Antimicrobial Host Defence Peptides: Diverse Functions, Mechanisms and Applications

Antimicrobial Host Defence Peptides are a large and diverse group of biologically active peptides produced by microorganisms, plants, and animals ranging from invertebrates to vertebrates including mammals. Research in this field has evolved rapidly in the past few decades to define an extensive range of roles for these peptides. These include but are not restricted to; control of infections, immunity-related functions, wound healing, functions as effectors and regulators of chronic disease, and influencing the composition of the microbiome. Consequently, this has created opportunities for harnessing their wide range of functions for the development of new peptide-derived drugs and exploring applications in human health, agriculture and veterinary science.

This conference will focus on the expanding repertoire of antimicrobial host defence peptides, their biological functions, and translational applications. The conference will feature a wide range of topics to highlight the complexity of mechanisms that control the production of these peptides, structure-to-function associations, and the extensive range of biological activity in human, animal and other model systems. Success of translational research requires a comprehensive appreciation of the extensive range of structures, functions and applications of the thousands of antimicrobial host defence peptides discovered to date. Accordingly, the various themes included in this conference will span from discovery to commercialization.

The 2023 conference will convene after a gap of four years, as the meeting scheduled for 2021 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus included among the emerging concepts will be advancement in the understanding of antiviral functions of antimicrobial host defence peptides achieved during the pandemic.

The 2023 conference will bring together experts and emerging leaders in the field, and will provide a collegial environment for junior scientists and trainees to present their research in a forum that encourages exchange of ideas. This conference will include the GRC Power Hour to facilitate discussion that will address challenges for women in science, and strategies for equity, diversity and inclusion. The overall spirit of the 2023 conference will be to celebrate diversity both in the scientific scope and within the community of researchers in antimicrobial host defence peptides field.