2023: 10th National Microbiota Conference

Agenda

The 10th National Microbiota Conference was held November 7, 2023 face-to-face event with a wide variety of talks and topics.

In addition to keynote speaker Sergio Serrano Villar, ten scientists presented their projects. Please download the conference program to read the abstracts.

Jenny Fjørtoft, NMBU: “Metagenome sequencing of the gut microbiome reveal regional differences within Norway”

Andraz Nendl, OUH: “Intestinal fatty acid binding protein and myocardial infarction sequelae in STEMI patients with acute heart failure”

Vibeke Bratseth, OUH: “Gut dysbiosis and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in heart failure”

Kristine Stø, OUH: “Oral microbiota in carotid atherosclerosis”

Antonio Molinaro, SUH, OUH: “Microbial-derived imidazole propionate links the heart failure-associated microbiome alterations to disease severity”

Peder Rustøen Braadland, OUH: “The Liver Filter – Using liver transplantation as a filtering tool to identify gut microbial signals in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)”

Petra Hradicka, OUH: “Human microbiota associated mouse models: tool to study host-microbe interactions”

Carina de Souza Anselmo, UU: Global metabolomics in the mouse and pig brain”

Andreas Ullern, OUH: “Gut microbiota diversity is associated with progression-free survival in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer”

Trine Rounge, UiO: “Alcohol intake, gut microbiome and colorectal carcinogenesis”

Simen Hyll Hansen, OUH: “Microbiota profiling as a diagnostic and prognostic tool: Insights from the IBSEN III cohort”

Key Note Speakers

Sergio Serrano Villar, MD, PhD / “Unlocking the microbiome as a diagnostic tool in cancer”

2022: 9th National Microbiota Conference

Agenda

The 9th National Microbiota Conference was held November 10, 2022 at Radisson Blu Scandinavia in Oslo. The conference was a fully booked face-to-face event with a wide variety of talks and topics.

In addition to two keynote speakers, eleven scientists presented their projects. Please download the conference program to read the abstracts.

Andraz Nendl, OUH: “Intestinal fatty acid binding protein is associated with cardiac dysfunction and gut microbiota alterations in chronic heart failure”

Jonas Lundekvam, OUH: “Proof of concept study; Probiotic intervention in patients with Ulcerative Colitis with insufficient response to antiTNF treatment”

Line Gaundal, Oslo Met: “Replacing saturated fatty acids with polyunsaturated fatty acids increases the abundance of Lachnospiraceae and is associated with reduced total cholesterol levels-a randomized controlled trial in healthy individuals”

Petra Hradicka, OUH: “Human faecal microbiota transplant in mice (hFMT): how to increase the efficacy to resemble human microbiota composition?”

Ida Rud, Nofima: “Ratio-dependent effect of arabinoxylan and beta-glucan on microbiota and SCFAs during in vitro fermentation”

Polona Rajar, OUH: “Microbial DNA extraction of high-host content and low biomass samples: optimized protocol for nasopharynx metagenomic studies”.

Warren Flood, Bio-Me: “Development of a high-throughput qPCR platform for precise taxonomic characterization of the human gut microbiome”.

Silje Jørgensen, OUH: “Duodenal inflammation in Common variable immunodeficiency has altered transcriptional response to viruses”.

Ekaterina Avershina, OUH: “Total neoplastic polyp volume is correlated to several bacterial taxa in faecal immunochemical test-positive CRCscreening patients”.

Paula Istvan, UiO: “Diverse virome in fecal immunochemical tests from bowel cancer screening participants”.

Christine Olbjørn, AHUS: “Targeted microbiota profiling, for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment individualization in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease”.

Key Note Speakers

Professor Fredrik Bäckhed, University of Gothenburg / "Human microbiome as a regulator of host physiology and metabolism".

Dr. Peter Holger Johnsen, University of Tromsø / "Update on fecal microbiota transplantation: Where are we-where are we moving".

2021: 8th National Microbiota Conference

Agenda

The 8th National Microbiota Conference was held November 11, 2021 at Scandinavia Scene in Oslo. In addition to being a face-to-face event, the conference was also streamed digitally for viewers not able to participate in person.

