This is the 4^th ECMIS meeting which aims to bring together basic scientists and clinicians in the field of Escherichia coli and the Mucosal Immune System. Step by step science resolves the fascinating bidirectional communication of E. coli with their host, but also the important role of microbiota in steering this communication. The fast appearance of highly antibiotic resistant E. coli has become a threat and one of the important goals is to use these new insights to develop innovative intervention strategies. During this meeting some of the most recent strategies will be presented.

It is not only the duty of scientist to share their discoveries via articles with the scientific community but it is as important to present them to specialists and discuss them with young scientists. ECMIS 2024 will again become a full of science sparkling program. Besides the invited presentations, there will be selected oral presentations of which several by PhD students.

Ghent is a unique location. It is a beautiful historical Flemish city filled with curious tourists exploring all romantic spots and between all these tourist more than 78,000 enthusiastic students keep the city young and sparkling. About 264,000 inhabitants have chosen to live in this city with an array of museums and art galleries such as the museum of fine arts containing among others works of classical painters like Peter Paul Rubens, Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter II Brueghel but also more modern art of for instance Andy Warhol and Panamarenko. And if this cannot convince you it also harbors among all this beautiful art the must-see Altarpieces "The adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by the Van Eyck brothers, completed in 1432 and one of the most influential paintings ever made.

We are quite sure that the science and the city of Ghent will make this event an unforgettable experience.