The magazine of the Society for Applied Microbiology ■ Sept 2005 ■ Vol 6 No 3 ISSN 1479-2699 illustration: Robert A Thom

Childbed Fever How a Yorkshire doctor beat Semmelweis to the true cause of puerperal fever

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: ■ 2006 January Meeting Programme Dr Margaret ■ Med-Vet-Net - approaching its first year Patterson appointed new ■ Fungi in your shopping basket Honorary President of the Society ■ 2005 Summer Conference report excellence in microbiology

W ! gy e lo are io th crob e friendly face of mi

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www.dwscientific.co.uk The magazine of the Society for Applied Microbiology ■ Sept 2005 ■ Vol 6 No 3 ISSN 1479-2699

REGULARS MEETINGS FEATURES Microbiologist Vol 6 No.3 04Editorial 20 SfAM 18 Fungi in September 2005 Lucy Harper reviews January your this issues top stories ISSN 1479-2699 Meeting shopping 05 Contact 2006 basket Full contact a one day meeting 2005 Misac information for all on Epidemiology competition results Committee members and vaccines. Thursday 5th 05 Media Watch January 2006 Microbiological news stories from around the world 07 Micro break Publisher: Society for Applied Microbiology. 75th Anniversary competition Editor: Lucy Harper [email protected] 08President’s Contributions: These are column 26 Cover story always welcome and should Interview with Dr be addressed to the Editor at: [email protected] Margaret Patterson

Advertising: 10 Med-Vet-Net Julie Wright Approaching its first 24 HPA Annual Telephone: 01234 326661 year Conference 2005 [email protected] 12 Membership 24 Institute Pasteur Art and Design & layout: Mastering anti- Pollard Creativity Matters infective Production and printing: therapies Pollard Creativity. 14 Farewell to All technical questions should Peter Silley 25 Cordia be addressed to: BioTechonology [email protected] Tel: 01933 665617 33 2005 Summer Convention 2005 Conference 25 Gut © Society for Applied Childbed Microbiology 2005 report Microbiology Material published in 2006 Fever Microbiologist may not be Milton Wainwright reproduced, stored in a 39 Students retrieval system, or into Work discusses how a transmitted in any form WRITE FOR US! Yorkshire doctor without the prior permission report The editor is always looking beat Semmelweis to of the Society. for enthusiastic writers who the true cause of 41 The wish to contribute articles to Society for Applied childbed fever Microbiology, The Blore President’s Microbiologist on their Tower, The Harpur Centre, chosen microbiological 30 Stat Note 2 Fund articles subject. Bedford MK40 1TQ, UK The application of For further information Tel: +44 (0)1234 326661 47 Books normal distribution please email: Fax: +44 (0)1234 326678 to some common [email protected] email: [email protected] 50 Join SfAM statistical problems www.sfam.org.uk Editorial

Microbiologist ERE IN THE SfAM OFFICE Vol 6 No.3 we’ve all been extremely busy H over the last three months. The September 2005 society has gone through a period of great change in recent times. Contact the Editor: Not only do we have a new president of [email protected] the society, Dr Margaret Patterson, but we also have two new members of committee Microbiologist copy Dates: contributors please who will introduce themselves in the next note that the final copy issue of Microbiologist. dates in 2005/2006 will be: In this issue of the magazine we say a fond farewell to our previous president Dr Vol 6 No.4 Dec 2005 Peter Silley. We all know what great work Friday 16 Sept 2005 Peter has done for the society, and some of the Officers of the Society tell us about Vol 7 No.1 March 2006 his work and entertain us with some Friday 16 December 2005 slightly more personal anecdotes about their experiences of working with Peter. predecessors, the Society for Applied Vol 7 No.2 June 2006 Friday 10 March 2006 We also extend a warm welcome to Dr Bacteriology and the Society for Margaret Patterson, the fourth female Agricultural Bacteriology would be very Vol 7 No.3 Sept 2005 president of the Society. As such Margaret welcome if members could bear to part Friday 7 July 2006 will undoubtedly be a great role model for with them to a good home! If you can all our members. She introduces herself help then please contact David Post either How to submit material here and talks a little about her career through the SfAM office, or on 01424 Please submit all articles, and the fact that science and 870590. reports, meetings microbiology in particular is such a great The second item which we are all very notifications, letters etc., as career. excited about, but which requires the help plain text (*.txt) or rich text Since the last issue was published of all of you is the 75th Anniversary files (*.rtf). Please submit all images as original we’ve had our annual general meeting competition. To celebrate 75 years of the photographic prints or and summer conference at the Old Ship Society for Applied Microbiology we are transparencies rather than Hotel in Brighton—which those of you running a writing competition to find the scanned images and these who joined us will know was a great most interesting, entertaining and will be processed by us and success. In this issue there is a informative article describing an returned to you promptly. comprehensive report on the meeting on historical event in Microbiology. We are If your images are only in page 33 which I’m sure will prove very looking for 500-700 words of your digital format please make interesting reading for those of you who opinions, thoughts or memories of a sure they are supplied at a couldn’t make it. famous microbiological breakthrough, resolution of 300dpi (dots Our feature article for this issue by historical event or a personally significant or pixels per inch at a size of not less than 100mm (4 Milton Wainwright unearths the truth tale. The only other rules of the inches) square. behind the discovery of the cause of competition are that the article is Childbed fever (page 26). I find it microbiological in nature and that it is Advertisers: if you wish to fascinating when such investigations based upon an event of the last 75 years. advertise in Microbiologist reveal something that might re-write the So, for all you writers out there like you should contact the history books. When we learn that Milton Wainwright who have witnessed or Society Office in the first someone we’d all assumed to have made are merely fascinated by a particular instance. Advertising rates a discovery was actually several years Microbiological breakthrough or event of and Guidelines on how to behind a name we barely recognise. For the last 75 years, then see page 7 and submit advertisements are those of you who are interested in the send in your entries to me. given on the website and are also obtainable by history of Microbiology, you might like to emailing the editor at: do some digging yourselves as we have a [email protected] couple of history-related items with which we need your help. Website: the society Firstly, our archivist, David Post needs website is a timely source the help of all members. Intensive work of up-to-date information on sorting the society archives has shown on all Society matters and that they are far from complete. maintains a comprehensive Members, especially long-standing ones, archive of articles and may be keeping material that is of interest reports on a variety of microbiological topics. in recording the history of the society. Such items as minutes, meetings reports, www.sfam.org.uk journals, letters and indeed anything pertaining to the Society and its

04 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk Contact point

COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2005 - 2008

HON PRESIDENT: Dr Margaret Patterson, Agriculture and Food Science Centre, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX [email protected] HON GENERAL SECRETARY: Dr Anthony Hilton, School of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET [email protected] HON MEETINGS SECRETARY: Professor Martin Adams, School of Biomedical & Molecular Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford,Surrey GU2 7XH [email protected] HON TREASURER: Dr Valerie Edwards-Jones, Research Development Unit, Manchester Metropolitan University, Lower Chatham St, Manchester M15 5HA [email protected] HON EDITOR: Journal of Applied Microbiology Professor Arthur Gilmour, Agriculture and Food Science Centre, DARD and Queen’s University, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX [email protected] HON EDITOR: Letters in Applied Microbiology Dr Jean-Yves Maillard, Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3XF [email protected] HON EDITOR: Microbiologist Dr Lucy Harper, Society for Applied Microbiology, The Blore Tower, The Harpur Centre, Bedford MK40 1TQ [email protected]

ORDINARY COMMITTEE MEMBERS until July 2006

Dr David McCleery, Chief Specialist Microbiologist, Safe Food, Food Safety Promotion Board, 7 Eastgate Avenue, Little Island, Cork, Ireland [email protected] Dr Shona Nelson, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY [email protected] Professor Diane Newell, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB [email protected]

ORDINARY COMMITTEE MEMBERS until July 2007

Dr John Coote, Infection and Immunity Division, Glasgow University, Joseph Black Building. Glasgow G12 8QQ [email protected] Professor Geoff Hanlon, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb, Brighton BN2 4GJ [email protected] Dr Karen Stanley, Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB [email protected] Dr Susannah Walsh, H3.09b Hawthorne Building, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Heath and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH [email protected]

ORDINARY COMMITTEE MEMBERS until July 2008

Dr Tony Worthington, Department of Phartmaceutical and Biological Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET [email protected] Dr Andrew Sails, Health Protection Agency, Institute of Pathology, Newcastle General Hospital, Westgate Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE4 6BE [email protected]

SOCIETY OFFICE STAFF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Philip Wheat [email protected] MEMBERSHIP CO-ORDINATOR: Julie Wright [email protected] EVENTS ORGANISER: Marisa Ramsay [email protected]

www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 05 MEDIAwatch News and the Washington Times. On how immune system targets Thursday 4 August the author of the disease, Medical News Today, 27 paper, Dr Ann Wood appeared on the July 2005. Radio 4 programme ‘Material World’ http://www.medicalnewstoday. with Quentin Cooper. To read the story com/medicalnews.php?newsid=28120 see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/ health/4719123.stm. New test detects pathogens in minutes, New Scientist, 18 July Other Microbiology-related stories 2005. http://www.newscientist.com/ which have hit the headlines include: article.ns?id=dn7690&feedId=online- Bacteria levels close two news_rss20. beaches, Seattle Times Saturday, 30 In a new feature of Microbiologist, July, 2005. http://seattletimes. we bring you the latest Microbiological nwsource.com/html/eastsidenews/20024 news coverage from the media around 10972_glance30e.html the world. Deadly sense of bowel Scientists find cure for bacteria, The Times, 29 July 2005 smelly breath. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper A paper published in Environmental /0,,174-1712658,00.html Microbiology in August 2005, a journal Bacteria link to farm which SfAM publishes jointly with deaths, The Scotsman, 25 July 2005 Blackwell publishing, has generated http://news.scotsman.com/international. much media interest. Articles have cfm?id=1677022005 appeared on the BBC website (see link below), the CBS news website, Fox A new understanding of

SfAM WEBSITE www.sfam.org.uk Have you forgotten your username and password? Go to the website and click on ‘Services’ - ‘Member Log on’ and then follow the instructions on that page to have your Have you visited the SfAM website lately? username and a new password emailed to As well as keeping you up-to-date with you. SfAM news and activities, it offers full SfAM members many other services. Don’t miss out on our wide range of If you are a Full Member or Full Student grants, including our newest grant, the Member, log on, using your SfAM SfAM Fellowship. Details and application username and password, to: forms can be found at: ■ advertise microbiology job opportunities (free!) www.sfam.org.uk/members/prizes.php ■ post your CV (free!) ■ advertise your microbiological skills Coming soon – online booking for the or consultancy (a small annual fee 2006 January Meeting. You’ll find the is required) complete programme online and on page ■ take part in the Discussion Forum 21 in this issue of Microbiologist.

06 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk Micro Break

75th Anniversary Competition

The winner of last issues micro break Word Puzzle was Professor Maurice O’Moss of Surrey who receives a £30 book token by solving the word puzzle. The correct sentence was: ‘FREE AGAR PLATES FOR SCHOOLS CAN CAUSE AGGRAVATION’

This issues Micro break is our 75th Anniversary competition. Next year will mark the 75th Anniversary of the Society for Applied Microbiology. To celebrate we are running a writing competition to find the most interesting, entertaining and informative article describing an historical event in Microbiology. We are looking for 500-700 words of your opinions, thoughts or memories of a famous microbiological breakthrough, historical event or a personally significant story The only other rules are that your article should be microbiological in nature and based upon an event that occurred within the last 75 years. A panel of judges will then sift through the entries and choose the winner, who will receive a bottle of the finest champagne and have their article published in Microbiologist. Three runners up will also see their work feature in the Microbiologist during our anniversary year. To enter, simply fill in the registration form below and send it to us together with your article before the closing date of Friday 18 November 2005. Good Luck!

The closing date for entries is Friday 18th November 2005. The winning entries will appear in Microbiologist.

Forename: Surname: Address:

Title of your article:

Simply photocopy this page and send it to: ‘75th Anniversary Competition’, Society for Applied Microbiology, The Blore Tower, The Harpur Centre, Bedford MK40 1TQ, UK. Remember, you could win a bottle of champagne!

www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 07 We interview ‘the Island of Ireland’ for the first time career in science. Not for the money that’s for sure, but there are many Dr Margaret and heading to Australia for three months (she never was the type to do things by reasons why science is such a good Patterson—the halves), she began her postgraduate choice. I like it because it is not a 9-5 job. Society’s new studies on mycotoxin production in foods. There is a huge amount of variety—it’s She then spent two years as a post demanding but it also gives you a lot of Honorary President doctoral fellow in the Department of freedom. Most importantly of all, it’s fun. Microbiology and Immunobiology at the No two days (let alone weeks) are the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. Here she same. You are constantly finding out new worked on evaluating new antibiotics for information and it is always a thrill to see HE WAKES UP AT 5.45 am to the treatment of MRSA, which even in your work published in good scientific the sound of Jimmy the African 1984 was causing problems in the Special journals where you know it has been peer S Grey Parrot squawking his Care Baby Unit. reviewed and met the standard. morning greeting and goes Currently Margaret holds a joint downstairs in her farmhouse to feed him appointment with the Department of (he’s awake from the crack of dawn until Agriculture and Rural Development dusk—so at this time of year that’s a long (DARD), Northern Ireland and with time). Born and raised on a small dairy Queen’s University, Belfast, where she is a farm just outside Belfast, she has just Reader in Food Science. She is a Principal recently returned to live in the family Scientific Officer within the Food home. This is Margaret Patterson, new Microbiology Branch of DARD and, as a president of SfAM; the fourth female project leader, has special responsibility president of the Society. She’s a friendly for research on novel food processes. She and extremely organised woman; she has has eight staff at DARD and two at to be with the hectic work schedule she Queens—three male and seven female manages so well. Here she introduces and she is also responsible for the herself and talks about her vision for the microbiology teaching labs. “I have a Society. great team.” she enthuses. When asked Educated in a very small, local primary about her management technique she told school (only two teachers!), then at a us it is based on trust, openness and the Belfast Grammar school and Queens knowledge that she can rely on her staff Margaret and Arthur Gilmour at DARD University Belfast, Margaret was a absolutely to get the job done with the teenager during the Troubles. This meant minimum of fuss. More girls should consider a scientific that she could not go out much at night When asked about her current position career. I certainly have never experienced and tended to stay within the local, tightly Margaret is enthusiastic: “I’ve always any discrimination. One travels through knit and very happy community. She been fascinated by microbiology—the fact science based on one’s achievements and firmly believes that Northern Ireland is a that there are organisms we can’t see nothing else. I was lucky enough to be great place and although she has travelled with the naked eye that are constantly invited to attend the Parliamentary and extensively, still calls it home and has not busy working against us to cause disease Scientific Committee lunch in London found anywhere else she would rather or for us such as making foods or drugs where The Princess Royal encouraged live. As she told us: “Hopefully the to fight disease. I see the object of my women in particular to choose science as terrorist activity has gone for good now research as keeping them under control a career. I wrote to her to thank her and so why not come and see it for yourself?” and making them work for us. I am also to tell her a little about SfAM. I was very She was always better at science than lucky enough to study in an institution pleased to receive a reply from arts at school and wanted to know how with both government and academic Buckingham Palace saying that the things worked. “This was much easier facilities, which is an excellent research Princess was very interested to hear of than learning lots of historic dates and and training environment for students.” the important work we do. Subsequently I quotations from literature,” she says. When asked about the education been invited to join WISE—Women in This, along with a passion for food, made system, she said: “Nowadays the system is Science and Engineering—which aims to a degree in Food Science an obvious modular. In my day there was an promote science to girls.” choice. “I wanted to know things like how integrated approach to teaching which in We then asked her how she felt about they get the yolk into a Cadbury’s cream my opinion is better. Our courses had a being elected as President of SfAM. egg, figs into fig rolls and why liquid milk heavy practical content. However, this “I am very lucky to be President of the ends up as cheese, butter and yoghurt.” method of teaching costs. I am fully in Society at this very exciting time. I have After graduating she was given the support of the campaign to increase the the legacy of the previous Presidents to option of taking a job with a well-known amount of practical teaching. There is a live up to. Did you know that I am the food producer or, as advised by her then shortage of food scientists and indeed fourth SfAM President from DARD? John Head of Department Professor John microbiologists in the UK with the right Murray, Arthur Gilmour, Peter Silley (who Murray (a former President of SfAM), skills.” once worked in DARD) and now me. continuing her studies and choosing a We asked Margaret if she would advise Arthur Gilmour initiated a series of more academic path. It was the academic people to choose science as a career. Strategic Away days on the future life that most appealed and after leaving “I would advise anyone to consider a direction of SfAM, which Peter Silley very

08 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk the President’s Column

successfully built upon. Peter introduced manager, has been particularly supportive affects their pressure resistance and to a range of initiatives such as our throughout my career, providing sound optimise processing conditions for involvement with the BSF and initiatives advice when I need it and allowing me to different foods. We are currently working involving the general public. We are a get involved in many of the national and on the pressure treatment of fruit juices, financially well off Society and we have to international initiatives. However, I guess fish and shellfish, dairy products and thank our previous Treasurers, including my utmost role model has to be Dr Hilary cooked meats. Peter, for their sound advice over the Stevenson. She was a food chemist here We’ve recently obtained a commercial years. My aims for the society are to at Newforge and I worked with her as scale high pressure vessel which consolidate and build upon the work part of a food irradiation research team complements our existing two small started by Peter Silley. I want to increase when I first joined DARD in 1986. Hilary research vessels. This means we have a our membership and ensure we can give was an excellent scientist and an excellent unique facility within Europe; the ability our members as many useful benefits as manager of staff and also one of the to develop products on a lab scale and possible. I’d like to see our corporate kindest people I have ever known. She then carry out production scale trials. Increasingly we are involved in confidential contract work with many different food companies and this gives a new dimension to our laboratory-based research work.” We know that you are involved in a number of other science related activities as part of your day-to-day work. Can you tell us about them? “One role I have is as a Scientific Advisor to SafeFood—The Food Safety Promotion Board which is based in Cork. This was established as a result of the 1999 Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday agreement) between the UK and Irish Governments. Safefood Margaret and her commercial scale high works closely with the Food Standards pressure vessel Agency in the North of Ireland and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and membership increase even more than it took me under her wing and became my helps to promote collaboration into all has in recent times. I’d also like to mentor. She was the one I turned to for aspects of food safety on the island of concentrate on meetings—both in terms advice, especially in my early days as a Ireland. I was initially seconded from of their format and the topics we cover. lecturer with staff management DARD for two days per week for six Working alongside our new Chief responsibilities for the first time. Sadly months but am still there in an advisory Executive Officer, Mr Philip Wheat, I’d she died in 1994 but I will always be capacity.” like to work to improve our public image. grateful for her support and inspiration at I am also a designated expert on food We already have plans to improve the the start of my career.” safety for the World Health website, for example, one of the first We went on to ask Margaret what her Organisation (WHO) and the points of contact with the general public. current research interests are. International Atomic Energy Agency I think SfAM is starting to, and will “My main area of research is looking at (IAEA). I spent some time on secondment continue to go beyond the traditional role novel food processing methods to ensure at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, of a learned society. As part of our 75th microbiological safety and quality. We are where I learned a lot about how such a anniversary celebrations we are particularly interested in using high big organisation works. I still do some introducing Anniversary Fellowships pressures (up to 900 MegaPascals, MPa) consultancy work for these UN (see page 13 for more details). Next year as a way of killing microorganisms in organisations, mainly in the middle and will definitely be a reflective period for foods. To get this pressure into some far east—this recently took me to SfAM as we are the oldest UK perspective, the pressure at the deepest Bangkok, so it is a great way to see the microbiololgy society. We will reflect upon parts of the ocean is 120 MPa. Also, 400 world on expenses!” what we’ve achieved up to now, and what MPa is equivalent to the weight of three Finally, we asked Margaret what she we aim to achieve in the future.” elephants standing on a strawberry. This was going to do after our meeting. As we’ve said, Margaret has a very technique is over 100 years old, but was “I have to do two staff appraisals this hectic work and social schedule. So, we ‘forgotten’ until relatively recently. This afternoon, which sounds more onerous asked her who has influenced her and form of preservation kills microbes but than it actually is because I have such a who have been her role models? ensures that food retains its colour, great team. But after that I’m going for a “I have to thank DARD for giving me flavour and nutrient value so meets pedicure—I like to pamper my feet!” permission to get involved in “external consumer demands for ‘natural’, high affairs” such as SfAM, as this has really quality, minimally processed products. Margaret Patterson will be writing her helped me develop as a person and as a The aim of our research is to see how first column in the next issue scientist. Arthur Gilmour, who is my line microbes respond to pressure, what www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 09 Teresa Belcher reports on the latest news and initiatives from Med-Vet-Net

MED-VET-NET IS A EUROPEAN Network of Excellence that aims to improve research on the prevention and control of zoonoses by integrating veterinary, medical and food science research. Comprising of 16 European partners and over 300 scientists, Med- Vet-Net will enable these scientists to share and enhance their knowledge and skills, and develop collaborative research projects. Med-Vet-Net officially commenced on 1 September 2004, and is funded to the value of €14.4 million for 5 years.

