Biotechnology, Invertebrate Pathology, and Cell Culture

Abstract

It has become apparent from publications, meetings, and discussions that there is an increasing interest in biotechnological advances and applications to insect pathology, particularly in the United States and Japan. To provide direct exchange of information among the diverse areas of gene manipulation and biotechnology as related to invertebrate pathology, the National Science Foundation and the Japan Society for Promotion of Science were appraoched to sponsor a U.S.–Japan seminar on this subject. Both organizations jointly agreed to sponsor the seminar by supporting the travel and living expenses of eight United States and eight Japanese participants. Following the grant approval, the number of participants was enlarged to include additional university and industry experts from the United States, Canada, Germany, India, Israel, Kenya, and Switzerland. This brought the total number of participants to 36 and gave the meeting an international, rather than binational character. Consequently, the seminar provided a unique international opportunity for direct contacts and direct exchange of information among the diverse areas of gene manipulation and biotechnology applications to invertebrate pathology.