Antimicrobial Peptides

Gordon Research Conference

Roles in Infectious and Non-Infectious Human Diseases, Across Different Kingdoms and Contexts

February 23 - 28, 2025

Chairs

and

Vice Chairs

and

Four Points Sheraton / Holiday Inn Express

1050 Schooner Drive

Ventura, California, United States

Venue and Travel Information

Conference Description

The Antimicrobial Peptides GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes an array of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.

We are now approaching 50 years of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) history. What started as an observation of AMP-mediated immunity in insects has found broad expression in diverse contexts in human health and disease, cross-cutting multi-system impact(s) in the human body (especially with recent work on crosstalk between AMPs and the nervous system, the cardiovascular system, the digestive system, the integumentary system, the endocrine system), host-pathogen interactions, inter-kingdom biology. What different functions do AMPs play in different biological contexts in the full complexity of an organism? What are the synergies and trade-off’s? What can we learn from their conservation or diversification? The purpose of this meeting is to give a broad overview of our current state of knowledge by bringing together researchers from different disciplines around a multi-faceted topic that has consistently attracted and rewarded attention.

Related Meeting

This GRC will be held in conjunction with the "Antimicrobial Peptides" Gordon Research Seminar (GRS). Those interested in attending both meetings must submit an application for the GRS in addition to an application for the GRC. Refer to the associated GRS program page for more information.

