AMP 2026
9th International Symposium on Antimicrobial Peptides
AMP 2026
November 2026, 18-20
MSHE, Besançon, France
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In the face of the alarming rise in infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens, the scientific community is being challenged to rethink strategies for combating infectious diseases. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), naturally present in most living organisms, represent a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics and open new avenues for innovative therapeutic approaches. The 9th International Symposium on Antimicrobial Peptides is part of this global effort, bringing together leading international experts to explore major advances in AMP research, spanning a wide range of topics from peptide discovery and engineering, including artificial intelligence based approaches, to applications in human and veterinary medicine, as well as environmental sciences. The conference will be held in eastern France, the birth place of Louis Pasteur, a pioneer of modern microbiology. A special visit to the Louis Pasteur House in Arbois will be organized for all participants.
Join us in Besançon for three days of scientific exchange, innovation, and collaboration in an inspiring historical setting.
Programme
Wednesday, November 18th
08h00-9h00: Registration-Welcoming coffee
09h00-9h15: Opening Ceremony, Vincent Humblot & Katy Jeannot
09h15-10h15: Opening lecture (45 min + 15 min) “Tiny heroes for immense challenges: the next global challenge”, invited speaker: Pr John H REX Chief Medical Officer, F2G Ltd, Operating Partner, Advent Life Sciences, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas
Chair: Pr Katy Jeannot (University hospital of Besançon, CNRS 6249 Chrono-environment, France)
10h15-10h45: Coffee break
Session I: Antimicrobial peptide resistance
Chairs: Pr Javier Pizarro (Institut Pasteur, Paris, France) & Pr Ruth Massey (University College Cork, Ireland)
10h45-11h25: (30 + 10 min) invited speaker: Pr Ruth MASSEY, University College Cork, Ireland
11h25-11h40: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
11h40-11h55: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
11h55-12h10: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
12h10-12h15: Flash Poster (abstract selection) or Flash Industry
12h15-13h45: Lunch (Buffet)
Session II: Discovery and biosynthesis of antimicrobial peptides
Chairs: Pr Michaël Lafond (Aix-Marseille University – INRAE-BBF, Marseille, France) & Pr Mohammad R. Seyedsayamdost (Princeton University, USA)
13h45-14h25: (30 +10 min) invited speaker: Pr Mohammad R. SEYEDSAYAMDOST, Princeton University, USA
14h25-14h40: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
14h40-14h55: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
14h55-15h10: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
15h10-15h25: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
15h25-15h40: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
15h40-15h45: Flash Poster (abstract selection) or Flash Industry
15h45-16h15: Coffee break
Session III: Innovation, Artificial Intelligence, Machine learning in Antimicrobial Peptides
Chairs: Pr Sylvie Rebuffat (National Museum of Natural History, Paris, France) & Pr Philip Yongxin Li (University of Hong Kong, RP China)
16h15-16h55: (30 +10 min) invited speaker: Pr Philip YONGXIN LI, Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong
16h55-17h10: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
17h10-17h25: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
17h25-17h40: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
17h40-17h45: Flash Poster (abstract selection) or Flash Industry
18h00-20h00: Poster Session Wine & Cheese (Espace Grammont)
Thursday, November 19th
8h00-8h45: Meet the experts: session dedicated to Master students, PhD students, and postdoctoral researchers (young researcher session). This session will be organized in collaboration with master’s students from Marie and Louis Pasteur University
Chair: Dr Hélène Bouras
Session IV: Microbial Ecology, Microbes and interactions with their hosts
Chairs: Pr Séverine Zirah (National Museum of Natural History, Paris, France) & Pr Sarah Lebeer (University of Antwerp, Belgium)
8h45-9h25: (30 +10 min) Invited speaker: Pr Sarah LEBEER, University of Antwerp, Belgium
9h25-9h40: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
9h40-9h55: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
9h55-10h10: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
10h10-10h15: Flash Poster (abstract selection) or Flash Industry
10h15-10h45: Coffee break
Session V: Peptide design and Bioengineering
Chairs: Pr Gilles Subra (University of Montpellier, France) & Pr Jean-Louis Reymond (University of Bern, Switzerland)
10h45-11h25: (30 +10 min) invited speaker: Pr Jean-Louis REYMOND, University of Bern, Switzerland
11h25-11h40: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
11h40-11h55: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
11h55-12h10: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
12h10-12h15: Flash Poster (abstract selection) or Flash Industry
12h15-13h15: Lunch box
13h00-13h15: Bus Arbois Tourisme, departure 13H15
14h00-18h30: Social activity, Departure towards Arbois (natal village of Pasteur), degustation of wines (Fruitière vinicole Arbois).
