The magazine of the Society for Applied Microbiology ■ March 2007 ■ Vol 8 No 1 ISSN 1479-2699

BACTERIOPHAGE THERAPY Geoff Hanlon discusses antibiotic resistance as a driver for exploring alternative therapies and revisits the potential of bacteriophage therapy

■ When Maggot Fumes cured tuberculosis ■ Spring Meeting — April 2007 ■ Careers: European Technical Sales ■ 2007 Summer Conference ■ Microbiology and art: a comfortable combination? ■ Med-Vet-Net News ■ Stanote 8: statistical power and sample size ■ MediaWatch: getting dirty on TV INSIDE excellence in microbiology

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Technical sales: +44 (0)1274 595728 www.dwscientific.co.uk March 2007 ■ Vol 8 No 1 ■ ISSN 1479-2699 contentsthe magazine of the Society for Applied Microbiology members 04 Editorial: antibiotic resistance and alternative therapies

05 Contact point: full contact information for the Society

06 Benefits: what SfAM can do for you and how to join us

08 President’s and CEO’s columns

10 Membership Matters

20 Winter Meeting 2007 — Food and Health: full report

41 Careers: European Technical Sales 44 Students into Work Grant reports 30 Bacteriophage Therapy 47 President’s Fund Grant articles news 33 15 Bio Focus — RAE discussions reach critical point

16 MediaWatch: Anthony Hilton gets dirty on television

18 Med-Vet-Net: the half-way mark publications JournalWatch 24 12 Spring Meeting When maggot fumes 11 April 2007 cured tuberculosis 13 Book Reviews features information 30 Bacteriophage Therapy Microbiologist is published quarterly by the Society for Applied Microbiology. ISSN 1479-2699. Registered in the UK as a charity. 33 When maggot fumes cured tuberculosis © Society for Applied Microbiology 2007. Material published in Microbiologist may not be reproduced, 36 Microbiology and art: a comfortable combination? stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form without the prior permission of the Society. 38 Statnote 8: Statistical power and sample size Editor: Lucy Harper. [email protected] Contributions: These are always welcome and meetings should be addressed to the Editor at: [email protected] 24 Spring meeting 2007: Broadening Microbiology Horizons Advertising: Lucy Harper Tel: 01234 326709. email: [email protected] 26 Summer Conference 2007: Microbiology of Fresh Produce Design and print: Pollard Creativity. [email protected] 50 Bacillus - ACT 2007: International Conference on Bacillus Society for Applied Microbiology, anthracis, B. cereus, and B. thuringiensis Bedford Heights, Brickhill Drive, Bedford MK41 7PH, UK commercial Tel: +44 (0)1234 326661. Fax: +44 (0)1234 326678 51 Advertisements www.sfam.org.uk Cover illustration, ‘Bacteriophage therapy’: Stephen Pollard 53 Corporate members’ news

March 2007 03 members

hile I was researching this editorial, an interesting piece of news hit the headlines: there has been confirmation of the link Wbetween the use of antibiotics and the development of Microbiologist is resistance. published quarterly by In this study, published in the Lancet on 10 February 2007, the Society for Applied (http://www.thelancet.com/ journals/ Microbiology, a registered charity. lancet/article/PIIS0140673607602359/abstract) Prof. Herman Goossens ISSN 1479-2699 and colleagues of the University of Antwerp, Belgium, found that streptococci in the mouths of Copy Dates: healthy volunteers given either azithromycin or Vol 8 No.2 June 2007 clarithromycin (macrolides), developed resistance Friday 6 April 2007 to macrolides when compared to a control group Vol 8 No.3 Sept 2007 who had taken a placebo over the same time Friday 6 July 2007 period. Infact, there was no resistance among those Vol 8 No.4 Dec 2007 taking the placebo. Friday 5 October 2007 Goossens et al also found that the oral microflora was affected by the macrolides and this Vol 9 No.1 March 2008 Friday 4 January 2008 effect lasted for up to 180 days after taking the drugs. Contributions: The The association between antibiotic use and editor is always looking for enthusiastic writers resistance of microorganisms is a known who wish to contribute phenomenon, but until now a causal effect has not articles on their chosen editorial been shown. This study highlights the need for microbiological subject. Lucy Harper talks about antibiotic awareness of the ecological implications, and the For further information requirement of prudence in prescribing antibiotics please email Lucy resistance and asks whether we should be in a healthcare setting. Harper at: [email protected] looking at alternative therapies There are a number of ‘alternative’ therapies which have antimicrobial properties but which don't Disclaimer: The Society appear to contribute to the development of assumes no antibiotic resistance. Perhaps we should be looking responsibility for the opinions expressed by at these as possible alternatives, or at least adjuncts contributors. The views to lower dose antibiotic therapy. For example, the expressed by Society ingestion of cranberry juice and the berries themselves has shown to have officers and staff do prophylactic effects against urinary tract infection (UTI), possibly by not necessarily contribute preventing bacterial adherence to host cell membranes. Other ‘alternative’ represent the official remedies include garlic and tea tree oil which have antibacterial, and also position of the Society. We are always looking antifungal, and antiviral activity. Subscriptions: A for enthusiastic writers This issue of Microbiologist looks at antibiotic resistance as a driver for subscription to who wish to contribute exploring alternative therapies: revisiting the potential of bacteriophage Microbiologist is articles to the magazine included in the annual therapy (see page 30 for full article). A long-forgotten form of treatment in on their chosen SfAM membership fee. microbiological subject. the West during the antibiotic era, Bacteriophages or ‘bacteria eaters’ For further information For further information could be one step towards finding a balance between antibiotics and about the many please email the editor, alternative therapy in tackling infectious disease without encouraging the benefits of membership Lucy Harper at: development of antibiotic resistance. You can find out the latest please see page 6. [email protected] developments in Bacheriophage therapy at our Spring meeting in Advertising: Manchester on 11 April 2007. The full programme for this meeting is Information about available on page 24 and online at www.sfam.org.uk/spring_meetings.php. advertising in Our second feature article looks at alternative therapies from a more Microbiologist and how historical perspective — maggot fumes in the treatment of Tuberculosis to submit advertise- ments are can be found (TB). A fascinating article which makes me glad that I wasn't in the on the Society website. Bradford area in the 1900s. The smell emanating from the 'maggotorium' must have been interesting to say the least and the benefits from treatment Website: our website (www.sfam.org.uk) is obviously far outweighed the awful stench that sufferers must have had to a timely source of up- endure. Read more on page 33. to-date information on Our final feature article is far removed from the treatment of disease. all Society matters and This article looks at the much more aesthetically pleasing topic of maintains a Lucy Harper microbiology and art. As well as the degradation of works of art by comprehensive archive microbes, the creative aspects of combining art with science and the of articles and reports complex relationship between these two fields is discussed on page 36. on a variety of microbiological topics. Finally, attentive readers will notice that this issue of Microbiologist has undergone a facelift. I hope that you will all benefit from the many improvements we have made to the layout and look of the magazine.

04 March 2007 contact point executive committee COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2006 - 2008

HON PRESIDENT: Dr Margaret Patterson, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science Division, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX email: [email protected]

HON GENERAL SECRETARY: Dr Anthony Hilton, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET email: [email protected]

HON MEETINGS SECRETARY: Professor Martin Adams, School of Biomedical & Molecular Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford,Surrey GU2 7XH email: [email protected]

HON TREASURER: Dr Valerie Edwards-Jones, Research Development Unit, Manchester Metropolitan University, Lower Chatham St, Manchester M15 5HA email: [email protected] Society for Applied Microbiology, Bedford Heights, Brickhill Drive, HON EDITOR: Journal of Applied Microbiology Bedford MK41 7PH, UK Professor Arthur Gilmour, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science Division, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX tel: +44 (0)1234 326661 email: [email protected] fax: +44 (0)1234 326678 email: [email protected] HON EDITOR: Letters in Applied Microbiology www.sfam.org.uk Dr Jean-Yves Maillard, Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3XF email: [email protected]

ORDINARY COMMITTEE MEMBERS UNTIL JULY 2007

Dr John Coote, Infection and Immunity Division, Glasgow University, Joseph Black Building. Glasgow G12 8QQ email: [email protected]

Professor Geoff Hanlon, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb, Brighton BN2 4GJ email: [email protected]

Dr Karen Stanley, Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB email: [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: [email protected]

ORDINARY COMMITTEE MEMBERS UNTIL JULY 2008

Dr Tony Worthington, Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET email: [email protected]

Dr Andrew Sails, Health Protection Agency, Institute of Pathology, Newcastle General Hospital, Westgate Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE4 6BE email: [email protected] society office staff ORDINARY COMMITTEE MEMBERS UNTIL JULY 2009 Professor Carol Phillips, School of Health, The University of Northampton, Boughton CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Philip Wheat Green Road, Northampton NN2 7AL email: [email protected] email: [email protected] tel: 01234 326661 COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER: Lucy Harper Dr Mark Fielder, School of Life Sciences, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston email: [email protected] upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2EE tel: 01234 326709 email: [email protected] MEMBERSHIP CO-ORDINATOR: Julie Wright Professor Joanna Verran, Manchester Metropolitan University, Dept Biological email: [email protected] Sciences, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD tel: 01234 326846 email: [email protected]

March 2007 05 members

membership benefits options

■ Full ordinary membership gives online access to the Journal of Applied Microbiology, Letters in Applied Microbiology and Environmental Microbiology, copies of Microbiologist, preferential registration rates at Society meetings and access to the members areas of the website.

■ Full student membership confers the same benefits as Full Membership at a specially reduced rate for full time students not in receipt of a taxable salary. The Society for Applied Microbiology is the voice of applied microbiology within the UK and was founded in 1931. Society members ■ Associate membership is only open to those play a leading role in shaping the future of applied microbiology, and enjoy with an interest in applied microbiology without it many benefits, including: being a prime aspect of their job. For example, ■ Substantially reduced rates for attendance at Society meetings and school teachers and those taking a career break; on conferences maternity leave, or working temporarily in other ■ Access to the members areas of the Society website areas. It does not provide access to any journals or ■ Many generous grants and awards Society grants and awards. ■ FREE access to three acclaimed journals ■ Detailed information about all these benefits and more can be found on Honorary membership of the Society is by election only and this honour is conferred on the Society website at: www.sfam.org.uk persons of distinction in the field of applied microbiology. Honorary members have access to our GRANTS & AWARDS: Many grants, awards and prizes are available to online journals. members including the W H Pierce Memorial Prize and Prizes for Student Oral Presentations and Posters at the Summer Conference. In addition to ■ Corporate membership is open to all companies these substantial awards, the Society has funds to assist members in their with an interest in microbiology. careers as microbiologists. These include The President’s Fund, Corporate members benefits include: Conference Studentships, Sponsored Lectures and the popular Students ● Quarter page advertisement in each issue of into Work Scheme. Microbiologist (which can be upgraded to a larger Full details of all the Society’s grants and awards can be found on the size at discounted rates) ● the opportunity to publish press releases, website together with PDF application forms available to download from company news, etc., in each issue of the members area. Microbiologist ● Full page advertisement in the Members' JOURNALS: The Society publishes two monthly journals: Journal of Handbook. Applied Microbiology and Letters in Applied Microbiology. We also ● FREE banner advert on the Society Website with a produce this quarterly colour magazine, Microbiologist, which contains direct link to your company site. features, topical news stories and full details of our meetings. The Society ● Up to three members of company staff attending is also a partner with Blackwell Publishing in the monthly journal Society meetings at members' rate (This means a Environmental Microbiology. 50% discount on non member registration rate). Synergy is an online service provided by Blackwell Publishing that gives ■ Retirement membership is available to Full Full and Student Members FREE access to the online versions of the Members once they have retired from their Society’s three journals: Journal of Applied Microbiology, Letters in employment and have completed at least 20 years Applied Microbiology and Environmental Microbiology. Members can membership of the Society. Retired members are register for this service at http://www.blackwell-science.com. Members can entitled to all the benefits of Full Membership also submit papers directly to our journals via an online submission except access to Journal of Applied Microbiology, service. For more information about Synergy or online manuscript Letters in Applied Microbiology and Environmental submission, please visit the website. Microbiology.

