SGMHeadquarters MarlboroughHouse, Articles BasingstokeRoad, Spencers Wood,Reading RG7 l AG Clinicalmicrobiology:a new golden age? Tel. 011BgBB1800 StephenGillespie Fax 01 189885656 Whatmakes a pathogen? emailmtoday@sg m.ac.uk C,Anthony Hart & CraigWinstanley SGMWebsite http:./wwwsgm.ac.uk Theenemy within - hospital-acquired, antibiotic- Editor resistantbacteria Peter Hawkey Dr MerielJones Fungalinfections in the immunocompromised EditorialBoard MarcMendelson ProfessorDave Kelly 10 Dr LynneMacaskie Theuse of moleculartechniquesto detect antimicrobial ManagingEditor resistanceinclinical bacterial isolates Janet Hurst Ad C,Fluit&Franz-Josef Schmib. 1At+ Produc{ion Editor lanAtherton Howtechnology drives pathogen d iscovery PauI Kellam& Robin Assistant Editor and A, Weiss to Book Review Manager {n Microbiology before Pasteur M i lto n Wai n w ri g ht It, JaniceMeekings parasites - Gontributions Protozoan inthe UK causefor concern? These are alwayswelcome and TimMcHugh oo shouldbe addressedto the Editor (c/o SGM Headquarters). GopyDates Last dates for receiptof copy Regular Features at MarlborouohHouse are: SocietyNews oeneral uoDV Mav2001issue2Aoril November Counci IMeeting 24 August2O0l issue29 May Nominationsfor Members of Council 24 Advertisements (CRC) Above:The risein (pp.1 - 15) describe how NewYearsHonours 24 May2001 issue30April OA hospital-acouired i nfection. newmethods can speed up NewontheSGMwebsite z+ August200 1 issue 25 June Howserious is the ihreat to theirdetection, StaffNews OA Advertisements ourhealth care? NewGroup Conveners 24 Allenquiiesshould be sentto: Fungalinfections are Co urle sy Larry M ulve h i I | / Grants 25 Julie Lauder,NWH Sales Ltd, alsoa causefor concern, SciencePhoto Library SGMPrizes 26 TheArcadeChambers, particularlyinthe immuno- The Arcade,Aldershot, on compromised,as Marc Electionsto Grou p Comm ittees 200'l ZI Hampshire,GUll lEE Vol.28,Part 1, (pp, Tel.01 252 357000 February2OOl Mendelsonshows GoingPublic Fax0 1252 35700 1 10-13) and Tim McHugh PublicUnderstanding of Science Award report - [email protected] Inthis issue we celebrate coversthe risks from TheFungalVillage Mike Milner 28 the birthof the new Subscriptions 2OOl SGM protozoanparasites in the ScienceWorld-from medicinetomedia Chris Smith 30 NON-N/EMBERS ClinicalMicrobiology Group, UK(pp,22-23). M ic rob ioI ogy TodayS50.00 ConvenerStephen Gillespie Gradline (us$85.00) Pasteurdidnot startsthe ballrolling with an makeall NewInternational Masters Programme in Biotechnology 31 thesignificant N/EMBERS overviewof the science and discoveriesin Soapboxl 31 All members receiveMicrobiology microbiology, whatthenew group hopes As Milton Ajobin . .. SciencePolicy Today.ln addition they may take Wainwrightshows(pp. journals. to achieveon p.3. any of the Society's 19-21) manyimportant Meetings 34 Ordinary Member Theimportance of modern microbeswereknown MembershipSubscription (inc. Hotoffthe Press 36 M ic rob io I o gy Today) 5,40.00 moleculartechnioues in beforeh is fermentation (us$70.00) advancingour knowledge studieswere carried out. Reviews 40 MicrobiologySTO.0O (US$1 35.00) of pathogensand howthey Othertopicsinclude AddressBook 43 JGvS70.00(us$ 1 35.00) workis emohasized in howto (US$ tJsEM t7 O.OO 135.00) severalarticles. Tonv Hart havefun with fungi in the SGMStaff 44 Student or Retired Member northof England(pp, andCraig Winstanley MembershipSubscription (inc. 28-29),promoti g Diary 47 investigatewhy some n science M ic rob io I o g y Tod ay) 5.20.00 onthe radio(p,30) and a (us$33.00) microbesare harmfulon pp, Comment 48 previewofthe main M icrob i ol ogy 135.00 (US$65.00) 4-6, whilstPaul Kellam ano JGvS35.00 (US$65.00) RobinWeiss(pp.16-18) symposiumat the Society's tJsEM s7 O.OO(US$ 135.00) showhow new pathogens springmeeting on the Undergraduate Member threatsfrom Other ltems arebeing discovered. virusinfections MembershipSubscription (inc. (p.33).Last but not least on Letters MicrobiologyToda, S 10,00 PeterHawkeytakes a look p.39we welcomenews of Meetingpreview - Newchallenges to health:thethreat The viewsexpressed by atoneof the knottiest oursister organization inthe of virusinfection Geoff Smith contributorsare not necessarily problemsfacing clinical USA-the Societyfor 33 those of the Society;nor can the microbiologists- antibiotic- Introducing claimsof advertisersbe IndustrialMicrobiology. theSociety for I nd ustrial M icrobiology resistantbacteria - KristienMortelmans guaranteed. These 39 highlightinginfections articlesappear in O 2001 TheSocietyfor General additionto acquiredin hospital (pp, alltheregular Microbiology;ISSN: 1 464-0570 features reoods 7-9) andAd C.Fluit and and of Desig n : Grap h i cs Inte rnati o nal Societyactivities, Franz-JosefSchmitz l'T

ffireprmr*ww m# ffim ffiwmm# ffiffiWmw$qeruW€w#mH W#mkry,mmwwsmm#reffifumDearEditor exception,citing O Dr C.C.Kbbler MA Manchesteras an We arewriting, on behalf FRCPFRCPath, Chair Dear Editor example,having three of the BritishSocietyfor British Societyfor medicallyqualified Whilelenjoyed the article by Don Cowan and Monica MedicalMycology, in MedicalMicrobiology individuals with research (M 27, 17 4- 177) in which responseto the articleby Grady ic ro b i o I ogy Today interestsin the fieldof Training Working Party TonyTrinciin the August theydiscussed panspermia, Ifeel that they might have medicalmycology, O Professor R.l. Hay 2000 issueof vour givenmore emphasis to the role played by Hoyle and Manchesteris certain ly DM FRCPFRCPath, magazine (M iirobiot ogy thisidea respectable (to an activemedical Wickramasingheinmaking Today27,115).We are Presidentof the British mycologyresearch theircredit they provide a referenceto theseauthors). delightedthat he has Societyfor Medical centreand indeed there AlthoughLord Kelvin is usually considered to have highlightedthe Microbiology areseven or so such thefirst to espouse the scientific view of importanceof fungito been academicfoci around the man,particularlythe panspermia(during the late 1 BBOs), itwas Hoyle and UK, but,regrettably, there increasingmorbidity and References Wickramasinghe,through their popular books and arefewer andfewer mortalitycausedby papers,who have made it atruly credible trainedmycologists in 1. Ainscough, S.,Barnes, scientific invasive f ungal i nfection, the servicesector. As R., Gant, V., Gransden, hypothesis. U nf ortu n ately, these two astro nome r- Theannual incidence of the articlestates, we mathematicianshave gone the way of manyheretics candidaemiain the UK is \7.R.,Holliman,R., areseeing increasing whosufferfrom being labelled as'mad'onlyto find now 11.2 oer 1000 beds McCrae,8., Perry,J., numbersof immuno- one-time (1 a figuresimilarto that Wilson,J., Schelenz,S. & themselveswritten out of the storywhen the ), compromisedpatients 'lunacies'are foundin the USwhere Kibbler, C.C. (2000).Blood transmutedinto orthodox science. Since as a consequenceof Candidasoeciesare the streaminfections due to wetalk aboutthe Darwin-Wallace theory of evolution, advancesin medicalcare, fourth commonestisolate Candi da speciesin England theoryof butthisis not being linked whynot the Hoyle-Wickramasinghe from bloodcultures (2). and \7ales: Data from the with the inf rastructu re panspermia? Similarly,the incidenceof ECMMepidemiological neededto managetheir invasiveaspergillosis has surveyof candidaemiain Bythe way,I am lookingforward to the daywhen infectiouscorn ol ications, increased1 4-fold overa Europe.Abstract. European their otherheresies become acceptable, namely that decadein Europe(3) and We welcomeProfessor Confederationof Medical influenzaand other diseases arrive on earthf rom rnsome groups, sucn as Trinci'scallto forge Mycology meeting, influencedby spaceand that evolution has been thoseundergoing strongerlinks with fellow Barcelona,November 2000. DNAoriginating f rom the samesource. allogeneicbone marrow societieswith an interest transplantation,the in mycology(although we 2. Fridkin, S.K. &Jarvis, Molecular O Milton Wainwright, Department of mortalityis in excessof wouldoointoutthatour $f.R. ( 1996).Epidemiology Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, 90 o/o(4), societywas renamed ofnosocomial fungal . Sheffield S102TN someyears ago and is infections. CI in M iro bio I Reu Thedecline of mycology, no longerknown as the 9,499-51L. whichforms the subiect BritishSocietyfor of ProfessorTrinci's- 3. Groll, A.H., Shah, P.M., Mycopathologyl)and, for article,also concerns us Mentzei, C., Schneider, example,we are in active greatly,We haveseen the M.,Just-Nuebling,G. & discussionswith the numbersof senior BritishMycological Huebner, K.(1996). mycologists i nvolved with Societyand other Trends in the postmortem servicework inthe UK organizationswith epidemiology of invasive graduallyfall over the last mycological i nterests. A fungal infections at a decade,such that there strongacademic base is university ho spital.J I nfut 33, are now fewerthan 10 essentialto sustainthe 23-32. left andthree of these are speciality,but we needto expectedto retirein the 4. Denning, D.W. & f inda wayof encouraging nexteight years (5), Stevens,D.A. (1990). scientistsinto the service ProfessorTrinci Antifungal and surgical sectorby providing makesthe pointthat treatment of invasive adequatetraining deoartmentsof programmesano a aspergillosisreview of 2,121 microbiology do notfeel suitablecareer structu re. published cases.Reu lnfea Dis the needto re-appoint Withoutthesea T2.rr47-r20r. mycologiststo theirstaff downwardsoiral is oncethey havegone, 5. Kibbler, C. & Hamilton, inevitable,butwe aimto However,he feelsthat A. (2000).Medical mycology proveProfessorTrinci medicalmycology is an in theUnited Kingdom: time wrongin believingthat it to stop the dry rot. Comruun may be too late to reverse Dis P ubl Healtb 3. 80-81. thisdecline.

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Largenumbers of It is estimated that each adult human is micro-organisms made up ofapproximately lgr4 cells. However, inhabitthehuman only 10 7o of these are human, the remainder body,In most cases make up the normal flora that coar our body surfaces ournormalflora inside and out. Although the majority ofthe normal flora isbeneficial or arcl:,acte ia, other kingdoms are present. Vruses, such as most of the herpesviruses, harmless,Tonv papovaviruses, adenoviruses and even HIV, can be present for long periods without Hartand Craio overt \ilZhether l^r.v disease. they are truly Wrnstanley normal flora is a explore moot point. All of us carry avariety of fungi, including whysome microbes Candida and Male:sazia spp. \(/e can asymptomatically arepathogenic, excrete ptotozoa, including various Entanoeba and Tricbomonasspp. as well as more complex parasites such as Endolimax ndnd, Taenia saginata (Fig. 1) or even Enterobiusspp. S7e also play host to insecrs such as the follicle mite, Demodexfollicularis (Fig. 2). Clearly we are all walkine zoos. In most casesour normal flora is beneficial and absence of, or major changes in normal floraarcdetrimental. The site of colonization to contiguous areas of normally majority of the intestinal normal flora are anaerobic sterile tissue, often as a result ofsurgery or intestinal bacteria and they also contribute greatly to non_specific perforation. In contrast, aerobic bacteria such asNeisseria immunity in producing colonization resistance, by meningitidis, Haemopbilus influenzae and Streptococcus competing for receptors and producing antimicrobial pneumoniae which colonize the upper airways, and compounds. It is now clear that early intestinal Escbericbia RIGHT: coli and salmonella enterica which inhabit the colonization of newborn children by Bacteroides i,,,,I Follicle fragilis intestine, have a gfear pfopensity to rurn from harmless mites is important in maturarion of humoral immunity. commensals COURIESYI HARI 'normal' into ravening pathogens. Our under_ Thus these bacteria are also essential for the standing of what makes a pathogen and the mechanisms development of one arm of the BELOW: specific immune sysrem. used to subvert normal human 'i cellular activities has , t:,; , The intestine is the major reservoir of normal flora and increased exponentially over the last decade. A mandemonstrating hisown beel it is no coincidence that 7O% of the immune cells in E. co/i is the major aerobic Gram-negative bacterium tapeworm. the human body reside here. Although rhere are in the intestinal REPRINTEDWITHPER[/ISSION FROM normal flora, [we excrete about 107 competenr pathogens such as B. and Clostridium DIAOIIOSISIIICOIOUR' MIOICAL fragilis colony forming units (c.f.u.) per gram of faecesl.It is (I perfringens among the normal MICROBIOIOOYHART& P SHEARS flora, anaerobes tend estimated that E . coli and S. enterica 1996M0SBYW0LFE) diverged some 100 to produce disease onlyr when they move from their million years ago, whereas man has been developing for a mere 1.5 million years.The majority of the differences between the two genefa result from acquisition of large tracts of DNA termed loops, or genomic islands. Some islands encode metabolic functions, some antibiotic or other resistances and others ate involved in pathogenicity (pathogenicity islands, pI). pls can be found in pathogens (but not their non_pathogenic variants), both Gram-positive and Gram_negative bacteria,and in animais and plants. These islands contain 20-40 open reading frames (ORFs), many of which are similar in PIs in different Gram-negative pathogens. They have G + C molTo ratios different from the rest of the chromosome, are often inserted in proximiry to IRNA genes (implying that their acquisition might be mediated by bacteriophages) and can be unstable. In Gram-negative bacteria, some pls encode a secretion system (type III or IV) that is used to deliver effector molecules directly inro or onto host cells (Thbles I and 2). The discovery of PIs and their secretion systems has ushered in a new and exciting era in bacteriology and is transforming our understanding of microbial patho_ genesis. It is now clear thatthere is extensive biochemical

E$!rr$$+.l.iir+i#tr$i+;&il"jij3#TTODAYVOL2B/FEBOI cross-talk between the bacteria and their target enteropathogenic E. coli (EPB,C) or Pseudomonassyringae) eukaryotic hosts, encoded by the PIs and delivered by or a needle-complex (e.g. in S. enterica or Sbigella theirsecretionsystems f!t:neri).In each casethe surface structures are used to inject effector molecules through the eukaryotic plasma It;Typelllsecretionsystems(fiS) membrane or, in the case of internalized bacteria, TTS are assembled and disassembled according to through endocytotic vacuoles. The TTS structural the environmental conditions in which the bacterium proteins are highly conserved between pathogens. is placed. For example, in uitro, removal of Ca2* or For example, we were able to delineate the TTS of change in temperature have been known to initiate TTS Burkholderia pseudomallelby using probes from the TTS assembly in Yersinia and Bordete/la spp., respectively. of the plant patho gen Ralstonia solanacearum.However, ln uiuo,it is likely rhat conract with the eukaryotic host by using experiments to trans-complement mutations cell is the trigger. TTS are made up of over 20 proteins in TTS, at least three families have been delineated, thar assemble to make a channel from the bacterial typified by those related to the Ysc (Yersinia secretion) cytoplasm through both cell membranes to the exterior TTS and to the Salmonellapathogenicity islands I and 2 and a surface structure which can be pilus-like [e.g. in (SPI- 1 and 2). Some of the proteins of TTS resemble Table 1. Examplesof TTS Bacterium Geneticlocation Effector[sf Etfectonhostcell Bisease Plantpathogens I Erwiniaamylwora ChromosomeHrpN Hypersensitiveresponse Soft-rot,Fire blight necrosis I PseudomonassyringaeChromosome Harpins Hypersensitiveresponse Bacterialspeck I Xanthomonascanpestris Chromosome Harpins Hypersensitiveresponse Bacterialspot (tomato peppe| J RalstoniasolanacearunPlasmid PopAl Hypersensitiveresponse Bacterialwilt(potato) I Rhinbiunsps. Plasmid Y4xL,NoLX Nodulation Symbiont Animalpathogens I Budetellabrlnchiseptica Chromosome ProductsofbopD, bopV Induction ofapoptosis Kennelcough (dogs and cats) Bsc22 lnactivationotNFr-B Atrophicrhinitis (pigs) I BurkholderiapseudonalleiChromosome Unknown Unknown [/lelioidosis I ChlanydiapsittacfChromosome Unknown Unknown Atypicalpneumonia f E|-|EC,EPECT ChromosomeTir, Esps Ownreceptor(Tir) Diarrhoea CytoskeletalrBarrangement f PseudononasaeruginlsaChromosome ExotoxinsS,T,UY ADPribosylation, cytotoxicity 0pportuni$pathogen I Salmonelkenterica(SPll)Chromosome Sops,Sips Enterocyteinvasron Dianhoea Inductionofapoptosis J Salnonellaenterica(SPl-2)Chromosome SpiC Invasionintotissues Diarrhoea,Septicaemia l shigellaspp Plasmid lpas Membranerufflingapoptosis Dysentery Phagosomelysis,cellinvasion I Yersiniaspp, Plasmid Yops Cytotoxic,F-actindisruption Plague,Diarrhoea Inhibitionofphagocytosis .See'HotoffthePresslp.36.tEHEC,Enterohaemorrhagic E,col|EPEC,enteropathogenicE.coli. l?able 2. Examples of TFS Bacterium Secretedstructures Actiuityinhostcell Disease Plantpathogens I Ag ro bacte riu n tun ef ac ie n s T-DNA,VirE2, VirF 0ncogenesis Crowngall Animalpathogens I Bartonellaspp, Unknown lntracellularsurvival Cat-scratchfever,0roya fever, Trench fever I Bordetellapertussis Pertussisloxin ADPribosylalion ofGTP-binding proteins Whoopingcough I Brucellasuis Unknown lntracellularsurvival Brucellosis 1 HelicobacterWlori CagAprotein Ho$cell cytoskeletal rearran gement Ga$ritis,Peptic ulcer. Gastric carcinoma I Legionellapneunophila Unknown Survivalandgrowth inmacrophages Pneumonia(Legionnaire's disease) J Rickettsiaprowuekii Unknown Intracellular survival Louse-bornetyphus I Wolbachiaspp, Unknown Unknown 0bligateendosymbiont ofinsects andfilaria

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RIG HT: those of flagella assembly i,i1.,y. Electron micrograph sysrems which the rerm is reserved for 0TjeJu|lat mucosa with may give a closely secretion adherentEPEC that have prod-uced clue as to their evolution_ sysrems built localizedeffacement ofthe brush ary origin. from componenrs of border conjugation Twobacteria have also TTS are used to secrere machinery. penetratedinside the enterocyte,effector macromolecules Interestingly, TFS can COURIESYI HART export powered by ATp. The largenucleoprotein genes for such effectors complexes (e.g. T_DNA ftom can be found on rhe same Agrobacteriurt turne_ PI as rhe TTS, on different faci ens),A/B subunit toxins (e.g. PIs or even in entirely pertussistoxin from Bordete//a different regions of thl pertussis) and bacterial chromosome. monomeric proteins (e.g. CagA Indeed, SopE, which is from Helicobacter secreted by pylori). the TTS encoded on SpI_1, is encoded on a Pertussistoxin hasfive B (toxophore) crypric P2-iike phage. How synthesis subunitsand one and secrerion are A unit with ADp ribosylation co-ordinated with the acriviry similar to both assembly ofthe TTS is nor enrirely diphtheria clear and choleratoxins. The A and B but it is known to involve a new subunits type of small are delivered by a cytosoiic chaperone rwo_srepprocess. They are first which may also act as a pilot to transported across the inner membrane attachthe effector molecule to the and then cytoplasmic end of the assemblein the TTS. periplasmicspace before being trans_ ported across In general the outermembrane. the effectormolecules can be classified CagA is a monom eric I45 kDaprotein as those with enzymic activity, those encodedon rhe that affect the cagpathogenicity island cytoskeletonand those of H. pylori. It is secretedby a that interferewith intraceliular TFS.and inducessignal trunsdrction in signalling. The enzymic activities include gastric cells, phospho_ resulting in tyrosinephosphorylation tyrosinephosphatases (e.g. yopH jn yersiniao, of itself and other Spil ln proteinsadjacent to bacteriai Sa hnone / /a), serine-threonine yopO), attachment.It alsoappears kinase(e. g. inositol to lead r phosphate to cytoskeletal rcarransemenrswhich phosphatase(SopB), AOp_rlbosyltrurrrferur. migit be I p. responsiblefor the attaching_effacement in aeruginosa)and, adenylate activity also I !n1oT cyclase(Exoy). induced by H. pylori. I Effectson Further reading the cyroskeletoninclude stimulation leading to pinocytosis (sipA, sopE and Christie, PJ. & Vogel,J.p. IpaA in salnonerla anl W*Conclusions (2000). Shigella) and disruption leading Bacterialtype IV ro cyroroxicity or From the foregoing inhibition we hope it is apparent that medical secretion;conjugation ofphagocytosis(e.g. yopn, yopH, yopT or bacteriology has entered ExoS).Those a new unje*citing era. It poses ,/ systemsadapted to deliver interfering with intracellularrigrr"lfro; great challenges ro medical microbiologists effectormolecules to host include Yopp, which inhibits the in thai not transcriptional ohly do we need cells. go g, acrivaror to have understanding of microbial l* TrendsMi bi o/ NFr-B and the mitogen_activatedprotein disease and molecular microbiology, 354-350. kinases(MAPK), ERK1/2, p381nd but also of JNK. This leads mammalian cell biology. to z. decreasedexpression However, the rewards will be Mecsas,J.& Strauss,EJ. of TNF_o and other pro_ great, inflammatory perhaps resulting in new antibacterial l$ (1996).Molecular cytokines, thus dampening agents, the vaccines and inflammatory vaccine delivery sysrems, and new mechanismsof bacterial response.Recently rhe TTS insiehts i$ of Bordete/la into how ouf own cells virulence:Type III broncbiseptica, work. secretion which causesatrophic rhinitis has been andpathogenicity islands. shown ro secrete effectorswhich both inhibit NFr_B EnergI nfectD is 2, 27 O ProlessorTonyHart is Headof l-2gg. activatio n andi nd uceapoptosi s. (S the SipB a/ mo n e I Ia) and its Departmentof Medical Smith, homologue (S Microbiotogyand /# W. & others (2000). IpaB bi get/a) bind,o .rrp"r. I and induce Ge.n ito ur i n ary M edi ci n e an The activitiesof bacterial apoptosis.Finally, one ofthe d Dr Crii g Win stan I ey effectorssecreted by the is Lecturerin Molecular pathogensin uiuo.pbilot Trans TTS in EPEC is Tir (transferable Bacteriotog; in the same intimin receptor).This Department,tJ R50c355,547-712. insertsinto the nivers-ityof Liverpoii, DauIby IH host-cellmembrane and acts as a feceptof S/ree[ LiverpootL6g Spratt,B.G.(1998). for inrimin, a prorein SGA. on rhe surfaceof EpEC, Jhus Tel.Ol 51 Resurgent/emergenr facilitating T064SBt ; FaxOlSt 706 SBOS; lff intimate attachmentthat is the hallmark of emai I cahm m infectiousdis eases.Br attaching-effacement @live rpoo l.ac. u k 1$ Med inducedin enterocytesby EpEC lffi Bull 54,52t-7 6i. (Fig.3). \il/instanley, lff C. & Hart, C.A. (2001).Type III secretion # TypelVsecretion systems (TFS) systems and parhogeniciry Originally a family of sec_dependentur.u.rurrpomers, islands.J Med Microbiol Gn incJuding the IgA 1 proreasesofpathogen press). ic Neisseriaspp'. l$ and H. influenzaewere classified as-TFS.Nowadays, l E fu$##ffi#ffi##L#ffiYTODAYVOL2B/FEBO I 1 Theenemywithin- hospital-acq u i rcd, antibiotic- resistant bacteria PeterHawkey

It is perhaps ironic that the recognition of the This was effectively terminated when the isoxyl Thebattle against aetiology of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) penicillins, resistant to penicillinase, such as cloxacillin, therise of hospital- infection was by the surgeon and self-taught were introduced. The subsequent development of both acquiredinfections microbiologist,Joseph Lister. In 1865, at the Edinburgh intensive care and treatment for cancersin the 1960s and causedby Royal Infirmary, the mortality following amputation ofa 1970s created a new group ofvulnerable patients prone antibiotic-resistant limb was 43 %, the principal cause of death being to infection caused by Gram-negative bacteia such as bacterial sepsis. Mortality was reduced to single figures P seudornonas aeru ginos a, K I ebs ie I I a pneumoni ae and Serrat i a micro-organismsis by the introduction of the antiseptic phenol spray which marcesens(Fig. 1). The heavy use of gentamicin in turn oneof the major bathed the operative site and the use ofpost-operative drove the emergence of resistancemediated by amino- challengesfaced dressings of phenol. Such was the impact of this medical glycoside-inactivating enzymes, which by virtue of bymicrobiologists breakthrough that he was the first member of the being located on transposons, integrons and plasmids today.Peter 'epidemics' medical profession to be elevated to the Peerage as Lord resulted in of resistance genes spreading Hawkeytakes a Lister ofLyme. amongst different speciesand genera. The availability for lookat the problem Quite quickly, antiseptic surgery passedout offashion the first time of molecular techniques for plasmid anddiscusses how to be replaced by aseptic surgery, championed in the UK isolation and visualization, restriction endonuclease itmay be tackled in by surgeons such as Lawson Tait. The subsequent fingerprinting/ mapping of plasmids and Southern thefuture, introduction of effective antimicrobial therapy further blotting with DNA probes enabled molecular dramatically reduced the incidence and importance of epidemiology studies to be undertaken to identify nosocomial infection. antibiotic resistancegene flow. This problem of nosocomial Gram-negative bacterial #kTherise of nosocomial infections infections in hospitals was countered by the recognition The emergence in the late 19)0s of strains of that the bacteia were surviving as transient flora on the Stapby locorcusaureus resistant to penicillin, erythromycin, hands ofmedical and nursing staff. The development and tetracycline and chloramphenicol, which also were good application of handwashing using either aqueous or at surviving and spreading in hospitals, such as phage alcoholic disinfectant preparations (those containing type 80/81 , led to a sharp rise in morbidity and mortality. chlorhexidine or triclosan being favoured) were instrumental in controlling the problem. In addition, the early 1980s saw the introduction of extended spectrum cephalosporins, such as cefotaxime and ceftazidime, which had good activity against these multi-resistant nosocomial Gram-negative bacteria. It is perhaps far from coincidental that with rapidly increasing use of these antibiotics in hospitals (they were only available parenterally) the incidence of infection caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus(MRSA) rose progressively in most countries with a developed or semi-developed hospital healthcare system.

