Microbiology Awareness Campaign Scotland

SGM Council, through Microbiology in Scotland I opened by explaining the functions and aspirations of OPPOSITE PAGE TOP: its Professional Affairs the SGM, not just as Europe’s largest microbiology Delegates at the SGM Microbiology society, but as a truly joined-up organization with Awareness Campaign Scotland Officer Geoffrey Schild Janet Hurst event held in Edinburgh on 4 March. and with the help of members, activities and journals covering all shades many members, has and specialisms microbiological, and as a one-stop-shop LEFT: Many people receive an education in microbiology in for advice. Hugh Pennington with Elaine initiated a campaign Scottish schools, colleges and higher education institu- Obeisance (fully justified by any criteria) was Murray MSP (top) and Tom McCabe to raise the awareness tions. Compared with the rest of the UK, a high pro- MSP, Deputy Minister for Health then made to the outstanding contributions made by and Community Care (bottom). of microbiology to UK portion of medical practitioners and vets are trained scientists in Scotland. Even in Edinburgh it is permis- politicians and their there. Microbiological work of all kinds is carried out in a sible to say that Joseph Lister’s microbiologically based PHOTOS RON FRASER, SGM supporting staff. It also wide range of excellent research institutes, agencies, revolutionary surgical innovations in the 1860s and wishes to alert them university departments and hospitals. The commercial 1870s were worked out in Glasgow! These kinds of to the existence of the biotechnology sector, much of which is underpinned by contributions continue, of course, and I pointed out microbiology, is successful and provides considerable Society as a source that Scotland continues to punch above its weight in employment. The EU recognizes Scotland as a dedicated of information and to microbiological science both in research output and Biotechnology Cluster. as a net exporter of microbiologists; the only thing stress the importance Scottish politicians and civil servants often have to of professional preventing it doing even better are funding constraints. make important policy decisions on microbiological The rest of my presentation addressed current micro- microbiologists. issues. The health of people, animals and plants, agri- very brief talks and delegates were also able to browse spring.’ This will be in the light of the Scottish Science biological challenges, ones of the kind that legislators The Campaign will culture, the environment, food and drink production around the 20 displays which showed the huge breadth Advisory Committee’s recent report Science Matters which understand. Bat rabies killed a wildlife worker in Tayside be moving around (think whisky!) all fall within their remit. Yet how many of microbiology practised by Scottish organizations. identifies broad subject areas, including biological a couple of years ago, the first indigenous UK trans- the country, but where MSPs are scientists, let alone microbiologists? The 107 people attended the event, including 14 MSPs – sciences, biotechnology, medical and veterinary sciences, mission for almost a century and an opening example of SGM affiliates better to launch it than answer to the first question is in single figures and to the a very good turnout considering the busy session that that are of key importance in the context of a Scottish the theme running through my talk, the fact that second, none! With 600+ members in Scotland, the to Scottish in Scotland where day in the Scottish Parliament. Labour MSP Dr Elaine Science Strategy. Tom was glad to hear that the SGM has microbes present a unique challenge to policymakers Parliament microbiology has a SGM is well-placed to provide the Scottish Parliament Murray, a former deputy minister who is a scientist, gave made a connection with the Committee and encouraged and the scientists advising them because they evolve in Science with expert guidance. high profile? the introduction and welcomed the SGM to Scotland. the Society to develop these links as the Committee real time. Information She was followed by SGM President Hugh Pennington, moves into a new important phase of work to recommend The next example was E.coli O157. The outbreaks at Service (SPSIS) The event a well known figure in Scottish medical and food the priorities in the medium and long term for science Wishaw in 1996 and at the New Deer Millennium Scout The service has been set up On 4 March SGM hosted an event at ‘The Hub’ on safety circles, who described the Society’s activities expenditure. Camp in 2000 were described to make the points that Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, conveniently located just across to ensure that all MSPs have before talking on human and animal microbiology issues In conclusion he said, ‘It is fair to say that while society at this novel pathogen has had more impact on human access to reliable, rapid and the road from the Scottish Parliament. All Scottish MPs in Scotland (see p. 89). David Onions, Professor of large may be unaware of the impact the microbiologist has on health in Scotland than in any other country, that it BELOW: impartial information on and senior staff from relevant departments of the Scottish Veterinary Virology at the University of Glasgow and their quality of life, those of us who have attended events such as continues to be commoner there than anywhere science-, engineering- and Inside spread