We are traveling to Cape Town, South Africa, to attend 22nd International Pathogenic Neisseria Conference. The Neisseria conference will be held from 9th to 14th October 2022 at Lagoon Beach Hotel, Cape Town.
International Pathogenic Neisseria Conference is the best platform to discuss the epidemiology, genomics, vaccine research and development, host-pathogen interactions, and new approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis.
If you want to be part of this global event, the registration is still ON. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
In 2022, 350 participants (200 in person and 150 online) will participate in this event. Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and after many uncertainties, this event finally kicked off on 8th October 2022, here in Cape Town.
Table of Contents
Major Highlights of the Event
We reached Cape Town around 3:30 PM, so we missed the workshops scheduled for the first day of this conference.
Sunday 9th October 2022
The first day of the 22nd Pathogenic Neisseria Conference commenced with registration and set up for poster and exhibition. Three parallel workshop sessions of approx 3:30 hours will be held on the first day. Attendees can register for one of the workshops of their choice.
- Workshops
- New approaches to diagnosis and treatment
- Gonococcal vaccines
- Application of omics
- Welcome Receptions at Lagoon Beach Hotel
The venue was excellent. When we reached there, it was windy, and various types of light snacks, juices, and wines were served to the attendee. Everybody seemed busy discussing within small groups. Some roamed, introducing their current affiliation and ongoing research activities to others.
Monday 10th October 2022
Anne von Gottberg and Mignon du Plessis welcomed all the participants for coming to South Africa, The Rainbow Nation, and also thanked sponsors of the event; Inqaba Biotec, National research institute, GSK, Pfizer, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
After the welcome speech, three major sessions were held on the second day in the following thematic areas, followed by poster viewing.
- Meningitis in Africa
- Host Defences and Immune Response
- Genomics and Gene Regulation
In the first session, Meningitis in Africa, Rito Mikhari, Adodo Sadji, Rachel Charles-Amaza, and Susan Meiring did presentations on their ongoing research on meningococcal meningitis in Africa. Africa, which houses more than 14% HIV-infected individuals, also suffers from invasive meningococcal meningitis. Most cases are seen in the meningitis belt of Sub-Saharan Africa, favored by its hot and dry season.
Neisseria Meningitidis serogroup A (NmA) was the most prevalent strain till 2010. After the introduction of MenAfriVac (A meningococcal conjugate vaccine for serogroup A) in 2010, the cases of NmA decreased. This changed the epidemiology, and new serogroups such as NmW, NmX, and NmC are becoming more prevalent.
Tuesday 11th October 2022
- Meningococcal Vaccines and Impact
- Epidemiology/Molecular Biology
- Antibiotic Resistance, Diagnostics, and Treatment
- Poster presentation
Wednesday 12th October 2022
- Surface Structures
- Physiology and Metabolism
- Free Social Program
Thursday, 13th October 2022
- Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Gonococcal Vaccines
- Antibiotic Resistance, Diagnostics, and Treatment
- Meningococcal Vaccines and Impact
- Gala Dinner
Friday 14th October 2022
- Antibiotic Resistance, Diagnostics, and Treatment
- Host Defences and Immune Response