MEETINGS: We hold two annual meetings. The January Meeting is a JOIN US! one-day meeting with parallel sessions on topical subjects. The Summer You can apply for membership on, or offline. To Conference is held every July and comprises a main symposium, a poster apply offline, please contact the Membership Co- session, the AGM and a lively social programme. We also hold occasional ordinator, Julie Wright on 01234 326846, or email joint ventures with other organisations on topics of mutual interest. [email protected]. Alternatively, write to her at: The Society for Applied Microbiology, Bedford WEBSITE: The website is the best source of detailed information on the Heights, Brickhill Drive, Bedford MK41 7PH, UK Society and it’s many activities. It has fully interactive membership areas where you can book your place at Society meetings, find exclusive SfAM documentation and much more. www.sfam.org.uk

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March 2007 07 members

he celebrations to mark the 75th SfAM’s ethos and we actively work with the Anniversary of the formation of the Society Science Media Centre in suggesting suitable Tare now behind us. experts to speak out on applied microbiology Looking back, one of the highlights for me topics. was the summer conference in Edinburgh, where It is clear that applied microbiology issues are it was a pleasure to welcome back so many of continuing to attract strong scientific and public our longstanding members and those who served interest. MRSA is still making the headlines and on Committee over the years. Clostridium difficile is catching up as the new The year ended with the President’s Dinner microbe for the public to worry about. Our and this was extra special for a number of winter meeting, held on the 11th January, took reasons. The prestigious venue of the Churchill place on the very day that it was announced that Room at the Palace of Westminster made an government targets to reduce the numbers of excellent backdrop to the evening, which was MRSA cases by 2008 were unlikely to be met. attended by 80 people, We had very timely presentations on the role including past Presidents, government, hospitals and microbiologists can Honorary members, play in controlling hospital acquired infections, several MPs and senior including a update on C. difficile and MRSA as president’s representatives from a well as a range of talks on food borne pathogens variety of biological and the latest outbreak data and trends (see societies. page 21 for a full report of the meeting). The column The book The Society event was very well attended — around 200 for Applied delegates — and feedback from the delegates Margaret Patterson reviews the higlights of Microbiology — A Short was very positive. Hopefully, this high the Society’s 75th Anniversary celebrations History written to attendance will be the trend we see at the other commemorate the meetings planned for this year. You can find anniversary year, was details of our one day Spring meeting on officially launched at the Broadening Microbiology Horizons (11th April event and the author, at Manchester Metropolitan University) and our Professor Max Sussman summer conference on Microbiology of Fresh was present to sign Produce (2-5 July at the Park Plaza Hotel, copies at the end of the evening. We still have Cardiff) on pages 24 and 26 or on our new look some books to give away to members. If you web site (www.sfam.org.uk). Finally, please would like your personal copy, please contact the remember that if you have been a member of office as soon as possible – they will be given SfAM for more than 1 year, you are eligible to out on a first-come-first-served basis. apply to the President’s Fund to help towards Our after dinner speaker was Sir David King, conference expenses (see page 47). Chief Scientific Advisor to HM Government. He highlighted the critical role of SfAM and other learned Societies in advising and influencing government policy and strategy. It was good to hear that he shared our view that collaboration with like- minded organisations is as important as individual contribution in ensuring that the Dr Margaret Patterson, Sir David King and voice of applied Mrs Iris Robinson at the Palace of microbiology is heard. Westminster He also said that science communicators and writers are vital, to translate complex scientific principles to scientists in different disciplines as well as to Dr Margaret Patterson MPs without a scientific background. This, he President of the Society felt, was one of the many skills of Learned Societies in the UK. Again, this is in line with

08 March 2007 elcome to my first column of 2007. I begin this year by telling you that in WDecember last year, unfortunately, Rachel Dowdy the Society’s Events Co-ordinator left to return home to Australia. Before she left Rachel thanked the Society for her time with us and highlighted how much she had enjoyed the role which she had occupied. I am sure all the members who had contact with Rachel would like to wish her all the best in her new life down under (see page 10)! As our President has highlighted, last year’s 75th Anniversary celebrations were rounded off with a very successful President’s Dinner which was held at the House of Commons. The after ceo’s dinner speaker was Sir David King, the government’s Chief column Scientific Advisor. Thanks awareness and profile of the Society for Applied are due to Mrs Iris Microbiology to a wider audience. Philip Wheat reports on the latest Robinson MP, the Once again in 2007 SfAM will exhibit at developments within the Society Member of Parliament several international conferences. We will exhibit who invited the Society in North America three times during the year. We to hold this important will be attending the American Society for event at such a Microbiology meeting in Toronto in May. This prestigious location. It will be followed with two exhibits in July (IAFP, was certainly a very apt way to round off the Orlando, 8th – 10th July and International Food 75th year of the Society. Technology , Chicago, 29th -31st July). In You all should by now have received your addition to attending these three meetings we membership cards. These will be an annual will also attend and exhibit at the 14th feature which will be distributed once a member International Workshop on Campylobacter, has renewed their membership. We have taken Helicobacter and Related Organisms the opportunity of highlighting key Society (CHRO2007) to be held in Rotterdam, The meeting dates on the back of these cards. Any Netherlands, 2-5 September 2007. As well as feedback regarding the cards would be trying to enrol new members we will be very appreciated. pleased to meet all our members at these events. You will shortly be receiving your 2007 Also, do not forget if you would like to attend Members Handbook. If you require a blue binder these meetings and you have insufficient funding to secure the pages of the handbook, please why not apply for one of Society’s grants e.g., contact [email protected] and she will send a President’s Fund? The main criterion (other binder across to you. conditions do apply) for this award is that you The Committee and myself have been actively must have made at least two subscription pursuing alliances with other organisations and payments (further details on page 47). So if you Learned Societies which will bring mutual are planning to attend please stop by the stand benefits to members of both organisations. For and collect your members’ lapel badge. instance we worked closely with the Chartered As I briefly mentioned earlier, the recent Institute of Environmental Health in putting part Winter meeting covering Food and Health was a of the recent highly successful Winter meeting resounding success with over 170 delegates. together. In addition, we have held discussions Thank you to all our speakers for making it such with the International Association for Food a first rate meeting (see page 20 for a full Protection to explore ways in which we might report). Once again in this issue please see collaborate. One idea is to offer discounted details of the Spring one day meeting and delegate rates to attend each others conferences, Summer Conference, these can be found on these discussions are ongoing. In addition, we pages 24 and 26 respectively. have agreed reciprocal advertising with a number of Societies e.g. Biochemical Society. Here, any appropriate meetings will be Philp Wheat advertised in each members magazine. These are Chief Executive Officer just some of the initiatives we are exploring, all designed (amongst other reasons) to raise the

March 2007 09 members

Stay in touch! Goodbye

We strive to keep in touch all our members and It is with regret that we announce that two of hopefully you will have been receiving your the SfAM team have, for different reasons, left monthly e-bulletin to your email address. The aim their association with the Society. Professor is to keep you up to date with SfAM events and Nigel Poole OBE will keep in touch with the members news. To ensure that you are kept up to Society through his role as Chair of the European date, if you are not receiving these bulletins then Liaison Group of the Biosciences Federation, but please contact his work as our membership co- Public Affairs ordinator, Julie Wright Executive ended at on +44(0)1234 326661 the end of 2006. We or email her at would like to thank [email protected] him sincerely for all and let her know your the great work he membership up to date email has done in helping address. Also, if you to raise the profile of have any news that SfAM. you think our The second matters membership should be ‘goodbye’ goes to aware of, then please Rachel Dowdy, our send it to Events Organiser. At Communications the end of 2006 she waved goodbye to head for Officer, Lucy Harper the warmer climes of her homeland, Australia. I’m ([email protected]). sure all who met Rachel at our meetings in 2006 History Book will wish her well for the future and know Have you requested your copy of the History of that she will be the Society book? We still have a few sorely missed. remaining to any Thanks go to members who wish Rachel for making to get hold of a the Society a bright copy. All you have and happy place to to do is write to work! communications @sfam.org.uk or phone us on +44(0)1234 326661 Chief Executive of and we will send a copy to you. All Biosciences Federation postage and packaging is free of receives OBE charge so contact us soon to be in with a chance of getting hold of SfAM would like to congratulate Richard a copy. Dyer, CEO of the Biosciences Federation (BSF) on the receipt of an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List. Richard receives the award for services to biology, particularly his Sponsor a new Member of contribution to the Babraham Institute and the Society and win a £50 Babraham Research Campus. Book Token!

If you feel you could be our next winner for Calendar Erratum 2007, and would like some promotional material to help you recruit new members Our sincere apologies go to Henriette M C please contact Put who kindly contributed a number of Julie Wright, Membership Co-ordinator on photographs to the SfAM calendar. Her name 01234 326661 or email [email protected]. has been incorrectly spelt ‘Putt’ instead of the correct spelling ‘Put.’

10 March 2007 New Members Call for Call for Nominations to We would like to warmly welcome the following nominations for new members and hope that you will participate Committee fully in the activities of the Society. W H Pierce Prize Four members of committee are due Australia Award to retire in July I M Al-Bulshi 2007 after their three years of Egypt service: Dr John A Y G Hesham Coote, Professor Geoff Hanlon, Dr Nigeria Karen Stanley and Dr Susannah Walsh; O Bello thus there will be Uganda four vacancies to fill in July 2007. F J Hawumba Nominations are United Kingdom invited from all full members of the P C Barbedo; K L Blackett; S H Cabry; Li Chin; Society for these S A Chisholm; J Collins; R Comey; T Gardner; vacancies. K Gkatzionis; S Goddard; S W Gould; D Harrington; Nominations must S Hiom; C E Jennings; G L Kay; S Kelleher; be made in writing N J Lakdawala; S Leakey; S Mande; L Manickan; Do you know a young microbiologist (under and received by the C K Mason; J McQuillan; C Micallef; A Okechuku; T C Okoye; R K Poole; B L Price; K J Roberts; 40 years of age) who has made a substantial Society Office by 9 L Sonola-Omitowoju; L Stevenson; J Stewart; L Stone; contribution to microbiology? If so, why not May 2007. Should A Summers; R Taylor; J Thompson; A R Timms; J Wright nominate them for this prestigious and nominations exceed substantial award which is worth £2,000. The vacancies, election USA award was instituted in 1984 by Oxoid to will be by a system of postal voting M B Cole; K Duddleston; P Schloss commemorate the life and works of the late arranged by W H (Bill) pierce, former chief bacteriologist at committee. CORPORATE Oxoid Ltd and a long-time member of the Bio-Stat Healthcare Group Society. The prize is presented annually at the Oxford Gene Technology summer conference. Full Members wishing to PMT GB Ltd make a nomination for the 2007 prize should write in confidence to the Hon General Secretary, Dr Anthony Hilton, at the Society President’s Call for SfAM Journals Office in Bedford, including a full cv of the Digitisation of SfAM Journal Archive person nominated and a letter of support. Fund Please note there are no official forms for this Blackwell publishing, the publishers of the award. The President's Society’s journals, are in the process of Fund provides limited digitising the Society Journals for an archive, Closing date for nominations is grants to ALL SfAM which, when complete will be accessible 27 April 2007. members to assist free of charge to all SfAM members. Please note that application is through nomination them to attend However, there are a number of volumes by Full Members of SfAM only. scientific meetings or missing from their collection. To make the workshops related to archive complete, Blackwells are looking for their area of work. hard copies of Vol.1–13 of the then Awards are made at Proceedings of the Society for Applied the sole discretion of Bacteriology. We are assured that all copies the Honorary will be returned to their owners after use. President. Please note So if you, or a friend are in possession of any that this Fund is open of these journals, please contact Vicky to members of all Johnson, Journal Publishing Manager, ages! For more Blackwell publishing at: information see page [email protected] 47 or visit the Tel: +44(0)1865 476244 website.

