The deadline to submit an abstract for short talk and poster presentation consideration has passed.  For any questions or issues, please email info@keystonesymposia.org.

The barrier surfaces of multicellular organisms are immunologically active, highly innervated and sites where host genetic and environmental signals are integrated to regulate local and systemic physiology. These tissues are sites of infection and chronic inflammatory diseases including atopic dermatitis, asthma, allergy, inflammatory bowel diseases and cancer. However, fundamental gaps in knowledge remain regarding the complex interplay between structural components of tissues such as the epithelium, sensory apparatus, stroma or vasculature and microbial factors and inflammatory mediators at barrier sites.

This Keystone Symposia conference is designed to explore new cross-disciplinary paradigms in barrier immunity through integration of emerging topics in understanding of host-microbe interactions and environmental factors with sensory networks of the epithelia, nervous and immune systems. This conference will showcase how a multidisciplinary and global approach to barrier immunity will guide development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of multiple infectious and inflammatory diseases including asthma, allergy, inflammatory bowel diseases and cancer. This meeting will be held jointly with the Fungal Pathogenesis conference,  to foster interdisciplinary insights and collaborations towards understanding fungal strategies to breach protective barriers, and mechanisms that protect against fungal infection. 

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