20h00: Gala at the Vauban’s Citadel
Friday, November 20th
8h00-8h45: Meet the experts: session dedicated to Master students, PhD students, and postdoctoral researchers
Chair: Dr Hélène Bouras
Session VI: Mechanism of action of Antimicrobial peptides
Chairs: Dr Céline Landon (CNRS, Orléans, France) & Pr Markus WEINGARTH (Utrecht University, The Netherlands)
8h45-9h25: (30 +10 min) invited speaker : Pr Markus WEINGARTH, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
9h25-9h40: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
9h40-9h55: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
9h55-10h10: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
10h10-10h15: Flash Poster (abstract selection) or Flash Industry
10h15-10h45: Coffee break
Session VII: Vectorization/clinical, environmental applications
Chairs: Dr Vincent Humblot, (FEMTO-ST Institute, CNRS & Marie et Louis Pasteur University, Besançon, France) & Pr Olivier Leshouhaitier (University of Rouen, Evreux, France)
10h45-11h25: (30 +10 min) invited speaker : Pr Olivier LESHOUHAITIER, University of Rouen, Evreux, France
11h25-11h40: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
11h40-11h55: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
11h55-12h10: (10 + 5 min) abstract selection
12h10- 13h10: Closing lecture (45 min + 15 min) invited speaker : Pr Marilyn ANDERSON, Trobe University, co-founded HEXIMA, Member of the Australia Academy of Science, Melbourne, Australia
Chair: Dr Vincent Humblot, (FEMTO-ST Institute, CNRS & Marie et Louis Pasteur University, Besançon, France)
13h10-13h30: Awards (Oral & Poster) (Scientific committee) & Conclusions (Dr Vincent Humblot)
13h30: Lunch box
13h30-14h: Departure
Abstract Submission
Deadline abstract submission: October 9, 2026
Presentation of the abstract (Arial 10). The abstract text may not be longer than 500 words. Indicate the title, the names of the authors, the institutions – Please structure your abstract with the following items: Introduction, Objectives, Methods, Results, Conclusions.
To Submit your abstract, please use this template and send to comptabilite@sfm-microbiologie.org
Reviewing and selection process: All abstracts submitted will go through a peer-review process. If your presentation is accepted, the final decision will be carried out by the conference Scientific Committee. The conference Scientific Committee reserves the right to reject low quality abstracts, as well as those not pertinent to the themes of the conference.
Posters: Abstracts selected for poster presentation will be displayed during the poster sessions. (cf conference program).
Registration fees
|
Registration categories |
Until 31th August |
From 1st September |
|
Standard registration member of French Society fo Microbiology |
400 € |
500 € |
|
Standard registration |
450 € |
550 € |
| Students (PhD, Master, PDRA) registration | 270 € | 320 € |
|
Companies, industrials members registration |
750 € |
800 € |
Information
GPS coordinates:
Latitude: 47.234189 | Longitude: 6.021322
👣 Pedestrian access
- 1 rue Charles Nodier (via the esplanade)
- or Place Saint-Jacques (via the Arsenal courtyard)
🚌 Ⓜ️ Access by bus/tram
(see http://www.ginko.voyage/)
By tram:
- Chamars stop, lines 1 or 2
By bus:
- Chamars-Esplanade stop, lines L4, L6 or 10
🚗 Access by car
To reach rue Charles Nodier, follow the signs for “City Centre”, then park at:
- Parking Chamars (330 spaces), or
- Parking Mairie (570 spaces)
🚆 Arriving by train
Besançon Viotte railway station is located in the city centre. It provides access to the conference venue by taking tram line T2 (15-minute journey).
