NOV 2013
A F F I L I AT E S L E T T E R The official newsletter for FEMS Affiliates
Goodbye printed journal, hello to new opportunities! Deadlines coming up
BE ON TIME for: FEMS Research Fellowship 1 December FEMS National and Regional meeting Grant 15 December
Also in this issue: Publications Page Protein transport Grants Corner Microbial diversity 2013 Meeting Attendance Grants
FEMS Microbiology Letters, Volume 1, Number 1, 1977
Do you remember this one? It belongs to the time when your writing table was filled to the roof when you performed a desk research and your research being published meant you could hold it in your hands. That sensation may have gone through digitalization, but let’s take a look at what you get in return. And find out how you can support your article in ways one could not have dreamt of in 1977.
Society Page The Icelandic Microbial Society (TIMS)
After all, for your research to be successful, you have to make sure that it is read first. Using the tools of today may not make you a better scientist, but it surely helps you to stand out.
Deadlines
Tools for today’s audience
FEMS-Sponsored Meetings Microbiology TidBits
Besides pictures, you can now add video files, audio files and 3D images. That may seem self evident, but keep in mind that not long ago audio files
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were only featured as text in a journal. From the reader’s point of view, reading from a screen differs from reading from paper. Fortunately, as a writer you can increase accessibility for your readers by using supporting material, some of which we will highlight on pages two and three.
FEMS is going online Today, FEMS publishes both online and printed microbiology journals. This is about to change, FEMS is going fully digital in 2014. We have some nice online features, which you can incorporate in your paper, including: • • • •
audio files video files 3D images powerpoint
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First impression: Make sure your article is accompanied by a sound graphical abstract and one sentence summary for that first impression.
#1. Fit multiple purposes All FEMS Journals come with this extra feature that helps you make your article fit for multiple purposes. It easily transforms the pictures in your study into a Powerpoint slide, especially helpful for educational purposes. Simply click on the picture, then click on the download button with the powerpoint icon.
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#2. Innovate,
Use the IRRITATE checklist to evaluate Impact: The article should be comprehensive and accurate. It should appeal to both specialist microbiologists and the general reader. Rejection of your article: be aware this may await if your article is likely to have a low or marginal impact. Readability: The article must be pleasant to read. Illustrations: Clear figures are very important. Whenever appropriate, they should use colours and show structures of microorganisms and molecules.
Four steps to publish
#4. Show
A video, audio or 3D image supplementing FEMS Journals. If you h
P U B L I C AT I O N S PA G E
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don’t irritate
e your manuscript before submitting it: Title: It needs to be attractive and clear to non-specialists. Abstract: This is also a very important element. Every sentence should catch a key feature of the article. Text: It should mostly focus on novel aspects published in the best journals. “Mature” information, which is essential for the generalist readers, can often be summarized in Boxes or Tables. English: Double check your English style and grammar before submitting your article.
Perhaps the best evidence of the validity of Darling et al.’s (2013) article, “The role of Twitter in the life cycle of a scientific publication” is its own Twitter life cycle.
hing in the digital era
, don’t write
#3. Go social How to start? Read a study on social media to help you set out your strategy.
g your study is only one mouse-click away with the have one, make sure you add it! Image check: • Minimum size of 400 x 400 pixels • Minimum resolution of 300 dpi • In preferred format EPS, PDS, CDR or in acceptable format JPEG, TIFF, PDF, PPT, XLS • Font size minimum 7, sans-serif typeface family • Crop image to the size intended for publications • Remove excess space elements around the image
This is a fragment of the top shared photo on Twitter relating to EAAD 2013 on 18 Nov 13. The infographic on antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic consumption in Europe and was uploaded by @EAAD_EU.
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Nobel Prize for research of protein transport The 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Randy W. Schekman, professor of molecular and cell biology at the University of California, Berkeley, James E. Rothman of Yale University and Thomas C. Südhof of Stanford University. We cordially congratulate them for this notable accomplishment. Schekman was awarded for his role in revealing the machinery that regulates the transport and secretion of proteins in our cells. His discoveries on how yeast secretes proteins were used in the biotechnology industry, coaxing yeast to release useful protein drugs, such as insulin.
