Scientists gather for fatal disease conference

Dozens of scientists gather in Ireland today for an international conference on potentially fatal diseases.

The event at NUI Galway will feature the latest scientific findings on infectious pathogens such as salmonella, E.coli, listeria and H.pylori.

The conference is expected to attract more than 100 researchers from Canada, France, the United States and the UK as well as experts from Irish universities and institutions.

Listeria can cause food poisoning in vulnerable people such as babies or pregnant women while H.pylori infections can result in stomach ulcers or stomach cancer.

Conference organiser Dr Conor O'Byrne, of the Microbiology Department at NUI Galway, said: "The latest developments in this fast-moving field of research will be discussed and new collaborations will be forged, both in Ireland and internationally."

The event is funded by the Society for General Microbiology, which is the largest microbiology society in Ireland and the UK.

Dr O'Byrne said the event was also an opportunity for researchers at NUI Galway to showcase their research programmes on infectious diseases.