Presenting new research on Streptomyces venezuelae at an international conference
by Emma Chareyre (John Innes Centre)
I attended the 5th Prokaryotic Cell Biology conference in sunny Lisbon, Portugal from 13-16 July 2026. This conference brought together over one hundred scientists to discuss a variety of bacteria and archaea research topics, ranging from DNA organisation and cell division to evolution and cell envelopes.
Joint talks and model organisms
The conference was organised so that both early-career researchers (ECRs) and established leaders in the field presented talks, both on their own, but also as a ‘joint talk’ format where ECRs and research leaders presented together, offering different ways to showcase the same project. During the main sessions, every talk was extremely engaging. I was particularly interested in the cell division talks which explored the mechanisms underpinning cell division in several model organisms, such as Corynebacterium glutamicum, Haloferax volcanii and Escherichia coli.
The organisation of the conference also allowed for plenty of networking opportunities, including poster presentation sessions, an ECR networking lunch with leading figures in the field, and regular breaks where discussions were encouraged. These were some of the highlights of the conference for me.
Presenting research about Streptomyces
I was able to present my research in the form of a poster, discussing part of my research project investigating how Streptomyces venezuelae coordinates DNA damage and cell division. To do so, I am working on characterising the S. venezuelae DNA damage responses and identifying specific proteins that mediate cell division arrest within those responses. Ultimately, I aim to understand the mechanism by which these proteins halt cell division upon DNA damage.
I also had the opportunity to give a very brief one-minute flash talk, describing the research question and work I would be presenting at the conference. I really enjoyed being able to share my work with knowledgeable scientists, especially DNA damage and cell division specialists, and discussing potential research avenues I could explore in the future.
Networking opportunities
The ECR networking lunch was particularly engaging. It provided a dedicated time for established researchers to discuss their career backgrounds and share some general life- and work-advice. It was a great opportunity to meet other ECRs both studying for their PhDs or doing post-doctoral work in many parts of the world. It was really interesting to hear about the different research cultures and environments when working in different countries.
Overall, the 5th Prokaryotic Cell Biology conference was an enriching experience. As a PhD student, it was a wonderful opportunity to network, share my work and learn about the latest research in the field. I am thankful to the Centre for Microbial Interactions for the funding that enabled me to attend this event, and to the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership for funding my doctoral research.