APRIL 2012
A F F I L I AT E S L E T T E R The official newsletter for FEMS Affiliates
Also in this issue: Publications corner: • The most downloaded articles of the FEMS Journals in 2011 • Journal highlights from FEMS Microbiology Ecology and FEMS Microbiology Letters Grants page: • Deadline and Application checklist for FEMS Research Fellowships • Deadline and Application checklist for FEMS Visiting Scientist Grants Society Page: • The Belgian Society of Microbiology Initiatives News: • Register for the Coinfections 2012
The new issue of the FEMS Focus is now available. This time, the topic is the controversy aroused by the H5N1 research of virologist Dr Ron Fouchier.
It aims to present the facts otherwise neglected by streamline media because stories on security were always given more emphasis on the headlines.
Dr Fouchier and his team discovered that H5N1 can be transmitted by air -- a discovery that is a breakthrough. The manuscript on the research has been submitted to Science but censored by the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity in the United States.
This story is not only presented from the side of safety experts but from the viewpoint of science as well. FEMS took on this responsibility because it is, after all, “the voice of Microbiology in Europe.”
Due to the censorship, a public debate arose: “Can this be done to science?” Biosecurity experts believed that not all the details of the Fouchier research should be published. The science community was adamant that scientific freedom must be respected and protected. Apart from the non-publication of Fouchier’s research, a 60-day moratorium was also applied to the research itself. The moratorium was lifted only after the deadline. The publication of the research was allowed afterwards.
Grants deadlines List of FEMS-sponsored meetings in May and June Microbiology tidbits
This Focus issue summarizes the events that took place during the H5N1 controversy and presents two compelling interviews with Dr Fouchier and biosecurity expert Dr Hugues Tolou.
New issue of the FEMS Focus featuring the H5N1 controversy, now available. Get your copy by clicking on the image.
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JO U R N A L H IG H L IG H T S The terms ‘brûlé’ and ‘burnt’ are used to describe vegetationdevoid areas of the ground around a range of woody plants interacting with certain truffle species. Increasing interest is currently focused on a systematic search for and study of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by truffles in the course of their life cycle. These metabolites are now recognized as biochemicals with an important impact on burnt formation. Based on current molecular approaches, Tuber melanosporum is emerging as an aggressive colonizer of the brûlé, dominant in competition with indigenous brûlé-associated organisms, suppressing their richness and biodiversity. There is compelling evidence that mycelia, mycorrhizae, and fruiting bodies of brûlé-forming truffles have evolved diffusible metabolites for their survival, typically characterized as having harmful effects on weeds, impairing seed germination, altering root morphogenesis and plant hormonal balance, or inhibiting the native rhizospheric microflora regularly associated with the brûlé. These effects can be widely interpreted as allelopathic phenomena, and the brûlé may thus be regarded as a promising opportunity to study truffle allelopathy. Considering the outstanding success of the genome analysis in T. melanosporum, we are facing a very difficult task to proceed from the molecular to the ecological level. Streiblová et al., FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2012, 80, 1-8 | doi/10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01283.x/full
Chromera velia is evolutionarily the closest free-living and photosynthetic organism to the medically important obligatory parasitic apicomplexans that cause diseases including malaria and toxoplasmosis. In this study, a novel oligonucleotide probe targeting C. velia’s small subunit ribosomal RNA was designed. To enable usage of this probe as a detection tool, a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) protocol was optimized. The results obtained showed that when used in combination, the C. velia CV1 probe and optimized FISH protocol enabled efficient detection of C. velia in culture. This new technique will allow a better understanding of the ecological role of C. velia within the coral microhabitat. Morin-Adeline et al. FEMS Microbiol Lett 328 (2012) 144–149 | doi/10.1111/j.1574-6968.2011.02489.x/full
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FEMS Microbiology Ecology Detection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their resistance genes in wastewater, surface water, and drinking water biofilms Thomas Schwartz, Wolfgang Kohnen, Bernd Jansen, Ursula Obst 2,621 downloads FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology Pathogenic and opportunistic free-living amoebae: Acanthamoeba spp., Balamuthia mandrillaris, Naegleria fowleri, and Sappinia diploidea Govinda S. Visvesvara, Hercules Moura, Frederick L. Schuster 2,668 downloads FEMS Microbiology Letters Bacterial endophytes: recent developments and applications Robert P. Ryan, Kieran Germaine, Ashley Franks, David J. Ryan, David N. Dowling 3,699 downloads FEMS Microbiology Reviews Heterologous protein expression in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris Joan Lin Cereghino, James M. Cregg 4,590 downloads FEMS Yeast Research The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae – the main character in beer brewing Elizabeth J. Lodolo, Johan L.F. Kock, Barry C. Axcell, Martin Brooks 1,733 downloads
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FEMS RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS DESCRIPTION
FEMS RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS GRANT APPLICATION CHECKLIST
FEMS Research Fellowships are meant to assist young European scientists in pursuing research up to 3 months in a European country different from that in which she/he lives. These grants are intended to support travel and living costs of the Fellow only.