,EMRSA The rise of MRSA in the last decade and a half has been spectacular and demonstrates the threat from antibiotic- resistant bacteria. There has also been a similar but smaller increase in infections caused by methicillin- sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), primary blood stream LEFT: nosocomial infections increasing in the USA twofold 1;i**.?. Typicalintensive care between 1980 and 1989. Also, in the USA in1981,5% unitpatient. Aportal ofentry for of all isolates of S. aureusat alarge teaching hospital were nosocomialbacteria isthe MRSA; by 1997 38 7o weremethicillin-resistant. endotrachealtubeproviding the artificialventilation (tracheal Methicillin resistance is conferred on strains by secretionsarebeing removed by the possession of a chromosomal copy of modified suction,another potential route for penicillin-binding protein, PBP2a. This protein has a infection)Intra-vascular lines low affinity for most B-lactam antibiotics (including providinghydration, nutrition and a isoxyl penicillins such as flucloxacillin and nafcillin) routefor drug adminlstration are thenext most important portal of and therefore mediates cross-resistance to all such entryThe temperature (Bennett) compounds. The mecA and associated genes are not probeisvisible atthe Y piece ofthe frequently found to be transfe tted in uiuo, althottgh muA ventilatortubing.

$l*.s$+*tj,g*"{"ffi$#fl"4}*BYTOIIIIYVOL2B/FEBOIE is carried on a transposon. It seems likely that the gene examples of identical genotypes arising by convergent has transferred into several clonal lines of S. aureus, evolution from different wild type genes. There are although some hold the view that all of the clones seen currently some 80 or so types of TEM gene and nearly today have descended from a common ancestor. Different 30 SHV genes researched(see wwwlahey,hitchcock.org/ countries and geographical areas have different clones pages/ lhc/ stu d ies,/webt, htm). (recognizable by the digestion of genomic DNA using In an effort to treat hospitalized patients with these the restriction endonucleaseSmaland display of the large infections caused by multi-resistant Gram-negative fragments by pulse field gel electrophoresis). bacilli, many physicians have increased usage of At the moment the most successful clones seen in carbapenem antibiotics. Inevitably, the bacterial the UK are EMRSA ('Epidemic'MRSA) 15 and 16. In population demonstrates a resilient response and contrast, the clones seen in France are quite different, resistance has developed via two unpredicted routes. By although some other clones have spread acrosscontinents overexpressing certain types of B-lactamase normally (e.g. South America and Europe). The reasonsfor this are encoded on the chromosome, but now mobilized not altogether clear, but undoubtedly the ability of onto plasmids (e.g. CMY), low levels of resistance to different strains to survive both at caniage sites and in drugs such as imipenem are seen. Although these the environment, as well as their abilitv to colonize new levels of B-lactamase are too low to allow clinically patients is important. significant resistance, when combined with the loss There is no evidence that MRSA strains areper se mote of an outer-membrane protein (porin), clinically pathogenic than MSSA. Most surveys show that >50% significant levels of resistance are seen, resulting in of MRSA are also resistant to aminoglycosides, fluoro- treatment failure. More sinister has been the appearance quinolones, macrolides and lincosamides. This multiple in widely dispersed locations around the globe in the last resistance undoubtedly allows cross-selection by year or so of zinc-dependent B-lactamases (IMP2-4, antimicrobial agents other than isoxyl penicillins. VIMl and2) related (by nucleic acid sequence) to the Delays in therapy also expand the number of patients highty transmissible enzyme IMP-1 first seen inJapan acting as reservoirs. Therapy invariably involves more than 10 years ago, but which has not spread outside vancomycin, heavy usage of which has probably led to of that country. These genes are often plasmid-associated the pre-eminence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci and capable of moving from one replica onto another (vRE). because of carciage as integrons. S. aureus is probably the most common cause of nosocomial infections and represents a huge challenge to ffiIntensivecare units (lCUs) the medical and scientific community. A recent study has Modern medical techniques have produced patients shown that primary nosocomial blood stream infections highly vulnerable to nosocomial infection who are result in an approximate threefold increase in direct cost managed in areasof the hospital where antibiotic usage (mean cost US$27,000) compared with those due to is particularly high. Intensive care unit patients are MSSA(US$9,600). particularly susceptible to infection with antibiotic- resistant bactefia by virtue of invasive procedures such # Problemswith Gram-negativebacteria as artificial ventilation and intravascular lines (Fig. 1). As if these problems with Gram-positive pathogienswere Some bacteria, such as Pseudornonalspp. and Acinetobacter not enough, the heavy usage of extended spectrum baumannii, have become highly significant pathogens in cephalosporins has resulted in the selection of an this group. Treatment can be extremely di{ficult because interesting and growing problem caused by Gram- they often caffy ahttge anay of resistance mechanisms. negative bacteria canying the so-called extended Studies such as the EPIC study (a one day in l))2 point spectrum B-lactamases(ESBLs). These arise by mutation prevalue study of infections in ICUs in different and alteration of one or two amino acids in TEM and European countries, including neady 1500 units) SHV plasmid-mediated B-lactamases. The extended showed that ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) spectrum cephalosporins had been specifically designed accounted for nearly halfofthe ICU infections. to be stable to degradation by the unmutated forms of these enzymes. The amino acid substitutions allow the # Combating the problem extended spectrum cephalosporins ro gain accessto the The microbiologistcan help reducethis burdenof active site of the enzyme as well as enhancing the rate of infection in several ways. The development of hydrolysis of the substrate. These enzymes are generally rapid molecular typing methods basedon PCR has 'reaI-time' recognized by the fact that they are inhibited by brought the prospectof investigation of 'conventionai' plasmid-mediated B-lactamaseinhibitors, environmentaland patient sourcesof infection, and of such as clavulanic acid. The comparative easewith which routesof transmission.An exampleof such a successful mutation can lead to resistance and the evolution of investigation is shown in Fig. 2 and Table 1. ESBLs has been shown in a number of studies with Improvements in both the accu.racyand speedof anti-

E ffi$#ffi#ffi B#h#ffiYIODAYVOL2B/FEBO1 microbial susceptibility testing may in the future bring the prospect of being able to use antimicrobials more precisely. The clinical input from microbiologists is also crucial in main- taining appropriate levels of antimicrobial usage in all areas of the hospital. Microbiology laboratories, by processing routine specimens and performing LEFI: antimicrobial sensitivity i:i14".i:" Repetitive element testing, form the front primer(REP)-PCR profiles of line of surveillance Acinetobacte r spp. strai ns isolated for antibiotic resistance froman outbreak of cross-infection -6 and therefore are the inan intensive care unit. Lanes 1 'intelligence' arepatient infections and7-1 2 are servicein the environmentalisolates. Table 1 battle against nosocomial showsthe source ofthe isolates infection. Aninadequate disinfection regime forthe Bennett temperature probes 4hWhatdoes wasshown tobe the cause. lmprovingthedisinfection thefuture hold? procedureeliminated theoutbreak Increasingmobility of the world population and Perhaps it does not look hopeful, but with the theopportunityforthefasterspreadofresistancegenesnecessary political and professionalwill the battle An ageingpopulation with increasedexpectations of againstnosocomial infection cannot just be joined but complexhealth care eventurned in the favour of mankind. If we loseit, the consequencesfor healthcare will beserious indeed' Better environmentsfor antibiotic-resistantnoso- comialbacteria to flourish in o peter Hawkey BSc M B BS M D FRCpath is Increasingaddiction to antibiotics by both patients professor of Medical Microbiology, Division of - and physicians particularly in some developing Microbiology,schootof BiochemistryandMolecular industrial societies , Biology, tJniversity of Leeds, Leeds LS2 gJT An apparent increasein the rate of emergenceof Tel.01 13 233 5597; Fax 01 13 233 5649; novelantibiotic resistancemechanisms email p.m.hawkey@ leeds.ac.uk

Table l. Sources and prcperties of the Acinefficbrspp Gausing an IGU oufbrealq shown in Fig. 2 [ane Speeimen* Dateof isolation Site REP-PCRprofile 1 Acinetobacterbaumannii1/5/93 Sputum 1 2 Acinetobaderbaumannii 117193 Trachealsecretion 1 3 Acinetobacterbaunannii1/8/93 Sputum 2 4 Acinetobaderbaumannii1/9/93 Snutum 1 5 Acinetobacterbaunannii 12131192 Legwound 1 6 Acinetobacterhaenolyttcus12120192 Bloodculture 3 I Acinetobactubaumannii1l12lgg Bennetttempprobe 1 R Acinetobaderbaumannii 1112193 Sluicesink 4 g Acinetobacterbaunannii1216192 Dust 5 10 Acinetobacterbaunannii12l\lg2 Du$ 6 11 Acinetobacterlwaffii 12120192 Bloodculture 7 12 Acinetobacterbaunannii1122193 Bennetttemp,probe 1 'Detectedby randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis.

f,'",tfg'#ii"T.fl *fi$$sjFt."+3a;)s,'groDAYV]L2B/FEBO1E F.mgalinf,ections in the immunocompl'omised MarcMendelson

Thenumber of Fungal infections (mycoses)often occur in antigens to T-lymphocytes by dedicated antigen- severelyimmuno- healthy people. For example,over 1O% of presenting cells which activate effector cell pathways in compromised women in the general population have an cell-mediated and humoral immunity, resulting in long- patientsis rising, episode ofvaginal candidiasis in their lifetime. Flowever, lasting immune defences. the clinical problem of fungal Although a single factor may lead to immuno- to this article will focus on Thisis leading infections in patients whose immune system is compromise, both suppression of immune function and newproblems with compromised for whatever reason, because this often the risk factors for the establishment of a fungal infection fungalinfections, as causessevere illness or death. are often combined in seriously ill patients. For example, MarcMendelson Immunosuppression is not only the result of diseases a patient with acute myeloblastic leukaemia, whose describes. of the immune system, but is increasingly a consequence circulating immature blood cells (blasts) are dys- of treatment such as chemotherapy which impairs functional, will undergo chemotherapy, which immune function. Limiting this so-called'iatrogenic' or dramatically reduces the number of neutrophils 'physician-induced' immunosuppression is a major (neutropenia). The treatment commonly involves a challenge to modern-day physicians. catheter made of foreign material being placed into the patient's vein to administer drugs and nutrition, & Hostdefence to fungalinfections providing a portal of entry for fungi. Furthermore, The body's natural barriers, i.e. the skin and epithelial the use of antibiotics to combat infections that arc a surfaces, form the first line of defence against many frequent consequence of neutropenia will alter the mycoses. Hence, any breach in these barriers, such as microbial flora of the gastrointestinal tract and allow burns, intravenous catheters or the destruction of fungal overgrowth. It is not difficult to see how such a epithelial surfaces, as in gastrointestinal surgery, pose a patient is at particular risk ofsevere mycoses. major risk of fungalinvasion. Fungal entry is followed by defence reactions such as phagocytosis and fungal .WClinical patterns of fungalinfeetion in the killing, mainly by white blood cells, the neutrophils and immunocompromised host mononuclear phagocytes. Therefore, the risk of infection Serious fungal infections affecting the immuno- is also increased by diseasesand treatments that reduce compromised can be broadly split into those associated the numbers of phagocytes, such as cancefs, or those with a predominant quantitative or qualitative impair- causing neutrophil dysfunction, such as diabetes ment of neutrophils, and those where impairment of mellitus. Optimal phagocytosis requires blood factors T-lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes cause such as complement and chemotaxins that direct defective cell-mediated immunity. neutrophils to pathogens, which may be defective in an BELOW: immunocompromised patient. More specific immunity Mycoses associated with quantitative or qualitative to particular fungi relies on presentation of fungal i m pai rment of n e utroph i Is The three most common infections in this group afe candidiasis, aspergillosis and zygomycosis. Immuno- compromise allows the organisms to spread around the body, seeding multiple organs, which can result in clinical disease. The major risk factor for Candida and Aspergillus infections is the degree and duration of neutropenia, where neutrophil counts below 100 cells ml-1 for 7 days or more are particularly associated with both bacterialand fungal infection. Disseminated candidiasis is most commonly caused by Candida albicans, a normal commensal of the alimentary tta'ct. Gastrointestinal, cardiac and transplant surgery are alI major risk factors, not only because of the surgery itself, but also because such operations commonly require periods of post-operative intensive carc and the attendant use of in-dwelling catheters and antibiotics as described above. Disseminated abscesses occur in multiple organs, including the brain, eyes,kidney, heart, liver and spleen. Candidaemia (the presence of Candida cells in the blood) of immunocompromised patients is almost always associated with disseminated disease, carrying with it a high mortality of up to 40%. Sight-threatening

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endophthalmiris, asdepicted in Fig. 1, is associatedwith candidaemia in over 25 7oo{cases. Unlike Candida, Aspergillus spp. are commonly found in the atmosphere, and so infection l:y Aspergillus funigatus is predominanrly via the respiratory roure. Invasive aspergillosis from a focus of rapidly progressive Aspergi/luspneumonia is most commonly found in the immunocompromised. The complications of this infection include damage to pulmonary vessels,leading to blood in the (haemoptysis), spurum and growrh of the of the less common mycoses are distributed worldwide, ABOVE: fungal hyphae through ro rhe pleural surface which may such as sporotrichosis, a chronic mycotic diseaseusually i':71.;;,, CT appearance of cause collapse of the affected (pneumothorax). pulmonary lung The restricted to skin, subcutaneous tissues and the aspergillosisshowirrg nodulewith characteristic chest X-ray may be normal until relatively late into the lymphatic sysrem. However, many rare mycoses surrounding disease, but the grearer halo. sensitivity of computerized show geographic consrrainrs. Examples include histo- tomography (CT) may reveal characteristic features such plasmosis from the river valleys of easrern USA; as single multiple 'halo' or nodules with a surrounding paracoccidioidomycosis, the commonest respiratory (FiS.2). As in candidiasis, dissemination of the fungus in mycosis in Latin America; coccidioidomycosis from the the bloodstream may follow, causing skin and dry valleys of south-western USA and Mexico; and gastrointestinal ulceration, infected clots in the brain penicilliosis from south-easr Asia. A thorough travel leading to a stroke, or microabscesseswithin multiple history is therefore essenrial when evaluating suspected organs. Despite adequate trearment, invasive asper- mycoses. gillosis carries a high mortality. These types of disseminated infections are rarein HIV Mucosal infection of the paranasal sinuses, more cases compared with the incidence of seborrhoeic commonly by Aspergillus flauus, can spread rapidly to the dermatitis, oesophageal candidiasis and cryptococcal surrounding rissues causing sinus pain, protrusion of the infection. Seborrhoeic dermatitis caused by Malassezia eyes (proptosis) and threaten sight. Zygomycosis, a furfur occtrs in patients with HIV infection at four-times collective term for Mucoralesinfections from the genera the rate of the normal population, and it is up to 10-fold Rhizopus and Absidia may mimic this infection. more common in AIDS. Oesophageal candidiasis is a Zygomycosis is most commonly associatedwith diabetic common AIDS-defi ning illness, although disseminated ketoacidosis, where in uitro studies have shown that infection is rare, unlike the situation in neutropenic raised blood glucose and acidaemia impair neutrophil patienrs. Congenital T-lymphocyte dysfunction function. A black blood-stained nasal discharge associated with disorders of the endocrine system accompanied by a necrotic slough may occur as the predisposes infants to chronic mucocuraneous infection spreads ro rhe perinasal skin. Complications candidiasis, a condition also described at late onser in include growth into the brain, with a high case-fatality. patients with AIDS, or in adults with cancer of the Pulmonary, gastrointestinal and cutaneous disease thymus or occult carcinoma. sometimes occur and disseminated forms often develop Infection with Cryptococcusneoformans is the common- suddenly. Prompt surgical and medical intervention may est of the deep mycoses in AIDS, generally presenring save lives but despite this there is still considerable as meningitis in the severely immunosuppressed. A morbidity. prolonged period of non-specific symptoms such as Although less common, infection with soil-borne fever, malaise and headache, often in the absence of Fusarium species is an equally important mycosis in neck rigidity [which is a cardinal sign of inflammation neutropenia, causing localized, focally invasive and of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meninges)l disseminated infections. Surgical removal of the infected raises the suspicion of cryptococcal disease. The skin and soft tissue found in about 7 J % of disseminated cutaneous form may mimic the skin papules caused by casesand restoration ofneutrophil function are effective Molluscum contagiosum virus. Similarly, penicilliosis, additions to antifungal medication. an increasingly recognized mycosis caused by penicilliun marnffii may also mimic Molluscum contagiosum virus. Mycoses associated with defects in cell-mediated Penicilliosis is a systemic, primarily air-borne infection immunity endemic in Thailand and south-easr Asia. It is Impairment of the cell-mediated immune response ro increasingly reported among AIDS patients, with fungal infection can be congenital or acquired , primaty approximately 3,000 patienrs diagnosed in northern or iatrogenic (such as from the use ofcorticosteroids or Thailand in the past decade. chemotherapy). In the modern era, rhe HIV pandemic The diverse and atypical presentation of disseminated has caused a major increase in fungal infections, which mycoses in the context of HIV underlies the importance of often occur in disseminated and atypicalforms. Some tissue examination in the diagnosis of fungal infections. CurrentOpinion Microbiology

This wasrecently exempli- fied in our unit by a \flest African patient with HIV- Mftrfl()BIOLOGY 2 and advancedimmuno- suppression.The patient ... in BioMedNet Reviews complainedof abdominal pain in the right lower Nowyou can create your own virtual anaemia. ABOVE: quadrant, weight loss, fever and iron deficiency journalsfrom112 journals including ff gt"''?" Disseminated Colonoscopy revealed a cancer-like mass (pseudotumour) presenting histoplasmosis asa at the junction of the small and large bowel (Fig. 3). The Trendsand Current Opinion. pseudotumourofthe large bowel cause was identified on biopsy as Histoplasma capsulaturn, a rare cause of disease in the gastrointestinal tract of Recommendan institute trial to your patients with HIV-2. Other diagnostic approaches, such librarian. as production of a specific antibody response to pathogens, is impaired in advanced immunosuppression, Furtherdetails at bmn.com often rendering them an unreliable diagnostic tool.

WConclusion CurrentOpinion The treatment of mycoses involves the use of antifungal drugs. However, dealing with the factors predisposing or Hosted online by BioMedNet contributing to infection should go hand-in-hand and is arguably asimportant to long-term outcome asthe drugs bmn.Gom themselves. This may include supporting neutropenia with colony-stimulating factors, changing in-dwelling catheters, improving control of blood glucose in diabetics, or reconstituting the immune system of HIV patients with highly active anti-retroviral drugs. \7e are taught that for every action there is an equal selspsqq and opposite reaction. As modern medicine advances with more transplantation, increasingly successful Looking to bring your career to life? methods for treating cancer and improvements in the 'reaction' Lookto Sciencecareers.org, theprem ier care of the critically ill, the of iatrogenic jobsite for life scientists. Every weekyou'll find immuno-supression continues to take its toll in terms of hundredsof newjob postings, career advice morbidity and mortality fgom fungal diseases.In the anda resume/CVdatabase; all the tools you developed world, immune reconstitution with highly needtofind atop job in the industry. Log on to active anti-retroviral therapy for HIV has radically ScienceGareers.otg. We'll providethe altered the incidence of opportunistic pathogens, resourcesto takeyour career to a higherlevel. including mycoses, whilst the lack of such vital disease- modifying resources in the developing world will www.ScienceGareers.org continue to take its toll on those in need.

Further rcading C Dr Marc Mendelsoncan be contactedat Laboratoryof CellularPhysiology and lmmunology, Gupta,A.K.,Baran,R. & Box 176, TheRockefeller University, 1 23O York Summerbell. R.C. (2000). Avenue,NewYork, NY 10021,USA. Fus ar ium infectionsof the Mit?'dbiulb$jl skin. Curr 0pin I nfectD i s 13, Fax*1 212327 8376; r2r-r28. em ai I me n d elm @mai l. rockefe I I e r. e d u Ungpakorn,R. (2000). Visitthe Society'swebsite for detailsof all Cutaneousmanifestations of Acknowledgements SGM activities,meetings and publications. Meyer,Dr ChrisFlower and the Penici I I i umn arnffi i infecrion. Thanksto Dr Paul www.sgm.ac.uk Curr)pinlnfutDis 13, Department of Gastroenterology at Addenbrooke's 129-84. Hospital, Cambridge, for use of the illustrations. Checkout our onlinejournals and enjoythe extrabenefits of the electronicproduct. www.sgmiournals .org

IE ffiffi$R#ffiffih#ffiVTODAYVOL2B/FEBO1 The use of molecular techniques to detest antimicrcbial rcsistange in clinical bacterialisolates AdC. Fluit& Franz-Josef Schmitz

the antimicrobial agent Thebroad range As many of the genetic mechanisms of active effluxof become better overproduction of the tar getof the antim icrobial of currentPCR antimicrobial resistance have understood, new molecular methods are agent. andDNA chip may be caused by a previously proving to be useful for the confirmation of anti- In addition, resistance in As with any diagnostic test, applications microbial resistance in laboratory isolates and for the unrecognized mechanism' molecular assaysis dependent on ciinicalmicrobiology direct detection of such resistance in clinical specimens' the predictive value of the genes or mutations assayed'On the includesthe Conventional culture and susceptibility test procedures the prevalence of is not expre ssedin aitro, may be detectionof for most pathogenic bacteria gener aIIy take 48-7 2 hours ' other hand, a gene,which pathogensand the The performance of rhese tests may be erratic because expressedinuiuo. analysisof genomic factors such as inoculum size or variability in culture applications of molecular alterations,such as conditions can affectphenotypic expression of resistance' # Specific sequenceand coPY The recent popularity of new molecular methods, such techniques of methicillin resistance in in as nucleic amplification techniques or DNA chip The identification numberalterations and vancomycin resistance in technology, has been fostered by the increasing demand Staphylococcusaureus bacterialgenesand of modern tools which allow quick nucleic acid Enterococcusspp. represent ideal applications singlenucleotide for new diagnostic hybridization experiments and simultaneous analyses molecular methods. polymorphisms,This S' aureus(MF.SA) is an important of large numbers of PCR products. The development Methicillin-resistant pathogen capable of causing life- articlefocuses on of DNA chip-based assays in particular has been hospital-acquired and nosocomial outbreaks' The thepossible strongly driven by modern approaches aimed at the threatening infections from this pathogen in European applicationof comprehensive analysis of multiple gene mutations and incidence of infections dramatically in the past few years' modernmolecular expressedsequences. hospitals has increased identification of this pathogen is methodsfor the Detection of genetic determinants using modern The rapid and accurate and for infection control detectionof bacterialmolecular techniques may therefore be used to confirm critical for patient management However, the reliable resistancegenes antimicrobial resistance based on the organism's programmes in hospitals' culture and susceptibility tests genotype, rather than relying on the variability of detection ofMRSA using andmechanisms. expression of resistance is phenotypic expression of the resistance. Moreover, these may be problematic because and is influenced by culture tests can be done within hours, providing clinically usually heterogeneous in strains with low-level relevant information days before conventional conditions, especially of MRSA produce a unique susceptibility test results become available' Molecular resistance. All strains protein (PBP2) that is encoded by a assaysto detect antimicrobial resistance directly from peniciilin-binding mecA.The mecA geneis not present i n clinical samples have been developed. chromosomal gene, has been used successfully to Testing is not only required for therapy but also to susceptible strains. PCR mecA gene sequencesfrom clinical monitor the spread of resistant organisms or resistance amplify and detect hours. These methods have also been genes throughout the hospital and the community' isolates within a few directly from clinical specimens However, the presence of a resistancegene does not used to detect MRSA and endotracheal aspirates' necessarily lead to treatment failure because the.level of such asblood cultures enterococci have also emerged expression may be too low. For example B-lactamase Vancomycin-resistant pathogens in hospitals' production among Enterobacteriaceaers common, but the as important nosocomial culture and susceptibility tests is Jerrelop-ent of resistance is dependent on the mode and Identification using amount of expression. The application of nucleic-acid- based technology is particularly useful for slow-growing or non-culturable micro-organisms and rhe detection of point mutations or certain genotypes.

