Salmonella : from Pathogenesis to Therapeutics

Although Salmonella enterica serovars are some of the best- studied bacterial pathogens, the field still has a long way to go, especially when one considers that (i) they cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide; (ii) they have broad host ranges, but for unknown reasons, infections result in different diseases in different hosts; (iii) they are able to establish per- sistent infections, which serve as reservoirs for transmission/ shedding; and (iv) they are increasingly resistant to many an- tibiotics. The Second Conference on Salmonella, sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology, was held in Victoria, Canada, from 9 to 13 September 2006. Over 200 participants from around the world gathered at the historic Empress Hotel to discuss their latest findings on Salmonella population biol- ogy, animal models, pathogenic mechanisms, clinical disease, and vaccination. The first highlight of the conference was the keynote address by Roy Curtiss III (Arizona State University, Temple). He embodied the spirit of the conference "from pathogenesis to therapeutics," as his life with Salmonella has taken him from investigating bacterial genetics and pathogenic mechanisms to translating this research into therapeutic ap- proaches and vaccine development. This review will highlight some of the central themes that arose during the course of the conference; however, as it is so brief, it will describe only a fraction of the many excellent talks and posters presented.