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pneumoniae ATCC 13883 produced and secreted OMVs during in vitro culture. Proteomic analysis revealed that 159 different proteins were associated with K. pneumoniae OMVs. Klebsiella pneumoniae OMVs did not inhibit cell growth or induce cell death. However, these vesicles induced expression of proinflammatory cytokine genes. An intratracheal challenge of K. pneumoniae OMVs in neutropenic mice resulted in severe lung pathology similar to K. pneumoniae infection. In conclusion, K. pneumoniae produces OMVs like other pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria and K. pneumoniae OMVs are a molecular complex that induces the innate immune response. Je Chul Lee et al. DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2012.02549.x FEMS Microbiology Letters Volume 331, Issue 1, pages 17–24, June 2012
FEMS Letters Mini review Candida albicans secret(e)s to survive
Protein transport The research of Schekman, Rothman and Südhof on protein transport in cells, and how cells control this trafficking to secrete hormones and enzymes, illuminated the workings of a fundamental process in cell physiology. But... not all has been unveiled yet! Protein transport keeps on challenging microbiologists - as you can see in these highlighted articles.
FEMS Letters Research letter
The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans occupies various niches of the human body such as the skin and the mucosal surfaces of the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts. It can also enter the blood stream and cause deadly, systemic infections. To survive in these diverse host environments, C. albicans has developed specialized virulence attributes and rapidly adapts itself. Candida albicans secretes a considerable number of proteins that are involved in biofilm formation, tissue invasion, immune evasion, and wall maintenance, as well as acquisition of nutrients including metal ions. The secretome of C. albicans is predicted to comprise 225 proteins. On a proteomic level, however, analysis of the secretome of C. albicans is incomplete. Glycosylphosphatidylinositol proteins and known cytoplasmic proteins are also consistently detected in the growth medium. A core set of seven wall polysaccharide-processing enzymes seems to be consistently present, including the diagnostic marker Mp65.
Klebsiella pneumoniae inducing the innate immune response Alice G. Sorgo et al. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) derived from pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria are an important vehicle for delivery of effector molecules to host cells. This study revealed that Klebsiella P U B L I C AT I O N S PA G E
FEMS Microbiology Letters Volume 338, Issue 1, pages 10–17, January 2013 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6968.12049
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FEMS Reviews Review article The secretory pathway: exploring yeast diversity
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protein production. With the development of systems biology, this approach can be applied both to gain further insight into protein production and secretion and to further engineer the cell for improved production of valuable proteins. The protein post-translational modification such as folding, trafficking, and secretion will here be described in the context of the whole system of protein secretion. Furthermore, examples of engineering secretion pathways, high-throughput screening and systems biology applications of studying protein production and secretion are also given to show how the protein production can be improved by different approaches. J. Hou et al. FEMS Yeast Research 2012 Aug;12(5):491-510 doi: 10.1111/j.1567-1364.2012.00810.x
In eukaryotes, protein secretion encompasses numerous steps mediated by several hundred cellular proteins. The core functions of translocation through the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, primary glycosylation, folding and quality control, and vesicle-mediated secretion are similar from yeasts to higher eukaryotes. However, recent research has revealed significant functional differences between yeasts and mammalian cells, and even among yeast species. Many - but not all secretion steps are more redundant in S. cerevisiae due to duplicated genes, while some processes are even absent. Even where homologous genes are present, small differences in protein sequence and/or the regulation of gene expression may lead to quite different protein secretion phenotypes. FEMS Pathogens and Disease M. Delic et al. Research article FEMS Microbiol Reviews 2013 Nov;37(6):872-914. DOI: 10.1111/1574-6976.12020 Whooping cough, RseA and cell envelope stress
