Summary
First held in Tuscon, AZ in 1995, the International Conferences on the Molecular Biology and
Pathogenesis of Clostridia (ClostPath) bring together academics, clinicians, and industry
scientists. Since its inception, the ClostPath conferences have been a popular forum to discuss
the latest research and clinical findings regarding pathogenic Clostridia. Over the past 5 – 10
years, the field has seen a rapid advance in reliable and easy methods to introduce mutations
into organisms that were otherwise considered genetically intractable. Because of this, there has
been a rapid increase in the number of impactful studies that shed light on the fundamental
mechanisms of pathogenesis. Moreover, with the ever-increasing ease of generating DNA
sequencing, metagenomic / microbiome comparisons in the Clostridia have led to new
hypotheses and new areas of exploration. For these reasons, it is imperative to continue with the
tradition of face-to-face meetings to discuss these findings in intimate settings. The ClostPath 13
conference will be held September 19 – 23, 2023 in Banff, Canada and will provide a forum for
the dissemination of new ideas and findings.
The ClostPath conference will consist of an invited Keynote speaker and 12 invited plenary
speakers. Each of the invited speakers will headline one of the sessions on: Gene Regulation;
One Health; -omics; Treatments & Healthcare; Physiology; Microbiome; Torhu Shimizu Lecture;
Toxins; Spores; Microbe – Microbe Interactions; Host Response to Infection. In each session,
there will be oral presentations chosen from submitted abstracts that fit the session topic.
Abstracts will be chosen so as to increase the visibility of junior scientists and scientists from
under representative demographics and allow for diverse geography of our presenters. Also,
Young Scientists will be chosen to moderate each of the sessions. This type of exposure will allow
these burgeoning scientists to have an increased exposure in the scientific community.
The objectives for the ClostPath 13 will be to continue to (i) provide a venue to allow for
the presentation of cutting-edge research on pathogenic Clostridia; and (ii) encourage the
participation of young scientists and junior faculty in each of the plenary sessions. These
objectives will be supported by two Aims: Aim 1 is to provide an environment that supports the
development of young scientists and scientists from diverse demographics. Aim 2 is to provide a
setting that promotes the easy exchange of ideas, hypotheses, and innovative experimental
strategies.