March 2007 11 publications

Top 5 most downloaded articles for Journal M. Plugge, Miriam H. A. van Eekert, Jan Dolfing, of Applied Microbiology: Gosse Schraa. Volume 8, Issue 3 4) The rhizosphere as a reservoir for opportunistic 1) Novel antiviral agents: a medicinal plant human pathogenic bacteria. Gabriele Berg, Leo perspective. S.A.A. Jassim, M.A. Naji Eberl, Anton Hartmann. Volume 7, Issue 11 Volume 95, Issue 3 5) Complete genome sequence and comparative 2) Antimicrobial agents from plants: antibacterial analysis of the metabolically versatile activity of plant volatile oils Pseudomonas putida KT2440. K. N. Timmis, et al. H. J. D. Dorman, S. G. Deans. Volume 88, Issue 2 Volume 4, Issue 12 3) Probiotics and their fermented food products are beneficial for health A New Journal for S. Parvez, K.A. Malik, S. Ah Kang, H.-Y. Kim 2008 – Microbial Volume 100, Issue 6 Biotechnology. Editors: K. N. Timmis 4) Antimicrobial activity (EIC), Juan Luis Ramos, of essential oils and Willem de Vos, Willy other plant extracts Verstraete, Steve Projan K. A. Hammer, C. F. and Marty Rosenberg (from 2009) journalWatch Carson and T. V. Riley Microbial Biotechnology has been created to Volume 86 Issue 6 publish papers of original research reporting News about the Society’s journals 5) A history of significant advances (belonging to the upper 25% influenza. C.W. Potter in the field) in any aspect of microbial Volume 91 Issue 4 applications. It will be a sister of the premier microbiology journals Molecular Microbiology, Top 5 most downloaded articles for Letters in Environmental Microbiology and Cellular Applied Microbiology: Microbiology, and joins the extremely successful stable of microbiology journals that also includes 1) Extraction methods and bioautography for the SfAM and FEMS journals. evaluation of medicinal plant antimicrobial activity A. Nostro, M.P. Germanò, V. D’Angelo, A. Marino, Scope M.A. Cannatelli. Volume 30 Issue 5 The Journal will publish original research on 2) Campylobacter jejuni microbial applications, including, but not limited W.J. Snelling, M. Matsuda, J.E. Moore, J.S.G. to biotechnologies related to green chemistry, Dooley. Volume 41, Issue 4 primary metabolites, food, beverages and supplements, secondary metabolites and natural 3) Antibacterial activity of selected plant essential products, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, oils against Escherichia coli O157:H7 agriculture, bioenergy, biomining, including oil S.A. Burt, R.D. Reinders. Volume 36, Issue 3 recovery and processing, bioremediation, 4) Antibacterial activity of plant extracts on biopolymers, biomaterials, bionanotechnology, phytopathogenic Xanthomonas campestris biosurfactants and bioemulsifiers, compatible pathovars. S. Satish, K. A. Raveesha, G. R. solutes and bioprotectants, biosensors, monitoring Janardhana. Volume 28 Issue 2 systems, quantitative microbial risk assessment, technology development, protein engineering, 5) Under the Microscope: Arcobacter functional genomics, metabolic design, systems W.J. Snelling, M. Matsuda, J.E. Moore, J.S.G. analysis, modelling, process engineering and Dooley. Volume 42 Issue 1 biologically-based analytical methods. ■ Journal Structure ■ Research Articles Top 5 most downloaded articles from ■ Brief Reports ■ Rapid Communications Environmental Microbiology: ■ Reviews ■ Minireviews ■ Genomics Update 1) Interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal ■ Netwatch ■ Editorials ■ Correspondence fungi and bacteria and their potential for In addition, other items relating to the Journal stimulating plant growth. Veronica Artursson, content and biotechnological applicability will be Roger D. Finlay, Janet K. Jansson regularly featured. Volume 8, Issue 1 Special Issues 2) Quorum sensing: the power of cooperation in the world of Pseudomonas. Mario Juhas, Leo Each year, one or two issues will be Special Issues Eberl, Burkhard Tümmler. Volume 7, Issue 4 devoted to particularly topical subjects, and edited by expert guest editors. 3) Exocellular electron transfer in anaerobic microbial communities Launch Timeline: Submissions: from April, Alfons J. M. Stams, Frank A. M. de Bok, Caroline 2007. First issue: Jan 2008

12 March 2007 provides one of the slight downsides to the book since many of the methods are Differential Display repeated in each chapter. In the way in which the chapters are presented this Ronald A. Leslie and Harold A. cannot be avoided and since a reader is Robertson unlikely to read every chapter it will not Oxford University Press, UK, 2000 really prove annoying. Other repetitions ISBN 0-19-963759-8. occur in the introductions, with many £38.50 explaining the same principles. xviii + 255 pages If there are any other drawbacks then it is perhaps the books very Reviewed by Russ Grant medical nature, with little mention of This book is old by current any of the numerous other scientific molecular standards (2000) but areas that differential display can be deserves a review since its main topic is used in. still relevant. Interestingly (and In conclusion this book is a useful with the benefit of hindsight) resource, but rapid developments in the are the comments regarding field, especially in microarray that has book reviews the potential use of differential now become microchip based with display against the developing sequences on allowing mass ‘displaying’ techniques (now developed one mean it is not as good as its more up- could argue) of microarray – using the to-date counterparts. For £38.50 this tortoise and the hare story characters was good when released, but not now in reviewers as a metaphor for differential display such a fast moving field with current and microarrays! journal papers available on-line with The Society receives As a brief reminder, differential better know-how. several new books display involves in essence the every week from publishers around the application of reverse transcriptase world and we are polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to always looking for produce a ‘fingerprint’ of expressed enthusiastic additional genes that can be compared between Cellular Microbiology reviewers who have an libraries. Other methods deriving from interest in the subjects this include (from the date of the book Pascale Cossart, Patrice Boquet, covered. and not accounting for further Staffan Normark and Rino Rappuoli There is an up-to-date progression) subtractive hybridisation, ASM Press, Washington DC, 2005 list of titles available for serial analysis of gene expression review at the Society ISBN 1-55581-302-X Office. (SAGE) and of course, microarray Reviewed by Sarah Butler technologies; all are included here. To make an offer to The first few chapters (all of which Cellular Microbiology was first review any book simply are in a journal paper/book hybrid published in 2000, giving both students email the Editor of Microbiologist at: style) deal with some of the more and scientists a valuable source of [email protected]. general aspects involved in the reference in an emerging field of In return for your ‘process’ of differential display, and microbiology. However, this relatively efforts you get to keep some ‘recent’ (again note the date) new field has gone through a dramatic the book! advances, before moving on to some revolution requiring this second edition Titles for review and very useful practical tips. The rest of which incorporates genomic and book reviews published the chapters deal with more proteomic studies of the microbial in Microbiologist will individualistic specific areas including world. soon be available on arbitrary primers and antisense The book is divided into 23 chapters, the website. approaches as well as other introducing five new chapters and modifications for the methodology and updates existing ones. The first three technique. Uses of RT-PCR in single cell chapters provide the reader with an organism and plant tissues are also overview of microbial pathogens, featured. bacterial human pathogen genomes and Throughout the book there are good cell biology. These are an excellent start examples of actual experiments for those who have limited knowledge showing successful use, with detailed of the subject or need to refresh their protocols providing a detailed walk- memories on certain areas. Chapter two through that can be followed. Problems provides detailed information on many encountered and experienced are significant human pathogens including mentioned, and these will be of use to the well known Escherichia coli and those doing such procedures. This also Salmonella spp.

March 2007 13 publications

The next few chapters provide detail research. Personally, I have found it to devoted to the detection and on host cell surfaces including sites of be more approachable and an easier enumeration of micro-organisms. One pathogen interaction, bacterial read than some of the other books in aspect that is not adequately considered adherence and signalling, bacterial similar fields. It will find its way onto is that of non-biological particles, which toxins, secretion systems in both animal the shelf of many cellular are important in many industries. The and plant interacting bacteria and microbiologists! illustrations, though apposite, are interaction of pathogens with the rather poorly reproduced. immune system. Chapter eight provides This book will be a useful primer for a significant amount of detail on plasma the non-microbiologist in this important membranes, their structure including Cleanroom subject. lipids and their organization. Chapters 19 to 21 are particularly Microbiology for the useful in the practical approach to Non-Microbiologist cellular biology including a whole Quinolone chapter of information on electron (2005) Antimicrobial Agents microscopy providing both students and scientists handy tips on its use. David M. Carlberg (2003) DNA arrays and proteomics are Boca Raton: CRC Press discussed in chapter 21 allowing the pp. 196 + xviii. (2nd Edition) Eds. David C Hooper and Eitan reader to understand not only what they ISBN 0-8493-1996-X Rubinstein. Washington: ASM Press are, but also the design and production Reviewed by Max Sussman pp. 485 + xiv (3rd Edition) of arrays as well as a short but useful ISBN 1-55581-231-7 section on the applications of these The idea of preventing the access of Reviewed by Max Sussman highly impacting new technologies bacteria to sensitive sites, especially developed within the last five years. pathogenic ones, arose in the mid-19th The puzzle of how a double helix in The penultimate chapter is dedicated century from the researches of Joseph ring form replicates in the real world to the cell biology of virus infection Lister. This is how most undergraduate was solved with the discovery of the which is at the foremost of technology microbiologists would begin to define topoisomerases, but the quinolones that and a new addition to the book. This asepsis. The original application was inhibit them and have become gives the reader the ability to increase for the prevention of surgical wound important chemotherapeutic agents their understanding of the interactions infection and the operating theatre was were discovered well before their target of viruses with cells which will in turn the ‘cleanroom’. The applications of enzymes. The topoisomerases II (DNA allow the development of new strategies cleanroom technology have now gyrase) and IV act by passing one for combating viral infections. reached into several industries, notably region of double helix DNA through There are many useful illustrations, including the manufacture of electronic another and the chemotherapeutic both ‘cartoons’ and scanning electron devices and computer chips. action of the quinolones is by inhibiting micrographs showing the specific The concepts of cleanroom design this enzymatic action. binding of Streptococci for example. and use are simple and straight-forward The editors have gathered a Just before the beginning of chapter 19 and depend on what is second-nature to distinguished group of authors bringing is a section of figures which are microbiologists. Many of those who are this useful book up to date and it is fascinating and provide some colour. obliged to use and supervise divided into three parts. The first part The majority of the ‘cartoon’ cleanroom-dependent processes are not considers the basic chemistry and illustrations are in black and brown microbiologists and for these the biochemical activity of the quinolones, which is a slight disappointment to a practical application of these concepts as well as their structure-activity very well written, organised and is more difficult. These difficulties have relationships and the mechanisms of illustrated book. not been eased by the appearance of resistance that have been forged I particularly like the way in which international cleanroom standards and against them. An interesting chapter the chapters are written, giving an new, rapid automated cleanroom considers the effect of the quinolones overview and good background monitoring methods. A further on eukaryotic cells and their potential information before heading into in- complication is the use of cleanrooms as anti-tumour agents. The second depth information for the research in the pharmaceutical industry, section deals with the pharmacology of scientist. At the end of each chapter are particularly in the production of the quinolones and their interaction useful references that give the reader a vaccines derived from animal tissues with a number other very important basis to obtain further information/ and cultured eukaryotic cells. and commonly used drugs. The final research on a specific topic. The index Since this little book is intended for largest part of the volume consists of is clear and was useful for picking out non-microbiologists, the first three series chapters that discuss the clinical particular areas within the book. chapters are concerned with basic application of the quinolines. Overall, I have found the book a aspects of microbiology, and it is not This volume follows the excellent particularly good place to start when until page 113 that cleanrooms are and well-known style of ASM Press. It is locating information on cellular discussed in detail. Their classification edited to a very high standard and microbiology and I have found it of is well-described as are their various deserves to be consulted by those who particular relevance to my area of applications. The final chapter is study or use these important drugs.

