Overview :
Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), is the world's leading cause of death by a single infectious agent and a leading public health problem. Notably, Korea and Japan have higher incidence, prevalence and mortality rates associated with TB among OECD countries. Although several new anti-TB drugs have recently been developed, more efforts are required to reduce the numbers of TB and associated death. In addition, infectious diseases doe to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are drastically increasing worldwide, including Korea and Japan. However, very little is known about NTM and their infections. In this session for the 14th JKISM, two Korean and three Japanese invited speakers will provide recent information on the epidemiology of mycobacterial infections in each country and present recent results in their researches on mycobacteria. We believe that this symposium will provide an invaluable opportunity to discuss the current situations, problems, and future perspectives of mycobacteria infections, and possibilities of collaborations between Korea and Japan in this field.

Overview :
Recent innovations in sequencing technology have been providing dramatic advancement in the field of bacterial genomics. Newly developed techninologies/strategies, such as single cell genomics, metagenomics, large-scale intra-species genomic comparison and phylogeographic analyses, have been applied to various fileds of microbiology and provided us enormous novel findings. In this symposium, leading researchers in bacterial genomics will present thier resent works. We are confident that this symposium will be a precious opportunity for further advancement of this filed in Japan. This symposium is co-sponsored by the journal 'Microbial Genomics'. Dr. Nicholas Thomson (one of the organizers of this session) is an editor-in-chief of this journal.

Overview :
Body and luminal surfaces of human are covered with diverse microbes forming microbiota. Their ecosystem, it's numbers and diversity, may be affected by a variety of factors: diet, age, lifestyle and genetic background of host, invading maicrobes and others. We raised a simple question how homeostatic failure of the microbial ecosystem of commensal microbes occurs but a whole picture illustrating processes and factors leading symbiosis to dysbiosis of the microbiota remains elusive. Here we invited four distinguished speakers of a variety of field to give a talk about factor(s) involved in maintenance of homeostasis/leading to dysbiosis. Let's think about barrier between commensalism and pathogenicity through their presentation.

Overview :
A wide variety of bacteria reside in the body and body surface of humans, and complex microbial ecosystems (refer to as microbiota) are established. Among them, bacterial biomass in the gut is enormous, and the microbiota exert various physiological activities and affect the health of the host. In recent years, due to the technical advances on gut microbiota analysis exerted by the use of NGS and bioinformatics, the key bacterial species and genetic factor that affect the host physiology have been identified. The use of gnotobiotic animals also contributed on accumulating the knowledge on the host response mechanisms to the microbiota. In this symposium, we would like to discuss the current and future status of human microbiota research by providing recent topics on gut microbiota that include functional analysis of the microbiota, host response mechanism, and clinical research.

Overview :
Pathogenic bacteria deliver virulence factors including toxins and effector proteins to intoxicate or modulate host cellular functions. Thus bacterial secretion systems play a central role in pathogeneis of numerous important bacterial pathogens. Nine distinctive types of bacterial secretion systems have been recognized to date, and most likely the family will expand in future. "Needle complex" of the type III secretion system was reported about 20 years ago, and many research groups have engaged in unveiling its entire structure in atomic resolution. Recent innovation of high-resolution electron microscopy, including cryo-electron tomography, has dramatically accelerated the progress of structural studies on the type IV and type VI secretion systems. In this symposium, we are focusing not only on recent progress of the structural studies but also on secretion system-mediated bacterial manipulation of host cells. Taken these together, the future research directions of bacterial secretion systems will be discussed.

Overview :
Zoonotic diseases, also known as zoonoses, are caused by pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans and vice versa. Today, more than 200 zoonotic pathogens have been described; many of them are transmitted to humans by close contact with reservoir animals, while some are transmitted following accidental infection from the reservoirs. In this symposium, we focus on two viral (Ebola and Borna disease viruses) and three bacterial (Streptococcus suis, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, and Mycobacterium leprae) zoonotic pathogens, all of which are unique in their distributions in natural ecosystems. To enter from their ecosystems into human hosts and establish their infection, animal pathogens have developed specialized mechanisms. For example, Ebola virus readily crosses species barriers from its natural host fruit bats to humans. M. leprae reprograms the host adult Schwann cells to stem cells and uses the reprogrammed cells as a vehicle to spread the infection. Here, we would like to discuss how these zoonotic pathogens occur in natural ecosystems and evolved sophisticated mechanisms to successfully colonize their new hosts.

