European Peptide Society

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), are a family of host-defense peptides produced by living organisms of all types, with potent, broad- spectrum antibiotic activity. They are being intensively studied for their application as novel therapeutic agents and for their commercial potential for products including cosmetics, animal feed, agrochemicals, and food additives.

The first Italy-Korea Symposium on Antimicrobial Peptides (8th RCPM International Symposium) will be held in Gwangju, Korea on 24-25 July 2008. The symposium will be a great forum for gaining in-depth knowledge on various aspects of antimicrobial peptides and for strengthening the on-going collaborative research between Korea and Italy.

The theme, antimicrobial peptides, was chosen in order to reflect its increasing commercial potential for products including cosmetics, animal feed, agrochemicals, food additives, and antibiotics.

In recent years, Italy and Korea have strengthened their collaboration in this strategic area of research, bringing together their recognized traditions in the fields of peptide science and biotechnology. This symposium aims to further encourage bilateral cooperation between the two countries, by encouraging the interaction between leading researchers from academy and industry. Topics ranging from antimicrobial peptides isolation and biological characterization, to biophysical studies of their mechanism of action and to medical and biotechnological applications, will be covered during the meeting.

Gwangju is a metropolitan city famous for its traditional culture and participants will have a chance to taste traditional Korean art and music in addition to its famous and delicious food. In Gwangju, you will find great hospitality and the best environment to favor the friendship and collaboration between the scientific communities of the two countries.

Selected articles co-authored by active participants to the symposium will be considered for publication in an issue of the Journal of Peptide Science, with a special section dedicated to the symposium.

For further information, please visit the http://www.chosun.ac.kr/~rcpm/iks/ website.