FEMS Research Fellowships regulations apply to each application for the FEMS Research Fellowships. The requirements consist of, but are not limited to the following:
A FEMS Research Fellowship covers travel (at economy rates) and living costs for the fellow to a maximum of EUR 4 000 (no financial assistance for the host - e.g. bench fees). The deadlines for receipt of applications at FEMS Central Office are December 1 (first round) and June 15 (second round). The regulations and application forms are available electronically. Please read them carefully and check the list at the right before contacting the FEMS Central Office. Upon its receipt at FEMS Central Office, the application is checked for eligibility and completeness. Complete applications are then submitted to the Grants Board. Grants Board formulates its recommendations to the Executive Committee, which then makes the final decision that will be communicated soon thereafter.
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You are an active microbiologist You are younger than 36 years old You are a citizen of a European country You are a member of a FEMS member society (at least for 1 year before applying) ✓✓ You will pursue your project in a European country which is not your country of residence ✓✓ You have thoroughly read the regulations governing FEMS Research Fellowships ✓✓ You have completed the relevant application form available on the FEMS website with the following attachments: • Your curriculum vitae • Letter of reference • Letter of acceptance from the host laboratory • Research project proposal written by you • Your photograph
✓✓ Your application is endorsed by the FEMS Delegate of your society ✓✓ Send the complete application to grants@ fems-microbiology.org before the deadline of June 15, 2012
The DEAD
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FEMS VISITING SCIENTISTS GRANTS DESCRIPTION FEMS provides a limited fund for Visiting Scientist Grants to support special, scientific, microbiology meetings within the European Area (which are not supported with a FEMS Meeting Grant). One Visiting Scientist Grant can be awarded for one outstanding European scientist per meeting. The Visiting Scientist to be supported can not be from the same country where the meeting takes place. The maximum of the grant is 600 EUR, the minimum 300 EUR. The regulations and application forms are available electronically. Please read them carefully and check the list at the right before contacting the FEMS Central Office. Upon its receipt at FEMS Central Office, the application is checked for eligibility and completeness. Complete applications are then submitted to the Grants Board. Grants Board formulates its recommendations to the Executive Committee, which then makes the final decision that will be communicated soon thereafter.
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FEMS VISITING SCIENTISTS GRANTS GRANT APPLICATION CHECKLIST FEMS Visiting Scientists Grants regulations apply to each application for the FEMS Visiting Scientists Grants. The requirements consist of, but are not limited to, the following: ✓✓ You are a Meeting Organiser ✓✓ Your meeting will be held between July 1 and December 30, 2012 ✓✓ You have thoroughly read the regulations governing FEMS Visiting Scientists Grants ✓✓ You have completed the relevant application form available on the FEMS website with the following attachments: • CV of the visiting scientist • Complete list of publications of the Visiting Scientist • Presentation (title/abstract) of the Visiting Scientist • General and budgetary information of the meeting • Full programme with a list of speakers
✓✓ Your application is endorsed by the FEMS Delegate of the host country where your meeting will take place ✓✓ Send the complete application to grants@ fems-microbiology.org before the deadline of June 15, 2012
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The Belgian Society for Microbiology (BSM) is a nonprofit association dedicated to the advancement of microbiological sciences in its broadest sense.
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ing “Academy Palace” of the RASAB. For these activities, internationally renowned microbiolo-
It intends to create a forum for the exchange of information and ideas by people interested in microbiology, whether they are active in fundamental, biomedical, environmental or applied research, addressing bacteria, viruses or fungi. Founded on 18th November 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Microbiology of the Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium (RASAB), BSM promotes the exchange of scientific information mainly through its meetings, but also by publications in its Newsletter and Blog and through serving as liaison among the specialized fields of microbiology. BSM membership is open to anyone with interest in microbiology. Currently, BSM counts circa 250 members.
Board Council members are outstanding microbiologists with different microbiology backgrounds and specializations. Members are from different universities and institutions located in the different regions of Belgium (Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia). Council consists of the following members: Chair: Jozef Anné (KU Leuven), Secretary: Paul De Vos (UGent); Treasurer: Tom Coenye (UGent); Tom is also liaison officer for the Dutch Society for Microbiology.