Approaching its first year As Med-Vet-Net approaches its first year anniversary in September 2005, the project is showing significant progress in meeting its objectives and the visible benefits of the Network are clearly evident. In this first year, a ‘Virtual Institute’, integrating the 16 European partners, has been created. This is supported by a legal agreement, with governance at Institute Director level, and an Advisory Panel of International Experts. The scientific aspects of network activities are managed by a Project Manager working closely with a Co- ordinating Forum comprising senior representatives from all of the institutes and a Communication Unit. The administrative and financial aspects of the project are managed by the Co- presentations made by representatives of future of zoonoses. ordinator’s Representative supported by all the network partner institutes and 104 Bringing scientists together an Administration Bureau. poster presentations displayed throughout the meeting. The presentation topic areas There were a number of objectives set First General Scientific Meeting included Detection and Control, out for the First General Meeting of Med- Med-Vet-Net held its first general Epidemiology, Risk Research, Host- Vet-Net, which would be the outcome of scientific meeting at University College, microbe Interactions and New, Neglected bringing scientists from across the Winchester, UK from 29 June - 1 July and Topical Zoonoses. partnership together. These were: To 2005. The three day meeting was Two keynote speakers attended from network and develop a common attended by 183 delegates from all the United States: Prof Nina Marano from understanding of Med-Vet-Net partner institutes within the network. CDC, Atlanta and Prof Corrie Brown from activities The programme was packed with many the University of Georgia. They both took At the beginning of the conference, opportunities to attend oral presentations time out from their busy schedules to tight little groups of people arrived from and appraise posters. There were present the audience with their incisive each partner institute, however, these approximately 70 short scientific and thoughtful overviews of the past and groups were soon broken up by our

10 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk Med-Vet-Net news

Communications Team to search for sessions on internet database technology included in Med-Vet-Net, and by enabling Treasure Hunt clues in the streets of and how this can be applied to the needs scientists from all EU member states, Winchester. The success of the Treasure of the network, an overview of the new regardless, or not, of involvement with Hunt was remarkable. Suddenly the Med-Vet-Net private website, and a Med-Vet-Net. institute groups disappeared and people presentation on the importance of In the US, the co-operating scientists were actively seeking out like-minded scientists communicating with the UK will primarily be from a new Food Safety scientists from other partner media. and Response Network (FSRRN). FSRRN organisations in both the social and To provide opportunities for the will work to address major pre-harvest scientific activities. The energy and development of collaborations production issues that impact on food enthusiasm was infectious and was Throughout the three day meeting, it safety in the US and will provide a was encouraging to note small groups of response team able to conduct focussed delegates holding informal meeting and research aimed at the control of major Further Information discussions. Of course, all the hope is that episodes of food-related illness. The this discussion will be translated into new network comprises a multi-institutional ■ For more information about Met-Vet- Net, visit our website at collaborative projects in the future. and multidisciplinary team of over 50 http://www.medvetnet.org/ or contact Already one new European discussion food safety experts from 18 colleges and Teresa Belcher at the SfAM offices in group on New and Emerging Zoonoses universities in the US and Canada, which Bedford on: +44 (0)1234 271020 has been generated, others will hopefully will investigate several of the most develop in the future. prevalent food-related pathogens. FSRRN is funded by the USDA Cooperative State EU-US Safe Food – building Research, Education, and Extension further collaborations Service (CSREES). EUUS-SAFEFOOD has The model and success of Med-Vet-Net the three following objectives: has been instrumental in the proposal for ■ Objective 01: To establish, by a new EU-funded project called EUUS- means of a programme of 4 joint SAFEFOOD. workshops over 3 years, a common understanding of the state-of-art knowledge of the microbial ecology, epidemiology, detection, and control and intervention of specific food borne pathogens of joint interest to the EC and USA. ■ Objective 02: To identify and, where feasible, initiate areas for joint collaboration in research and surveillance, by developing an expert scientist exchange programme involving the funding of travel grants to up to 20 EUUS-SAFEFOOD aims to develop a European scientists over 3 years. transatlantic strategic alliance, between ■ Objective 03: To disseminate the food-borne zoonoses research networks in accrued joint knowledge to other the European Union and the United scientists and stakeholders by developing States, in order to develop shared and ● a public website within 3 months of common research interests on all aspects the start of the project of microbiological food safety within the ● ensuring publication of workshop total food chain. Particular emphasis will proceedings within three months of be in the pre-harvest phase of production, each workshop and presenting reflected in the general noise of excited with a longer term aim of improving network achievements at general voices and deep discussions at breaks and international understanding, enhancing microbiological society meetings in mealtimes. scientific capacity to respond to the US and EU in 2007. To present the range of scientific international food borne incidents, The Society for Applied Microbiology expertise, facilities and skills across harmonising responses to food safety (SfAM) will build on its experience in Med-Vet-Net issues and providing evidence-based establishing the Med-Vet-Net An excellent standard of science was advice in support of government policies. Communications Unit, and will be an presented at both the oral and poster Part of the remit of Med-Vet-Net’s active partner in EUUS-SAFEFOOD, presentations. The diversity of interests, Workpackage 2 (Strategic Scientific responsible for communications, and the the timeliness of the technologies and the Integration) is the expansion of the building and maintenance of the website: breadth of investigatory skills all served network activities to external scientists. http://www.euus-safefood.com. to exemplify the wealth of resources the EUUS-SAFEFOOD undertakes to in part whole network has to offer to European fulfil this remit by extending its activities Teresa Belcher Zoonoses Research. A Communications to a new European partner (RVI) in one Med-Vet-Net Communications Director Workshop was also held which had of the new member states, not previously www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 11 New Members

We would like to warmly welcome the following new members and hope that A Plea from the Archivist you will participate fully in the activities of the Society. Intensive work on sorting the society archives has shown that they are far from Belgium complete. Members, especially long- Dr J Heyrman; Mr J A H Vandroenne standing ones, may be keeping material that is of interest in recording the history Canada of the society. Items such as minutes, meetings reports, journals, letters and Dr V Bohaychuk; Mr G Moore indeed, anything pertaining to the Society France and its predecessors, the Society for Applied Bacteriology and the Society for Dr C Faille; Mr G Tauveron Agricultural Bacteriology would be very welcome if members could bear to part Ireland with them. I can assure you they will find a Dr L Gordon; Miss E L McGinley good home in the archives!

Italy If you can help then please contact David Post either through the SfAM office, or Mr S Zardetto directly on: 01424 870590. Japan

Dr K Koba David Post

The Maldives Mrs S Mohamed School The Netherlands

Mr M Witmer Associate Nigeria Membership Mr O Bello; Mis A E Omotayo of SfAM Northern Ireland

Ms J Colville

United Arab Emirates

Mr A K Krishnamoorthy; Mr Abdul M Kader Maideen

United Kingdom

Corporate: Acolyte Biomedica Ltd; Mast Group Ltd Mr N Al Humam; Mr S Ali; Dr S Baker; Dr E Best; Miss Pamela Campbell; Mr A J Carter; Dr H Chan; Mr D Cinar; Dr R J Davenport; Mr Steve Davies; Dr D J Fitzgerald; Mrs A Advertise! Gill; Dr J Hall; Mr L Hao; Ms D Hyliands; Miss S Jackson; Dr S Lang; Dr S Linton; Miss With a highly targeted circulation of K Massey; 2000 copies, Microbiologist is a cost- Professor N Minton; Mr B Neeson; Ms M T K effective way for members and non- Nguyen; Miss O I Okafor; Mr A M Omar; members to reach qualified Miss N A Ratna; Miss J Rollason; Mrs H microbiologists in industry, academia Why not recommend SfAM membership Shaw; Professor A Tallentire; Mrs P E and public services, both in the UK, to your local school? Thornton; Miss C L Townes; Miss G L and worldwide. Vanstone; Mr M D Webb; Dr S Wiles; Miss P Benefits M Wilks; Mr G Winward For more information about the ■ Quarterly copies of Microbiologist benefits and costs of advertising your ■ Full access to the Society website USA products or services in Microbiologist ■ Preferential rates at all Society Meetings Dr J Cormolli; Mr M Z Durak; Dr M Hardin; please contact the Society Office or visit ■ Mr J Huck; Dr B S Seal the website. All for only £15.00 per annum!

12 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk Membership matters

Deaths of members We were greatly saddened to learn SfAM Anniversary that Dr J W Hopton of Alvechurch, Birmingham, a retired member of the Society since 1956, passed away in Fellowships February this year. Also, Mrs Pamela Smith, a full Are you a member of staff in a private, member since 1991, of Winchester, who passed away aged 55 from breast academic or government laboratory? Want cancer. to train in a new technique and add to Our condolences go to all their your CPD points? Know somewhere friends and family. you can go to get this training but don’t have the funds to get there? Sponsor a new Why not apply for the new SfAM Anniversary Member of the Fellowship? SfAM will pay a maximum of Society and £1000 per week for a 1-4 week visit (to win a £50 include staff travel expenses and laboratory consumables). Book Token! Contact the SfAM office for full details and an application form. General Conditions

1. Applications should be made through through an article in Microbiologist or by an completion, and submission, of the SfAM oral or poster presentation at a SfAM application form. There is no closing date conference. for applications but applicants should apply 5. SfAM is not responsible for any injury or at least 6 weeks in advance of the proposed ill effect suffered by the applicant during the start date of the Fellowship. course of the visit. It is the applicants 2. The SfAM Awards Panel will be responsibility to ensure that he/she is responsible for making the decision on covered under the relevant personal Could you be the next allocation of awards. indemnity insurance policies of the host laboratory. winner of the ‘SfAM 3. Normally, recipients of the awards, or their employer, will be members of SfAM. 6. Normally, recipients of the awards are not Sponsor of the Year’ postgraduate students, but in exceptional Award? 4. Recipients of the awards are expected to circumstances such applications may be provide a report on their Fellowship e.g. considered. If you feel you could be our next winner for 2005, and would like some promotional material to help you recruit new members please contact Julie Wright, Membership Co-ordinator on 01234 326661 or email [email protected].

Could YOU benefit? Did you know that the Society has many generous grants and prizes available to members? To find out if you are eligible and could benefit visit the website at: www.sfam.org.uk contact: 01234 326661 www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 13 Farewell to Peter Silley

N SUNDAY 3rd JULY 2005, the computer generated acetate overheads of SfAM committee gathered at a his talk—everyone else just turned up O famous Brighton restaurant for with nothing or used the ‘chalk and talk’ a lively get together. Everyone method on the blackboard. Eventually an was happy to catch up with each other as overhead projector was found in a it had been several months since some cupboard and dusted down. Peter gave his members had seen each other and they presentation as required—but before were all full of the latest developments in starting, put out all the lights. Much to their labs, careers and even personal the dismay of the course tutors the lives. However, despite a lovely meal and resulting video was completely black and a lot of joviality, one couldn’t help but they couldn’t give Peter any feedback on sense a hint of melancholy in the air. The any of his mannerisms. He was obviously reason for this was the fact that this meal destined for greater things! had been arranged for a particular Actually, in a way that has worked out purpose—to say a big ‘Thank you’ and very well for me because when he left to ‘Au revoir’ to our Honorary President, Dr enter the real world of industry, his post Peter Silley. became vacant and I applied and was As you’ll all know, Peter has made a lot successful in being appointed. So for that of changes during his tenure as President Peter, I owe you a big thank you! of the Society and Anthony Hilton—our Committee pay tribute to On a more serious note, when I was Honorary General Secretary has been on Dr Peter Silley—the Society’s first told I’d been nominated to become the committee for the entirety of Peter’s president, I went through mixture of reign. Anthony told us: “When I reflect outgoing Honorary President emotions. Then was the awful realisation over the past three years and look at that I would have to stand up and give a where the society has gone and some of the civil service and his involvement in a speech at the summer conference meal. the things that we’ve done we somewhat training course on presentation skills Most of you that know me, know I don’t take it for granted that what we’ve “Some of you may not know this,” do speeches. Unlike Peter who is achieved with the Med-Vet-Net Margaret began, “but Peter worked as a imfamous for his jokes. Thank goodness partnership, Microbiologist magazine, Civil Servant within the Science service of we didn’t buy Peter a jokebook as his the new staff we now have in the office the Department of Agriculture in commemorative present. with Phil and with Marisa, it all seems Northern Ireland and also had a joint But once I’d calmed down a bit I such a flash in the pan really. Whilst I’m appointment at Queen’s University, thought: ‘Gosh if you’re ever going to be not suggesting that it’s all the work of Belfast, in the 1980s. I was only a young president of SfAM, now’s the time to do it one person, I certainly believe that Peter PhD student at the time in the same lab. I because its such an exciting time in our has kept the focus of the committee and didn’t get to know him very well as he history.’ The reason for this is due to the kept us all driving towards a common was the (much) older, wiser member of vision and foresight of previous aim. For that I respect him and I want to staff with gravitas coming out of every presidents. Peter came forward as give him thanks. I think of the society as pore. I do remember even in those days president in 2002 and the last three years somewhat like the Hotel California really, that he was keen on fishing and rugby. have been a bit like a roller coaster ride in the you can check out any time you However Peter only stayed a few years in really. The thing that’s really come like but you can never leave! I’m pleased the Department—looking back on it, it forward are the number of initiatives that Peter isn’t leaving us entirely that he was obvious that he was not cut out to be which are now coming to fruition and is taking on a new role as Custodian a civil servant. He was too clever by half that’s why I’m lucky to be president at Trustee. I know that myself and Margaret and was always looking at ways to beat this time. For me, one of the biggest hope to consult with him and take advice the system. Here is a true story from that assets is the appointment of Sekona from him in the future. I believe that time. All good civil servants are sent on partnerships—Professor Nigel Poole and Peter has been a very strong leader for us courses on anything from how to answer Professor Geraldine Scholfield. With their over the past three years and I hope that a telephone in the approved official help I think we have become a very he will still advise us as we move into the manner to rapid reading. One such course credible voice in the world of movers and future.” was ‘how to give a presentation.’ shakers where the decisions are being A couple of amusing stories about This involved a practical session where made. Peter’s very active in this respect— Peter ensued. We won’t go into all the everyone was videoed giving a he’s a regular diner in Westminster! details now, but if you were ever to ask presentation and then the tape was played Another thing we’ve been very much him about Nigels’ fishing story and his back and the individual was given involved in is the science media centre yellow submarine, I’m sure a smile would ‘constructive feedback’, mostly from folk (SMC), an organisation which helps creep across his face! We were also who have never had to give a real life journalists and the press who want to entertained by an amusing tale from lecture! Anyhow, Peter has always been know more scientific information. We Margaret Patterson of his earlier years in ahead of his time and he produced reported on the SMC in our feature article

14 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk Membership matters

in the March 2005 issue of fortunate situation financially and that is after far too long. I’ve been on committee Microbiologist. A number of our due to the hard work of the previous about 14 years making me the longest members have been called upon to talk to treasurers, that includes Peter as well. We serving member of anybody here. When I the press and media on topical have seen large benefits over the years first came onto committee there was an microbiological issues and Dr Anthony but also, most importantly we have initiative by a previous president at that Hilton is a huge star of TV! So we are excellent and widely-read journals. We time which was called ‘new blood’. It was getting our message out there and have the Journal of Applied the time when they were creating some of promoting the positive image of Microbiology and the Letters in Applied these new blood lectureships—trying to microbiology. I can’t help but mention Microbiology and also we’re involved in a get young people into academia, so they Med-Vet-Net, something that we’re all joint venture—Environmental were trying to get some young people very proud of. Med-Vet-Net is an EU- Microbiology. These journals are going onto the SfAM committee, but in fact the funded medical veterinary programme from strength to strength. The impact whole new blood initiative was turned bringing together ten countries and 300 factors were announced recently and we down. scientists. SfAM is one of the overarching are delighted that all three journals The first time I stood for committee I Workpackages and Peter once again is impact factors have increased. That wasn’t elected. It is pretty disappointing if very much involved in that as doesn’t happen by chance, it’s due to the your name goes forward in a ballot and Workpackage leader. You can read more hard work of the editors and editorial you don’t actually make it. So I thought, about Med-Vet-Net on page 10. board. I’d also like to thank the officers right, I’m not going to stand for that committee; if they don’t want me then that’s fair enough. Within about twelve months I was co-opted onto committee and that was about 14 years ago. I’ve really enjoyed the last three years. There have been some difficult times and difficult decisions to be made, but its great to work with a committee that are so committed to the society. I look round and I can say that everybody’s doing something for the society and I think that’s what’s important. As I said, when I was coming down in the lift and started thinking about it all I won’t deny that I wasn’t fighting back a tear. I will miss it, but one one thing I know is that in Margaret you have a worthy president. I think some of the things that we’ve been able to do in the last few years and some of the initiatives we’ve made on a Something that has been tremendously and committee. It’s great to have the political level are really exciting. The past successful over the last few years is the ideas for these initiatives but without the president was completely opposed to our in-house magazine. I’m sure you all willingness of committee, of someone to joining in with any other society. He agree that Microbiologist has come on in volunteer their time to put them into passionately believed in SfAM as an entity leaps and bounds. It’s read right around action, these ideas would amount to in itself. I believe we have a distintiveness the world and things like the design-a-bug nothing. One key driver in all of this has which is unique. We are the Society for competition that we ran last year brought been Peter. Peter and I have known each Applied Microbiology—the voice of the whole concept of microbiology into other for a long time. He’s been a friend applied microbiology. We represent primary schools and that’s got to be good and I want to thank him for all the help applied microbiololgy and need to work at for the future of microbiology. and support he’s given me over the years. that. We’ve done some amazing things, All these things contribute towards our There’s one down-side to being we’re involved in Med-Vet-Net, and that’s charitable aim to put back into the president at the moment and that is the been incredibly exciting and stimulating community. Most, if not all these fact that Peter’s is such a hard act to with real opportunities to get involved in initiatives have been spear-headed by follow. We can never thank him enough microbiology on the European stage. Peter in the last three years. We have an for the amount of time and effort he’s Every one of us has a part to play and I excellent team in the office now and the dedicated to the society throughout his look forward to seeing the society grow appointment of our new CEO, Mr Phil time on committee, as treasurer, and as from strength to strength. Our success is Wheat, has come as a welcome addition the past president.” due to the success of our journals. It’s the to the Society office. He is working so Finally, Peter Silley added: “It didn’t journals that underpin everything we do. well to manage all these initiatives and all actually hit me until I came down in the So we need to give all the support we can the administration that comes with them. lift this evening that this would be the to the editors because they are our This means the presidents job is going end. It’s been amazing really and I think lifeblood. It’s been absolutely great to to be so much easier than it was for Peter what’s particularly exciting is what’s also work with you all and I really do wish you when he was coming in. We are also in a quite disappointing—leaving committee and the society all the best.” www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 15 2005 SfAM AGM

The 74th annual general meeting of the Society for Applied Microbiology was held on Wednesday 6 July at 6.00 pm in the Old Ship Hotel Brighton. The Honorary President, Dr Peter Silley, was in the chair and 33 members were present.

