PURPOSE

The main purposes of the Gut Microbes SIG are:

  • to bring together participants interested in diverse aspects of gut microbiology, and to foster networking interactions between these participants through the organisation of workshops, seminars and symposia, including at the National ASM Scientific conference, and student and ECR-focussed events; 

  • to serve as a platform and forum for the discussion of matters related to gut microbes, including, but not limited to, infection, microbiome, host response, environmental contamination, transmission, antimicrobial use and resistance, experimental model systems, and therapeutic development;  

  • to be a meeting point for education, teaching matters and students centred on gut microbiology, and to help to build the next generation of leaders in this area; and, 

  • to provide a platform to promote gut microbe research to government, funding bodies, media, and the community, and to foster industry engagement and partnerships. 

SCOPE

The complexity of the gastrointestinal tract, coupled with the diverse microbial communities that are established in this niche, has been a barrier to developing a deep understanding of gut microbes and how they function. However, in recent years, technologies have been developed that have allowed these barriers to be broken, bringing a renewed interest to the study of gut microbes within the discipline of microbiology but also extending to many other disciplines. All of these aspects of gut microbiology fall within the scope of the Gut Microbes SIG.  

 

GOVERNANCE

The Gut Microbes SIG is one of the special interest groups within the Australian Society of Microbiology (ASM). The SIG operates within the framework of ASM, its Constitution and By-Laws (https://www.theasm.org.au/governing-documents). The SIG convenor is responsible for ensuring the SIG and its members follow and abide by the ASM by-laws.  

 

MEMBERSHIP OF THE GUT MICROBES SIG

Membership to the Gut Microbes SIG is open to any member of ASM or a non-member with an active interest in the purpose and scope of the SIG and its activities.