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FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Second World Congress on Water Channel Proteins (Aquaporins and
Relatives) Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Discovery of the First
Water Channel Protein (Later Called Aquaporin1) Cluj-Napoca, Romania,
May 6-10, 2015
The first water channel protein (WCP) was discovered in the 1980s during studies of the
human red blood cell membrane. In the 1990s it became obvious that WCPs constitute a large
family of membrane proteins that are present in all kingdoms of life: plants, microorganisms
(archaea, bacteria, yeast, and protozoa), and animals including humans. WCPs exist in three
subfamilies: (1) aquaporins (AQPs) that are mainly water channels; (2) aquaglyceroporins
(and glycerol facilitators) that convey water and/or other small molecules across membranes;
and (3) S-aquaporins “superaquaporins” or subcellular AQPs. WCPs (over 450 members)
belong to the superfamily of major intrinsic proteins (MIPs, over 800 members). The atomic
structures of some MIPs have been determined and common structure–function relationships
are expressed in microorganisms, plants, multicellular species and humans. The physiological
roles of WCPs, and some of their involvement in diseases, are known; thus in the past 30
years WCPs have become a “hot” area of research in biochemistry and molecular cell
biology, with wide and increasing implications for human health. In fact, a new domain of
natural and biomedical sciences was born, domain which was called aquaporinology
(Benga, 2013).
In 2011 The First World Congress on Water Channel Proteins (Aquaporins and
Relatives) celebrating the 25th anniversary of the discovery of the first water channel
protein (later called Aquaporin 1) was held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, October 27-29,
2011. It was attended by hundreds of scientists and students, and was unanimously
appreciated as a great success.
Since the progress of knowledge in this new field is taking place at such a fast rate, we
invite all scholars working in the field, or those interested in the general topic of WCPs, to
become valued participants in the Second World Congress dedicated to all scientific aspects
of WCPs, that will take place in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, May 6-10, 2015.
GHEORGHE BENGA
President, of The World Congress,
Member, Romanian Academy,
Academy of Medical Sciences of Romania,
President, Cluj Branch of the Romanian Committee
for the History and Philosophy of Science
of the Romanian Academy
President, The GHEORGHE BENGA FOUNDATION
Professor, “Vasile Goldiş” Western University of Arad
Affiliate, University of Sydney, Australia
E-mail: gbgbenga@gmail.com
Scientific secretaries:
Ciprian-Valentin Mihali (Lecturer | Experienced Researcher, The Institute of Life Sciences:
Electron Microscopy Facility, “Vasile Goldiş” Western University of Arad, Romania)
Ciprian Pribac (Senior Lecturer, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology,
“Vasile Goldiş” Western University of Arad, Romania)
Constantin-Marian Petrescu (Research Assistant, The Institute of Life Sciences: Flow
Cytometry Laboratory, “Vasile Goldiş” Western University of Arad, Romania).
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INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
AND PLENARY LECTURERS (In alphabetical order)
François CHAUMONT (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)
Andreas ECKHARD (Tübingen, Germany)
He-feng HUANG (Shanghai, P.R. China)
Kenichi ISHIBASHI (Tokyo, Japan)
Bhanu P. JENA (Detroit, USA)
Xuejun LI (Beijing, P. R. China)
Umberto LAFORENZA (Pavia, Italy)
Andreas F. MACK (Tübingen, Germany)
Toshiyuki MATSUZAKI (Gunma, Japan)
Tsutomu NAKADA (Niigata, Japan)
Richard NEUTZE (Gothenburg, Sweden)
Peter POHL (Linz, Austria)
Sei SASAKI (Tokyo, Japan)
Alexandru TĂTARU (Cluj-Napoca, Romania)
Andrea YOOL (Adelaide, Australia)
ROMANIAN SCIENTIFIC AND ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
(In alphabetical order)
Aurel Ardelean (President and Founding Rector, “Vasile Goldiş” Western University of
Arad)
Leonard Azamfirei (Rector, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Târgu Mureş)
Ioan Bolovan (Professor and Vice-Rector, “Babeş-Bolyai” University, Cluj-Napoca)
