The Gordon Research Conference on Microbial Adhesion and Signal Transduction is an international meeting that brings together researchers with a shared interest in understanding the diverse mechanisms bacteria have evolved to interact with each other and animal hosts. This meeting provides a forum where cutting-edge research will be presented on the mechanisms of bacterial adherence and signal transduction in an environment that enables networking among investigators, and gives post-doctoral researchers and graduate students access to influential leaders in the field of microbial adherence and signal transduction. The 2013 meeting will focus on novel approaches being used to understand how microbes sense, respond, colonize, and eventually spread in both the environment and in host organisms. Molecular, genetic, biochemical, immunological and structural approaches will all be represented. The program will reflect the multi-disciplinary approaches being used to address questions of seminal importance in the field. Multiple slots have been reserved in the program for oral presentations will be selected from the submitted abstracts. Junior investigators, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, and minority attendees are encouraged to submit abstracts for consideration.