Besançon Franche-Comté TGV station, located about 10 km north of Besançon, is served by TGV trains from many major cities (Paris, Dijon, Lyon, etc.). A regional train connects the TGV station to Besançon Viotte station in 15 minutes; alternatively, taxis can be booked.
✈️ Arriving by plane
EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL / MLH / EAP)
- 📍 About 150–165 km north-east of Besançon
- 👉 Transfer: shuttle or bus to Saint-Louis train station (https://www.euroairport.com/en/transport), then train to Besançon (approx. 2–2.5 hours by regional train)
Geneva Airport (GVA) — major international airport
- 📍 About 170–180 km south of Besançon
- 👉 Transfer: train to Geneva-Cornavin (https://www.gva.ch/en/Site/Passagers/Acces-Transports/Transports-publics-aeroport), then regional train to Besançon (approx. 3–4 hours)
Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS)
- 📍 About 200–240 km south-west of Besançon
- 👉 Transfer: tram (https://www.tcl.fr/en) or shuttle to Lyon Part-Dieu station (https://store.lyonaeroports.com/en/access-transports/rhonexpress), then TGV or regional train to Besançon (approx. 2 h 40)
Paris (CDG / ORY)
- 👉 Transfer: RER or underground railway to Paris Gare de Lyon (https://www.ratp.fr/en/itineraires), then high-speed TGV train from Paris Gare de Lyon station to Besançon (approx. 2 h 30)
🚕 Arriving by taxi
Between Besançon Franche-Comté TGV station and Besançon city centre, you can book a taxi. Here are two companies offering online booking:
AC Taxi Besançon
- +33 (0)6 48 42 97 10
- https://taxi-besancon.net/
Taxi Radio Besançon
- +33 (0)3 81 88 80 80
- https://www.besancon.taxi/
WINE AND CHEESE
Date: Wednesday November 18th
Time: 18h00-20h00
Venue: Espace Grammont, Besançon
Cost: Included in all registrations
Date: Thursday, November 19th
Time: Departure 13H00
Venue: Natal village of Pasteur, Arbois
Cost: Included in all registrations
Date: Thursday, November 19th
Cost: Included in all registrations
Date: Thursday November, 19th
Time: 20h00-23h30
Venue: Gala at the Vauban’s Citadel
Cost: Included in all registrations
FEMS Grants
This meeting is selected by the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) to offer grants for event participation for Early Career Scientists.
Eligibility
To apply for this grant, you would need to meet following requirements:
• be a member of a FEMS Member Society* or be recommended by such a member
• be an Early Career Scientist**
• be presenting author at the meeting (oral or poster)
*Find out if your society is a FEMS Member at https://fems-microbiology.org/member-societies/ **Scientists who obtained the highest academic deree _ Master or PhD – less than five years prior to the application deadline date, or are a Master or PhD student. Periods of maternity/paternity leave, special leave or illness do not count toward this definition.
Application process
Please send your application before October 9, 2026 to the following address: comptabilite@sfm-microbiologie.org
Additional benefits
As a FEMS Member Society member, you can:
• benefit from the grant provided for this meeting (see Eligibility above)
• apply for a range of other FEMS Grants
• benefits/discounts off the registration fee for FEMS Congresses/Conferences
• benefit from a 25% discount off a selection of Oxford University Press books
Sponsors
If you want to sponsor this event, please contact us
36 avenue Jean Moulin
75014 Paris
+33(0)09 63 04 70 73
comptabilite@sfm-microbiologie.org
Sponsors
If you want to sponsor this event, please contact us
36 avenue Jean Moulin
75014 Paris
+33(0)09 63 04 70 73
comptabilite@sfm-microbiologie.org
Social Programme