Angela Borda (Vice-Rector, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Târgu Mureş)
Olivia Burta (Director, Center of High Performance Medical Research, University of Oradea)
Emil Burzo (President, Cluj-Napoca Branch of The Romanian Academy)
Vasile Cândea (President, Academy of Romanian Scientists)
Cornel Cătoi (Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and
Veterinary Medicine – USAMV-, Cluj-Napoca)
Cristiana Ciortea (Senior physician, M.D., Ph.D., Cluj County Clinical Emergency Hospital)
Mihail Coculescu (Honorary President, Romanian Society for Neuro Psycho Endocrinology)
Coralia Cotoraci (Rector, “Vasile Goldiş” Western University of Arad)
Călina Creţa (Researcher, Regional Center of Public Health, Cluj-Napoca)
Anda Curta (Director, Regional Center of Public Health, Cluj-Napoca)
Mircea Ifrim (Secretary General, Academy of Medical Sciences of Romania)
Vasile Jucan (Rector, “Gheorghe Dima” Academy of Music, Cluj-Napoca)
Anca Hermenean (Vice-Rector, “Vasile Goldiş” Western University of Arad)
Pompiliu Manea (Secretary, Cluj – Napoca Branch of the Romanian Committee for the
History and Philosophy of Science of the Romanian Academy)
Liana Moş (Dean, Faculty of Medicine, “Vasile Goldiş” Western University of Arad)
Nicoleta Muntean (Researcher, Regional Center of Public Health, Cluj-Napoca)
Doru Pamfil (Rector, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary
Medicine, Cluj-Napoca)
Zoltan Pavai (Professor, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Târgu Mureş)
Ioan-Aurel Pop (Rector, “Babeş-Bolyai” University, Cluj-Napoca)
Ioan Victor Pop (Professor,“Iuliu Haţieganu” Univ. of Med. and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca)
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Irinel Popescu (President, Academy of Medical Sciences of Romania)
Octavian Popescu (Director, Institute of Biology, Romanian Academy, Bucharest)
Doru Radosav (Director, “Lucian Blaga” University Library Cluj-Napoca)
Marius Raica (Rector, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara)
Radu Sestraş (Dean, Faculty of Horticulture, USAMV, Cluj-Napoca)
Mircea Trifu (Director, Casa Cărţii de Ştiinţă, Cluj-Napoca)
Doina Verdeş (Professor, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara)
Victor Voicu (Secretary General of The Romanian Academy, Bucharest)
ABSTRACTS COMMITTEE
(for evaluation of ABSTRACTS of Oral, Short communications, Posters)
Ioan Victor Pop (Cluj-Napoca) - Chairman
Members, in alphabetical order:
Olivia Burta (Oradea)
Mihail Coculescu (Bucharest)
Gabriel Corneanu (Craiova)
Mihaela Corneanu (Timisoara)
George Mihalaş (Timisoara)
Georgeta Mihalaş (Timisoara)
Violeta Turcuş (Arad)
The Second World Congress is organized under the Auspices of:
IFCC
WASPaLM
EFLM
Romanian Academy
Academy of Romanian Scientists
“Gheorghe Ionescu-Sisesti”Academy of Agricultural and Forestry
Sciences
Cluj City Council
Cluj City Hall
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Cluj county Council
The Second World Congress is organized by:
The GHEORGHE BENGA FOUNDATION
In collaboration with:
MAIN PARTNERS (in alphabetical order):
Academy of Medical Sciences of Romania
“Babeş-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca
“Gheorghe Dima” Music Academy Cluj-Napoca
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University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine ClujNapoca
University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Târgu Mureş
“Vasile Goldiş” Western University Arad
“Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timişoara
OTHER PARTNERS (in alphabetical order):
Academy of Romania– Cluj-Napoca Branch
Academy of Romanian Scientists – ClujNapoca Branch
Balkan Clinical Laboratory Federation
Casa Cărţii de Ştiinţă, Cluj-Napoca
C.R.I.F.S.T. – Cluj-Napoca Branch
“Lucian Blaga” University Library ClujNapoca
University of Oradea, Faculty of Medicine,
Center of High Performance Medical
Research
SECRETARIAT AND MANAGEMENT OF SERVICES:
Wens Tour: Phone: +4 0264 590 749; Fax: +4 0264 595 755;
E-mail:aquaporin@wens.ro;
LOCATION OF THE CONGRESS
All scientific and social events in the days of Wednesday May 6, Thursday May
7 and Friday May 8 will take place in the buildings of The “Babeş-Bolyai” University
(UBB) Cluj-Napoca, as specified in the FINAL PROGRAM.
