Microbial Solutions for a Changing World Conference

Under the theme of Health Impacts & Pathogen Control, we delve into how climate change affects disease dynamics and pathogen behavior. The following list outlines specific areas of focus that are critical for understanding and managing the health-related consequences of a warming planet. We encourage participants to consider these topics for their abstract submissions, aiming to foster discussions on innovative strategies and research that address these pressing health issues:

• Climate-Driven Changes in Disease Dynamics:

  • Microbial evolution and adaptation to warmer temperatures.
  • The impact of climate change on the spread of vector-borne diseases (e.g., malaria, dengue).
  • Climate effects on water-borne pathogens and foodborne diseases.

• Zoonotic Disease Emergence:

  • How climate change impacts microbial ecosystems that drive zoonotic disease emergence.
  • The role of microbes in cross-species transmission of emerging diseases.

• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):

  • The relationship between climate stress and the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
  • Environmental factors accelerating AMR development in microbial communities.

• One Health Approaches:

  • Intersections of human, animal, and environmental microbiomes in the context of climate change.
  • Microbial shifts in urban versus rural environments and their health impacts.

• Human Microbiome Responses to Environmental Changes:

  • How climate change affects the human gut microbiome and its implications for health.
  • The impact of environmental pollutants on microbial diversity in the human microbiome.

• Pathogen Adaptation to New Ecosystems:

  • How changing environmental conditions create new habitats for existing pathogens.
  • Microbial species migration and adaptation in response to climate change.

In the theme of Environmental Impacts and Ecosystem Restoration, we explore how microbiological techniques and knowledge can be pivotal in restoring and maintaining healthy ecosystems in the face of climate change. Below, we provide a list of specific topics that attendees are encouraged to focus their research on for abstract submissions. These topics are aimed at highlighting both the innovative approaches and practical applications of microbiology in various ecological settings:

• Coral Reef Microbiomes:

  • Examining symbiotic relationships between corals and microbes as climate changes.
  • Developing microbial solutions to mitigate coral bleaching and enhance coral resilience.

• Soil Microbiome and Regenerative Agriculture:

  • Understanding the role of soil microbes in ecosystem restoration and regenerative agriculture practices.
  • Leveraging microbes for soil health improvement and biodiversity enhancement.

• Aquatic Ecosystem Microbiology:

  • Investigating microbial functions in freshwater and marine ecosystems affected by climate change.
  • Utilizing microbial solutions for the restoration of aquatic environments to improve water quality.

• Bioremediation:

  • Employing microbial degradation of pollutants and contaminants in the environment.
  • Using microbes to restore habitats impacted by industrial activities or climate-related disasters.

• Forest and Grassland Microbial Ecology:

  • Exploring the role of microbes in nutrient cycling and decomposition within forest and grassland restoration.
  • Supporting rewilding efforts with microbial inoculations to restore ecosystem functions.

• Microbial Responses to Ecosystem Disturbances:

  • Studying how microbial communities respond to natural disasters (e.g., wildfires, floods) and their role in ecosystem recovery.
  • Comparing microbial shifts in disturbed versus undisturbed ecosystems.

• Phytoremediation and Plant-Microbe Interactions:

  • Utilizing plant-microbe partnerships to restore degraded landscapes.
  • Investigating the role of mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria in ecosystem recovery.

To complement our focused thematic discussions, we also invite abstract submissions on broader topics that intersect multiple areas of microbial research related to climate change. These cross-disciplinary topics emphasize the expansive role of microbiology in understanding and mitigating environmental challenges. Here is a list of broad topics that offer additional avenues for exploration and innovation:

• Microbial Genomics and Metagenomics:

  • Applying genomics to explore microbial diversity and functions in response to climate change.
  • Conducting metagenomic studies to map microbial shifts across various environments.

• Microbial Innovations in Sustainability:

  • Developing new technologies and innovations using microbes for sustainability efforts, including wastewater treatment, energy production, and pollution control.

• Microbial Modeling in Climate Predictions:

  • Utilizing microbial data to enhance climate models and improve predictions of ecosystem responses.