Workshop on innate anti-viral immunity and virus evasion strategies
Opening Doors – Scientific Workshops for Young Researchers
An initiative aimed at promoting links between young scientists from the UK and Spain
Workshop on innate anti-viral immunity and virus evasion strategies
Sigenza (Guadalajara) 17 21 February 2008
The British Council in Spain in collaboration with the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) is organising a series of scientific seminars to provide opportunities for young researchers from the UK and Spain to meet face-to-face for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and information on priority topics and to explore future areas of research and collaboration. The next seminar of this series will take place in the Parador de Sigenza (Guadalajara), Spain, from 17th to 21st February 2008. The meeting will involve ample opportunities for discussion in structured and informal sessions with keynote speakers and young researchers. Keynote speakers will give 30 min talks and participants will give a 15 min presentation of their work.
We are starting to understand at the molecular level the battle between viruses and the host defence systems, and it is becoming evident that the initial virus-cell interaction and the activation of innate immunity are critical to control viral diseases. The Meeting will discuss the initial molecular events occurring upon infection that may restrict virus replication, and will include intracellular signalling, the interferon system, cytokine networks, natural killer cells and other innate immunity pathways. Viral evasion strategies to counteract the host anti-viral responses will also be considered. Viral systems will include emerging viruses, human pathogens and virus-host models that are providing insights into mechanisms of viral pathogenesis.
Keynote speakers:
Richard Randall (University of St. Andrews) Modulation of interferon by paramyxovirus
Gavin Wilkinson (Cardiff University) Human cytomegalovirus evasion of natural killer cells
Greg Towers (University College London) Cellular factors restricting the replication of retroviruses
John Sinclair (University of Cambridge) Factors controlling human cytomegalovirus replication
Richard Elliot (University of St. Andrews) Immune evasion by viruses causing hemorragic diseases
Adolfo Garca Sastre (Mount Sinai School of Medicine) Pathogenesis of Spanish flu
Luis Enjuanes (Centro Nacional de Biotecnologa) Pathogenesis of SARS coronavirus
Jos Alcami (Instituto de Salud Carlos III) Factors controlling HIV infection of immune cells
Amelia Nieto (Centro Nacional de Biotecnologa) Interaction of influenza virus with cell factors
Antonio Alcami (Centro de Biologa Molecular) Chemokine modulation by poxvirus and herpesvirus
The seminar is limited to about 30 participants and participation is by invitation. The organisers of this scientific workshop will cover participants travel and full board accommodation costs. Early to mid career researchers wishing to participate should send their CV and the attached application form to belen.fortea@britishcouncil.es before 30th November 2007.
Further details: Antonio Alcami (aalcami@cbm.uam.es) or Richard Randall (rer@st-and.ac.uk)
Tags: Biology, Education, Immunology, Microbiology, Science, Virology
