Sunday 7 September 2008

16:00 - 20:30

Registration

17:30 - 19:00

“Advances in the Prevention of Invasive Meningococcal Disease”

Sponsored by Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics

  Chairs: C. Frasch, Martinsburg, West Virginia, USA & R. Rappuoli, Siena, Italy
 

R. Borrow, Manchester, United Kingdom 

M. Frosch, Würzburg, Germany 

M. Maiden, Oxford, United Kingdom 

D. Martin, Wellington, New Zealand 

M. Pizza, Siena, Italy

   

19:00- 20:30

Welcome Reception

 

 

Monday 8 September 2008

08:30 - 10:30

Bacterial genetics, physiology and metabolism 1

 

Chairs: C. Tang, London, United Kingdom & T. Tonjum, Oslo, Norway

08:30 - 08:50 A cis-acting DNA element upstream of the pilin expression locus is required for pilin antigenic variation
 

H.S.S. Seifert, Chicago, USA

08:50 - 09:10 DNA processing and secretion by the gonococcal type IV secretion system
 

J.P. Dillard, Madison, USA

09:10 - 09:30 Broad spectrum o-linked protein glycosylation in Neisseria gonorrhoeae
 

Å.V. Vik, Oslo, Norway

09:30 - 09:50 Identification of novel DNA binding proteins in Neisseria meningitidis
 

E. Lång, Oslo, Norway

08:50 - 10:10 The structure of a DsbA-substrate complex: Implications for substrate recognition by oxidoreductases
 

C.M. Kahler, Nedlands, Perth, Australia

10:10 - 10:30 Electron transfer to oxygen in Neisseria gonorrhoeae
 

J.A. Cole, Birmingham, United Kingdom

   

10:30 - 11:00

Coffee break

   

11:00 - 12:00

Bacterial genetics, physiology and metabolism 2

 

Chairs: C. Tang, London, United Kingdom & T. Tonjum, Oslo, Norway

11:00 - 11:20 A generic mechanism in Neisseria meningitidis for increased resistance against complement-mediated killing
 

E. Kugelberg, London, United Kingdom

11:20 - 11:40

Characterization of a zinc-regulated TonB-dependent receptor of Neisseria meningitidis

 

M. Stork, Utrecht, Netherlands

11:40 - 12:00 Characterization of iron transport systems expressed by N. gonorrhoeae
 

C.N. Cornelissen, Richmond, USA

   

12:00 - 13:30

Lunch

   

13:30 - 15:30

Host and pathogen genomics and gene expression

  Chairs: M. Frosch, Würzburg, Germany & C. Genco, Boston, USA
13:30 - 13:50 Colonization of host cells by Neisseria meningitidis requires a cross talk between two two-component systems
 

P. Martin, Paris, France

13:50 - 14:10 Structural studies of CrgA – Implications for transcriptional regulation in pathogenic Neisseria
 

S. Sainsbury, Oxford, United Kingdom

14:10 - 14:30 Identification and functional characterization of sRNAs involved in the RpoE and Fur regulon of Neisseria meningitidis
 

Y. Pannekoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands

14:30 - 14:50 Molecular and phenotypic characterization of the Hfq RNA chaperone of Neisseria meningitidis
 

I. Delany, Siena, Italy

14:50 - 15:10

The impact of the neisserial DNA uptake sequence on genome evolution and stability

 

O.H. Ambur, Oslo, Norway

15:10 - 15:30

Mechanisms Neisseria meningitidis utilize to evade the human antimicrobial peptide, LL-37

 

A.L. Jones, Uppsala, Sweden

   

15:30 - 16:00

Tea break

   

16:00 - 17:00

Antibiotic resistance

 

Chairs: W. Shafer, Atlanta, USA & J. Vázquez, Madrid, Spain

16:00 - 16:20

Molecular characterization of the first ciprofloxacin-resistant strains of Neisseria meningitidis in the United States

  B.H. Harcourt, Atlanta, USA
16:20 - 16:40

Structural and biochemical analysis of penA mutations conferring penicillin resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