@Causes of antimicrobialresistance Antimicrobial resistance of bacterial isolates can be causedby a variety of mechanisms: the presenceofan enzyme that inactivates the antimicrobialagent the presenceof an alternative enzymefor the enzyme that is inhibited by the antimicrobial agent a mutation in the t^rgetof the antimicrobial agent, which reduces the binding of the antimicrobial agent modification of the targetof the antimicrobial ageflt, which reduces binding of the antimicrobial agent reduced uptake of the antimicrobial agent

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even more problematic than that of MRSA, primarily The number of thesestems presenr in the bacterialcell because of difficulties in detecting low-levels of is markedlyaffected by the inhibltion of RNA synrhesis. resistance and because accurate identification using Detection of resistance to antiviral agenrs by conventional laboratory procedures may take as long as molecularmethods has also been described for acyclovir- 4-6 days. Vancomycin resistance in enterococci is resistantherpesviruses and HIV resistanceto reverse mediated by one of severalgenes: uanA,uanB,uanB2, transcriptaseinhibitors andto proteaseinhibitors. These uanC 1, uanC2, uanC3 or uanD. PCR assayshave been assayshave been used in a number of referenceand developed to recognize the uanA, uanB and uanC researchlaboratories. genotypes and have demonstrated value incharacteizing enterococci in the laboratory when conventional @Limitations of the methods laboratory test results have been inconclusive. Another Despite the obvious advanrages of these newer potential use of the assayis to assistin epidemiological procedures for the detection of resistance, thefe afe studies when there is an outbreak. potential limitations to DNA amplification technology PCR-based methods for the detection ofantimicrobial and chip technology in the diagnostic microbiology resistance have also been applied to multidrug-resistant laboratory. The accuracy and reproducibility of PCR Mycobacteriurn tuberculosis. In the wake of the HIV assaysdepend on the technical experrise and experience epidemic and the breakdown of medical services in of the operator. Specificity of the resr may be affected by several Eastern European countries, the incidence of contamination of the specimen. In addition, very often tuberculosis is rising rapidly, but treatment is threatened the detection of resistance genes for diagnostic purposes by the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of M. is restricted to researchand epidemiology. This is due tuberculosis.It can usually be treated with only a limited to the overwhelming number of differenr resistance number of antimicrobial agents, the most imporrant mechanisms and genes and their variants. Furrhermore, ones being rifampin, isoniazid, streptomycin and most bacteria can be easily cultured. This, coupled with ethambutol. Because the organism is slow-growing, the cost of most molecular assays,puts such assaysin an traditional diagnosis is time-consuming. Phenotypic unfavourable position compared with phenorypic assays determination of resistance may take up to 10 weeks for detection of resistance. after rcferral of a sample to the laboratory, but both commercial and in-house amplification assays can ffiConclusions gready improve detection time. It is not surprising Molecular analysis of bacterial resisrancehas yielded a therefore that within the past 10 years a multitude of wealth of information during the last decade. \fith the different resistance assaysbased on molecular techniques aid ofmolecular amplification techniques, great progress have been specifically developed. However, many has been made in the knowledge of the distribution and laboratories have trouble with the technical rigors spread of resistance markers among species.However, imposed by these assays.Often isolates show multidrug the original expectation that molecular techniques resistance and with the number of potential genes ani would routinely surpass phenotypic susceptibility mutations involved, the nu.mber of assaysneeded to testing has not (yet) been rcaIized. Challenges that covef them all can be quite large. Therefore,anumber of remain include the variety of point murarions or genes PCR assayshave been developed which do not directly leading to resistance, and the labour-intensive nature of determine the presence or absence of resistance-causing' current amplification methods. DNA-chip technology, genes and mutations, but combined with automated amplificarion techniques, has LEFT: identify either multidrug- the potential to meet these challenges. Flowever, the Colouredtransmission electron resistant strains by other development of DNA chips containing abroad range of micrograph(TIM) of a deadly properties or monitor the resistance markers usable for many different species clusterofMRSA bacteria. effect of chemotherapy. remains a formidable challenge and requires a broader COURIESYDRKARI LOUNATMAA/ SCIENCEPHOTO LIBRARY One such completely knowledge of resistance markers than is currently different approach to available. determine resistance in M. tuberculosis was taken by O Dr A. C. Fluit works atthe Eijkman-Winkler- developing a feverse trans- In stitute for M edi cal Mi cro b i oI og y, Un i vers ity criptase PCR-probe assay Medical Centre, Utrecht,the Netherlands. that was specific for M. O Dr F.-J.Schmitz can be contactedat University t uberculos is precursor rRNA. Hospital Dtisseldorf,lnstitute for Medical Precursor rRNA carries M icrobiology and Virology,Universitdfssfrasse 7, terminal stems which are Geb.22.21, D-40225 Dtjsseldorf,Germany removed when mature Tel.lFax+49 21 32 72040; rRNA subunits are formed. emai I schm itfj @rz. u n i -du esseld orf.d e

ffi#h'ffiffi##s$ffitu#ffi.$roDtv voL2B/FEBO 1 Iil How technology drives pathogen discovery PaulKellam & RobinA. Weiss

Innovationsin Technological innovation in microbiology cloning and molecular biology technology became technologyhave hasbeen of supremeimportance in the identifi- availablethat the true extent of culturable and un- enabledscientists cation and study of pathogenic and non- culturablemicrobes became apparent. improvements that Microbiology wasthe driving forcebehind the new to advancetheir pathogenic micro-organisms. The Leeuwenhoek made to his single-lens conceptsof cloning and the developmentof molecular of micro- Anthony van knowledge microscope allowed him to observe bacteriafor the first biology methods. Koch may be regarded as the organisms.Now time in 1676. His report on oral microbiology to the grandfatherof cloning technology.He first described modernmolecular Royal Society in 1684 enabled him to demonstrate the growth of discretebacteilal colonies on potato slices techniquesare that while saliva is essentially sterile, there is a vibrant and rapidly adaptedthe technique to gelatin-coated beingused to and living biofilm of multitudinous microbes on the slidesin 1881. By 1887 Robert Petri had akeady identifypreviously surface of teeth. Physical techniques dominated the designedhis eponymousdish and recommendedagar as unknownpathogens. early years of microbiology. Nfhilst the iight microscope an alternativeto gelatin. Later cloning techniquescan revealed bactefia,and electron microscopy later revealed trace their conceptionto Koch's observationson the the exquisite structure of viruses, the identification isolation of pure colonies that breed true. Cloning of individual virus particles by confocal immuno- methods were also exclusively used in virology. fluorescence microscopy is very recent. The discovery D'Herelle describeda quantitative plaque assayto of new micro-organisms is currently enjoying a enumerateinfectious titre in his seminal1!17 report on renaissance.Novel flora in the oral cavity, too fastidious bacteriophage.Nfith the developmentof trypsinization to grow in culture, can now be identified by molecular and growth of human and animal cells in monolayer biology methods such as ribosomal RNA sequencing, culture, RenatoDulbecco and MargueriteVogt biolo- rather than morphology. gically clonedpolio virus in 1952.Discrete colony assays of transformedcells were subsequentlyemployed for #The abilitytoculture studying oncogenicviruses such asRous sarcomavirus The concept of contagion dates from biblical times. byTeminand Rubin in 1958and polyomavirus by Sachs Yet the 19th century witnessed debate between andNfinocour one year later. spontaneous generation and germ theory. Ferdinand The explosionofbacterial and bacteriophagegenetics Cohn and John Tyndall developed heat-inactivation from the late Ig40s,pioneeredby nuclearphysicists such techniques to argue against spontaneous generation, but as Max Delbruck and Leo Szilard, eventually led to were initially stymied by the problem of heat-resistant cloning DNA and recombinant DNA technology.The spores, which John Tyndall solved by allowing time inventions of specific DNA-DNA hybridization in for germination between sterilization procedures. Then 1958 through \Tatson-Crick reannealingof single- the technical development of sterile defined media strandedDNA, molecular cloning in 7973 by Boyer deliberately seeded with germs allowed Louis Pasteur and Cohen, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Robert Koch to resolye the debate firmly in favour amplificationin 1986, haveprovided highly sensitive, of specific microbes that begat progeny in their own precise and rapid tools in molecular diagnosis and kind. discoverythat would surelyhave delighted Robert Koch. In time, culture techniques, genetics and molecular The developmentof serologyby Paul Ehrlich and von genetics came to dominate microbiological method- Behring in the 1890s,and of monoclonalantibodies by ology. Robert Koch's discovery of anthrax bacilli and Kohler and Milstei n in 197J gaveus further specificity their propagation from spores in 1877, followed by his in distinguishing differentmicrobes and for tracking the isolation and culture oftubercles, led him to enunciate incidenceand prevalence of infection. his famous postulates of diseasecausation in 1884: In the latter half of the 20th century multiple havebeen used successfully to identify hither- that the microbe is detectable in each caseofdisease; approaches to unknown pathogens.This led to optimism about that it can be isolated in pure form;and our ability to detectall micro-organisms.Indeed, 1983 that it can causedisease anew when inocuiated into was a vintage year for pathogen discovery,using both susceptible animals. traditional and modern molecularmethods. HIV was Flowever, even 100 years ago subtle alterations to Koch's discoveredby classicalisolation in culture and observing postulates were necessafyto account for viruses. Plant a cytopathic effect, albeit corroboratedby detecting and animal viruses were first identified at this time on reversetranscriptase activity ; H eI i cobacter py I ori, the cause the physical basis of passing through filters with a pore of peptic ulcers,was identified by culture, microscopy size too small to allow the passageof bacteria. Of course, and the age-oldprinciple of investigatoras experimental not all pathogens can be propagated in culture, but subject;andhumanpapillomavirus (HPV) types16 and experimental infection of animals aided the recognition 18were initially identified in cervicalcarcinoma by weak and ultimate identification of pathogens such as DNA hybridization of tumour DNA with relatedHPV hepatitis B and C viruses. However, it was not until DNA from superficial warts. However, much of our

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microbial world remains uncharacterized. Now seemsro be a time of consolidating molecular-biology-based micro-organism detection whilst looking forward to the functional genomics era for our next dramatic advances. RIOHT: ffi Post-genomic Seg.*" Fluorescenceimaging of pathogens namelYviruses marinemicrobes, Cross-species analysis of (smallnumerous green dots) and prokaryoticcells(rarer, larger complete micro-organism greendots). genomes, particularly REPRINTEDWITHPER[/ISSION FROM bacteia, is beginning to /1//rufif(399, P543) identify core genes con- COPYRIGHT(2OOO)MACMILLAN MAGAIINESLIN/IITED served amongst bacteria and pathogen/virulence genes associated with certain subspecies. For example, the difference between indicate that >99 % of micro-organisms cannot at enteropathogenic and non-enteropathog enic Es ch eri cb i a present be cultured and can only be identified using coli is asmall set of virulence genes. Similar studies on molecular methods. The sheer extent of microbial life viral genomes have been in existence for many years, but was recently emphasized with the demonstration that are only now being systematically analysed using 109 bacteria and 1010 viruses per litre occur in surface modern bioinformatics methods. Compilation of such waters. Aside from the sheer variety of microbes present data, both bacterial and viral, allows the further design of in these environments, they are dynamic, with viruses broad-based detection methods (i.e. degenerate PCR) being responsible for up to 50 % of the bacterial that should allow detection and discrimination between mortality rate (Fig. 2). Microbial populations of hosts pathogenic and non-pathogenic microbes. are well documented with the concept of commensal \With the growing emphasis on genome detection and bacteria well established. \fith the discovery of discrimination, the massively parallel methods of transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV) to add to the functional genomics, such as micro-arrays, also have the increasing list ofpersistent virus infections, the notion potential to revolutionize pathogen detection. Micro- ofcommensal viruses is a recurring debate. ^rraysarcessentially hundreds or thousands of individual Finally, new human, animal and plant pathogens are DNA probes immobilized at defined locations on a solid almost certain to be discovered. Emerging infectious support such as nylon membranes or glass slides. As diseases(EIDs) are now a subject of much concern in the such, pathogen detection arrays can easily be envisaged world. EIDs can be categorized as resufgent or recurrent whereby a clinical sample could quickly be screened for existing diseases,newly identified agents associatedwith all members of a virus family, for all pathogenic viruses, well-known diseases, or new human diseases caused or perhaps more ambitiousiy, all pathogens. This last by zoonotic agents. Already a wide range of acute example of a'broad+ange pathogen detection affay' and chronic diseaseswarrant investigation by culture- could also be used to identifiz mixed infections and create independent/molecular identification methods. In an inventory of complex.microbial communities, for addition, doctors are often familiar with previously example in the gut during health and disease. healthy individuals who present with acute, sometimes Micro-arrays could also be directed towards life-threatening diseases that have all the hallmarks monitoring host genes, using the host as an exquisite of an infectious disease but no detectable pathogen. sensor and discriminator of different pathogens. To The Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta has 'Unexplained 'sees' to track such Furtherrcading determine how the host the pathogen it will be initiated a project on Deaths' necessary to determine gene expression profiles of cells cases.The CDC suggest such deaths occur in O'5-2 Fredricks. D.M. & Relman and peripheral tissues in response to infection by people per 100,000 per year in the USA. Translated to ( Sequence-based D.A. 1996). different microbes. Preliminary studies have shown it is the UK this would account for 3OO-1200 deaths per identifi cation of microbial not only possible to discriminate between different at."tly discoveries in microbiolo gy Me far from pathogens:a reconsideration bactedaand viruses, but also to identify different host 1. of Koch'spos ttrlates. C I i n gene expression patterns induced by alternative strains MicrobiolReu9.18-33. of the same bacterial species.Microbe-specific host gene O RobinWeissis Prolessor of ViralOncology, Fuhrmar-r,J.A.(I99r. expression patterns could therefore not only serve to Wohl VirionCentre, Department of Immunology Marine virusesand their identify specific pathogens, but also provide details and Molecular Pathology,Windeyer lnstituteof biogeochemicaland about the diseasetime course by identifying which of Medical Sciences,University College London, ecologicaleffe cts. N ature399, 46 ClevelandStreet, London W1T 4JF. 54r-r48. the host genes acts asa'pathology clock'. C Dr PaulKellamis a Senior ResearchFellow in Manger, I.D.&Relman, ffiWhat remainsto be discovered? theWohlVirionCentre. D.A. (2000).How the host 'sees' Having many different technologies available to discover Tel.O2O 7679 9554; FaxO2O 7679 9555; pathogens:global gene and non-pathogenic microbes, where do you em ai I r.weiss @u cl. ac. u k; p.ke I I am @u cl. ac. u k expressionresponses to pathogenic infection. Curr OPin lmmunoI begin to look? First, there are the large environments. 12.2r5-2r8. Surveys of many terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

Iil ffi#ffi$#ffiYTODAYVOL28/FEBO 1 M icrobiology before Pasteur MiltonWainwright

conveyed through the air and multiplied in the body. MiltonWainwright Such views were largely speculative and were not based takesa lookat' on experimental work. Surprisingly, even 18th century someof the playwrights and novelists referred to the idea that microbiological animalculae were responsible for (see, disease for discoveriesmade example, A D eui I on TutoS t icks by Samuel Foore, 17 68). A limited amount of practical work was also done during beforePasteur's this period, notably by the Danish microscopist Otto seminalstudieson Frederick Muller (published posthumously in 1786) fermentation, who observed and described 10 speciesofwhat he termed Monas and 31 speciesofVibrio.

#The'Blood of Christ' An important stimulus to the early development of microbiology came with attempts to discredit an infamous, alleged miracle. Since the Middle Ages people had noticed red, blood-like stains on moist bread. N7hen these appeared on the bread and wafers used in the Catholic mass they were literally believed to be the blood of Christ. The Italian, Bartholomeo Bizio, looked at the red spots under a microscope and saw what he described as a fungus (terms like fungus and virus were often used in the early microbiological literature to describe what we now call bacteria), and on 20 August 1817, he

i: il. :s...t, moistened some bread and polenta (a porridge-like food made from crushed barley, chestnuts or maize) and left them in awarrr') damp atmosphere. Twenty-four hours later, both the bread and polenta were covered in red growth. In 1823, he named the organism Serratia lnarcescens . Amazingly, Bizio showed that : 'l'i..4.LEFT: 'r;. Louis Pasteur (1822- 1 . Serratia requires moisture and warmth for growth; 1895)Arguably themost 2. the growth propagates itself through contact of the red influential,butcertainly not the polenta with fresh polenta; first,microbiologist 3 the red colouration can be passed to fresh bread by handling; 4. the reddening produces a mucilaginous subsrance (which included bacteria) in the late 17th century, using and very small semi-spherical bodies, which according rudimentary microscopes, and then jump neady 2OO to experiments (by Spallanzani) are organic beings of years to the work of Louis Pasteur. The impression is botanical origin; thereby given that no work on micro-organisms, 5. the spores of Serratia can germinare even a{tet 3 years especially in relation to disease, was done prior to ofdrying; Pasteur'sstudies on fermentation, which began in 1857. 6. the colouring matter is light-stable, insoluble in warer, Although Pasteur made a seminal contribution to our but soluble in alcohol, and dyes wool and silk without science, I hope to show here that a considerable amount need of a mordant (Bizio was obviously thinking here of largely forgotten microbiology was done in the two of a biotechnological use for his.l erratia). centuries before his work began. The Prussian microscopist Christian Gottfried As early as 1720 the English physician, Benjamin Ehrenberg (I195-187 6) also showed an interest in the 'bloody Martin, was suggesting, in somewhat flowery language, red spots found on bread' and in 1848 he that animalculae cause disease. Some 40 years later, inoculated them on to potatoes, bread and Swiss cheese Marcus Plenciz, a physician of Vienna, maintained that kept in metal vessels, the atmosphere of which was not only were infectious diseases caused by micro- kept moist with damp paper. In so doing he probably 'notbing organisms, but that elsebut liuing organismscan became the first person to cultivate bacteria. Ehrenberg causedisease'. This was a direct challenge to the prevalent is also likely to have been the first to use the cover-ail miasma theory which stated that diseasewas caused by term bacteria (meaning little rods). In 7835 he had 'bad 'infusoria' air'. Plenciz also insisted that there were special described and named a number of genera of germs for each infectious disease, and that they were bacteria, including Bacterium and Spiri/lum. Even tp to

'*8a#*"#4*effik#e"ffitg€ TODAVVOL2B/ftB,O1 Itr invert sugar was only RIGHT:'Blood $ig,*" Ihe ofChri$ - formed when these were Serratianarcescens growing ona pfesent. No fructose was moistenedcommunion wafer formed when solutions COURIESYMILIONWAINWRIGHT which prevented mould growth (such as zinc chloride and creosote) wete added. B6champ concluded that moulds act as'ferments' and that they ate necessafy for the inversion ofsugar to occur. The results were first published in 1855, and againin 1858. B6champ's contribution has largely been neglected because, in addition to being an ardent enemy of Pasteur, he was responsible for the heresy that disease is caused by the so-called rr.rcrozy ma (or microzyme) and that infections arise from within the bodv. his death inl87 6,however, Ehrenberg continued to'uiew not from without. Every living being, he claimed, with disfauour the new-fangled idea tbat rnicrobes can cause arose from the microzyma and can be reduced to the disease'. microzyma. He claimed that microzymas are to be found in living cells as very small bodies which glisten # Furtherdevelopments when exposed to refracted light. B6champ claimed that By 7837, the Frenchmicroscopist Alfred Donn6 had microzymas transformed into bacteria by enlarging observedan organism,cleady a spirochaete,in syphilic into coccoid forms, i.e. when deprived of proper lesions and made some tentative, if inconclusive nutrition, microzymas transform into bacteria and cause attempts to demonstratethat it causeddisease. disease.Such views obviously cannot be reconciled with \fhen we think of the tirroty of microbiology we mainstream microbiology. usually emphasizethe bacteria. However, important early work wasalso done with fungi, notably yeasts.In $An earlysightingof the'commabacillus'? 1838, for example,Cagniard-Latour discovered Torula In 1849, the English physicians Swayne, Brittan and ceraisiaeand showedthat it can ferment sugarto alcohol Budd described what seems to be the comma bacillus of and carbondioxide. In the following year,Schonlein cholerawhich they claimed was present in large numbers and Remak observedthe fungus which causesthe skin in cholera stools and in the'cond.ensedair of roomsinbabited disease favus fAch orion (Tricbop hy ton) scb on leini i) and' by cholera aictims'. The organism was found to be present showedit to be contagious,while inI843 David Gruby, in every water sample taken from cholera districts, but a Hungarian long resident in Paris, provided the first not from uninfected districts. The illustrations they accurateaccount of the skin pathogen Microsporon. provided clearly show a comma-shaped organism. By l84O JacobHenle had recognizedthat variolus pus Unfortunately a cholera sub-committee, while agreeing 'is 'virus' pus,plus tbecontagion for pus' and that the contagion that a may occasionally cause the disease, must be living. He then statedmost of the postulates concluded that miasmas (or bad air) were the main attributed in 1878 to Robert Koch. who had beenone of cause.At around the same time,John Snow reported his Henle'spupils. epidemiological studies showing that cholera was spread in polluted drinking water. Snow also believed that S.B6cfi amp - a neglectedFrencfi cholerawas caused by acontagiumuiuun and attributed to microbiologist it'thepropaty of reproducingits own kinl inthe intestine of ln l854,while studying the formation of invert sugar those suffering the infection. (equalamounts of fructoseand glucose),B6champ found Some five years after these observations, the Italian mouldsgrowing in someofhis solutionsandshowed that Filippo Pacini observed a comma-shaped organism in

E ffiSW#ffiW WIODAYVOL2B/FEBOI choleradischarges and nameditVibrio cbolerae.Itsrole # Babies,blindness and bacteria Furtherrcading in cholerawas confirmed by Robert Koch in 1883. The belief that miasma and physical factors caused Budd, G. (1854).On diseasewas held as late as 1859 when Edwin Chesshire 'ffi fermentationin the contents Earlyfermentation studies argued against the then dominant view that blindness in ofthe stomachwith In 1842, a l)-year-old boy, under the care of the famous newly born children (ophthalmia neonatorurn)was caused development of sarcinae. Scottish pathologist John Goodsir, complained of by exposure to light. Incredibly, most doctors of this Retrospeo Med 29,14I-l 45 . from vomiting. On waking, the period the as the suffering uncontrollable believed that daylight damaged eye Chesshire,E.C. ( 1859).On boy would involuntarily vomit from two-thirds to a baby emerged from the womb. Chesshire demurred the causesand treatment of 'rny whole wash-hand-basin-full of liquid smelling of from this view, stating that experienceleads rne to ophthalmia i ninfancy. Lancet 'ferntenting wort' which on standing became covered with attribute tbe causeof this complaint only to the influence of i,122. a mass offroth which looked llke'the beadof apot ofporter' . uaginal discbargu during parturit ion' . Although Chesshire Fowke,F. (1885).Onthe Goodsir took some of the frothy liquid and examined it failed to implicate a specific organism, he suggested first discoveryofthe comma the microscope. He described it as having'tbe applying under that the infection could be cured by silver bacillus.B r MedJ i, 5 89-592. appearance of a uool-pack or of a soft bundle bound with cord nitrate, both prophylactically and after infection. Such Goodsir, J. Q842). History crossingit times at rigbt angles and at equal distances'. treatment was used routinely in the USA to prevent four of a casein which a fluid Goodsir suggested that the organism belonged to opbthalrtia neznatzruln in the newborn until it was periodicallyejected from the the Bacillariae andhe gave it the name Sarcina aentriculi. replaced in the 1940s by penicillin. stomachcontained vegetable He then attempted to cure the infections it caused organismsof anundescribed by giving his patients carbolic acid and sodium # Conclusion form.EdinbMedSurd 57, hyposulphite. Cleady microbiologists (i.e. pathologists), working well 430443. ln 1854 (three years before Pasteur published on before Pasteur, used microscopes to observe bacteria and Harrison, F.C. (1924).The fermentation), the English pathologist George Budd, fungi and concluded that such organisms could cause miracuIous microorganism. while studying Goodsir's Sarcina, made some important diseasesin humans. Some even attempted to cure such TransR Soc Can 18, l,-lJ . observations on the nature of fermentations. He infections like nitrate and sodium using chemicals silver Hassall,A.H. (1859).On (i.e. concluded that since torulae yeasts)were also present hyposulphite. However, except for primitive attempts thedevelopment ofand in the vomit ofpatients suffering fromSarcina infections, using moist bread and raw potatoes as substrates, they signifi canceof Vi brio / ineola, not only was carbonic acid evolved, but also the'common were largely unable to isolate and grow individual Bodusurinarius andon certain alcoholic ferrnentation' was occurring, except that the micro-organisms for closer study, a fact which obviously fungoid andother organic alcohol so formed was rapidly transformed to acetic acid. hindered the early development of our science. There productions generatedby Budd also observed that such acidification of alcohol is no doubt, however, that the history of microbiology alkalineand albuminous 'would urine. Lancetii, 503 -5 0 6. seenzt0 be rtuch rnorefauourable wben the rnatter is extends further back in time and is a much richer tapestry exposedto the air than when it is shut up in the body' andthat than we have generally been led to believe. \Tainwright,M. & the condition caused by sarcinae often co-exists with Lederberg,J.Q992). chronic stomach ulcers, an observation which is echoed O Dr MiltonWainwrightis SeniorLecturer in History of microbiology.In in our recent awareness of the role of Helicobacterpylori in Microbiologyin the Departmentof Molecular E ncyc lopedia of Mi crob io logy, vol.2, 4I9- 37.New York: this disease. Biology and Biotechnology,University of AcademicPress. Sheffield.Sheffield S1O 2TN. S Urinarymicrobes Tel.Ol 14 222 441 0; FaxOl 14 272 8697; Another remarkableearly paper on microbiology,which emai I m.wainwri g ht@sheffie I d.ac.u k appearedin the Lancetof 1859, waswritten by Arthur Hill Hassall,a physicianat the Royal FreeHospital in London. This paperwas concernedwith an organism Hassallcalled Vibriolineola which he had isolatedfrom urine as minute linear bodies.The vibriones in urine were of many different lengths, while others appeared filamentouslike fungi. He alsonoticed that the vibriones werecapable of movementand that this motion could be inhibited by the addition of iodine.Hassall's vibriones alsoformed a pellicle on the surfaceof staleurine which fell to the bottom of the tube on storage.The type and number of vibrionespresent in urine dependedon the acidity and the presenceof air. Hassallthen describeda secondorganism found in urine, which he called Bodus 'appear urinarius; these, he said, tofasten thentselues to tlte surfaceof theplate of glass,tbeir bodiesswaying and oscillating like an inflatedballoon kept down by its cords'(i.e. flagella).

sw#ffi#s$s$E*'$*$${kyroDtvvoL2B/FEBOl El Plotozoan parcsitesin the UK- GauseforGoncern? TimMcHugh d ,"1