All these buildings are located in the downtown (Streets Mihail Kogalniceanu and
Emmanuel de Martonne, which may be identified on maps of Cluj-Napoca, e.g.
http://www.aboutromania.com/maps200.html).
In addition, the following street views may be usefull to recognize these buildings.
Central building of UBB Cluj-Napoca viewed from the Street Mihail Kogalniceanu.
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Central building of UBB (left) and “Colegiul Academic” (right, in white).
Central building of UBB (left) and “Colegiul Academic” (right, in white).
Street Emmanuel de Martonne: UBB (left) and “Colegiul Academic” (right).
“Colegiul Academic” (main entrance, viewed from the Street Mihail Kogalniceanu),
where the Registration will be located on Wednesday, May 6 (13.00 – 19.00 hrs).
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FINAL PROGRAM
Wednesday May 6, 2015:
13:00 – 19:00: Registration:
Foyer of the building called “Colegiul Academic” (also known locally as “Casa
Universitarilor”), belonging to The “Babeş-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca,
Street Emmanuel de Martonne no. 1 (corner with Street Mihail Kogălniceanu).
17:00 – 20:00: Opening Ceremony, Opening Lecture, Concert
(all will take place in the Hall “Auditorium Maximum” of “Colegiul Academic”,
also known locally as “Sala mare a Casei Universitarilor”).
Opening Ceremony will include Welcome Addresses of the Academies of Romania
and Local Authorities which gave the Aegis to the Congress, of the Representatives of
the Universities which are the main partners in organization.
Opening Lecture : Introduced by Petre FRANGOPOL (Bucharest, Romania)
Gheorghe BENGA (Cluj-Napoca, Romania): From the discovery of the first water
channel protein (later called aquaporin 1) and the 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to
AQUAPORINOLOGY and AQUAPORINOPATHOLOGY of today
Concert (Recital) dedicated to the World Congress Participants, presented by:
RALUCA ILOVAN – Flute
OCTAVIA RĂCEU MARC – Piano
Program: Cécile Chaminade – Concertino, Op. 107
Louis Ganne – Andante and Scherzo
Giulio Briccialdi – The Carnival of Venice, Op. 78
The Recital will be followed by the Welcome Cocktail (offered to all
REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS and INVITED PERSONS) which will take
place in the Restaurant of “Colegiul Academic”.
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All Lectures and Oral Communications on Thursday May 7 and Friday
May 8, 2015 will take place in the Hall “Jean Monnet”
Thursday May 7, 2015:
8:00 - 18:00 Registration: Foyer of the Hall “Jean Monnet” of “Colegiul Academic”
(entrance through the Street Emmanuel de Martonne no. 1)
SESSION 1
Chairs: Aurel ARDELEAN (Arad, Romania),
Leonard AZAMFIREI (Târgu Mureş, Romania)
Anca Maria CÎMPEAN (Timişoara, Romania)
Mihail COCULESCU (Bucharest, Romania)
9:00 – 9:45: Key-note Plenary Lecture: Bhanu P. JENA (Detroit, USA): Role of water
channel in porosome-mediated secretion in cells
9:45 – 10:30: Key-note Plenary Lecture: Sei SASAKI (Tokyo, Japan): Cross-talk between
bed and bench of AQP2
10:30– 11: 15: Key-note Plenary Lecture: Kenichi ISHIBASHI (Tokyo, Japan): What will
be the role of intracellular aquaporins?
11:15 – 11:45: Coffee Break
SESSION 2
Chairs: Kenichi ISHIBASHI (Tokyo, Japan)
Sei SASAKI(Tokyo, Japan)
Tsutomu NAKADA (Niigata, Japan)
Victor VOICU (Bucureşti, Romania)
11:45 – 12:30: Key-note Plenary Lecture: Toshiyuki MATSUZAKI and Kuniaki Takata
(Gunma, Japan): Tissue distribution of water channel proteins (aquaporins and
relatives)
12:30 – 13:15: Key-note Plenary Lecture: Andreas F. MACK Tübingen, Germany):
Aquaporin-4 in astroglial cells – a phylogenetic perspective
13:15 – 14:00: Key-note Plenary Lecture: Tsutomu NAKADA (Niigata, Japan):
Aquaporin-4: the key to preventing Alzheimer's disease
14:00 – 14:10: Short Communication: Mootaz M. Salman , Mariam Sheilabi, D.