  C. Davies, Charleston, USA
16:40 - 17:00

Development of an expanded WHO control panel of Neisseria gonorrhoeae for use in surveillance of gonococcal antimicrobial resistance

  J.W. Tapsall, Sydney, Australia
   

17:30 - 19:30

Parallel session 1: The Meningitis Vaccine Project

  Chairs: Dr Hassan-King , MVP & Dr Konde, WHO
17:30 - 18:00 Meningitis in the African Meningitis Belt
  Dr Djingarey, WHO
18:00 - 18:30 Safety and Immunogenicty of MenAfriVac
  Dr Kulkarni, Serum Institute of India Limited & Dr Preziosi , MVP
18:30 - 19:00 Expected Public Health Impact Following MenAfriVac Introduction
  Dr LaForce
19:00 - 19:30 Q&A and co-chairs conclusions
   
 17:30 - 20:30 Parallel session 2: International Collaboration on Gonoccoci
  The ICG group will present a series of short presentations concentrating on optimising laboratory contributions to the diagnosis of gonorhea. These will include diagnostics and genotyping, and there will be special focus on global antimicrobial resistance surveillance data, with an emphasis on the emerging problem of cephalosporin treatment failure.
Speakers include
John Tapsall, Magnus Unemo, Cathy Ison, Jo-Anne Dillon, Eileen Yee, Robert Nicholas and David Lewis, among others. The meeting is open and any conference delegate is welcome to attend.
Please visit the ICG website at www.ICGNGO.ORG for more information regarding ICG and previous meetings.

 

Tuesday 9 September 2008

08:30 - 10:30

Host response, immunology and experimental therapy 1

 

Chairs: D. Ala’Aldeen, Nottingham, United Kingdom & W. Zollinger, Washington, USA

08:30 - 08:50 Naturally occurring lipid A mutants in Neisseria meningitidis associated with reduced coagulopathy in patients with meningococcal disease
 

F. Fransen, Bilthoven, Netherlands

08:50 - 09:10 Studies of innate immune defences during Neisseria infection
 

A.-B. Jonsson, Uppsala, Sweden

09:10 - 09:30

Differential TLR2 binding of porins from pathogenic and non-pathogenic Neisseriae

 

P. Massari, Boston, USA

09:30 - 09:50 A cyanobacterial LPS-antagonist inhibits cytokine production in human whole blood infected with Neisseria meningitidis
 

M. Christodoulides, Southhampton, United Kingdom

09:50 - 10:10

Differential induction of innate immunity to Neisseria lactamica and

N. meningitidis in nasopharyngeal epithelial cells

 

L.B. Tezera, Bristol, United Kingdom

10:10 - 10:30 The Th17 axis of immunity: a new dimension in comprehending the host response to Neisseria gonorrhoeae
 

M.W. Russell, Buffalo, USA

   

10:30 - 11:00

Coffee break

   

11:00 - 12:00

Host response, immunology and experimental therapy 2

 

Chairs: D. Ala’Aldeen, Nottingham, United Kingdom & W. Zollinger, Washington, USA

11:00 - 11:20

Evasion of the adaptive immune system in the local mucosa during commensal colonisation of the upper respiratory tract by Neisseria lactamica but not Neisseria meningitidis
 

A.T. Vaughan, Bristol, United Kingdom

11:20 - 11:40

Experimental challenge of adult volunteers with Neisseria lactamica: Assessment of colonisation and immune responses
 

C. Evans, Sheffield, United Kingdom

11:40 - 12:00

Defining factors that govern alternative complement pathway activation on Neisseria meningitidis, with an emphasis on host specificity
 

S. Ram, Worcester, USA

   

12:00 - 13:30

Lunch

   

13:30 - 15:30

Host response, immunology and experimental therapy 3

 

Chairs: M. van Deuren, Nijmegen, Netherlands & L. Wetzler, Boston, USA

13:30 - 13:50

Neisseria gonorrhoeae use factor H to adhere to complement receptor 3 on eukaryotic cells