14 March 2007 news

nother New Year has arrived. I hope that inevitably move to support most those areas of it brings you all the important things you the Biosciences most suited to whatever Aseek and few of those that you do not. algorithm that emerges. These areas will, of From a political point of view I fear that the course, ‘do well.’ latter will not be true. The discussions about the And finally, and personally, because I have future of the RAE have now reached a critical had too many computer generated letters from point. The momentum towards the abolition of non-existent Bank managers based on incorrect peer review panels and the introduction of a information or a “mistake”. I have always metrics only based RAE continues. This change managed to receive an apology and charges is supported strongly by many of your reimbursed. I doubt that you will get (m)any employers! External to Government, the main apologies out of the RAE! supporters of the metrics only approach are What can you do about this situation? Well, of University Vice Chancellors and The Academy of course you can continue to support the BSF and Medical Sciences. All other ‘academies’, I would welcome your ideas about how costs can including The Royal Society, The Royal Society be reduced effectively and peer review panels of Chemistry, The Institutes of Physics and maintained. If you do decide to write to me, Biology, and, of course — please make it brief and let me have your views. The Biosciences Federation Some of you could also start an interesting are strongly opposed to the discussion with your employer! abolition of peer review There are quite a few issues emerging that panels. We want these will have an effect on your professional lives. By panels maintained and we the time that you read this, I will have met with bio focus want them informed by a Task Force to discuss the BSF response to a paper published by the Research Councils on Richard Dyer has the latest news from the robust metrics including those relating to output. Peer Review and our response will be on our biosciences The main argument for web site. If you haven’t seen the Research change is to reduce costs – Councils’ proposals, you might like to download including those costs www.rcuk.ac.uk/research/peer/efficiencypr.htm. associated with time. We I don’t wish to prejudge our response to these agree that strenuous efforts proposals, but I am 100% confident that we will should be made to not be 100% supportive — and nor will you! implement clear and I am anticipating a busy year. However I don’t substantial reductions in the want all the activity to be reactive. A proactive bureaucracy associated with position, taken at the right time, can often be more influential than “fire fighting”. Ideally, I The Biosciences Federation is a single authority the RAE and believe that representing the UK’s biological expertise, there should be serious should like some of the issues where we should providing independent opinion to inform public discussion about how this trigger debate to come from the Member policy and promoting the advancement of the can be achieved. A metrics Organisations. If you have thoughts about biosciences. only approach will achieve a important matters to address in the next year or For further information visit: cost reduction but this is so please let us have them via your Council or http://www.bsf.ac.uk/default.htm not at all the right route to Committee. follow. Why do I write this? We are quite pleased by the number of ‘hits’ First, because the BSF our jobs link page received during 2006. You holds the view that it is may remember that this was a new initiative for potentially dangerous to rely us and is aimed to provide a resource for on an algorithm for an postdocs. I write “quite pleased” because we are activity as critically fully aware that all web sites can be improved. If important as the RAE. We you, or junior colleagues not members of the think it essential that there Society, have a thought about how improvements is some wise evaluation of could be made, please contact Dr Emma the quality of the data fed Southern ([email protected]). In fact, into the formula. please contact us about any bright ideas that you Second, because the BSF thinks that a may have concerning the BSF. I don’t promise to metrics based formulaic approach will pursue them all, but I do promise to “cherry disadvantage some areas of the Biosciences. We pick” the very best for consideration! are particularly concerned about those important Once again my best wishes for 2007. disciplines where research is truly excellent but grant income is low and outputs may be relatively sporadic. Research in Systematics is an Richard Dyer example where these anxieties are relevant. Chief Executive Biosciences Federation Third, and following from the previous point, the BSF thinks it likely that Vice Chancellors will

March 2007 15 news

Grime Scene Investigation

On 3 October 2006 the weekly BBC3 TV series me by, but luckily I changed my mind. our policy on Grime Scene Investigation began. Our honorary the media general secretary, Dr Anthony Hilton starred as co- So, have you always wanted to appear on presenter of the series. Here he tells us what it Q TV? We will: was like working on a TV entertainment programme along with three of our student I think part of me is an innate performer. ■ always do our best members, Jess Rollason, Laura Wheeldon and A I’ve always enjoyed playing musical to provide facts, information and Tarja Karpanen. instruments. So as a youngster I was used to and explanation. enjoyed the thrill of performing. I suppose Could you set the scene and tell us about giving a lecture is a bit like a stage performance ■ if speculation is Q except the words you use are scientific rather required, explain the Grime Scene — what’s it all about? rationale behind that than words in a script. Part of me has always speculation. Well, Grime Scene Investigation was an been drawn to that kind of, almost exhibit- A eight part series which was commissioned ionism, in a way. Most people shy away from it, ■ desist from hyping a story—whether it is the by the BBC with the intention of investigating but I actually enjoy being in the spotlight. journalist or the peoples’ homes, looking particularly at the scientist doing the microbes that live with them. The overall Did you find it nerve-wracking at all — how hyping. philosophy was: how does your lifestyle Q did it make you feel when you were filming? influence the type of bugs that live with you, on you and around you. I’ve done quite a lot of TV news interviews A in the past and that’s been my only other So how did you get involved in the TV experience really. So when we first started Q programme?

Well I was contacted A by the executive producer at RDF, the production company, who’d been put in touch with me by your good self I believe. He was looking for an applied microbiologist and had mediawatch used SfAM as a contact microbiology in the news base to find someone who was media friendly. So he phoned me and to If you spot a story in the media which you be honest I was rather think should feature in this column, please cool on the idea at first. send it to the Editor at: [email protected]. I’ve been involved with filming pilot episodes of programmes before, which have never filming for Grime Scene I had to make the amounted to anything, transition mentally from news interviews which and that situation can are often very formal to working with a end up being not only comedian in a non-scripted environment. At first disheartening but a lot of I found it very scary because Rufus (my co- effort and time for no presenter) and I would be in the middle of a reward. So after a long dialogue and I’d just dry up and didn’t know phonecall, I told him that what to say. I suppose I was thinking I had to get I didn’t really want to be involved. But he it all exactly right in one take as you would if it phoned me back about a week later to see if I was a live interview. One of the turning points would at least chat to him about the programme. for me was when Rufus said that our role as So I met with him, on the set of Scrapheap actors or presenters was to provide a varied challenge actually, and it was at that stage that palate of ‘takes’ for the editors to make a show he increased my interest because I realised that out of — it wasn’t our job to make the show. As the programme had already secured funding. soon as I realised that, I relaxed and got into the When I look back the opportunity nearly passed spirit of it — a light hearted communication of

16 March 2007 some important science which was delivered in If one of your peers did enjoy what you’d an entertaining way. Q done and had been approached by the media to do either a TV appearance or a radio I wonder if some scientists might see Grime interview, what advice would you give them? Q Scene Investigation as somehow ‘dumbing down’ science and therefore might not SfAM have referred quite a number of necessarily respect what you’ve done. What A journalists on to me when relevant news would you say in response to anyone who stories hit the headlines so I’ve done a lot of expressed this opinion? news items with TV and radio interviews. I think the first thing to do in those kinds of situations I’d say that the programme was designed is to research as well as possible about the A first of all to entertain but secondly to subject and try to pre-empt what you think you educate. If you are going to promote the public might be asked. For example if you’re being understanding of science you have to deliver the interviewed about a particular microorganism or information in a different way to that in which current event then try to get as much you’d deliver a lecture to academics. I think the information as you can about the current best way to communicate science to the general situation. If you don’t prepare then, particularly public is to not necessarily let them know that in a live interview, you can be made to look you’re doing it, otherwise they tend to switch- rather foolish. Knowing some basic techniques off. I would suggest that the most able about how to deal with questions does help. Live communicators are able to identify their interviews can be stressful and if you can find audience needs and share the information in a out what you’re going to be asked then that particular way. When you’re standing in front of makes them easier. However, a lot of the time a camera, you simplify things, to get the overall you don’t know. message across. I would hope I have a sufficiently good scientific track record to be For news interviews I would generally given the privilege of simplifying things without recommend that you talk to your Press Officer – my peers thinking badly of me. most universities and large organisations will have one. There are also other organisations, So… you think what you’re doing, as well such as SfAM and the Science Media Centre Q as being entertainment it’s an important (www.sciencemediacentre.org) who’s Press educational tool. Do you think it works? Officers can be called upon to give you good advice about dealing with the news media. If you I do because since the programme has been are asked to speak then it’s a good idea to take A broadcast we’ve had a lot of feedback from the opportunity to do so with the support of an school teachers wanting copies of the broadcast experienced Press Officer. to show to their classes. I love microbiology, and I’m sure everyone in the Society loves it, but to a How long did it take to do the filming? non-scientific audience it can be a pretty dry Q subject. For a lot of people who haven’t had the privilege of looking down a microscope or Each episode took three days of filming on knowing what bacteria are or what they’re A location but prior to that we’d have all the capable of doing, a certain amount of culture media preparation which was done here imagination is required I suppose to believe they at the University and then afterwards there’d be even exist. I think that what Grime Scene all the editing and the voice-overs. So in total I Investigation did was to visualise these would say each episode took three days of organisms using some pretty specialised pieces filming and six or seven days either side with of kit — for example the electron microscope. ancillary bits and bobs. We showed people that they don’t live in sterile bubbles - they live with these bugs every day and Would you do it again? in the large part they’re not adversely affected Q by them. Hopefully we raised awareness that you can live in harmony with microorganisms and Yes I would I’d absolutely jump at the this is important. A lot of peoples appreciation A chance. of microbiology is gleaned from the news, where they hear of MRSA, C. difficile, Salmonella, Finally, a question relating to the series — flesh-eating bugs, anthrax, botulism, Q do you close the toilet before you flush? bioweapons, and as a result they probably have a negative opinion of microbiology. I think No, not always even though I know that I Grime Scene Investigation brought microbiology A ought to. I do wash my hands though! into peoples’ current thinking but not from a negative point of view.

