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Animal-Microbe Symbioses

Gordon Research Conference

Understanding Host-Symbiont Cross-Talk in an Ecological Context

June 15 - 20, 2025

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GRC Education Requirements: Undergraduates or those who have not obtained a bachelor's degree in science/engineering (or acceptable equivalent) are not eligible to apply to attend Gordon Research Conferences or Seminars.

Chair

Vice Chair

University of Southern Maine

25 Bedford St.

Portland, Maine, United States

Venue and Travel Information

Application Information

Applications for this meeting must be submitted by May 18, 2025. Please apply early, as some meetings become oversubscribed (full) before this deadline. If the meeting is oversubscribed, it will be stated here. Note: Applications for oversubscribed meetings will only be considered by the conference chair if more seats become available due to cancellations.

Conference Description

The Animal-Microbe Symbioses 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scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages.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 a diverse range 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.

The conference will bring together researchers working on animal-microbe symbioses across many different study systems, environments, and levels of biological organization. A particular focus will be to connect the molecular mechanistic understanding of symbiotic interactions to their relevance in ecological and evolutionary contexts. Beyond the fundamental importance of understanding the mechanisms, dynamics, and function of symbiotic interactions between animals and microorganisms, this research has the ability to inform application in conservation, agriculture, and human health. Our research field has been traditionally strong in its collaborative, interactive, and integrative spirit and atmosphere, which this conference will aim to build on and further strengthen.

