International Summer School on Fundamental Phage Research

Hosted by George Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology

20-28 June 2024 Tbilisi, Georgia

 

 

George Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology is organizing the 3rd Summer School on Fundamental Phage Research. The summer school is aimed at master students, PhD students, scientists and medical personnel. The summer school comprises theoretical and practical classes in bioinformatics, and lectures and hands-on sessions covering the essential methodology for bacteriophage isolation, selection, and characterization.

 

Format: The first module of the course will provide a two-day session of lectures and practical courses covering different bioinformatical aspects of phage and bacterial genome annotation. The second module consists of four days of lectures on phage research and the practical application of bacteriophages in various fields along with laboratory practices focusing on basic methodologies for bacteriophage study. All lectures will be delivered by experienced scientists in the field of phage research. Detailed information about the speakers and lecture topics will be provided shortly after the announcement of the summer school.

Practical laboratory sessions will include basic microbiological techniques such as phage isolation from water environments, determination of phage-host susceptibility – the “spot test,” obtaining phage pure lines, enumeration of bacteriophages, efficiency of plating (EOP), phage adsorption and an introduction to Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Participants will have the opportunity to observe stained phage samples under TEM during this session.

 

Program: 

 

Thursday, 20 June 2024

 

10:00- 10:30         Welcome ceremony & Registration

10:30-12:00           Phage genome annotation workshop –Rebecca Wattam,  Research Associate Professor, Biocomplexity Institute, University of Virginia

12:00-13:00           Lunch

13:00- 15:00          Phage genome annotation workshop –Rebecca Wattam,  Research Associate Professor, Biocomplexity Institute, University of Virginia

15:00-15:30           Coffee break

15:30- 16:30          Q&A

Friday, 21 June 2024

 

10:00- 12:30          Phage genome annotation workshop –Rebecca Wattam,  Research Associate Professor, Biocomplexity Institute, University of Virginia

12:30-13:30            Lunch

13:30- 15:30           Phage genome annotation workshop –Rebecca Wattam,  Research Associate Professor, Biocomplexity Institute, University of Virginia

15:30-16:00            Coffee break

16:00- 16:30           Q&A

Saturday, 22 June 2024

Excursion                Wine Tour (optional)

Monday, 24 June 2024

 

10:00 – 11:00           Collective immunityHow groups of bacteria sense and respond to dangerNina Molin Høyland Kroghsbo,  Associate Professor, University of Copenhagen

11:00 -11:30             Introduction to Lab safety

11:30-12:30              Lunch

12:30- 16:30            Practical sessions:

  • Phage hunting
  • Isolation of bacteriophages: part 1.

16:30-17:00             Coffee break/ Q&A

Tuesday, 25 June 2024

 

10:00- 11:00            Diversity of Archaeal VirusesDavit Prangishvili,  Professor, Institute Pasteur, Tbilisi State University

11:00-12:00             Practical sessions:

  •  Isolation of bacteriophages: part 2.
  •  Determination of phage host range (spot test)

12:00-13:00             Lunch

13:00- 16:00            Practical sessions:

  •  Enumeration of active phages by Gracia`s Method
  •  Phage host range expansion by Appleman’s protocol

16:00-16:30              Q&A / Coffee break

Wednesday, 26 June 2024

 

10:00- 11:00              Ongoing Projects and activities at the Eliava InstituteMzia Kutateladze, Director of the Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology

11:00-12:30               Practical sessions:

  •  Observing results and interpretation
  •  Isolation of individual phage lines • EOP/TEM

12:30-13:30               Lunch

13:30- 15:30              Practical sessions:

  •  Observing results and interpretation
  •  Isolation of individual phage lines • EOP/TEM

15:30-16:00               Q&A / Coffee break

Thursday, 27 June 2024

 

10:00- 12:00              Retrospective review of bacteriophage treatment at the Eliava Phage Therapy CenterMariam Dadiani,  Eliava Phage Therapy Center/EPTC Tour

12:00-13:00               Lunch

13:00- 15:30              Practical sessions:

  •  Observing results and interpretation
  •  Determination of phage adsorption rate

15:30-16:00               Q&A / Coffee break

Friday, 28 June 2024

10:00- 11:30              Result discussion/Summarizing

11:30-15:00               Closing ceremony

 

 

Working language: English

 

Registration fee: Module one and two – 550 Euro

Module one only – 150 Euro

Module two only – 450 Euro

 

Module one: Genome annotation 20-21 June, 2024

Module two: Fundamental phage research 24-28 June, 2024

 

*Registration fee includes transportation for sampling, lab consumables, workshop materials, coffee breaks, lunches, Certificate of Attendance.

*Registration fee doesn’t include excursion. Kakheti/Wine tour- 60 Euro.

 

Recommended accommodation :  Ameri plaza Tbilisi- https://www.booking.com/Share-XdGXjT, Onyx Hotel – https://www.booking.com/Share-Hwr36d, Episode Tbilisi- https://www.booking.com/Share-RY6M7Ih, Venesa- https://www.booking.com/Share-HjZsbPs, Mia B&B Tbilisi – https://www.booking.com/Share-Xig5c6H

 

 

Thank you  everyone who  expressed interest in Eliava Summer School 2024. Due to overwhelming response, we are obliged to close the registration . Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate any more participants. We appreciate your understanding. Stay tuned for future events and opportunities.