'd-,tJ ff l A rangeof ^ The protoz oa aresingle-celled eukaryotes that PHLS Malaria Reference Laboratory http://www. ,JL protozoanparasites Iitrhabit awide range ofenvironments; they may malaria-reference.co,uk). threatensthe V be free-living or purusitic in lifestyle. Parasitic These parasites represent the most dramatic face of protozoa may be found in all parts of the body and parasitic protozoa, although returning travellers may healthof UK many Tim inciude intracellular as well as extracellular species. well feel that the debilitating diarrhoea that so inhabitants,As They can causea wide spectrum of diseaseranging from bring back from their journey is of equal importance. McHughdescribes, specieswhose status asparasites is still equivocal, such as This is often the result of bacterial infection, but therisks are B ldstlcystis bominis , to those Ilke P lasnzodiuntfalciparum protozoa are amongst the likely suspects. These include increasing,due to a which cause severe disease (malarja) and have a high the flagellate Giardia lanablia and the amoeboid parasite varietyof factors, mortality if untreated. \Tithin species different strains Entamoebab ist olyt ica. butmeasures are or isolates may exhibit a range of pathogenicity, indeed There were 536 laboratory reports of Entamoeba availableto control considerable effort has been expended in the classifi- infection in 1998 in England and \fales. The majority of theproblem. cation ofpathogenic phenotypes and genotypes. The patients present with diarrhoea only, but in a significant best example of this is Entanoeba histolytica; extensive number (IO% of infections) disseminated diseaseoccurs and elegant studies were performed that separated this with formation of liver abscesses and meningo- species into phenotypic groups, termed zymodemes. encephalitis. Some of the zymodemes contained non-pathogenic strains alone and subsequently sequence analysis has @Contaminated water allowed these to be reclassifed as a separate species. Some protozoan agents of diarrhoeaare not only found Entarnoebadispar. in the tropics but are also indigenous to the UK. They are mainly associatedwith the contamination of water cffiExoticimports supplies, or foodstuffs that have been in contact with til(hen we think ofparasites our minds turn to the jungles contaminated water, either as a result of irrigation or of South America and south-east Asia and the savannahs washing. The two principal organisms are Giardia of sub-Saharz;n Affica. This is quite justified, as by far lanrblia and Cryptosporidium paruurn. For each of these the biggest parasite burden is borne by the developing parasites there are 4,0oo-5,000 laboratory reports per world. Malana in all its forms is responsible for year from England and \7ales and each is associated 1.) million deaths per annum, of which 90 7a occw in with outbreaks. Afilca. The parasite responsible for Chagas disease, Cryptosporidiunthas been the focus ofattention recently Trypanosomauuzi, accounts for 140,000 diseaseepisodes as it gives us control problems. The infectious oocysts are per year and this represents a substantial population of resistant to chlorination and we do not have effective individuals with long-term debilitating dilease. In antiprotozoal agents to treat symptomatic infection. Britain these parasites are seen in travellers-returning There are currently 1-10 outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis from endemic regions and with the massive increasein. per yeat (compared with less than one per year for foreign travel, both foi pleasure and work, there is Giardia); these are largely associated with water supply naturally an increase both in awarenessand incidence of treatment failures or contamination by sewage.However, exotic imports. outbreaks have been reported asa result of contamination The protozoa that we associate with travel are the of swimming pools and also from handling animals vector-borne diseases'.malatia, trypanosomiasis and during farm visits. Recently, legislation has been intro- leishmaniasis. There are 1,000-1,100 malaria casesper duced for continuous monitoring of water treatment year inEngland and \7ales ; trypanosome and leishmania sites. Companies are required to sample 1,000 litres of infections are in the tens rather than the thousands. water over 24 hours for the presence of Cryptosporidium These parasites all require an invertebrate vector in oocysts. If more than one oocyst is found per 10 litres of which they multiply, enabling transmission when the water then the company is liable to prosecution. infected fly takes a blood meal from the unwary traveller. Giardia, though not so often associated with The range of suitable host insects is dependent on outbreaks, is still a significant cause of disease in the temperature and humidity; these provide abanier to the UK. Infections may be associatedwith foreign travel and widespread dissemination of these parasites in the UK. lack ofattention to such precautions as using bottled Although, with changing climate patterns, the day may or boiled water and avoiding ice in food or drinks. yet come when the marsh parishes of Kent are once again Nevertheless, Giardia is indigenous to the UK and a source of Plasntodium uiuax malatia, there have been no people become infected who have no history of travel. indigenous casesof malariainEngland since the 19)0s. There is no clear example of a single reservoir species in Malada is the biggest threat and most infections the UK, but in the USA Giardia is regarded as a zoonosis. associatedwith travellers from the UK could be avoided Beavers and other wild animals act as a reservoir and by use of appropriate prophylaxis and straightforward Giardia infection is particularly associated with those precautions whilst abroad (for advice contact the who undertake'wilderness sports'. w W&{#W#sffi#{kf-{EffiWTODAY VO L2B/ FE30 1 muscle and brain tissue and is responsible for sustaining a viable infection for the lifetime of the host. Those who are serologically positive are assumed to have a latent infection, held in check by the host immune response. This is the nub of the problem. Should the patient 'time become immunosuppressed, then the bomb' is released. Commonly a toxoplasmic encephalitis is 4eAtrisk populations observed but in transplant patients pneumonia and other The reality of parasitic infections for the generally fit manifestations may be seen. and well patient in the UK is that the diseasewill usually Toxoplasma in pregnancy is a great cause of anxiety. be self-limiting or amenable to chemothelz;py. However, If the mother acquires Toxoplasrna infection for the a significant population of people may be regarded as first time during pregnancy then transmission to the atparticular risk from these infections. \7e think auto- foetus may result in mental and physical disability. matically of the immunosuppressed, either as a result Severe disease is most likely to result from infection of HIV infection or immunosuppressive therapy. It is early in pre gflancy.Although most congenitally infected worth remembering that the immune responsesin these children will be asymptomatic at birth, in later life two groups may be quite different and this is reflected in up to 80% will develop symptoms, particularly eye the parasites causing infections and the responses to disease. Treatment for toxoplasmosis in pregnancy is them. However, significantly larger groups at risk of problematical because of toxicity to the foetus; it is a infection are those at the extremes of age. The young are better option for those pregnant or planning pregnancy at risk in the first years of life as their immune responses to avoid undercooked meats and handlinq cat litter. develop to maturity, but also becauseof their very tactile approach to exploring the world around them. The 'ff Often forgotten increasing population of the elderly is also vulnerable to A protozoan parasite that is often overlooked is infections that a younger person would shrug off. Indeed- Tricbomonasuaginalis, which of course cannot be ignored TOPLEFT: in recent outbreaks of Cryptosporidiutn it has been the in clinical practice. Trichomoniasis affects at least 170 Ii4. ?,Transmission electron mrcroscopyimage of Toxoplasma elderly who have suffered the most; this infection is million individuals globally, may increase the risk of g0ndiilachyzlitestageinvading a associated with passage of large volumes of watery transmission of HIV and predispose pregnant women hostcell in a tissue culture diarrhoea for which the only option is to provide to premature rupture of membranes and early labour. preparationThespecialized hydration support. This flagellate parasite of mucosal membranes is very strtlcturesofthe apical complex Several protozoa associated with intestinal disease similar in biology to its close relative Giardia, but does canbe seen; these are characteristicofthis family of have come to ouf attention as a result of immuno- not require the resistant cyst stage as it is transmitted by protozoanswhichincludes suppressed patients presenting with unusual diarrhoeas. intimate sexual contact. Plas m od i un andt ryptosp ori d i un. These include the microsporidia, lsospora belli and COURTESYDRT D [ICHUGH 'pjfj: Dientarueobafragi/is as well as Cryptosporidium. It shodld Publichealth 'cause be remembered that these organisms can also be seen in The title of this piece poses the question for ABOVE: ; , the immunocompetent. concern?'. I have tried to outline the areasin which the Haematoxylinandeosin (H&E)-stainedsmearshor,ving the parasitic protozoa pose Another parasite that has come to the fore in recent a threat to the health of the flagellatepr0t0z0an frrchononas. years is Toxoplasrnagondii. This is because it impacts noc population in the UK and I suggest that this challenge Ihecharacteristic teardrop shape only on the immunosuppressed but also because may best be met from a public health rather than an flagellaeandnucleus canbe seen infection in pregnancy can have catastrophic effects. individual basis. Control of these infections is preferable Thegut protozoan Giardiasp,has avery similar appearance Toxoplasma is closely related to both Cryptosporidium and to treatment. There are two components to effective COURTESYPROFESSOR SH Plasmodium.It has a complex life cycle in which sexual control measures. First, public awareness; I hope the EILLESPIEROYAL FREE & UNIVERSITY reproduction only occurs in the cat family, while in all examples I have given show that ifan individual chooses, COLTEGE[/EDICAL SCHOOL LONDON other hosts asexual reproduction occurs. Transmission is they can avoid most of the risk of these infections. The via two mechanisms. Cats pass infective oocysts in the second component is an appropriate infrastructure stool which contaminate the environment, while the to minimize exposure; this may include measures to alternative route of transmission is consumption of ensure the supply of clean water and surveillance for meat containing the latent life cycle stage, the tissue contaminated foodstuffs. 'pink'meat cyst. Thus, those at risk are advised not to eat or uncooked meat products. In Europe this applies O DrTim McHugh is Lecturerin Medical particularly to lamb-based products, but in North Microbiology at RoyalFree & UniversityCollege America the focus is on pork. In the UK approximately MedicalSchool,Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill 2t-307o of the general population has been exposed to Street,London NWs 2PF. Toxoplasmaand are positive in serological tests. The Tel. 02 0 747 2 64 02 ; em ai l t.m ch u g h @rfc.u cL acl k tissue cyst is immunologically inactive, is found in

lr$"$$;j:iF,c{fSf{i* $#+.ItY TOWY VOL2B/FE B 0 1 E il ffimwmmkffiwffiwwmwmffiffi New ,f ffiffiffi##wffi Gloup Gomingandgoing Gonvbners O The Presidentwelcomed Professorc Hilary lappin' Scott andTony Nash andDr Keith lones as new ffiwWmffiWw&ww ElectedMembers to theirfirstCouncil meeting. This was ffi$*rutu$m$$*x$ww*$mm als o Rofessor Ghris Thomas's f irst meeti n g as the new Editor-i n- C h ief of Mi c ro b i o I ogyand Ptofessor Mym icrobiological interests Howard lenkinson's asthe newScientific Meetings liein the molecularbasis of Officer,We wish them well in their new roles. bacterial pathogenicity, Sincestarting at CBD Developing rcgional activities PortonDown in 1992,I OArisingfrom a discussionaboutthe value of regional havefocusedon the branchesof the Society,Council reaffirmed its belief that notoriouspathogen the interestsof membersare alreadywell-served from the Yersinia pesfq but work in choiceof mainscientific meeting venues. However, Council mygroup is also underway wasreminded bythe DeputyExecutive Secretarythat on FranciselIa tuI are n s is fundingis available from the Societyto support one-day and Burkholderia regionalmeetings on focused topics orto provide pseudomaller.The final aim opportunitiesfor postgraduategroups to meet,A note of mostof our work isto aboutthisappears on p.34. developeffective vacci nes andantibiotics against Support for microbiology teaching in schools thesebacteria. I have served O Counci I hasprovisionally allocated S90,000, primari ly to onthe MicrobialInfection enableteachers to attendin-service training courses in Committeefor 4 yearsas an microbiology.The scheme has stillto be finalized and full ordinarymember and have detailswill appear in afutureissue of MicrobiologyToday. beeninvolved in the organizationof groupand New Food and Water Grcup mainsymposia, lt has been O Councilhas approved the establishment of a newFood veryinteresting and andWater Group in recognition of thegrowing importance rewardingwork and I must ofthis area both for membersof the Society and forthe thankPeterAndrew for the widerpublic at large.Details of the newgroup will appear in sterlingjob hehas done as a f utureissue of Mi crobiology Tod ay. Convenerin this time, Gorporate and schools membelship O Councilhas agreed in principletothe establishment trWffiwk &&& s& ffimmwmffiggqpa## fi grffhg of two newcategories of corporatemembership, which it ffirsw*rffiffim#s?*ffi$ wasintended should provide a linkingbetween industrial sponsorshipand the work of theSociety in schools, Further' frmsee&prd$ detailswill appear in afutureissue of MicrobiologyToday. Research technicians O ltwasalso agreed in principleto create afund forthe su pport of 'research' and'teach in g' techn ical staff to attend scientificmeetings of the Society, provided their Head of Departmentor anotherappropriate mem ber of SGM could ind icate that, th rou gh theirlevel of comm itment, they wou ld benefit f romattendance, Fu rther discussions are takin g placeto makethe arrangements forthe scheme, which is likelytocommence in 2002. I NewHonoraryMemberc l.I O Councilwaspleased to conferHonorary Membership on the followingpast Presidents of the Society,who had completedtheirfullterm in office, in recognitionof their I serviceto the Society:Prcfessor Derek But*e, Myoriginal training was Professor Howard Dalton, Professor Tony lfinci in BiologicalSciences at and Professor Roger Writtenbury, Napierin Edinburgh (1986-89), I quicklymoved O Alan Vivian,General Secretary intoenvironmental microbiologythrough my PhDresearch atthe Universityof Newcastle ( 1989-93), investigati ng phenolicdegradation under

E ffi&ffiffi#ffi*ffi.ffiffiWTODAYVOL2S/ FEB}I il thesupervision of RonCain. ffiemm€gwm#sxm*w I FromNewcastle, I moved to the Midlandsto workat Grants ffi&n*q$msw& HorticultureResearch Internationalon a 2-vear Wm€wmmfum ffiffiwmffi#wEffis EU-fundedbioremediation ffiwwfuffiwsm# ffirmse&w project(1 993-95), looking A generous PostgraduateStudent atthe potentialfor composts donationto the Membersofthe Society toclean up chlorophenol- Societyby ProfessorT, Watanabe currentlyresident in the contaminatedsoils, working of Japanhas UK or anotherEuropean withTerry Fermor. enabledthe Societvto set Union upafund to make annualawards forthe benefitoJ ffierem##Wpm€sg countryare eligible for a In1995,lmovedtoa membersindeveloping countries. This is distinct from our fu granttocoverthe costs of lectureshioin environmental ownInternationalDevelopmentFund. ffiqgm# accommodationand travel microbiologyand inattending ONE of the Membersof the Societywho are permanently ThePresident's ecotoxicologyinthe residentin Fundoffers followingSG M meetings: Departmentof a developingcountry may apply. The purpose of thefund is financialsupporl to younger to enablemembers # Heriot-WattU n iversity, EnvironmentalScience at involvedin highereducation and/or membersof the Societvfor researchto acquirefor Edinburgh,March 200i; LancasterUniversity. Over theirlibraries books or possibly thefollowing: journalsrelating to microbiology.Applications should 'l the past5 years,I have , Travellingto present W Universityof EastAnglia, include: a mouldedasmall, but paperor a posteron a N orwich, Se ptem ber 200 l ; productive research g roup, 1. A listof the publications requiredtogether with microbiologicaltopic at a andany other Society Myresearch interests anestimate of their (the cost totalcostforany one scientificmeeting, Groupor Branch meeting in involveunderstanding the applicationshould notexceed S300 sterling), 200 1. An applicationform fundamentalprocesses 2. Attendinga shortcourse 2. A letterfromthe HeadLibrarian of theorganization (uptotwoweeks), givingfulldetails of the concerningthe fate of certifyingthe needforthe books and the address to schemewas sentto each organiccontaminants in 3, Makinga shortresearch whichthe booksshould be sent, a statement European Student Member theterrestrial biosphere, onwhere visit. the bookswill be kept and an outline withtheir subscriotion particularly interactions of the loan arrangementsfor membersof the organization, Largerawards are available invoicein October 2000, betweensoi l-contam inant- fortheshort research visits buta copymay be biota(microbes, plants and 3, A descriptionof the member'sorganization and its andthere are seoarate downloadedfrom the SGM invertebrates), consideri ng involvement in microbiology, the nu m ber of staffand applicationforms for these. website,Applications bioavailabi Iity, biodeg radation studentsand details of thenature of anycourses in '$ shouldbe submitted well in andecotoxicity of the microbiologyprovided bythe organization, i.e, BSc # # *,#*rytw*$*ry,&rr.+wrd*. advanceof a meetingif contaminantsusing novel Microbiology,technical training, etc, Maximumgrants are memberswish to ensure techniques;leading into risk 4. A curriculumvitae of the principalapplicant, S 125 forattendance ar thattheirgrant is received assessmentand remediation meetingsor institutions/ beforemaking a booking, of contaminatedland. Noneof these items (1-4 inclusive)should exceeo one attendingan sideof 44 papereach. approved coursein the countrv of Applications(two copies) should be sent to theG rants residence,S200 foitraver Wgwwm##ps's Officeat SGM HO.The closing date is 5 October 2OO1, to anotherEuropean countryandS300for ffi,&asMwryeRmfumffim traveloutsideEurooe ffiffi4F% * 6" #ryw*myswm&#wssm #ffiwerw#wmremm* li asrqerry&a*xsdE Awardsare available by ffisxwe#ffisruwr#ffi ffi ## Upto 52,000is available competitionto enable undergraduates(in their Thefollowing awards have been made from the Society's for makinga shortresearch penultimateyear) to work InternationalDevelopment Fund. The Fund exists visitof upto two montns to orovide on microbiologicalresearch trainingcourses, publications and other assistance to duration.The host institution projectsduring the summer microbiologistsindeveloping countries. The rules forthe maybe overseas or inthe vacation,The students hi os 2001 Fundwill be published in the May issue applicant'scountryof of providesupport MicrobiologyToday. residence. at a rateof $135perweekforuptoB DrJ. Gampbell-Tofte, RoyalDanish Schoolof Pharmacy, Allapplicants must be weeks;limited fu nding for Copenhagen,Denmark- upto S5,0O0to carryouta pCR" residentand reg istered consumablesisalso coursein the Abeokuta, Nigeria. foraPhD or in afirst available. Appl ications are postdoctoralposition, in a invitedfrom members Dr 5. Gutting, Schoolof BiologicalSciences, Royal on countryin the European behalfof namedstudenrs, Holloway,University of London- upto S 12,000 to develop Union.Only one application Thefull rules molecularbiology in Vietnam overtwoyears. were to thePresident's Funo mav publishedin the November Professor S. Gillespie and colleagues, RoyalFree & bemade during theterm of 2000 issueof Microbiology UniversityHospital Medical School, London - upto S6,000 a postgrad uate studentsh ip Today(p.192), The closing to helpestablish a referenceand trainino centre for orfirstoostdoctoral datefor applications is28 position. respiiatory bacteriology in EastAf rica, Thefull rules of the February2OO1. schemeare published on Dr A. Leck, Institute of Ophthalmology, U n iversity College theSGM website,from - London upto $4,560to providemicrobiology training in whichapplication forms thetropicsaimed at preventingblindness from corneal mavbe downloaded, urcers.

lI"#$##*il$$#trd"#3ffiY'T(rIylYVOL28/FEB01 E Unrt,and lead a group allelicrecombination SGM investigatingthe continued throughout my involvementofthe immune postdoctoralwork with Prizes systemin TSE pathogenesis, DavidPerkins in Stanford Mylecture will include a andHarold Whitehouse in descriptionof studieson the Cambridge, :i''::!i :'t;: ;" within transmissionofTSEs Theconcept of polarized andbetween species, with !i,. !;.: l:;,:i:,.':,,;",1,i;" "':t: geneconversion prompted parlicularreference to early myinterest in sequence- The2000 KathleenBarton- tissues eventsin lymphoid specific endonucleases and Wrightprize lecturerwill be to andpotential approaches onmoving to BillHayes' DrMoiraE,Bruce, intervention, Neuropathogenesis Unit, MRCUnit in Edinburgh in lnstituteof Animal Health, 1968 itseemed time to Edinburgh,for her initiatea geneticapproach distinguished contribution ,\ to mapand manipulate undertooka PhD on toour understanding of i i::1 restrictiontargets in phage l; polioviruswith Jeff Almond iform myhusband (Kenneth at Leicester.Three days into transmissible spong i,1,,,'i.::.::i, . ;i. ;, ji'ii "l,r.''i encephalopathies.Thetitle Mu rray) would determ rne this,he experienced his first of herlecture, which will The2001 FredGriffith thenucleotide sequence SGMmeetinglHe gained takeplace atthe Society ReviewLecture has been commonto eachtarget. hisBTAforworkon human meetingat Heriot-Watt awardedto Professor Eventually,that is, when we retroviruses at the Un iversity UniversityinMarch 2001 is Noreen E, Murray, encounteredpredictable ofCalifornia Los Angeles, , (type Thesecret life of theTSEs. lnstituteof Cell and ll)restrictron enzymes, butwaslured backfrom the MolecularBiology, we enteredthe field of WestCoastbythe MRC Universityof Edinburgh,in geneticengi neering via the AlDS Directed Prog ram me recognitionof herlong and constructionand use of anda postattheMRC disti nouished service to phagevectors. Idid clone LaboratoryofMolecular micro6iology,The title of her andoverexpress the genes Biology,Cam brid ge, There, lecture,which willtake place forsome usef ul enzymes, hegained his f irstteaching attheSociety meeting at e.g.DNA ligase and experienceon Partll of the Heriot-WattU niversityln polynucleotidekinase, but Triposand was appointed to March2001, is lmmigration maintainedan interest in the a lectureshipback in controlof DNAin bacteria: technicallyuseless, but Leicesterin 1990. Eight 'self vers u s no n - se lf'. biologicallysoph isticated yearsago he began uiing typel, restriction systems, thewebforteachingand hasnever looked back. .. : .: Since1970 | havebeen i!::rieii.Eifi. involvedin research on transmissiblespon g iform Thefirst recipient of the encephalopathies (TS Es), newlyestablished Peter workrnginitially with Hugh W ldyPrize for Microbiology Fraserand Alan Dickinson Educationis to beDr atABROand lateratthe Alan Gann, Universityof Neuropathogenesis Unit Leicester,in recognition inEdinburgh. My research of hisdistinguished hasbeen based mainly contribution to microbiology onstudies of the teaching,The title of his neuropathologyand I studiedBotany at King's prizelecture, which will be pathogenesisofTSEs in CollegeLondon in 1956, deliveredat the Society experimentalrodent models, althoughmyscientrfic meetingat Heriot-Watt withan emphasis on the interestwasalready in UniversityinMarch 2001 , is effectsof agentstrain microbiology and genetics, Microbiologyand the web:a variation,My colleagues and despitemy love of f lowering nerd'seye view. I haveapplied approaches plants. AlanCann was born in developedfor basic Plymouthin 19SB,Aftera scientific studies to thevery Iobtained my PhD in microbiologyin1959 under southDevon childhood, realTSE-related problems hetravelled north to facing us today. For exam ple, thesupervision of Professor D,G,Catcheside inthe ManchesterUn iversity to mousetransmissions studygeology. But a career demonstrateda link University of Birmi ngham andwhile mapping hammeringrocks was not betweenvariant CJ D for him,so heswitched to andBSE, I nowhead mutationswithin a Ne u ro s po rageneobtai ned microbiology, This requ ired thePathology and Pennines evidencefor'polarized gene a hopoverthe PathogenesisSection at to Sheffield, He then theNeuropathogenesis conversioniMy interest in l.oup I

A numberofmembers i,lciii; if, i"l*II iia*ri*i:':I {rl ii**rl:l;i*sI iiillft Fisr.ai q:ie i ;ui'd*r***t*rsi of GroupCommittees CD 0 Connor(C)(Univ, Southampton) Stressadaptation, proteomics lilA Collins(C)*(Queen'slJnrv,,Belfa$) Foodmicrobiology (Unrv. J.PArmitage* 0xford) Bacterialmotility and chemotaxis A.Bell (Unrv Dublin) Protozoalpathogens, P/avnodrum khipuun retirein September (Unrv, J,l,Arm$rong Sussex) Yeastmembrane trafficking, signal transduction CV Carroll(Nal Unrvlreland Salway) Physiologicalstress, gene expression, epidemiology (Unilever, 2001 attheend of S,Brul* Vlaardingen) Fungalcell walls, stress response E,l\4,Doyle* (Univ, College, Dublin) Appliedenzymology, environmental biotechnology (Univ, N.J.Hiqh Manchester) LPSgenetics andphase variatiotl S.l/Doyle(Nat. Unrvlreland l\tlaynooth) Proteindiagnostic/therapeutic agents (Unw. theirtermsof office. B,Kenny Bristol) f colpathogenesis,cellularmicrobiolog, J,|\/organ (Unrv. College Cork) iVucosalvirology/immunology, SRSV.rotavirus Nominationsare now R,l\tlcNab (Eastman Dental Instilute) Bacterialsurfaces, adhesion astrOvlrlls PB,Rainey (Univ 0xford) Plant-microbeinteractions C.0'Reilly* (Waterlord Institute olTechnology) Microbialmetabolism ofcyanide andnitriles requiredto fillthe AW Smith*(Univ. Bath) Antimicrobialsandho$ responses N,G.Iernan* (Univ. Ulster, Coleraine) Environmentalmicrobi0l0gy. bi0degradatj0n, vacanciesarising. C,J,Stirling* (Unrv. lVlanchester) l\tlembranetranslocation. heatshock proteins organophosphonates,enzymology tul,JWoodward (MAFF Central Vet. Lab,) Food-bornezoonoses A Vruian(CR)(Unrv WestofEngland) Wherethe numberof u.Desselberger (CR)(Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge) iuii lll* b i +I i * f * * li it;r l;:''ti+u; *. il *i *l:: l nominationsto a triii*ix*lf';iiiricrfui;lf *g'u,i i ifx***rg! PCE 0yston (C)(CBD, Porton Down) Bacterialpathogenicity, Yersinia,vacctnes GroupCommittee SH Gillespie(C)(Royal FreeHospital, London) Tuberculosis,pneumococcal infections, PW,Andrew* (Univ, Leicesler) Pathogenicity:1tslen4 Mycobnteriun, antibioticresistance Streppnunuiae exceedsthe number (Unrv, D,AlaAldeen Nottingham) Baclerialinfections: pathogenesis andimmunity M,R,Barer (Unw, Newca$le) Bacterialphysiology, i nfeclion, M,tuberculosis, of vacancies,there will K.B,Bamford (lmperial College, London) Chronicinfection, host response, Helicobacter klnuelk,SIE1 A.R.l\rl.Coates (St George s Hospital, be London) Tuberculosis,chaperonins, bacterial dormancy, D.A.Devine* (Unrv, Leeds) Antimicrobialpeptides, anaerobes, stress, biolilms an electionby postal novelpathogens PR.Langford (lmperial College, London) Human/veterinarypathogens, proleomics, ballot,The current B,l,Duerden(Unrv. Wdes,Cadiff) Anaerobicbacteria, public health, antibiotics DNAanays, meningitis - C,G,Gemmell (Unrv, Glasgow) lvlethici | | i n resistantJlaprlyiocaccuq S,Patrick (Queen s[Jniv. Belfag) Anaerobicbacteriology, prosthetic j0int infecli0ns membersof each host-bacteriainteractions L,J,V.Piddock* (lJniv. Birmingham) Arltibacteriaacti0rtmechanisms, resistance (CPHL GroupCommittee TLPitt Colindale) Nosocomial,respiratory andtropical infections, DG E Smith (Royal Dick'School Vet.lVledicine, Pathogenicmechanisms, bacterial pathogens cy$icfibrosis Edinburgh) ofanimals andnumberof vacancy LR,Poxton (CR) (lJnru Edinburgh) vacanciesare listed I RPoxton (CR) (Unrv. Edinburqh) 'iiir*hlglJ i:?itli*i*ili;qv,#1*r:tisnlr*tn $' F^4r;i**lii;;i {}r"iu*!irru il_i ft:r*.**ir:;1.} llli*ii;itf {ld*ht1;qi;:i11;r,,r1 opposite,Inmaking DA Hodgson(C)(Univ. Warwick) Moleculargenetics andphysiology T.G.Wreghitt(AddenbrookesHospital,Cambridge) Transplantation D,B,Archer* (lFR, Norwich) Proteinsecretion infilamenlous fungi nominations,members (Regional S,Cameron VirusLaboratory, Glasgow) Hepatitis,HlV,clinical virology B,Ashraf (Unrv, Bradford) Bacterialheatshock proteins, molecular chaperones (CPHL areparticularlyasked B,Cohen Colindale) Diagno$ics,viralrashes, saliva te$ing N,C,Bruce* (Univ, Cambridge) Biotransformation,microbialenzymology (Virus J,Connell ReferenceLaboratory, Dublin) Diagnosticvirology, hepatitis S,J,Fo$er* (Univ, Sheffreld) Cellwalls, $arvation survival to bearin mindthe C,l4cCaughey (Royal VictoriaHospital, Belfast) Diagnosticvimlogy, hantaviruses J,C,Gottschal (Unrv. Groningen) Bioremediation,physiology ofstarvation and (Aberdeen desirabilityof a breadth PJ,lVlolyneaux RoyalInfirmary) Diagno$icvirology, hepatitrs B competitio|l D.Westmoreland(UniversityHospitalofWdes,Cardiff)l\rloleculardiagnosis,hepatitis,congBnitalirrfections of scientificinterest NP [4inton (CAlilR Porton Down) l\4oleculargenetics, industrial bacteria PMBWhite(PHL Norwich) Publichealth HLTV 1 t,E,D,Rees (Unrv, Nottingham) Epvironmentalcontrol. bacterial gene expression on eachcommittee. U,Desselbuger(CR) (Addenbrooke s Hospital, Cambridge) S.Spiro* (Unrv, Easl Anglia) Generegulation, (de)nitrification l,Stansfield (Univ,Aberdeen) Translation,geneexpressi0n, yeast Nominations,including i:riri*;i'!iqi;r{ l} ll**;lg:r:i*riI G,lil,Stephens* (Utu1lSI l\4anchester) l\tlicrobialphysiology, anaerobes, fermentation uoto fivewords PWyn-Jones (C)(Univ. Sunderland) Health-relatedwatervirology CR Harwood(CR) (Univ, Newcastle) A.J.Cann (Unrv. Leice$er) l\4olecularvirology, web-based learning describingthe general T.E,Cartledge* (Nottingham Trent lJniv.) l\4icrobialphysiology andmolecular biology :fg*tt;r,:*ii*r;1..!i,,'rrr.*1ll**1.t :,j LW,Davidson (Unipath Ltd Bedford) areaof interestof the lmmunoasay,communrcalion andpublic understanding GSaddler(C) (CABl, Esham) Sy$ematicsolplant-pathogenic bacteria A,R,Eley* (Univ, Sheffield) l\4edicalmicrobiology, chlamydial pathogenesis M,AAquino de Muro (CABl, Egham) Entomopathogenicbacteriaand fungi, (Univ, nominee,should be sent PS,Handley* lVanchester) Problem-basedlearning, environmental micmbiology moleculartechniques (De R,0.Jenkins Montfort Unrv.) r Biotransformationofanlimony, arsenic, bioremediation B,Austin* (Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh) Taxonomy,ecology, fish pathogens,,4erarnonas, to reachthe appropriate (l\tlanchester J,Venan l\tletropolitanUnrv,) Communication,groupwork skills, Vkrio GrouoConvenerno student-centredlearning R,Goodacre (Unrv, Wdes, Abery$wyth) 0rganismfingerprinting, molecular systematics, (Univ, laterthan t7 April RE Sockelt(CR) Nottingham) chemometrics M.Goodfellow* (Univ,Newca$le) Actinomyceles,molecular and chemical sy$ematics fi*r,ui;'*rr*t*tli;li ffl!n::r;11*relirln;g {} vk*;;r*****; 2OOl (contactdetails F,G,Prre$ (Heriot-Watt Edinburgh) l\4olecularsystematics ofGram positives onp,43). HMLappin Scott(C)*(Univ Exeter) Biofilmsand starvalion survival LC,Sutcliffe (Unrv, Sunderland) lVlembranranchoredmolecules in0ram positives ASBall(Univ.Esse0 Soilmicrobiology, plantlitter degradation, A,C.Ward (lJniv. Newcastle) Dataanalysis insystematics andprocess control bioremediatiorl H,M.Lappin-Scott (CR)(Unrv, Exeter) G,Black (unrv, Sunderland) Bioremediation,plant-soif microbe interaction, biomassutilization Siri,:g, l. li'*li r,l * ;i * :l] t deLeij (lJniv Suney) Bioremediation,biologicalcontrol, rhizosphere, 0 L Smith(C)(Wright-Fleming ln$,lmperial Poxviruses su$ai|lability College,London) K.T.Semple (Unrv, Lancaster) Biodegradation,environmental pollutants, l,Erierley* (Unru, Cambridge) Coronaviruses,retrovrruses, translalion, RNA$ructure ecotoxicology,bioremediation l,N.Clake (Unrv, Southampton) Caliciviruses,rotaviruses, microviridae, chlamidiaphage I P'Thompson(ltlERC 0xford) Microbialdiversity, pollution degradation andimpact S,Efstalhrou (Univ,Cambridge) Herpesviruses,pathogenesh, latency, viral vectors G,J,C,lJnderwood* (Univ,Essex) Biofilms,exopolymen, sediments, algae, nitrification D.J.Evans* (lJniv. Glasgow) Picornaviruses,paramyxoviruses replication, DD Wynn-Williams (British Antarctic Survey) Antarcticcyanobacterial ecology, a$robiology receplors,pathogenesis LE Macaskre (CR)(Univ, Birmingham) J,K.Fazakerley*(Royal'Dick'School Vet.l\4edicine, Pathogenesis,neurovirology, alphaviruses, r*':y;*rr*i*ill Edinburgh) prc0rna1/rruses,ap0ptOsts I'sl*iti*l*i.;r'lr*al **d #il;$:r*l**r:I**ill M,Hanis(Univ, Leedg Retroviruses,hepatitis C 0 Hobbs(C) (Liverpool JohnlVloores lJnrv ) Streptonycesanlibiotic production andmorphology E.Hoey*(Queen's Univ,Belfast) Enleroviruses,molecular biology, picornavirus (Unrv, N,J,Bainton Surrey) Eacterialsignalling andcommunicati0n taxonomy R,H,Cumming* (Unrv, Teesside) Bioprocessing K,N,Leppard (Univ, Warwick) Adenoviruses,geneexpression, Rl\JAnuclear export, l\4,J,0empsey* (l\,4anchester l\4etropolitan Untv,) Biochemicalengineering cellcycle (Zeneca, M.lVl,8,Duchars* Billingham) Large-scalelermenlation, recombinanttechnology J,C,Neil (unrv. Glasgow Veterinary School) Retrovirtlses,cancer,immunodeficiency R,l\'1.Hall* (Glaxo-Wellcome, Stevenage) Biotransformation,fermentation development, scale-up viruseVvaccines (C)Convener D,J,lVlead*(DeltaBiotechnology, Nottingham) Appliedmicrobial physiology, processcontrol |\/,A,Skinner (lnst, Animal Health, Compton) Poxvirus,replicatron, morphogenesis (CR)Council Representative Vacancy *Retiring immunomodulation,vaccines 2001 GPC Salmond (CR)(lJnrv Cambridge) Rl/ Ellioll(CR) (lnst of Virology, Glasgow) ffi ffiffi

