Over the last two decades, there has been a significant surge in interest in the fundamental aspects of bacterial and archaeal structure and function, driven by advances in fluorescence and cryo-EM imaging. Quantitative and automated methods have brought about radical changes in the breadth and depth of questions that could be explored, while genome sequencing and genetic methods such as CRISPR-Cas9 and Tn-Seq have greatly expanded the range of organisms that can be studied incisively, enabling comparative studies of processes such as growth, morphogenesis, and division, across diverse prokaryotic phyla. Many of these prokaryotic cell biology systems are being successfully reconstituted using purified components, leading to the discovery of molecular mechanisms underpinning cellular functions.

The conference will bring together presentations that illustrate the application of advanced cell and molecular biology methods to a wide range of fundamental functions in prokaryotic cells. Advances in understanding the fundamentals of bacterial and archaeal structure and function also create opportunities for the development of novel approaches to kill pathogens or modulate the growth and behaviour of synthetically engineered strains.

Key Sessions

The conference will feature sessions focused on the following topics:

• Advances in Nanoimaging

• Cell Envelope Dynamics and Division

• Cell Growth and Cell Cycle

• Cell Shape and Morphogenesis

• Genome Organization, Replication, and Expression

• Spatial Organization of Cellular Structures