Present (ii) Report of the Honorary General replacements he wished to propose Dr Tony Secretary: Worthington this was seconded by Dr Martin Adams; Lucy Harper; Grahame Gould; Dr Anthony Hilton highlighted that Susannah Walsh. In addition, Dr Andrew Sails Don Whitley; Rachel Compton; subsequent to producing the 2004 was proposed by Dr Peter Silley and was Annual Report a few errata had been seconded by Dr Keith Jones. Both these Jean-Yves Mallard; Margaret Patterson; noticed. An attachment will be made names were unanimously accepted. Frances Presland; Fred Skinner; Sarah Jackson; of these when forwarding the report to Jane Sutherland; Joan Norris; Keith Jones; the financial auditors and onward to 9. Election of Honorary Stuart Petitt; John Rigarlsford; Karen Stanley; the Charity Commission. Chief Editor - David McCleery; Susannah Welsh; Journal of Applied Microbiology. Mr Alan Andrew McBain; Shona Nelson; Peter Gilbert; Dr Silley then asked the members Godfree was retiring due to rotation as the Rosalind McHugh; Anne Moir; Julie Eastgate; whether they had any comments to Honorary Chief Editor of the Journal of make regarding the 2004 Annual Hilary Dodson; Tony Worthington; Applied Microbiology. Dr Margaret Patterson Report presented to them. There were Geoff Hanlon; Paul Gibbs; Barrie Seddon; thanked him for all his hard work and efforts no comments made. Arthur Gilmour; Uyi Uwagboe; during his term of office. She then reiterated Christopher Ibenegbu; Colin Harwood; 5. Adoption of the Annual the importance of the well being of the Anthony Hilton. Report 2004 journals for the effective running of Society business. Professor Arthur Gilmour was 1. Apologies for absence Dr Silley asked for the report to be officially proposed by the Committee and was adopted by those present. Dr David McCleery seconded by Mr Don Whitley. Apologies of absence were received from proposed and Dr Stuart Pettit seconded the Barbara Lund; David Post; Ron Board; Murial proposal. 10. Election of new members Rhodes-Roberts; Alan Godfree; Valerie A list of names of applicants for membership Edwards-Jones. 6. Election of Honorary President was tabled and all were accepted. 2. 73rd Annual Meeting Dr Silley put forward Dr Margaret Patterson as 11. Deaths and resignations The minutes of the 73rd AGM held at Jury’s the new President. He asked if there were any A list of names of members who had died or other nominations from the floor. No other Hotel, Cork were circulated to those present. resigned was tabled and all were accepted. The minutes were accepted as a true and nominations were forthcoming. Dr Silley accurate record of the meeting, proposed by proposed and Don Whitley seconded. The 12. Any other business proposal was unanimously accepted. Dr Silley Colin Harwood and seconded by John then presented the presidential chain of office John Rigarlsford sought clarification of the Rigarlsford. to Dr Patterson. situation concerning whether value added tax 3. Matters arising The rest of the meeting was then chaired by was charged for Society meetings. Dr Silley Dr Patterson. replied that this was being looked into and There were no matters arising. committee would report back once advice 7. Election of Custodian had been received. 4. Report of the Trustees Trustees Fred Skinner thanked the officers, committee members and the office staff for all their hard of the Society for the year 2004. Copies of Dr Patterson proposed that the following work and efforts in running the business of the report for the year 2004 were previously should be recommended for positions of the Society. Margaret Patterson replied that distributed to all members attending the Custodial Trustees of the Society: she was most grateful for such a comment. meeting. Professor Basil Jarvis Professor Grahame Gould 13. Date of next meeting (i) Report of the Honorary President: Dr Peter Silley The next ordinary AGM will be on 5th July Dr Silley commented that the impact The Committee proposed and this was 2006 in Edinburgh at 18.00 hrs in the Apex factors for the Journal of Applied seconded by Professor Colin Harwood. International Hotel. Microbiology and Letters in Applied Microbiology were again increased 8. Election of two new from the previous year. Dr Silley then committee members Not a member? went on to thank all the Editors and Society members play a leading role in the Editorial Board for all their hard Dr Anthony Hilton reported that this year shaping the future of applied work. Dr Silley also highlighted that there were two committee vacancies as Dr Ian microbiology, and enjoy many recent impact factors for Environmental Feavers and Dr Julie Eastgate were retiring by benefits. To learn more please turn to Microbiology and indicated that had rotation. Dr Hilton thanked these two people page 50, or visit the Society website surpassed that of Applied and for there contributions and hard work during at www.sfam.org.uk Environmental Microbiology. there terms in office. Dr Hilton then stated as

16 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk Bacterial Phenotyping

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www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 17 MISAC Competition 2005

Each year the Microbiology in Schools Advisory Committee (MISAC) runs a competition as part of its activities to promote the study of microbiology in schools. SfAM is a longstanding supporter of MISAC and has sponsored these competitions in the past. This year however it was the turn of the British Mycological Society (BMS) to sponsor the 17th competition. Naturally enough they took the opportunity to encourage students to focus on the fungi and set them the task of producing a poster to inform the public of the importance of fungi in the production of foods, drinks and other goods that they buy. First Prize 11-14 Age Group: Torben Kallmeier Fungi in your shopping basket

Yeasts and moulds play crucial roles in WINNING ENTRIES decomposition, cause significant losses in agriculture through plant disease and are 11-14 AGE GROUP involved in the production of many First Prize traditional and novel food and drink Torben Kallmeier, Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe products. In health care, their invaluable role as producers of antibiotics is well Second Prize known but there is also a worrying Douglas Yeong, The Grange School, Northwich increase in fungal diseases of human beings, including those that are sexually Third Prize transmitted. However, it is unfortunate Annabel James, St George’s School, Ascot that despite these profound effects on everyday life, the fungi do not feature Highly Commended strongly in syllabuses in schools and is Oliver Browne, Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe Commended for Design Hannah Murray and Samantha Wynn, Wakefield Girls’ High School, Wakefield GCSE AGE GROUP First Prize Emily Oldroyd, Durham High School, Durham Second Prize Sam Shires, Wellington College, Crowthorne, Berkshire Third Prize Emma Pascal, Durham High School, Durham Highly Commended Cornelius Riethdorf, Wellington College, Crowthorne, Berkshire Commended Edward Bartley and James Huelin, Wellington College, Crowthorne, Berkshire Commended for Design Mahiran Rahmat, Hamilton Community College, Leicester First Prize GCSE Age Group: Emily Oldroyd

18 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk Features

Second Prize 11-14 Age Group: Douglas Yeong Second Prize GCSE Age Group: Sam Shires

Third Prize 11-14 Age Group: Annabel James Third Prize GCSE Age Group: Emma Pascal even diminishing at university level. London. The judges looked for designs old maxim ‘read the instructions Therefore, the success of this year’s that make an immediate impact, address carefully.’ They showed much promise but competition was particularly encouraging. the topic clearly and use an attractive were eliminated from consideration for There was a splendid, response of layout to engage the attention of prizes as they either did not address the some 550 entries involving nearly 900 members of the general public long specified topic, e.g., dealt with the students from 80 schools and colleges enough for them to learn something importance of fungi in general, or did not throughout the UK. As is usual, there about the wide range of products with comply with the specified A3 format. Also were more entries from the Key Stage which fungi are involved. some entries showed much imagination three group than from the GCSE years, Many entries impressed the judges and industry in incorporating features but a welcome development this year was with their high quality of presentation, that unfortunately do not lend themselves that eight institutions provided entries in success in achieving their purpose and to a poster format, e.g. the use of sliding both age groups. In addition to the three demonstration of a good grasp of the panels of information, three-dimensional prizes awarded in each age group (see underlying science. One aspect the judges effects and various ‘dangly bits.’ box), all the schools who entered the looked for with respect to originality, was Careful checking of spelling would also competition received a pack of evidence of the use of entrants’ own have helped a few entrants, for example, microbiology teaching resources put words, not entire text taken directly from avoidance of the term ‘..fungi is..’ together by BMS and MISAC. sources such as the web. The competition Officers of BMS, including the writer also gave opportunities for drawing and Martin Adams and broadcaster, Professor Stefan writing by hand and for using ICT skills Further Information Buczacki, who is a Past President of the and both of these approaches featured ■ society, joined members of MISAC for among the prize winners. Some of the MISAC) website: www.microbiologyonline.org.uk/misac the judging at the Institute of Biology in unsuccessful entries failed to follow the www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 19 a one day meeting on Epidemiology and vaccines CPD ACCREDITATION The Royal Society, Carlton House Terrace, London Thursday 5th January 2006 applied for

Call for Posters! There will be an opportunity during the meeting to present posters in any relevant subject area. Abstracts of less than 500 words, to include aims and objectives, brief methodology, results, conclusions and implications of the work, should be submitted only as a Microsoft™ Word document attachement to an email addressed to [email protected] with the subject line ‘January 2006 meeting submission’.

■ Including: The Denver Russell Memorial Lecture Parallel Sessions on: For the latest information, ■ Vaccines please visit us online at: ■ “From postcodes to pandemics – global infectious disease epidemiology www.sfam.org.uk on your doorstep”

20 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk January Meeting 2006

Programme CPD 10.00-10.30 Arrival/ Coffee/ 15.05-15.35 Spatial statistics of ACCREDITATION Registration infectious disease. Prof. Peter Diggle, Lancaster applied for 10.30-11.15 The Denver Russell University, UK. Memorial Lecture: Biocides, efficacy testing, 15.35-16.05 Impact of global climate epidemiology? change on infectious Prof. A. Sattar, University of disease epidemiology. Ottawa, Canada. Prof. Paul Hunter, University of East Anglia, UK. 11.15-11.45 Avian Flu. Prof. J Roberston, NIBSC, UK. 16.10 Meeting closes

11.45-12.15 How epidemiology Session B: Current Vaccine informs vaccine design. Issues Prof. Martin Maiden, University of Oxford, UK. 13.15-13.45 Conjugate vaccines in the infant immunization 12.15-13.15 Lunch programme. Dr. Andrew Pollard, Dept of Afternoon: two parallel sessions of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, five talks (thirty minutes each) UK. Session A: Postcodes to pandemics: new perspectives in 13.45-14.15 MMR global disease epidemiology. Dr. Mary Ramsay, CDSC, HPA Colindale, London, UK. Book online! 13.15-13.45 Geodemographics – Members and Non-members 14.15-14.35 Tea spatial analysis of your who wish to book their place at neighbourhood. Prof. Richard Webber, University 14.35-15.05 Bioterrorism Vaccines. this meeting can now book College London, UK. online via the website using our Prof. Richard Titball DSTL, secure online booking form, or 13.45-14.15 Epidemiology of TB Porton Down, UK. by printing out and completing between Asian and UK communities. 15.05-15.35 Vaccination against our PDF booking form. To book Prof. Peter Hawkey, HPA MRSA. and pay online simply point your Birmingham, UK. Dr. Ali Fattom, Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, England. browser at: 14.15-14.35 Tea www.sfam.org.uk/janmeet.html 15.35-16.05 Latest developments in 14.35–15.05 Epidemiology of TB vaccines. foodborne pathogens in Dr. Doug Lowrie, NIMR, Mill the Grampian Region Hill, UK. Dr. Norval Strachan, University of Aberdeen, Scotland. 16.10 Meeting closes

Please note that the above paper titles and speakers were correct at the For the latest information, time of going to press but may be subject to change. please visit us online at: www.sfam.org.uk

www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 21 BOOKING FORM and INVOICE SFAM JANUARY MEETING 2006 THURSDAY 5th JANUARY 2006 a one day meeting on Epidemiology and vaccines Only ONE person per form please. If additional forms are required please photocopy this one. CLOSING DATE FOR REGISTRATIONS: Thursday 1st December 2005. A LATE BOOKING FEE of £20.00 will be applied to all bookings made after this date.

FEES Student, Honorary, Student Non - Full Members Associate Non - Members Whole Conference Rate: inclusive of Members registration fee, coffee breaks and lunches. & Retired Members £50.00 £30.00 £60.00 £95.00

YOUR INTERESTS Below is a list of some of the meeting topics. Please indicate which topic you would like to attend by ticking the appropriate box(es). Places will be reserved on a first-come first-served basis, but we will try to accommodate your preference Session A: Geodemographics – spatial analysis of your Session B: Conjugate vaccines in the infant immunization neighbourhood. programme. Session A: Epidemiology of TB between Asian and UK Session B: MMR communities. Session A: Epidemiology of foodborne pathogens in the Session B: Bioterrorism Vaccines. Grampian Region. Session A: Spatial statistics of infectious disease. Session B: The Challenges in Developing a Vaccine for Session A: Impact of global climate change on infectious Immunocompromised Patients: ‘The StaphVAX Story.’ disease epidemiology. Session B: Latest developments in TB vaccines.

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LATE BOOKING FEE Payable for all bookings made after Thursday 1st December 2005 £20.00

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● For all participants: The Society DOES NOT INVOICE for conference fees. Please treat your completed booking form as an invoice. Cheques must be in £ STERLING ONLY and made payable to ‘The Society for Applied Microbiology’. Foreign cheques/ drafts MUST be negotiable for the full amount due. Please note that AMERICAN EXPRESS and DINERS CARDS are NOT ACCEPTED. However the following credit and debit cards are acceptable: VISA, Mastercard, Eurocard, Delta, Electron, JCB, Maestro and Solo. Cheque enclosed Please charge my Mastercard/Visa card /Debit card (please delete inapplicable items) TOTAL Amount enclosed/ to be debited: (*Remember to include your LATE BOOKING FEE if booking after 1st December 2005) £ Card number: Expiry Date: Issue No. (Debit cards only) SUGGESTION: please photocopy this form to save mutilating your copy of the Microbiologist! Signature: *Date: Cardholder’s address to which credit card statement is sent:

Please return the completed form by fax (post if you are enclosing a cheque) to: The Society for Applied Microbiology, The Blore Tower, The Harpur Centre, Bedford MK40 1TQ, UK. Tel: 01234 326661. Fax: 01234 326678. Email: [email protected]

22 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk STUDENTSHIP Application Only ONE form per student please. If additional forms are required please photocopy this one

SFAM JANUARY MEETING 2006 Thursday 5th January 2006

I wish to apply for a SfAM Studentship grant to attend the 2006 SfAM January Meeting

About this award The Society offers Studentships to enable student members to attend Society meetings. These grants cover registration, accommodation, meals (where appropriate) and modest travel expenses. Preference is given to students offering a paper or poster and who have not previously received this award. To be considered for a Studentship grant, please complete this form in BLOCK CAPITALS and return it to the Society Office no later than 6 weeks before the date of the meeting you wish to attend. Your details

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Please return your completed application by fax or post to: The Society for Applied Microbiology, The Blore Tower, The Harpur Centre, Bedford MK40 1TQ, UK. Tel: 01234 326661. Fax: 01234 326678. Email: [email protected] Health Protection Agency Annual Conference 2005

The conference will bring together over CALL FOR ABSTRACTS 900 health protection professionals from a variety of disciplines to meet, learn and A reminder that abstracts are now share knowledge and expertise. The main invited for oral and poster presentation themes — Health Inequalities and Patient at the Health Protection Agency Annual and Public Safety — will be analysed and Conference 2005, taking place on 12- discussed by experts from the HPA and our 14 September at Warwick University. national and international partner organisations. Alongside this, a full Please visit the website for further programme of parallel sessions and poster details of the online submission system - exhibition will showcase new research and http://www.hpaconference.org.uk developments in health protection, 12 -14 September 2005 providing an opportunity to gain knowledge and insight into work on a Warwick University, UK wide range of health protection issues. ONLINE REGISTRATION Please check the conference website for updates on the programme. The online registration system is now open - please book your place early to The online registration system is now open guarantee your place. — please book early to guarantee your place. We hope you will be able to join us Email: [email protected] in September.

To register visit: http://www.hpaconference.org.uk

Mastering anti-infective therapies 20th -21st October 2005, Paris, France Further information: http://www.pasteur.fr/applications/euroconf/antiinfectionstherapies/index.html

The Institut Pasteur is sponsoring a series of conferences on important topics in biology and medicine, primarily intended for scientists working in the pharmaceutical industry, public health laboratories and agencies, and hospitals. These comprehensive conferences are delivered by recognised scientists in selected areas. They will allow a true exchange of ideas between basic and applied scientists from the Institut Pasteur and from other academic institutions and those from Institute Pasteur series of Conferences pharmaceutical companies.

Email: [email protected]

VENUE: Centre d'Information Scientifique, Institut Pasteur, 28, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France. BOOKING: Because the number of participants will be limited, we recommend early registration. A special academic fee is available for participants from academic and research staff currently working in University Departments, Government Research Institutes and Hospitals.