rufug.gWffi,w,reNw.p:mw $.reffi .W' ffiW.$.wwwffiffi&w M ffiwpwffi The FungalVillage- importanceof micro-organismsto the villagersof @ Heddon-on-the-Wall.Suggesting the name'TheFungal Village'provoked an interestingresponse! Nevertheless, Heddon-on-the-Wall in the participantsand locationproved ideal, a mixture Northumberlandis the of agesand backgroundswho exploredthe vastdiversity centre of an on-going of micro-organismsin their area. The weekend of conservationproject that informativefungal fun involvedtalks, walks, educational has actively involvedthe activitiesfor the young(and young-at-heart) and a good local community and timefor all.All that remainedwas the weather... the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers . . .Whichwas brilliant for the entiretime!! Several weeks of (BTCV).Derelict land has warm(ish),wet weatherwas followedby a brightsunny been converted into a autumnalweekend that broughtout plentyof fungiand, wildlifegarden (the Heddon moreimportantly, visitors to the fungalvillage. Butterfly)surrounded by a Fridaynight kicked off withtalks about the significance wildflower meadow. Nearby and role of micro-organismsin the environment.This is the villagecommon that was followedby an introductionto fungi and how to overlooksthe riverTyne. collectand observethem responsiblyfrom an expert As a regular weekend field mycologist,Mariano volunteerfor BTCVI have Ouintanaof Madrid. oftentalked to othervolun- Saturday dawned bright teers andvisitors about my 'regular and crispand we all awoke joA. As this involves refreshed, particularly those environmental m icrobiology, who were interviewedby I haveexplained that micro- BBC RadioNorth at 0730 organisms can play a prompt! A large group highly beneficial, and gatheredat a localplant- indeed essential role in ationto haveguided fungal the environment,occur in walks led by Mariano immense numbers and Ouintana and Gordon diversity,and not all micro- Rutter (from Edinburgh). biologistsare interested The groupwas deliberately in'cloning Molly the multi- dividedin two and visited ply-drug-resistant rabbit eithera mainlyconiferous that lives in supermarket or deciduousarea. After cheese'. wandering around about ABOVE: Macrofungiare a highlyvisible and accessiblegroup 500 m from the car park in 2 hours we lunchedon Heddon-on-the-Wallbutterfly of micro-6rganisms-andthe principlesbehind their mushroomsoup and returned tothe'laboratoryi havenand some ofthe participants examinationare broadlythe same(and incur the same The lab for the weekendwas the W.l.hall fitted with (top)and partici pants in Ihe' Build difficulties)as othermicro-organisms. Also, in contrast two microscopes(kindly loaned by the Universityof gane(bottom). a [ree' to otherEuropean cultures, the UK is particularlyfungi- Newcastleupon Tyne).Our groups examinedtheir phobic,and there are mainlynegative perceptions of their fungalcollections and followed a numberthrough the RIG HI: roles(e.g. the nametoadstools), (sometimestortuous) identif ication process, Th is included Ayoung participant proudly them to systematics,keys and lookingat hisfind (centre) and two Withfungi as the focus,we decidedto run a weekend introducing displays (using ladiescolouring infungal habitats of events in Octoberto promotethe environmentalthe microscopicfeatures of the fungi sporeprints intheWlhall(bottom). andthe microscopes).However, before that we alltook part in 'Toadstoolor Tree',a game beingtrialled by our ALLPHOTOS COURTESY M MILNER visitingBritish Mycological Society education officer, SueAssinder. This required lots of runningabout in circles and even more brainpower - this was a problemfor the eventorganizer! Other young persons' activities in the afternoonincluded how the mushroomgot itsspots andpainting afungal habitat. Pheww!!!Afterall this hard work we neededto relax.No chancelThe BTCVvolunteers prepared a barbecueand brothsupper for all participants.About 40 peoplecame outto enjoythe excellentfood, drink and conversation. Sundayonce againdawned bright and crisp,and we awoke refreshed,particularly those who had been drinkingthe realale the previousevening. 'What'son YourPatch? was a guidedwalk to discover the diversityof fungion the villagecommon, As on the w wwffiwffiffiffiffi{r+^tr.L2elFEBo1 I F

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Saturday,the peoplewere # P.S. So that was it? LEFI: split into two groups and No way!72 hoursafter the Youngmycologists with their model takenaround the common Fungal Village,five able Amanitas(top)and the microscopy in,looking at mainly (bottom). I either volunteerstravelled (at their lab mixedwoodland or a small own expense!)to the Sierra CENIRERIG|-|I: meadowarea. Once again, Guadarrama mountains everyone(even mycol- Insideidentification attheW.l. hall. the northof Madrid,Spain, to ogists)was impressedby continuetheir mycological the fungal diversity,with BOITOlt4LEFI: training in a different Afungal foray with Gordon Rutter morethan 50 soeciesfound environment. in about 2 hours, After (top)and a typicalscens inside the lunch a choice of events O Dr Mike Milner is W,l.hall(bottom). was available: f urther carryingout researchinto identificationusing micro- the moI ecu lar micro bi al ALLPHOTOS COURTESY M |lilILNER scopes; a mycological ecology of in situ treasurehunt, where clues bioremediationin NRG were traced by following FossilFuels, Universityof themycelia (if one didn't get Newcastle-upon-Tyne. entrappedin it);and paint- Tel.O191 285 1999;Fax ingbanners to illustratethe 0191 2226669;email fungallife cycle, The group [email protected] 'Build gamewas a Tree'where memberswere usedto constructa tree trunk,tap root,xylem, bark, roots and associatedmycorrhizalfungi that all made various noises whenhappy. There's nothing quite like group silliness to provea point.

OnSunday evening we all parted,after a highlyenjoyable weekend,Everyone was amazedby the diversityof fungi, evenin'their backyardiand had acquired an understanding of the processesand problemsof f ungalidentification. Aboveall, the weekendbrought people of all agesand backgroundstogether to learnabout microbiology in the environment.After suchoverwhelming enthusiasm we havestarted to ensurethat the FungalVillage is not an isolatedevent and it willbe repeatednext year.

SGM Public Understandinq of ScienceAwards lf you are planningany projectsto promotethe public understandingof microbiologythenSGM maybe able to helpyou. Grants of up to g'l ,000 are availableto fund appropriateactivities. Applications are consideredon a first come,first servedbasis. The currentfunding year runsfrom Januaryto December2001. See SGM websitefor detailsand an applicationform.

ffiw{ffiffiewffiffiwroDAY voL%/ ftP,01 w ,,.t."'i,'i';i,L i,;,;I,.,rT*.$"gf"#F*ad:,'#1F -,-* , :",',.","*i"i:-.; -;:ito nn"t: rU:.f,+i'i+t;: "q'f#3 tiF,,{&,{ti4*ri#rra,;# Tunein to We usuallyget to the stationat about 5.30 pm every Sunday,in theory giving us halfan hourto organizethe ScienceWorld materialand select music for the show,before we go live thisSunday f rom on airat 6,00 pm.ln practice,somebody is usuallylate, the 6,00-7.00pt fora photocopieris usuallyout of paperand nobody knows the lookat th is week's weatherforecast. discoveries, lf you'dasked me at the beginningof 1999 whatI saw breakthroughsand myselfdoing in the forthcoming new millennium, probably the lastthing l'd have said would have been presenting a In January2000 we receivednews that we had been inventionsfrom the scienceshow on localradio every Sunday evening. Like awardeda grantof SZ0OO.The radiostation were pretty realmsof science mostof thesethings the showbegan as a seriesof lucky shocked- | don'tthink they reallybelieved we would andtechnology, coincidences.A couple of us who hadbeen involved with get the money,but on Sunday 27Ih Februarythe presentationsduring National Science Week were invited Scie n ceWorld s how was launched, sometop tunes and sciencefor alongto a localradio station to talk about We begineach show with a newsround up of the weeks' achance to win a a one-off an hour or so, lt had been intendedto be discoveries,publications, innovations and inventions. We mealfortwoat appearance,but the showwent so wellthat we leftwith playpopular chart music between items, run a competition weekday Garfu n kels an invitationto appearweekly, as guestson a andphone-in throughout the showand feature a special single eveningshow. We workedour way through every liveguest interview,including recently James Watson, Resaurant, think of. interestingbiomedical topic that we could Sir Alec Jeffreysand RichardDawkins. The material, WithChris Smith, We tackledbrain disorders, gene therapy, the microbial whichwe writeourselves, is gleanedfrom journals, news- even sexuallytransmitted infections and ShibleyRahman world, and papers,periodicals (including Microbiology Todayl) and contraception,The show on contracepiionwas extremely the internet, andCatherine popular,bui almost got us intotrouble, By that time, as an Hawkins experimentJwe werealso being broadcast live on cable Thesuccess of the showstems f romthe fact that we keep television,as wellas radio,and we hadfilled the studio the sciencesimple and humorous, and intersperse the DonTYouDare withevery conceivable kind of contraceptive(kindly sup- talkingwith popular chart music, generating an accessible Miss it ! pliedby Addenbrooke's Hospital genito-urinary medtcine broadcastthat appeals to a broadspectrum of listeners, clinic).Interestingly, viewer and listener surveys revealed Also,as far as we know,ScienceWorldis the onlydedicated that for that show our mostsubstantial TV audience scienceshow to be broadcaston a commercialradio was in Harlow,Essex (a phenomenonthat remains stationin the UK. unexplained,but is opento interpretation!),and more ln a shortspace of timewe havehad to makethe transi- shockingly,that a staggering55,000 people were tuning tionfrom medicaland PhD students to DJswhich has in to the showeach week, involvedlearning how to runall the gadgetryrequired to 'drive'the TOPRIGHT: At aboutthis time it occurredto me that,since the show showand make it soundgood. lt's not easyto Ihe Scie n ceW orl d leanp repare hadbeen very popular and there was an obviousniche for talkintelligently whilst you are watchtng the clock,cueing fora show. From left to right. a productlike it in Cambridge,it mightbe possibleto the nextsong, adjusting the mic levelsand monitoring CatherineHawkins Guest, Shibley obtainsome sponsorship so we couldset ourselves up the backingmusic, but if the listenerfigures are anything RahmanandChris Smith. with our own dedicatedscience show, giving us the to go by,we're definitely getting there. The skillswe have f reedomto improveand deVelop the conceptwithout the learnedhave also proved surprisingly useful in the lab, BELOW: constraintsof havingto fit inas guests on someoneelse's providingthe perfecttraining in givingtalks and presenta- ChrisSmith inthe'The Eagle' show tions,working under pressure and in goodtime-keeping I studioinCambridge Doingthe showlive is an enormousbuzz, mainly because As luckwould have it, the Biotechnologyand Biological youknow that when you push up the microphoneslider, (BBSRC) a PHOIOSCOURIESY CHRIS S[/ITH Science ResearchCouncil launched thousandsof peoplewill hear you makea mistakeif you io fund newgrant scheme saythe wrongthing (a bit likespeaking at a conference venturesinto oublic under- really)- it'sa prettystrong incentive to get it right, standingof scienceand were invitingapplicants to O Chris Smith, Medical and PhD student, applyfor awardsof up to Division of Virology, Department of Pathology, S10,000to helpput their Un iversity of Ca m bridge. ideasinto action. I put the ideato the radiostation and 'ScienceWorld' afterendless meetings and is written,produced and presented by phonecalls we eventuallyChris Smith, Shibley Rahman and CatherineHawkins, hada deal,They promised sponsoredby the BBSRC,and broadcastlive on 107'9 us an hour-longSunday (FM) The Eagle,(Cambidge) everySunday evening from evening slot, at a very 6.00-7.00 pm. reasonablerate, subject to us raisingthe necessary sponsorship.We then wrote the world's fastest grant application,submitted it to the researchcouncil, and S went homefor Christmas.

EL fffi${:ffi #$"S$ S&.#fl$'1*TODAYVOL2B/ FEBO1 :i I NewInternational Masters ,Soaphox! ProgrammeinBiotechnology

TheTechnical (DTU) Universityof Denmark is whetheryou're.an undergrad or postgrad,the sG M wantsto hearf romyou. offeringa two-yearMaster of ScienceDegree in Anythinggoes (as long as it'smicrobiology). Biotechnologystarting in September 2001 . I Any interestingnews items Biotechnologyis a ma1orfocus areaatDTU for both e,g.events that you've taken part in. teachrngand research. Our research interests cover I Tellus whatyou think about your degree/research, your university. the malorareas of the multidisciplinaryfield of f Yourexperiences e.g, giving presentations job. biotechnol ogy, f rom broinform atics to microb ial or f indinga interactionsrn foods. win s25 plus one year's student membership to the sGM for the besr letterpublished in eachissue of our Withinour education, there is an emphasis magazine.send yourentries to: onthe [email protected] f unctionof wholecells, that is, a systemsapproach is applied.Thrs comes through a closeintegration of SGM reservesthe rightto editentries prior io publication.Here's the f irst manydi-fferent disciplines such as proteinchemistry, contribution, mo lecu lar biology, ecology, taxon omy, an aerobic microbiology, enzym e technology and ferm entation pnystotogy. DearSoapbox specializedand suddenly But probablythe most haveto face the scary importantthing Ouraim is to educateskilled graduates to a highlevel, As a microbiology for me truththat our lectureis iswhether withthe followingkey sublect areas in the honoursstudent who I couldspend Maiters areon first Programme: haschosen a lab-based nameterms days,months and years (without researchproject, I have withus referrinq followingprotocol after Bioprocess Engineerin g gained(and am gaining) to a list).So as we donojr protocolwithout really 'l'm year'lab lmmunology an uncensored,no-frills, athird coars thinking,A lackof (tight AccessAllAreas'style aroundihe neck creativityin my daily Bioseparation insightinto the worldof andwrists to avoidlethal schedulemay cause me Environ mental Biotechnoloov working microbiolog ists spillages)and have to losetrack of why I am signedallthe relevant studyingin this fielo Bioinformatics intheir natural habitat ,. . ihe lab.This experience safety contracts we are andthe vastscope for MicrobialPhysiology isenabling me to decide obligedto takeon our developmentth is h ugely practicalworkwith a influentialsubject has MetabolicEngineering whetheror notthis rs a to worldI wanttowillingly newfound sense of OTTCT, We arekeen to attractthe beststudents from around professionalism. enter.Like many students Well,as lsaid,I'mgetting the worldto the MastersProgrammes at DTU,and I went intothis degree Can'thelp like feeling a glimpseof whatit could thereforewe havesecured a numberof scholarshios withmy eyes only half likea bitof an imposter be like,and hopefully by for students who areaccented nn ihe r-r^ opento exactlywhai it add iti o n, th e co u rs e;:'":'iii : ;r " though,working'in a lab the endof the yearl'll ffif# i:: J entailed. fullofhard working, knowwhether or not it is However,potential students are urged to applyearly, dedicatedPhD students somethingit should be asplaces may be limited (deadlines and further Livingwith artsstudents whoare all genuinely full like,for me information for the pastyear has anyway. areavailable on ourwebsite). We have of enthusiasmfortherr closecollaboration with mademe almostresent llulieSrivastava a numberof Danishindustries, , work,Yes, it's time to get offeringthe possibility the subjectfor itslong Un ive rsity of Live of placementsor employment seriousabout my studies rpool duringor after the study programme. hourscompared to other degreecourses, the forthefirsttimeln ... well DTUis locatedin Lyngby, for the firsttimel But the around1 0 km northof the runningbetween lf anyane outthere Danishcapital, Copenhagen, and is underlyingissue here is so ideallyplaced I buildingsfor lectures would like to respond to foraccepting international students. whetherI reallywant Thesurrounding (whichalmost always the views raised in this areahas many places io be a professional of culturaland historical over-runleaving you even letter please email significance(Hamlet's microbiologist, Elsinorecastle is close by), and lesstime to runto the next lt is now [email protected] the regionbenefits from closelinks to Scandinaviavia building)and of course thatI haveto ask mvself questions The content of letters therecently opened 17 km bridgeto Sweden,lf you I that overwhelmingstate suchas:Lould I in thissection requirefurthertemptation, Copenhagen enjoys a drier of confusionyou are left everget as excitedand does not reflect the opinion climatethan much of Britain,a realtreat if you hail with after manya enthralledas my peers of the SGM. f romthe westof Scotlandl practicalhas ended and whena PCRactually works,or receivea new Furtherinformation can be foundat it'stime to write it up. TGGEmachine with all www.ibt.dtu.dk/masters_prog ram me o r But thatwas then and this the nervousantici oation bycontacting Mhairi Mclntyre, Centre for Process isnow, the nowthat gives youwould expectwith a Biotech n o Io gy, B ui ld i n g 223,Technical Un ivers ity of us moreresponsibility, new bornbabvl? Do I Denmark,2800 Lyngby,Denmark (email moreimportance and pridemyself [email protected]). on my inevitablya lot more asepticiech n ique? Cou ld weighton ourshoulders. I livewith the smellof We no longerhave the dodgylatex lingering on abilityto blendinto the my handsfor so longafter generalmassof life I havetaken my gloves sciencestudents, off,as wellasallthe other becausewe have sickeningsmells that come with the territory?

TOD'\YVOL2B/FEBU M A job in, . .ScfrmffiffiffifficptfrGy ln a newseries of I metup with Rebecca in &Whatprompted theauspicious setting of ffi Frntils your move to the Royal articles,Gradline No.6Carlton House Society? NameRebecca Bowden editorTracey Terrace.Even science 'lt seemedto be a way Duncombe puristscan't help but be Age31 forwardwhich would give exploresthe range takenaback bythe grand me a muchbroader andadmire Fressntftc*upatlnn of careersavailable architecture experiencein scrence themany paintings that SeniorManager Science Policy, policy.I becamepart of a to microbiology adornthe walls, which TheRoyal Society smallunit in general graduates.Here combineto giveyou afeel sciencepolicy. This forthehistoric nature and Previuusflmployme*t she interviews SeniorScientific 0fficer, includedworking on all wellrespected traditions aspectsof publicpolicy, RebeccaBowden of the RoyalSociety.My Departmentofthe Environment (now includingthe Kyoto whoworks forthe visitcoincided with the DEIR) agreementand RoyalSociety. RoyalSociety'sMPs Managaofadninistratnn section renewableenergy. I briefingon stem-cell ofthe biotechnology unit thoughtthis would allow researchand therewas a me to get away from veryup-beat, bustling ResearchAssociate, Dept AgricultureandEnvironmental GMOs,butthen I atmosphereto the place. discoveredthatthe RS Science,University ofNetllcastle hadn'tcommented on \evelopmentandrisk asessnent ofgenetically engineered avian GMO policy.lgathereda QWhat promptedyou to pnbiotics grouptogether, which leaveresearch? includedRSfellows, 'lwanted Education a broader PhD,Dept Genetics andMicrobiology, University ofLiverpool membersof the NFU,the overview,I didn't want to ofantibiotic resistance geneswithin natural Instituteof Groceryand just Ecologicalinpact oftransfer others,to reviewthe state continuelooking at populatians singlegenes or bacteriain ofbacteria inthe sail environnent of the scienceon GM the laboratory,but lwasn't BSc(Hons), University ofLiverpool plants(1 998) and surewhat kind of jobs Micnbialbiotechnohy concernsforthe future.I wereoutthere. I sawan became known as biotech advertfor a post as higherscientific officer at the womanbecause biotechnology policy exploded out of Departmentof the Environment(DoE) to review controll applicationsto releaseand marketgeneticallymodified NowI'm Senior Managerof the section covering oiganisms(G MOs), and applications for containeduse. anythingin innovation, how to developthe science to This relateda lot to what I'dalready done in Newcastle makemoney;energy policy;and the science base andduring my PhD,and itwas alsoagood opportunity itself,including the RAE. I'm responsible for six to see if I liked office workl managersand foursupportstaff. I've one manager QYou stuckwith itWhatwas itthatyou enioyedabout nowjust for biotech nology, wh ich I'm happy for them the post? t to take overl 'l was the only personforthe DoE who was & How doespolicy tie in withthe Society'sother reviewingapplications for containeduse in the U K work? and increasinglyI was lookingat applicationsto 'TheRS has a bigbudget for its fellowship market.This involveda lot of paperworkand working schemesand public meetings, butthe budgetforthe to very strict deadlines.There is a legal framework for policyunit is much smaller. We don't lobby directly or theseapplications,which can be as littleas 30 days, runadvertisements. Rather, we gather expert groups andthis can'tslip so I hadto be verygood attime togetherand produce an authoritative, independent management.lt was a bit likejuggling experi ments view.Our primary aim is to informpolicy makers and back in the lab. thishasto be donewith independent money, even Whilstatthe DoE I becameinvolved in negotiations thoughwe do receiveoffers from various organizations. underthe U N conventionfor biologicaldiversity. This Wemay hold public meetings on the back of our involvedpreparing the biosafetyprotocol, an statementsand so this has affected how we interact internationalagreement,on howto handleGMOs. I withthe public.We're stillviewed as an oldboys'club was seconded and promotedto the scientificadviser insome quarters but now we're getting outthere forthe U K delegation.Atthe time the UK was andhelping facilitate discussion, as well as trying to Presidentof the EU and therefore we took the lead informpolicyl membersof the European and hadajointchairwith Q Yourcareer to date seemsso wellplanned. Commission.My rolewasto speakforthe EU in the Wasthat intentional? was but scientificworking group, which terrifying 'Not reallyenjoyable. I liked watching the people involved at all.I thinkyou need to stepback and look at in negotiations,it was good fun.lt alsogot me more whatskills you have. I could'vehated my job at DoE.lt interestedin policyworkl just happenedthat I enjoyedit andwas good at itl

E ffi $#ffiffi#*#ffiYforlAY\0l21lFEB01 MeeungplevlewI New challengesto health: the thrcat of virus infiestion GeoffSmith

Soyou wantto work in Science Policy? The virus group has organized the main A previewof Here'swhat you need. symposiumat the Spring2001 SGM meeting thetopics to be at Heriot-\,)VattUniversity, Edinburgh. The discussedinthe purpose ofthe meeting is to review the continuing ffi SciencePolicy Officer, The RoyalSociety threat MainSvmposium at of viruses (and prions) to human and animal health. Degreein science, engineering ortechnology the M Although several virus diseaseshave been controlled by SG Meetinou (dependenton the postapplied for). vaccination (such as polio, measles, mumps, rubella at Heriot-Watt An MScis a bonus,Administration experience is and necessary, yellow fever) and one (smallpox) has been eradicated, Un iversity, 26-27 viruses remain a potent threat to human and animal March2001 . health due to their ability ffi Manager,The Royal Society ro evolve and adapt rapidly. For viruses such as influenza and HIV, the ability to 3-4 yearspostgraduate experience. A PhD is not undergo rapid antigenic variation enables them to evade necessary. existing immuniry and causedisease. Viruses may adapt to new situations, such as changes in the density of ffi HigherScientificOfficer, DETR (formerly DoE) human, animal or insect hosts, or the presence of Postdoctoralexperience. The candidate must show immunosuppressed populations, and cause disease managementexperience; this could be supervising where hitherto they were unable to do so. Rapid virus studentsin the laboratorv,Good writino skills are evolution also enables virus strains to reouired. arise that are resistant to existing drugs. The meeting will consider the mathematical modelling and surveillance of virus Forf urtherinformation about the RoyalSociety or infections. DETR,see their websites at: There will follow talks that review the molecular, cell http://www. royalsoc.ac. u k/ biological mechanisms by which viruses and prions http://www, detr.gov. u k/ induce disease.These include influenza and HIV the devastating haemorrhagic diseases caused by Ebola and Marburg viruses, prion diseasessuch as BSE and new variant CJD, psychiatric illness and how drug- resistant virus strains pose a major problem for anti-viral chemotherapy The organi zerc ate most grareful to all the speakers for their contribution to the symposium and for their chapters for the book that will be avallable at the meeting. The meeting will be of interest ro all those interested in virus and prion diseaseand is an important reminder to all that viruses are and will remain a continual threat to human and animal health.