Johannes Hov, OUS: Welcome

Keynote Lecturer Daniel Globisch: “Exploring Gut Microbiota Metabolism – Unique Chemical Biology Tools for Metabolomics Analysis and Biomarker Discovery”

Lars Lindstad, NMBU: “Human Gut Faecalibacterium prausnitzii Deploys a Highly Efficient Conserved System to Cross-Feen on β-Mannan-Derived Oligosaccharides”

Sabina Leanti La Rosa, NMBU: “Inclusion of the Food Additive Xanthan Gum Into Diet Drives Adaptation of the Human Gut Microbiota”

Susanne Aune, OUH: “Gut Leakage Markers in Response to Strenuous Exercise in Patients with Suspected Coronary Artery Disease”

Keynote Lecturer Marcus Claesson, University College Cork: “Microbiome and IBD – Can it Predict its Course?”

Helene Haugsten, UiO: “Outer Membrane Vesicles from Porphyromonasgingivalis – Isolation and Characterization”

Ingunn Berget, Nofima </br> “Analysing Microbiome Intervention Design Studies: Comparison of Alternative Multivariate Statistical Methods”

Graceline Tina Kirubakaran, Genetic Analysis AS: “Gut Bacteria Diversity Index and Functional Bacteria Profiles Detected by the GA-map® Dysbiosis Test”

Kristine Stø, OUH: “Increased Fecal Levels of the SCFA Butyrate May Indicate Poor Absorption due to Disrupted Gut Barrier in Patients With Carotid Stenosis”

Silje Jørgensen, OUH: “Altered plasma fatty acids associate with gut microbial composition in Common variable immunodeficiency”

Mikal Hole, OUH: “New insights from mapping of the mucosal gut microbiota in primary sclerosing cholangitis before and after liver transplantation”

2020: 7th National Microbiota Conference

Agenda

The 7th National Microbiota Conference was held November 16, 2020 and was a fully digital event, supported by Helse Sør-øst and Oslo University Hospital. The event drew close to 160 participants, and covered topics a wide array of topics including microbiome-led mucosial barrier dysfunction, inflammasome activation in Covid-19 patients and gut leakage in heart failure patients

Johannes Hov and Marius Trøseid: Welcome

Hedda Hoel: Elevated Narkers of Gut Leakage and Inflammasome Activation in COVID-19 Patients with Cardiac Involvement

Ayodeji Awoyemi: Effect of Probiotics and Antibiotics on Markers of Gut Leakage in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction – Results from the Randomized Controlled GUTHEART Trial

Phil Pope: Designer Fibre for Beneficial Microbes: A Path to Microbiome Modulation

Brian Chung: Altered Immune Recognition of Gut Bacteria by Immunoglobulins in Early Systemic Sclerosis

Rajesh Shigdel: Association of Oral Microbiome with Asthma

Johannes Hov and Marius Trøseid: Discussion and Closing Remarks

Save the date

The 8th National Microbiota Conference will be held November 11, 2021 at Radisson Blu Scandinavia. We hope to see you there!

2019: 6th National Microbiota Conference

Agenda

The 6th National Microbiota Conference was held November 19, 2019 at the Radisson Blu Scandinavia in Oslo, supported by UiO:Oslo Life Science and Norwegian PSC Research Center and the University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital. The event drew close to 100 participants this year, and covered topics a wide array of topics including HIV and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to dietary interventions and fecal microbiota transplantation.

Key Note Speakers and Presentations

The main topic of the conference this year was FMT (Fecal Microbiota Transplantation) and the discussion of the key findings of FMT research, as well as transparency, accessibility, accountability and effectiveness of FMT as a clinical treatment.

Keynote speaker Dr. Christian Lodberg Hvas (University of Aarhus) brought the audience up to date on clinical experience and state of the art FMT treatment in Aarhus, Denmark. Aarhus University Hospital carries out around 200 treatments per year, targeting C. difficile infection, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and multi-drug resistance. The group applies several treatment strategies including endoscopic administration and frozen capsules, but is also working to establish encapsulated lyophilized material as an improvement desired by the patients. Hvas also raised the question on how to organize FMT, pointing out the necessity of a better structure from the donor screening process to final transplantation in order to offer better treatment for the patients.

Peter Holger Johnsen (University Hospital of North Norway, Harstad) presented the establishment of the first donor stool bank in Norway and the thorough screening process of donors that has been applied in the establishment of the biobank. Furthermore, opportunities for collaboration were presented, as the stool bank is also thought to be a source of materials for research projects in the field. Projects already receiving material from the bio-bank are e.g. the multi-centre COLONIZE study, as well as local projects at their hospital, targeting chronic fatigue syndrome, obesity as well as IBS, where a national multicenter study has now been funded.

