ASIA-PACIFIC BIOFILMS 2026

Asia-Pacific Biofilms (APB) Conference 2026 will be held on 27th-29th March, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia, which is known for its scenic drive of the Great Ocean Road and vibrant culture.

This conference aims to bring together leading research scientists, engineers, and clinicians globally, from the Asia-Pacific area including China, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand United States, Canada, and the European Union (EU) to share new knowledge and research progresses in microbial biofilms. Scope of APB 2026 includes molecular biology of biofilms, quorum sensing, environmentally, industrially and clinically relevant biofilms and emerging technologies to combat microbial biofilms. This conference will serve as a major platform to promote collaborations between biofilm researchers in the Asia-Pacific area, and to facilitate our interactions with colleagues from EU (EuroBiofilms) and the USA (ASM Biofilms).

The conference committee will make every effort to present a memorable and valuable biofilms conference and we are sincerely looking forward to your participation. We support Gender Equality and are an ally to LGBT people.

Early Abstract Submission Deadline: December 15, 2025
Abstracts submitted by this date will receive notification of acceptance for either a talk or poster before the end of the year.
Final Abstract Submission Deadline: February the 15th, 2026.
Submissions will continue to be accepted until this date, but early submissions are strongly encouraged. Abstracts submitted by this date will receive notification of acceptance for either a talk or poster by the 1st of March.

ORGANIZATION

Organizers

Centre to Impact Antimicrobial Resistance, Monash University

Co-Organizers

Mark Shirtliff Biofilm Foundation

Supporting parties

Australian Society for Microbiology

Biofilm, Elsevier Publication Group

Sponsoring parties

Shandong Shidasi Bio-Industry Co., Ltd, China

Whiteley Corp. Pty Ltd,Australia

Committee

Founder and Honorable President

Dr. Mark Shirtliff (1969–2018)

Dr. Shirtliff has specialized in both in vitro and in vivo systems for the study of biofilms as a microbiologist for over 25 years. As an indication of his expertise on the subjects of biofilm-forming microbes and their relation to infectious disease and pathogenesis, he has presented his scientific findings on the subject at 110 meetings and symposia and have orally presented at over 100 national and international meetings/seminars. He has also authored over 120 peer-reviewed scientific papers and book chapters on pathogenic microbes, both their biofilm mode of growth and the chronic diseases that they cause. Dr. Shirtliff has a strong background in organizing highly skilled colleagues in multidisciplinary research. He also has a strong working knowledge of budget development and have obtained over $8 million from state, national (NIH and DOD), and international funding agencies in the past 10 years. He has served on 35 graduate committees and was the primary advisor on 11 graduate students committees (8 PhD, 3 Masters).

Co-chairs

Anton Peleg

The Alfred and Monash University

Yue Qu

Monash University

Birthe Veno Kjellerup

University of Maryland

Organizing Committee Members

Andrej Trampuz

Cynthia Whitchurch

SCELSE

Darla Goeres

LEPABE

Gordon Ramage

Glasgow Caledonian University

Junyan Liu

Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering

Katharina Richter

Adelaide University

Liang Yang

Southern University of Science and Technology

Mark Shembri

The University of Queensland

Mark Wilcox

Melissa Brown

Flinders University

Rajendar Deora

Ohio State University

Ruth Thornton

Scott Wade

Swinburne University

Stephen Summers

SCELSE

Tom Coenye

Ghent University

Zhenbo Xu

South China University of Technology

Conference Secretaries

Xenia Kostoulias

Monash University

Heema Vyas

Adelaide University

SPEAKERS

Plenary Speakers

Cynthia Whitchurch

SCELSE

Gordon Ramage

Glasgow Caledonian University

Marvin Whiteley

Georgia Tech

Invited speakers

Birthe Veno Kjellerup

University of Maryland

Jillian Cornish

University of Auckland

Jintao Liu

Tsinghua University

Kirby Lattwein

Luyan Z. Ma

IMCAS&UCAS.

Thomas William Seviour

Aarhus University

Tom Coenye

Ghent University

Xiaoxue Wang

UCAS

Zlatko Kopecki

Head Wound Infection Laboratory Adelaide University

PROGRAM

Day 1 March 27, 2026

08:15 - 09:00

Conference Registration

09:00 - 09:10

Welcome Address

by Anton Peleg (Monash University)

09:10 - 09:30

Tribute

by Birthe Kjellerup (Maryland University) and Mark Schembri (The University of Queensland)

09:30 - 10:20

Plenary 1

9:30-10:20 The Clinical Impact of Fungal and Interkingdom Biofilms
Gordon Ramage (Glasgow Caledonian University ,UK )

10:20 - 11:00

Morning Tea

11:00 - 12:30

Session 1 Medical biofilms and Therapeutics

Chair: Tom Coenye, Ghent University , Belgium

11:00-11:30             Novel approaches for management of biofilm wound infections
                                  Zlatko Kopecki (Adelaide University & PolyNovo Biomaterials Pty Ltd , Australia)

11:30-11:45            Staphylococcus aureus aggravates atopic dermatitis through enhanced bacterial colonization by surface protein
                                  Qian Liu (Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China)

11:45-12:00            Utilising an in-vitro biofilm model of chronic and recurrent middle ear infections, to investigate antibody function
                                  Sharon Clark (The University of Western Australia ，Australia)

12:00-12:15            From biofilm-infected mouse burns to diabetic foot ulcers: translating plasma-activated water for chronic wound cleansing
                                  Katharina Richter (Adelaide University , Australia)

12:15-12:30            Novel Quinazolinone-Based PqsR Antagonists as Quorum Sensing Inhibitors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
                                  Naresh Kumar (University of NSW , Australia)

12:30 - 13:30

Lunch

13:30 - 15:00

Session 2 Medical biofilms and Therapeutics

Chair: Yue Qu, Monash University, Melbourne

13:30-14:00             Translating Biofilm Microenvironment Insights into Next‑Generation Diagnostics and Susceptibility Testing for Biofilm Infections
                                  Tom Coenye (Ghent University , Belgium)

14:00-14:15            Composition of the uropathogenic Escherichia coli biofilm extracellular matrix impacts resistance and pathogenesis
                                  Zheng Jie Lian (The University of Queensland , Australia)

14:15-14:30            Outsmarting the bladder: How the biofilm matrix of P. aeruginosa is more than just a protective mechanism in the urinary tract environment
                                  Arthika Monaharan (University of Sydney , Australia)

14:30-14:45            Ceftolozane/tazobactam plus tobramycin against hypermutable Pseudomonas aeruginosa epidemic strains investigated via a dynamic biofilm model, population genomics and mechanism-based modelling
                                  Cornelia Landersdorfer (Monash University , Australia)

14:45-15:00            Pleural infection and biofilm
                                  Wang Ke (Guangxi Medical University , China)

15:00 - 15:30

Afternoon tea

15:30 - 17:00

Session 3 Medical biofilms and Therapeutics

Chair: Xenia Kostoulias, Monash University, Melbourne

15:30-16:00             Innovations in Biofilm-Driven Cardiovascular Infections: From Diagnosis to Treatment
                                  Kirby Lattwein (Erasmus University Rotterdam , Netherlands)

16:00-16:15            Targeting gastrointestinal biofilms with nature-derived antimicrobial peptides
                                  Michael Michael (University of Queensland , Australia)

16:15-16:30            Screening and Characterization of Natural Edible Antibiofilm Compounds against Staphylococcus aureus
                                  Chunlei Shi (Shanghai Jiao Tong University , China)

16:30-16:45            Biofilm formation and virulence-associated phenotypes in Campylobacter concisus: investigating the role of CheB and luxS
                                  Pradip Sedhai (RMIT University Australia, Australia)

16:45-17:00            Development of 5-flucytosine resistance in Candida auris during combination therapy is associated with reduced virulence: a case report of in-host evolution
                                  Xiaoying Xie (The University of Western Australia , Australia)

18:00 - 21:00

Conference dinner

Venue:The Commons Collective 17 Moubray St, Melbourne VIC 3004.(10 minute walk form the conference venue)

Day 2 March 28, 2026

09:00 - 09:45

Plenary 2

9:00-9:45 When death becomes a biofilm: autolytic programmed cell death in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms
Cynthia Whitchurch (SCELSE , Singapore)

09:45 - 10:30

Session 4 Molecular biology, Engineering and Biofilms

Chair: Heema Vyas, University, place

9:45-10:15             Biofilm and anti-fungal resistance characteristics of the emergent fungus Candidozyma auris (previously Candida auris) in the environment and healthcare settings
                                  Birthe Kjellerup (University of Maryland, USA)

10:15-10:30            Engineering E. coli biofilms with native and heterologous EPS for diverse applications
                                  Anming Xu (Nanjing Tech University , China)

10:30 - 11:00

Morning tea

11:00 - 12:30

Session 4 Molecular biology, Engineering and Biofilms

Chair: Kirby Lattwein, Erasmus University Rotterdam , Netherlands

11:00-11:30            Bacterial self-produced enzymes that inhibit biofilm formation and enhance biofilm eradication
                                  Luyan Ma (Chinese Academy of Science , China)

11:30-11:45            Mechanism of mammalian body-heat sensing by a bacterial thermosensory diguanylate cyclase
                                  Rehnuma Tabassum Sejuty (University of Calgary , Canada)

11:45-12:00            Unconventional strategies promote the T6SS-mediated fitness in polymicrobial communities
                                  Tao Dong (Southern University of Science and Technology, China)

12:00-12:15            Lindo Drain: Prevention of Biofilm Formation in Healthcare Drains
                                  Robert Gangi (Lindo，Australia)

12:15-12:30            In Vitro Biofilm Formation at the Gut-Mucus Interface under Flow Conditions
                                  Samin Tokasi (Monash University , Australia)

12:30 - 13:30

Lunch

13:30 - 15:00

Session 5 Biofilms in Food Microbiology

Chair: Zhenbo Xu, The South China University of Technology, China

13:30-14:00             Prophage-Encoded Toxin-Antitoxin Systems Mediates Biofilm Formation and phage-host symbiosis
                                  Xiaoxue Wang (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , China)

14:00-14:15            Plasma-Activated Water, An Egg-streme Clean
                                  Heema K N Vyas (University of Adelaide , Australia)

14:15-14:30            Identification of Persistent Listeria monocytogenes Strains in Enoki Mushrooms and Genetic Basis of Their Biofilm-Forming Capability
                                  Yujuan Suo (Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science , China)

14:30-14:45            Antibiotic selection pressure remodels biofilm metabolism and architecture to promote horizontal resistance gene transfer
                                  Jinsong Feng (Zhejiang University , China)

14:45-15:00            When food goes bad: studying biofilm formation to reduce food spoilage and extend shelf life
                                  Laura M. Nolan (Nanyang Technological University , Singapore)

15:00 - 16:00

Afternoon tea and poster session

Poster 1             Effect of Temperature and Nutrients on Reptile Associated Salmonella Biofilm Formation
                                  Amreeta Sarjit

Poster 2             Bacterial pathogens and harmful assemblages selected on plastic biofilms impose environmental health risks to coastal waters
                                  Linus Lo

Poster 3             Quantitative assessment of vancomycin penetration through staphylococcal biofilms
                                  Lou Bin

Poster 4             Decoding the Multifunctional Genome of the Pf4 Filamentous Prophage: From Phage Genome Editing to Host Interactions
                                  Yunxue Guo

Poster 5             Beyond PIA: Spx enhances S. aureus biofilm formation via fibronectin-binding protein-dependent adhesion
                                  Yang Wu

Poster 6             Mechanism of mammalian body-heat sensing by a bacterial thermosensory diguanylate cyclase
                                  Rehnuma

Poster 7             Exploring a new Resistance-Breaking Strategy Against Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae
                                  Sanchita kar

Poster 8             Human pathogen quorum sensing molecules regulating biofilm formations and host programmed cell death
                                  Tianyuan Jia

Poster 9             Plasma-activated water is a potent agent against biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus small colony variants
                                  Adrian Abdo

Poster 10             Do all dog ear cleaners work alike? A comparative study on antibiofilm effects in canine otitis externa management.
                                  Bhumikaben F. Savaliya

Poster 11             Comparative Analysis of Condition - Dependent Biofilm Formation in E. coli and Salmonella
                                  Zangini Nakazwe

Poster 12             Unravelling Novel Resistance Genes, Virulence Factors, and Therapeutic Targets in Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates Recovered from Keratitis Patients
                                  Abiye Tigabu Molla

Poster 13             A Noncanonical Intrinsic Terminator in the Toxin‒Antitoxin Operon Promotes the Transmission of Conjugative Antibiotic Resistance Plasmids
                                  Lin Jianzhong

Poster 14             Utilising lightning within the food industry: Plasma-activated liquids to combat foodborne pathogens
                                  Bjoern Hendrik Kolbe

Poster 15             Deciphering the Composition and Roles of the Biofilm Matrix in the Great Adapter Burkholderia pseudomallei.
                                  Bradley Borlee

Poster 16             Multimodal computational identification of MvfR Inhibitors Targeting Quorum Sensing in Multi-Drug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Insights from AI modelling, Molecular Docking, ADME, Molecular Dynamics Simulations, and Quantum Chemical Calculations
                                  Tope Abraham Ibisanmi

Poster 17             Disruption of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus dual species biofilms with antimicrobial peptide (LL-37) and Ciprofloxacin.
                                  Desie Kasew

Poster 18             Formidable Anti-biofilm and Anti-Adhesion Effects of Human Lactoferrin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa
                                  Gebreselassie Demeke Mihiretie

Poster 19             Nanostructured Driveline Surfaces to Combat Device-Associated Infections and Its Translational Potential
                                  Thuy Nguyen

Poster 20             Phage-Driven Microbiome Shifts: Thermal Stress, Biofilms, and the Prophage Weapon.
                                  Weiquan Wang

Poster 21             Antibiofilm efficacy of phage cocktails and their combination with antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa
                                  Kuma Diriba Urgeya

Poster 22             ESKAPE-ing Antimicrobial Resistance: 213 nm Laser Light to Combat Superbugs
                                  Harriet Cooling

Poster 23             Synergistic Antibiotic Effects on Pseudomonas aeruginosa with Multiple Resistance Mechanisms
                                  Alice Terrill

Poster 24             DEFYING GRAVITY: COLD PLASMA TECHNOLOGY TO DEFEAT SUPERBUGS IN SPACE EXPLORATION
                                  Georgina Neville

Poster 25             Copper nickel passivation and the development of corrosive microbial biofilms
                                  Adeline Nightingale

Poster 26             Lactoferrin Acts Synergistically with Flucloxacillin Against Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms via a Hydrogel–Niosome Delivery System
                                  Yang Sun

Poster 27             From Identification to Pathogenesis: Unveiling the Biofilm-Forming Potential of Intratumoral Fungi and Its Therapeutic Implications
                                  Yu Li

16:00 - 17:30

Session 6 Environmental and Industrial biofilms

Chair: Stephen Summers, SCELSE, Singapore

16:00-16:30             Biofilm solutions through an understanding of the extracellular polymeric substances
                                  Thomas Seviour (Aarhus University , Denmark)

16:30-16:45            Acclimation-Enhanced Formation of Self-Immobilised Biofilms (Aerobic Granules) for Improved Wastewater Treatment
                                  Hansani Wahalathanthrige (University of Southampton , UK)

16:45-17:00            Seagrass Holobionts Through the Seasons: Ecology Under Environmental Stress
                                  Tamar Jamieson (Flinders University ，Australia)

17:00-17:15            From Fouling to Biofilms: Exploring Microbial Community Assembly and Corrosion Behaviour in Confined Marine Microenvironments
                                  Scott Wade (Swinburne University of Technology , Australia)

17:15-17:30            Free chlorine enhances bacterial invasion and conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in biofilms
                                  Yujie Li (University of Queensland ，Australia)

Day 3 March 29, 2026

09:00 - 09:45

Plenary 3

9:00-9:45 From Bedside to Bench: Using Human Infection data to Guide Discovery
Marvin Whiteley（Georgia Institute of Technology ,USA）

09:45 - 10:30

Session 7 Biofilms and multidisciplinary collaboration

Chair:Rajendar Deora, Ohio State University, USA

9:45-10:15             Lactoferrin enhances biofilm eradication in bone infections
                                  Jillian Cornish (University of Auckland , New Zealand)

10:15-10:30            Mimicking in vivo infection dynamics: A physiologically relevant 3D platform to study biofilm-related infections
                                  Silvia Cometta (Queensland University of Technology , Australia)

10:30 - 11:00

Morning tea

11:00 - 12:30

Session 7 Biofilms and multidisciplinary collaboration

Chair:Birthe Kjellerup, University of Maryland, USA

11:00-11:30            Spatial heterogeneity and resistance of biofilms
                                  Jintao Liu (Tsinghua University China, China)

11:30-11:45            A biofilm’s journey from gut to the brain: Microbial biofilms in the gut have a role in human ageing and dementia pathology
                                  Ibrahim Javed (La Trobe University , Australia)

11:45-12:00            Computational, Chemical Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Peptidomimetics Against multi drug resistant bacterial
                                  Tope Ibisanmi (University of New South Wales , Australia)

12:00-12:15            Modulation of Multibacteria and Polybacteria of Dental Biofilms Using an In-Situ Gelling System Loaded with Cyclo-L-Phe-L-Pro Derived from Endophytic Actinomycetes
                                  Nur Azmin (UiTM Puncak Alam , Malaysia)

12:15-12:30            Mucin-Driven Streamer Biofilms in Gut-mimic Microfluidic Models
                                  Nasim Mohseni (Monash University , Australia)

12:30 - 13:30

Lunch

13:30 - 15:00

Panel discussions

Panel 1:Biofilm Science at a Crossroads: Rethinking Progress, Technology, and Impact
Hosts: Birthe Kjellerup, Scott Wade, Darla Goeres
Location: Silver Banksia Room/Breakout Area
Join us for fun and engaging round table discussion with active participation from the audience. We will be exploring the future of biofilm science, and related technology.

Panel 2:Biofilms and Cardiac Device-Related Infections
Panelists: Yue Qu, Anton Peleg, David McGiffin, Hitesh Patel, Tom Coenye, Kirby Lattwein, Liang Yang, Gordon Ramage, Atsuo Doi, Jillian Cornish, Gareth Wynn
Location: Crimson Mallee Room
Join us to explore how new ideas can spark when biofilm research meets clinical practice. The discussion will focus on the challenges and opportunities surrounding cardiac device-related infections.

15:00 - 15:10

Award ceremony

by Anton Peleg (Monash University, Australia), Birthe Kjellerup (Maryland University, USA) and Marvin Whiteley(Georgia Institute of Technology ,USA)

15:10 - 15:20

Closing Remarks

by Yue Qu(Monash University , Australia)

15:20 - 16:00

Farewell afternoon tea

March 30 – Great Ocean Road Classic One-Day Tour

12-Hour Guided Experience

Join us on March 30 for a spectacular full-day journey along Australia’s iconic Great Ocean Road.
Tour Highlights
Departing from Melbourne, the tour includes scenic stops at:
Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch
Apollo Bay
Gibson Steps
Twelve Apostles
Loch Ard Gorge
Return to Melbourne in the evening.

Pricing Options

Option 1 :$105 per person
Includes:
12-hour vehicle service
Professional driver-guide
Gratuities
Meals not included
Option 2 : $145 per person
Includes:
12-hour vehicle service
Professional driver-guide
Gratuities

REGISTRATION

Staff
$750.00 AUD
Full registration

Student
$550.00 AUD
Register

ACCOMMODATION

Oaks Melbourne
Promo code: MONASH
Booking

The Cullen Melbourne
Promo code: APBC2026
Booking

Mercure Melbourne Albert Park
No promo code required
Booking

SUBMISSION

Abstract:

Asia-Pacific Biofilms 2026 invites the submission of abstracts on all aspects of biofilm research. Highlighted topics for consideration include:
(1) Bioinformatic analysis of biofilms;
(2) Mechanisms of biofilm development and antimicrobial resistance;
(3) Biofilm control and novel therapeutic strategies;
(4) Communication and signaling factors in biofilms;
(5) Rapid detection and diagnostic applications for biofilm forming bacteria;
(6) Virulence and toxins in clinical biofilms;
(7) Evolution and stress tolerance in biofilms;
(8) Industrial, environmental and applied biofilms research.

1.Submission guidelines
Word count: 300 words
Formatting: please upload a Word document including the title, authors, author affiliations and a single paragraph abstract.

2. All accepted abstracts will be published in the conference proceedings of Asia-Pacific Biofilms 2026.Excellent abstracts will be recommended to the official journal of the conference, Biofilm (https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/biofilm), with a waiver for a full text submission.

>>Submit an Abstract<<

ABOUT US

Asia-pacific Biofilms (formerly known as ChinaBiofilms), is a series of biennial international meetings on microbial biofilms, initiated by Dr. Mark Shirtliff from University of Maryland and Dr. Zhenbo Xu from South China University of Technology. Starting in October 2017, ChinaBiofilms 2017 was held on October 20-22, 2017 in Guangzhou, China, ChinaBiofilms 2019 was held on October 10-13, 2019 in Guangzhou, China, Asia-Pacific Biofilms 2021 was held virtually on May 11-16, 2021, Asia-Pacific Biofilms 2022 was held on October 18-23, 2022 in Guangzhou.
As both the founder and president of Asia-Pacific Biofilms, Dr. Shirtliff has contributed to organize the workshop and conference together with the organizing committee. Asia-Pacific Biofilms is a great opportunity for participants to present their recent research progress, foster new collaborations on microbial biofilms, and also building bridges between relevant research enterprises in Asia-Pacific and international universities.