O ProlessorGeoffrey L. Smith,Convener of the SGM VirusGroup, helped to organizethis symposiumand can be contactedattheWright Fleming lnstitute,lmperial College School of Medicine,St Mary'sCampus, NorfolkPlace, London W2 1PG. Tel.0207594 3971; FaxO2O7 594 3973; emai I g Ism ith @i c. ac. u k Othe r sym posi um org an i ze rs : O lfyou have any a P.M. Goodwin, The Wellcome Trust storiesor newsfor a W.L. lrving, Universityof Nottingham publicationin a J.W.McCauley, lnstitute of Animal Health, Compton Gradline,please a D.J. Rowlands, Universityof Leeds sendthem to TraceyDuncombe Furtherdetails of this neeting ngaher witb a bookingformare [email protected] giuenin tbeenclosedProgramme Booklet. The symposiumwil/ be publishedas a book.A reuiewand orderfomz will beauailable in theMay issueof 'MirobiologyToday'. ffiwffiwww ffimwffiffiregw ffiffiffi$ffiffi.ffi##€* Launch of dtutu+3.'ffiffiffi###$ * Meetings on 'H the web €Sffi&Fe#r#$mmrp NewGlinical 4'-&9.tu'#r**ema"6r Pffiw*r€$mg Microbiology Group F,ffi**€$r*g information on Pleasesupportthe newGroup Up-to-date $4errEqpt-{ffm€.t L*a,"r iiw*slaf *:d *$' #*s'* futureSociety meetings is whichwillbe launched atthis t $x'r $*'*ys *.f;p*, ff d ere fl*w rg fa #..a:.9{ix availableon the website: meeting,lthas been formed to ffi#as*tutr##t 1f'}*"*"3*$*p€*mh*r http://www.sgm,acuk tr.$*,3# bringto gether clinical O Main Symposium microbiologi$sandbasic medical O Main Symposium - Meetings New Ghallenges to scientists.TheGroup aims to Mycobacteria Health: the Threat stimulatethecollaborations that New Developments organization of Virus Infection underliegood quality medical 0rganizers:M. Goodfellow, TheSGM meetings research,Theactivities willbe PM.Goodwin, H,M,Lappin-Scott, programmes are organized @f'ffi {"} iffi $td,r,f1,{ F,$#; relevanttomedical, dental and G,Saddlerand EM.H. Wellington bythe committeesof the ffi##*{s-ffiT" veterinarymicrobiologists andall specialinterest g roups, Abooklet giving fulldetails of sciencetrained microbiologi$s with 10-ll September bythe co-ordinated theprogramme andabooking aninterest inclinical infection, |0Septenberan - Systenatics ScientificMeetings Off icer, formis enclosed with this issue of TheGroun willcover: NST0KER (LSHIIX:) Mycobacteria ProfessorHoward Mic ro b iol o gy To day, Any chan ges Jenkinson.Suggestions for fundamentalandapplied inthe 21 st century willbe po$ed on the SGM website. topicsfor f uturesymposia aspectsofmedical, dental and M.G00DFELL0W (Newcastle) arealways welcome. See veterinaryinfections Systenatinofnycob acteria o.43 for contactdetails w {.}FFffiffiS"il}l:}fl}#?ffiffi thediagnosis ofmicrobial S.T.C0LE (lnstitut Pasteur) 1,: of GroupConveners, i; s h :) h-i +"i-il" i l\i*" infecti ons Con p arativ eny co bacte rial Administrationof Delegateswhose offered posters immuneresponse to genonics meetingsis carried out havebeen accepted should note micro-organisms PJ.BRENNAN (Colorado, USA) byMrs Josiane Dunn of thatanarea of 1 m x 1m only is treatmentandprevention of Mycobacterialcell wal I the MeetingsOffice at availableonthe poster boards for microbialinfections 10September pm- Epideniology SGM Headquarters, theirdisplay, resistancetoanti-microbial PFINE (LSHTM) TBepideniolory MarlboroughHouse, agsnrs and e nvi ronn ental infl ue nces BasingstokeRoad, # tdff;$r*s#ffir**; epidemiologyofinfection RSCLIFTON HADLEY(VLA SpencersWood,Reading taxonomyofclinically relevant (Tel. F,*#3n*trffi*$effiffi Addle$one)Bovine [ub erculosis ; RG7 1AG 0118 micro-organisms gi 1I Atthemeeting, aboard will be set current epideniolo calissues 988 1805: Fax01 (Bilthoven, 988 5656;email upwith notices ofjobs, postdoctoral TheGroup's firstsymposium D,VAN S00LINGEN The [email protected]). positions,studentships, cotlrses, on27 March dealswith Antibiotic Nethgrlands)Contribution ofDNA conferences.etc.Contributions are resistance,followedbyan offered fingerprintingtoexanine the welcomeand may be either brought nanerssession on28 March and a [ransnissionoftub erculosi s Abstracts tothe meeting orsent beforehand to workshop mMicrobiology research L,GWAYNE (Long Beach, USA) Book JanetHurst at Marlborough House. funding Dornancy in nycobacteria 147thOrdinary Meeting | | Septenberam- Pathogenesis Universityof Exeter w ffi#{::ldtLtrsf ffii*"1"'s & SpecialSymposium BGICQUEL (ln$itut Pasteur) 12-15 September2000 TheHeriot-Wattcampus issited Genomics:beyond Mycobacte rial g e n eti cs Community Structure adi$ance away from the deli ghts thesequence PD.BUTCHER (St,George's, and Co-operation in ofcentral Edinburgh andso a Systematics&Evolution Group London)M.tuberculosis gene Biofilms programmeofevening socialevents andthe International exp ressiondu ri ng infection, Thef ulltext of the hasbeen arranged tokeep the CommitteeonSystematic proteoni csan dnicrourays abstractsbook is now delegateshappy when they are not Bacteriologywithjoint funding MJ, C0LSTON (NIMR)/nteracfans availableasa PDFfile on attendingscientific sessions, These fromthe National Science betwe en h ost celh an d ny cob acte ria theSGM website. include: Foundation J.M.SHARP (Moredun, Edinburgh) Pathogenesis andinn u no- Monday26March 26-27March Trade& Welcome Reception palhogenesis ofM, paratu be rcu losis (titletobe confirned) Tuesday27March SocietyDinner, followed bya ceilidh Wednesday28March Whiskytasting 70'sl\ight (disco &ba) Pleasesupport these events,

i

E ffi$#ffiffi,ffi# Hsr.$sg;*i"+rOther fl,#i,ffi',,ry*pEl,fi,,+ Events l l Seplenberpn- Control # Mobilegenetic Functional O foint ASM/SGM Meeting I elementsin bacterial GenOmiCSOf ;,1-,rl:i:.lli,.:t,r;:,i;;t-';ij.ijii r eventsinthe lung and consequences virulence Pathogens Microbial qi;;,;;'ir"i'i*il"ilrr.qtrr" forvaminestrategies i::':,tirilr:,:::,. ii::rir.r::.'.i,+.:r itir.;:; MicrobialInfection Group TrinityCollege Dublin E :^r ^ --^. DB Y0UNG (lmperial College Biodegradation, Biotransformation and 12September 22_2gMarch 2oo1 London)Lipo protei ns, glycop rotei ns 0rganizers:[4,Barer &P Langford andnew vaccines Internationaltyk,.o*n,o,u[:1,^',1, ortowa), HitaryLappin-scotr (plangford@ic,ac.uk) thearea offunctional genomics will,, ffi::jn'r,[?llu,,,,,siry K,DUNCAN (GlaxoWellcome UK) (university;',::::':,.-'-;;:ofExeter), Gary sayler (univenity ofTennessee), James Tiedie addresstheque$ions o11',^,ii.'"' Newapproaches todrug design rif,il\/lsfa[slic flux (MichiganState University) &Gary Toranzos (University ofPuerto Rico) amountsofintormation leinq S.H,GILL[SPIE (RoyalFree, Physiology,Biochemistry,& vast generatedonthe genome Follawingonfrom the successfulfirstioint meeting ofthe American Society London)Antitu b e rcu Iosi s MolecularGenetics Group ieouencesofmiciobial oathoqens for Microbiology andthe SGM atthe University ofAberdeen in1995, the two chenotherapy; pastsuccess and 12September societiesarepleasedtoannouncethe secondjointmeeting,Tropical San futurechallenges wilibeused toadvance our 0rganizers:N.Bruce &G. Stephens knowledgeofthe biology ofthese Juan,Puerto Rico, with its diverse landscape andnumerous natural ([email protected]) organismsandto devise new wonders,willbe the site of the conference' O Other symposia i;]j;Classif ication and methodsofcontrol, Theconference willinclude a3-day meeting withplenary sessions oneach i* Microbial Iifestyles identificationof D,McDEVIIT (SmithKline Beecham, topic, invited speakers andan opportunity forshort offered papers and Cells&Cell Surfaces Group clinically significant USA)Genonics; newstrategiesfor p0slsrs' actinomycetes 13September snalInolecuIe drug discuery: 0rganizers:J,Armitage Systematics& Evolution Group opportunitiesandhurdlesr*{il irifi:i:if'r,:i::,ii-i-:'i:,-ii"r,1i.1,r;, ([email protected],ac,uk) & 12September M.PALLEN (Queen's University of Biodegradationandenvironmentalfate oforganic pollutants PRainey (paul rainey@ plant 0rganizer:G,Saddler Belfa$)Data mining bacterial Anaerobicbiodegradation andbiocatalysis sciencesoxac.uk) ([email protected]) genlmesequences Geneticsofbiodegradation andbiotransformation (Pfizer, '.'Lower respiratory PD0RR UK)3D Microbialcommunities/biofilms structureanalysis coupled with tractinfections Metabolicengineering highlhroughputscreeningFungaltransformationsandsecondanrymetabolism ClinicalMicrobiology Group R.RAPPU0LI (Chiron SpAltaly) Biocatalysisandindustrial enzymes 13September Reversevaccinology 0xygenasesinbiocatalysis andbiodegradation 0rganizer:S.Gillespie P,RATH0D (Catholic University of Stereoselectivebiosynthesis ([email protected]) America)0lobal transcriptional Directed evolution fornovel reaction ##Research changesinthe human nalaria Mininggenomes/bioinformatics supervision- how to parasitePlasnodium falcipuun Furtherdetails ofspeakers willbe finalized shortly and will be available on getit right GWEINST0CK (lexas) Genonic theSGM website. Forf.,rther information, contaciHilary Lappin-Scott studiesofspirochaetes (UniversityofExeter; email hm.lappin-scott@exeter,ac,uk). EducationGroup B.WREN (London School of 12September followedby a &TropicalMedicine) Ife ii:;|,::iiry.:i1 Hygiene 1;l!:l'ii.jr'; SupervisorTraining workshop on "i,j:i,tii:1:.!. ni cunpy.pbttgenome aialysis ""''"'" SGMn.,*,members*^-,^^-^ are entitled toregisterforthe meeting atthe same 13September uInfuq tuuu fnnrt_hnrnp uut Itu vuLt,rthnro, IUvu' I concessionaryratesas ASM members andStudent Members may apply for 0rganizer:A.Eley Fulldetails ofthis event anda^,, (a uk) ASMtravel grants. Seevuvuw.asmusa,org {orregistration details r,[email protected] regi$rationformare on the StjM lr*Microbial website O Main Symposium interactionsinaquatic 0rsanizer:AnsusBell(abell@tcdie) environments Signals, switches, ffiffiiffiiiii;*rthesGMforyounsmembers(postsraduare regulons & EnvironmentalMicrobiology cascades: control ,v,ic,ori",cc,,o,,," Groupwith British Phycological llfilf;ltr ilifl:']#','lJ ilIfrfrffi[il!ftffi i'1il3,,*webs*e : of bacterial gene Environment www'sgm'ac'ukr,'', -i6 Society expression lnteractions 11&l2September O,ueen'sUniversityof 0rganizer:G.Underwood Belfast OViral Zoonoscs -- (gjcu@essexacuk) Autumn2001 "i:! 1'X r{.{itij li rJ i:l ili;i' i:; i-:li: :i r.ffiBioprocess 0rganizers:MartinCollins f.ilt:,1,0;ri i,*i.:iiluj!:;iri:1ltf l:r..?i'lif:r,l;::i;;t;{l:i.i.i" r:,i,"+r..i'*'i:r monitoring&control (mcollins@qub ac,uk) and Mike SGMClinical Virology Group, European Society for ClinicalVirology Fermentation&Bioprocessing Larkin([email protected],uk) andthe European Society forVeterinary Virology Group For details of lrish 0rganizers:lWreghitt (Fax01223242n5) & 10&llSeptember Branch activities J.Be$ (jenny,best@ kcl,ac.uk) 0rganizer:D.[4ead contactthe Convener, (dave.mead@aventiscom) Martin Collins (m. co II i n s @qu b. ac. u k) #g'$9,i$;$j* Other ryWf+;,9;l$'e Events 1lSeptenber pn - Control Mobilegenetic r"tt"ti"";l OfointASM/SGM Meeting l.M0RME (Colorado, USA) Early elementsin bacterial Genomics of errentsinthe lung and consequences virulence Microbial Pathogens i.",*; ll:ot,lrl'riiilt:;.li':,. ,ll:i,,lti,rirl: lilii. iil'l i','::t'.i+ li.l.,. - forvaccine strategies MicrobialInfection Group TrinityCollege Dublin D,B.Y0UNG (lmperial College Biodegradation, Biotransformation and 12September 22-23 March2001 London)Lipop rotei ns, glyco prote ins Biocatalysis(83) 0rganizers:M Barer &P Langford Internationallyknown speakers in andnew vaccines 0rganizers:David Gibson (University oflowa), Hilary Lappin-Scott (p,langford@ic,ac.uk) thearea of functional genomics will KDUNCAN (GlaxoWellcome UK) (UniversityofExete|, Gary Sayler (University ofTennessee), James Tiedje addresstheque$ions ofhow the Newapproaches todrug design Metabolicflux (MichiganState University)& GaryToranzos (University ofPuerto Rico) amountsofinformation being S.HGILLESPIE (RoyalFree Physiology,Biochemistry,& vast generatedonthegenome Followingonfrom the successfulfirst jointmeeting ofthe American Society London)Anti'tub ercu Iosis MolecularGenetics Group sequencesofmicrobial pathogens forMicrobiology andthe S0M at the University ofAberdeen in1995, the two chenotherapy;pastsuccess and 12September usedtoadvance our societiesarepleased toannounce thesecond joint meeting. Tropical San futurechallenges willbe 0rganizers:N Bruce&G Stephens knowledgeofthe biology ofthese Juan,Puerto Rico, with its diverse landscape andnumerous natural (gm$ephens@umistacuk) organismsandto devise new wonders,willbe the site of the conference, O Other symposia rilrClassification and methodsofcontrol. Theconference willinclude aS-day meeting with plenary sessions oneach is:M icrobial lifestyles identificationof D McDEVITT(SmithKlineBeecham, topic,invited speakers andan opportunity forshort offered papers and Cells&CellSurfaces Group clinically significant USA)Genonics; new strategies for posters. actinomycetes 13September snalInolecule drug discovery; 0rganizers:JArmitage Systematics& Evolution Group opportu nities an d h u rdl es rg!,.:rii 1I i:.i1i.;:l:; i;, i,: :,i,:.ii;: i;i; il : ([email protected])& 12September M,PALLEN (Queen sUniversity of Biodegradationandenvironmental fateof organic pollutants P,Rainey (paul,rainey@plant- 0rganizer:GSaddler Belfast)Data nining bacterial Anaerobicbiodegradation andbiocatalysis sciencesox.acuk) (g,saddler@cabiorg) gen0nesequences Geneticsofbiodegradation andbiotransformation P.D0RR (Pfizer, UK)30 Microbialcommunities/biofilms al,PLower respiratory structureanalysis coupled with Metabolicengineering tractinfections highthrou gh p ut screeni ng Fungal transformations andsecondanry metabolism ClinicalMicrobiology Group R.RAPPU0LI (Chiron SpA ltaly) Biocatalysisandindustrial enzymes 13September Reversevaccinology 0xygenasesinbiocatalysis andbiodegradation 0rganizer:SGillespie PRATH0D (Catholic University of Stereoselectivebiosynthesis ([email protected]) America)0lob al trannri ptio nal Directedevolution fornovel reaction ii*lResearch thangesinthe hunan nalana Mininggenomes/bioinformatics paru supervision- how to parasite Plasno diu n falci n Furtherdstails ofspeakers willbe finalized shortly and will be available on getit right GWEINST0CK (Iexas) Genonic theSGM website Forfurther information, contact |-|ilary Lappin-Scott studiesofspirochaetes Group (UniversityofExeter; email [email protected]). Education B.WREN (London School of 12September, followed bya Hygiene&Tropical Medicine) Ife SupervisorTraining workshop on fu || Canpy ; post-geno me analysis SGMmembers areentitled toregisterforthe meeting atthe same 13September ofa food-borne pathogen AEley concessionaryratesas ASM members andStudent Members may apply for 0rganizer: Fulldetails ofthis event and a (a.r.eley@sheffield,ac.uk) ASMtravel grants. See vuvuw.asmusa.org for registration details, regi$rationform are on the SGM *&Microbial website interactionsin aquatic '$*t-:;: i..i i:i iii & il i i.:i:i 0rganizer:Angus Bell (abell@tcd ie) (postgraduate environments Grantswill be available {rom the SGM for young members andfirst postdocs)wishing toattend this meeting. EnvironmentalMicrobiology Microbial Genome Fulldetails ofthe scheme willbe published onthe SGM website: Groupwith British Phycological Environment www.sgm.ac.uk Society lnteractions 11& 12 September Oueen'sUniversityof 0rganizer:G,Underwood Belfast OViral Zoonogcg (gjcu@essexac,uk) Autumn2001 l':l* t 3 ;i;i;;titir."r ir :l"tr :i#i:;:;l r"ffiBioprocess 0rganizers:MartinCollins 1ii4.ti;tli ari*r.i;it;:.tilll::l;ni.'i:ii.il,!l':i,.li:i'iiil*::r, i..,"1:.+';i;r:i{:oli monitoring& control (mcollins@qub,ac uk)and Mike SGMClinical Virology Group, European Society for ClinicalVirology Fermentation&Bioprocessing Larkin([email protected],uk) andthe European Society forVeterinary Virology Group For details of lrish 0rganizers;lWreghitt (Fax01223242n5) e l0allSeptember Branch activities J.Best (jenny,best@ kcl.ac,uk) 0rganizer:DMead contactthe Convener, ([email protected]) Martin Collins (m. co II i n s @qu b. ac. u k) MicrobiologyToday fffke $re sr' a gp a$+ m# ffi ffi tr-%€tr#w4#tr.%'W EditorMerielJones Chlamydiaareagroup of bacteriawiththe unpleasant takesa lookat some lifestyleof obligateintracellular parasites, Their activities papersin current resultin disease in manyvertebrate species, ranging from issuesof the beingthe leading cause of blindnessinhumans to causing Society'sjournals spontaneousaborlion in farm livestock. Their parasitic whichhighlight new naturehas made it impossibleto applymany important bacteriologicaltechniquestothem. The sort of plus/minus andexciting biologicalmarkers normally used to classifybacteriado developmentsin notwork, A smallset of biochemical,physiological, microbiological morphological,serological and DNA-DNA hybridization Bush, R.M. & Everett, K.D.E. (2001). Molecular evolution ofthe research, methodsis used fortheir identification, With the advent of Cltlamydiaceae. IntJ Syst Euol Microbiol 5 I, 203-220. DNA-basedmethods there is increasing evidence for Schachter,J. and 31 orher authors (2001). Letterto the Editor: chlamydiain animals as diverse as amoebae, bivalves, Radical changes to chiamydial taxonomy are not necessaryjusr yer. alligatorsand chameleons, as well as their long-established IntJSyst Euo/Microbiol 5I,249 . hostsof humansand farm animals,As knowledge of their Everett, (2001). identification, diversity and activities has developed, the K.D.E. & Andersen, A.A. Letter to the Editor: Radical changes to chlamydial taxonomy are not necessaryjusr - numberofspecies, and howto definethem, has also yet reply. IntJSyst Eaol Microbiol 5 l, 25I-253. changed, In 1999, Everett ef a/. published in IJSB a paperthat reclassified the orderChlamydiale.s, with the'proposal of two newfamilies, anew genus and five new species. A groupof scientists,led byJ, Schachterfrom the Chlamydia Research Laboratoryofthe Universityof California, ina Lettertothe Editor,question whetherthis upheaval in chlamydial taxonomyis necessary atthis time:as they say, the single genusChlamydiaworked, and it hastaken years to reachits currentstatusof immediaterecognition among the medical professionand public,In replytothis Letterand in a supportingpaper,the authors of the 1999paper have justified and strengthened the basis forthe new chlamydial Taxonomy,

Bush& Everett(2001 ) havecombined analyses of genes, includingone that seems to respondrapidlyto evolutionary pressureand others that are important in virulence, with informationon the sequences of the ribosomal genes THISPAGE: favouredby molecular taxonomists, Their analyses indicated ffi*ffi#w*rm ffp# a*$ re ffi*.m w'm ;mft $asc# R.*q ilectronmicrograph showing a thatallthese genes were evolving in concert, albeit atvery gry$mq.w;*$-qmsg- thinsection ofa cell ol Ralstonia differentrates, eutro pha Iully packaged with Cellsare rathergood at thefood industry Not only Individualspecies are characterized bya mixtureof cytoplasmicinclusions of makingpolymers. Although dotheycomefroma polyhydroxyalkanoicacidswith the theirtypicalhostanimals, moleculardetails of ribosomal biologists concentrate on renewableresource, and are structureofthe new polythioester genes,and major rearrangements inthe genes on their oneslike nucleic acids and of coursebiodegradable, but consistingof3-mercaptopropionic chromosome.Since the bacteria are obligate parasites, one polysaccharides,a less well alsobacteriacan be induced acidand 3-hydroxybutyric acid, questionabout the d ivers ity of chlamyd ial species is whether superimposed knowntype is attracting to synthesizeover 1 30 itmatches and dates from the evolution of their host species. COURTESYI LUTKE-EVERSLOH considerableindustria differentforms.Some of AND Thedifficulty here is thatthere is currently no agreement on ASTEINBUCHET UNIVERSIIAI attention,These are the thesehave valuable physical thedate when some of the hostspecies originated, There is [/IUNSTER,GER[/IANY polyhyd roxyal kan oates characteristicsthat would alsoincreasing evidencethatsome chlamydia live in (PHAs).Many bacteria betoo expensiveto makeby amoebaeand so maybe widespread in soil and water. lt was OPPOSITEPAGE: makethemas stores of conventionalchem istry. foundthat closely related chlamydial species were no more Top:Kiba, an 1 1 -year old Asian carbonand energy, in a Ii kely to sharea host,or othervi ru lence traits, Thereason forthis variety elephantwho died from systematic thand istantly similarwaytothe fat relatedspecies. Indeed, there is some indication isthatthe enzyme that haemorrhagicdisease, now known that depositsin some animal advantageousgenes may have spread laterally makesPHAs is notvery tobe the work ofa newly among cells,The feature isolates, fussyabout its discoveredvirus, endotheliotropic of PHAsthatattracts substrate, elephantherpesvirus (EIHV-1 ). Biotechnolog ists have learnt However,with any revision to bacterialclassification, biotechnologists is that thei r Below:Kiba soffspring Plai Kiri, howto exploitthis lack of especiallytoagroupthataffecis public health, there is plastic-like characteristics whofortunately shows no sign of specificityby adding likely alwaysaquestion of whetherthisis the righttimeto change. makethem ideal for uses in thevirus, precursorsto the growth COURIESY Whetherthischange is accepted is in the hands of the packaging,medicine and B.EHLERS ROBERT KOCH- medium for the bacteria to INSTITUI.BERLIN, GERMANY microbiolooists,

E ffiE$#ffi churnout an ever-growing : .i,-i.;'-i'. -:'. " ; ; r .. rangeof polymers.A new 1 ; !" PHAhas resulted from TheAsian elephant is herpesviruses,they a collaborationbetween endangeredinthe wild by investigatedits other polymerchemistsand habitatdestruction, There genesusing PCR.This microbiologistsatthe arenow fewer than 50,000 revealedthat although the UniversityofMunster in ofthese animals left. Even viruswas related to a Germany,and has avery whenthey are brought into particulargroup called the novelchem ical feature. lt is theprotection of zoos,other betaherpesviruses, the thef irstto contain sulf ur dangerscan assail them. relationshipwas quite atomsinserled into the ResearchersinBerlin have distani.lt mustbe the first backboneof the polymer. beenstudying the reason memberofa newgenus, or Theresearchers fed forthesudden death of an evena newfamily,of smallamounts of 3, 3L 11 -year-old Asian elephant herpesviruses, thiodipropionicacid (TDP) calledKiba, He died within Oneworryingquestion tothe bacteriumRalston ia 24 hours f roma systematic waswhether the virus eutropha,alongsidea haemorrhagicdisease, had alsoinfected ihe other secondcarbon source such lifui:i:t,,ni4tj'?t'ii.A4t:lu{ *yir;j:,t;ti,lt;1:E whichhas caused the death elephantsin Kiba's herd. asfructose, The fructose ofotherelephants in About40 bacterialspecies have so far been shown Theresearchers suppliedmostof the carbon totake Americanand European designeda upDNAfrom theirsurroundings and incorporate itinto their testthat wou ld detect an andenergy requirements of ZOOS. chromosomes.This process, called transformation, EIHV-1genewith thecells, while the TDP occurs great natural ly d u ri n g growth,without the i ntervention Thedisease is now specif icity endedup in the storage of andsensitivity. To microbiologists,The mechantsm knownto bethe work of a their polymer.The researchers evolveda longtime ago relief,when they tested andthe genetic diversity created bythis recombination newlyd iscovered virus, bloodsamples foundthat if they strictly fromthe helpsthe bacteria adaptto environmental changes, endotheliotropicelephant herd,including limitedthe nitrogen in the or Kiba's overcomea host'sdefence mechanisms, proteins herpesvirus(EIHV- 1 lt offspringPlai Kiri, growthmedium, the yield of Specific ). therewas arerequired to recognizesuitable DNA, take wasdetected using the nosign of polymerincreased from 9 io itinto the cell thevirus. The test andthen fit itinto the chromosome, polymerasechai n reaction now 190/oofthedryweightof Of course,if thingswent offersa wayto monitor toofar,differentspecies of bacteriawould (PCR)to amplifypart of a captive thecells, blendinto one, elephanisfor signs andthis has certainly not happened, Scientists atthe viralgene f romKiba's blood ofthis lethaldisease, Anotherintriguing aspect Universitiesof Bremenand Oldenburg have been looking at andtissues. The German Ehlers, B., Burkhardt, S., isthat although this polymer thelimitations on naturaltransformation. researchershave now used Goltz, M,, Bergmann, V., isnewto science, itmay electronmicroscopyto Strainsof the speciesPseudomonas stutzerihavevery Ochs,A.,\il/eiler,H. & bea naturalproduct, Some examinethin slices of the (2001). variabletraits, including the ability to liveon various toxic Hentschke,J. marine al gae synthesize elephant'sorgans, The Genetic and ultrastructural compounds.They fall into seven groups, called genomovars, sulfur-containing sphericalvirus particles in chanct er ization of a E uropean eachwith the same genes, but arranged differently. The compoundsinresponse to thenucleiof some livercells isolate ofthe fatal abilitytolive in varied environments seems linked changesin salinity and, to Iookedjust like herpesvrrus, endotheliotropic elephant acquisitronof foreigngenes and rearrangements inthe herpesvirus.rl sinceTDP is one of the supportingits identity, To G enViro / 82, chromosome,Michael Lorenz and Johannes 415482. normalbreakdown Sikorskihave findout how similarthis beenexamining exactly how efficientlythe seven products,some aquatic particularvirusisto other genomovarsmanage this. They grew bacteriamay makethe strains,mixed with theirownpurified DNA, on conventional polymer.The researchers laboratorymedia andmeasured howefficientlytheytook TheSG M publ ishes two month ly jo urnals, Miafilology nowwanttoinvestigate itup, Half of the strainswere transformed, andtoumal ol General WrcIogy, whetherthephysical butthe efficiency varied over a thousand-fold.Adding extra, totally unrelated propertiesof thisnew DNAto the Tr' e Inbmational loumal of Sysbmatic and mixtu res decreased the uptake of their own D NA polythioesterare as unusual to some Evolulionary Microbiology QSEM,iormerryMBt extent.When the researcherstested asits chemistry. the mosteasily ispublished bimonthlyon behalf of the IUMS in transformedstrains to seehow wellthey could incorporate conjunctionwith the ICSB. Liitke-Eversloh, T., DNAfrom other genomovars, transformation was usually Thethree journals are now available online, Bergander, K., Luftmann, H. bestwithDNAfrom strains of the same group. & Steinbtichel, A. (2001). Forf urtherinformation vis it the journal webs ite: Identification ofa new classof Theresults indicate that despite the advantage a strain htS :/ /wurw.sgmioumals.org biopolymer: bacterialsynrhesis mightgarn, there are barriers to thefree exchange of genes Membersmay purchase SGM journals atconcessionary of a sulfur-containing polymer inP, stutzeri,thus maintaining diversitywithin the species. rates.See p, 1 orcontactthe Membership Officefor with thioesterlinkages. Understandingthe exact nature of these barriers is the details.Information on commercial Microbiology147, f L-19. subscriptionsis nextsteo. availablefrom the Journals Sales Office. Lorenz, M.G. & Sikorski,J. (2000). The potential for intraspecific horizontal gene exchange by natural genetic transformation: sexual isolation among genomovarc of Prcudomonasstutzeri. Microbiology 146.308r-3090.

