Understanding Complex Fungal Communication: Mechanisms, Interactions, and Consequences

The 2024 Gordon Research Conference on Cellular and Molecular Fungal Biology will focus on the exquisite and diverse examples of how fungi communicate and interact with other microbes, hosts, and the environment. Fungal communication is fundamental to the ability of fungi to colonize substrates, compete for resources, interact with one another for sexual or parasexual reproduction, infect host organisms to cause disease, and for all forms of mutualistic symbioses and commensal interactions. As such, it is core to the fungal lifestyle and yet we know relatively little about communication mechanisms and the corresponding signaling pathways that enable effective responses to be made. As fungi are osmotrophic organisms that digest their food before ingestion, there is a constant need to protect these resources and to compete with other organisms within any environment. This characteristic has probably been an important driver for the complex patterns of communication we observe throughout fungal evolution. This conference will explore fungal communication in all its forms– sensing signaling, responding, and adapting – and allow new insights to emerge regarding fundamental principles and mechanisms.

Due to limited accommodations at this venue, guest housing is very limited. To request family/guest housing please reach out to your Conference Operations Associate.