24 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk Meetings

The Programme features: 41 individual topics presented by over 140 industry-leading specialists across white, green and red biotech; 6 key topics and 12 sessions dedicated to emerging markets. In addition to this CORDIA features Masterclass Workshops in: Intellectual Property Law, Licensing and Capital Sourcing - these advanced sessions are designed to allow interaction between delegates and industry experts. Numbers for these workshops are BioTechnology Convention 2005 strictly limited and advance booking is mandatory. Sign up for Conference EXCel, London 11th- 13th October Updates and keep up to date with latest developments. www.cordiaconvention.com The main body of the conference consists of six key topics - Cancer, Green Biotechnology, White biotechnology, Vaccines, Neurodegenerative disease and Autoimmune disease. Each of these key topics has a session dedicated to the policy, science and finance that drives the industry. In addition to these topics there are sessions dedicated to 'Emerging Opportunities' - stand alone topics that are of critical importance to the development of European Biotechnology. ExCeL is a modern state-of-the-art exhibition and conference centre located on the north side of Royal Victoria Dock and in the heart of London's thriving Docklands.

Scientific programme Abstracts Abstract submission and symposium The overall aim of the conference is to proceedings. All abstracts are to be promote understanding of the complex submitted electronically via the website. Gut Microbiology: microbial ecosystems that are present in Deadlines research to improve health, the digestive tract of man and animals, immune response Abstract submission: 31 January 2006 and nutrition and their interactions with the host. Final registration: 31 March 2006.

5th Joint Symposium Registration organised by the Rowett It is therefore of interest to those working Research Institute, Aberdeen, Those interested in attending the Scotland (UK) & the Institut National de la Recherche to improve human and animal health and conference are requested to pre- Agronomique, Clermont- register on the RRI-INRA2006 website. Ferrand-Theix (France) nutrition through dietary manipulation, and to any scientist concerned with the Information microbial ecology of the digestive tract and Mrs V. Smith the interplay between micro-organisms and RRI–INRA Secretariat, Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Aberdeen their hosts. AB21 9SB, UK.

Aberdeen 21 - 23 June 2006 Conference website: www.rowett.ac.uk/RRI-INRA2006

www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 25 illustration: Robert A Thom (1915 - 1980). © Parke Davis & Company

Childbed Fever Milton Wainwright discusses how a Yorkshire doctor beat Semmelweis to the true cause of childbed fever

OUR HISTORY women during child birth. overlooked story will be told pioneering work, Doncaster teachers tell us that The compelling story of of how a country doctor, was a quiet market town that O Ignaz Semmelweis how Semmelweis came to called Robert Storrs, realised had yet to enjoy the boom (sometimes spelt discover that doctors often how puerperal fever is spread, times brought by the arrival of Semmelweiss or Semelweiss) spread childbed fever is well some years before the railways. From parish was the first to recognise the known; however, it has long Semmelweis even began his records we discover that importance of hand washing been recognised that most of studies. Storrs was born in to prevent cross- Semmelweis’s ideas were Little is known about Sprotbrough in 1801 and died contamination of patients, and predated by the Manchester- Robert Storrs other than he there in 1847. that it was he who discovered based surgeon, Charles White, lived in the small Yorkshire He was by no means, the cause of puerperal or and later by the American village of Sprotbrough, and however, a lowly village childbed fever, a disease that physician and writer, Oliver practised in the nearby market doctor, but was instead before the antibiotic age Wendell Holmes (Wainwright, town of Doncaster. In the early Honorary Surgeon to the caused countless deaths of 2001). Here, the previously 1840s, when Storrs did his Doncaster Dispensary and

26 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk Features

I believe it may also

readily be propagated from one individual to another, so that if a person be unfortunate‘ to ‘attend a case of the kind, without great precaution, he may be liable to transmit it to others streptococcus.sp

Medical Officer to the towns deserved. By the early 1840s, American Journal of developed rigours with severe Poor Law Union (i.e. despite White’s work, the Medical Sciences in the abdominal pain, finally workhouse) and in 1824; he cause of childbed fever following year (Anon, 1843). succumbing to the disease on was made a Fellow of the remained a mystery to the In his report, Storrs gives the morning on the twelfth. Royal college of Surgeons. In medical profession; a situation numerous accounts of his Storrs then goes on to medical terms however, the that in April of 1842, Storrs tribulations with childbed describe another eight cases Doncaster that Storrs knew was about to change. On the fever. For example, he states of the fever, most of which was well off the beaten track twenty-third of that month his that on January the seventh, proved fatal. and far from the medical findings were first published 1841 he attended a Mrs By the time that a certain power bases of London and in the Provincial State Downes, a washerwoman who Mrs Williams died on February Edinburgh, a fact that Medical Journal (the was in labour with her tenth the twenty fourth, Storrs doubtless explains why he is forerunner of the British child. On the morning of the began to realise something unknown and why his work Medical Journal). The article ninth, thirty-six hours after that must have proved heart had less of an impact than it was then published in the the delivery of a child she braking. It dawned on him www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 27 that he, the doctor—the man hygiene. Clearly, by the 1840s associated with erysipelas. He reported on childbed fever. who should be saving the lives a group of doctors in the concluded by stating that: While Holmes was clearly of the women in his charge - Doncaster, Sheffield and Leeds “I believe it (childbed aware of Storr’s work, was in fact spreading the area had come to the fever) may also readily be Semmelweis probably knew disease! conclusion that erysipelas and propagated from one nothing of it when he When he next attended to a puerperal fever were one and individual to another, so published his own studies in further sixteen cases, he took the same disease. that if a person be 1846. the precaution of changing all his clothes and applied “every means I could think of to prevent its’ (the fever) spread, including “thorough ablutions” (i.e. hand washing). These measures helped reduce, but not eliminate, the disease. From these observations, Storrs concluded that childbed fever must be epidemic in nature and was being spread, not only by himself, but also by other doctors in the neighbourhood. To avoid his unwitting role in the epidemic, Storrs next decided to leave home and visit his friends on the borders of Wales. He now believed that the poison somehow “clung to him personally” and in Wales he hoped that the disease would Post mortem examination: 1845 literally be blown off him. On his return, he found that the number of deaths had declined, but still some women were tragically Storrs soon came to an unfortunate to attend a case The importance of Storrs succumbing to childbed fever. amazing and worrying of the kind, without great work can be summarised as At this juncture, Storrs realisation. He recognised that precaution, he may be liable follows: Firstly, he recognised happened to meet two before attending the women in to transmit it to others” and that doctors passed on practitioners from nearby his original cases, he had been that “In many cases there is puerperal fever and that its Sheffield, Dr Thompson and called to a man suffering from good reason to believe that it spread could be prevented by Mr Reedall, who it seems had erysipelas where he had arises from attendance at removing all soiled clothing arrived at the same handled a number of the post mortems, especially and by thorough hand conclusion; childbed fever was patient’s weeping abscesses. where there has been washing. Secondly, he infectious and spread by Realizing that these were the peritoneal inflammation.” recognised that the disease doctors and midwives. A source of the infection, he As to cure, Storrs was very was carried to mothers to be doctor in nearby Manchester, immediately stopped attending pessimistic; noting that by doctors who had previously called John Roberton also his women patients, leaving everything he tried had little attended autopsies and had came to the same conclusion them instead with another effect on the outcome; when a failed to wash their hands or around this time, while R.Yates doctor. On resuming his visits woman was infected then the changed their clothing. In fact, Ackerley, a member of the so- he again changed his clothes likely outcome was death. He Storrs recognised everything called ‘English Contagionists’, between patients and again found bloodletting to be of no that Semmelweis is usually had even earlier linked made ‘“every possible use, although at one time, he credited with having childbed fever and erysipelas ablution.” Such however, was was encouraged to believe that discovered! To his credit, (Ackerly, 1838), a view also the scale of the epidemic, that calomel might be a useful Semmelweis did back up his advocated by the Thomas Storrs had to continue treating treatment; but to no avail. observations with statistical Nunneley a notable physician woman despite in his own Can we place Storr’s Work evidence in ‘lying-in’ hospitals from Leeds, famous for his words having caused “such a in context? Firstly why is his (data that was unavailable to experiments with anaesthetics; great amount of misery.” work groundbreaking? Well, Storrs), even though many of Storrs however, went further From his studies, Storrs his paper is dated 1842, that his obtained similar statistics by stressing the need for realised that childbed fever is is before either Semmelweis or to come to the opposite thorough ablution and general generally, but not always, Oliver Wendell Holmes conclusion.

28 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk Features

There is however, a absorption—that is it arises (that is why face masks were 1845; Anon,1846). In the particularly important way in from the generation of later used by doctors and following year, the Edinburgh- which Storrs work excelled decomposed organic matter.” midwives). based physician, Alexander over that of Semmelweis. The Many of Semmelweis’s Semmelweis obtained his Peddie suggested that childbed Hungarian doctor believed contemporaries also noted data outside an epidemic, fever was caused by a “virus that the childbed fever was that they could attend women when the most of the cases of animal nature” that actually spread by the dead after doing autopsies without would have been infected by originates from erysipelas inflammation (Peddie, 1846). Despite the fact that Storr’s work was highlighted in the major medical journals, both here and in the States, and was also mentioned by Oliver Wendell Holmes, it seems to have made no impact on medicine of the time; subsequently, even English experts were content to give priority on his findings to Semmelweis. As a result, Storrs died largely unknown and unheralded on the fourteenth of September 1847. Like Semmelweis and many of the women he tried to help, Storrs died of fever and was Ignaz Semmelweis buried in the churchyard of his birth, Sprotbrough. Unfortunately no image of him seems to exist, so we are left Storrs’ tombstone in Sprotbrough churchyard only with the inscription on his gravestone, which is simple, but very apt: “the memory of the just is blessed.” flesh (the so-called cadarveric causing ill effects. The Russian unwashed hands, rather than principle) carried from obstetrician Hugenberger from the throats of infected References autopsies to the pregnant noted that cadarveric fever is doctors and nurses, or merely ■ woman. Storrs however, the rarest cause of childbed anyone carrying streptococci. Ackerley, R Y (1838) London Med.Gaz., 2,463-466. recognised that the disease fever and that an epidemic As a result, Semmelweis’s (by was epidemic in nature and ranged through Prague in no means novel) suggestion ■ Barnes, R (1865) Lancet (2) was generally, but not 1849 even though all staff that hand washing would 613-615. exclusively, associated with were forbidden to touch dead always reduce the incidence of erysipelas. This disease is bodies. Even chlorine hand- the childbed fever proved ■ Anon (1843) Amer.J.Med.Sci. caused by the bacterium washing he claimed, often incorrect. Storrs in contrast, 5,224-228. Streptococcus the same failed to measurably alter the realised that the disease was bacterium that we now know outcome of epidemic childbed not only spread by the ■ Anon (1846) Amer.J.Med. Sci. causes childbed fever. As a fever (Barnes, 1865). unwashed hands of doctors, 11,245-248. result, Storrs confirmed the How can these but also that puerperal fever ■ Peddie, A (1846). Edinb. important etiological observations be explained? was related to other epidemic Surg. Med. J. 65,77-95. connection between these two Well, the situation regarding diseases, notably erysipelas diseases, a connection that the spread of puerperal fever and scarlet fever (diseases ■ Storrs R (1845) On the Semmelweis missed. is obviously more complex both also caused by contagious effects of puerperal By 1865 the notably than is generally portrayed. streptococci) (Anon, 1846). fever on the male subject. English obstetrician Robert Puerperal fever is caused by In 1845, Storrs showed that Prov.Med.J. 19,289-294. Barnes confidently asserted Streptococcus that can be husbands, children and that puerperal fever was carried on hands; hand doctors, in fact anyone in ■ Wainwright M (2001) associated with scarlet fever washing does therefore reduce attendance, could acquire a Microbiology Today 28,173- and erysipelas. He also the incidence of the disease. generalised fever or erysipelas 174. criticised Semmelweis for However, childbed fever is from childbed fever victims, believing that “puerperal fever, also spread from the mouth, proving that the diseases were Milton Wainwright without exception, is a form of particularly during epidemics one and the same (Storrs, www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 29 StatStat NoteNote 2 In the second of a series of articles about statistics for biologists, Anthony Hilton and Richard Armstrong describe the application of normal distribution to some common statistical problems

In our first Statnote statistical problems including environmental/incubation culture and in Statnote 3 (Microbiologist, June 2005) how to determine whether an conditions. The vessels were (Microbiologist, December we described two procedures individual observation is a then inoculated with a culture 2005) the same scenario will involving chi-square (χ2) and typical member of a of Bacterium ‘x’ at an equal be used to describe how to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) population and how to obtain culture density and the determine the significance of test to determine whether a the confidence interval for a fermentation allowed to any difference between media sample of data can be sample mean. proceed until all the available with and without supplement. considered to come from a nutrients had been exhausted The scenario How are the calculations normal distribution. If the and growth had ceased. The done? sample does not come from a A hypothetical experiment entire volume of culture media normal distribution then a was carried out to investigate in each fermentation vessel Describing the normal number of statistics can be the efficacy of a novel media was then removed and filtered If our sample of calculated that describe the supplement in promoting the to recover the bacterial measurements of bacterial central tendency (mean) and development of cell biomass. biomass which was biomass (N = 25) on degree of spread of the Two 10-litre fermentation subsequently dried and the supplemented media (X) is sample. In addition, we can vessels were sterilised and dry weight of cells measured. plotted as a frequency use our sample of filled with identical growth This experiment was repeated distribution (Fig. 1), the measurements to make media with the exception that 25 times and the dry weight of measurements appear to be inferences about the mean and the media in one of the vessels biomass produced in each more or less symmetrically spread of the population from was supplemented with 10ml experiment recorded in the distributed around a central which the sample has been of the novel compound under table at right (Table 1). This tendency or average value. If drawn. This Statnote describes investigation. Both vessels Statnote will only be the number of measurements the application of the normal were allowed to equilibrate concerned with analysis of the were to be increased to a large distribution to some common and were subject to identical data from the supplemented number and the class intervals

30 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk Features

of the distribution reduced to Table 1. Dry weight of bacterial biomass under unsupplemented measurement will fall zero, the data would (US) and supplemented (S) growth conditions in a sample of 25 approximately two SD above approximate closely to a bell- fermentation vessels. and below the mean. Each shaped curve called the type of variable has a normal distribution (also US S US S US S characteristic normal known as a Gaussian 461 562 506 607 518 617 distribution of values with a distribution). Many measure- 472 573 502 600 527 622 typical mean and standard ments in the biosciences deviation. However, statistical 473 574 501 603 524 626 follow this type of distribution. tables of the normal In the present case, the 481 581 505 605 529 628 distribution, called ‘z’ tables, sample data did not deviate 482 582 508 607 537 631 have been calculated for a significantly from normal as 482 586 500 609 535 637 distribution termed ‘the indicated by a KS test (see standard normal 494 591 513 611 542 645 Statnote 1). distribution.’ If we wish to The normal distribution can 493 592 512 611 use these tables in statistical be described by two statistics: 495 592 511 615 tests, then we have to convert (a) The average or our measurements so that they arithmetic mean of the involves the subtraction of standardised method of are members of the standard population (µ = Σ x/n) where individual observations from expressing the variability of a normal distribution. ‘x’ stands for each item in the their mean, which are then measurement in an Is a single observation sample taken successively. squared and summed. experiment. Different typical of the Note that the mean of a However, if there are ‘n’ variables in the biosciences population? sample of measurements taken observations, once ‘n - 1’ often have characteristic CVs from this population is observations have been that are stable across The standard normal designated as ‘X*’ or ‘x*’. subtracted from the mean, we experiments, so it may be distribution has a mean of (b) The standard can immediately calculate the possible to obtain an estimate zero (µ = 0) and a standard deviation (SD) of the last deviation because the sum of the variability of a quantity deviation of one unit (σ = 1) population, i.e., the distance of all of the deviations from in advance by examining the and provides the basis of from the mean to the point of the mean would be zero. In results of previous many useful tests. For maximum slope on the curve other words, ‘n’ observations experiments. The CV is example, it may be important (SD = √Σ(x - µ)2/n). Hence, only provide ‘n - 1’ therefore useful in planning to determine whether a single the SD describes how close the independent estimates of the experiments. In the present observation ‘x’ is a typical or data cluster around the mean. deviations from the mean. As case, the CV for the atypical of a population of Note that the SD of a a general rule, the DF of a supplemented data is 3.5%. measurements. To make this population is given the symbol statistical quantity is the The equation of the test, the original observation σ while that of a sample is number of observations normal distribution ‘x’ has to be converted so that often designated as ‘s’ or ‘σn-1’. making up that quantity minus The mathematical equation it becomes a member of the To calculate the SD we the number of parameters that that describes the normal standard normal distribution need to know ‘µ’, the mean of have to be calculated from the distribution is given as ‘z’: the population. However, in data to obtain that quantity. follows: z = ± (x - µ)/σ 2 2 most circumstances we wish Hence, the formula for the y = 1/ σ√2π (e -(x-µ) /2σ ) Tables of the standard to calculate the SD of a small SD of a sample is: (Snedecor & Cochran 1980) normal distribution can then sample of measurements taken s = √Σ(x - X*)2/n - 1. This equation enables the be used to determine where ‘z’ from a much larger If several estimates of the height of the normal curve is located relative to the mean population. In this case, we do same quantity are made in a (y), to be calculated for each of the distribution, i.e., does it not know the exact value of study, it is common practice to individual value of ‘x’ fall near the mean of the ‘µ’ but we can calculate the report the mean and the SD of providing that ‘µ’ and ‘σ’ are distribution (a typical value) sample mean ‘X*’. Hence, to the sample. In the present known. This equation also or out in one of the tails of the calculate the SD of a sample example, we would describe enables the proportion of distribution (an atypical of measurements we can use our sample of biomass observations that fall a given value). the formula for the SD defined measurements on distance from the mean to be An important question is above but with three changes: supplemented media as having calculated. In any normal how atypical does ‘z’ have to (a) The SD of the a mean of 604.28 and an SD distribution, approximately be before we would consider it population ‘σ’ is replaced by of 21.16. 68% of the observations will not to be a member of the the symbol ‘s’, the SD of the Another useful way of fall one SD above and below population? By convention, we sample. expressing the variability of a the mean. Hence, the will consider ‘x’ to be a typical (b) µ is replaced by X*, the sample is as the coefficient of probability is 68% or P=0.68 member of the population mean of the sample. variation (CV) defined as the that a single measurement unless it is located in the tails (c) ‘n’ is replaced by ‘n-1’, SD expressed as a percentage from a normal distribution will of the distribution which a quantity called the degrees of the mean: fall between these limits. include the 5% most extreme of freedom (DF). CV = s x 100/x* Similarly, the probability is values. The value of ‘z’ that The calculation of the SD The CV provides a P=0.95 that a single separates www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 31 the typical values (95% of the mean will fall between the distribution) from the atypical calculated limits. The 95% values (5% of the distribution) confidence intervals are often is actually 1.96. Hence, if our plotted as error bars. It is calculated value of ‘z’ is equal important to be clear what the to or greater than 1.96, we error bar represents since would consider the investigators may plot the SD measurement to be atypical. of a sample, the standard As an example, assume that error of the sample mean, or we make an additional the 95% confidence intervals estimate (x) of bacterial and each conveys different biomass under supplemented information. In addition, error conditions and obtain a value bars must not be used to make of 550. Is this value typical of judgments as to whether there the ‘population’ of values are significant differences defined in Fig 1. Subtract the between two or more means mean from ‘x’ and divide by on a graph. The confidence the SD to convert ‘x’ to ‘z’. A intervals of two sample means value of z = -2.56 was are calculated using the Figure 1. Frequency distribution of bacterial biomass on obtained which is greater than standard errors appropriate to supplemented media. Fitting the normal distribution 1.96, the value of ‘z’ that cuts those sample means alone. To KS = 0.079, P > 0.05). off the 5% most extreme test whether the two means observations in the are different requires another population. Hence, 550 is not observations in the sample. In (c) Hence, we can write P form of standard error, i.e., typical of the values obtained addition, the means of many = 0.95 that µ lies between X* the ‘standard error of the previously and there would be non-normal distributions will ± 1.96 σ/√n. difference between two some doubt as to whether the be normally distributed as There are two problems means’, and this will be conditions of the original long as the samples are large with this approach. First, in discussed in Statnote 3. experiment had been exactly enough. It is important to the majority of studies, the Conclusions reproduced in making our distinguish the quantity s/√n, sample mean X* is based on a additional estimate of ‘x’. the SD of the population of small sample of If a sample of sample means or ‘standard measurements. Hence, we do measurements comes from a The variation of sample error of the mean’ from ‘σ’ not know the value of ‘σ’ only population that is normally means or ‘s’ the SD of a population the SD of the sample ‘s’. distributed, we can use several If we repeated the study on or sample of individual Hence, we substitute ‘s’ for statistics to describe our supplemented media with measurements. ‘σ’. Second, we cannot be sample, such as the mean, SD, several samples of 25 we certain about the exact shape and CV. In addition, we can How to fit confidence would not necessarily obtain of the distribution and determine how atypical an intervals to a sample the same mean value each therefore whether the value of individual measurement has to mean time, i.e., the means of Z = 1.96 is accurate enough be before we would consider it samples also exhibit The standard error of the to judge whether a sample not to be a member of a variability. In this case, we mean is often plotted on a mean is atypical of the specific population. might want to know how good graph as a confidence population. Instead, we use a Furthermore, we can use an estimate our individual interval or error bar, and different value that more our sample to make inferences sample mean was of the indicates the degree of accurately describes the about the population from population mean. To answer confidence that we have in our behavior of small samples, which the sample is drawn this question requires sample mean as an estimate of viz., a value from a related including making estimates of knowledge of how means from the population mean. distribution called the ‘t’ the population mean and a normal distribution of Confidence intervals are distribution. The ‘t’ fitting confidence intervals to individual measurements calculated as follows: distribution will be discussed a sample mean. themselves vary. To (a) If a single observation in more detail in the next understand this concept, it is ‘x’ comes from a normal Statnote. Reference necessary to quote an distribution then the (d) Hence, the 95% ■ Snedecor GW and Cochran important statistical result probability is 95% (P = 0.95) confidence interval (CI) of a WG (1980) Statistical methods, termed ‘The Central Limit that ‘x’ will be located sample mean is given as CI = 7th Ed. Iowa State University Theorem.’ This states that somewhere in the distribution X* ± ‘t’ (P = 0.05, DF = n - Press, Ames Iowa. means from a normal between µ ± 1.96σ. 1) s/√n. For our supplemented distribution of individual (b) Similarly, if a sample biomass data, the 95% CI Dr Richard Armstrong values are themselves mean X* comes from a normal were estimated to be 604.28 and Dr Anthony Hilton normally distributed with population of sample means ± 8.72. Life and Health Sciences, √ mean ‘µ’ and SD s/ n, where then P = 0.95, that X* lies Therefore, we are 95% Aston University ‘n’ is the number of between µ ± 1.96 σ/√n. confident that the population

