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Sensory Transduction in Microorganisms

Gordon Research Conference

Microbial Sensing, Signaling, and Regulation

January 18 - 23, 2026

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GRC Education Requirements: Undergraduates or those who have not obtained a bachelor's degree in science/engineering (or acceptable equivalent) are not eligible to apply to attend Gordon Research Conferences or Seminars.

Chair

Vice Chair

Ventura Beach Marriott

2055 Harbor Boulevard

Ventura, California, United States

Venue and Travel Information

Venue

Office Manager: Sarah Sieminski

Office Manager Email: venturabeach_sm@grc.org

Office Phone: +18056436000

Application Information

The application deadline for this meeting was December 21, 2025. You may still submit an application, which may be considered by the conference chair if there is still room available.

Conference Description

The Sensory Transduction in Microorganisms GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes an array of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.

The 2026 Gordon Research Conference on Sensory Transduction in Microorganisms (STIM) will bring together leading researchers exploring the molecular mechanisms of microbial sensing, signaling, and adaptation, as well as microbe-microbe and host-microbe interactions. This meeting will cover a wide range of topics across scales, including bacterial sensory proteins, signaling and regulatory networks, motility, microbial communities, ecology, and interactions with human and plant hosts. Through cutting-edge talks by both established and early-career investigators and ensuing discussions, the conference aims to uncover new insights into microbial behavior at the molecular, cellular, and community levels, with implications for health, biotechnology, and environmental microbiology.

Related Meeting

This GRC will be held in conjunction with the "Sensory Transduction in Microorganisms" Gordon Research Seminar (GRS). Those interested in attending both meetings must submit an application for the GRS in addition to an application for the GRC. Refer to the associated GRS program page for more information.