Overview :
Advances in bacteriology give us better understanding of bacterial infections. However, we could not control many bacterial infections even "old, well-known" infections , and massive or very serious outbreaks happen. In this session, we select four bacterial infections as topics, pertussis, infant botulism, antimicrobial resistant bacterial and EHEC infections. We have two speakers on each topic, one will introduce outbreaks or case investigation, and questions raised from the investigation. And the other speakers will summarize the latest scientific findings on the pathogen or infections, and try to answer the questions. Through the session, we would like to see what we can or cannot understand, and to share challenges left for our future research.

Overview :
Modern microbiology has been developed based on cultivation of microorganisms in pure culture. Cultivation of organisms on solidified agar media brought about a revolution in microbiology in 1890's. However, it did not take long to find a disparity between total cell counts and culturable cells counts on plates in environmental samples. Why most of microbes do not grow on agar or liquid media? Microbiologists are now making efforts to clarify the reasons why and to somehow make unculturable organisms cultivable. On the other hand, massive DNA sequencing technology has enabled to construct genomes of yet-to-be cultured organisms, thus microbiologists can now circumvent traditional and laborious works. When and how will those two strategies eventually intertwine and unite? In this session, 6 speakers will give talks on the latest studies to address these important and intriguing issues.

Overview :
The pathogenic bacteria produce important various virulence factors (e.g., toxin, enzyme, effector), which play a crucial role in diseases development. These virulence factors have a distinctive unique function and recognize the specific target molecule in the host, resulting in causing disturbance of homeostasis. To avoid the attack of these bacterial virulence factors, we use various kinds of protection mechanism. Thus, the studies of bacterial virulence factors or host defense mechanisms at the molecular level lead to discovery of new insights of host physiological functions. We believe that the understanding of these basic studies contributes to create the innovative therapy for bacterial infection. In this symposium, we will cover the hot topics of bacterial virulence factor studies and new strategies of bacterial infection therapy, providing a broad range of interesting information to attendees.

Overview :
Usually, resistant organisms were thought that there were isolated from patients in hospital. However, recent studies have shown that resistant bacteria are also separated from healthy people, environment, animals and foods. However, it is not clear what kind of influence bacteria resistant to environmental, animal and food have on humans. In this symposium, we discuss the possibility that resistant bacteria isolated from humans are derived from the environment, animals, foods, or conversely the possibility that resistant bacteria possessed by humans affect the environment, animals, and foods. Based on the presenting data of this symposium, we would like to consider with the audiences in the venue how to prevent the spread of resistant bacteria.

Overview :
Triggered by the discovery of Toll-like receptor (TLR) in the late 1990s, research of innate immunity based on the concept of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) has dramatically advanced in just over a decade. The advance has unveiled not only novel recognition and elimination mechanisms against pathogens by host immunity, but also the evasion strategies by pathogens counteracting such host defense system. However, even with our huge immunological insights including the PRR-PAMPS theory so far, we have yet to explain the pathology of many infectious diseases. Indeed, new pathogen recognition and exclusion mechanisms independent of established concepts are becoming evident in recent years. In this symposium, we invited speakers who study protective and regulatory immunity against various infectious microorganisms as well as bacteria. We will discuss new concepts of immune recognition and responses to pathogens clarified by their recent research and re-consider the protection strategy against bacterial infection from a pluralistic point of view based on these findings.

Overview :
Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) can be used not only for transcriptome analysis, but for wide applications such as identification of sRNA region, identification of biding sites of sRNA and transcription factors, and determination of mRNA half-lives. In addition, the new techniques has made possible to analyze whole transcriptome of bacteria infected in host organs. In this symposium, we will introduce current comprehensive RNA-analysis techniques including our latest research achievements.