 

S. Agarwal, Worcester, USA

13:50 - 14:10

Laminin receptor initiates contact of neurotropic bacteria with the blood brain barrier

 

D.A.A. Ala'Aldeen, Nottingham, United Kingdom

14:10 - 14:30

PorA strain variation causes differential processing, presentation and recognition of CD4 T cell epitopes
 

C.A.C.M. van Els, Bitlhoven, Netherlands

14:30 - 14:50 Severely reduced B cell TACI expression in newborn mice plays role in impaired neonatal response against polysaccharide antigens
 

M. Akkoyunlu, Bethesda, USA

14:50 - 15:10 B cells and the maintence of naturally acquired T cell memory to Neisseria meningitidis following colonization
 

S.J. Glennie, Bristol, United Kingdom

1510 - 15:30 Tracking of human memory B cells specific for meningococcal serogroup C polysaccharide, induced by vaccination
 

M. Henneken, Reykjavik, Iceland

   

15:30 - 16:00

Tea break

   

16:00 - 17:00

Keynote lecture

 

Chair: P. van der Ley, Bilthoven, Netherlands

16:00 - 17:00

Meningococcal B vaccines from what we learned from the past and the present, especially from genomics of Neisseria, and a perspective for the future

  R. Moxon, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
   

19:30 - 22:30

Poster Session

19:30 - 21:00 Odd posternumbers
21:00 - 22:30 Even posternumbers
   

Wednesday 10 September 2008

08:30 - 10:30

Session Vaccinology (preclinical) 1

 

Chairs: I. Feavers, Potters Bar, United Kingdom & D. Granoff, Oakland, USA

08:30 - 08:50 Multivalent group B meningococcal vaccine based on Native Outer Membrane Vesicles (NOMV) has potential for providing safe, broadly protective immunity
 

W.D. Zollinger, Silver Spring, USA

08:50 - 09:10

Broad meningococcal immunity elicited by bivalent native OMV vaccine from mutants engineered to have more than one factor H binding protein variant and detoxified endotoxin

 

O. Koeberling, Siena, Italy

09:10 - 09:30 Genetically modified L3,7 and L2 lipooligosaccharides from Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B confer broad cross-bactericidal response: comparison with subunit protein approaches
 

J. Poolman, Rixensart, Belgium

09:30 - 09:50 On Neisserial vaccine efforts: The art of war
 

R. Pajon Feyt, Calgary, Canada

09:50 - 10:10 Review of proteomics as a tool in meningococcal vaccine development
 

C. Vipond, Potters bar, United Kingdom

10:10 - 10:30 Neuraminic acid-containing polysialic acid is immunogenic and elicits antibodies that are protective against Neisseria meningitidis
 

G.R. Moe, Oakland, USA

   

10:30 - 11:00

Coffee break

   

11:00 - 12:00

Session Vaccinology (preclinical) 2

 

Chairs: I. Feavers, Potters Bar, United Kingdom & D. Granoff, Oakland, USA

11:00 - 11:20

Prediction of broad vaccine coverage for a bivalent rLP2086 based vaccine which elicits serum bactericidal activity against a diverse collection of serogroup B meningococci

 

G.W. Zlotnick, Pearl River, USA

11:20 - 11:40 Distribution and variability of 5CVMB vaccine antigen genes in a panel of strains representative of global meningococcal diversity
 

M.C. Comanducci, Siena, Italy

11:40 - 12:00 Evaluation of recombinant Opa proteins as vaccine candidates against hyperinvasive meningococci
 

S. Lewis, Oxford, United Kingdom

   

12:00 - 17:30

Social Program / Time off

 

Thursday 11 September 2008

08:30 – 10:30

Epidemiology 1

 

Chairs: M. Maiden, Oxford, United Kingdom & A. van der Ende, Amsterdam, Netherlands

