Biofilms 2000
Big Sky, MT
July 16-20, 2000

Contents of This Page:

Conference Description and Goals
Workshops and Demonstrations
Evening Breakout Sessions
Education Program
Registration
Location
Lodging
Ground Transportation
Transportation

Links to Other Pages:

Scientific Program
List of Registrants
Poster Sessions

Biofilms 2000 has sold out!!! The conference has reached maximum capacity. We cannot accept any late or on-site registrations.

General Information

Conference Description and Goals

Biofilms are sessile communities of microbial cells that develop on surfaces in virtually all aquatic ecosystems. Bacterial cells within these highly structured adherent populations assume a phenotype that is clearly different from that of the planktonic cells whose adhesion to the surface in question initiates their formation. Biofilm microorganisms show a phenomenal resistance to agents that are effective in controlling their floating counterparts. The science of Microbiology has concentrated, almost exclusively, on the planktonic phenotype of the bacterial species whose activities impact the human species, but organisms that are increasingly important in industrial and medical ecosystems are seen to grow predominantly in biofilms.

The study of the biofilm phenotype of bacteria, which predominates in most industrial problems and in 65% of bacterial infections currently treated by clinicians, requires new concepts and new methods. Biofilm concepts will be examined in plenary sessions throughout four of the days of the conference, while methods will be presented in a full day workshop. Focused applications of both concepts and methods will be explored in daily poster sessions and in evening meetings.

The goal of this international conference is to sustain a common approach in all studies of biofilms. It is clear that the formation and detachment of biofilms constitute a universal strategy of bacterial growth, and it is our objective to use the same concepts and methods to examine all sessile populations in all of the many ecosystems in which they play a significant role.

Workshops and Demonstrations

The workshops and demonstrations on Tuesday, July 18 from 8:00 am to 7:30 pm will be arranged, by Rob Palmer, NIDCR-Intramural Program, and by the Lab Management Team of the CBE. The workshops and demonstrations will be designed to disseminate new techniques for the study of biofilms, which are virtually unknown outside of a very few specialized labs, and to acquaint researchers with these methods and with available sources of further information. In the previous iteration of this ASM Symposium (Snowbird, 1996) these workshops and demonstrations were well attended and very highly valued, especially by graduate students and clinical trainees.

Imaging Workshop
The workshop will be conducted twice, once in the morning (8:30-12:00) and once in the afternoon (1:00-4:30). A series of 20 minute talks from each of the companies listed below will begin the workshop and will acquaint the attendees with recent developments in turnkey imaging systems and in commercial biofilm research. After the talks, Rob Palmer (NIDCR/NIH) and Arne Heydorn (Tech. Univ. Denmark) will conduct open-ended demonstrations of confocal microscopy techniques for biofilm visualization; attendees are encouraged to move freely between the various vendor displays during this time to see the demonstrations and to interact with the vendors. During the final hour of the workshop, attendees may view any samples they might care to bring to the workshop.

Companies Participating in the Workshop:
Nikon, Inc.
Leica Microsystems Inc.
BITPLANE AG
Bacterin, Inc.
Carl Zeiss, Inc.

Additional Information on Participating Companies

Education Program

Please plan on staying in Big Sky on Friday, July 21st.  That day will be devoted to special interdisciplinary education programs organized in conjunction with the National Science Foundation.  These programs have been notably successful in training a new generation of students to operate effectively in the border areas between Microbiology, Engineering, and Medicine.

Education Symposium Agenda

Evening Breakout Sessions

Individuals will be asked to organize 1.5 hour breakout sessions in the evenings of Days 1, 2 and 3. These breakout sessions will explore the importance of biofilms in specific areas, and to relate material presented in the plenary sessions to these areas. The plenary sessions will address general biofilm research, without regard to the ecosystem in which it was done, and the evening breakout sessions will serve to focus on certain important areas in which biofilms pose practical problems. Plenary speakers can be invited to take part in these evening sessions, which may take any form that the organizers favor. Breakout sessions will be approved right up until the dates of the meeting, and will be announced to the attendees out the outset, so that they can plan their attendance and "ration" their energies. Evening sessions are currently planned on the following topics :

