Scientific Topics and Tracks
The World Microbe Forum program is organized by topics and tracks that allow you to explore the full scope of microbiology. Explore the ASM Tracks and FEMS topics that will delve into the latest cutting-edge science.
ASM Tracks
- Antimicrobial Agents and Resistance
- Applied and Environmental Science
- Clinical Infections and Vaccines
- Clinical and Public Health Microbiology
- Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity
- Host-Microbe Biology
- Molecular Biology and Physiology
- Profession of Microbiology
- Antimicrobial Agents and Resistance
- Applied and Environmental Science
- Clinical Infections and Vaccines
- Clinical and Public Health Microbiology
- Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity
- Host-Microbe Biology
- Molecular Biology and Physiology
- Profession of Microbiology
Antimicrobial Agents and Resistance
The Antimicrobial Agents and Resistance (AAR) track features the latest on the discovery and development of new antimicrobial drugs in the pipeline, and their associated resistance mechanisms. The AAR track focuses on a broad range of topics, including surveillance and global epidemiology, mechanisms of resistance, antimicrobial discovery from pre-clinical investigations to post-marketing data, stewardship, novel approaches to infection diagnosis and treatment, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic principles to optimize antimicrobial design and use.
Subtracks
- AAR01: Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance: Molecular Typing, Clinical & Molecular Epidemiology
- AAR02: Antibiotic Agents: Mechanisms of Action and Resistance
- AAR03: Antifungal Agents: Mechanisms of Action and Resistance
- AAR04: Antiviral Agents (including HIV Drugs): Mechanisms of Action and Resistance
- AAR05: Antimicrobial Stewardship
- AAR06: Novel Approaches: Diagnostics/Discovery and Non-Traditional Therapies to Combat Drug-Resistant Infections
- AAR07: Antimicrobial Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
- AAR08: New Antimicrobial Agents (In Vitro and In Vivo Studies Prior to the Start of Clinical Therapeutic Studies/Pre-Phase 2)
- AAR09: Pharmacological Studies of Antimicrobial Agents Pre-NDA (Phase 2/3)
Applied and Environmental Science
Applied Environmental Science (AES) fosters broad understanding and collaboration between 17 sub-tracks, based on the fundamental shared interests in how microbes work in diverse environments. The AES track is designed for scientists with a variety of backgrounds in the basic sciences, engineering, public health and food production. Topics include basic and applied microbiology in environments from soil to food, lakes and oceans to drinking water systems, and deserts to urban population centers.
Subtracks
- AES01: Microbiology of Engineered Environment
- AES02: Microbiology of Agricultural Systems
- AES03: Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment
- AES04: Biofilms in Environmental Systems
- AES05: Biofuels, Bioproducts and Resource Recovery
- AES06: Bioremediation, Biodegradation and Biotransformation
- AES07: Biofouling and Biocorrosion
- AES08: Viruses in the Environment
- AES09: Urban Water Microbiology
- AES10: Marine Microbiology
- AES11: Genetic and Metabolic Functions in Environmental Microbes
- AES12: Microbial Food Spoilage
- AES13: Probiotics and Fermentation of Foods
- AES14: Foodborne Pathogens
- AES15: Source-tracking of Environmental Microbes
- AES16: Electromicrobiology and Synthetic Biology
- AES17: Aeromicrobiology and Geomicrobiology
Clinical Infections and Vaccines
The Clinical Infections and Vaccines (CIV) track encompasses clinical and epidemiological studies in adult and pediatric infectious diseases, global health issues, including emerging infectious diseases and tropical medicine, and recent developments and clinical studies in vaccines. This track is designed for infectious diseases physicians, clinical microbiologists, epidemiologists, public health officials and pharmacists to learn about the latest advances in clinical and basic science.
Subtracks
- CIV01: Clinical Studies of Adult Infectious Diseases, including Epidemiology and Clinical Trials
- CIV02: Infection Prevention and Control including Healthcare-associated Infections
- CIV03: Global Health
- CIV04: Transplant Infectious Diseases
- CIV05: Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- CIV06: Vaccines and Immunization Science
- CIV07: Infection Biology and Dynamics
Clinical and Public Health Microbiology
The Clinical and Public Health Microbiology (CPHM) track provides laboratory directors, medical technologists, clinicians, infection preventionists, and public health officials with the most recent developments and cutting-edge findings in the field. The CPHM track delves into multiple infectious disease sub-disciplines, including novel diagnostic technology, susceptibility testing, clinical laboratory biosafety and biosecurity, antimicrobial and diagnostic stewardship, surveillance and epidemiology, and “One health.”
