About 1,300 researchers and experts from around the world will converge in Corvallis beginning Friday for the 26th annual meeting of the American Society for Virology.

Held at Oregon State University through Tuesday, participants will present and attend symposiums with heady titles such as “Intracellular Restrictions on Viral Replication” and “The Assembly of Infectious Structures.”

OSU organizers consider it a great honor to host the event.

“This will be the first time it’s ever been held at Oregon State,” said organizer Dennis Hruby, a professor of microbiology at OSU. “People will be coming from all over the world to participate and will be talking about their latest work.”

While scientists talking about, say, “the p53 tumor suppressor network,” might seem incomprehensible to many people, the conference will touch on topics of widespread public interest.

The virologists will share findings and information regarding the development of new drugs and vaccines, counter-measures for biological threats and understanding emerging diseases, Hruby said.

Vaccines against pandemic flu and drugs to prevent HIV infections will be among the hot topics.

“I think all of society will be interested in that,” Hruby said.

It may not be the largest conference ever held at OSU, said conference manager Jamie LeGore, but “it is possibly the largest in terms of scope, number of days and number of presentations.”

Finding rooms for 1,300 people has been no easy task, especially during a season packed with weddings.

“Friday, Saturday and Sunday being big wedding times, we’ve had a few challenges there,” LeGore said.

Also, many of the international visitors have expressed dismay that Corvallis is 90 minutes from Portland International Airport, LeGore said.

Though the 2007 American Society for Virology Conference Web site boasts Corvallis-area wineries, micro-breweries, biking and the natural beauty of the Willamette Valley, the virologists will likely experience some of the more fragrant aspects of the town.

“We don’t have a space here on campus that can feed 1,300 people,” LeGore said. “They’re being fed outside, so they will be able to smell the cow smell.”

As with any conference that brings a large number of people to town, organizers expect an overall benefit for Corvallis.

“I think it’s going to be a big boon for the local community,” Hruby said. “Virtually every hotel room in town is booked and I think it will be very good for the Corvallis business community. We’re kind of excited about it.”

Conference events are not open to the public.