*f#qi:1fr;9:,t#$#$**tfL*iKTDAYVOL2B/reB0lE ffiw%Wwgwse#wwk-wffi ffikm ffiwwwffi ww# %rwe#mxffiffiffi&fum fumm*#ww ffiffiffi ssem&ww6w*wwwmwm# #re#ww*#wm ff Oneof the most intriguing features of the BSE epidemic is theinfective prion protein,lt is still infectious Althoughthe complete UniversityofWanruick, thestabilityof afterexposure to temperaturesand chemicals that make sequenceofthe genome of haspicked outagene, mostotherproteins curl up and disintegrate. One of the Streptococcuspyoge nes namedsc/Ethatencodes bethatitforms aggregates in both the wasfinished in 1999, a proteinwith similarityto reasonsseemsto brainof infectedanimals and in tissue extracts, lts chemical scientistsare still themammalian protein makesthe protein hydrophobic, which means that decipheringwhat it actually collagen.The extensive structure infats, ratherthan water, or sticksto itselfif means.S.pyogenesisan similarityofthe SclB protein it dissolves elseis available.The disturbing aspectof this is that importantpathogen of to collagenis nothing processes1'4 millionmetric tons of bovinefat humans.Aswellas unprecedentedamong theEU still intosoap, detergents, cosmetics and animalfeed each year, causingsuperficial skin bacteria,The structure, as Althoughthe process usually involves heating thefat in andth roat conditions, it deducedfrom the DNA 'C, waterunder pressure for at least20 minutesat 200 a cancause serious invasive sequence,indicates that g paperi n rnal Ge n e ral Viro I o gy is the fi st infectionsand can trigger SclBalso contains a f orthcomin J ou of investigationofwhetherthis does indeed auto-immuneattacks, sequenceto directitto the comprehensive Colouredtransmission removeal I detectable prions. electronmicrograph ofchains resultingin illnesses such as surJaceof the bacterialcell. olStreptococcu spyo gene s rheumaticfever, Despite Thisis probably removed A groupof Germanresearchers at Hein rich-Hei ne COURTESY ALFRED PASIEKA/ decadesof researchinto oncetheprotein passes UniversityinDusseldorf investigated howwell authentic SCIENCEPHOTO LIBRARY thepathogenicity ofthis throughthe cell membrane, prionprotein survived being heated attemperatures upto leavinga portionto anchorit 160 'C for20 minutes.The scientific basis forthis method whilethe restprotrudes isthatthe heat initiates chemical reactions between water fromthe sur-face,An andorotein thatwill breakthe protein into its harmless indicationof itsimportance chemicalconstituents. The researchers used avery isthatthis orotein seems to sensitiveimmunological method which could detecteven be oresentin most isolates onehundred millionth of agramof prionprotein,After of S.pyogenes. heatingthe prionin water, or bovinefat, or mixturesof the Itcanbe an advantage for two,they could estimate how much of it stillsurvived, They a pathogento continuously couldcalculate adegradation factor,to indicate how changethe face it presents effectivelytheprotein was destroyed in each of their protein,reducing to itshost.The DNAcoding experiments,Lipid definitely protected the thefactor by over 1 00 atthe lowesttemperatureof 100 "C. for SclBcontains repetitions 'C, ofthe same DNA sequence, Itsinfluence, fortunately, disappeared above 1 60 sothat andmolecu lar biologists the oroteinvanished. The researchers wonder if the fat g nowknowthatthese often coversthe hydrophobic s u rf ace of the protein, protecti n it regulatethe expression of a fromdegradation for a time, genein someway. Mistakes, Thebestcurrentestimates ofthe infectiousness of BSE andthus changes in the indicatethat it isdirectly proportionalto the amount of prion numberofrepeats, are often protein.Public health regulations in Germany assume that 'C organism,thegenome madeduringDNA autoclavingat 133 for20 minuteswill be sufficientto sequencehas revealed replication,and are an easy degradeall prions, and there are similar recommendations in manynewpossibly waytogenerate subtle theUKand USA.Thisstudygives awayto checkthatthis is important,proteins. variantsof the cell. reallycorrect, especially with fatty materials, as well as providingthe basis for assessing the biological safety of the Thebacterium's surface Althoughthe function of industrialprocesses that render beef fat. isdecorated with avaried SclBis unknown,the author collectionof proteins,many speculatesthat its similarity Appel,T.R., Volff, M.,Rheinbaben, F., Heinzel, M. & of whichare known, or to collagen,a ubiquitous Riesner, D. (2001). Heat stability ofprion rods and recombinant presumed,tobe involved in proteinof humanskin, prion protein in water, lipid and lipid-water mixtures.,/ G enVirol itspathogenicity, They may tissuesand joints, could help 82,461473. heloit attachto humancells triggeranauto-immune orevadetheimmune response,potentially system.Ad rian Whatmore of resulting in damage to joints the lnfectiousDisease ortheheartvalves. ResearchGroupatthe Whatmore,A.M. (2001). Strepnnrcuspyogenes sclB encodes a putative hypervariable surface protein with a collagen-like stnrctute. Microbiology 147 , 419429.

xtr ffiffiffi #ffi$#e#ffiYToDAYVOL2A FEBOI Intrcd ucillg _theSod ety fo r lndustrial Microbiology KristienMortelmans

Society for Industrial Microbiology Editor. The articles all ,,,ltii,lr1r;t',Tht cover aspecrsrelating to the study SGM PresidentSir tji;;;ili!ij'(SIM) is a professional association dedicated to of micro-organisms and the industrial application 'iiili!.i:'.':: DaviolHopwood was the advancement of microbiological sciences, of microbiology such as: biotechnology, fermentation keynotespeaker at specifically as applied to industrial material, processes, and bi orranslormarion proccsses,envi ron men ral m icro- the2000 annual products and their associatedproblems. Our member- biology, biodegradation, biodereriorarion, quality meetingof the ship is international, diverse and includes many of the control and government regularions, strain develop- top scientists from industry, govefnment and university ment, novel microbial products, tissue culturing Societyfor Industrial laboratories who are employed in different areas of improvements, food microbiology, microbial disposal of Microbiology(SltV) m icrobialbiology. polI u tants. and antibiorics. inSan Diego, SIM was founded in 1949 for industrial micro- California,inJuly, biologists involved in basic and applied research for Placementservice Therehe met Dr product development. Its founders established a society This service is free to members and there are no forms to KristienMortelmans, that would continually serve and respond to the needs complere. Those members searchingFor a new posrtion Presidentof SlM, and concerns of companies that produce products from simply send a copy of their CV to SIM. The placement wherethey agreed micro-organisms or their metabolites. service will match their qualifications with employer to establishan SIM servesas liaison between the various specialized requests.Employers wirh posirionsavailable can send alliancebetween fields of theoretical and applied microbiology. It a letter derailing rhe posirion's specificarionsro rhe thetwo societies. promotes the exchange of scientific information through Placementchair or ro SIM Forinclusion in rhe iob bank workshops, meetings and publications, in such areasas and for posting on rhe SIM website. As a firststep in fermentation processes,bioremediation, biodeterior- accomplishingthis ation, recombinant DNA technology, secondary Website goaltherewill be metabolism, genomics, biotransformation, quaiity SIM's homepage, located ar s/ww.simhq.org, provides anoccasional assurance/quality control, cosmetic microbiology, members with accessto up-to-date informarion on SIM exchangeof environmental microbiology and food microbiology, meetings, servicesand careeropporruniries. Other pages materialbetween amongothers. include publications, careers, membership services, thesocieties' The Society is governed by an elected Board of meetings, cofporate members and kids' zone, among respectivenews Directors who serve as volunteers. In addition, there are others. magazines, numerous committees that are chaired by SIM members, MicrabiologyToday appointed by the President-elect for 3 years. Local sections and S/MlVeills.Here The Societycurrently offersfour types ofmembership: The Societyhas a number of local secrionsesrablished Regular individual membership, Srudent membership, acrossthe United Stateswhich provide servicesto their DrMortelmans Emeritus membership and Corporate membership. members and are governed by rheir own elected officers. introduces Sl M to \X/ith a membership of under 2,000, SIM maintains an They hold annual meetings and smaller seminars SGM members. atmosphereof friendliness and cordiality rhat is evident rh roughout rhe year. at the annual meetings and special conferences. Far ntore inforrnation about Meetings SIM conract: The SIM Annual Meeting is recognized by attendeesand Societyforlndustrial trade journals asoffering the best and most currenr topics Microbiology(SlM). in microbial biology while providing commercial, high 3829 Old LeeHighway, quality exhibits featuring the latest products and Suite92A, Fairfax,VA servicesavailable to microbial biologists. SIM also hosts 22030-2421USA. specialconferences on topics ofinternational concern and Tel.+1703691 3357; inrerest. Fax+1 703691 7991; [email protected]; Publications websitehttp:i/www. SIM Netasfeatures special articles written by key experrs simhq.org in their respective fields, events of importance and interest such as meeting announcements, new books, O Dr Kristien new products, and reports on our national science and Mortelmans (right) is technologypolicy. PresidentofSIM and TheJourna.l of Industrial Mirobiology and Biotaltnology editsStM lVerazs. UIM&B) is an international journal rhar publishes email kristien@unix. original, peer-reviewed research specializing in sri.com areasof theoretical and applied microbiology, short communications, critical reviews and letters to the

TODAYVOL2B/FEBOIg *:,,-.*il;*:; li,F,it':ffi ;r if;.u]q';,;ir, -t' t$;' ,;'1i,'lo:,,r;;.,i,;;t:; I

lfyou would like lBiohazard andextensive updating ofthe institutionallibraries, aswell as basis,somany problems which v establishedapproaches, The beingofinterestfor molecular confrontthe veterinary surgeon or yourname to be ByK, Alibekwith S,Handelman verdict,after its 3 month road-test biologists,virologists and laboratorymicrobiologist arenot addedto our PublishedbyArrow/ Random inmy lab, isthat this book is physiciansinvolved ingene mentioned.However, thevolume databaseof book HouseUK(2000) essentialtoold hands and novices therapy. willbe of value to those who are reviewers,please S6.99,pp.307 alike,Aminor criticism isthat the lUlrich Desselberger interestedinknowing more about ISBN:0-09-941 464-3 prolificcross-referencing and Adde n b rooke's H os p itaI, allaspectsofsome ofthe most comoletethe book detailedindex can sometimes Cambridge importantpoultry problems reviewerinterests Thisintriguing andthought- makeithard to find specific worldwide, formnow available provokingbook provides an information(butthis does lead to lAnthonyAndrews lDiseases of Welwyn onthe SG M autobiographical,detailed insight widerreading!), Moreseriously, intothe Soviet Union's biowarfare thebook isonly available in UPoultry:World website. program(1972-1992) from their paperbackso,unless well Tradeand Public Health topscientist. lt contains some of protected,it will almost certainly lmplications.Seientif ic f Uicrobiological theSoviet Union's most guarded gothe way of our copy of andTechnical Review, VAspects ot Biofilms A classified Uol.19[2) andDrinking Water. compendiumof secretsofthe cold war. The Sambrookefa/. from frequent authordescribes thehistory of consultations,i.e.a stack of loose, C.WBeard &M.S. McNulty TheMicrobiology ot bookreviews from weapons,howthey printedsheets and missing pages, PublishedbyWorld 0rganisation Extremeand Unusual biological (2000) 1996 to the wereproduced andtested, the lMaggieSmith forAnimal Health EnuironmentsSeries pp.664 Percival,J.T.Walker a presentis also catalogueofagents involved, how Queen'sMed ica I Centre, Ecu40.00, ByS,L. theyconcealed their'offensive' Un ive rsityof Notti n g h a m ISBN:92-9044-516-5 P.R.Hunter onthe (2000) available workfromUSinspectors, the PublishedbyCRC Press pp. website, effectsof the demise ofthe Soviet Thebook contains 17chapters $75.00/US$119.95, 229 Unionontheir biowarfare lParvouiruses: andmost dealwith one disease ISBN:0-8493-0590-X pathogen programmeandhis defection to UFrom Molecular ora closely related group, past years theUS in 1992. The author BiologytoPathology Twochapters are Overthe few therehas growing thesubject well, andTherapeutic Uses. concernedwithdisease entities, beena awarenessofthe communicates poult play providingsufficient scientific Contributionsto i.e.neoplastic diseases and rolethat biofilms inour lives. backgroundandexplanation Microbiology,Uol. 4 enteritissyndrome. Thefinal lndrinking watersystems biofilm wherenecessary. I can thoroughly EditedbyS. Faisst & chapterisdifferent inthat it deals formationisnormaland can hold protect recommendthisbook both to J.Rommelaere withdiseases ofa bird species, and/or manydangerous, scientistsandto the general PublishedbyS, KargerAG, Basel namelythe ostrich, Each chapter indicatorand nuisance organisms public,although some may find (2000) iswellwritten byone or more suchas Legionella,coliforms, alarming. cHF178,00/DM213.00/expertsonthe disease, starting Escheichiacoli,mycobacteria, thecontent gin lKerstinWilliams US$155.00,pp.208 withan initialsummary, The Pseudom on as ae ru osa, LondonSchoolof ISBN:3-8055-6946-7 pathogenordisease areall protozoans,Salm on ella, Shfiella Hygieneand Tropical recordedusing variations ona andCanpylobacter. Medicine TheParuovi ridae are alarge relativelysimilar format, The Biofilmformation can seriously familyof viruses infecting awide diseaseinthe bird is first inhibitthe effects ofthe spectrumofanimal species from describedandits cost to the chemicalsused to control insectstoman. This volume poultryindustry. Next follows a bacteriallevels in drinking water. a';,?:Xf:;,,,,reviewstheir epidemiology and descriptionofthe agent, including Also,our increasing tendency to Genetics pathology,molecular biology and itsantigenic structure, culture attachcomplicated water ByT. Kieser, M,J, Bibb, potentialuseas gene transfer characteristics,antibiotic treatmentordispensing systems M.J.Buttner, K.F. Chater & vectors,Themolecular biology resistancepattern forbacteria, madeofmodern biofilm D.A.Hopwood andreplication ismeticulously typingand pathogenesis. Then encouragingmaterials (i.e. Publishedbythe John lnnes describedfordifferent genera. theepidemiology ofthe disease vendingmachines and filters) to Foundation(2000) Applicationsoftheir use as tools followedbya description ofthe ourmains water is giving greater $60.00+ p&p, pp.613 arecovered, forexample the DNA diagnosis,including cultural opportunityforbiofilms to ISBN:0-7084-0623-8 ofadeno-associated viruses methods,serology, etc. The public develop,Problems areonly now (AAV)can be integrated into healthconsiderations are beginningtoemerge, Allof this PracticalStre ptomy ces cellulargenomes andbe reportedtogether with treatment meansthat we may have to Ge n eti c sis atechn ical manual reactivateduponsuperinfection andcontrol. Insome cases this rethinksome of our perceptions of forlaboratory-based studies with withhelper adenovirus, This sectionisplaced early inthe watertreatmentandlook closely thesefascinating bacteria and findingand progress inthe chapterwhere this is the really intowater contact materials and closerelatives, Thisbook identification of AAV receptors importantproblem, aswith disinfectionmethods. supersedesandexcels its hasallowed targeting of Campylobacterinfection.Thereis Thisbook by three leading UK previousmanifestation, particularcells and expression of acomprehensive reference list workersinthis field is by farthe incorporatingafar greatet insertedgenes for gene therapy. whichgoes up to at least 1999. bestI have seen on the subject diversityofgenetic techniques, Insummary, thisbook isvery Thebook is a very useful update andis strongly recommended to Forexample, thechapters on usefulinspanning the areas ofthe onmany of the most economically anybodyworking inthe fields of transposoninsertion, microscoPy, molecularbiology ofparvoviruses importantdiseases inpoultry potablewater and is essential genedisruption and analysis of andtheir potential uses for gene orthosewhich cause food-borne reading,aswell as being ahighly StreptomycnDNAareall new. therapy.Thevolume will diseaseinman. The selection of desirabletextbook. Thereisalso more background enrichdepartmental andlarger diseaseappears tobe on this lMikeHurst,Watermark

@l ?'fi't:::.1:,zir.r::IlI*P.e;::il.!"it"3:{};'l l0ata Analysisin and,perhaps, most importantly llnfectious Gauses bacteria,protozoa, nematodes) thereis not enough detail for it to VMolecular Biology antibioticresistance, ltis of Vot Gancer:Targets ratherthan by the vector. beused as a laboratory manual andEuolution courseimpossible todiscuss for Intervention. Successivechapters are andthe inadequate photographs ByX,Xia animalsalmonellosis without InfectiousDisease Series dedicatedtodiseases carried by couldnot be employed asan aid PublishedbyKluwer Academic consideringthehuman dimension EditedbyJ,J, Goedert mosquitoes,ticks, fleas, sand flies toparasite identification. Clinical Publishers(2000) andthis is covered well, The PublishedbyHumana Press (2000) andother miscellaneous vectors, Pa rasito Io gy isth e ref o re N1G315,00/ US$1 35.00/S93,25, leadingworkers inthe field in US$125,pp,5'15 aswell as to problems directly unsuitableforuse as a laboratory pp.277 Europe,North America and ISBN:0-89603-772-X relatedtoarthropods - myiasis, manual.This book is not library ISBN:0-7923-7767-2 Australiahave contributed to infestations,bites and stings. The material,but as an introductory thecomprehensiveness ofthis Thisis a substantial collection bookisbiased heavily towards textfor those new to the exciting Thisbook is an accompaniment to volume. Atover $100, the book ofpapers reviewing thecausal entomologicalaspects, providing worldof parasites it is wellworth thesoftware program ofthe same willnot become astudent text but roleof micro-organisms inthe significantinformation onvector s22,95. nameand while the program is shouldbe bought by institutions developmentofcancer. Experts biologyand control. Details ofthe lDanyBeste availableonthe internetwithout andthose working inthe animal inthe field coverviruses involved diseasesthemselves - clinical, CPHLLondon charge,there isa rather steep andhuman fields. viadifferent mechanisms like pathological,immunological * are priceof$93.25 onthe book. lRobin Nicholas canyingtheir own transforming verysuperficial andshould be However,taken together, the book Veterin a ry Labo ratories genes(HTLV-1, HBV,HPVs), readonly by way of introduction Mycorrhizal andsoftware combined represent Agency,Addlesfone actingvia insertional mutagenesis tothe field, ltis therefore of UBiology excellentvalue for money and (retroviruses,HBV)or greatestinterest toprofessional EditedbyK.G. Mukerji, thisreviewer isdefinitely chromosomaltranslocation vectorbiologists, epidemiologists B.P.Chamola &J. Singh recommendingthisbook for any lBasic Techniquesin (EBV).ltbecomes clearthat andpublic health workers, but PublishedbyKluwer Academic/ researchersinterested in VMolecular Biology theoncogenic process is wouldprovide auseful adjunctto Plenum(2000) molecularbiology and evolution. ByS. Surzycki multifactorial:tumours like in-depthclinical texts consulted s100.00/us$145.00/ Thetext is detailed, buteasily PublishedbySpringer-Verlag lymphomaandhepatocellular byinfectious disease physicians N1G336.00,pp,340 read,with lots of helpful insights (2000) carcinomamayalso occur andscientists, ISBN:0-306-46294-X anddiscussions ofproblems with DM1 29.00/$44.50/ US$79.95/ withoutEBV or HBV/ HCV lAndrewTaylor- dataanalysis (bias indatasets, tiS942.00/SFrll7.50,pp.434 infection,Viruses have developed Robinson Inthe developed world, the problemswithmaximum ISBN:3-540-66678-8 ingeniousways to evade the UniversityofLeeds mutualisticsymbioses between likelihood,etc.). The scope ofthe host'simmune recognition inthe fungiand plants have been bookisvast, covering database Thisisa manualfor research infectedcell (HHV-8, EBV), and, relativelyneglected until recently, interrogation,multiple sequence scientists,Thegeneral inturn, tumours develop athigher lClinical astheir roles inphosphorus alignment,codon usage bias, introductionsections provide frequencyinthe immunodeficient VParasitology. A nutritionand plant protection aminoacid substitutions, backgroundinformation oneach host.The influence ofchronic HandbookforMedical havebeen supplanted by theoreticalaspects ofmaximum technique,although allbut the infectionand inflammation on Practitionersand agriculturalchemicals. InIndia likelihoodanddistance matrix mostconscientious researcher oncogenesisisalso widely Microbiologists theimportance ofmycorrhizal methodsand much more, lt is an mightskip these and go directly to discussed, H,Sheorey, J.Walker & symbiosesforsoil conservation excellentexample ofhow a book themethod they require, Basic Thevolume isa treasure for B.-A.Biggs andagricultural production has inthis area should bewritten. protocolsare complemented with reading.Most authors have made PublishedbyMelbourne beenrecognized forlonger, This ItamesMclnerney sufficientinformation toallow an aneffort to present upto-date UniversityPress (1999) bookis largely written by Indian NationalUniversityof appreciationofthe purpose of, references(1998/99). Thebook 522.95,pp.163 scientists,and it wouldbe hard to lreland,Maynooth eachsolution ormanipulation ishighly recommended toall ISBN:0-522-84834-6 findanother country that could involved.The user could modify microbiologistsandclinicians mustersomany myconhizal theprotocol fortheir own withan interest inaspects ofthe Asmuch of the scientific literature researchers.ltbegins with )salmonellain applicationand also troubleshoot molecularpathogenesis and onparasites tends toappear in generalreviews ofmycorrhizal U0omestic Animals if themethodology doesnotwork rationaltherapy ofcancer. weightytextbooks, this pocket- biology,covering materialthat is EditedbyC, Wray &A, Wray well,The manualalso comments lUlrich Desselberger sizedguide to clinical parasitology widelyavailable elsewhere and PublishedbyCABI Publishing onthe relative costs of different Add e n b rooke's H os p itaI, willbe highlywelcomed. Clinical sometimeslessthan accurate (2000) procedures,although the idea of Cambridge Parasitol ogyisaimed very much (mycorrhizadoes not come from $95.00/U5$175,00, pp.480 molecular-biology-on-a-budgetis atAustralian readers; however, Greekwords mike and rrhiza). ISBN:0-85199-261 -7 abit of an oxymoron. Themethods themajorityof the information Laterchapters aremostly describedarefundamental and llnfectious Diseases containedwithin its pages is literaturereviews ofmore Agreat deal has happened inthe wouldform the'basic instruction Vand Arthropods universallyapplicable. specializedaspects, though areaof animal mycoplasmosis in kit'of an aspiring molecular ByJ, Goddard 0rganizedalphabetically from occasionallytheyinclude some the40 years since the publication biologist.lflwasonly PublishedbyHumana Press (1999) Ac a n t h a n oe b a Io Wu c h e r e r i a this othenrviseunpublished ofProfessor Buxton's recommendingonemethods US$75,00,pp.240 textcontains well researched and experimentaldata,Thisbook is a Salm o n e II o si s i n An im a Is: indeed manualfora laboratory in ISBN:0-89603-825-4 upto-dateinformation onmost usefuland detailed reference for mostof it, including ministerial molecularbiology, lwould still parasiteswhich cause human thespecialist and a reminder of resignations,hasoccurred inthe probablychoose Sambrook, Manynewly emerging orre- infections.Including short but theextensive contributions of last15 years. lt is timely then for Althoughmore expensive, it emerginginfectious diseases are informativeclinical notes and lists Indianscientists tothis field, thepublication ofthisvolume providesvery similar information transmittedbyarthropod vectors. ofthe currently available lPeterYoung coveringrecent developments in andis much more extensive inits Thisbook is unusual inbringing all therapies,Thisbookwould bea Universityof York virulence,infection, epidemiology c()verage, arthropod-bornediseases intoa usefulreference forthose in the andcontrol, laboratory diagnosis lAnneGlover singlevolume, asthey are more clinicalsetting. Modern diagnostic UniversityofAberdeen oftenclassified bythe aetiological techniquesarediscussed but agent(viruses, rickettsia, justfor lPhysical whichinclude one inaccuracy and thisvolume useful, not lQuantum experienceofsexually UBiochemistry: oneinappropriate reference. theirown pet organisms butas U Evolution transmitteddiseases where the Principlesand Howthis can be for such atext is backgroundinformation on ByJ.McFadden needtochange society rather Applications perverseand sits uncomfortably relatedspecies, With genomic PublishedbyHarperCollins (2000) thanintroduce antibiotics is ByD. Sheehan alongsideeight pages on sexually datanow becoming available for $16,99,pp.338 demonstratedconcisely. There PublishedbyJohn Wiley a Sons transmitteddiseases. Astated thestreptococci, thisbook serves ISBN:0-00-255948-X isa good balance between Ltd(2000) aimwasto include up-to-date asa timely reminder ofthe huge physiologyandpathogenesis of $32.50,pp.349 references,butthis is variably arrayand diversity ofhuman Thisisa book which intends to infectionand treatment and ISBN:0-471 -98663-1 achieved(the chapteron urinary diseasescaused bythis group of makescience accessible.ln all preventionaspects. ltis well tractinfections hastwo 1997 organisms. suchendeavours, authors walk a referenced,although I find these Thisexcellent textbook sets referencesandnone more lRoyRussell linebetween generalities which initatingwhen included inthe outto explain the basic principles recent),The chapter on Un ive rsityof Newcastle makeunderlying processes clear flowof the text, particularly when behindmany ofthe physical vaccinationcontains alevel of anddetailwhich convinces the readingthe opening chApters with methodsused ina modern detailoften lacking elsewhere readerthat the generality is theirmore general statements, biochemicallaboratory. Included andis well referenced. By lrne Biologyof reasonablytrue. This book doesn't Readfrom coverto cover, arethe major spectroscopic comparison,thechapter on U llitric 0xidePart 7. managethat balance for me, but thisbookwill give the reader techniques,structure meningitisdoes not mention Proceedingsofthe 6th thatis a personalview. Thereis anextensive andbroad determinationbyX+ay and conjugategroup Cmeningococcal InternationalMeeting on nothingwrong as such,just understandingofthe subject. lt NM R, chromatography and vaccineand contains errors on the Biologyot Nitric missingdetails which, for me, ismore likely to be read a chapter electrophoresis.Eachchapter recommendedtherapy for Oxide,Stockholm, weakenthe argument. Given the ata time and would be a useful startswith a description ofthe penicillin-resistantpneumococcal Sweden,September scopeof the coverage, theorigin sourceofinformation fortrainees backgroundphysics, then covers infection.Thus, this book is often r999 oflife, the role of quantum startingout in this particular theinstrumentation involved and notsuperior tocunent EditedbyS, Moncada, mechanicsinevolution, right specialty. endswithsome typical examples authoritativegeneral texts and L.E.Gustafsson, N.P.Wiklund & throughtoneurophysiology and )SheilaM.Burns ofthe uses ofthe techniques. The cannotbe recommended tothose E.A,Higgs consciousness,though,missing LothianUniversities physicsisnot always easy, but is withparticular interest in PublishedbyPortland Press Ltd detailsare a necessity. I confess, AcuteNHS Trust, City presentedinsuch away that non- infectioninthe elderly. (2000) I didnotfind the anecdotal style Hospital,Edinburgh mathematicalreaders should be lMarkH.Wilcox S110.00,pp.234 endearingeither, but for all that I ableto gain some understanding, UniversityofLeeds& ISBN:1-85578142-5 hopethe book will be read and Particularlytimely isthe LeedsGeneral discussed,ltwill,lthink, make a Booksrcceived Thisis a book of snapshots of stimulatingsubject forstudent discussionofmass spectrometry A andits applications inproteomics. N0research, TheStockholm debate. OMacrophages. generated Thebookwill obviously beof most lstreptococcal conferencethat itwas Forthe curious,'quantum PracticalApproach giddypace EditedbyD.M, Paulnock interesttothose active inthe U Infections:Clinical furtherproof of the of evolution'refers toquantum Publishedby0xford University laboratoryandwishing to Aspects,Microbiology, N0 research andthe immense tunnellingwhich moves aproton Press(2000) understandmoreof the basic andMolecular varietyofroles that this tiny makingmis-match base-pairing H/B$65.00; P/B $29.95, pp.211 principlesbehind the methods Pathogenesis mediatormolecule displays, N0 energeticallyfeasible. ISBN:H/B 019-963689-3; thattheyareusing. ltwillalso be EditedbyD.L. Stevens & isimportant inmicrobiology but lDaveRoberts P/B0-19-963688-5 ofuse to undergraduates taking E.L,Kaplan mostof this volume isdevoted to TheNatural History ' pathology specialistcourses inphysical Publishedby0xford University N0 enzymology, and Museum,London OMicrobiology:An methodsinbiochemistry. Press(2000) apoptosis,Asfor Part 6, the book 7th Edition AnthonyG.Lee S69,50,pp.449 containsonly one-page abstracts Introduction, Universityof ISBN:0{9-509921-4 basedonthe meeting's oral |lsexually ByG.J. Tortora, B,R, Funke & Southampton communicationsandposters, Ulransmitted C,L,Case Thisbook really does live up to its eachcrammed with information, Diseases:Uaccines, PublishedbyBenjamin Cummings comprehensivetitleand ranges Microbiologistswillfind only a Preuentionand Control (2001) I lntectiousDisease fromhistorical accounts ofthe handfulofovertly microbiological EditedbyL,R. Stanberry & DistributedbyPearson Education UintheAging: fluctuationsinprevalence and pages,but those wishing to D,l,Bernstein S33.99,pp.887 A GlinicalHandbook severityofhuman diseases such understandN0and related PublishedbyAcademic Press ISBN:0-8053-7554-6 lnfectiousDisease Series asrheumatic fever over the last reactivespecies would do wellto (2000) EditedbyT,T, Yoshikawa & 100years to recent developments studytheir interactions with S74.95,pp.468 D,C.Norman inthe molecular dissection of oxidativestress, the multitude of ISBN:0-1 2-663330-4 PublishedbyHumana Press (2000) pathogenicmechanisms, The biologicalprocesses affected by US$99.50,pp,352 Editorshave assembled a N0,N0 chemistryand N0 Thisis a comprehensive andwell ISBN:0-89603-744-4 distinguishedlistof contributors synthases(especially since some roundedtextbook. ltcontains andthe individual chapters are bacteriahave such enzymes). The fascinatinginformation onthe Thebook has multiple but entirely substantialanduniformly subjectindex isreasonable but historyofsexually transmitted NorthAmerican authorship and is thoughtfulinsetting out the theprice will select against all but infectionsand their close linkwith ofmarkedly variable quality. backgroundandhistorical themost specialist readers and thesocio-economic health of the Reviewerstend to gauge abook perspectiveoftheir topic to cover libraries, people.This is particularly bysearching initially fora boththe manifestations ofdisease f RobertPoole highlightedinthe Russian favouredtopic. lwas dismayed to aswell as recent developments in Un ive rsityof Sheffi el d findonly four lines dedicated to laboratorystudies, Any laboratory Clostridiumdifficileinf ection, workingon streptococci willfind