Activities The society’s annual symposium takes place in Brussels in the prestigious and historical build-
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The BSM’s annual symposium takes place in Brussels in the prestigious and historical building “Academy Palace” (Photo credits: http://www.kvab.be)
gists from Europe or non-European countries are invited to present topics of high current interest. Junior microbiologists can also be selected for short oral communications, while others can show their work in posters. The large attendance of these yearly meetings (between 160 and 200 participants and 60 to over 100 poster presentations) proves that this formula is very successful. Usually, meetings take one day, but occasionally 2-days meetings are organized. Occasionally, intercurrent smaller meetings are organized, e.g. in 2012 a meeting on “Functional analysis of microbial communities and consortia without cultivation” is organized in Brussels on 25th September. As Belgium is a country with 3 official languages (Flemish, French and German), the language in the meetings is always English. Text by: Dr Jozef Anné, Belgian Society of Microbiology
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EXTENDED TO JUNE 1 www.coinfections2012.com www.coinfections2012.com
PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME Thursday, June 7, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
13:00-14:00
Session 4 (cont.): Virus-bacterial interactions: Viral modulation of the immune response to bacteria 09:00-09:30 Influenza and bacterial superinfection
Lunch
Session 1: Microbial communities I: Complex microbial communities and gene and signal exchanges 14:00-14.30 Emerging virus infections in a changing world
Jon McCullers, USA
09:30-10:00
Albert Osterhaus, The Netherlands
14:30-15:00
Impact of biofilms in Coinfections Søren Molin, Denmark
Immunological consequences of helminth-malaria Coinfections Linda Wammes, The Netherlands
10:00-10:30
Coffee break
Session 2: Bacterial/viral symbionts of bacteria: Coinfections with parasites 15:00-15:30 Leishmania RNA virus and Leishmania
Session 5: Microbial communities II: Microbiota in infections and Susceptibility to infection 10:30-11:00 How gut bacteria enhance enteric virus infectivity Julie Pfeiffer, USA
15:30- 16:00 Onchocerca volvulus and the Wolbachia endosymbiont unleashes the immune response eliciting clinical onchocerchiasis Achim Hoerauf, Germany
11:30-12:00
Nicolas Fasel, Switzerland
Diversity and activity of free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria and total bacteria in soils Stephen Cummings, UK
16:00- 16:30 Coffee break Session 3: Significance of Coinfections: Epidemiology 16:30-17:00 Mixed lower respiratory tract infections Birgitta Henriques-Normark, Sweden Session 4: Virus-bacterial interactions: Viral modulation of the immune response to bacteria 17:00-17:30 HIV-1 and the immune response to tuberculosis Robert J. Wilkinson, UK 17:30-19:00 19:30
Poster sessions Dinner
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www.coinfections2012.com I N I T I AT I V E S N E W S
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15 June 2012 1 December 2012 FEMS Research Fellowships FEMS Visiting Scientist Grants
MICROBIOLOGY TIDBITS
1 October 2012 FEMS Advanced Fellowships
Source: McMaster University
1 March 2013 FEMS Meeting Grants (for meetings to be held in 2014) 1 September 2012 1 April 2013 FEMS Meeting Attendance Grants
FEMS-Sponsored Meetings, May - June 2012
Hot New Manufacturing Tool: A TemperatureControlled Microbe Many manufacturing processes rely on microorganisms to perform tricky chemical transformations or make substances from simple starting materials. The authors of a study appearing in mBio®, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, on April 17 have found a way to control a heat-loving microbe with a temperature switch: it makes a product at low temperatures but not at high temperatures. The innovation could make it easier to use microorganisms as miniature factories for the production of needed materials like biofuels. Source: American Society of Microbiology
2012 May 10 - 13
2012 June 3 - 7
Europic 2012, France 2012 June 6 - 9
Vth International Conference on Molecular Mechanisms of Fungal Cell Wall Biogenesis, Croatia 2012 June 18 - 21
8th INRA-RRI Symposium on Gut Microbiology; Gut Microbiota: Friend or Foe?, France
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Antibiotic Resistance Flourishes in Freshwater Systems The author Dr. Seuss may have been on to something when he imagined that microscopic communities could live and flourish on small specs of dust, barely visible to the naked eye. In fact, such vibrant communities exist -- in a material with a Seussical sounding, yet scientific name called ‘floc’.
1 June 2012 15 December 2012 FEMS National & Regional Congresses Grants
Microbial Stress Responses: from Molecules to Systems, Italy
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Study Hints at Why Gums Suffer With Age New research from Queen Mary, University of London in collaboration with research groups in the USA sheds light on why gum disease can become more common with old age. The study, published in Nature Immunology, reveals that the deterioration in gum health which often occurs with increasing age is associated with a drop in the level of a chemical called Del-1. The researchers say that understanding more about Del-1 and its effects on the body’s immune system could help in the treatment or prevention of serious gum disease. Source: Queen Mary, University of London
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