32 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk 2005 Summer Conference Report

HE CONFERENCE STARTED Spore forming bacteria — on the Monday evening with T the Lewis B Perry Memorial emerging and re-emerging issues Lecture given by Grahame Gould from the Department of Food Old Ship Hotel, Brighton, UK ● 4th - 7th July 2005 Science, University of Leeds, on History of Science; spore forming bacteria. This was a friendly and informative ramble through the ancient and modern of bacteria spores—from their discovery 130 years ago to recent research on the use of high hydrostatic pressure to prevent food poisoning without altering flavour. He highlighted how surprisingly little we know about some aspects of the physiology of these bacteria and their spores. Many of the points he raised came up later during the rest of the conference. The talk was followed by one of SFAM’s justifiably famed ‘free-bar mixers’. The Tuesday morning session was An Update on the Taxonomy and Physiology of Spore Formers with Grahame Gould in the Chair. The first lecture on Progress in the taxonomy of aerobic endospore formers was given by Niall Logan of the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University. Niall pointed out that he last spoke at an SFAM conference 25 years ago at the 50th anniversary meeting. Since then, developments in molecular biology have led to a large increase in genera and species. At present there are 273 species, some of which derive from Bacillus and some from other genera. Unfortunately the database is rather narrow and many of the species have few strains listed. Niall concluded with a cartoon from the Beano, which involved a boy with a pet named Alexander Lemming walking on thin ice and falling through. According to Niall this illustrates the state of Bacillus taxonomy. The second talk was by Marjon Wells- Bennik from Nizo Food Research, Department of Health and Safety, The Netherlands, on Sporulation and germination in Bacilli and Clostridia. She started by pointing out that a surprising number of spore forming bacteria have been sequenced, especially Bacillus spps. She showed how molecular biology has progressed our knowledge of the stress response, sporulation and germination in the two genera. A huge amount is now known about these processes at the molecular/gene level, indeed she left me with the impression that this rather outstrips what we know at the biological level. www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 33 Marjon was followed by Peter Setlow of signal transduction system, in which develop natural competence (uptake of the Department of Molecular, Microbial interaction between small molecule DNA from the immediate environment and Structural Biology, University of germinant and receptor protein results in and become transformed), which can lead Connecticut health Centre, who spoke on dramatic changes in spore structure to serious problems in relation to the Mechanisms of the resistance of properties, without the need for any new acquisition of multiple resistance to bacterial spores to heat, radiation and macromolecular synthesis. The story is antibiotics. Oscar’s group have shown chemicals. He explained how the not complete, for example, little is known that populations of B. subtilis initiate structure of the spore confers resistance about the enzymic degradation of the both competence and sporulation in a and showed that wet heat resistance in spore coat. sequential manner, but not spores is 40oC higher in Bacillus spores Michèlle Mock, from the Unité des simultaneously. compared to vegetative cells. Following Toxines et Pathogenié Bactérienne, The afternoon session was on Spore on from a theme in Grahame Gould’s first Institut Pasteur, Paris, discussed Bacillus Former and Food Microbiology and talk, he ran through the factors involved anthracis: spore structure and immune was chaired by Martin Adams. The first in the resistance of spores to wet heat: response. Anthrax spores have always paper was given by Lieve Herman from low water content, dipicolinic acid, the been likely candidates for use in bio the Department of Animal Product amount and type of mineral content, and terrorism and in the current climate it is Quality, Centre for Agricultural Research, the protection of DNA by small acid- important that we have efficacious Belgium, and was on Bacillus soluble spore proteins (SASP). He warned vaccines. The immune system is first in spermodurans and other spore that we should be cognisant that most of contact with the exosporium, the formers in milk. B. sporothermodurans what we know about resistance in spores outermost integument of the spore. The can produce heat resistant spores that comes mainly from Bacillus subtilis. He exosporium contains carbohydrate, may survive UHT treatment of milk spoke movingly of how he had been able protein and lipids but it is a collagen-like resulting in undesired growth. Molecular to continue work carried out by his father protein that is immuno-dominant. typing of isolates from UHT treated milk from diverse countries showed that heat resistant clones exist (HRS-clone). They are thought to have come from one source and are spread by rodents. Work carried out in Belgium showed that filter cloth, green crop and fodder are rich in HRS-clone spores. Exposure of the bacterium to sub lethal stresses such as hydrogen peroxide induced heat resistant spores, indicating that extreme heat resistance is multifactorial. This resistance is lost during normal growth. This was followed by a paper given by Mike Peck from the Food Safety and Computational Microbiology Group, Institute of Food Research, Norwich, on Non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum and the safety of minimally heated foods: an emerging problem. Sales of minimally processed refrigerated foods are increasing in response to consumer demand for foods of high quality that require little preparation. (published in Science in 1963) and rather Michèlle described molecular work They are often heated in-pack and gleefully on how spore research has kept involving the structure and immunogenic microbiological safety depends on a him in gainful employment and paid for properties of the protein. She then minimal heat treatment, refrigeration and his children’s education so that they discussed the use of live vaccines in a restricted shelf life. Mike explained that would leave home. veterinary medicine and a non-living non-proteolytic Cl. botulinum has Following a coffee break, Anne Moir of vaccine for use with humans. emerged as a potential pathogen to the Department of Molecular Biology and The last talk in the morning session exploit this new niche because it is able Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, was by Oscar Kuipers of the Department to produce resistant spores and form a presented How spores germinate. She of Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular potent neurotoxin at refrigeration explained how this involved interpreting Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, The temperatures. He showed that six the abundance of old physiological data in Netherlands, on Single cell analysis of different types of bacteria can produce relation to up-to-date molecular biology. gene expression patterns of the toxin and gave a overview of what Most spore formers have multiple competence development and needs to be done in food processing, e.g., receptors to different germination initiation of sporulation in Bacillus low pH 5, high sodium chloride stimulants (germinants). Spore subtilis; on the origin of bistability. concentration, correct chill temperature germination is an extreme example of a Some pathogenic bacteria are able to and low water content, to mitigate against

34 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk 2005 Summer Conference Report

growth of non-proteolytic Cl. botulinum. that heat applied early in sporulation stimulated by visiting Asia and seeing Christina Silva of the Escola Superior increases spore heat resistance in people die of diseases that could be de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Bacillus megaterium, B. subtilis, prevented by vaccines. He wanted Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal, spoke next Clostridium perfringens and C. vaccines that are robust and can be on Thermal inactivation of botulinum. Will’s group has shown that stored at room temperatures. He Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris spores stress proteins do not repaire heat described some edible vaccines in fruit product processing. damage during spore germination and (oral/nasal route) that are already in use A. acidoterrestris has been shown to outgrowth, but change the structure of and how his group have engineered B. survive pasteurisation and cause off- spores formed, resulting in altered subtilis spores to express tetanus and flavours in commercial pasteurised fruit resistance. Precise sporulation conditions anthrax toxins to work as a booster2. The juices. Its spores are more resistant than have large effects on many different spore second paper was given by Josef Anne other spoilage organisms in acid foods properties including the core water and from the Rega Institute, Katholieke and it is used to test and evaluate the the structure of both the cortex and coat. Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, on design of hot-filling and continuous They state that the most heat resistant Clostridium spores as mediators to pasteurisation conditions used in tropical spores should always be used in target therapeutics. Josef pointed out fruit juices and pulps. Christina presented laboratory tests and that storage trial that as early as the 1890s patients were a critical review on the inactivation spores produced from heat stressed cells seen to recover from cancers are kinetics of A. acidoterrestris spores and should be tested against those formed by becoming post-operatively infected with their use in predictive microbiology and unstressed cells. clostridia. It transpires that anaerobic the optimisation of process design. She The early evening was spent at a finger spore formers such as clostridia are able showed that this is appropriate buffet and attempting a quiz/treasure hunt to colonise hypoxic regions in solid technology that has been used to help run by the Trade Show exhibitors. This cancer tumours. As they can also be poor farmers to keep and treat their was a cunning plan to get delegates to engineered to excrete cytotoxic proteins, product—Cupuacu1 in the Amazon region where bad weather can prevent immediate export. The last session of the day was given over to offered papers. Jeroen Heyrman from the Laboratory of Microbiology, Ghent University, Belgium, spoke on Multi locus sequence analysis (MLSA) of the Bacillus subtilis-group. There are ten species in the B. subtilis group with a range of human-related activities, e.g., food poisoning and food spoilage. Unfortunately it is difficult to speciate them using phenotypic methods. To solve this problem the group at Ghent University have been using MLSA. They found that, although it allows straightforward identification of members of the Bacillus subtilis-group, the housekeeping genes used are not diverse enough to link the sequence information to the clinically important toxin production. It is hoped that by using DNA-DNA relatedness and employing non interrogate the exhibits but it was also such as tumour necrosis factor-á and housekeeping sequences, such as protein- great fun. It provided a good opportunity interleukin 2 and prodrug-coverting coding sequences, more discrimination to meet so many friends from the trade enzymes, it should be possible to use will be possible and permit the rapid show who regularly attend conferences. I them as delivery systems to attack identification of harmful strains. still cannot believe that I didn’t win a specific regions of solid tumours. This was followed by Will Waites from prize! Josef was followed by Anne-Brit Kolste the School of Biosciences, University of Wednesday morning was taken up by a from the School of Pharmacy, University Nottingham and the Korea Food Research session on Health/Therapeutics and was of Oslo, Norway, who spoke on The Institute, who spoke on the Effect of chaired by Keith Jones. The first paper Bacillus cereus group: what’s in a stress during sporulation on the heat was given by Simon Cutting of the School name? Anne-Brit explained that, although resistance of spores of Bacillus of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway we see the three members of the Bacillus subtilis. Stress causes the production of University of London, on The use of cereus group as having widely different new proteins that protect against further Bacillus subtilis spores as oral functions (B. cereus caused food stress. Some of these are general stress vaccines. Simon explained that his poisoning and food spoilage, B. proteins and others are stress specific research, into the use of bacterial spores anthracis causes anthrax and B. proteins. Previous workers have shown as heat-stable delivery systems, was thuringiensis is used in the www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 35 biological control of insects) they are in place to start is the February 2005 issue concern due to the severity (and often fact very closely related species. Apart of the Journal of Medical Microbiology, fatality) of the disease. Problems arise in from the insect toxins, B. cereus and B. which is dedicated to C. difficile. the food industry due to an increasing thuringiensis have a similar repertoire of The paper on Past, imminent and consumer demand for healthier, less virulence factors and, although these future anthrax vaccines was given by heavily processed, less preserved and virulence factors themselves are inactive Les Baillie, Head of the Biodefense more natural products; and in the search in B. anthracis, the genes are present. Vaccine Department, Biological Defense for safer antitoxins and vaccines to Anne-Brit posed the following questions. Research Directorate, Naval Medical control naturally acquired forms of Do plasmids transfer variability between Centre, Rockville, Maryland, USA. Les botulism and to meet the threat of the use the species? Are environmental strains pointed out that bio threats can be of botulinum toxin as an agent of pathogenic? Do we need to reconsider the relatively low tech and suggested that bioterrorism. Botulinum toxin is also used species concept for this group? different sections of the community would in clinically safe amount for reduction in Ian Poxton from Medical Microbiology, respond differently to a bio attack, i.e., pain, the control of spasticity and as a Centre for Infectious Diseases, University the military would follow orders but the cosmetic (anti-ageing). With so many of Edinburgh College of Medicine and general public may not and would insist varied research programmes relating to Veterinary Medicine, spoke next on on asking questions (or words to that this potentially fatal organism there is a Clostridium difficile. C. difficile is the effect). Recent events have highlighted requirement for decontamination of areas major cause of nosocomial diarrhoea and the need to develop vaccines capable of where this organism has been handled. In pseudomembranous colitis in the protecting both military and civilian the past formaldehyde has been used but developed world. In many hospitals populations. Les discussed the work being in June 2004 the International Agency for infection rates are higher than with done to develop more effective vaccines Research on Cancer (a division of the MRSA. The recent outbreak at Stoke against anthrax and emphasised the huge WHO) classified formaldehyde as Mandeville hospital has brought it into costs involved and the long lead in times carcinogenic to humans. Moira discussed the use of hydrogen peroxide vapour (HPV) as a decontaminant. It is environmentally friendly; leaves no residues and therefore requires no subsequent cleaning; has the best safety profile of the gaseous decontamination methods available and is already widely used for decontamination of: laboratory & medical equipment; hospital wards; pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities; and animal houses. Moira presented data that showed that HPV is effective at deactivating spores of toxigenic Cl. botulinum, non-toxigenic Clostridium spp. and Geobacillus stearothermophilus dried onto stainless steel surfaces. The afternoon session was on Animal Health with Colin Harwood in the Chair. The first paper on The use of Bacillus subtilis spores as oral The treasure hunt was a great success vaccines was given by Le Hong Duc, School of Biological Sciences, Royal the public arena once more. The for production. This has lead to research Holloway University of London. Bacillus bacterium multiplies in the gut and the on multi-agent vaccines and the subtilis is widely used as a probiotic in spores are shed in faeces. C. difficile production of multiple DNA and SE Asia. The spores germinate in the gut spores are spread by the faecal/oral route combined anthrax/plague vaccines. and the vegetative cells multiply where and are found in hospitals on fomites, The last paper of this session was an they have been shown to competitively such as telephones. Antibiotic treatment offered paper by Moira Johnson from the exclude pathogens, stimulate the immune compromises the ‘colonisation resistance’ Safety and Environmental Assurance system and produce vitamins and of the normal gut microbiota and allows Centre, Unilever, on Evaluation of antimicrobials. We can build on this C. difficile to multiply. Susceptibility is hydrogen peroxide vapour as a acceptance of Bacillus spores to use dependent on the immune status of the method for the decontamination of them as vehicles for vaccines (see the patient. It is thought that some of the surfaces contaminated with earlier presentation by Simon Cutting). recent outbreaks worldwide are Clostridium botulinum spores. C. Bacterial spores are robust bio particles associated with hyper-virulent strains. botulinum produces an extremely potent that can be exploited for vaccines where Ian suggests that many questions need to neurotoxin that causes human botulism. there is a need for heat-stable carrier be answered before this disease can be Although it is relatively rare, the systems that can deliver heterologous brought under control and that a good prevention of outbreaks is a major antigens to the mucosa. Le discussed

