The International Conference on Bacilli and Gram-Positive Bacteria convenes an international community of researchers who share a common interest in the biology and applications of Gram-Positive bacteria. This conference, which started in the 1980s in the United States and focused on signaling, gene expression, and development in Bacillus subtilis, has blossomed into a major international event to share new discoveries on the molecular and cellular biology of not only B. subtilis, but Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium difficile, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, and Listeria monocytogenes. For several years, this meeting has been held in Tuscany, Italy and most recently, in Berlin, Germany. The 20th iteration of the meeting will return to the U.S., near Washington, D.C. at the campus of the University of Maryland at College Park.

The meeting will feature invited presentations from leaders in the diverse field of Gram-positive biology and will continue the longstanding tradition of providing a platform for newer investigators. As such, the majority of talks will be chosen from submitted abstracts to ensure that the latest research is presented. This year, prizes will be awarded for the top two poster and oral presentations given by graduate students or postdoctoral fellows (sponsored by BACIP).