Michael Bretthauer and Kjetil Garborg (Oslo University Hospital) presented pilot data on microbiota transplantation targeting primary C. difficile infection. The results suggested supply of intestinal microbiota could be as effective as administering standard antibiotics and as such represent a more “physiological” form of treatment. The data has been the basis of the recently started COLONIZE study, which is a randomized multi-center trial targeting primary C. difficile infection with FMT compared with vancomycin. Furthermore, the study hopes to show that FMT treatment in primary C. difficile infection can help reduce the use of antibiotics and costs associated with prolonged hospitalization due to C. difficile infection.

Anna Hoffman-Vold presented the use of bacteriotherapy in systemic sclerosis; an auto-immune multi organ disease with high mortality and no existing modifying treatment, except stem cell therapy which is only available for a small number of patients. Her group has recently performed a pilot study, which included 10 patients as a proof-of-concept of feasibility. They have now received funding for a full trial (the ReSScue Trial), which will utilize Anaerobically Cultivated Human Intestinal Microbiota (ACHIM) and not donor stool. The use of a complex cultivated mixture imposes some legislative challenges, in particular regarding the possible role of the Norwegian Medicines Agency.

Open Abstract Session and the Tore Midtvedt Award

This year, only a selected number of abstracts were presented in oral format. In total 10 abstracts were presented, covering a variety of topics (see program), promoted interesting questions and lively discussions.
The Tore Midtvedt Award has been awarded since 2015 to encourage the submission of scientific contributions, and to honor the pioneer of Norwegian microbiota research Professor Tore Midtvedt. All submitted abstracts are evaluated by an independent jury, who this year selected Beate Vestad for her abstract “Interplay of Gut Microbiota and Immunodeficiency on Excess Metabolic Risk in HIV Infection”.

Save the date

The 7th National Microbiota Conference will be held November 16, 2020 at Radisson Blu Scandinavia. We hope to see you there!

2018: 5th National Microbiota Conference

Agenda

The 5th National Microbiota Conference is proud to present Harry Sokol and Randi Jacobsen Bertelsen as keynote speakers this year. The focus of the conference will be the Microbiome and Host Immunity, Oral Microbiome and Precision Medicine.

Key Note Speakers

Harry Sokol, Hôpital Saint-Antoine INRA, Paris / Gut Microbiota and Host Immunity – from Mouse Models to Clinical Practice

Randi Jacobsen Bertelsen, University of Bergen / Oral Microbiome in Human Health and Disease

2017: 4th National Microbiota Conference

Agenda:

We are happy to once again invite you to the National Microbiota Conference in Oslo city center. This year’s focus will be the Gut Microbiome; from Biomarker to Clinical Tool. Keynote speaker Cisca Wijmenga from the University of Groningen, Netherlands, will present a Population-Based Approach to Human Metagenomics.

Key Note Speakers

Cisca Wijmenga, University of Groningen / Population-Based Approach to Human Metagenomics

2016: 3rd National Microbiota Conference

Agenda

We are very happy to welcome you to the third national meeting on microbiota in health and disease, this time in Oslo City Centre. In addition to invited speakers and a particular focus on the gut microbiome in inflammatory diseases, open abstract sessions will once again provide an arena for gut microbiota-related research in Norway.

Key Note Speakers

Karsten Kristiansen, University of Copenhagen / Host Genome and Gut Microbiome in Health and Disease

2015: 2nd National Microbiota Conference

Agenda

Following the very successful first conference in 2014, we welcome you to the second national meeting on microbiota in health and disease. This year, there will be a particular focus on the gut-brain axis and on the relevance of diet. We well also have open abstract sessions, providing a new forum for presentation of microbiota-related research in Norway.

Key Note Speakers

Rochellys Diaz Heijtz, Karolinska Institutet / Gut Microbiota in Neuroscience

Tone Tønjum, Oslo University Hospital / News on the Gut-Brain Axis: Vesicles, Microbes and DNA Repair

2014: First National Microbiota Conference

Agenda

The study of the gut microbiota in human health and disease is a rapidly evolving field, which is anticipated to influence clinical practice within a short period of time. We are proud to invite to this first national conference on gut microbiota, providing a meeting place with a scientific and clinical focus.

Key Note Speakers

Tore Midtvedt, Karolinska Institutet / Gut Microbiota in Health and Disease: the History is Long and the Future Bright?

Fredrik Bäckhed, Sahlgrenska Academy / Integrating the Gut Microbiota with Host Physiology