2024 Lakeside Conference on Protein Toxins and Effectors - R13 Application, PI: BLANKE, Steven R. SUMMARY Protein toxins and effectors are important virulence factors for many pathogenic bacteria, contributing to disease progression by modulating or disrupting essential functions in target cells. Historically, research has focused on several toxins associated with important human diseases, which in some cases provided the framework for eradicating the disease associated with the toxin. However, recent advances in microbial genomics and discovery-based screening techniques have dramatically increased the number of toxins and effector systems under investigation. Advances in high-resolution microscopy, structural biology, cryo-electron microscopy, proteomics, and CRISPR have provided new tools to study the structure and function of toxins and effectors, as well as the mechanisms by which they contribute to interactions and modulation of target cells. This R13 application derives, in part, from the realization that, although the field of protein toxins and effectors is rapidly expanding, important activities, such as the dissemination of research findings and establishment of interdisciplinary collaborations, have been challenging because of a relative dearth of scientific conferences/meetings in North America specifically centered on protein toxin/effector structure/function and mechanism. To address this gap, we conceived, designed and launched several years ago an in-person-virtual hybrid conference, the Lakeside Conference on Protein Toxins and Effectors (#LakesidePTE), in October 2020, and which was followed up with a hybrid in person-online meeting in October 2022. Based on the excitement and positive feedback resulting from these two meetings, we now propose to follow up with the 2024 Lakeside Conference on Protein Toxins and Effectors October 6-9, at the Abbey Conference Center located on Lake Geneva WI. The 2024 hybrid conference will concentrate on the cellular, structural, and biochemical mechanisms of protein toxin and effector action, along with exploring the translational potential of these proteins for treating human diseases. The conference will be organized by Chair Dr. Steven Blanke at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Vice Chair Dr. Min Dong from Harvard Medical School. A six-member scientific advisory board will assist in selection of speakers and abstract review. There will be 5 sessions and a keynote address Ten additional invited speakers will anchor five scientific sessions that will be filled out with talks selected from abstracts. Here we are seeking NIAID funds 1) to support registration fees and travel for keynote and invited speakers, (2) to offer registration scholarship awards for underrepresented minority post-docs and graduate students and (3) for audiovisual support for a hybrid meeting that will be simultaneously live streamed. This support from NIAID will bring together microbiologists, biochemists, structural biologists, and biophysicists to encourage new collaborations across disease and phylogenetic boundaries and test an innovative model for the future of this conference as a hybrid conference that will reach a global audience.