Overview :
The 14th Japan-Korea International Symposium Microbiology in 2018 (JKISM 2018) is for the first time organized as a joint meeting with the annual meeting of Japanese Society of Bacteriology (JSB). The aims of this challenge are to provide microbiologists in both countries with more opportunities to make scientific and social communications and to discuss about any possibilities of research collaboration. In this joint meeting, Workshop-1 and Workshop-6 are, along with a symposium on Mycobacteria infections, specifically dedicated to JKISM 2018. These two workshops were planned to facilitate the communications/interactions of young researchers of both countries. In each workshop, young researches actively working in various fields of microbiology will present their recent data. All Japanese speakers are recent recipients of the Kuroya Shougaku-Shou prize, a JSB prize to honor young researchers who have accomplished excellent scientific achievements.

Overview :
The antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of pathogenic microbes increases in the world drastically and it causes serious problems in hospitals and clinics. On the other hand, as the development of new antimicrobials in pharmaceutical industry decreases recently, pandemic outbreak of infectious disease by drug resistant microorganisms is assumed to take place in future. In fungi, the multi-drug resistance of Candida species by the overexpression of drug efflux pumps, azole resistance of non-albicans Candida species by active uptake of sterol, and azole resistance of Asperigillus fumigatus by mutation of CYP51 has been reported. More recently the drug resistant strains of C. auris, a new pathogenic species have been isolated. This workshop focuses AMR of pathogenic fungi and introduces about the molecular mechanism of fungal drug resistance, the countermeasure to the drug resistant strains of fungi and new drug resistant species. Moreover, the direction of fungal AMR researches in future is discussed.

Overview :
In this workshop, 8 speakers in the fields of Taxonomy / Epidemiology /Infectious diseases and Ecology will present the data from their recent researches. These speakers were selected from the applicants to poster presentation by the symposium planning and coordination committee of the Japanese Society of Bacteriology. The speakers will present their data in the poster presentation session as well.

Overview :
In this workshop, 8 speakers in the fields of Genetics / Genomics / Biotechnology and Pathogenicity will present the data from their recent researches. These speakers were selected from the applicants to poster presentation by the symposium planning and coordination committee of the Japanese Society of Bacteriology. The speakers will present their data in the poster presentation session as well.

Overview :
In this workshop, 8 speakers in the fields of Host defense and Antimicrobial agents and resistance will present the data from their recent researches. These speakers were selected from the applicants to poster presentation by the symposium planning and coordination committee of the Japanese Society of Bacteriology. The speakers will present their data in the poster presentation session as well.

Overview :
The 14th Japan-Korea International Symposium Microbiology in 2018 (JKISM 2018) is for the first time organized as a joint meeting with the annual meeting of Japanese Society of Bacteriology (JSB). The aims of this challenge are to provide microbiologists in both countries with more opportunities to make scientific and social communications and to discuss about any possibilities of research collaboration. In this joint meeting, Workshop-1 and Workshop-6 are, along with a symposium on Mycobacteria infections, specifically dedicated to JKISM 2018. These two workshops were planned to facilitate the communications/interactions of young researchers of both countries. In each workshop, young researches actively working in various fields of microbiology will present their recent data. All Japanese speakers are recent recipients of the Kuroya Shougaku-Shou prize, a JSB prize to honor young researchers who have accomplished excellent scientific achievements.

Overview :
The NBRP enters the fourth phase, and 31 projects are adopted and operated. We will introduce the selected projects (Pathogenic bacteria, Cellular slime molds, and Paramecium) that are deemed to be deeply involved in the research promotion for members of the Japanese Society for Bacteriology. The latest information on ABS is also an important matter for researchers along with the internationalization of research community.

Overview :
Wakate Colosseum for Bacteriology is a scientific meeting for young researchers in the field of bacteriology, archeology, and mycology. It provides an informal and active forum where all the participants discuss their research works and exchange ideas to create the academic network among researchers and to develop their own skills.
We had the most recent one in August 2017 in Tsukuba supported by Japanese Society for Bacteriology. In this workshop, we will introduce the outcome from Wakate Colosseum for Bacteriology in Tsukuba to the members of the Society. First, we will present the overviews of the Tsukuba meeting briefly. Then, the excellent presenters make presentation about their actual works.

Overview :
In this workshop, 8 speakers in the fields of Ecology and Physiology / Structural biology will present the data from their recent researches. These speakers were selected from the applicants to poster presentation by the symposium planning and coordination committee of the Japanese Society of Bacteriology. The speakers will present their data in the poster presentation session as well.