36 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk 2005 Summer Conference Report

work on the engineering of B. subtilis of Pharmacy, University of Manchester, on The Society Dinner was a truly spores to express antigenic Mammalian microbionomics: the need memorable affair (it must have been characteristics of B. anthracis, which on for molecular ecological approaches. because it induced a severe memory loss germination in the gut leads to Andrew defined mammalian in me) that was enlivened by the presence antibody/antitoxin production. He microbionomics as ‘the host together with of a conjurer. He went from table to table suggested that this spore-mediated its symbionts and pathogens’, and pointed and performed admirably and expertly delivery system could be used in out that the number of bacteria in (that is ‘undetected’), given the level of vaccination against viral diseases. humans (1014) outnumber human cells boisterous interference. This was also the The next paper was given by Peter (1013) by 10:1 and that microorganisms in occasion for speeches from the outgoing Silley, MB Consult Limited and Don the colon are as metabolically active the and incoming presidents and the Whitely Scientific Limited, on Do liver. Procaryotic organisms in the gut awarding of prizes to the winners of the bacteria need to be regulated? Peter have effects on immune development, oral and poster presentations. answered the question in the title in the nutrition, vitamin synthesis, obesity and The last session of the conference was affirmative and started with a tour of the cancer. He then discussed his work using on Environment/Applications and was EU regulations applying to the approval denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis chaired by Margaret Patterson the of Bacillus in animal products. He then (DGGE) to study periodontal biofilms3. incoming SFAM President. used Calsporin, which is used to modulate The Annual General Meeting followed The first paper Spore-forming the GI flora in poultry, as an example. He in which Margaret Patterson was elected enteropathogenic bacteria was given listed the topics that need to be as the new SFAM President to replace by Neil Crickmore, School of Life addressed: 1. Nomenclature- proof that it Peter Silley. I would like to express my Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton. is B. subtilis; 2. Origin- where does it appreciation of Peter’s highly active and The group of spore-forming bacteria that come from? 3. Data on physiology, visible efforts in pursuit of SFAM’s aims includes B. thuringiensis, B. growth and survival; 4. Stability- and to wish Margaret every success. sphaericus, Penibacillus popilliae, phenotypic, genotypic and plasmids; 5. Brevibacillus laterosporus and Cl. Tests for toxins and virulence factors; 6. bifermentans, all synthesise insecticidal Antibiotic production; 7. Effects on toxins with potential use as biopesticides. normal microflora of the GI tract; 8. B. thuringiensis (Bt) is the best known Survival in the GI and faeces. He and has been used commercially for many concluded, reassuringly, that the public years. Since the mid 1990’s transgenic should have confidence that bacteria used plants expressing Bt toxins have also in animal nutrition are being effectively been commercialised. The bacteria are regulated. After attending last year’s found ubiquitously in the environment but SFAM Summer conference in Cork, I wish the primary natural habitat is thought to that the same could be said for the use of be the insect gut. Neil discussed the bacteria as probiotics in humans. ecology of the bacteria and pointed out Rachel Compton, also from Don that, although they have been used Whitley Scientific Limited, replaced the successfully, there is a down side. Some advertised speaker (Shabbir Simjee) and insects have acquired resistance; the spoke on Necrotic enteritis, toxins are not as effective as chemical Clostridium perfringens and its insecticides; and not all insects are control by the use of antibiotics. susceptible. He discussed the advantages Necrotic enteritis is an economically of putting the toxin in Asticcacaulis important disease in poultry that is kept excentricus, a Gram negative bacterium, under control by the use of in-feed to kill mosquito larvae in still waters such antibiotics. Rachel described the Winner of the Oral Presentation, Elaine Black, receives her prize as car tyres and tin cans, and progression of the disease and the symptoms in poultry. She held out hope Student Offered Papers that a vaccine is being developed and DNA extraction efficiency for commercially available magnetic beads by Bee-Ann Yeap, School of relayed the worries and economic Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton. consequences that may arise with the Oral administration of Bacillus subtilis to poultry: An alternative approach towards prophylactic control phasing out of the use of antibiotic of Clostridium perfringens-associated necrotic enteritis by Stephen Cartman, Department of Food and growth promoters in 2006. Environmental Safety, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge. The next session of the conference was Inactivation of Bacillus spores in milk and buffer by the application of a combination of high pressure, mild heat and nisin by Elaine Black, Department of food and Nutritional Sciences, and Department of devoted to Student Offered Papers Microbiology, both at University College Cork. chaired by Peter Silley, the outgoing SFAM Consequences on surface contamination of Bacillus cereus spore injury during food processing by President. The presentations were given Gregoire Tauveron, INRA de Lille, France. with enthusiasm, confidence and Comparison of in vitro cytotoxicity of Fusarium mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin and zearlenone accompanied by excellent graphics. (see on selected human epithelial cell lines by Tim Calvert, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, panel at right). Glasgow Caledonian University. The student papers were followed by Survival kinetics and stress resistance of Bifidobacterium spp. Show their different viabilities in bio- W H Pierce Memorial Prize yoghurts and gut by Vijith Jayamanne, School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, University of Surrey, the Lecture Guildford. given by Andrew McBain from the School www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 37 pointed out that new toxins are being function of the microorganisms appears discovered all the time and, hopefully, to be the digestion of cellulose and there will soon be one active against hemicellulose and the fermentation of the locusts. digestion products to fatty acids such as Just before the next paper, Margaret acetate. Although termites have the genes had the difficult task of announcing the for producing cellulases they appear to terrorist explosions in London and the rely on flagellates for the enzyme. probable effects this would have on travel Surprisingly, at least to me, termites rely arrangements. Despite the obvious on acetate for a source of carbon, rather distraction this caused, the conference in the same way as the large ruminants proceeded normally, albeit with less than do. Nitrogen fixation may well be another normal concentration. The subsequent role for the bacilli since they contain speakers performed admirably in the active nitrogenases and the diet of circumstances. termites has a high C:N ratio. The second paper was given by C J Overall, this has been a most excellent Hodgson from the School of Applied conference. On behalf of the organisers of Sciences, University of Huddersfield, on the scientific programme, Julie Eastgate, Department of Agriculture and Foresty, Niall Logan, Martin Adams and myself, I University of Aberdeen, presented a paper wish to thank all of the speakers who entitled Spore forming bacteria and gave interesting, informative and biocontrol of fungal plant pathogens: accessible presentations, giving the crop protection with B. brevis. This Chairs an exceptional easy ride. If I have was Barry’s valedictory lecture; he will misinterpreted anybody’s presentation, I have retired by the time this report is in apologise herewith. print. I wish him well. Anyone who can The social programme was terrific and remember all the words to the Lone the location splendid. From a personal Ranger theme tune (sung by Barry during point of view, it is such a pleasure to meet the Society Dinner) will be popular in all microbiologists working in such diverse the retirement haunts around Aberdeen. areas of applied microbiology, and Many bacterial spore formers produce networking with them and the Trade antifungal substances and, since bacterial Show delegates is a real bonus. Lastly I spores are resistant to desiccation, would like to thank Margaret, Marisa and organic solvents and the conditions of the the other SfAM staff who smoothed the crop environment—properties that lend arrangements so that everyone managed them to formulation procedures, they can to get back despite the closure of Practical applications of the biotracer act as biocontrol agents. Barry presented Brighton and London railway stations. Bacillus globigii. The aim of this work the pros and cons of using antifungal was to test use of antibiotic resistant spore formers in this way and discussed References endospores of B. globijii to monitor his work with B. brevis, which produces ■ 1. Cupuacu (Theobroma grandiflorum) is a effluent retention times in a free water the fungicide, Gramicidin S. The small to medium tree in the Rainforest surface constructed wetland. The spores bacterium also produces a biosurfactant canopy which belongs to the Cocoa family were easily detected, even in microbial that increases the rate of drying of plant and can reach up to 20 meters in height. rich waters, but the recovery rate was surfaces and leads to reduces germination Cupuacu fruit has been a primary food rather low and this method may not be of conidia. These properties combine source in the rainforest for both indigenous suited to constructed wetlands. together in the biocontrol of fungal peoples and animals alike. The Cupuacu fruit is known for its creamy exotic tasting pulp. Colin Harwood of Cell and Molecular pathogens. The pulp is used throughout Brazil and Peru The final speaker at the conference Biosciences, Newcastle University, came to make fresh juice, ice cream, jam and tarts. next with his presentation Bacillus was Helmut König of the Institute of The fruit ripens in the rainy months from protein secretion: a game of snakes Microbiology and Wine Research, January to April and is considered a culinary and ladders. Bacillus species have the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, delicacy in South American cities where potential to secrete proteins at yields of Germany, who spoke on Bacillus demand outstrips supply. over 20gL-1 of culture but the mechanisms species in the intestine of termites www.amazonlink.org/biopiracy/cupuacu.htm employed by the bacterium to prevent and other soil invertebrates. The guts ■ 2. Duc et al., (2003) Bacterial spores as mistakes in protein folding make it of invertebrates such as termites, vaccine vehicles. Infection and Immunity 71, difficult for this potential to be realised. collembola, isopoda, and millipedes are 2810-2818. Colin illustrated the intricate molecular full of bacteria, fungi and protozoa (many ■ 3. McBain et al., (2003) Growth and are which are archaezoa—eukaryotes biology behind protein secretion and molecular characterization of dental plaque folding by referring to deleterious factors without mitochondria). The bacteria are microcosms. Journal of Applied Microbiology as snakes and to facilitating factors as mainly made up of spirochetes but 94 655-664. ladders. Bacillus and Paenibacillus are also After a coffee break, Barry Seddon, present together with anaerobic cellulytic Keith Jones School of Biological Sciences, bacteria typical of the rumen. The main Lancaster University

38 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk Students into Work report

The use of aged garlic in the prevention of Am I eligible - glycation of growth factors. Katie Murcott reports on her project can I apply? GED GARLIC EXTRACT HAS effect is well known. Again, sterile discs been found to be effective in were inoculated with 20µl of the aged A preventing glycation of growth garlic, but this time they were placed in factors, which is a reaction the lid. The rotary plater was used to between an amino group from a protein make lawns with all twenty-five and a free carbonyl group from a microorganisms being used. The results reducing sugar. obtained showed little or no effect. The This is a problem that is frequently fresh garlic did, however, produce seen in wound healing among diabetic positive results, although some of the patients. As these patients have a plates still produced growth. The most depressed blood supply the treatment of markedly affected microorganism was infection caused by wounds and ulcers is phage typed MRSA strains. often difficult, as systemic treatments can During the second week I spent several be ineffective. Topical treatments for such days at Micap, a company that specialises wounds are already used but with the in encapsulation. During my time there I increase of resistant bacteria, research was given an insight into the theory into other non-toxic substances is behind encapsulation. I was also able to essential. A large proportion of research see the processes involved in the Grants can be made available to ANY is being tailored towards more natural encapsulation of a substance and the FULL member who is able to offer a products. Aged garlic (garlic that has types of products that can benefit from suitable undergraduate student a work been aged for approximately twenty such technology. placement for a period of up to 10 weeks during summer. The grant is £160 months), like fresh garlic, is said to After returning from Micap, I started per week for the student for a maximum possess antimicrobial capabilities, thus, performing tests using the multipoint of 10 weeks and up to £50 per week for finding a product that would be effective inoculator. This involved incorporating lab costs for a maximum of 10 weeks. To in preventing or reducing glycation and different concentrations of the aged garlic apply, visit which is also antimicrobial, would be of extract, ranging from 4% to 0.03%, into www.sfam.org.uk/members/ great benefit. agar and inoculating them with the same prizes.php My first week involved looking at the 25 bacteria. This was initially carried out degrees of antimicrobial behaviour using the small stock held by the GUIDELINES exerted by the commercially produced university. The results obtained were 1. Any full member of the Society who can offer an aged garlic extract. Initially, twenty-five varied and no conclusions were drawn. As undergraduate student, or a recent graduate (within 6 bacteria were selected: ten university there was no growth seen on the control months of graduation) a work placement is eligible to apply for this grant. The placement can last up to a identified strains of MRSA, six phage plates I decided to repeat the experiment, maximum of 10 weeks, normally during the summer typed MRSA, Staphylococcus only this time I included a control with vacation. haemolyticus NCTC 1042, Columbia agar as the growth medium. 2. The Grant will normally provide support at the rate of Staphylococcus epidermidis NCTC This showed that the Columbia agar was £160 per week for the student and up to £50 per week for lab costs. The monies will usually be paid to the 7944, Staphylococcus epidermidis better suited to supporting the growth of Department in which the student/graduate works unless a NCTC 11047, Staphylococcus the microorganisms than DST sugar. It specific request is made for an alternative method of saprophyticus 8771, Staphylococcus was however decided that a better option payment. aureus T1, T4, ATCC 11195, Oxford would be to use Sensitest agar. The 3. Applications should be made by the supervisor using the PDF form provided on the website or the paper form NCTC 6571 and NCTC 8325 phage 47 results obtained showed that there was obtainable from the Society Office. host. Overnight broth cultures were made very little or no effect of the aged garlic 4. Successful applicants and their students/graduate must of each organism and 1 in-100 dilutions on the tested bacteria. The only bacteria write a report on the placement within 4 weeks of were made using the broths. Lawns were that showed a positive result was completing their placement which will be published in Microbiologist. Photographs of the applicant and/or the prepared using these dilutions on DST S.epidermidis NCTC 11047, whose work done during the placement are desirable. These agar. The rotary plater was used to do growth was inhibited at a concentration should be supplied as (a) digital images at a size of not this to allow an even coverage of the agar. of 0.25%. less than 4 inches square at a resolution of not less than µ 300 pixels per inch, or (b) original photographic prints Sterile discs inoculated with 20 l of the Due to the lack of results obtained which will be scanned and promptly returned. aged garlic extract were placed on the from these experiments, it was suggested 5. Normally a member may not apply for a further grant agar and incubated for 24 hours. The that I look at garlic pearls. Using the until a period of two years has elapsed. results showed no antimicrobial effect same dilutions as I did for the aged garlic, 6.There is no closing date for this Grant and applications against any of the tested microorganisms. I tested the pearls against the same can be made any time during the year. Applicants must apply at least 6 weeks before the proposed start date. I thought it would be interesting to see if twenty-five bacteria using the multipoint there was any vapour effect exhibited by inoculator. To obtain the solution inside the aged garlic extract. I decided to the pearl they were melted in a water www.sfam.org.uk/members/prizes.php compare the effects of the aged garlic bath, the number of pearls equalling the with those of fresh garlic whose vapour volume water. www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 39 Ensuring the contents of the pearls was same three bacteria as before. Due to the been extracted in alcohol which could sterile before use initially proved to be difficulty experienced sterile filtering the have a direct influence on the resulting quite difficult as the solution kept melted garlic pearls, pasteurisation was bacterial growth. The results of the clogging up the sterile filters. The results used for one run until a larger filter ethanol control showed that growth of did not show any inhibitory activity system was located. The positive results E.coli 81937 was completely inhibited at towards the tested bacteria. A vapour test showing inhibition were checked by re- 10%, showed minimal growth at 5% and was also set up using garlic pearls inoculating the broths with the organism 2.5% and normal growth under the whereby three volumes of garlic pearl and incubating again. All results were remaining concentrations, whilst MRSA solution; 10µl, 20µl and 50µl, were added negative for inhibition. phage group 16 was completely inhibited to sterile discs placed in the lid of the I performed a garlic extraction in at 10% and 5%, showed minimal growth plates. Four of the bacteria were chosen order to make a comparison between at 5% and 2.5% and normal growth under as they had been positively affected by commercially produced extract and the remaining concentrations. S.aureus the fresh garlic. These were two phage freshly produced extract. I carried this Oxford NCTC 6571 was completely typed MRSA strains, S.epidermidis out using water, acetone and chloroform. inhibited at all tested concentrations. Due NCTC 11047 and a university identified The same method for producing the broth to the solutions being turbid after the strain of MRSA. These results again dilutions was adopted with the same three addition of the propolis extract each showed no inhibitory activity towards the bacteria being used to inoculate the concentration had to be plated to observe tested bacteria. broths. The results obtained showed any effects. The results of the plated S-Allyl-Cystein and S-Allyl-Mercpato positive inhibition towards the bacteria. solutions no growth for both MRSA phage Cystein—two components found in garlic The extraction that used water showed group 16 and S.aureus Oxford NCTC that are able to prevent glycation were the best results with no growth in the 6571. The result for S.aureus Oxford also tested, again against the same 25 dilutions from 10% to 2.5%. The NCTC 6571 could however also be due to bacteria using the multipoint inoculator. extraction involving acetone and the ethanol. E.coli 81937 was only The results obtained showed no inhibitory chloroform showed complete inhibition inhibited at 10%. effects from the two components. for all the bacteria in 10% and 5% The multipoint inoculator test was also Upon the university purchasing a new concentration. S.aureus Oxford NCTC carried out using all thirty-six bacteria. batch of aged garlic extract I repeated the 6571 was most affected by all the The concentrations of propolis ranged experiments to see if the age of the solutions. E.coli 81937 and MRSA phage from 5% to 0.039%. The results showed extract had a bearing on its effectiveness. group 16 showed growth at 2.5% for that propolis extract was effective against Unfortunately, there was no inhibition chloroform, however only E.coli 81937 Gram positive bacteria up to a exhibited even when the concentrations was able to grow at 2.5% with acetone. concentration of 0.3125%, except for of the extract incorporated into the agar All positive results and the dilutions next S.epidermidis NCTC 7944 and were increased to start from 10%. It was to it were plated to see whether the effect S.haemolyticus NCTC 1042 which suggested that I test a number of gram was bactericidal or bacteriostatic. showed minimal growth at 0.3125%. The negative bacteria to see if there was any Due to the lack of results it was Gram negatives, however, were more effect towards them. These were: Proteus decided that encapsulation would not be resistant to the effects of the propolis rettgerri NCTC 9570, Serratia worthwhile. It can therefore be concluded with only S.typhimurium NCTC 74 and marcescens NCIMB 1377, Salmonella from this that commercially produced P. aeruginosa NCTC 10331 being typhimurium NCTC 9570, aged garlic exhibited no antimicrobial inhibited at 5%. All the other bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCTC 10331, effects and that inhibitory effects were within the group exhibited full growth. Enterobacter aerogenes NCIMB 10102, only seen with freshly extracted garlic. The same experiments were carried Pseudomonas fluorescens 10038, The difference in the results between the out on the neem extract but no positive Escherichia coli 81628, Escherichia commercially produced aged garlic and results were obtained. However, like the coli 81937, Klebsiella oocytooca 6653, freshly produced extract could be due to aged garlic, all the research that has been Klebsiella pneumoniae 40602, and the extraction process itself. Also, the done previously has involved freshly Citrobacter frundii 82073. concentration of aged garlic was not extracted neem and not commercially MIC in broth was performed using the listed on the bottle so the performance of produced extracts, and this may again new batch of aged garlic extract to see if serial dilutions on the extract may have have some bearing on the effectiveness of there was a difference between agar produced concentrations which were the product. incorporation and broth. Initially, only below those that would be needed for the The opportunity to carry out this three bacteria were chosen to look at: extract to be effective. research was most enjoyable and E.coli 81937, MRSA phage group 16 and It was suggested that other products benefited me greatly, allowing me not S.Aureus Oxford NCTC 6571. Dilutions which are said to have antimicrobial only to use and master equipment and of the extract in the broth ranged from properties should be investigated, these techniques that I may not have otherwise 10% to 0.3125%. The only positive result being propolis extract, which is found encountered, but also to observe the was seen in the MRSA phage group 16 inside beehives and neem leaf extract actual process being performed in which exhibited minimal growth at 10%. from the neem tree. MIC in broth using industry. Both the 10% and 5% dilutions were concentrations ranging from 10% to plated to see whether the effects were 0.3125% of the propolis extract were bactericidal or bacteriostatic. The MIC tested against the three bacteria used broth was repeated using the garlic pearl previously. A control using 95% ethanol Katie Murcott solution; this was carried out using the was run in parallel as the propolis had Manchester Metropolitan University

40 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk The President’s Fund Am I eligible - can I apply? Epidemiological Typing of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci

OAGULASE-NEGATIVE expression. Characterisation and staphylococci (CoNS) are the confirmation of the identity of CoNS C most common aetiological recovered from clinical specimens in the agents implicated in hospital routine microbiology laboratory nosocomial bloodstream infections in is commonly based only on Gram-stain, many hospitals (Coello et al., 2003). The coagulase test, biochemical profiles and increase of nosocomial bacteraemia antibiogram. Indeed the microbiological caused by CoNS is unfortunately diagnosis of catheter-related bloodstream concurrent with advances in modern (CR-BSI) infection is often determined by clinical practice including the use of the recovery of the same species of indwelling medical devices and a rise in microorganism with an identical the number of immunocompromised antibiogram from the catheter tip and patients. blood cultures obtained from patients The President's Fund provides limited The association of CoNS with various with suspected infection (O’Grady et al., grants to ALL members to assist infections and their species diversity has 2002). The poor discriminatory power of them to attend scientific meetings or been elucidated by the development of antibiogram typing could therefore result workshops related to their area of improved methods for their identification in an over-estimate of the rate of CR-BSI. work. Awards are made at the sole and characterisation. Accurate This is supported by a recent study discretion of the Honorary President. identification and typing of conducted by our research group at the Please note that this Fund is open to microorganisms is also crucial when University Hospital Birmingham NHS members of all ages! Why not apply undertaking epidemiological Trust. Coagulase-negative staphylococci to the Fund? The maximum grant investigations. Indeed, strain typing were isolated from catheter tips and available is normally £1,000. methods are becoming widely applied in blood cultures from patients with To apply, visit the clinical setting in order to; investigate suspected CR-BSI. These strains appeared www.sfam.org.uk/members/ outbreaks of infection, detect cross identical by antibiogram and therefore the prizes.php transmission of microorganisms, results were indicative of CR-BSI. determine the source of a microorganism, However, using PFGE they were shown to recognise virulent strains and monitor be distinct strains of CoNS supporting the TERMS & CONDITIONS vaccination programmes (Olive and Bean, conclusion that diagnoses of CR-BSI were 1. The applicant must have been a member for at least 1999). less likely (Casey et al., 2003). a full subscription year before the event to be attended A number of typing techniques have Many cultures of CoNS obtained from and must be a fully paid-up member at the time of application. been employed to investigate isolates of patient specimens are considered by the 2. A successful applicant cannot re-apply to the Fund CoNS. Until recently, most of these routine microbiology laboratory to for three years from the date of the award. techniques have been based on contain just one strain as there commonly 3. Preference will be given to applicants who are characterisation according to the is no variation in colonial morphology contributing to the meeting they wish to attend and/or expression of phenotypic traits. Such following overnight incubation. are unable to obtain funds elsewhere. techniques include; biotyping, Consequently, identification of CoNS and 4. Completed applications must include an abstract of any intended contribution to be made at the meeting bacteriophage typing and antibiotic antibiotic sensitivity testing is undertaken and must be received by the Society Office not less than sensitivity patterns (antibiograms), usually on a single or limited number of six weeks before the date of the event. however in general they poorly colonies from cultures. During our 5. Student member applications must be supported by discriminate strains within an individual studies, multiple colonies from a their supervisor and include the contact telephone number(s) and email address(es) of the supervisor or species. The discriminatory power of seemingly pure culture plate were head of department who is supporting their application. antibiogram typing of nosocomial strains genotyped using PFGE and this 6. The maximum grant available is normally £1,000. of CoNS is thought to be particularly demonstrated that several genotypes were 7. Under exceptional circumstances this maximum may inadequate due to the fact that such an present within single cultures and be exceeded. environment acts as a reservoir for subsequently, cases of CR-BSI may be 9. The award of this grant is at the sole discretion of antibiotic resistance genes. misdiagnosed if single colonies are the Hon President of the Society. The introduction of genotypic typing selected at random (Casey et al., 2003). 10. The applicant must write a short article of between methods such as plasmid analysis, DNA Indeed, it has been demonstrated that 400 - 600 words within 4 weeks of the meeting, the content of which will be agreed with the Editor of sfam hybridization, polymerase chain reaction a 24 hr incubation period is inadequate to Microbiologist and will be published in the magazine. (PCR)-based typing and pulsed-field gel observe differences in colony morphology Photographs of the applicant and/or the subject of the electrophoresis (PFGE) has improved the in CoNS cultures. Instead it has been article are desirable. These should be supplied as (a) digital files in TIFF or JPEG format at a size of not less characterisation and discrimination of suggested that following 72 hr incubation, than 4 inches square at a resolution of not less than CoNS. This is because analysis of genetic clear differences in colonial morphology 300 pixels per inch, or (b) original photographic prints material is not influenced by can be observed (Kloos and Bannerman, which will be scanned and promptly returned to the applicant. environmental factors unlike phenotypic 1994). However, we must question techniques which are dependant on gene whether we have the time for www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 41 extended incubations and the time SFAM for the President’s Fund Grant consuming use of PFGE. which allowed me to attend and present a Although PFGE is one of the most poster at the 15th European Congress of discriminatory and reproducible typing Clinical Microbiology and Infectious methods available to genotype CoNS and Diseases in Copenhagen, Denmark. is often regarded as the gold standard, efforts to reduce the time required to perform this technique have been References unsuccessful and the process remains ■ Coello, R., Charlett, A., Ward, V., Wilson, relatively time-consuming (Chang and J., Pearson, A., Sedgwick, J., Borriello, P. Chui, 1998). Therefore it is unlikely that (2003) Device-related sources of bacteraemia this expensive, time-consuming genotypic in English hospitals-opportunities for the technique will be incorporated routinely prevention of hospital-acquired bacteraemia. into the clinical microbiology laboratory J Hosp Infect 53(1):46-57. to aid the diagnosis of specific infections such as CR-BSI. This technique is likely to Olive, D.M. and Bean, P. (1999) Principles be used in epidemiological investigations and applications of methods for DNA-based typing of microbial organisms. J Clin in the serious outbreak situation. Microbiol 37(6):1661-1669. However, with the time-consuming nature of PFGE, epidemiological results are O’Grady, N.P., Alexander, M., Dellinger, E.P., often of retrospective value. Gerberding, J.L., Heard, S.O., Maki, D.G., In recent years there has been an Masur, H., McCormick, R.D., Mermel, L.A., insurgence of studies evaluating rapid Pearson, M.L., Raad, I.I., Randolph, A., PCR techniques for typing Weinstein, R.A. (2002) Guidelines for the microorganisms such as CoNS. Indeed, prevention of IV catheter-related infections. the genotypic characterisation method The Hospital Infection Control Practices FREE based on the random amplification of Advisory Committee, CDC. Pediatrics 110(5):e51. polymorphic DNA (RAPD) has been used BOOKS! to genotype CoNS with relative success in Casey, A., Worthington, T., Lambert, P., the clinical setting as well as the food Elliott, T. (2003) Does characterisation of We receive loads of new books production industry. coagulase-negative staphylococci by routine from scientific publishers every However the DNA extraction process is microbiological techniques mislead the week and are always looking for often complicated and time consuming. diagnosis of catheter-related bloodstream enthusiastic reviewers. Furthermore, the discriminatory power of infection? J Infect 49: 28-76. RAPD has previously been questioned and If we publish your review in even the use of multiple primers in the Kloos, W.E. and Bannerman, T.L. (1994) Microbiologist — you get to Update on clinical significance of coagulase- analysis of clonal microorganisms may keep the book! negative staphylococci. Clin Microbiol Rev provide only a limited improvement in 7(1):117-140. The list of titles below is just a TINY discrimination. It would seem that the selection of the many titles available level of discriminatory power depends Chang, N. and Chui, L. (1998) A for review on our website: heavily on the sequence of the primers standardized protocol for the rapid employed (Hopkins and Hilton, 2001). preparation of bacterial DNA for pulsed-field Bioremediation: Applied Microbial We recently evaluated a rapid RAPD gel electrophoresis. Diagn Micr Infec Dis Solutions for a Real World Cleanup protocol developed by colleagues at Aston 31(1):275-9. Essential Fungal Genetics University for the typing of CoNS isolates recovered from bone marrow transplant Hopkins, K.L., Hilton, A.C. (2001) Use of Fundamentals of Soil Ecology patients with CR-BSI. The method multiple primers in RAPD analysis of clonal organisms provides limited improvement in Malaria Parasites: Genomes and comprised of a simple and rapid DNA discrimination. Biotechniques 30(6): 1266-7. Molecular Biology extraction process and a relatively short set of PCR cycles. The RAPD technique Casey, A.L., Worthington, T., Caddick, J.M., Molecular Genetics of Bacteria described in the presentation achieved a Hilton, A.C., Lambert, P.A., Elliott, T.S.J. Scientific Integrity discriminative power comparable with (2005) Evaluation of RAPD for the PFGE. In addition, our evaluation epidemiological typing of coagulase-negative The Gmo Handbook: Genetically concluded that this technique may staphylococci implicated in catheter-related Modified Animals, Microbes, and provide the potential to genotype strains bloodstream infection on a bone marrow Plants in Biotechnology of CoNS with high reproduceability within transplant unit. Clin Microbiol Infect 11 Virus Dynamics, Mathematical just 4 hours, thus providing the (supplement 2): 562. Principles of Immunology and microbiologist with valuable Virology epidemiological information, for example in an outbreak situation (Casey et al., TO SEE WHAT’S AVAILABLE, VISIT 2005). Anna Casey www.sfam.org.uk/pubs/books.php I would like to express my gratitude to

42 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk The President’s Fund

Multiple drug resistance in enterobacteria from food animals and humans

ULTIPLE DRUG RESISTANCE detection of single nucleotide of the outbreak strain (Walker et al., in enterobacteria from food polymorphisms (SNPs) based on real-time 2000). However, no single current M animals and humans is a major PCR using mutation-specific probes, PCR- method can be used alone for detection of concern for human health. In restriction fragment length polymorphism novel mutations, therefore sequencing of Europe, multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains (RFLP), mismatch amplification mutation the gyrA amplicon remains the gold of Salmonella enterica serovar assay (MAMA) PCR using mutation- standard. Typhimurium have caused outbreaks of specific primers and denaturing high- As part of this project, we have been infection since the early 1990s, while S. performance liquid chromatography developing a pyrosequencing assay to Newport has recently been spreading on (DHPLC) have been described. In an detect and identify the most frequently an epidemic scale throughout the United outbreak of MDR S. Typhimurium occurring SNPs within gyrA and parC of States. DT104 exhibiting decreased susceptibility Salmonella enterica (see Figure 1). International trade enables such MDR to ciprofloxacin, identification of the Pyrosequencing is a ‘sequencing by strains to become widely distributed. In mutation(s) in gyrA was of critical synthesis’ technology suitable for the England and Wales, all enterobacterial importance in demonstrating the clonality rapid detection of SNPs isolates from cases of human infection submitted to the Health Protection Agency Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens are tested for resistance to a panel of antimicrobials. Identification of specific resistance genes, or mutations conferring resistance to an antimicrobial (‘resistance gene profiling’) has also been of considerable importance in numerous outbreaks and is central to identifying existing and newly emerging resistance mechanisms against therapeutic drugs. Much of the data presented here results from a Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) project aimed at developing and validating screening methods for detection of potential new and emerging hazards relating to antimicrobial resistant organisms in the food chain. In order to assess the current presence of organisms/genes of concern in England and Wales, the project aims to screen a large collection of Salmonella and Escherichia coli clinical isolates for mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance that could lead to failure of therapy with first-line drugs. Fluoroquinolones are broad-spectrum antimicrobials effective in treating a wide variety of clinical and veterinary infections, particularly when the organism involved is invasive. Before the early 1990s, resistance to fluoroquinolones was rarely found in clinical isolates of E. coli. Since then the number of isolates showing clinical resistance (MIC ≥ 2mg/L) has increased significantly worldwide. High-level resistance in salmonellae in the Figure 1: Detection by pyrosequencing of mutations in gyrA of S. enterica. During Pyrosequencing the four nucleotides are added sequentially to the reaction. Incorporation UK is relatively uncommon and is often of a nucleotide complementary to the template results in a release of light that is detected associated with strains acquired through and presented as a peak on the Pyrogram. The amount of light released is proportional to foreign travel. Resistance usually arises the number of nucleotides added. (a) mutation Asp87Gly, (b) mutation Ser83Phe and (c) spontaneously due to point mutations in double mutation Ser83Ala and Asp87Asn. The shaded boxed regions highlight the the topoisomerase genes gyrA, gyrB, parC polymorphisms. and parE. Numerous methods for the www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 43 (http://www.pyrosequencing.com). It does rare, and in most cases the isolates will be useful in monitoring the not rely on mutation-specific primers, originated from patients reporting recent circulation of plasmids within strains probes or enzymes, therefore novel travel abroad. However, some infections from different environments and to follow mutations can be identified in a rapid and acquired within the UK were also the horizontal transmission of cost-effective manner without requiring associated with AmpC producers antimicrobial resistance genes among further investigation by sequencing. (Batchelor et al., 2005b). This screen Enterobacteriaceae. Molecular techniques enabling screening also identified the first incidence of I would like to thank the Society for of large numbers of fluoroquinolone- blaDHA-1 in the UK (Liebana et al., Applied Microbiology for awarding me a resistant isolates for mutations in the 2004). Similarly, CTX-M genes were President’s Fund grant, which enabled me topoisomerase genes are being developed identified for the first time in Salmonella to attend the 7th International Meeting on and consequently new mutations are from infections acquired abroad and Microbial Epidemiological Markers in regularly being identified. within the UK (Batchelor et al., 2005a). Victoria, British Columbia, Canada to However, the role of these mutations The screen of E. coli isolates identified a present my abstract as oral and poster has not been fully elucidated. Further new CTX-M gene, designated CTX-M-40, presentations. This work was funded by work is required to determine the identity which was identified in an isolate of E. Defra project VM02136. and frequency of point mutations that coli from a UK hospital patient (Hopkins, have the largest effect on fluoroquinolone unpublished observation). The most References MIC and to investigate the effect of common AmpC type identified in UK E. ■ Batchelor,M., Hopkins,K., Threlfall,E.J., different fluoroquinolones on the coli was CMY-7, previously only identified Clifton-Hadley,F.A., Stallwood,A.D., development of mutations. These in E. coli from Punjab, India (Child et al., Davies,R.H. and Liebana,E. (2005a) blaCTX-M mutations could then be incorporated as unpublished observation, GenBank Genes in Clinical Salmonella Isolates the targets in new screening methods. Accession Number: AJ011291). Recovered from Humans in England and The development of resistance to ß- Wales from 1992 to 2003. Antimicrobial lactams in a variety of zoonotic pathogens Agents and Chemotherapy 49, 1319-1322. is of particular concern because of their extensive therapeutic use. Acquisition of Batchelor,M., Hopkins,K.L., Threlfall,E.J., ß-lactamases is the predominant cause of Clifton-Hadley,F.A., Stallwood,A., Davies,R.H. and Liebana,E. (2005b) Characterisation of resistance in Gram-negative bacteria and AmpC-mediated resistance in clinical isolates poses potential treatment problems by of Salmonella recovered from humans during limiting available options. The the period 1993-2003 in England and Wales. development of resistance to ceftriaxone Journal of Clinical Microbiology 43, 2261- is of particular concern. Plasmid-encoded 2265. AmpC and CTX-M ß-lactamases have been discovered worldwide; both are Carattoli,A., Bertini,A., Villa,L., Falbo,V., rapidly growing groups of enzymes that Hopkins,K.L. and Threlfall,E.J. (2005) have been associated with nosocomial Identification of plasmids by PCR-based infections and outbreaks. replicon typing. Journal of Microbiological S. typhimurium, (in red) invading human Methods In press. There are currently more than 20 cells in culture plasmid-encoded AmpC genes identified, Liebana,E., Batchelor,M., Clifton-Hadley,F.A., while at least 40 CTX-M genes have been To date there have been very few Davies,R.H., Hopkins,K.L. and Threlfall,E.J. described that can be divided into five surveys on the prevalence of CTX-M (2004) First report of Salmonella isolates with phylogenetic groups based on amino acid genes in the UK and no reports on the the DHA-1 AmpC beta-lactamase in the sequence identity. prevalence of plasmid-mediated AmpC United Kingdom. Antimicrobial Agents and (see: www.lahey.org/studies/webt.asp). resistance. Those genes that we identified Chemotherapy 48, 4492. In the USA, strains of S. Newport with for the first time or have previously been plasmid-mediated resistance to extended identified infrequently may therefore be Walker,R.A., Lawson,A.J., Lindsay,E.A., spectrum ß-lactams (ESBLs), in addition more prevalent than thought. This Ward,L.R., Wright,P.A., Bolton,F.J., Wareing,D.R., Corkish,J.D., Davies,R.H. and to other commonly used antimicrobials, underlines how resistance gene profiling Threlfall,E.J. (2000) Decreased susceptibility have caused numerous outbreaks in cattle is central in identifying existing and newly to ciprofloxacin in outbreak-associated and humans (Zhao et al., 2003). emerging resistance mechanisms against multiresistant Salmonella typhimurium Resistance of S. enterica to ESBLs is therapeutic drugs and demonstrates how DT104. Veterinary Record 147, 395-396. rare in England and Wales but appears to surveillance of resistance mechanisms is be increasing in incidence, and there is important for the control of antimicrobial Zhao,S., Qaiyumi,S., Friedman,S., Singh,R., major concern that MDR S. Newport may resistance. Foley,S.L., White,D.G., McDermott,P.F., eventually appear in food production Further work is being carried out to Donkar,T., Bolin,C., Munro,S., Baron,E.J. and animals and humans in Europe. investigate the plasmid environments in Walker,R.D. (2003) Characterization of A combination of phenotypic and which these genes are inserted. In Salmonella enterica serotype Newport isolated from humans and food animals. multiplex PCR genotypic screening of S. particular, a replicon typing method based Journal of Clinical Microbiology 41, 5366- enterica and E. coli clinical isolates for on five multiplex and three simplex PCR 5371. the presence of plasmid-encoded AmpC assays is being used to identify the ß-lactamases found AmpC-mediated resistance plasmid incompatibility group Katie Hopkins resistance in Salmonella in the UK was (Carattoli et al., 2005). This technique