March 2007 17 news

Major Scientific Achievements

There have been several major scientific achievements during the first half of Med-Vet-Net’s life including: ■ the successful submission for a new EU-funded Integrated Project, Biotracer, aimed at improving the traceability of unintended organisms in the food chain ■ central repositories for the collection of characterised Trichinella, Cryptosporidia and Giardia isolates and reagents ■ an authorative report for policy makers on ‘Towards an integrated approach in supporting microbiological food safety decisions’ ■ a collection of reports and evaluations on risk assessment in the pre-harvest phase of food-animal production ■ published recommendations for future research on Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli. ■ a unique database of DNA sequences from over 170 European Bat Lyssavirus isolates from eight European countries ■ evaluation of the prevalence of Salmonella Genomic Island 1 in nearly 400 European isolates of Salmonella, E. coli and Shigella. ■ an international conference on ‘Priority setting of foodborne and zoonotic pathogens’ ■ an algorithm published enabling diagnostic and early treatment procedures in suspected cases of human trichinellosis ■ tool development enabling the successful detection of an outbreak of Salmonella carrying the 16S RNA methylase gene mediating aminoglycoside resistance.

with the Strategic Scientific Plan developed in Year 1. To date, an accumulative total of 29 manuscripts are published or in press in peer reviewed journals. The remaining 50% of funds is for integration activities: administration, project management The half-way mark: t’s hard to believe that Med-Vet-Net is now and communications. half way through its anticipated lifespan of Administration exchanging Ifive years! In this issue we will provide an results, sharing overview of our achievements so far and what The Administration Bureau, based at French ideas and our plans are for the future. Food Agency (AFSSA) in Paris, France, are Approximately 50% of the resources of Med- responsible for Workpackage 1 – the developing Vet-Net fund active research projects with the administrative and financial aspects of the relationships aim of encouraging and enabling scientific Network. They have established procedures integration. Initially the scientific activities of the making network administration more flexible Network were based around four major thematic and efficient and have initiated studies on the topics: epidemiology; detection and control; options for legal status to ensure sustainability host-microbe interactions; and risk research. of the Network. Increasingly, however, this structure has been Project Management viewed divisive and more interdisciplinary activities have been developed based on the five- The Project Management team, based at the year strategic scientific plan. Nine of the 11 Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) in the UK, research Workpackages initiated in Year 1 were are responsible for Workpackage 2 – the overall completed in February 2006. A further 11 project management of the Network which research Workpackages were initiated in line includes all non-financial planning, monitoring,

18 March 2007 quality assurance and reporting. This to allow greater online collaboration via Workpackage specifically includes scientific co- workplace areas which allow the confidential ordination and strategic planning, development exchange and discussion between scientists. of research skills and expertise, inter-Network Online web-conferencing with web cameras has scientific communications and the expansion also been introduced to allow scientists to meet and extension of the Network by external online when face-to-face meetings are not collaboration. possible. The first Science Communication Development of research skills and expertise Internship was completed and the next is an important objective of Med-Vet-Net. This programme, now consisting of four modules is capacity building has been achieved through underway with five participants. The Unit also training courses, workshops and short-term continues to produce the monthly newsletter, missions. Workshops that have been run so far MVN News, which is now distributed are: (1) Salmonella control and (2) Foodborne electronically as an e-bulletin, and work is pathogens and foodborne disease surveillance underway on a stakeholder magazine. Various for new EU member states. Training courses articles like this one continue to be published in have taken place on: (1) Risk Assessment and magazine, trade journals and online. Overall the (2) Pulsed-field Gel Electrophoresis. These have success of the communications strategy means trained over 40 Med-Vet-Net and about 70 that Med-Vet-Net activities are now recognized external scientists. Fourteen young scientists worldwide. have undertaken training in other partner The future laboratories as part of the short-term mission programme. Med-Vet-Net has also provided It is evident that Med-Vet-Net is progressing funding for four PhD students. extremely well. The integration and co- Two virtual Special Interest Groups focussing ordination of research on zoonoses within on ‘New, Emerging and Neglected Zoonoses’ and Europe is working effectively. Scientists are med-vet-net ‘Lyssaviruses’ have been established to build a exchanging results, sharing ideas and developing critical mass of expertise from within and relationships. The upcoming integrated work- outside the Network. The Annual Scientific programme focuses on the identified needs for Med-Vet-Net is a Meeting has also become a very successful research, and has implications for international European Network of event, with the last meeting, held during May in research and statutory regulations. The next two Excellence that aims to Malta, attracting over 190 delegates including, and a half years will see Med-Vet-Net focus on improve research on for the first time, 42 external scientists. There consolidating the current research programme the prevention and control of zoonoses by were 70 short scientific presentations made by and also developing resources to specifically integrating veterinary, delegates, and 150 poster presentations. Five address identified research gaps in host- medical and food keynote speakers from North America, Israel and pathogen interaction and the accuracy of disease science research. Europe were invited and a workshop was held surveillance. New initiatives include work that Comprising 16 on ‘Networking for Food Safety’ with will support: European partners and contributors from Canada, Denmark and the ● policy decisions such as priority setting and over 300 scientists, United Kingdom. risk assessment Med-Vet-Net will enable these scientists ● Expanding Med-Vet-Net activities is also a skills and resources development in to share and enhance strategic goal and efforts continue to raise neglected areas such as virology and their knowledge and awareness of Network activities with other Containment Level 3 skills, and develop zoonoses-related groups from around the world. ● maintenance of research reference collaborative research The transatlantic network on food safety EUUS- resources such as repositories for some projects. Med-Vet-Net SAFEFOOD has now been running for a year, zoonotic parasites officially commenced on 1 September 2004, ● and is providing opportunities for joint meetings evaluation of the prevalence of newly and is funded to the with the North American network FSRRN and identified food pathogen issues such as value of €14.4 million short-term missions in the USA. A further novel antimicrobial resistances for five years. collaboration with the US Food Safety Research ● application of new technologies such as Consortium (FSRC) has resulted in a joint DNA arrays and spatial epidemiology to international meeting on ‘Priority setting of major food-borne pathogens. foodborne and zoonotic pathogens’ in Berlin in July 2006. information Communications This article is based on the Executive Summary For more information The Communications Unit, based at the of the Med-Vet-Net Annual Report 2006. about Met-Vet-Net, Society for Applied Microbiology (SfAM) in visit: Bedford, UK, is responsible for Workpackage 3 – If you would like a printed copy of the Report http://www.medvetnet. the Spreading of Excellence both within and please contact Teresa Belcher on: org/ or contact Teresa Belcher on: outside the Network. The Communications Team +44 (0)1234 271020, +44 (0)1234 271020 has built a public and private website. The or email: [email protected] private website has been extensively developed

March 2007 19 meetings

Winter Meeting 2007 Report Food and Health

his years’ Winter Meeting Johnson & Johnson, USA). The the fevers and rigors often was held at the same key issue addressed in this considered to be a ‘normal’ information Tvenue as last years’, the lecture was the observation that reaction to the dialysis process. elegant Royal Society, Carlton naturally occurring These important findings For more information House Terrace, on 11 January microorganisms, for example, consequently led to the about the Society’s 2007. The meeting was Pseudomonas aeruginosa and development of guidelines for meetings please visit the introduced by President Dr non-tuberculous mycobacteria the prevention of bloodstream website at: Margaret Patterson who also for example M. chelonae and infection and pyrogenic www.sfam.org.uk chaired the plenary session M. fortuitum are more reaction associated with You can also find details including the Denver Russell resistant to chemical germicides haemodialysis. of this years’ Spring Memorial Lecture: Naturally and physical stresses such as In addition, Mr Roberts went Meeting and Summer Occurring Micro-organisms heat compared strains cultured on to describe how naturally Conference on pages 24 and their Resistance to on conventional laboratory occurring bacterial spores in and 26 respectively of this issue of Physical and Chemical media. Mr Roberts focused on soil also have far greater Microbiologist Agents. this fascinating concept further resistance to dry heat The AD Russell Memorial by describing data showing how sterilisation than pure cultures Lecture was instituted in 2005 naturally occurring P. of known sporeformers and to commemorate the life and aeruginosa was able to reach pure cultures of resistant spore works of the late A. Denver high concentrations of isolates from soil. Interestingly, Russell (1936-2004). This approximately 107-108 cells/mL this concept has been applied second memorial lecture held at in distilled water kept at 25OC for controlling sterilisation of a the Royal Society, London, was in about 72 hrs, compared with broad spectrum of originally scheduled to be given subcultured cells of the same environments, not least some of by Martin S. Favero, PhD, microorganism which reached the spacecraft on NASA’s Mars Director, Scientific and Clinical extinction in the same period. Exploration Program. Both the Affairs Advanced Sterilization He went on to comment how Viking (1969-75) and Rover Products, Johnson & Johnson. these findings have far reaching (2003-2011) spacecraft were However, due to unforeseen impact in several fields, for sterilised using naturally circumstances, Dr Favero was example in the clinical setting occurring spores to control the unable to attend the meeting. where P. aeruginosa has been process. The lecture was very kindly shown to grow to high levels in In these days where the word given by Mr Charles Roberts haemodialysis fluids and in ‘superbug’ frequently appears (Director of R&D, Biocides, biofilms on haemodialysis in the press relating to hospital Advanced Sterilization Products, components thus giving rise to infection, Mr Roberts concluded