g ffi,ffi*#;ffi#ffi.${Fe.###Y TODAYVOL2B/FEBO 1 GroupGonvener€ ?rtt. Editor, DRKEITHJONES Gells & Cell Surfaces UTTICETS MicrobiologyToday DRC.D.O'CONNOR DRMERIELG.JONES Departmentof Bioloqical kesident JCrences,ttt\>, Divisionof Biochemistry& Molecular Biolooy, PROF.SIRDAVIDHOPWOODSchoolof BioloqicalSciences, iversity Schoolo{Biological Un of Lancaster, Sciences,University of DonnanLaboratories. LancasteirLAl 4YO Southampton,Bas#tt CrescentEasti JohnInnes Cenire, Universiiyof Liverpooi, SouthamptonSOl6TPX NorwichResearch Park. Tel. 01524 593993 LiverpoolL697ZD Fax 01524843854 Tel.023B0594336; Fax 02380 594459 Colnev,Nonvich N R4 7U H Tel.0151 7943605 emaildoc I @soton.ac.uk Tel. 01603 450000 emaiI [email protected] (direct) Fax0151 7943655 Glinical Microbiology 01 603 450338 emailmeriel [email protected] PROF.DAVEJ. KELLY Fax 01603450045 PROF.STEPH EN H. GI LLESPI E emaiIdavid.hopwood@ bbsrc. ac.uk Editonin-Ghief, Departmentof Molecular Microbiology Biology&,Biotechnology, Departmentof MedicalMicrobiology, Royal Free & University Tleasurer PROF.CHRISTOPHERM. nre0sInsIrtuIe, CollegeMedicalSchool, Rowland Hillstreet, London, NW3 2PF MR PETERF.STANBURY THOMAS Universityof Sheffield, relO2OT794 0500;Faxj2OT 7940433 FirthCoLirl, emaiIstephen [email protected],u k Departmentof Biosciences, School Biosciences, Faculiy of WesternBank, of NaturalSciences, Universityof Birminqham, ClinicalVirology Univeisity of Herffordshire, SheffieldS10 2TN LOODASTON. DRTIMWREGHITT HatfieldCamous. Tel.01142224414 Birfrrinqham815 2TT HatfieldALl09AB Fax 01 142728697 ClinicalMicrobiology Tel.0121 4145903 [email protected] andPublic Health Laboratory, Tel, 01707 284550 Fax 0121 4145925 Addenbrooke'sHospital, Cambridge CB2 2OW Fax 01707285258 emaiIc.m.thomas@ bham.ac.u k PROF.HILARYM. LAPPIN- fel.O 1 223 257030 : Fax O 1 223 2427T s emaiI [email protected] SCOTT emaiIti m.wregh [email protected] brookes.an glox.n hs.u k Editonin-Ghief,fGV GeneralSecretary PROF.STUARTSIDDELL Schoolof BiologicalSciences, Education PROF.ALANVIVIAN ExeterUniversifu, DRPETERWYN-JONES lnstiiuteof Virologyand Departmentof Biolooicaland HatherlyLabordtories, tmmunotoqy, Princecif Wales Road, Schoolof Sciences,Darwin Building, University of Sunderland, BiomedicalSciences] UniversityoTWurzburq, Universityof theWestof England, ExeterEX4 4PS WharncliffeStreet, Sunderland SR 1 35D VersbacherStr.T Fax 01392263700 Tel.O1 91 515 2520;Fax0191 515 2531 ColdharbourLane. STOTBWurzburg, BristolBSl6 emailh.m.lappi n-scott@exeter. emaiI [email protected] k 1OY' \rermanV ac.uk Tel.0.1179763834 Tel.+49931 2013896 Environmental Microbiology Fax 01 179763871 Fax +49931 201 3970 DRLYNNEE. MACASKIE PROF.H ILARY M. LAPPI N-SCOTT emailalan,[email protected],uk [email protected] Schoolof BioloqicalSciences, Departmentof BiologicalSciences, Exeter Scientifi c Meetings Offi cer wuerzburg.de University of Birminoham, University, HatherlyLaboratories, Prince PROF.HOWARDJENKINSON EOODASION. of WalesRoad, ExeteaEX4 4pS BirininqhariBl52TT FaxO1392263700 DeoartmentofOral and emaiI [email protected] uenTat)crence. Tel.0121 4145889 Divisionof OralMedicine. Members Fax 0121 4145925 Fermentation & Bioprocessing [email protected] Patholoqvand Microbioloov DR ULRICH DRGLYNHOBBS VJ ^ VJ' unrversrwol bnsLolLJental DESSELBERGER PROF.TONYA.NASH Schoolof Biomolecular HospitalhndSchool. Sciences,LiverpoolJohn Moores University, LowerMaudlin Street, ReqionalPublic Health Departmentof Veterinary ByromStreet, LiverpoolL3 3AF LaSoratoryLevel 6, Pa{holoqv Tel.O 1 51 231 2198;Fax 1 BristolBSl 2LY Y' r- ' ' O 51 207 4726 " Tel. O117 9284358(direct) Addenbrobke's Hospi tal, unrverstlyoT t0tn0urqn, emaiIg.hobbs@ |ivj m.ac.u k HillsRoad, Summerhall, 01179284304(office) lrish Branch Fax O1179284428 CambridqeCB22AW EdinburqhEHg i OH Tel.01/23216816 Tet.o13t oso0to+ DRMARTINA.COLLINS emailhowardjenkinson@bristol. Fax AC.UK Fax 01223242775 0131650651 1 Deparlmentof FoodScience, Agriculture [email protected] andFood Science Cenire, emailulrich.desselberqer@ TheOueen s Universityof Belfast, International Secletary msexc.addenbrookesanqlox. NewforgeLane, PROF.IANR. POXTON BelfastBT9 PROF.JEFFW ALMOND NNS,UK 5PX Departmentof Medical Tel.02B90 255314:Fax02B 90 668376 SeniorVice President of PROF.RICHARD M. ELLIOTT [email protected] Researchand Development, Mrcrobioloqv AventisPasteurSA, Instituteof Viroloqv Universitvd{ Edinburoh Microbial Infection CamousM6rieux. Un iversity of Glas"qow, MedicalSchool, DR PETRAC.F.OYSTON 1541 Avenue Marcel M6rieux. ChurchStreet, TeviotPlace, F-69280Marcy-UEtoile, GlascowGll5JR EdinburqhEHBgAG Microbiology, Medical Cou ntermeasu res, C B D,Porton Down, rrance Tel.0'1413304024 Tel.0131 6503128 SalisburySP4 0JO Tel, +33 437379453 Fax 01 413372236 Fax01316506531 Tel.01 980 613641 ; Fax O 1 980 613284 Fax +33437379157 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] emarljeff rey.al mond@aventis,com PROF.IAN DRCOLINR.HARWOOD S,ROBERTS Physiology, Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics Profiessional Affairs O{fi cer Departmentof Microbiology Schoolof BiolooicalSciences, DRDAVIDA. HODGSON PROF.DONALDA. RITCHIE o.tmmunotoqy, 1.B0O SiopfordBuildinq, Departmertof BiologicalSciences, University of Warwick, Schoolof BiologicalSciences, UniversitvofNewcastle. Universiiyof Manchester, FramlinoionPlace. OxfordRbad, CoventryCV4 7AL DonnanLabora-tories. gPT Tel.024 76523559 Fax 024 76 52 370 1 University Newcas"tleupon Tvne N E2 HH ManchesterM'l 3 ; of Liverpooi, emaild m na.bio.warwick.ac.uk LiveroooTL697ZD Tel. 01912227708 Tel.0161 2755601 @d Tel.01517943624 Fax 01912227736 Fax0161 2755656 Systematics & Evolution Fax 01517943655 [email protected] emailisrobert@fs 1.scq.man, DRGERRYSADDLER ac.uk [email protected] PROF.COLINR. HOWARD CABIBioscience, UK Centre(Egham), Bakeham Lane, EducationOfficer PROF.GEORGEP.C. DepadmentofPatholoov SALMOND Egham,SurreyTW2O 9TY DRLIZ(R,E.)SOCKETT & lnTecltousursease-s. Tel.01 491 829065;Fax 01 491 829100 GeneticsDivision, Schooi of TheRgral Veteri nary Col lege, Departmentof Biochemistry [email protected] KOVarUotieoe Jtreet. Universityof Cambridqe, ClinicalLaboratory Sciences, Virus Oueen'sMedical Centre, Lamoen, rennrsLoun Koao, Universitvof Nottinqham, LondonNW1 OTU CambridqeC82lOW PROF.GEOFFREY L. SMITH Tel. O2O74685302 Tel.012r3 333650 Nottinqh'amNG7 2IJH Wright-FlemingInstitute, lmperial College School of Medicine, Tel.0'1 15919 4496 Fax 02OT3834670 Fax 01223333345 [email protected] [email protected] St.Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG FaxOi 159709906 fel O2O7594 3971 / 2;Fax0207 594 3973 emailliz.sockett@nottinqham. emailglsm [email protected] ac.uk

IODAYVOL2B/FEBO1WI WWW

RNAEXTRACTION ANDANALYSIS ' AONE DAY LABORATORY/LECTURE COURSE zaorrrnsr onyssr[rru NtLrcuun ruTRPPL I CLINICAL TRIALS 11 th INTERNATIONAT WORKSHOPON GENETICSTHEORETICAL AND EUROPEANSUM[/IT Hatfield,Herts, 5July 2001 TA M PYL OBA CTI R,H ELI CO BACTTR, /lND PRACTTCALC0URSEINTERNAT|0NAL RELATED0RGANtSMS (CHR02001 CELLRTSEARCH ORGANIZATION (ICRO)IParis, France, 14-l 6 May 2001 C0NTACT:DrRalph Rapley Deptof ) BiosciencesUniversity ofHertfordshire, Freiburg,Germany BuenosAires, Argentina C0NTACT:JoEdse (01 244 393150; emailjedge@advanstar com) CollegeLane Hatfield, Herts ALl0 9AB 2-5September 2001 8-23March 2001 (Tel0170/ 285097; Fax0170/ 2861 3/; C0NTACT:ProfDr Manfred Ki$National C0NTACT:DrSilvia Moreno Dept of IHITTRruRIOHIRLCOURSEON emailrrapley@herts acuk; LABORATORYANIMAL SCIENCE http://www.herts,ac uk/natsci/STC) ReferenceCentrefor Helicobacter pylori, Biochemi$ryFaculty o{Sciences, In$ituteofMedical Micribioloqv and CiudadUniversitaria Pabellon 2 niso 4, Utrecht,The Netherlands PCRI\iIETHODS ANDAPPLICATIONS Hygiene,Hermann-Herder-Str, 11 1248 Buenos Aires, Argentina (Tel/Fax 14-25May2001 AONE DAY LABORATORY/LECTURE D-79104Freiburg, Germany (Tel+49 +5411 4576 3342 or+54 11 4790 COURSE 791203 6590; Fax +49 791 203 6562; 9591; email smoreno@qb fcen.uba.ar) C0NIACI:ProfDr L.F[l1 van lutphen or MrStephan vanMeulebrouck Deptof Hatfield,Herts [email protected] freiburgde; PTYIVINUS CONTAMINATIONS OF Laboratory Animal Science, Faculty of 6July 2001 or 13 July 2001 http://www.chro2001 .de) BOVINESERAAND OTHER BOVINE VeterinaryMedicine, P0Box 80.166, pRotrlru C0NTACT:DrRalph Rapley (seeabove) tcHtrttours VIRUSISCONTAMINATIONS 3508TD Utrecht TheNetherlanos ATWO DAY LABORATORY COURSE (Iel.+31 Paris,France,29-30 March 2001 302532033; Fax+31 30 HIOLTCULIRMEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY 2537997;email [email protected] uu.nl) ATWO-DAY LECTURE/LABO RATORY Hatfield,Herts, 3-4 September C0NTACT:ThePublicRelations or10-11September200l Unit ', COURSE EuropeanDirectorate fortheQuality of : .. . . .i Hatfield,Herts, 18-1 I July2001 C0NIACT:ProfJohn Walker Dept of Medicines(EDQlr/): Caroline Larse'n Le ' ,: .' ..- Biosciences,University ofHertfordshire, Iarnec(Tel+333BB41 2815); C0NIACT:DrMadhu Goyal, Dept of CollegeLane Hatfield, Herts ALl 0 9AB FrancrneBaumgarthen (Iel.+33 4thINTTRNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON 3BB ANTl-|RAX BiosciencesUniversity ofHertfordshire (Tel0170/ 284546; Fax01707 284510; 4128 24);Emily Walker (Iel +33 3 90 CollegeLane, Hatfield, Herts ALl0 9AB emailj [email protected]; 2148 39)(Fax+33 3BB41 27 /1; Annapolis,Maryland, USA (Iel01707 284624,Fax 01/072861 37; http://www. herts.ac.u k/natsci/STC) [email protected] ; 10-13 June 2001 [email protected] uk; http://wwwpheur,org) http://www herts ac.uk/natsci/STC) ITIUCLTICACIDTECHNIQUES C0NTACT:Anthrax Conference, c/o ATHREE DAYLABORATORY COURSE ASM,1752NStreetNW Washington, DC RHrtrntCn[l S0CIETY F0RVIR0L0GY 20036,USA (Tel +1 2021942925/; Fax 2Oth ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC [/EETING Hatfield,Herts +1202 19429340 :httn ://wwr,ll.asmusa, 5-7or 12-14 September 2001 Madison,Wisconsin, USA MOLECULARBIOLOGYUPDATE org/mtgsrc/anthrax0lhtm) C0NTACT:DrVirginia Bugeja. 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CollegeLane Hatfield, Herts ALl0 9AB 2OO1 (Iel (ECEAR2001) Secretary-TreasLirer.AmericanSociety 0170/284590; Fax01707 C0NTACT:ProfJohn Walker, Deptof forVirology Dept of[/icrobiology and 286137; email v.bugeja@herts acuk; BiosciencesUniverslty of|1ertfordshire, Heriot-WattUniversity, MolecularGenetics [/edical Colleqe http://www. herts.ac.u k/natsci/STC) CollegeLane Hatfield, Herts AL1 09AB Edinburgh,23-26 June 2001 Wisconsin8701Watertown Plank-Road (Tel01707 284546; Fax01701 284510; SEVENTHTUROPEAN WORKSHOP ON C0NTACT:Conference Secretariat c/o MilwaukeeWI53226 0509 USA emailjmwalker@herts acuk; (Tel,+1414456 8104, Fax+1 414 VIRUSEVOLUTION AND[/OLECULAR http://www. herts.ac.uk/natsci/STC) IndexCommunrcations Meetinu EPIDEMIOLOGY Services(Scotland) Ltd32 Oueen s 4566566; email segrossb@mcw edu; 673rdBI0CHEMICAL S0CIETY[4EEINT Crescent,Newington, Edinburgh http://www.mcw edu/asv) [euven,Belgium MOTECULARCOM MU N ICATIONS EH92BA 0el 0131 667 9BB7: email 3rdINTERNATI0NAL GEMINIVIRUS 5-12September 2001 jcms@dial,pipex UniversityofBristol scotland. com) SYMP0SIUM:A[/EETING 0NPLANT C0NTACT:DrAnne-Mieke Vandamme, 10-12April 2001 EARIHSYSTEM PROCISSES SINGLESTRANDED DNAVIRUSES AND RegaIn$itute and University Hospitals, THIIRINSECT VECTORS AlDS Reference Laboratorv C0NTACT:The[/eetings Office Edinburgh,Scotland [llinderbroedersstraat10-1 2, B-3000 BiochemicalSociety, 59Portland Place, 24-28June 2001 JohnInnes Centre, Norwich 24-28July 2001 Leuven,Belgium (Tel+32 16 332180; LondonW1B 1 QW (Tel 020 7580 3481 ; Fax+32 16 332131;emailannemie Fax020 7637 7626; email: meetings@ C0NTACT:lanDalziel andlan Fairchild (scientificcontent); Helen Wilson and C0NTACT:[email protected] or vandamme@uz kuleuvenac be) biochemistry.org;http ://www [email protected] biochemi$ryorg/meetings) MichaelStevens (admini$ration) ; PSEUDOMONAS2OO1 (http://www geosociety org/meetings/ (http://iltab danforthcenter,org/ NTTRNRIoIIIRLTRAINING COURSE edinbu roh) symposiumhtml) Brussels,Belgium ONIHE USE OF EXPRESSION 17-21September2001 SYSIEMSFORSTUDYING STRUCIURE : ::' i_ C0NTACT:PierreCornelis, Laboratory of FUNCTIONANDREGULATION OF !..,,|l Microbiallnteractions Flanders Inter- MEMBRANEPROIEINS (ICRO) ANINTRODUCTION TOBIOINfORMATICS BIOCHINA 2OO1 universityIn$itute forBiotechnology, Shanghai,China ATWO DAY COMPUTER/LECTURE Beijing,China VrijeUniversiteit Brussel, Paardenstraat 11-24April 2001 COURSE 22-25August 2001 65,B 1640 Sint-Genesius-Rode, Belgium(Tel+3223590221',Fax +32 C0NTACT:DrJian Fei, Shanghai In$itute Hatfield,Herts C0NTACT:DrLiang Hui, Guantong 23590390; email pcornel@vtr0,ac,0e; ofCell Biology 320Yue-Yang Lu,200031 3-4July or l0-11 July 2001 BuildingN0.44 Hua Yuan Beilu, Haidian http://homepages.vub.ac.be/ - pcornel Shanghai,China(Fax +86 21 62713169; C0NTACT:DrHenry Brzeski Dept of Di$rictBeijing, China 100083 (Tel +86 /pseudomonas200l.htm) [email protected]), orProf Dr 1082081644/62046728: Fax+86 10 WolfgangSchwaz Max-Planck In$itute BiosciencesUniversity ofHertfordshire CollegeLane Hatfield, Herts ALl0 9AB 82079384:email bio2001 @china.com ofBiophysics, Kennedyalle 70,60596 (Tel [email protected] cn.net; Frankfurt/Main,Germanv(Fax +49 69 01707284554; Fax01707 28613/; emailh.brzeski@ herts.acuk; http://chinabio orgor http ://china- 6303340; email wolfgang.schwarz@ exoocom) mpibp{rankfurt.mpg.de) http://www herts.ac.uk/natsci/STC)

''i 4ti;ffi:,tij;{:E|#e#""'f." TODAY VOL2B/FEBO 1 f Gomment 4

Wasthe BSEinquiry worth it?

I do not pretendto haveread all 16 volumesoflord successin putting his concernsto I29 $7est Lothian Phillips' Report.I am not ashamed.Like mostothers - farmers and butchers, at ameeting I organizedat all but afew,averyfew, I suspect- I haveread chunks of Oatridge Agricultural College in 7996. it and this bringsme to the point. Imagine my consternation when I discovered that it was 'But, a Baron Phillips of S7orth Matravers. David's title ' S(/hoeverasked Lord Phillips to produce15 (yes,16!) is surely of Ellesmere ! Wrong one. It had never occurred often indigestiblevolumes at a cost- wait for rt - of f27 to me that it was not David Phillips, ex-chairman ofthe million? Heavensabove, f27 mlllioncould havebeen Advisory Board for the ResearchCouncils, sometime spentin otherways - not leastin trying to help farmers Professor of Molecular Biophysics in Oxford, and a facingbankruptcy. member ofthe Lords Select Committee on Scienceand Technology asLord Phillips ofEllesmere. Herein liesthe trouble.Distinguished judges of TheRt. Hon. Tam Dalyell the High Court-and Lord Phillips is extremely Had it indeed been he, we would have got, if not notes distinguished- give way to the temptation to wallow in on the back ofa proverbial envelope, at least a succinct their subject,producing a learnedtreatise. -What the constructive plan for action, in one-tenth of the time, countryand the farming community reallyneeded was a at one-hundredth ofthe cost. few clearguidelines as to future action,not a ponderous 2'lryear inquiry, which seemsto havebeen overtaken by As the fond son-in-law ofa judge who sat in the High eventsin Europeand the realizationthat Britain is not Court and the Court ofAppeal for a third of a century I sounique, afterall,in relationto BSE. say forpity's sake, keep the lawyers out of inquiries, which, ifwe must have them, should be expeditiously 'the Phillips goeson and on about growingpublic suspicion conducted by scientists. anddissatisfaction that irnportantiffirmationwas notbeing sharedand discussedopenly' and that this led to' a public O The Rt.Hon. Tam Dalyell is Member of ofbetrayal' whenapossible link to human health Parl i a ment for Li nl ithgow fuling a wasannounced in the HouseofCommons, when t I StephenDorrell andDouglas Hogg madetheir I statements.N7ell, well! Hindsight is awonderfulthing. Somewould arguethat it is hugely to my discredit,but the brutal truth is that my concernwas about gratuitous damageto the British farming community,which had, heavenknows, and has, enough problems to worry about.Governments should not createpanic, at least, until suchtime asall the factsare in their possession.I hadsympathy forJohn Gummet, though lessfor his use ofhis daughterbeing photographed gnzzhnga meat burger!

\7hat hasPhillips achieved,that would not havebeen achievedhad he not reported?ZiIch,I suspect.

\7hen I first heardthat Lord Phillips hadbeen made chairmanof a committeeto inquire into BSE/CJD,I 'he'll thought bequick, sensibleand decisive, O Pleasenotethat expeditiousin askingthe right questionsofthe right viewsexpressed in people!He'll know a lot of the background,and is Commentdonot exactlythe right guy to cross-examinemy friend, Bob necessarilyreflect (now Professor)$7ill, ofthe NeuropathogenesisUnit of officialpolicyof the the S7esternGeneral Hospital in Edinburgh,and other SGM Council. researchersin the field.'Sfill hadbeen an enormous

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