JANUARY 2013
A F F I L I AT E S L E T T E R The official newsletter for FEMS Affiliates
PAD: We have lift off! Also in this issue: Publication Corner: • New covers for FEMS Journals 2013 Grants Page: • FEMS Meeting Grants Society Feature: • Society for General Microbiology (SGM) DEADLINES List of FEMS-sponsored meetings
Articles in the first issue of FEMS new journal Pathogens and Disease (formerly FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology) may be previewed online in Early View at Pathogens and Disease In addition to already-established areas in molecular and cellular pathogenesis, and the host response to infection, Pathogens and Disease also highlights Research articles, MiniReviews and Short communications in new sections reflecting cutting-edge research on microbial communities, systems biology and ‘omic approaches, as well as experimental translational applications. These include Virulence Factors (encompassing all structural studies of virulence factors); Microbial Communities in Infection and Disease (role of biofilms, microbiota in infection, co-
infections) and Translational Research (experimental immunity to infection/ disease, identification of host/pathogen targets for drug screening, susceptibility/resistance to experimental drugs, including probiotics, identification of host/pathogen diagnostic markers) The new ‘Omics and Systems Biology section will feature functional fulllength research articles, including advanced computational analyses, and last, but not least, a new journal section termed Shortomics will showcase short communications that capture the more salient features of ‘omic datasets while providing a functional web-based link to the data. Read more about PAD and happy submitting at pathogensanddisease!
Microbiology Tidbits
FEMS and the Pathogens and Disease editors warmly welcome you as reader and potential contributor to the new journal.
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Cover image (Ecology): Scanning electron micrograph of Tetrahymena sp. (MB125) preying on diarrheagenic E. coli. Image made by Charlotte D. Smith, from Smith et al. (2012) FEMS Microbiol Ecol 82:574-583.
Cover image (PAD): NIAID/CDC/Science photo library. Coloured scanning electron micrograph of Salmonella bacteria.
Cover image (Reviews): Scheme representing a rosette of T. gondii parasites From Kemp, L. E., Yamamoto, M. and Soldati-Favre, D. (2012) FEMS Microbiol Rev in press. Adapted by Federation of European Microbiological Societies
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Cover image (Letters): Images illustrating the vast scale range of microbiology studies. Left panel: “earth” (top) Wikipedia Commons/ NASA; “satellite image” (middle left) courtesy of NASA/ JPL-Caltech; “freshwater ecosystem” (middle right) Eckhard Jakob at Wikipedia Commons; “grand prismatic spring” (middle right) and “diatoms” (bottom) Wikipedia Commons. Right panel: “SEM photograph of interacting Archaea” (top left) taken by S. Schopf/ R. Wirth, courtesy of Dr Moissl-Eichinger; “SEM photograph of Microcystis aeruginosa” (top right) Zhai et al. (2012) FEMS Microbiol Lett 336: 38-44; “DAPI-stained string-ofpearls community” (middle right) courtesy of Dr Moissl-Eichinger; “bacteriophage”, “myoglobin”, “ATP molecule” (middle) and “DNA helix” (bottom) Wikipedia Commons. Adapted by E. Ripmeester, Federation of European Microbiological Societies.
Cover image (Yeast Research): A colour enhanced nano-micrograph obtained by Nano Scanning Auger Microscopy linked to Argon etching in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) mode showing for the first time gas bubbles inside the cytoplasm of a fermenting yeast. From Swart et al. FEMS Yeast Res 12:867-869. Adapted by F Belliard, Federation of European Microbiological Societies
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CALL for APPLICATIONS FEMS MEETING GRANTS The first grant deadline of every FEMS year is always for the FEMS Meeting Grants which is 1 March (of the year preceding that in which the meeting takes place). So as early as now, we are calling on all those who are currently planning Scientific conferences, laboratory workshops, and training courses in the European area in the year 2014. Events such as these will be considered for a FEMS Meeting Grant. The maximum amount of a Meeting Grant is EUR 15 000.The Meeting Grant may only be used to support the attendance of: • Young Scientists (minimum of 60% and a maximum of 80% of total grant value) • Invited Speakers (minimum of 20% and a maximum of 40% of total grant value) On special request by the organisers and upon approval by the Grants Secretary, a total grant amount can be used to support young scientists only. 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.