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In this report, the authors have investigated the FEMS Yeast Research role of an anti-sigma factor (RseA) that negatively Research article regulates the sigma factor (sigma E) that controls responses to envelope stress, in the bacterial How does detoxification of dimethyl sulfoxide in pathogen Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent Saccharomyces cerevisiae work? of whooping cough. They find that RseA-deficient DMSO-tolerant mutations are of genes mainly inB. pertussis has elevated resistance to envelope volved in the metabolism and the gene expression stress and an increased production of outer memcontrol. The transcriptional control machinery, the brane vesicles, which correlates with increased cell wall integrity (CWI) and its regulation as well levels of secreted adenylate cyclase toxin, an imas the protein trafficking and sorting process play portant virulence factor for this pathogen. critical roles in the DMSO detoxification in yeast Tomoko Hanawa et al. cells. In this study 339 dimethyl sulfoxide-sensitive DOI: 10.1111/2049-632X.12061 and nine DMSO-tolerant gene mutations in Pathogens and Disease Volume 69, Issue 1, pages Saccharomyces cerevisiae were identified. 7–20, October 2013 L. Zhang et al. FEMS Yeast Res. 2013 Mar;13(2):200-18. doi: 10.1111/1567-1364.12022.
FEMS Yeast Research Mini review S. cerevisiae: folding, trafficking and secretion within the system of protein secretion Many studies have focused on metabolic engineering S. cerevisiae to improve the recombinant
How do cells control their protein trafficking?
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Microbial diversity 2013 During the Microbial diversity 2013 meeting in Turin, Italy, FEMS Grantees met scientists in the fields of agricultural, environmental and food microbiology, discussing and exchanging information and experiences regarding microbial interactions in complex ecosystems.
From left to right: Prof. Daniele Daffonchio, FEMS delegate for SIMTREA, Prof. Erasmo Neviani, President of SIMTREA, FEMS grantees: Yunita Dewi, Francesco Vitali, Stefanelli Elena, La Storia Antonietta, Tabanelli Giulia, Füstös Zoltán, Greppi Anna, Favaro Lorenzo, De Filippis Francesca, Das Piyali, Marasco Ramona and Andrea Richter, Prof. Luca Cocolin, chair of the organizing committee..
Meeting Attendance Grants FEMS provides Meeting Attendance Grants (MAG) to young European scientists wishing to attend microbiology meetings that are not supported by a FEMS Meetings Grant. MAGs may support attendance at meetings worldwide but preference will be given to meetings within the European area. Four of these scientists showed us where they spent their Grants (top to bottom): • Rosario Campilongo at the EMBO/FEBS Course Host-Microbes Interaction, Spetses, Greece • Evelien Berends at the EMBO/EMBL Symposium, Heidelberg, Germany • Kate Hargreaves at the 20th Evergreen International Phage Meeting, Olympia, USA • Patrycja Kobierecka at the 17th Internations Workshop on Campylobacter Heliobacter and related organisms, Aberdeen, UK Applying for Meeting Attendance grants? Visit the Meeting Attendance Grants page. G R AN T S CO R N ER
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The Icelandic Microbial Society The Icelandic Microbial Society (TIMS) is a membership organization for scientists who work in all areas of microbiology or are interested in microbiology. It was founded in 1988 and is probably the smallest microbiological society in Europe with about 90 memberships, based in universities, industry, hospitals, research institutes and schools. Eligibility for full membership is open to any person who is interested in microbiology and no special qualifications are needed. TIMS is a representative in the international organizations for microbiology such as the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) and the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS). TIMS is concerned with all fields of microbiology and the society holds microbiological arrangements and informs its members about microbiological events in Iceland and elsewhere. On the national level, TIMS’ primary function is to act as a contact point for national microbiological activities and to initiate scientific meetings in microbiology and related fields. TIMS promotes also the exchange of scientific information through its webpage www.orfi.is and Facebook. The purpose of TIMS is also to be a platform of information exchange and improved competence of basic and applied microbiological research in Iceland, in particular with respect to prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. This includes different fields of basic and applied fields of microbiology with emphasis on human medicine, veterinary medicine, food safety, environmental microbiology and biotechnology.