from the SGM Executive were invited to meet a wide range of micro- Microbiology Awareness Campaign founder of Q-One Biotech, now part of the Invitrogen/ today’s are afforded the opportunity to become much better else, and even if the incidence of human infections technology-related issues to Scotland leaflet. biologists over lunch. The programme included some BioReliance group, explained why microbiology means informed. May I therefore compliment the Society on today’s has fallen (maybe due to control measures) we still do assist with parliamentary activities. The service is •10 business. The diverse aspects of aquatic microbiology seminar and more generally on the extremely valuable not understand why Scotland has been singled out. were then explored by Brian Austin, Professor of contribution it makes to promoting microbiology through the Scotland escaped SARS. I pointed out that this was provided through a network of topic co-ordinators who are Microbiology at Heriot-Watt University (see p. 90). range of activities it sponsors, not least the international good luck; unlike guests from Singapore, Hong Kong, established in their field •7 conferences it regularly holds in Scotland.’ Vietnam and Canada no Scots had been staying at the Aberdeen and will provide expert 2• The politician’s view This endorsement brought a most successful event to a Hotel Metropole in Hong Kong during the residence information that MSPs can Dundee The proceedings were wrapped up by Tom McCabe, close. there of ‘Patient A’ from Guandong who was suffering use to make their own microbiology in 11 8• • 12• MSP, Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care, from the disease. judgements. Established scotland 13• programme exhibitors Glasgow An overview of microbiology sites in Scotland – Edinburgh 1 who took time out of a hectic schedule to attend. Bioterrorism was considered and put into perspective by the Royal Society of this list is not exhaustive and does not include hospital •14 • laboratories and industry 9 • 1230 Drinks and buffet BioIndustry Association (Scotland) Aberdeen •3, 4, 5 In contrast to the previous contributions, Tom talked by my final pathogen, influenza, with reminders of Edinburgh, Royal Society of Fisheries Research Services 1300 Elaine Murray, MSP European Association of Fish Pathologists Microbiological challenges: Food Standards Agency Scotland Chemistry and the Scottish 6 about science from a political angle. He emphasized how 1918, with at least 20 million deaths, and an illustration Macaulay Land Use Research Institute • Introduction and welcome Fisheries Research Services National Collections of Industrial, Food & Marine Bacteria Parliament Information Robert Gordon University 1310 Hugh Pennington, SGM President National CJD Surveillance Unit delighted he was to support the SGM campaign and the role of the SGM of President Ford being vaccinated on 14 October 1976 Rowett Research Institute The role and activities of the SGM Rowett Research Institute Scottish Agricultural College Aberdeen Campus International Centre for Brewing and Distilling Centre (SPICe), SGM is Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Services Aberdeen how he understood the need for microbiologists. He on television during the swine ‘flu crisis in the United Moredun Research Institute followed by: Royal Society of Edinburgh Scottish Food Advisory Committee Napier University School of Life Sciences honoured to be invited to University of Aberdeen Faculty of Medicine & Medical Sciences National Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease Surveillance Unit Hugh Pennington Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Services Human and animal health issues in recognized the important part microbiology played States which led to the unnecessary vaccinations of University of Aberdeen Institute of Medical Sciences Roslin Institute University of Aberdeen School of Biological Sciences Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Scotland Scottish Agricultural Science Agency become an affiliated University of Aberdeen School of Medical Sciences Scottish Agricultural College Edinburgh Campus in Scottish life, from the earliest times through to its 40 million Americans, a loss of faith in public health Dundee Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Services Edinburgh 1325 David Onions, Bioreliance Biotech Ltd Scottish Association for Marine Science organization to the scheme. A Scottish Agricultural Science Agency Life Sciences Intermediary Technology Institute Scottish Schools Equipment Research Centre Microbiology means business – Scottish Centre for Infection & Environmental Health Scottish Crop Research Institute current role in the Scottish economy, but not forgetting To a microbiologist, justifying our subject is the easiest officialdom, and which contributed to his defeat in University of Edinburgh College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine list of expert microbiologists University of Abertay School of Contemporary Sciences biotechnology and wealth creation in University of Edinburgh Institute of Cell & Molecular Biology Scottish Colleges Biotechnology Consortium University of Dundee Faculty of Life Sciences Scotland Veterinary Laboratories Agency Lasswade the challenges posed today by microbial disease. He then the presidential election. University of Dundee Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing Scottish Crop Research Institute thing in the world. We know about its birth to death willing to be consulted has Glasgow Others 1335 Brian Austin, Heriot-Watt University 1 Bell College School of Science and Technology Scottish Microbiology Society Glasgow Caledonian University School of Life Sciences The importance of fish and marine set out some of the Scottish Executive’s approaches to life relevance to health and well-being, our food and our I concluded with Sam Goldwyn’s quote, which been added to the SPSIS 2 Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Banchory Medical Research Council Virology Unit 3 Hannah Research Institute Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health microbiology in Scotland 4 Scottish Agricultural College Ayr Campus science issues and noted that in the last spending review summarizes the problem faced by policymakers database. Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service Scottish Schools Equipment Research Centre industries, to take some obvious examples. But how 5 Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Services Ayr University of Glasgow Faculty of Biomedical & Life Sciences 1345 Question time 6 Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Services Dumfries University of Glasgow Faculty of Medicine (including Dentistry) Scottish Science Advisory Committee 7 Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Services Inverness the Executive had provided a 20 % increase in funding well-informed are our parliamentary representatives? when coping with evolutionary uncertainty; ‘making University of Glasgow Faculty of Veterinary Medicine 1350 Closing address 8 Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Services Perth If you are interested in University of Strathclyde Department of Bioscience Society for Applied Microbiology 9 Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Services St Boswells 1400 Coffee and exhibition in real terms for university research. Scotland’s first predictions is difficult, particularly about the future.’ Edinburgh 10 Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Services Thurso Society for General Microbiology The main purpose of the Microbiology Awareness becoming one of the advisers, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Edinburgh 11 Scottish Association for Marine Science Displays on relevant microbiological Forestry Commission Forest Research Agency 12 University of St Andrews School of Biology University of Edinburgh, CID themes provided by a wide range of Scottish ever integrated Science Strategy was published in 2001. Campaign Scotland was to do our best to bring them up Heriot-Watt University School of Life Sciences 13 University of Stirling Institute of Aquaculture contact Faye Jones (email Institute for Animal Health Neuropathogenesis Unit 14 University Marine Biological Station Millport organizations University of Glasgow, ICM/IBLS ‘We intend reporting on progress and updating the Strategy this to speed. [email protected]) for details.

88 MICROBIOLOGYTODAY VOL 31/MAY04 MICROBIOLOGY TODAY VOL 31/MAY04 89 Microbiology in the regions – member’s report

SGM/SfAM Joint Regional Meeting Grants aim to promote microbiology in the UK at a regional level. Information on the scheme is available at www.sgm.ac.uk

continue to be developed for an ever-increasing range of commercially important fish pathogens (e.g. for the Displays Glasgow Virology Workshop, control of ulcer disease in ornamental fish). Probiotics are The diversity of microbiology practised in Scotland was University of Glasgow, 7 February offering potential to boost appetite, improve the overall demonstrated by the following exhibitors, who all put on 2004 health of animals and confer resistance against specific fascinating displays: diseases, such as furunculosis which is caused by Aero- BioIndustry Association (Scotland) David J. Evans monas salmonicida. Yet unlike terrestrial agriculture, many probiotics considered for use in aquaculture are European Association of Fish Pathologists This one-day annual workshop, now in its 9th year, is representatives of Gram-negative bacterial taxa. As a designed to encourage scientific interactions between Fisheries Research Services the many virologists based in Scotland. However, as in curious twist, there is evidence that some are as effective National CJD Surveillance Unit previous years, members of the virology cognoscenti dead as alive. This raises the question about whether travelled from much further afield for an enjoyable day such preparations should be regarded as probiotics or Rowett Research Institute of research talks and discussions. oral vaccines (they induce innate immunity). Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Services Our tried and trusted formula consists of four For the future, marine biotechnology offers the scientific sessions, containing an eclectic mix of potential for wealth creation by the development of Scottish Agricultural Science Agency subjects, with ample time for questions and new and exciting products. Already, marine bacteria – Scottish Association for Marine Science conversation. The framework for the meeting was provided by three excellent plenary presentations inevitably from groups not usually associated with anti- Scottish Centre for Infection & Environmental microbial activity – have been found to produce novel from Professor Stuart Siddell (University of Health Bristol), Professor Ulrich Koszinowski ABOVE: pharmaceuticals, including anti-infectives [with activity Scottish Colleges