Evolution and Diversity of Symbioses of Arthropods


30-Jun-2010 - 03-Jul-2010

We are pleased to announce the workshop entitled:

Evolution and Diversity of Symbioses of Arthropods

The workshop will be held from the 30th of June to the 3rd of July 2010
in Bad Bevensen, Germany.

Symbioses with bacteria and other microorganisms have contributed
greatly
to the ecological and evolutionary success of arthropods, either by
providing essential nutrients or digestive functions, or more unusual
functions such as bioluminescence or contributing to healthcare of their
hosts. Other endosymbionts engage in more parasitic interactions with
their hosts by distorting their hosts´ sex ration to ensure their own
transmission. This stunning diversity of symbioses already became
evident
early in the 20th century, e.g. by the wide range of associations
included
in Paul Buchners seminal book "Endosymbiose der Tiere emit Pflanzlichen
Mikroorganismen" published in 1953.

Since then numerous symbiotic associations have been characterized
in great detail, with microbial partners being identified, genomes
of endosymbionts being sequenced and functions of the symbionts
uncovered. The use of culture independent techniques has led to a great
leap forward in uncovering the diversity present in arthropod hosts as
well as their specificity. Recent work on a broad range of arthropod
symbioses will be presented, with a wide range of microorganisms
involved
that are located in a variety of organs such has antennal glands, gut,
malphigian tubules or reproductive tissue.

Whereas biologists recently became aware of the importance of mechanisms
of host-symbiont interactions and the involvement of the immune system
as an interface between the two, we are only beginning to understand
how the crosstalk between different endosymbionts can alter the outcome
of symbiotic associations when hosts harbour endosymbiont consortia
and how diverse some of these consortia can be. In addition more and
more players in symbiotic interactions are uncovered as well as new
functions. Are such endosymbiont consortia stable in composition? Does
competition among different endosymbionts for host resources harm the
host as certain functions are provided in a lesser manner? How easily
can such endosymbiont consortia including gut microflora be invaded by
other microorganisms?

In this workshop, we welcome talks on different kinds of symbiotic
interactions from mutualistic to parasitisic and comprising either
single endosymbionts or endosymbiont consortia. The very beginning
of endosymbiosis will be discussed. How are free living organisms
incorporated into other organisms to become endosymbionts?


Tentative list of invited speakers:

James Lake (UCLA, USA)

William Martin (University Düsseldorf, Germany)

Andreas Brune (Max-Planck Institute Marburg, Germany)

Molly Hunter (University of Arizona, USA)

Edouard Jurkevitch (University Jerusalem, Israel)

Martin Kaltenpoth (Max-Planck Insitute Jena, Germany)

Eva Novakova (University South Bohemia, Czech Republic)

Ameur Cherif (University Tunis, Tunisia)

Daniele Daffonchio (University Milano, Italy)

Fabrice Vavre (University Lyon, France)

Alison Dunn (University Leeds, UK)

Massimo Marzorati (University Gent, Belgium)

Jan Engelstädter (ETH Zürich, Switzerland)

Cara Gibson (National Ecological Observatory Network
(NEON), Boulder, USA)

Einat Zchori-Fein (Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Israel)

Peter Neumann (Swiss Bee Research Centre Agroscope,
Switzerland)

Alexandre Aebi (Forschungsanstalt Agroscope, Switzerland)

Richard Cordaux (University Poitiers, France)

Julien Varaldi (University Lyon, France)

Matthias Horn (University Wien, Austria)



Outline of the program

June 30: arrival day, welcome reception.

July 1st: Oral communications, Evening poster session.

July 2nd: Oral communications, Evening poster session.

July 3rd: departure Day


Communications and Poster session

Communications will be on invitation. However, a poster session will
be organized and there will be time for discussions. Participants
willing to present a poster should send a title and an
abstract to Heike Feldhaar (feldhaar@biologie.uni-osnabrueck.de
) before March 30th,
2010. In case that there is still time for oral contributions we will
contact registered participants.

Location and access

The workshop will be held in the Gustav-Stresemann Institute in Bad
Bevensen, Germany. Bad Bevensen can be reached easily by train either
from Hamburg or Hannover. Both towns have an international Airport
(alternatively from Frankfurt Airport via Hannover by train).

Bad Bevensen is a small town in Northern Germany, close to the Luneburg
Heath, which is renowned for hiking. The conference venue is situated
in vicinity of the abbey Medingen that was built in the 13th century.

Registration and accomodation

The Conference Registration and Accomodation Form should be completed
and emailed to Heike Feldhaar (feldhaar@biologie.uni-osnabrueck.de)
by March 30, 2010.

Costs for registration, lodging (single rooms) and meals will be between
230 Euro (double-room) or 260 Euro (single room). Participants will pay
the fees on site with ec card or in cash. Credit cards cannot be handled
by the conference venue.


Looking forward to seeing you in Bad Bevensen,

The Organizing Committee

Kostas Bourtzis, University of Ioanina, Greece (COST Action Chair)

Heike Feldhaar, University of Osnabrück, Germany (COST MC member and
local organizer)

Roy Gross, University of Würzburg, Germany (COST MC member and local
organizer)

Daniele Daffonchio, University of Milano, Italy (COST Working Group
Leader)