1. Modeling biofilms – (same evening as regulatory) to be organized by Runne Bakke
2. Medical Devices – we will discuss the methods that are available to ensure that medical devices are free of biofilms when they are installed, and that materials that claim antibiofilm properties actually resist biofilm formation
3. Dental Infections – we will relate the general biofilm work to the sessile populations that form in the oral cavity, and consider the control strategies that may be useful in the treatment of dental biofilm diseases such as periodontitis
4. Furanones – marine ecology (Steinberg), mode of action (Kjelleberg), chemistry (Charlton), use in cystic fibrosis (Givskov), and testing (Pasmore) of furanones, with lots of current application information.
5. Biological Pretreatment – we will discuss the use of bioreactors to reduce the organic chemical content of domestic and process water, to an extent that will reduce fouling and minimize the use of chlorine
6. Protective Biofilms – we will discuss the protective biofilms that are formed by many commensal bacteria on the surfaces of tissues ( e.g. mouth and the vagina), and we will explore the use of similar strategies to protect whole organ systems (e.g the oropharynx in intensive care) with appropriate probiotics
7. Synergy and Competition in Biofilms aka "Biological Warfare in the Biofilm" – Ian Sutherland to organize and chair a session on synergy and competition (and neutrality) between bacteria in biofilms.
8. What is a Biofilm? – Roundtable suggested by Rob Palmer and Bob McLean, to include Jan Kreft and Paul Stoodley.
9. Biofilms in Medical Water Systems – Jo-Ann Maltais to organize by inviting speakers from plenary sessions and others.
10. Oxidative Stress Responses in Biofilms – Dan Hassett, Tim McDermott, Bruce Demple, Gisela Storz and Irwin Fridovich to form a small session to discuss the oxidative stress response in biofilms.
11. Future Research in Biofilms – Bob McLean to organize and chair with Korber (ecology), Lejeune (genetics), Camper (applied areas) and Charlton (natural signal inhibitors): sort of a young scientist’s look at the field.
12. The MBEC technology for susceptibility screening of biofilms – Howard Ceri will organize this session, with other members of the Calgary Biofilm Group.

Even as the Symposium progresses any group or individual will be free to organize an evening breakout session on any topic for which they feel they can draw an audience.

Registration

Biofilms 2000 has sold out!!! The conference has reached maximum capacity. We cannot accept any late or on-site registrations.

Location

Located high in the Northern Rockies, Big Sky, Montana has something to offer for everyone –magnificent mountains, endless outdoor activities, trout-laden rivers and streams, superb dining, and a variety of shopping, all accented with a touch of western charm.

Big Sky Ski & Summer Resort is nestled in the Northern Rockies.  Located just 45 miles south of Bozeman, Montana, and only 18 miles north of the Yellowstone National Park border, the resort is easily accessible.  The summer climate at Big Sky is refreshing and serene.  Daytime temperatures reach 75-80 degrees and the nights are cool.  Changes in elevation allow you to experience a crop of wildflowers nearly every month.

Lodging

ASM has negotiated rates ranging from $110 to $240, with accommodations available from single hotel rooms to 3 bedroom condominiums.  To make your reservation, please contact Big Sky Resort at (406) 995-5000 or (800) 548-4486 and request the group rate for the ASM Conference on Biofilms.  The deadline for making reservations at these preferred rates is June 16, 2000. As July is the most popular summer month in Big Sky, please reserve your room as soon as possible.

Ground Transportation

Karst Stage, located in the Bozeman airport, offers shuttle service to and from Big Sky. Reservations and advance payment are required. Please note that due to flight schedules, individuals with reservations for ground transportation may have a waiting period of up to two hours. The Bozeman airport does offer a restaurant and lounge if a wait is required.

Reservations and advance payment are required by July 7, 2000:

Karst Stage
800-287-4759 toll free in US
406-388-2293 outside the US
karst@karststage.com

Round trip (Bozeman Airport to Big Sky and return): $45.50

Transportation Information

ASM has selected Conventions in America (CIA) as the official travel agency for this meeting.  Call 1-800-929-4242 and ask for Group #254 to receive the following discounts or the lowest available fares on any other carrier:

Northwest Airlines- Save 5% to 10% on lowest applicable fares- take an additional 5% off with minimum 60 day advance purchase.  Travel between July 13-23, 2000.

Alamo Rent A Car- Call for everyday low rates.

Outside US & Canada, call (619) 232-4298, fax (619) 232-6497.
Website: www.stellaraccess.com
Reservation hours: M-F 6:30am-5:00pm Pacific Time.

If you call direct or use your own agency, refer to these codes:
Northwest: 1-800-328-1111, File #NY653
Alamo: 1-800-732-3232, ID#247853GR

ASM has also obtained the following discount, watch for low fares...

American Airlines: 1-800-433-1790, Star File number 977OUA
American Airlines is offering a 5% discount off their published round-trip fares from most cities, and 10% off unrestricted coach fares, or you may choose a zone fare, whichever works best from your location. Whether booking your tickets yourself, or through your favorite travel agent, using the Star File number provided above will help you get the lowest fares possible.

Delta Airlines: 1-800-241-6760, Meeting ID code: DMN132782A
Delta Air Lines is offering a 10% discount off Delta’s published round-trip fares, and 15% off published unrestricted coach fares; zone fares are also available.