American Society for Microbiology 101st General Meeting, May 20-24, Orlando

The American Society for Microbiology will hold its 101st General Meeting in Orlando, Florida, May 20-24, 2001, at the Orange County Convention Center. The meeting will feature approximately 3,000 scientific presentations on topics spanning the spectrum of the microbiological sciences. Microbiologists study living organisms and infectious agents, and their work is critical to health, agriculture, the environment and biotechnology. Many accomplishments in the microbiological sciences have significantly affected our lives, such as the development of treatments for infectious diseases, the prevention of food spoilage, the use of microorganisms to clean up pollutants and basic knowledge of the nature of all living things. Among the topics to be presented at the meeting are:

· Infectious causes of chronic neurological diseaes

· Gene therapy

· Viruses associated with human cancers

· Geomicrobiology: The convergence of microbiology and geoscience

· New vaccines and vaccine strategy

· The microbiology of imported food

· Antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the food supply

· Functional genomics and proteomics

· Genetic engineering to create environmentally friendly industrial chemicals

· Bioterrorism and our food supply

More detailed information, including programs and abstracts, will be available in late April. A preliminary program is attached. More information, including press registration and housing, can be obtained by calling the ASM Office of Public Communications or via the World Wide Web at http://www.asmusa.org/pcsrc/gm2001/registration.htm.

The ASM General Meeting Press Center will be located in Room 204A of the Orange County Convention Center and will be open starting 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 20. Programs, abstracts, news releases and information about daily press conferences will be available. All media representatives must be registered to attend sessions; registration is limited to a maximum of three individuals from a single outlet. Please note that videotaping in session rooms is not allowed.

An opening press briefing will be held in the Press Conference Room, Room 204C on Sunday, May 20 at 4:30 p.m. The briefing will feature an overview of the research being presented at the meeting. A reception will follow to honor the recipient of the ASM Public Communications Award.

All media representatives should register with the enclosed form.

PLEASE NOTE: The housing deadline is April 17. After the deadline please make arrangements directly with the hotel.

The ASM, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the oldest and largest single biological membership organization with approximately 44,000 members worldwide. Members work in different organizations, including education (research institutions, undergraduate and graduate institutions, and medical dental and veterinary schools), industry (pharmaceutical, food and agriculture, biotechnology, environmental, and pollution control companies and hospitals), and federal and state governments (research laboratories and public health).

Media information, including press registration forms and program information, can found on the ASM website at http://www.asmusa.org/pcsrc/gm2001/registration.htm.