Overview :
In this workshop, 8 speakers in the field of Pathogenicity will present the data from their recent researches. These speakers were selected from the applicants to poster presentation by the symposium planning and coordination committee of the Japanese Society of Bacteriology. The speakers will present their data in the poster presentation session as well.

Overview :
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the major pathogen causing community-acquired infections such as pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis in worldwide. Vaccination against S. pneumoniae has significantly reduced the burden of pneumococcal disease and has had an important public health benefit. However, increased colonization by non-vaccine serotypes due to use of the vaccines is increasing pneumococcal diseases. Colonization of S. pneumoniae in nasopharyngeal microbiome are important for the onset and development of pneumococcal diseases. Therefore, the strategy to prevent pneumococcal disease needs to focus on prevention of nasopharyngeal colonization. Although virulence factors of S. pneumoniae have been studied in detail, nasopharyngeal colonization mechanism is largely unknown. This workshop will focus on "pneumococcal colonization" and describe their epidemiological information, host immune response against pneumococcal disease, vaccination and virulence factor of S. pneumoniae from basic and clinical scientists.

Overview :
A Toxin-Antitoxin (TA) system of bacteria has been considered as a similar function to programmed cell death of multicellular organisms. However, recent studies suggest that the TA system is one of the bacterial survival strategies under stress environments. It has been reported that the TA system promotes the appearance of persister cells with reduced metabolic activity in the state of starvation or in the presence of antibiotics, resulting in overcoming the stress environments by stringent response. Such a bacterial survival strategy could cause refractory nature of bacterial infections. This workshop introduces latest research outcomes regarding 1) relationship between diversity of TA systems and bacterial survival strategy, 2) screening techniques for a novel TA system and its molecular mechanism, and 3) clinical technology targeting the TA system. Through this workshop, we would like to shed light on the true nature of the TA system and discuss possibilities of regulating the TA system.

Overview :
Elaborate membrane proteins (and membrane protein complexes), such as receptors, pumps, transporters and ion-driven motors, are essential and support our lives at the basic levels thereby related closely to human diseases. The mechanism of how these membrane protein complexes exhibit/regulate their function is the fundamental questions in Life Science. One approach to unravel the secrets of membrane proteins is to see them as "device" and investigate their behavior as a single molecule/complex/machinery. Here in this workshop, we will introduce the studies, led by up-and-coming researchers in Japan, that visualize the high-resolution structure, activity, as well as the behavior the machinery on the bacterial cell surfaces using cutting-edge methods like cryo-EM, nano-chanber and single-molecule microscopy.

Overview :
Recently, the number of syphilis patients is markedly increasing in Japan. In addition, occurrences of Leptospira and Borrelia infections are still being reported. Thus, spirochetal infections remain a threat to the health of our country. However, not many scientists are studying these infectious diseases ‒ especially at the basic level. The primary aim of this workshop is to activate basic studies on spirochetal infections. In addition, there seems to be little exchange between scientists who study different types of spirochetal infections because distinct spirochetes show considerably different life cycles and infection mechanisms. Therefore, I have asked researchers of the 4 major genera of spirochetes including Treponema, Leptospira, Borrelia and Brachyspira to present their researches. I hope that this meeting will lead to developments in the study of spirochetal infections in the future.

Overview :
This workshop focuses on (1) various modes of communication between bacteria within the environment; and (2) bacterial interactions with the environment. Traditional microbiology has uncovered and enabled the quantitative and systematic study of the inner workings of microorganisms; however, bacteria exist in an environmental context, and, this local environment profoundly affects cell biology. Life at the microbial length-scale has evolved to contend with diverse environmental factors, which include but are not limited to: (i) motility through viscous liquids and at the solid-liquid interface; (ii) behavior stimulated by gradients of chemicals or light; and (iii) social interactions mediated by cell-to-cell communication in biofilms. A deeper understanding of how bacteria survive and thrive in different environmental niches will lead to novel methods for infection prophylaxis and technologies that utilize bacterial functions in bioremediation and renewable energy. The topics covered include modes of translocation and surface exploration, mechanics of surface adherence, and bacterial communication in the lead-up to biofilm formation. The speakers will present in English but participants may ask questions and discuss in either Japanese or English (via translation by moderator, if necessary).