Conference Program

Sunday
2:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Arrival and Check-in
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm	Introductory Comments by GRC Staff / Welcome and Introduction from the Chairs
7:40 pm - 9:30 pm	Keynote Session: Sensing and Signaling in Animal Host-Microbe Interactions Discussion Leader:
7:40 pm - 8:00 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
8:00 pm - 8:20 pm	"Not All Those Who Wonder Are Lost: Bet Hedging in the Urinary Tract"
8:20 pm - 8:25 pm	Discussion
8:25 pm - 8:45 pm	"Bacterial Flagellin Gradients Under Confinement Induce Phenotypic Switching in Human Neutrophils"
8:45 pm - 8:50 pm	Discussion
8:50 pm - 9:10 pm	"Interspecies Bacterial Communication in the Gut Microbiome"
9:10 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:25 pm	"Roles of Indole Taxis in Enteric Infections"
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Monday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Function and Evolution of Bacterial Sensory Receptors Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:15 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:15 am - 9:35 am	"Signaling-Related Changes in Protein Stabilities and Interfaces of Bacterial Chemoreceptor Complexes"
9:35 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:05 am	"The Structural Logic of Dynamic Signaling in Chemoreceptors"
10:05 am - 10:15 am	Discussion
10:15 am - 10:25 am	"A Novel Mechanism of Bacterial Twitching Chemotaxis Regulation via a c-di-GMP Effector Protein"
10:25 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:00 am	Group Photo / Coffee Break
11:00 am - 11:20 am	"Molecular Features and Diversity of Prokaryotic Ammonium Receptors"
11:20 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 11:40 am	"Molecular Mechanisms of Bacterial Quorum Sensing"
11:40 am - 11:45 am	Discussion
11:45 am - 11:55 am	"A Pooled Screening Approach Reveals Novel Chemoreceptors for Organic Acid Sensing"
11:55 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm	"Regulation of Photosensing in a Human Pathogen"
12:10 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	"Solute/Sodium Symporter–Dependent Signal Transduction: Significance and Function of the Two-Component System MxtR/ErdR"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Dynamics of Signaling Networks Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:45 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:45 pm - 8:05 pm	"Sensor Kinase Networks in Alphaproteobacteria"
8:05 pm - 8:15 pm	Discussion
8:15 pm - 8:35 pm	"Decoding Mechanism and Information in Bacterial ‘Brain Waves’"
8:35 pm - 8:45 pm	Discussion
8:45 pm - 9:05 pm	"Molecular Insights from Initial Alarm to Recovery in Escherichia coli Under Acid Stress"
9:05 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:25 pm	"Complex Signaling Systems Meet Phylogenetic Comparative Methods: Macroevolutionary Pathways in Bacterial Chemotaxis"
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Tuesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Bacterial Motility Function and Regulation at the Nanoscale Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:15 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:15 am - 9:35 am	"The Structure of the Export Gate in the Inner Membrane: Getting Across the First Membrane"
9:35 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:05 am	"Differences and Similarities Between the Salmonella Flagellar and Injectisome Type III Secretion Systems"
10:05 am - 10:15 am	Discussion
10:15 am - 10:25 am	"Revealing Complex Motility in Swimming Bacteria through Long-Term 3D Tracking"
10:25 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:00 am	Coffee Break
11:00 am - 11:20 am	"E. coli Chemotaxis in Hydrogels"
11:20 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 11:40 am	"Kinase Responses Measured from Individual Chemosensory Arrays"
11:40 am - 11:45 am	Discussion
11:45 am - 11:55 am	"Mechanical Origin for Non-Equilibrium Ultrasensitivity in the Bacterial Flagellar Motor"
11:55 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm	"Rotational Synchronization Observed in Salmonella Flagella"
12:10 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	"High-Content Culture Imaging Reveals Gene Networks Controlling Bacterial Behaviors"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Signaling and Motility on Surfaces Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:45 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:45 pm - 8:05 pm	"Biofilm Regulators DgcM and PdeR Co-localize in Response to Antibiotic and Other Stress"
8:05 pm - 8:15 pm	Discussion
8:15 pm - 8:25 pm	"Molecular Mechanisms of Bacterial Surface Sensing"
8:25 pm - 8:30 pm	Discussion
8:30 pm - 8:50 pm	"Spatial and Temporal Context Dependent Community Behaviors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa"
8:50 pm - 9:00 pm	Discussion
9:00 pm - 9:20 pm	"Predatory Sense of Touch in Myxococcus xanthus"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Wednesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Signaling and Motility in Microbial Communities and Ecology Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:15 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:15 am - 9:35 am	"Microbial Life in Complex Environments"
9:35 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 9:55 am	"Self-Organization in Heterogeneous Bacterial Populations Under Flow"
9:55 am - 10:00 am	Discussion
10:00 am - 10:10 am	"The Energetic Cost of Bacterial Foraging During Nutrient Limitation"
10:10 am - 10:15 am	Discussion
10:15 am - 10:25 am	"Heme and Nitric Oxide Regulation of Bacterial Biofilms"
10:25 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:00 am	Coffee Break
11:00 am - 11:20 am	"Metabolic Interactions in the Soil Microbiome"
11:20 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 11:40 am	"Mechanisms That Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria Use to Regulate Biofilm Formation"
11:40 am - 11:45 am	Discussion
11:45 am - 11:55 am	"Lineage Tracing Reveals Phenotypic Variation and Segregation in Bacterial Biofilms"
11:55 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm	"Bacterial Rheotaxis Regulates Multispecies Niche Construction in Flow Networks"
12:10 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	"Sensory Origins of Multicellularity in a Motile Bacterial Collective"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Metabolic and Second Messenger Signaling Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:45 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:45 pm - 8:05 pm	"Molecular Circuits of C-Di-GMP: Controlling Motility-Biofilm Transitions in Vibrio cholerae"
8:05 pm - 8:15 pm	Discussion
8:15 pm - 8:25 pm	"ComFB, a New Widespread Family of c-di-NMP Receptor Proteins"
8:25 pm - 8:30 pm	Discussion
8:30 pm - 8:50 pm	"Second Messenger Functions at the Cell-Environment Interface in Streptomyces"
8:50 pm - 9:00 pm	Discussion
9:00 pm - 9:10 pm	"Regulatory Divergence and Functional Diversification of a c-di-GMP–Controlled Sigma Factor in Actinomycetota"
9:10 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:25 pm	"Dissecting the Mechanisms Controlling c-di-GMP and 2′,3′-cAMP Regulation of Bacterial Physiology"
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Thursday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Business Meeting Nominations for the Next Vice Chair(s); Complete the GRC Evaluation Forms; Election of the Next Vice Chair(s)
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Sensing During Bacterial and Viral Defense Responses Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:20 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:20 am - 9:40 am	"From Strings of Nucleotides to Collective Behavior: Lessons from Vibrio cholerae (and Its Phages)"
9:40 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:00 am	"Microbial Biofilm Matrix Secretion: Mechanisms for Activation and Diversification of the Bacterial Cellulose Synthase"
10:00 am - 10:05 am	Discussion
10:05 am - 10:15 am	"Disassembly Drives the Activation of the Retron-Septu Immune System"
10:15 am - 10:20 am	Discussion
10:20 am - 10:30 am	"Second-Messenger Signaling in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Is Linked to Outer Membrane Biogenesis"
10:30 am - 10:35 am	Discussion
10:35 am - 11:05 am	Coffee Break
11:05 am - 11:25 am	"Salmonella Persisters During Infection"
11:25 am - 11:35 am	Discussion
11:35 am - 11:45 am	"Expanding the Phosphoregulatory Landscape in Porphyromonas gingivalis"
11:45 am - 11:50 am	Discussion
11:50 am - 12:00 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:00 pm - 12:05 pm	Discussion
12:05 pm - 12:25 pm	"Infection Determinants of CrAss-Like Phages"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Signal Transduction in Plant Infection and Symbiosis Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:45 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:45 pm - 8:05 pm	"Sensing the Plant Host: How Chemosensory Pathways Drive Bacterial Pathogenesis"
8:05 pm - 8:15 pm	Discussion
8:15 pm - 8:35 pm	"Mechanisms for Flagellar Motility Control by the Transcriptional Regulator LdtR in Alpha-Proteobacteria"
8:35 pm - 8:45 pm	Discussion
8:45 pm - 9:05 pm	"Choices Versus Decisions: Complex Decision Making in Bacteria"
9:05 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:25 pm	"Evolutionary Loss of a Chemoreceptor Sensor Domain Binding Module Preserves Phytohormone Sensing"
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Friday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am	Departure

Contributors

Conference Links

Conference History Sensory Transduction in Microorganisms (GRS) Contribute Financially to This Conference

Conference Fees

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Poster Information

Poster sessions are an integral part of the our conferences, and offer all conferees an opportunity to discuss their research.

Preparing your GRC poster

Funding Opportunities

Financial assistance is available beginning in 2026 for qualified applicants through the Carl Storm Opportunity Fellowships program. Learn more.

Registration Fees

Conferee Single Room:

$1,810.00

Conferee Shared Room:

$1,460.00

Conferee Off-Site:

$990.00

Guest Single Room:

$1,590.00

Guest Shared Room:

$1,240.00

Guest Off-Site:

$770.00

Child 4-12 yrs Shared Room:

$620.00

Child 4-12 yrs Off-Site:

$385.00

Child Under 4 yrs Shared Room:

Free

Child Under 4 yrs Off-Site:

Free

Additional Fee Info

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