Related Meeting

This GRC will be held in conjunction with the "Animal-Microbe Symbioses" 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	Symbiosis in an Ecological Context Discussion Leader:
7:40 pm - 7:55 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:55 pm - 8:20 pm	"Can Sponges Differentiate Between Microbial Friend or Foe?"
8:20 pm - 8:35 pm	Discussion
8:35 pm - 9:00 pm	"Cellular Mechanisms of Symbiotic Stability in the Fungus Farming Systems of Leafcutter Ants"
9:00 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:30 pm	General Discussion
Monday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Host-Symbiont Molecular Cross-Talk Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:10 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:10 am - 9:35 am	"Insect-Bacteria Molecular Interplay in a Young Nutritional Endosymbiosis"
9:35 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:15 am	"Microbial Alchemy: Decoding Mechanisms of Insect-Microbe Symbiosis to Advance Vector Control Strategies"
10:15 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:00 am	Coffee Break
11:00 am - 11:15 am	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
11:15 am - 11:20 am	Discussion
11:20 am - 11:45 am	"Cuticular Collagens Mediate Cross-Kingdom Predator-Prey Interactions Between Nematodes and Trapping Fungi"
11:45 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:15 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:15 pm - 12:20 pm	Discussion
12:20 pm - 12:30 pm	General 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	Impact of Symbiosis on Organismal Health Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:40 pm - 8:05 pm	"Symbiont-Based Strategies to Alter Mosquito Vector Competence: To Trick or Treat"
8:05 pm - 8:20 pm	Discussion
8:20 pm - 8:35 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
8:35 pm - 8:40 pm	Discussion
8:40 pm - 9:05 pm	"Deciphering Microbiome-Host Interactions with Chemistry"
9:05 pm - 9:20 pm	Discussion
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm	General Discussion
Tuesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Group Photo
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Establishment and Maintenance of Symbiosis Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:10 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:10 am - 9:35 am	"The Primitive Gut in Extreme Environments: Symbiosis Between Antarctic Sponges and Their Microorganisms"
9:35 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:15 am	"Host-Microbe Specificity in the Bean Bug Riptortus Pedestris: Hosts Build Barriers, Bacteria Break Through"
10:15 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:00 am	Coffee Break
11:00 am - 11:15 am	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
11:15 am - 11:20 am	Discussion
11:20 am - 11:45 am	"Chloroplast Maintenance and Role of Photosynthesis in Kleptoplastidic Sea Slugs"
11:45 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:15 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:15 pm - 12:20 pm	Discussion
12:20 pm - 12:30 pm	General 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	The Genetic Basis of Symbiosis Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:40 pm - 8:05 pm	"Endosymbiosis in the Soft Coral Xenia and Green Hydra"
8:05 pm - 8:20 pm	Discussion
8:20 pm - 8:35 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
8:35 pm - 8:40 pm	Discussion
8:40 pm - 9:05 pm	"Evolution of Novel Innate Immune Factors in Drosophila Through Horizontal Gene Transfer from Endosymbiotic Donors"
9:05 pm - 9:20 pm	Discussion
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm	General Discussion
Wednesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Evolutionary Origins of Symbiotic Interactions Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:10 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:10 am - 9:35 am	"Bacterial Defenses Against Host Antimicrobial Peptides Determine Infection Outcome"
9:35 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:15 am	"How Do Novel Protective Microbes Impact Host Adaptation?"
10:15 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:00 am	Coffee Break
11:00 am - 11:15 am	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
11:15 am - 11:20 am	Discussion
11:20 am - 11:45 am	"Origins and Evolution of the Lab-Mouse Gut Microbiota"
11:45 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:15 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:15 pm - 12:20 pm	Discussion
12:20 pm - 12:30 pm	General 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	The Cellular Biology of Symbiosis Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:40 pm - 8:05 pm	"The Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Underlying Whitefly Reproduction Manipulation by Intracellular Symbionts"
8:05 pm - 8:20 pm	Discussion
8:20 pm - 8:35 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
8:35 pm - 8:40 pm	Discussion
8:40 pm - 9:05 pm	"Genetic Integration of Bacterial Endosymbionts in Protist Hosts"
9:05 pm - 9:20 pm	Discussion
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm	General 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	Dynamics in Host-Associated Microbial Communities Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:10 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:10 am - 9:35 am	"Dynamics of Bacterial Evolution During Host-Microbe Interactions"
9:35 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:15 am	"Strain-Level Dynamics in an Otherwise Highly Specific Vertebrate-Bacteria Symbiosis"
10:15 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:00 am	Coffee Break
11:00 am - 11:15 am	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
11:15 am - 11:20 am	Discussion
11:20 am - 11:45 am	"The Circadian Clock Inhibits Outgrowth of an Opportunistic Pathogen"
11:45 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:15 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:15 pm - 12:20 pm	Discussion
12:20 pm - 12:30 pm	General 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	Impact of Environmental Change on Symbiotic Interactions Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:40 pm - 8:05 pm	"Deciphering the Axolotl Skin Microbiome and Host-Microbial Interactions in a Changing World"
8:05 pm - 8:20 pm	Discussion
8:20 pm - 8:35 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
8:35 pm - 8:40 pm	Discussion
8:40 pm - 9:05 pm	"Three Kingdoms, One Holobiont: Metabolic Interactions in Cnidarian Symbiosis"
9:05 pm - 9:20 pm	Discussion
9:20 pm - 9:25 pm	General Discussion
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Closing Remarks
Friday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am	Departure

Contributors

Conference Links

Conference History Animal-Microbe Symbioses (GRS) Contribute Financially to This Conference

Conference Fees

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Poster Information

Poster sessions are an integral part of the our conferences, and offer all conferees an opportunity to discuss their research.

Preparing your GRC poster

Diversity Funding

Financial assistance is available for qualified applicants through the GRC Carl Storm Underrepresented Minority Fellowship Program. This program provides a grant to underrepresented minority graduate students, postdocs, faculty and scientists to help fund their attendance at their first GRC meeting. Learn more.

Registration Fees

Conferee Single Room:

$1,385.00

Conferee Shared Room:

$1,300.00

Conferee Off-Site:

$755.00

Guest Single Room:

$1,195.00

Guest Shared Room:

$1,110.00

Guest Off-Site:

$565.00

Child 4-12 yrs Shared Room:

$555.00

Child 4-12 yrs Off-Site:

$283.00

Child Under 4 yrs Shared Room:

Free

Child Under 4 yrs Off-Site:

Free

Bus Arriving:

$62.00

Bus Departing:

$62.00

Additional Fee Info

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