Bhattacharyya, Alessandra Princivalle and Matthew T. Conner (Sheffield, UK):
Aquaporin translocation and expression: a possible new drug target for temporal
lobe epilepsy
14:10 – 16:45: Poster Discussions (and Snack Break)
SESSION 3
Chairs: Andreas F. MACK (Tübingen, Germany)
Toshiyuki MATSUZAKI (Gunma, Japan)
Richard NEUTZE (Gothenburg, Sweden)
Andrea YOOL (Adelaide, Australia)
16:45 – 17:30: Key-note Plenary Lecture: Richard Neutze, Susanna Törnroth Horsefield,
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Kristina Hedfalk, Karin Lindkvist, Gerhard Fischer, Anna Frick, Rob Horsefield,
Urszula Kosinska Eriksson (Gothenburg, Sweden): Structural mechanisms of
eukaryotic aquaporin regulation
17:30 – 18:15: Key-note Plenary Lecture: Peter Pohl (Linz, Austria): Determinants of
unitary water channel permeability
18:15 – 18:30: Oral Communication: Philip Kitchen, Rachel Egan and Alex Conner*
(Birmingham, UK): Molecular determinants of aqp4 tetramerization
18:30 – 19:15: Key-note Plenary Lecture: Andrea Yool (Adelaide, Australia): Novel blockers
of Aquaporin-1 ion channels for the treatment of cancer
19:15 – 20:00: Key-note Plenary Lecture: Andreas Eckhard (Tübingen, Germany): Water
channel-based regulation of inner ear fluids
20:00 – 22:00: Gala Dinner (by invitation) in the Restaurant of Colegiul Academic.
Friday May 8, 2015:
8:00 - 15:00 Registration: Foyer of the Hall “Jean Monnet” of “Colegiul Academic”
SESSION 4
Chairs: Gavril ARDELEAN (Satu Mare, Romania)
François CHAUMONT (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)
Xuejun LI (Beijing, P.R. China):
Peter POHL (Linz, Austria)
9:15 – 10:00: Key-note Plenary Lecture: François CHAUMONT (Louvain-la-Neuve,
Belgium): New insights into plant aquaporin function and regulation
10:00 – 10:15: Oral Communication: Nicolas RICHET, Achref ALOUI, Tom BEECKMAN,
Dominique AUDENAERT, François CHAUMONT (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium):
Identification of new plant aquaporin inhibitors
10:15 – 10:25: Short Communication: Agnieszka JURKIEWICZ (CZEKAJ), Marie
BERNY,
François
CHAUMONT
(Louvain-la-Neuve,
Belgium):
Heterotetramerization of plant plasma membrane aquaporins
10:25– 11:10: Key-note Plenary Lecture: Jianzhao ZHANG, Yu AN and Xuejun LI (Beijing,
P.R. China): AQP1 translocation and degradation mediates the diuretic mechanism
of acetazolamide
11:10– 11:40: Coffee Break
SESSION 5
Chairs: Andreas ECKHARD (Tübingen, Germany)
He-Feng HUANG (Shanghai, P.R.China)
Umberto LAFORENZA (Pavia, Italy)
Alexandru TATARU (Cluj-Napoca, Romania)
11:40 – 12:20: Key-note Plenary Lecture: He-Feng HUANG (Shanghai, P.R.China):
Functions of water channels in female reproductive systems
12:20 – 13:05: Key-note Plenary Lecture: Umberto LAFORENZA, Cinzia Bottino and
Giulia Gastaldi (Pavia, Italy): Aquaglyceroporins and adipose tissue
13:05 – 13:20: Oral Communication: Olivia Ligia BURTA, Diana Constanţa PELEA,
Ovidiu Pavel BURTA, Bogdan LEAHU (Oradea, Romania) : The impact of
aquaporins upon alloimmunisation in transfusion therapy
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13:20 – 14:05: Key-note Plenary Lecture: Alexandru TATARU (Cluj-Napoca, Romania):
Applications of the discovery of water channel proteins (aquaporins and relatives)
in dermatology
14:05 – 14:15: Animation: Horatiu I. BURTA, Bogdan LEAHU, Olivia L. BURTA
(Oradea, Romania) : The Relation between AQP2 Synthesis and ADH Renal
Mechanism;
a personalized approach
14:15 – 16:45: Poster Discussions (and Snack Break)
17:00 - Closing Ceremony, Award of Certificates of Attendance: in Aula Magna, located in
the Central Building of The “Babeş-Bolyai” University Cluj-Napoca (Street
Mihail Kogălniceanu no. 1).
