Immunologic Memory, Persisting Microbes and Chronic Disease (B6) 2011

Immunological memory can provide potent protection from infectious disease. Many infections are cleared rapidly by the immune system leaving the host with protective memory B and T cell memory. However, other host-pathogen interactions are long-term and can develop into chronic diseases. Immunological memory develops differently during these protracted infections. Prolonged host-pathogen interactions, chronic infections and co-infection with multiple pathogens can impact the host s immune system in ways that remain incompletely understood. Moreover, the universe of microorganisms with which our immune system interacts includes not only pathogens, but also normal bacterial and viral commensal flora. The impact of these microorganisms immunological memory is only just starting to be evaluated. The goals of this meeting are to discuss: 1) cutting edge research on the mechanisms of optimal immunological memory, 2) the impact of prolonged host-microbe interactions on immunological memory and 3) how the application of cutting edge approaches to studying these issues can help generated better vaccines and immunotherapies.