Shigella was the leading cause of diarrheal disease during World War One; and more than 100 years later, it continues to cause approximately 200 million cases and 216,000 deaths per year around the globe. Shigella is a leading cause of moderate to severe diarrhea in children less than five years of age in low- and middle-income nations, and significant disease occurs throughout Europe and North America due to sexual transmission, food borne and water borne outbreaks, and high incidence in homeless populations. The lack of a licensed vaccine, coupled with alarming increases in antimicrobial resistance, has led the World Health Organization to declare Shigella a priority pathogen for which research into new therapeutics are urgently needed.

To help generate innovative technologies to combat this formidably persistent pathogen, we need a consolidated research community working collaboratively and sharing expertise across several scientific domains and sectors. To achieve this goal, we are hosting "The First International Symposium on Shigella" to bring together global experts covering all aspects of the pathogen and disease. We will include participants from basic research to public health and industry who will highlight the latest discoveries and development in disease burden, epidemiology and genomic surveillance, fundamental biology, infection models, and vaccines and novel therapeutic approaches. We have assembled a global representation of organizers, scientific advisory members, and speakers to commence this meeting as we attract additional participants across all training levels to successfully hold this inaugural meeting. We encourage submissions of abstracts for selected oral presentations or posters, with options for travel grant applications. The Institut Pasteur was selected as the venue for this first meeting given the rich scientific history and importance in Shigella research. Attendees will be able to learn, present their research, and network with the global Shigella community in the heart of Paris, France, to help foster new scientific and therapeutic endeavors. We look forward to seeing you in Paris in April 2026!