VIBRIO 2014 meeting report

Overview & Synopsis

150 scientists from 26 countries assembled in the John McIntyre Centre at the University of Edinburgh from April 1–4 2014 for VIBRIO2014, a conference dedicated to the study of the biology and biotechnology of vibrios. These Gram-negative aquatic bacteria are widespread in the estuarine and coastal marine environments. They play an important role in marine ecology, e.g. petroleum degradation, and they are also associated with human [e.g. Vibrio cholerae the causal agent of cholera] and animal diseases [e.g. Vibrio anguillarum the cause of vibriosis in fish). In total, there were 54 oral and 72 poster presentations grouped in 7 sessions. After the official opening by the Scottish Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Rita Colwell delivered the keynote address, entitled: “Vibrios past, present and future”.