19:00 - Concert of The “Transylvania” State Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir of ClujNapoca dedicated to the World Congress Participants (in the Hall “Auditorium Maximum”
of the building “Colegiul Academic” (St. Emmanuel de Martonne no. 1)
VLAD RĂCEU, Violin
ROMEO RȊMBU, Conductor
The “Transylvania” State Philharmonic CHOIR
CORNEL GROZA – Choir conductor
Program (Romanian masterpieces):
1.Gheorghe Dima
2.Adrian Pop
3.Cornel Țăranu
4.Tudor Jarda
5.Sigismund Toduță
6.Alexandru Pașcanu
7.Gavriil Musicescu
8.Gheorghe Danga
- Ziua ninge
- Vine hulpe de la munte
- Căci eterne sunt ale lumii toate
- Dusu-s-o bădița, dus
- Mărita-m-aș, mărita
- Arhaisme
- Chindia
- Doamne, buzele Tale
- Sârba pe loc
2’40’’
1’15’’
4’40’’
3’
2’
4’
3’
3’
2’40’’
The “Transylvania” State Philharmonic Orchestra
ROMEO RÂMBU, Conductor
Ciprian Porumbescu
Ballad
VLAD RĂCEU, Soloist
George Enescu
Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 in A major, Op. 11
Saturday May 9: Full Day Tour of Cluj-Napoca (with lunch)
Sunday May 10: Full Day Excursion (with lunch) to famous tourist sites in Transylvania:
Turda salt mines (Salina), Alba Iulia (Roman ruins, Cathedrals, Museums, Citadel)
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LAST-MINUTE/ON-SITE REGISTRATION
Participants wishing to attend the congress may register after April 25 or on-site by
paying the REGISTRATION FEE of:
IMPORTANT PRACTICAL ADVICES:
 For ALL LECTURERS AND ORAL COMMUNICATORS: IT IS
MANDATORY TO PREPARE THE PRESENTATION IN POWER POINT 972004 TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH OUR DESIGNATED COMPUTER
(Windows XP or Windows 7).
 POSTER SIZE SHOULD BE A0 (118 cm HEIGHT and 78 cm WIDTH), WITH a
5 cm blank BORDER (which will be covered when mounted on the SUPPORT).
 POSTERS SHOULD BE DISPLAYED FROM THURSDAY MAY 7 (SETUP
FROM 8:30) TILL FRIDAY MAY 8 (WITHDRAWAL AT 16:45).
 THE LOCAL CURRENCY IS ROMANIAN LEU (plural LEI), sometimes
abbreviated as RON. The official rate of exchange changes every day and is about
4.50/EUR or 4.2/USD. There are exchange offices (booths) in airports (including
Cluj-Napoca International Airport), in all banks, in some hotels and many
exchange offices in the downtown Cluj-Napoca (where the rates of exchange are
slightly better).
 Shopping may be paid in LEI (CASH) or by Bank Cards (in most places).
 Use only TAXIS (CABS) with distinct roof signs; the fare may be paid ONLY in
LEI (CASH), the fare is ~ 0.6 Eur/Km. Always ask the driver to start the taxi
meter counter. DO NOT ACCEPT ANY OTHER OFFERS.
 ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE ADVICED TO CHECK WHETHER MEDICAL
INSURANCE THEY MIGHT HAVE, COVER THE MEETING DATES.
FOREIGN PARTICIPANTS ARE STRONGLY ADVICED TO HAVE
MEDICAL INSURANCE VALID FROM THE DAY ENTERING ROMANIA
UP TO THE DAY LEAVING ROMANIA. THE ORGANIZERS COULD NOT
COVER MEDICAL COSTS OF ANY KIND FOR ANY OF THE
PARTICIPANTS.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: gbgbenga@gmail.com
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