Food, microbiota and immunity conference 2025

From June 16 to 19, 2025, the third international conference entitled Food, microbiota and immunity – FMI 2025 was held.  Scientists from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Canada, Germany, Norway, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, and the USA gathered at the Emauzy Abbey in Prague. A total of 30 lectures were given, during which experts presented new findings on microbiota in health and disease. The lectures were complemented by panel discussions and two poster sessions. At the end of the conference, awards were presented for the best scientific contributions.

The best poster award went to Dehui Chang (Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford), David Machač (Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences) and Štěpán Coufal from the Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences.

In the award-winning work, a team of scientists from the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology of the Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the Department of Neurology and Centre of Clinical Neuroscience, First Medical Faculty, Charles University and General Medical Hospital in Prague, investigated the role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and the changes that occur during treatment. Emphasis is placed on identifying the profile of the gut microbiota and immune system associated with treatment failure. The results of this research could contribute to a better understanding of the influence of the gut microbiota on the course of multiple sclerosis treatment and its possible modulation to improve treatment response.

The Institute of Microbiology of the CAS has been studying the microbiome, especially in relation to autoimmune diseases and immune reactions, for a long time. The aim of the conference was to bring together immunologists, microbiologists and scientists involved in immunity, microbiome and food research to facilitate discussion, collaboration and knowledge transfer across disciplines and generations of scientists.

Organizers: Miloslav Kverka, prof. Helena Tlaskalová-Hogenová a Luca Vannucci (IMIC CAS a Czech Immunological Society, Strategy AV21 AV ČR)