44 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk The President’s Fund

Carbohydrate Active Enzymes of Streptococcus pyogenes

ROUP A STREPTOCOCCI to bind to host receptors during an anomeric structure. This study looks at (GAS) are infective human infection. An example of such viral fibre such carbohydrate active enzymes from S. G pathogens capable of causing a structures is the triple beta helix. The pyogenes. Three phage encoded genes, wide range of clinical triple beta helix is a left handed turn with HylP1, HylP2 and HylP3, from S. manifestation such as scarlet fever, a triangular cross section. As the name pyogenes have been cloned and pharyngitis, rheumatic fever, suggests each turn is composed of three expressed using cloning vectors and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome strands which are connected by short recombinant technology. HylP1 has been (STSS) and severe invasive infections linkers with hydrogen bonds across the characterised as a polysaccharide lyase such as necrotizing fasciitis. strands. The strands cause angles of against hyaluronan from umbilical cord Streptococci produce a range of approximately 60o between them. The and the structure solved using x-ray virulence factors associated with their structure has a central longitudinal crystallography showing the infectiveness including pyrogenic hydrophobic core. The highly twisted characteristic structure of the tail fibre of exotoxins involved in the systemic toxicity structure means that 57% of the the bacteriophage containing a unique of the bacteria, a hyaluronate capsule accessible surface of the monomer is triple beta helix at its core. HylP2 and which allows for evasion of the host buried when in the trimer. This structure HylP3 have been cloned and expressed defences and surface M proteins which has been shown to form the puncturing but are yet to be characterised. are a major component in the adhesion of needle of the phage. Such fibre proteins A further enzyme from S. pyogenes is the bacteria during infection (Medina, have been shown to be enzymatically encoded by the gene Ugl. The encoded 2004). The surface M proteins also form active and this is the case of HylP1 from enzyme is thought to be from a unique the basis for the classification of GAS. S. pyogenes looked at in this study. Like class of enzymes, the unsaturated The M protein classifications are hyaluronan degrading enzymes from glucuronyl hydrolases. These fall into the identified by a numbering system. M1, M3 streptococcal species, such enzymes from class of glycoside hydrolases but are and M18 GAS are of particular bacteriophages are believed to be unique in that they will only target importance due to their relative involved in adhesion and invasion. unsaturated residues from polysaccharide abundance in human infections. Hyaluronidases from bacteriophage are lyase degradation removing this residue ■ M1 are commonly seen in invasive believed to be involved in the degradation and allowing for further degradation infections and have been seen to be of the hyaluronan capsule allowing for (Hashimoto et al., 1999). Ugl has been responsible for GAS epidemics infection of streptococcus (Baker et al., cloned and expressed and has shown ■ M3 are the prevalent cause of STSS 2002). Carbohydrates have great some activity against unsaturated and necrotizing fasciitis structural and functional diversity in hyaluronan produced using HylP1. ■ M18 has been seen to be found in nature. From this ubiquity it is apparent persistent sequelae such as rheumatic that there must be a plethora of enzymes fever involved in the biosynthesis, catalysis and References Streptococcus pyogenes is a Group A utilization of carbohydrates. This vast ■ Baker J R, Dong S and Pritchard D G, Streptococcus. The strain SF370 is an M1 diversity of such enzymes has led to the 2002, The hyaluronan lyase of Streptococcus Streptococcus and as such is capable of development of a classification database pyogenes bacteriophage H4489A, causing invasive infections and has been called CAZy (Carbohydrate Active Biochemistry Journal, vol 365, pp 317-322 seen to be one of the primary causes of enZymes). This database classes GAS epidemics (Banks et al., 2002). In carbohydrate active enzymes based on Banks D J, Beres S B and Musser J M, 2002, The fundamental contribution of phages to streptococcal species there is a high their activity or putative activity, into 5 GAS evolution, genome diversification and degree of genetic variation which groups: glycosidase and strain emergence, Trends in Microbiology, contributes to the diversification and transglycosidases, glycosyltransferases, vol 10, pp 515-521 evolution of the species. Phage or phage- polysaccharide lyases, carbohydrate like elements cause the majority of this esterases and carbohydrate binding Hashimoto W, Koayashi E, Nankai H, Sato N, variation. The bacteria are polylysogenic, modules. The classes are further split into Miya T, Kawai S and Murata K, 1999, containing material from multiple phages, families which contain proteins with a Unsaturated glucuronyl hydrolase of Bacillus GAS M1 serotype contain four such degree of sequence similarities. sp. GL1: novel enzyme prerequisite for elements which accounts for 7% of the Polysaccharide lyases catalyse the metabolism of unsaturated oligosaccharides total genome and encodes 172 coding cleavage of the beta 1-4 glycosidic bond produced by polysaccharide lyases, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, vol 368, pp sequences (Banks et al., 2002). These via a beta elimination mechanism causing 367-374 coding sequences often encode for the formation of an unsaturated carbon- enzymes that have been acquired by the carbon double bond at the non-reducing Medina E, 2004, Models of group A streptococcus through evolution and have end of the saccharide. Glycoside streptococcal diseases: a review of current an implication in their ability to infect. It hydrolases also cleave the glycosidic bond status, Drug Discovery Today: Disease is this polylysogeny that causes such a between disaccharides but by the use of Models, vol 1, pp 65-71 wide degree of variation among activated water. There are two streptococci from the same M group. mechanisms of action which result in Anna Marie Lindsay Bacteriophages use tail fibre proteins either the retention or the inversion of the www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 45 Today all education from junior school to The real Cuba University is free to Cubans. Virtually every state has its own university. There is also free health care for all Cubans and UBA IS NOT ALL IT MAY SEEM some of the medical centres, treatment at first sight. To those who waiting times and equipment available C read selectively, it is a would put our own health care system to communist dictatorship caught shame. Dozens of new institutes have up in the indoctrinations of past regimes. been opened. While it is true some are It is portrayed as a very poor country very basic and impoverished, others are where average earnings are $10 a month state of the art. The Cuban government and transport consists of a mix of aged have seen fit to invest heavily in medical old American cars and Ladas way past research in particular and this is their sell bye date. Equally, it is visited by exemplified by the leading institutes who thousands of western holidaymakers as produce vaccines for the world market. part of the all-inclusive scene where sun The first meningococcal vaccine against worshipers are hustled from the airport to Neisseria menengititis B was, and still remarkable talk he opened my eyes (as resorts such as Varadero to be cocooned is, produced in Cuba. Currently they are well as my mouth) to the revolution which in 4 star beach hotels where sun, sea and developing further new and/or improved is about to transform dental treatment. the expected trappings are provided. vaccines. At the Finlay Institute and other Fewer drillings, fillings, straining to see For those who are more open minded centres in Havana the only synthetic blurred X-rays are just around the corner and who venture beyond the walls of their vaccine against H.influenzae is under if Julian is to be believed. Ozone research package world, the real Cuba is waiting to development, as are vaccines to tackle was prominent not just in the dental field be discovered. For those who don’t they N.meningititis C, Salmonella typhi and but in its application in a range of are captives to the blinkered views of the leptospiras. Research is ongoing with medical fields to treat a range of popular press and may as well have gone vaccines to be used against Dengue, infections and other bacterial diseases. to the Costa Brava for their sun and Hepatitis A and C, HIV and Chaga’s Indeed, the Cuban’s have an institute sangria. disease. dedicated to the study of ozone therapies.

Sure, the people are poor in monetory In July of this year I attended the 14th While this short article does not seek terms and the young Cuban’s who are not International Scientific congress in to diminish the still considerable old enough to remember even harder Havana with the help of the President’s hardships in the lives of many Cuban’s times, may grow tired of Castro and his Fund. Plain to see, was the depth and and to excuse some of the dictatorial style of dictatorial leadership and their volume of Cuban research in a variety of practises still enforced, these restricted opportunities and difficult fields. Sessions covered the latest shortcomings should not be allowed to lifestyles. However, while Castro has not research on topics as varied as the use of detract from the many pluses which removed poverty from the lives of most plant extracts to treat disease to the latest Cuban science and society have to offer. everyday Cuban’s we should not loose advances in nuclear medicine. They are a warm and friendly people and sight of what he has achieved. Within a One particular talk which caught my their contribution to both has been, and year of securing the freedom of his eye was give by a British speaker, Julian will continue to be, immensely significant. people he had taken steps to address Holmes, who now lives in South Africa. illiteracy and ensure all Cuban’s were He is a dentist and contributed a paper on Peter Green given the opportunity to read and write. the use of ozone in dentistry. In a

46 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk Books

Transgenic Plants – Current innovations and future trends. FREE C. Neal Stewart (Ed) with 24 contributors. Horizon Scientific Press UK. 2003. Pp. 297 BOOKS! ISBN 1 898486 44 1 Reviewed by: Eric Bridson Would you like to review a book for Microbiologist and get to keep it? The This reviewer’s interest in transgenic Society receives several plants began when shown the immense new books every week opportunities of plant-based vaccines. from publishers around This multi-contributor book covers many the world and are always other aspects of plant transgenisis for looking for enthusiastic further applications. There are three additional reviewers who nuts-and-bolts chapters in the book on have an interest in the how to make transgenic plants. The subjects covered. editor has covered as wide a field as is possible to attract non-specialist readers. Each chapter is self-contained. There is an up-to-date Gene transfer is a rapid mode of list of titles available for introducing desirable characteristics into review on the Society’s plants. For example: herbicide tolerance website at: and insect resistance in cotton, maize and soya bean crops. Such crops are grown www.sfam.org.uk/pubs/books.php. widely in the USA and Canada. Genetically modified crops are not To make an offer to review any book simply click its currently welcomed in Europe. It is, of title. This will send an email request to the Editor of course, perfectly reasonable to measure Microbiologist. In return for your efforts you get to the effects of genetic modification of keep the book! crops in the local eco-systems of European farming. It is not reasonable to You can also read online versions of book reviews say that all GM crops are harmful, unless this can be proved. An outstanding good published in Microbiologist on the same web page. example is ‘Golden rice.’ These vitamin A/iron enriched rice grains could much improve the diets of millions of people who depend on rice as their major staple food. It is unfortunate that arguments on the merits of GM foods often involve commercial aspects of the subject. Does the modified seed remain the property of the large corporations producing GM plants? What would be the cost implications for farmers in poor countries? This editor, very wisely, has avoided discussion about this aspect of transgenic plants. A major concern with GM crops is the use of antibiotic-resistant genes to act as markers in the process of transfer. The presence of such a-r genes in GM crops has become a political and regulatory problem. The European Union, in the Directive 2001/18/EC has banned the use www.sfam.org.uk/pubs/books.php of a-r genes being used in commercial transgenic plants that could www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 47 pose a risk to human and animal health. over. Most readers will be both wiser and controlled the epidemic but at great cost. Whilst the risk of horizontal movement much better informed about transgenisis By 2001, 155 countries across the world from plants to microbes is low, it is and GM food crops, by the time they had adopted the DOTS strategy. obviously wise to seek less contentious reach the last page of this very interesting Tuberculosis is the second most common methods to mark transgenisis. The safety publication. infectious cause of adult mortality. The of transgenic foods is fully discussed in association of HIV-TB causes the highest chapter nine. Here the contributors point fatalities. Although sub-Saharan Africa is out that ‘safe’ does not mean without risk. often cited as the centre of the current There is a level of risk in eating any food! Would you like explosion of case numbers, India and Risk assessments for GM foods are China have 1.5-2.0 million new TB cases largely carried out on animals. The a FREE book? each year. potential for producing allergenicity is Would you like to review a book for The contributors make clear that the more significant. Food allergies occur in Microbiologist and get to keep it? standard laboratory diagnostic steps to about 2% of adults and 4-8% of children. There is an up-to-date list of titles identify active tuberculosis are far too The vast majority of allergens occur in a available for review on the Society’s slow. Much faster tests to identify the small group of foods: cow’s milk, wheat, website at: disease and measure drug susceptibility tree- and peanuts, eggs, soya beans, fish www.sfam.org.uk/pubs/books.php are required. New antigens to provide and crustaceans. It is possible to assess sensitive and specific skin tests are being the potential allergenicity of GM foods by sought. Molecular testing to detect M. measuring the binding of IgE in sensitized tuberculosis in clinical specimens are serum taken from allergic individuals. being developed. Coping with the spread Chapter 10 ‘Plant-based vaccines’ was of MDR-TB is a major target but so far it particularly interesting. By 2050, the Tuberculosis and the only operates in prosperous countries. population of this planet could reach 10 Tubercle Bacillus Genomic analysis of the tubercle bacillus billion. The expansion of international is fully discussed, together with its role in travel and immigration, greater developing diagnostic tests, novel drug dependence on global food production Eds: S T Cole, K D Eisenach, targets and new vaccines. The genome and general loss of isolation by previously D N McMurray, W R Jacobs sequence of M. bovis BCG Pasteur will remote populations, could increase the ASM Press. Washington. 2005 lead to more effective and safer vaccines. risk of rapid transmission of infectious ISBN 1-55581-295-3 pp. 584 The cell envelope of mycobacteria is a diseases. There is little possibility that Reviewed by: Eric Bridson particular challenge. If the thick, waxy antibiotics or parental immunization will coat can be made more permeable, a host have much impact on the global This substantial book is divided into of inhibitory compounds could be used to dissemination of these diseases. The eleven sections: destroy this organism. There is also current common method of immunization, 1. Historical perspectives of tuberculosis. extensive information on mycobacterial using traditional injectable vaccines, has 2. Clinical and epidemiological metabolism and biochemical pathways. two major disadvantages: perspectives. This book is an absolute mine of i. the method of vaccine preparation is 3. Diagnostic tests both immune-based current information on all aspects of M. costly, requiring highly skilled staff and molecular methods. tuberculosis. Its 37 chapters contain over working in high value sterile premises 4. Multi-drug resistance and the 3,500 references with 13 coloured plates with continuous refrigeration necessary to mechanism of resistance. plus many diagrams and tables. The store the vaccine. 5. Genomics. editors have ensured that the 92 ii. The humoral immune response from 6. Genetics. contributing authors avoided duplication parental injection fails to generate 7. Cell structure, in particular the waxy or contradiction. It will be a major significant levels of mucosal immunity. outer coat. reference source for many years to come. It is the mucosal immune responses in 8. Metabolism of the organism. gastro-intestinal, respiratory and uro- 9. & 10. Host-pathogen interactions, WIN A BOTTLE OF BUBBLY! genital tracts, which form the first line of antigenic variation and responses. We are running a writing defence against invasion by most 11. Use of animal models and the competition to find the most infectious diseases. The secretory development of tuberculosis vaccines. interesting, entertaining and antibodies formed (sIgA) can survive on The opening pages describe how the informative article describing mucosal surfaces and can prevent USA crisis in the early 1990s, catapulted an historical event in adherence of infectious organisms. It tuberculosis back into centre stage of Microbiology. follows, therefore, that plant-based international health concerns. Although FULL DETAILS ON PAGE 7 vaccines could show huge advantages there had been a steadily increasing rate over the existing small scale injectable of infection from 1984, it was the system that is currently available. It institutional outbreaks of multi-drug should be the vaccine of choice for resistant (MDR-TB) strains in Miami and pandemic bird-flu. New York, with very high fatality rates, The greater part of this book is that set alarm bells ringing across the readable by general microbiologists, the USA. Implementation of DOTS (directly very specialized aspects can be passed observed treatment, short course)

48 September 2005 www.sfam.org.uk Future publications

first developed many years ago, it is now complete air handling chain from that the full benefits of the approach are identifying the design and type of system High pressure being realised and exploited. This review most appropriate to particular food processing was produced as a part of a wider range production operations through of activities undertaken at CCFRA in the construction and validation to area of high pressure processing. maintenance, cleaning, monitoring and The opportunities afforded by high assessing environmental impact. pressure sterilisation in food production The guide is one of a series to help and new product development are the technical personnel in the food and subject of a new review from CCFRA. Air quality standards in construction industries with hygienic High pressure sterilisation: a review first aspects of building or refurbishment of outlines the role that novel technologies, food production areas food production facilities. The other titles including high pressure processing, can in the series are: Guidelines for the play in product and process innovation, Air is a potential source of food hygienic design, construction and layout before examining in detail the use of high contaminants, but help is at hand to of food processing factories; Guidelines pressure in product sterilisation. minimize the risk of contamination via for the design and construction of floors It explains several different approaches this route. A new edition of CCFRA's well- for food production areas (second to high pressure inactivation of bacterial established Guidelines on air quality edition); and Guidelines on the design spores, as well as describing the product standards for the food industry provides and construction of walls, ceilings and quality benefits that can be achieved with extensive practical guidance for food and services for food production areas high pressure sterilisation. It also construction companies on the (second edition). discusses various aspects of the process installation, monitoring and maintenance such as compression heating effects, of air quality systems to help prevent food Further Information minimising heat loss and process contamination and assure product safety ■ validation, and briefly outlines the Devised by experts drawn from the CCFRA Technologies Ltd Tel +44(0)1386 842000 economics of the process. food, air handling and research Fax +44 (0)1386 842100 Although high pressure processing was communities, the new edition spans the

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jh18 www.sfam.org.uk September 2005 49 For more information about the Society, Society meetings, the benefits of membership, Microbiologist, or to join us please visit the Society website at www sfam.org.uk

i Benefits of sfam membership membership options Publications The Society for ■ Full membership gives online access to The Society publishes two monthly journals: Applied the Journal of Applied Microbiology, Letters Journal of Applied Microbiology and Letters Microbiology was in Applied Microbiology and Environmental in Applied Microbiology. We also produce our founded in 1931 and is Microbiology, copies of Microbiologist, own quarterly in-house colour magazine: dedicated to advancing preferential registration rates at Society meetings Microbiologist, which contains features, reports the study of microbiology. and access to the members areas of the website. topical news stories and full details of our Society members play a meetings. The Society is also a partner with ■ Full student membership confers the leading role in shaping the Blackwell Publishing in the bi-monthly journal same benefits as Full Membership at a specially future of applied Environmental Microbiology. microbiology, and enjoy reduced rate for full time students not in receipt many benefits, including: of a taxable salary. Online journals ■ ■ Associate membership this class of Reduced rates at Synergy is an online service provided by Blackwell Society meetings membership is open to all current and new Society members including existing Associate Publishing that gives Full and Student Members ■ Access to the Student Members and Retired members and FREE access to the online versions of the members areas of gives quarterly copies of Microbiologist and Society’s three journals: Journal of Applied the Society website preferential registration rates at all Society Microbiology, Letters in Applied meetings. Microbiology and Environmental ■ Generous grants and Microbiology. Members can register for this awards ■ Honorary Membership of the Society is service at http://www.blackwell-science.com. by election only and this honour is conferred on Members can also submit papers directly to our ■ FREE access to three persons of distinction in the field of applied journals via an online submission service. acclaimed journals microbiology. For more information about Synergy or online Detailed information ■ Corporate membership is open to all manuscript submission, please visit the website. about all these benefits companies with an interest in microbiology. and more can be found Corporate members benefits include: Grants & awards on the Society website. ● Online access to the Society’s three journals OR Many awards and prizes are available to hard copies of the journals. WEBSITE: members including the W H Pierce Memorial www.sfam.org.uk ● Half page advertisement in each quarterly issue Prize and Prizes for Student Oral Presentations The website is the best of Microbiologist (which can be upgraded to a and Posters at the Summer Conference. In source of detailed larger size at very attractive discounted rates). addition to these substantial awards, the Society information on the Society has funds to assist members in their careers as ● Full page advertisement in the Members' and it’s many activities. It microbiologists. These include The President’s has a lively discussion Handbook. Fund, Conference Studentships, Sponsored forum and fully interactive ● FREE banner advert on the Society Website Lectures and the popular Students into Work membership areas where with a direct link to your company site. Scheme. you can book your place at Society meetings find ● Up to three members of company staff Full details of all the Society’s grants and awards and advertise jobs, display attending Society meetings at members' rate. can be found on the website together with easy- your CV and much more. (This means a 50% discount on non member to-use online application forms. CONTACT: registration rate). Society for Applied Meetings Microbiology, The Blore Tower, The Harpur Centre, We hold two annual meetings. The January Bedford MK40 1TQ, UK Meeting comprises discussion sessions with the Tel: 01234 326661 opportunity to display posters on related work. Fax: 01234 326678 The Summer Conference is held every July and email: [email protected] comprises a main symposium, a poster session, www.sfam.org.uk the AGM and a lively social programme. We also hold occasional joint ventures with other organisations on topics of mutual interest.

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