Conference Program

Sunday
2:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Arrival and Check-in
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm	Introductory Comments by GRC Staff / Welcome and Introduction from the Chairs
7:40 pm - 9:30 pm	Keynote Session: Multiple Functions of Antimicrobial Peptides in Immunity and Beyond Discussion Leaders: and
7:40 pm - 7:45 pm	Opening Remarks
7:45 pm - 8:00 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
8:00 pm - 8:35 pm	"Hepcidin: A Multifunctional Host Defense Peptide"
8:35 pm - 8:45 pm	Discussion
8:45 pm - 9:20 pm	"A Metaorganismic Perspective of the Origin and Function of Antimicrobial Peptides"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Monday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Group Photo
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Antimicrobial Peptides Discovery, Design and Synthesis Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:15 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:15 am - 9:35 am	"Artificial Intelligence-Driven Antimicrobial Peptide Discovery"
9:35 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:05 am	"Zosurabalpin: A Novel Antibiotic Targeting Lipopolysaccharide Transport"
10:05 am - 10:15 am	Discussion
10:15 am - 10:25 am	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
10:25 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:00 am	Coffee Break
11:00 am - 11:20 am	"Microcins: Diversity and Function"
11:20 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 11:50 am	"Harnessing Iron Acquisition Machinery to Target Enteric Pathogens"
11:50 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:10 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm	The GRC Power Hour™ The GRC Power Hour™ is designed to address the interests and needs of all scientists and the challenges they face in their careers. Specifically, the program promotes meaningful conversations amongst colleagues of all career stages about barriers to career advancement and strategies to support the professional growth of all members of the community. The GRC Power Hour™ is open to all conference participants. Organizers: and
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Interactions of Antimicrobial Peptides with Antibiotics or Non-Antimicrobial Peptides Discussion Leaders: and
7:30 pm - 7:45 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:45 pm - 8:05 pm	"Synergistic Antimicrobial and Anticancer Action Based on the Antimicrobial Peptide Piscidin"
8:05 pm - 8:15 pm	Discussion
8:15 pm - 8:35 pm	"SARS-CoV- 2 as a Reservoir of AMP-like Peptides Capable of Disrupting Innate Immune Responses"
8:35 pm - 8:45 pm	Discussion
8:45 pm - 9:05 pm	"Interactions Unveiled: Antimicrobial Peptides and Antibiotics in Current Therapeutics"
9:05 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:25 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Tuesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Antimicrobial Peptides Across Multicellular Organisms Discussion Leaders: and
9:00 am - 9:15 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:15 am - 9:35 am	"More Than A Cocktail: Antimicrobial Peptides in the Evolution of Specific Host-Microbe Interactions"
9:35 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:05 am	"Antimicrobial Peptides in Obligate Insect–Bacteria Nutritional Mutualism"
10:05 am - 10:15 am	Discussion
10:15 am - 10:45 am	Coffee Break
10:45 am - 11:05 am	"Bactericidal Permeability-Increasing Proteins in a Mollusk and Their Essential Role in Host Immunity"
11:05 am - 11:15 am	Discussion
11:15 am - 11:35 am	"A Novel Role for AMPs in Marine Invertebrate Developmental Transitions and Metamorphosis"
11:35 am - 11:45 am	Discussion
11:45 am - 12:05 pm	"How fungal Pathogens Manipulate Host Microbiota to Promote Infection"
12:05 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Antimicrobial Peptides in the Biology and Ecology of Microbes Discussion Leaders: and
7:30 pm - 7:45 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:45 pm - 8:05 pm	"The Microbiome-Shaping Roles of Bacterial AMPs"
8:05 pm - 8:15 pm	Discussion
8:15 pm - 8:35 pm	"Peptide YY: A Paneth Cell Antimicrobial Peptide That Maintains Candida Gut Commensalism"
8:35 pm - 8:45 pm	Discussion
8:45 pm - 9:05 pm	"Understanding How Plant Peptides Modulate the Life Cycle of Symbiotic Bacteria"
9:05 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:25 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Wednesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Antimicrobial Peptides in Infectious Diseases and Therapeutics Discussion Leaders: and
9:00 am - 9:15 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:15 am - 9:35 am	"Ruminococcin C: A Promising Multifunctional Peptide Therapeutic Produced by a Human Gut Symbiont"
9:35 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:05 am	"Unravelling Esc Peptides for Treatment of Lung Pathology in Cystic Fibrosis: Beyond Antimicrobial Activity"
10:05 am - 10:15 am	Discussion
10:15 am - 10:45 am	Coffee Break
10:45 am - 11:05 am	"The Cytoskeleton-Regulating Activity of Human Enteric Defensin 5 and its Implications in Enteric Infection and Intestinal Physiology"
11:05 am - 11:15 am	Discussion
11:15 am - 11:35 am	"A Novel Fabrics Modified with Human-Derived Nanodefensin for Multi-Scenario Application"
11:35 am - 11:45 am	Discussion
11:45 am - 11:55 am	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
11:55 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:10 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Evolution of Resistance to Antimicrobial Peptides Discussion Leaders: and
7:30 pm - 7:45 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:45 pm - 8:05 pm	"Combinatorial Action of Regulatory Systems Generates Colistin Heteroresistance"
8:05 pm - 8:15 pm	Discussion
8:15 pm - 8:35 pm	"Tackling the Complexity of Antimicrobial Resistance Evolution"
8:35 pm - 8:45 pm	Discussion
8:45 pm - 8:55 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
8:55 pm - 9:00 pm	Discussion
9:00 pm - 9:10 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
9:10 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:25 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Thursday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Business Meeting Nominations for the Next Vice Chair(s); Complete the GRC Evaluation Forms; Election of the Next Vice Chair(s)
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Antimicrobial Peptides in Non-Infectious Diseases Discussion Leaders: and
9:00 am - 9:15 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:15 am - 9:35 am	"Utility of Host Defence Peptides to Control Severe Asthma"
9:35 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:05 am	"Stapled Oncolytic Peptides: Harnessing Antimicrobial Peptides for Cancer Therapy"
10:05 am - 10:15 am	Discussion
10:15 am - 10:45 am	Coffee Break
10:45 am - 11:05 am	"On the Induction of Antimicrobial Peptides and Proteins in the CNS Following Infection"
11:05 am - 11:15 am	Discussion
11:15 am - 11:35 am	"Increased LL37 in Psoriasis and Other Inflammatory Disorders Promotes Uptake of Low-Density Lipoprotein and Development of Atherosclerosis"
11:35 am - 11:45 am	Discussion
11:45 am - 11:55 am	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
11:55 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:10 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Late Breaking Topics Discussion Leaders: and
7:30 pm - 7:45 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:45 pm - 8:05 pm	"Antimicrobial Peptides Construct the Biogeography of the Gut Microbiota in the Insect Riptortus Pedestris"
8:05 pm - 8:15 pm	Discussion
8:15 pm - 8:35 pm	"Pushing the Viral Envelope: Biomimetic Peptoid Oligomers as Membrane-Active Antimicrobials"
8:35 pm - 8:45 pm	Discussion
8:45 pm - 8:55 pm	"Validating the AMPs-Amyloid Connection by High-Resolution Structures and Insights into Fibril α/β Switching"
8:55 pm - 9:00 pm	Discussion
9:00 pm - 9:10 pm	Late-Breaking Topic
9:10 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:25 pm	Late-Breaking Topic
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Friday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am	Departure

Contributors

Old Herborn University Foundation

Gerard Wong

Jiangsu Defensin Biomed

Jianjun Cheng

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R13AI188923. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Antimicrobial Peptides

Roles in Infectious and Non-Infectious Human Diseases, Across Different Kingdoms and Contexts

Conference Description

Related Meeting

Conference Program

Contributors

Conference Links

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