CHECKLIST FOR YOUR FEMS MEETING GRANT APPLICATION FEMS Meeting Grants regulations apply to each application for the FEMS Meeting Grants, the requirements consist of but are not limited to the following: • • • • • • • • • • • •
You are a meeting organiser The meeting that you are planning is microbiology-related This microbiology-related meeting is either a Scientific conference, labora- tory workshop and/or training course This meeting will be held in Europe The grant that you will receive will be used to support Young Scientist/s and Invited Speaker/s You have read the regulations for your application and you fulfill ALL requirements General and budgetary information Full programme with list of speakers Endorsement by the FEMS Delegate of your FEMS Member Society You have read the application form You have completely filled-in the application form Send the complete application to grants@fems-microbiology.org before the deadline of 1 March 2013.
A list of events that were granted a FEMS Meeting Grant is also maintained online.
G R AN T S CO R NER
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Society for General Microbiology The Society for General Microbiology (SGM) was formally inaugurated on 16 February 1945 when Sir Alexander Fleming was elected as the first President. The aim was to bring members from different backgrounds together to gain the benefits of interdisciplinary discussion and learning from each other. Today, this aim is reflected in the Society’s vision: A world in which the science of microbiology provides maximum benefit to society and in its mission: to promote high-quality microbiological science, both nationally and internationally, to a diverse range of stakeholders. The success of the original aim of the Society underlies its growth, from 241 original members, to its present position as the largest microbiological learned society in Europe with a worldwide membership based in universities, industry, hospitals, research institutes and schools. Council governs the Society; its business facilitated by six standing committees. The Society publishes four key academic journals: International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, Journal of General Virology, Microbiology and Journal of Medical Microbiology and also organises regular scientific conferences. The next conference is in Manchester on 25–28 March.
The Society supports the professional development of its members, particularly early career microbiologists, with its wealth of grants and awards. Participation in SGM activities and resource development is actively encouraged. Diverse activities designed to achieve widening participation include: • • • • •
A dedicated schools website, http://www.microbiologyonline.org.uk Educational resources for age group 7–19 years: for example The Secret World of Microbes, popular with primary school children An interactive drama “Stopping the spread of superbugs”, which has been performed both within the UK and in Ireland Topical briefing papers which provide need-toknow information on various subjects, such as hospital-acquired infections, climate change and pandemic influenza Position Statements on relevant and topical policy areas, such as Food Security and Safety
Last, but not least, SGM recognises the value of collaboration and provides an international forum for communication among microbiologists to maximise our influence and impact in areas such as policy and education. For more information about SGM, visit www.sgm.ac.uk.
Professor Colin Harwood, SGM Treasurer, explaining the important role of soil micro-organisms in food security at the Society's stand at Chelsea Flower Show.
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DEADLINES
MICROBIOLOGY TIDBITS
1 March 2013 FEMS Meeting Grants (for meetings to be held in 2014)
Evolution of multicellularity coincides with the Great Oxidation Event Scientists at the Universities of Zürich and Gothenburg have studied the evolution of cyanobacteria, which are highly diverse prokaryotes with morphotypes ranging from unicellular to multicellular filamentous forms. They found that the evolution of multicellular forms coincides with the beginning of the rise of atmospheric oxygen, also known as the Great Oxidation Event, around 2.45 billion years ago.
1 April 2013 1 September 2013 FEMS Meeting Attendance Grants 15 June 2013 1 December 2013 FEMS Research Fellowships
Source: Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies
‘RePOOPulating’ the gut Patients suffering from Clostridium difficile infection, causing severe diarrhea, can effectively be treated with a synthetic mixture of intestinal bacteria from a healthy donor. This method, known as rePOOPulation or Microbial Ecosystem Therapeutics, was developed by Elaine Petrof and Gregory Gloor from the Kingston General Hospital in Ontario. The multi-species bacterial community from a healthy person was used successfully to treat two patients with recurrent C. difficile infection that had failed standard antibiotic treatment.
1 June 2013 15 December 2013 FEMS National & Regional Congresses Grants
FEMS-Sponsored Meetings, Spring 2013 10 March 2013 International Conference on Microbiology Bremen, Germany
Source: Kingston General Hospital
24 April 2013 Biodeterioration of Wood and Wood Products, BWWP 2013 | Tartu, Estonia 26 April 2013 4th Microbial Genome Maintenance Meeting Oslo, Norway 25 May 2013 Molecular Mechanisms of Host -Pathogen Interactions and Virulence in Human Fungal Pathogens - HFP2013 | Paris, France
The FEMS Affiliates Letter is a production of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies.
Dog can sniff out bacterial C. difficile infection More news on C. difficile. Researchers of the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam have trained a beagle to identify this intestinal infection in stool samples and on patients themselves. The dog was able to detect C. difficile infection with high sensitivity, high specificity and rapidly. Traditional lab tests to identify C. difficile can take up to a week, allowing the disease to spread. The hope is that the use of trained dogs for detection of infections will prevent future outbreaks. Source: VUmc Amsterdam
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