20 March 2007 his fascinating lecture by MRSA bacteraemias within (IID) study whereby estimates informing SfAM delegates of the healthcare. Professor Deurdon of the pathogen-attributable new ‘superspore’: a spore from went on to describe how this burden of IFD were made. Dr a new species of Bacillus, B. was soon followed by a string of Adak continued by describing xerothermodurans, sp.nov government publications to deal how the IID study formed the which demonstrates extreme with the issue of HCAI; all basis on which further methods resistance to dry heat. Indeed, aimed at halving the number of for estimating the burden of these spores have phenomenal MRSA bacteraemias by 2008 : illness and risk for specific D-values of D125 (139 hours) ‘Getting Ahead of the Curve’ foods (e.g. poultry, eggs, red and D135 (24 hours). However, (2002); National Audit Report meat, seafood, fruit and whilst this extreme resistance to (2004) ‘Winning Ways’ vegetables etc.) were dry heat adds to the ever- (2003); ‘Towards Cleaner increasing list of resistance Hospitals and Lower Infection properties being detected in Rates’ (2004). Professor microorganisms, interestingly, Deurden explained that this these spores appear to be fully brought in the performance sensitive to wet heat management structures of the sterilisation. The practical DoH and NHS to hold a Trust’s applications of these properties management accountable for are currently under reducing HCAI. investigation. In order to help individual Following the superb A D Trust’s achieve their target the Russell Memorial lecture SfAM DoH developed a series of tools delegates were privileged to to help improve infection have a presentation by control activities for example Professor Brian Duerden ‘Saving Lives’ which focused on (Department of Health, UK) ‘self-assessment’ and Care entitled ‘What role can the Bundles (asepsis, catheter care, government play in surgical site management, controlling hospital acquired urinary catheters, ventilator infection? On a day when management). In 2006, The MRSA was again taking centre Health Act (2006) made stage in the press, this was a infection prevention and control very timely lecture addressing a a legal obligation on all NHS question which was in no doubt bodies. Professor Deurden in many of the delegates’ concluded by stating that the minds. Professor Duerden government’s role in controlling opened his talk with current HCAI is through measurement, infection rates associated with performance management, MRSA bacteraemia and professional support and Clostridium difficile and legislation. The overall goal of developed. By using emphasized that a combination the government is to change mathematical modeling, of biology, politics and human behavior to overcome surveillance data from England performance management is the biological problem of HCAI and Wales (E/W) could be used needed to address the problem and to change the mindset in to produce food specific of healthcare associated the NHS by making the estimates for IFD for primary infection (HCAI). In an era environment safe place before care, hospitalizations, hospital where microbiology (new delivering its specialist care. occupancy and deaths. Data antibiotics, new diseases), The morning plenary session from the UK National Food modern medicine (increased life concluded with a splendid Survey were used to estimate expectancy, complex surgery, lecture from Dr Bob Adak consumption rates by food and cancer treatment) and (CDSC, HPA, UK) who food-specific risk was biological factors (microbial addressed the global problem of calculated as the number of populations, human populations food poisoning and the risk of illnesses per million servings. and behavior) all contribute to specific foods. Dr Adak The study demonstrated that HCAI it is essential to know the commenced his presentation by the most important source of size of the problem before it discussing the complexities in IFD in E/W is chicken and eggs. can be addressed. obtaining reliable data for These foods are commonly The first change of direction surveillance of indigenous eaten and are therefore by the government came in foodborne disease (IFD) and associated with relatively high 2001 with the implementation then presented data from the risks. Other foods associated of mandatory surveillance of infectious intestinal diseases with high risk of IFD are

March 2007 21 meetings

shellfish and turkey but due to only forthcoming when media Europe and possess the generally low consumption attention was turned on the carbapenemase enzymes in of these foods in E/W pose little hospital. Mr Kiernan then gave association with changes in IFD risk. Furthermore, beef and examples of how good practice outer membrane permeability dairy produce ranked high in had led to reductions in cases and efflux systems. What makes relation to patients being of C. difficile indicating that IC Acinetobacter special is that it admitted to hospital following teams can make substantial has evolved molecular consumption but low in terms improvements given mechanisms to capture (and of risk. Foods associated with a appropriate support. express) resistance genes from low risk of IFD were salads and Dr Jon Brazier, Head of the other organisms. Sequence in particular, cooked vegetables. Anaerobe Reference Laboratory analysis of one multi-resistant Dr Adak concluded his lecture in Cardiff, gave a talk on the strain has revealed an 86kb by emphasizing the importance current status of C. difficile resistance island containing 45 of understanding the difference infections in the UK. Utilising a different resistance genes. between the source of IFD and PCR ribotyping technique Professor Barry Cookson, the vehicle of transmission developed at Cardiff the Director of the Laboratory of which is essential in predominant strains isolated up Healthcare Associated Infection implementing effective to 2003 were characterised. In at the Health Protection Agency strategies to reduce foodborne 2004 an outbreak of a new attempted to answer the illness. strain, Type 027, occurred at question “MRSA — do we have Stoke Mandeville hospital the situation under control?” Tony Worthinghton leading to 150 cases and 12 While there was no Aston University deaths. This isolate attracted straightforward answer to this substantial media attention and question it is accepted that the MRSA — do Session A: Hospital seems to be associated with associated morbidity, mortality we have the Acquired Infection increased toxin production and and socioeconomic burden of increased morbidity and MRSA are significant Public situation under Martin Kiernan, Nurse mortality. Type 027 has since Health issues. A number of Consultant at Southport and emerged in other hospitals and factors are contributing to the ‘control? Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust is now one of three PCR problem of MRSA including outlined the changing role of ribotypes that currently cause increased major surgery on Infection Control teams. In 75% of infections. Hyper-toxin older patients; higher bed 1990 IC teams were virtually production was believed to be occupancy rates and patient non-existent but now comprise due to an 18 base pairs deletion transfer between wards. These full-time medical in the TcdC gene that regulates will influence levels of microbiologists; a nurse toxin production but this compliance with infection consultant; IC nurses; deletion has since been found in control and antibiotic surveillance nurses and other strains. More work is stewardship. There was also an information officers. Increasing required to evaluate the true issue of education and training ’ government concern over HCAI significance of this strain and for nurses and a need for more has led to the production of the epidemiology of C. difficile pathology training for doctors. multiple guidance documents disease in general. The Healthcare Commission’s but a recent NAO report Dr Kevin Towner, Head of review of infection control indicated that a significant Molecular Diagnostics and arrangements in England are proportion of CEOs still Typing Unit, Queen’s Medical currently being analysed and experienced difficulty centre, Nottingham described experiences in Europe can reconciling IC issues with the confusing taxonomic history provide important insights and priority targets. A recent of the Acinetobacter genus evidence as to how we can best outbreak of Clostridium before going on to outline its prevent and control MRSA. difficile at a major hospital clinical significance. highlighted some of the Acinetobacters are common in Geoff Hanlon problems. The local IC team the environment and are found University of Brighton repeatedly expressed concerns as commensals on human skin. over the poor environment, They constitute a clinical Session B: Simmering poor practice, lack of isolation problem because of their ability Issues in Food Safety facilities and insufficient to persist in the environment; priority from management. their profound antibiotic The afternoon session However, senior managers were resistance (including resistance entitled “Simmering issues in reluctant to implement advice to carbapenems) and their food safety” developed the from either the IC team or the propensity to cause outbreaks. theme of Bob Adak’s morning HPA and this led to a second Three carbapenem-resistant lecture on the overall picture outbreak. Urgent action was clones are now widespread in regarding foodborne disease in

22 March 2007 the UK. Joyce Brown and Paul food preparation environment viewed with some apprehension Cook from the Food Standards yet are important causes of by the food industry. She Agency (FSA) described how foodborne illness are the emphasised how it is intended the FSA has tried to meet its enteric viruses, particularly to fit in with established food initial targets for the reduction norovirus and Hepatitis A. Mike safety management procedures of foodborne disease by Carter from the University of and reassured the audience that following a broad based Surrey described how these it should not lead to the strategy focused on both viruses, unlike rotavirus, are wasteful diversion of resources specific commodity sectors mainly associated with to increased product testing. such as reduction of infections in adults and how the The last speaker of the contamination in poultry and on consequences of hepatitis A afternoon was Jim McLauchlin cross cutting areas such as the infection become more severe of the HPA’s Food Safety promotion of HACCP and with increasing age at infection. Microbiology Laboratory who raising food hygiene awareness One particular difficulty with discussed emerging and re- in catering and domestic these viruses is distinguishing emerging problems in kitchens. For the future between cases acquired from microbiological food safety. however, to target the allocation food and those from person to Taking a quotation from Hans of resources and align it to risk, the FSA is developing a risk matrix. Built using epidemiological and food intake data, it is intended that this will allow comparison of the various sources of risk from food and ultimately comparison of the marginal cost of risk reduction options. A successful and robust matrix is likely to play an important role in determining the future activities of the FSA and ensure the most cost effective interventions to reduce the overall risk of foodborne disease. One of the “Four Cs” in the FSA’s food hygiene campaign was cross contamination during food processing and person contact. This was well Zinsser’s 1935 book entitled preparation. Frieda Jorgensen illustrated by the different “Rats lice and history” that from the University of Bristol estimates of the proportion of “nothing in the world of living reviewed a number of studies foodborne cases arising from things is permanent or fixed” as on the persistence and transfer national studies in the UK his text, he described the of Campylobacter and (10%), Australia (25%) and the various social, economic and Salmonella in food preparation United States (43%). biological factors that environments. While Foodborne viruses pose contribute to the changing Campylobacter cannot grow in particular problems associated pattern of foodborne disease. food preparation environments, with their detection and this is To illustrate this, he covered a is less resistant to one reason why they are an number of different topics environmental stresses and unsuitable subject of ranging from the changes in generally persists for shorter microbiological criteria for micro-organisms themselves, periods than Salmonella, the foods. This is not the case for such as the evolution of VTEC higher incidence of bacterial pathogens however and multiple antibiotic resistant Campylobacter on poultry, the and a new European salmonellas, to the effect that relatively low infectious dose Commission Regulation on East European immigration into and the kinetics of survival still Microbiological Criteria for the UK has had on botulism indicate that cross Foodstuffs came into force on 1 statistics over the last few contamination is an important January 2006. Linden Jack of years. risk factor in the high number the FSA and a participant in of cases caused by many of the negotiations on this Campylobacter. regulation outlined the scope Martin Adams Another group of organisms and intended operation of the University of Surrey that are unable to grow in the regulation which has been

March 2007 23 meetings

Spring meeting 2007

Broadening Microbiology Horizons Manchester Metropolitan University Wednesday 11 April 2007

CPD Programme ACCREDITATION 09.30–10.30 Arrival / Coffee / Registration / 12.35–14.00 Lunch / Trade Exhibition Seven credits have Trade Exhibition been awarded for 14.00–14.30 Dental Microbiology this meeting 10.30–10.35 Chairman’s Welcome Peter Gilbert, University of Manchester 10.35–11.00 “Lumping and Splitting” – latest developments in 14.30–15.00 Use of Silver in controlling typing methods wound infections Andrew Fox, Health Protection Val Edwards-Jones, Manchester Agency, Manchester Metropolitan Manchester

11.05–11.35 Latest Developments in 15.00–15.30 An Update on Rabies Detecting Yeasts and Fungi Tony Fooks, Veterinary Laboratories David Denning, South Manchester Agency University Hospital NHS Trust 15.30–16.00 Near Patient Testing 11.35–12.05 Use of Bacteriophages as Andrew Sails, Health Protection Treatments Agency, Newcastle Geoff Hanlon University of Brighton 16.00 Meeting Closes

12.05–12.35 An update on Microbiocides Please note that the meeting programme Jean Yves Maillard was correct at the time of going to press but Cardiff University may be subject to change.

24 March 2007 BOOKING FORM and INVOICE S f AM SPRING MEETING WEDNESDAY 11 APRIL 2007 Broadening Microbiology Horizons Manchester Metropolitan University, Wednesday 11 April 2007 Only ONE person per form please. If additional forms are required please photocopy this one. CLOSING DATE FOR REGISTRATIONS: Friday 16 March 2007. A LATE BOOKING FEE of £30.00 will be applied to all bookings made after this date. Cancellation Policy: Up to 30 days prior to the event all cancellations will be subject to a 10% cancellation fee, up to 14 days prior to the event there will be a 50% cancellation fee, and no refunds will be given within 7 days of the event.

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March 2007 25 meetings

Summer conference 2007 Including the Lewis B Perry Memorial Lecture - ‘Bacterial anti-cancer vaccines: a science frozen in time’ given by Dr Peter Green, NCIMB, Aberdeen Microbiology of Fresh Produce

Park Plaza Hotel, Cardiff, UK Monday 2 to Thursday 5 July 2007

Including sessions on: ■ Organisms and the plant ■ Public health aspects of fresh produce ■ Intervention strategies ■ The industrial perspective CPD For the latest programme please visit us online at www.sfam.org.uk ACCREDITATION 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 attachment to an email addressed to [email protected] with the subject line ‘Summer Conference 2007 submission’. Closing date for submissions is 11 May 2007.