Subtracks
- CPHM01: Administering the Clinical/Public Health Microbiology Laboratory
- CPHM02: Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
- CPHM03: Diagnostic Bacteriology
- CPHM04: Diagnostic Immunology
- CPHM05: Diagnostic Mycobacteriology
- CPHM06: Diagnostic Mycology
- CPHM07: Diagnostic Parasitology
- CPHM08: Diagnostic Public Health Microbiology
- CPHM09: Diagnostic Veterinary Microbiology
- CPHM10: Diagnostic Virology
- CPHM11: Laboratory Safety, Security and Biodefense
- CPHM12: Molecular Diagnostic Microbiology
- CPHM13: Laboratory Informatics
- CPHM14: Practical Tools for Bench Technologists
- CPHM15: One Health Practices and its Impact
Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity
The Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity (EEB) track is defined by research that encompasses laboratory, clinical, engineered, and natural settings. The EEB track is aimed to advance ecological and evolutionary theory in microbes and other organisms in basic and applied research, and to promote microbial ecology, evolution, and biodiversity in biological education.
Subtracks
- EEB01: Microbial Ecology
- EEB02: Microbial Evolution and Comparative Genomics
- EEB03: Microbial Biodiversity and Systematics
Host-Microbe Biology
The Host Microbe Biology (HMB) track explores research at the host-microbe interface. The HMB track addresses pathogenic and symbiotic relationships between microbes and the host, as well as the microbiome. Scientists studying genetics and physiology of microbes and viruses at the basic science level should expect to find topics covering the genetic, physiological and virulence mechanisms that shape host-microbe relationships.
Subtracks
- HMB01: Animal Infections and Transmission
- HMB02: Genetic and Physiological Adaptation to the Host
- HMB03: Cell and Tissue Responses to Microbes
- HMB04: Invasion and Survival in Host Cells
- HMB05: Microbe Interactions with Non-mammalian Host
- HMB06: Microbiome-Host Interactions
- HMB07: Phage-Host Interactions
- HMB08: Polymicrobial Pathogenicity and Symbiosis
- HMB09: Inflammation and Immunity
- HMB10: Surface Structures and Pathogenic Microbes
- HMB11: Toxins and Secretion Machines and Secreted Factors
- HMB12: Virulence Regulatory Mechanisms
- HMB13: Virus-Host Associations
- HMB14: Anti-pathogen Strategies (Basic Science Stage)
- HMB15: Vaccine Development (Basic Science Stage)
- HMB16: Mammalian Host-Microbe Interactions
Molecular Biology and Physiology
Molecular Biology and Physiology (MBP) covers a broad spectrum of microbiological phenomena. For scientists in the MBP track, the goal is to understand the basic mechanisms of microbial life at the molecular, cellular and multi-cellular level.
Subtracks
- MBP01: Gene Expression and Regulation
- MBP02: Signal Transduction
- MBP03: Stress Responses
- MBP04: Growth, Morphogenesis and Development
- MBP05: Genome Dynamics, including Replication, Repair and Recombination
- MBP06: Metabolism Enzyme Mechanics and Physiology
- MBP07: Biofilms, Motility and other Collective Behaviors
- MBP08: Transport Systems
- MBP09: Phage and Viruses
- MBP10: New Microbiological Techniques
- MBP11: Computational Genomics/Databases and Modeling
Profession of Microbiology
The Profession of Microbiology (POM) Track covers topics related to education, career choices, diversity and inclusion, professional development and science communication and outreach.
Subtracks
- POM01: Microbiology Education
- POM02: Microbiology Communication and Outreach
- POM03: Career and Professional Development
- POM04: Microbiology Policy
- POM05: History of Microbiology
FEMS Topics
- Infection Biology and Pathogens
- Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Microbiology and Biochemistry
- Environmental Microbiology and Ecology
- Eukaryotic Microbiology and Biotechnology
- Health and Food Microbiology
- Miscellaneous
- Infection Biology and Pathogens
- Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Microbiology and Biochemistry
- Environmental Microbiology and Ecology
- Eukaryotic Microbiology and Biotechnology
- Health and Food Microbiology
- Miscellaneous
Infection Biology and Pathogens
This topic includes, but is not restricted to, research on medical, veterinary, plant and insect pathogens.View all Infection Biology and Pathogens programming.
Infectious Diseases
This topic covers diagnosis of infectious diseases, characterization of the causative factors relevant for patient care, clinical-microbiological research on infectious diseases, research on anti-infective therapy and prophylaxis, virology, and mechanisms of resistance to antimicrobials.View all Infectious Diseases programming.
Molecular Microbiology and Biochemistry
This topic aims to explore genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, structural biology and 'omic' studies.View all Molecular Microbiology and Biochemistry progamming.
Environmental Microbiology and Ecology
This topic covers ecophysiology, ecogenomics and meta-omic studies, microbe interactions, aquatic and soil ecosystems, extreme environments, biofilms, animal microbiomes, environmental dimensions of antimicrobial resistance, and climate change and microbiology.View all Environmental Mirobiology and Ecology programming.
Eukaryotic Microbiology and Biotechnology
Applied and general research on eukaryotes including, but not restricted to, industrial microbiology, systems biology, genetic and molecular engineering, alternative energy sources.View all Eukaryotic Microbiology and Biotechnology programming.
Health and Food Microbiology
This topic includes, but is not restricted to, research areas from food production and biotechnology, to spoilage and food borne pathogens, and food safety, and from microbiome to AMR.View all Health and Food Microbiology programming.