Immunity in Early Life: From the Maternal to the Microbial Environment - ABSTRACT
Support is requested for a Keystone Symposia conference entitled Immunity in Early Life: From the Maternal to
the Microbial Environment, organized by Drs. Chris Wilson, Tobias Kollmann and Claire-Anne Siegrist. The
conference will be held in Keystone, Colorado from June 7-11, 2020.
The immune system is crucial for host defense from infection and malignancy. It impacts nearly all of host
physiology and, when misdirected, causes allergic and autoimmune disease. Recently, it has become
increasingly clear that early life is a key period during which host genetics, developmental programs, and the
environment (from infection to vaccination to microbiome etc.) shape the immune system. This imprint is then
carried forward through childhood into adult life. Yet, this early life period represents not only a window of
vulnerability but of opportunity, where targeted interventions could provide lifelong benefits. This Keystone
Symposium conference examines early life immunity, bringing together experts from a sundry range of
disciplines. This diverse group will present a tapestry of extant knowledge and insights, provide a more
comprehensive understanding of immune ontogeny, and illuminate areas of uncertainty where further study is
most needed. Conference participants will leave with an understanding of the role of microbiome in early life
immune ontogeny. In addition, discussion on the precise mechanistic role of early life immunity in health
versus disease will be included in sessions. Finally, given that crucial events in immune ontogeny may be
influenced by prenatal events, this conference will be held jointly with Maternal-Fetal Crosstalk, which
emphasizes the strong overlap and interdependence of fetal and neonatal with maternal immunity. There will
be joint sessions which will provide the unique opportunity to cross-fertilize pre- and postnatal immunity.