26 March 2007 Monday 2nd July 11.15-11.50 Good agricultural Programme practices Robert Gravaini, Cornell 14.00 onwards - Arrive and Register University, USA 13.00-14.00 Lunch 18.00-18.50 Lewis B Perry Memorial Session 2. 11.50-12.25 Novel physical methods Lecture (National for decontaminating Museum of Wales): Stephen James, FRPERC – 14.00-14.35 Fungi quality and ‘Bacterial anti-cancer Langford, UK vaccines: a science safety issues in fresh fruit and vegetables frozen in time.’’ 12.25-13.30 Lunch Peter Green, NCIMB, Maurice Moss, University Aberdeen, UK of Surrey, UK Session 4. 19.00-20.00 Drinks Reception – 14.35-15.10 Rapid methods to National Museum of detect quarantine 13.30-14.30 Offered papers Wales. pathogens in imported produce 14.30-15.00 Tea/Posters 20.00 Evening at leisure John Elphinstone, Central Science Laboratory, York, 15.00-16.00 Student presentations 21.30 Quiz Night UK 16.00-16.30 W H Pierce Prize Tuesday 3rd July Public health aspects 16.30-17.00 AGM 15.10-15.45 Prepared salads and 09.00-09.35 The problems with 19.30-20.00 Drinks reception, tour public health fresh produce: an followed by Dinner at Chris Little, Health overview the Millenium Stadium, Protection Agency, Mike Doyle, University of Cardiff Georgia, USA. London, UK Thursday 5th July Session 1. 15.45-16.15 Tea/posters Organisms and the plant 16.15-16.50 Pathogens from organic Session 5 wastes – incidence and 09.35-10.10 Zoonotic pathogen survival interaction with the 09.00-09.35 Chemical treatments Michael Hutchison, Des O’Connor, microflora of the University of Bristol, UK growing crop Microsearch Laboratories, UK phylloplane 16.50-18.00 Student Session Bill Keevil, University of Southampton, UK 09.35-10.10 Modified atmosphere 17.30-19.30 Trade Show storage and packing 10.10-10.45. Microflora of plant Gail Betts, CCFRA, UK parts intended for Wednesday 4th July consumption 10.10-10.45 Microbial transfer in Jo Heaton, University of Session 3 fresh salad processing Lancaster, UK Debra Smith, CCFRA, UK 09.10-09.35 Microbial pathogens – 10.45-11.15 Coffee/posters strategies for survival 10.45-11.15 Coffee/posters Jay Hinton, IFR Norwich, 11.15-11.50 Non-culture based UK The industrial perspective approaches to examining the 09.35-10.10 Burkholderia cepacia 11.15-11.50 EU microbiological microflora of salad and other opportunistic criteria vegetables pathogens Kaarin Goodburn, Chilled Chris Dodd, University of Speaker TBC Foods Association, UK Nottingham, UK University of Ghent, Belgium 11.50-12.25 Issues with organic 11.50-12.25 Measurement and produce modelling attachment 10.10-10.45 Risk Assessments for Carlo Leifert, Nafferton of bacteria to plant fresh fruit and Ecological Farming Group, surfaces vegetables University of Newcastle, Tim Brocklehurst, IFR John Bassett, Unilever, UK Norwich, UK Bedford, UK 12.25-13.00 Suppliers’ Perspective 12.25-13.00 Erwinia soft rots 10.45-11.15 Coffee/posters David Kennedy, Geest Ltd, Amy Charkowski, UK University of Wisconsin, Intervention strategies for USA. control 13.00-14.00 Lunch & Close

March 2007 27 meetings BOOKING FORM and INVOICE S f AM SUMMER CONFERENCE 2 - 5 JULY 2007 Microbiology of Fresh Produce Only ONE person per form please. If additional forms are required please photocopy this one. CLOSING DATE FOR REGISTRATIONS: Friday 8 June 2007. A LATE BOOKING FEE of £30.00 will be applied to all bookings made after this date. Cancellation Policy: Up to 30 days prior to the event all cancellations will be subject to a 10% cancellation fee, up to 14 days prior to the event there will be a 50% cancellation fee, and no refunds will be given within 7 days of the event.

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Student, Honorary, Associate Student Non - Full Conference Rate: inclusive of Full Members Non - Members registration fee, coffee breaks, lunches, & Retired Members Members Society dinner and accommodation in the Park Plaza hotel for the entire conference £500.00 £250.00 £500.00 £700.00

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28 March 2007 STUDENTSHIP Application Only ONE form per student please. If additional forms are required please photocopy this one The Society meeting you wish to attend

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SfAM 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 no later than 6 weeks before the date of the meeting you wish to attend. Applicants MUST hold / have access to a legitimate UK bank account. Your details

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March 2007 29 features

Bacteriophage Therapy Illustration: Stephen Pollard

Geoff Hanlon discusses antibiotic resistance as a driver for exploring alternative therapies and revisits the potential of bacteriophage therapy

acterial resistance to antibiotics is an issue that has and shift national resources to such chronic problems as been with us almost as long as antibiotics have been cancer and heart disease”. This declaration was somewhat Bavailable for clinical usage. The phenomenon was surprising given that strains of staphylococci resistant to predicted by Alexander Fleming in 1945, since he had been methicillin were produced in the laboratory in 1961 barely aware of it in his laboratory some years earlier, and by 1946 one year after it appeared on the market and clinical isolates reports showed that 14% of staphylococci isolated from emerged shortly afterwards. patients in hospitals were resistant to penicillin. The speed In the years since then the situation has deteriorated with which this resistance then developed would have been a steadily and we are now faced with extreme resistant cause for concern since by 1950 the incidence of resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis; vancomycin resistant staphylococci had increased to nearly 60%. enterococci; vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus; The decades that followed saw the discovery and community acquired Staphylococcus aureus; carbapenem development of many new major classes of antibiotics to resistant Acinetobacter baumanii and Ps. aeruginosa counter the accelerating incidence of antibiotic resistance. isolates resistant to everything except colistin. Although the Hence the adaptability of the microorganisms was matched by public and media attention has been focused primarily on the ingenuity and efforts of the pharmaceutical industry in MRSA it has been stated that we are closer to the end of the providing a steady stream of antimicrobial agents with novel antibiotic era with Gram negative pathogens such as mechanisms of action. This led in some instances to Acinetobacter baumanii. complacency and a misconception that the situation was While the relentless march of antibiotic resistance is, of under control. In 1969, the then U.S. Surgeon General course, a major concern it is equally worrying that unlike the William Stewart declared in a message to Congress that with situation in the 1960s and 1970s the pharmaceutical industry the development of antibiotics and vaccines, infectious is not now developing a steady stream of new antibiotics to diseases had been conquered “..it is time to close the book on bolster the clinical armamentarium. The Food and Drug infectious diseases, declare the war against pestilence won, Administration in the USA approved 16 new antibacterial

30 March 2007 agents between 1983 and 1987. However, the number of becoming dangerously limited. This has become the driver in approvals for new antibiotics has fallen steadily since that the search for alternative strategies to treat infections caused time until during the period 1998 to 2002 only seven were by antibiotic resistant bacterial pathogens. A plethora of non- approved while in 2002 there were none. Between January antibiotic therapies have been investigated recently, many of 1998 and December 2003 the FDA approved as many anti- them natural remedies and often with an extensive history of HIV drugs as agents for the treatment of all bacterial use, including garlic extracts, green tea, photodynamic infections. It is clear therefore that the pharmaceutical therapy, pine cones, tea tree oil, maggots, honey, copper and industry is withdrawing from research and development of bacteriophages. Many others have been described (and indeed antibiotics in favour of other pharmacological agents. are available commercially) but are not backed up by rigorous investigation and publication in respected scientific journals. Figure 1 While most of these will not find extensive clinical usage some may eventually be shown to have sufficient merit to act as an adjunct to antibiotic therapy. The remainder of this article will review in detail the potential of bacteriophages in the treatment of bacterial infections. Bacteriophage biology Bacteriophages (phages) are bacterial viruses that cannot infect mammalian cells but specifically target bacteria and each phage will only attack one species or in some cases a single strain of bacterium. They are, of course, obligate parasites and while they contain the necessary genetic information to orchestrate their own replication within a host cell they do not have the required elements for generating energy. Most phages exhibit the characteristics shown in Figure 1 whereby the head or capsid is a protein shell usually in the shape of an icosahedron and this contains the viral genome which is most commonly double stranded DNA. Virulent lytic phages cause lysis and death of the target bacterial cell and these phages are the most usual type used for therapy. Temperate phages integrate their DNA which is replicated when the host cell genome replicates and so daughter cells inherit the viral DNA. These phages have little A recent survey of the R&D programmes of the 15 largest value in therapy and will not be considered further. multi-national pharmaceutical companies revealed that out of A bacteriophage encounters its bacterial host during a total of 418 agents listed as being under investigation only random movement and attaches via specific receptor sites five (1.6%) were antibacterial agents and none of these present at the tips of the tail fibres to a variety of cell surface represented new classes of antibiotics. It is therefore components. These may be present on the cell envelope, apparent that given the time taken to bring a new chemical capsule, flagella or even conjugative pili. The phage genome entity from Phase I clinical trials to the marketplace is injected into the bacterial cell where it is transcribed by (estimated to be eight years) the prospects of a novel host cell RNA polymerase into proteins which redirect the antibiotic being available for clinical use in the next decade metabolic machinery of the bacterium to manufacture new are low. The reduction in antibiotic research and development virus components that are then assembled into complete was not a result of falling budgets since the combined R&D virions. expenditures (for 10 of the companies for which data were Historical perspective of bacteriophages as available) increased 31% over the five year period from 1998 therapeutic agents to 2002. The reason for the withdrawal of the pharmaceutical industry from antibiotic R&D despite an illustrious history is Ernest Hankin is credited with being the first person to not because a lack of ideas on how to tackle the problem but observe the potential therapeutic effects of bacteriophage is simple economics. The cost of new drug development has when in 1896 he noted that the waters of the Ganges and been estimated as between $400 and $800 million per Jumna rivers in India possessed antibacterial properties which compound. While some drugs can bring in revenue of several seemed to reduce the number of cases of cholera in those billion dollars most antibiotics generate much more modest villages close to the river. He did not realise that the effect income, in many cases not even covering their costs. The low was due to a bacterial virus, however, and it was not until return for antibiotics results from their much reduced usage 1915 that Frederick Twort in a note to the Lancet made the compared to other drugs which a patient may take connection. Two years later Felix d’Herelle claimed to have continuously for the remainder of their lives. In addition the made similar observations independently from Twort and prudent management of potent antibiotics demands that they named the viruses bacteriophages (bacteria eaters). There be kept in reserve for the most serious clinical cases which was considerable acrimony at the time over who should be hardly acts an incentive for further investment. credited with their discovery although nowadays, in general, The consequence is that for a number of infectious they are jointly acknowledged. Whatever the truth regarding diseases the options for effective clinical management are d’Herelle’s claim of independent discovery there is no doubt