Biotechnology Consortium (University of Munich) and the SGM/SfAM-sponsored Pilot whales swimming offshore in Aquatic microbiology against MRSA and vancomycin-resistant enterococci speaker, Dr Kim Green (NIH, Bethesda, USA). Tenerife. (VRE)], antiviral agents and antitumour compounds. Scottish Crop Research Institute Professor Siddell’s presentation SARS: A lesson Brian Austin Surfactants have been commercialized, of which one BOTTOM RIGHT: Scottish Microbiology Society to be learnt discussed the history, epidemiology and example is Emulsan (used to clean oil tankers), which is molecular biology of this novel virus, and emphasized Goldfish ulcer disease caused by an atypical strain of Aeromonas The UK, especially Scotland, has a long history of produced by a Gram-negative marine organism thought Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service the need for both constant vigilance and scientists salmonicida. research and teaching/training in aquatic microbiology. to be an Acinetobacter. This product has the added benefit Scottish Schools Equipment Research Centre versed in conducting fundamental research to help For example Dr Jimmy Shewan, late of the Torry of allowing the recovery of heavy metals, such as uranium combat future threats. Koszinowski’s talk Evasion, PHOTOS B. AUSTIN Research Station in Aberdeen, was a force behind the from wastes. Consideration has been given to the use of Scottish Science Advisory Committee subversion, modulation: functions affecting the virus host interface illustrated powerful techniques to development of modern marine microbiology in the UK bacteria to degrade the hydrocarbons in crude oil spills, Society for Applied Microbiology modify the murine gammaherpesvirus genome, and by emphasizing fish spoilage microbiology and what although it seems unrealistic to expect any culture to University of Edinburgh Centre for Infectious the insights that can be obtained by combining such would now be described as an understanding of the make much headway against some of the more dramatic Diseases in vitro approaches with a tractable animal model biodiversity (=taxonomy) of bacteria in the sea. Jimmy and extensive oil slicks which have occurred recently system. By way of a contrast, Dr Green described the was a noted teacher, and, among his other accomplish- around the world’s coastline. University of Glasgow ICM/IBLS. problems encountered in studying replication of certain ments, directed the postgraduate research activities of The developments are certainly exciting – what will caliciviruses which cannot be propagated in culture the future have in store? in her presentation entitled Models for the study of aspiring microbiologists, including John Liston, who calicivirus replication. subsequently departed our shores for the USA, and in TOP: turn trained Rita Colwell (the former Director of the Acknowledgements Interspersed with these were a dozen shorter Dr Kim Green, National Institutes of presentations on subjects as wide-ranging as the Health, Bethesda, USA. National Science Foundation, USA). Rita has continued The Society is grateful to all contributors to the Campaign event, epidemiology of Menangle virus in pigs and fruit bats, the trend by training many of the current generation of especially the speakers and exhibitors. Thanks are also due to HIV infection of CD8 lymphocytes and the evolution BOTTOM: marine microbiologists worldwide. Willie Russell for his invaluable efforts behind the scenes and for of the herpesvirus genome. These talks from Glasgow, Nicola Stock receives her Researchers have featured pollution microbiology much useful advice. Edinburgh, St Andrew’s and Dundee reflected the SGM/SfAM Microbiology and in particular the fate of pathogens in the aquatic broad range of active virology research in Scotland. Communication Prize certificate environment, with the current debate centring on the Many of these presentations were by younger from David Evans. state of these organisms, i.e. are they culturable or non- researchers and, thanks to the generosity of the SGM/SfAM, could be considered for the Microbiology PHOTOS D. EVANS culturable/dormant/damaged/senescent? Interest in Communication Prize. Despite the very high standard fish spoilage continues with the recent observation of presentation by all eligible speakers, the judges had in Heriot-Watt University that changes in technique no hesitation in deciding that Nicola Stock should (use of different woods) can extend the life of smoked receive the award for her talk Paramyxovirus V fish without impacting on flavour or texture, and reduce proteins and the interferon response. Nicola, a the survival of bacterial pathogens such as Listeria final year PhD student with Professor Rick Randall in St Andrew’s, completed a memorable day by also monocytogenes. Ironically, such woods contain compounds winning the prize draw on the Qiagen trade stand. which are effective against multiple-antibiotic-resistant strains of human pathogens, such as methicillin-resistant The 150 registrants continued their socializing at a wine reception, before braving the cold and snow of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). a raw February Glasgow evening! On-going work on fish pathology has led to the David Evans is Reader in Virology at the recognition of new pathogens (e.g. Pasteurella skyensis) University of Glasgow, UK. and developments in disease control strategies. Vaccines

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