful conditions, like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). We also cover current treatments and where the future of treatment of STIs and other sexual health disorders is headed.

For over a century, the cornerstone of modern medicine has been a simple yet profound truth: cleanliness saves lives. Infection control is not merely a hospital policy; it is the fundamental shield that allows complex surgeries and life-saving treatments to occur safely. However, as we move further into the 21st century, we are discovering that this shield is being challenged by the very nature of the microbial world we inhabit. 

The first Women Microbiologist Network session was held at Annual Conference 2025 as a member-led event hosted by Dr Enas Newire (Middlesex University, UK). The inaugural session, titled ‘Women Microbiologists in Academia: Challenges and Opportunities’ was well attended and received positive feedback from participants.  

We are delighted to announce the Hot Topic presentation at Annual Conference 2026 will be ‘What AI can and can’t do for antibiotic discovery’, given by Assistant Professor Jon Stokes on 16 April 2026 at the ICC, Belfast, UK. 

One month into 2026 and there’s no shortage of exciting new species to start our year off the right way!