08:30 – 08:50 Evolution of lineages and virulence in Neisseria meningitidis
 

K.A. Jolley, Oxford, United Kingdom

08:50 – 09:10 Sequence diversity of vaccine candidate LP2086 in Neisseria meningitidis serogoup B strains causing invasive disease
 

S.K. Hoiseth, Pearl River, USA

09:10 – 09:30

The presence and genetic diversity of three meningococcal vaccine candidate genes, nadA, fHbp and gna2132, in ST-269 clonal complex isolates in England and Wales

 

J. Lucidarme, Manchester, United Kingdom

09:30 – 09:50

The haemoglobin receptor protein: a novel virulence determinant of Neisseria meningitidis

 

O.B. Harrison, Oxford, United Kingdom

09:50 – 10:10 Molecular characterization of invasive serogroup Y Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated in Latin America region
 

J.A. Vázquez, Madrid, Spain

10:10 – 10:30 Why Stop MeNZB vaccination? Supporting evidence for withdrawal of epidemic strain Outer Membrane Vesicle (OMV) vaccine in New Zealand (NZ)
 

D.R. Lennon, Auckland, New Zealand

   

10:30 – 11:00

Coffee break

   

11:00 – 12:00

Epidemiology 2

 

Chairs: M. Maiden, Oxford, United Kingdom & A. van der Ende, Amsterdam, Netherlands

11:00 – 11:20 Seroprevalence of antibodies against serogroup C meningococci in England in the post-vaccination era
 

C.L. Trotter, Bristol, United Kingdom

12:00 – 11:40 Evidence of capsular switching in invasive Neisseria meningitidis isolates in the pre-meningococcal conjugate vaccine era, United States, 2000-2005
 

L.H. Harrison, Pittsburgh, USA

11:40 – 12:00 The effect of quadrivalent (A, C, Y, W-135) meningococcal conjugate vaccine on serogroup-specific carriage of Neisseria meningitidis
 

T.A. Clark, Atlanta, USA

   

12:00 – 13:30

Lunch

   

13:30 – 15:30

Cellular microbiology

 

Chairs: J. van Putten, Utrecht, Netherlands & M. Virji, Bristol, United Kingdom

13:30 – 13:50 Caveolin recruitment prevents premature host cell entry of type IV pili producing Neisseria
 

J.P.B. Böttcher, Berlin, Germany

13:50 – 14:10 A functional two-partner secretion system in Neisseria meningitidis contributes to adhesion
 

O. Kurzai, Würzburg, Germany

14:10 – 14:30 Opc and its multifarious receptors – identification of novel mechanisms that   may operate for attachment and traversal of human endothelial cells
  M. Virji, Bristol, United Kingdom
14:30 – 14:50 Infection of human cervical epithelial cells with live Neisseria gonorrhoeae promotes resistance to apoptosis
  S.A. Follows, Boston, USA
14:50 – 15:10

Aspartyl protease complex presenilin/gamma-secretase liberates intracellular peptide signals into N. gonorrhoeae infected host cells by cleaving CD46 Cyt1 and Cyt2 isoforms

 

N.J.W. Weyand, Tucson, USA

15:10 – 15:30 Host glycoprotein Gp96 and scavenger receptor SREC interact with PorB of disseminating Neisseria gonorrhoeae in an epithelial invasion pathway
  C. Rechner, Berlin, Germany
   

15:30 – 16:00

Tea break

   

16:00 – 17:00

Surface structures

 

M. Koomey, Oslo, Norway & J. Tommassen, Utrecht, Netherlands

16:00 – 16:20 Outer membrane biogenesis in Neisseria meningitidis
 

M.P. Bos, Utrecht, Netherlands

16:20 – 16:40 Transferrin binding protein B from different pathogenic species interact with transferrin in a conserved manner
 

A.B. Schryvers, Calgary, Canada

16:40 – 17:00 Determination of the domain and solution structure of rLP2086, a meningococcal vaccine candidate and human factor H binding protein
 

G.W. Zlotnick, Pearl River, USA

   

18:00 – 23:00

Conference Diner

 

Friday 12 September 2008

   

08: