The 5th International Gahro-Berlin
Symposium on Polymicrobial Infections & Novel Diagnostics
IN-SPIN
14-17 May 2026 Berlin-Gahro
Initiated by ISSVD In-SPIN initiative group and Molecular Genetics Laboratory for Polymicrobial Infections and Biofilms, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Preliminary program
Thursday, May 14
12:00 – 00:00
12:00 – 00:00
Arrival in Berlin with transfer to Gahro Symposium venue
18:00 – 19:00
18:00 – 19:00
Dinner
19:00 – 21:00
19:00 – 21:00
Workshop
Shaping antimicrobial resistance tests for vaginal microbiota and placing them in an incubator
19:00 – 21:00
19:00 – 21:00
Round table
Setting of the schedule for FISH testing of samples provided by participants. Discussion of outstanding meeting organization and program issues
Friday, May 15
08:00 – 09:00
08:00 – 09:00
Breakfast and discussion
09:00 – 10:00
09:00 – 10:00
Workshop
Explanation and demonstration of laboratory fixation of vaginal swab specimens with AchA (alcohol/ chloroform/ acetic acid = 6/1/3 vol) mixture
10:00 – 11:00
10:00 – 11:00
Alexander Swidsinski
Polymicrobial infections in Medicine and FISH
11:00 – 12:00
11:00 – 12:00
Planning of exact steps for laboratory activities of the next day according to the following agenda:
1.Visualization of native microbiota using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and ViNaM-FISH in vaginal swabs. Sinaye Ngcapu will provide 100 vaginal swabs from women with HIV, and each participant will contribute additional samples for analysis
2.Visualization of the native microbiota in urine sediment samples using FISH and ViNaM-FISH. These gender-neutral samples can be used to track changes occurring among partners
3.Testing for antimicrobial resistance of the native microbiota
4.ViNaM-FISH of menstrual blood to assess intrauterine colonization
5.ViNaM-FISH of fecal samples, for diagnose of health IBD and functional disorders
2.Visualization of the native microbiota in urine sediment samples using FISH and ViNaM-FISH. These gender-neutral samples can be used to track changes occurring among partners
3.Testing for antimicrobial resistance of the native microbiota
4.ViNaM-FISH of menstrual blood to assess intrauterine colonization
5.ViNaM-FISH of fecal samples, for diagnose of health IBD and functional disorders
12:00 – 13:00
12:00 – 13:00
Workshop
Embedding endometrial material from menstrual blood in paraffin
13:00 – 14:00
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch Discussion
14:00 – 15:00
14:00 – 15:00
Werner Mendling, Alexander Swidsinski
Is there life after retiring from the university?
15:00 – 16:00
15:00 – 16:00
Sinaye Ngcapu
Challenges Arising by Testing for Antimicrobial Resistance in Native Polymicrobial Microbiota
16:00 – 18:00
16:00 – 18:00
Workshop
Termination of antimicrobial resistance testing, fixation, and hybridization of material incubated overnight
18:00 – 19:00
18:00 – 19:00
Rita Verhelst, Natalie Naicker
Useful laboratory and social tools for assessing urogenital health in the general population
19:00 – 20:00
19:00 – 20:00
Dinner
Saturday, May 16
08:00 – 09:00
08:00 – 09:00
Breakfast and discussion
09:00 – 12:00
09:00 – 12:00
Workshop
Cutting of menstrual endometrium and preparing of slides for hybridization
12:00 – 13:00
12:00 – 13:00
Alexander Swidsinski
Structure functional analysis of fecal microbiota in health and disease
13:00 – 14:00
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch, discussion
14:00 – 19:30
14:00 – 19:30
Workshop
Microscopy of prepared smears and slices. Comparative visualisation of native microbiota using phase contrast microscopy and FISH
19:30 – 20:30
19:30 – 20:30
Dinner and continuation of the previous discussion
Sunday, May 17
all day & the
day after
day after
all day & the
day after
day after
Departures according to the individual flight data schedule
07:30 – 08:00
07:30 – 08:00
Breakfast
08:00 – 09:00
08:00 – 09:00
Pedro Vieira Baptista
The Life of an International Scientific Organization from the Inside
Outline and foundation of IN-SPIN - International Society for Polymicrobial Infections & Novel Diagnostic as a separate unit within the ISSVD
Outline and foundation of IN-SPIN - International Society for Polymicrobial Infections & Novel Diagnostic as a separate unit within the ISSVD
09:00 – 13:00
09:00 – 13:00
Workshop
Continuation of Microcopy and Lab Tests
13:00 – 14:00
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch Discussion
14:00 – 15:00
14:00 – 15:00
Jenell S. Coleman
Round table discussion: Science and Politics
15:00 – 19:00
15:00 – 19:00
Workshop
Continuation of Microcopy and Lab Tests
19:00 – 20:00
19:00 – 20:00
Dinner and continuation of the previous discussion