In Iceland, music and science get along well: an app from Björks album Biophillia, “Virus”, features a close-up study of cells being attacked by a virus. Reykjavik City’s Board of Education is running a mobile version of the Biophilia Educational Program in all of the city’s middle school — Biophilia Educational Program
S O C I E T Y F E AT U R E
The members span wide variety of microbial research such as environmental microbiology, extremophiles, infectious diseases, recombinant DNA technology, food microbiology, energy production, waste recycling, new sources of food, new drug development, the aetiology of sexually transmitted diseases, metagenomics, environmental problems and industrial processes. Furthermore, TIMS supports mobility of young scientist and aims to optimize teaching in the field of microbiology. Its outreach activities aim to inspire, create interest in microbiology and encourage learning. Many members of the society are involved in or chair microbiological education. Special emphasis is put on public outreach and to introduce the microbial world to the public.
At TIMS’ Spring Meeting
The Society is governed by elected officers: Chairman Viggó Thór Marteinsson, Matis ohf, viggo.th.marteinsson@matis.is Editor and foreign affairs Erla Heidrún Benediktsdóttir (FEMS Delegate), Institute for Experimental Pathology, University of Iceland, erla@hi.is Markúsína Linda Helgadóttir, Department of Microbiology, Landspítali University Hospital, lindah@landspitali.is Treasurer Hrólfur Sigurdsson, Matis ohf, hrolfur.sigurdsson@matis.is Secretary Sigrún Gudmundsdóttir, Ölgerdin Egill Skallagrímsson ehf, Sigrun.Gudmundsdottir@olgerdin.is. www.fems-microbiology.org
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MICROBIOLOGY TIDBITS Superfood: Japanese pickle to prevent flu Researchers from the Northeast Agricultural University in China have discovered that bacteria found in a traditional Japanese pickle can prevent flu. Could this be the next superfood? Lactobacillus heilongjiangensis was isolated from ‘traditional pickle’ made in the Heilongjiang Province. Source: Science Daily
1 December 2013 15 June 2014 FEMS Research Fellowships 15 December 2013 1 June 2014 FEMS National & Regional Congresses Grants 6 January 2013 FEMS - ASM Mäkelä - Cassell Grant
New microbes found in... flamingo’s feet Researchers in Switzerland have discovered the new species Arsenicicoccus dermatophilus growing in the foot lesions on juvenile flamingos’ feet. It turns out that pododermatitis – inflammation of the feet – is a common problem for birds kept in captivity, like the flamingos in this study, who were living in a Swiss zoo. Source: Microbepost
1 March 2014 FEMS Meeting Grants (for meetings to be held in 2015) 1 April 2014 1 September 2014 FEMS Meeting Attendance Grants
FEMS-Sponsored Meetings, Spring 2014 2 3 M A R C H 2 014 12th European Conf. on Fungal Genetics Spain 3 0 M A R C H 2 014 Stalked alpha-Proteobacteria and Relatives Germany 1 A P R I L 2 014 VIBRIO 2014 United Kingdom 2 A P R I L 2 014 R E V I S E D D AT E ! ! From Emerging to Pandemic Viruses United Kingdom
Genetically modified virus may produce better batteries Researchers from MIT have used a genetically modified virus to demonstrate that lithium air batteries could be significantly improved. Lithium air batteries have the potential to store two or three times the energy of lithium ion batteries, however, they currently have limited charging cycles. The researchers coated microscopic electrode wires with modified M13 virus to increase the surface area. Source: SFAM Ethnicity and mouth microbes Oral infections have previously been found to correlate with ethnicity, and now researchers from The Ohio State University found that this correlation may be partly rooted in causation: ethnicity appears to actually determine colonization of the mouth microbiome. Source: PLOS One
9 A P R I L 2 014 6th European Spores Conference United Kingdom
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