March 2007 31 features

that he was the first person to realise and test the potential of research and development establishment and possesses a bacteriophages for the treatment of bacterial infections. While wealth of expertise gathered from many decades of clinical working in Paris in 1919 he had in his charge a number of usage of bacteriophages. Unfortunately, the majority of the patients suffering from dysentery including a young boy. clinical research conducted over this extensive period was not D’Herelle obtained phage from contaminated stool samples, published in western literature and hence has remained purified them and tested them both orally and parenterally on obscure. That which has been reviewed is generally himself, his co-workers and even members of his own family. considered to be of poor quality. However, poor experimental With all the volunteers having suffered no apparent ill effects design does not necessarily mean that the underlying he gave the boy a single draft of the preparation and he technology is flawed and the sheer weight of evidence recovered rapidly. Further landmark treatments included four demands that we should give phage therapy further patients with bubonic plague in 1925. Antiplague phage was consideration. Our knowledge of bacteriophage biology has isolated, purified and then injected directly into the inflamed grown enormously since the early attempts at phage therapy lymph nodes (buboes) of the axilla and groin areas. All because they have been instrumental in the development of patients made a dramatic and complete recovery. modern molecular genetics. Advances in biotechnological It is perhaps not surprising that these events generated processing and effective clinical trials design means that we immense interest since they occurred before Alexander now have the necessary tools to properly re-evaluate the Fleming had reported the discovery of penicillin and at a time potential of phage therapy. when bacterial infections were all but untreatable. D’Herelle Bacteriophage therapy returns to the West. went on to study the potential of phage therapy in a range of bacterial diseases and successfully treated a large number of During the 1980s a number of western scientists patients; a particular success story being the treatment and conducted a series of studies to test the efficacy of phage prophylaxis of cholera in India. His laboratory was also therapy in bacterial infections of animals. This well designed responsible for the production of commercial bacteriophage body of work, published in respected western scientific preparations targeted against gastrointestinal infections, journals showed that bacteriophages were at least as effective respiratory infections and wound infections. However, as in combating bacterial infections as antibiotics and in some more researchers moved into the field and pharmaceutical cases exhibited significant advantages. This has acted as a companies started manufacturing bacteriophage preparations catalyst for further research and PubMed lists over 120 there were many treatment failures. papers in 2006 alone under the heading of phage therapy. With hindsight the failure of phage therapy was almost In the last few years a number of companies have been inevitable and was the result of high expectations on the part formed throughout the world developing new technologies to of the public fuelling unscrupulous claims on the part of exploit bacteriophage therapy. In order to obtain patentable those with commercial interests together with a poor intellectual property many of these companies have utilised knowledge of phage biology. A scientific argument raged up genetic manipulation of bacteriophages. Examples include the until the early 1940s as to whether the bacteriophage development of phages with altered lysin enzymes, modified phenomenon was due to a virus or self-activating lytic adhesion profiles and toxin delivery mechanisms. Other enzymes. Even d’Herelle was convinced initially that companies are becoming established as phage therapy bacteriophage represented one specie of microbe and so the centres in order to treat patients from the West in countries exquisite specificity of phages was not appreciated nor the which are not subject to such strict Regulatory control. difference between lytic and temperate viruses. The Summary preparation and purification of phages at that time was a crude process and often patients were dosed with products Bacteriophage therapy promised much in the early 20th containing no viable phage but large amounts of bacterial century but failed to deliver because the underlying science lysate including endotoxin leading to profound toxic effects. was not in place to fully exploit the technology. Instead the Each of these backward steps had a weakening effect on the treatment of bacterial infections in the West over the last 60 case for furthering research into phage therapy. In 1934 a years has been dominated by antibiotics. As these begin to damning report commissioned by the American Medical fail, perhaps the time has come to revisit phage therapy Association distilled all these doubts and with a growing taking advantage of the substantial clinical experience of interest in the emergence of antibiotics phage therapy was all scientists within the former Soviet Union and our own much but ignored in Western medicine. It is relevant to have an improved knowledge of bacteriophage biology. appreciation of historical failures since it allows us to not only see what went wrong but also to understand the course of events which shaped our current prejudices. further reading While the development and use of antibiotics flourished in ■ A. Sulakvelidze, Z. Alavidze and J.G. Morris, Jr., Bacteriophage western medicine, the Soviet Union and parts of Eastern therapy. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2001. 45(3): p. 649-59. Europe persevered with phage therapy driven primarily by ■ Bacteriophages: Biology and Applications, E. Kutter and A. economic considerations. The Eliava Institute of Sulakvelidze, Editors. 2005, CRC Press: Boca Raton, Florida. Bacteriophage, Microbiology and Virology, which was founded by Giorgi Eliava in close collaboration with Felix d’Herelle in 1923, was the principal research and development centre in Geoff Hanlon the USSR. The Institute still exists today and is located in Professor of Pharmaceutical Microbiology University of Brighton Tbilisi which is now the capital of the independent Republic of Georgia. The Eliava Institute remains both a major

32 March 2007 Milton Wainwright tells the story of how, during the early 1900s, consumptives from the Leeds-Bradford area and further afield, claimed to have been cured by breathing in the fumes produced by maggots. Helped by two of his postgraduates, Dr Wainwright has demonstrated that there may be scientific rationale behind these seemingly improbable claims When maggot fumes cured tuberculosis

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magine entering hospital to find that living maggots will be applied to your body. This therapy, distasteful to many, is Iincreasingly being used with success on patients suffering from long-standing antibiotic resistant wounds. The use of such maggot therapy has a long and well documented history. Less well known, is the fact that the gases and volatiles produced by maggots were used to treat pulmonary tuberculosis, a technique we can term, “maggot inhalation therapy.” This approach was pioneered not by a medical man, but by a maggot farmer called Arthur Bryant, who reared maggots for fishing bait at his farm in Thornton, near Bradford. Bryant operated what he called a ‘Maggotorium’, where sufferers of pulmonary tuberculosis could come and breath in maggot fumes in the hope of improving, or even curing, their condition. Standard maggot therapy had long been used to treat tuberculosis of the hip, so it was not an altogether wild idea that, by breathing maggot fumes, pulmonary TB might be cured. Before beginning maggot farming in the early 1900s, Bryant had himself suffered with tuberculosis and had been denied life insurance as a result. However, after a few months breeding maggots, and breathing the fumes they produced, he was declared fit enough to be given insurance cover worth £200 cover, then a considerable sum. When a little girl was Quarry; local residents having recently successfully petitioned apparently cured by inhaling his maggot fumes, word spread against an increase in the movement of trucks carrying foul and people flocked to his farm for treatment. In February smelling waste meat to the works. 1911, the Bradford Telegraph organised an open day at the Bryant published a pamphlet in which he provided a large farm when consumptives from all over Yorkshire and further number of testimonials to the effectiveness of his inhalation afield came to seek the treatment. For a limited exposure maggot therapy. Here are some typical recommendations: time, they paid sixpence in old money (then the price of “I have been at the Maggotorium six weeks. I was very admission to a football match); this was then donated to local bad when I went and could scarcely walk. I have been in charities. As a result Bryant was heralded as the Maggot King another Sanatorium but received no benefit thereby. After and his Maggotorium became locally renowned. six weeks of Mr Bryant’s treatment I was able to resume How the Maggots were Produced my ordinary duties, and at the present time I am feeling splendid, and can truly testify to the benefit obtained by The maggot farm was sited at Jerusalem Farm at Erlings undergoing the treatment.” Quarry, between Denholme and Thornton near Bradford, in “I weighed 8st 9lb when I went to the Maggotorium and what was then the West Riding of Yorkshire. Maggots were after four weeks I weighed 9st. My apetite is much better grown on waste rendered meat in large tin baths contained in and I can breathe more freely. My cough is almost gone, maggot sheds. The meat, which included dead zoo animals, except first thing in the morning.” was boiled in an adjacent boiling shed. Every week in the “I have been attending the Maggotorium for two hours summer Bryant would take four and a half tons of dead meat every night for four weeks after I had done work. I have into four different woods in order to replenish his supply of been ailing for three years. I think when I have been one maggots. From June of each year, he would grow maggots on more month I shall be alright... I gained six and half 15-25 tons of meat, the smell of which could be detected pound in the first four weeks.” three miles away! The waste from the Maggotorium was sold “I have been to Mr Bryant’s Farm after being turned at low cost to local farmers as a fertilizer, and seems to have out of Eastby Sanatorium as incurable. I am now been in great demand. working and earning my own living. I am disgusted in When undergoing inhalation therapy, consumptives would the way Dr Kaye has treated this wonderful discovery.” sit in the Maggotorium, besides troughs full of maggots. Here “I have been to the sanatoriums at Ewick and Ventnor they would inhale the fumes and pass the time reading, Isle of Wight. I was in very bad state when I came to your chatting or playing card games, and soon become accustomed place could hardly walk, and have been ailing four years. to the unpleasant smell. I was pronounced by a Liverpool doctor as cured three Bryant’s Maggotorium weeks ago.” A number of these testimonials refer to requests for The success of his maggot therapy led Bryant to apply for ‘another box of maggots’, or boxes of ‘maggot gas’, so Bryant planning permission to build a sanatorium, where the seems to have provided a take away service and supplied conditions were to be markedly improved. Denholme District maggots by post. Council passed these plans to increase the size of the facility, The Nature of the Active Ingredient but Bryant never got the capital together to realise his new enlarged, and more salubrious, maggot sanatorium. The pamphlet of Testimonials also provides details of the Interestingly, a meat rendering plant still exists at Erlings work of F.W. Richardson, the Bradford City Analyst.

34 March 2007 Richardson analysed the maggot gasses and found that they stimulating way on the respiratory centres”; additionally, he contained: triemethylamine, ammonia, dimethylamine, and refers to the then use of trimethylamine in cases of traces of skatol and indol; the two amines give maggot gasses pneumonia, chorea and rheumatism. a characteristic fishy smell, beneath the predominant smell of By 1939, Bryant had moved to the village of Finmere in ammonia. He commented that a curious feature was the Buckinghamshire, where he continued maggot farming, now presence of twice as much amine as ammonia. He also noted advertising himself as the ‘Maggot King of Buckingham’, that trimethylamine was then used in the treatment of although it is not clear if he continued with his maggot pneumonia, cholera and rheumatism. Although he quotes the inhalation therapy. There is however, reference to another view of a certain J.V. Shoemaker that ammonia has marked Maggotorium operating in the UK during the Great War; antiseptic value and also acts as a cardiac and respiratory Cope’s Cheshire Directory of and Byers Guide of 1914-1915 stimulant he was initially (i.e. on 16 May the 1911) dubious shows that a slaughterer, by the name of P. Dobbins offered a that maggot fumes could have a curative effect on ‘consumptive cure’ at his Maggotorium at Saltney in Cheshire. tuberculosis. However by 4 July 1911, Richardson had The fact that millions of people worldwide suffered and conducted a number of experiments with ammonia and trimethylamine and had found that, even in weak solutions, they can destroy microbes after only a few hours exposure. He then suggested that maggot fumes might indeed have a curative affect and encourages the work to be further continued and the results made known to the public. He concludes: “If you care to do so, we will not charge you anything for our services as we would freely give them for the furtherance of the commonwealth. I am strongly opposed to any attempt to corner any discovery, the general knowledge of which might be of great service to suffering humanity.” Unfortunately, the letter is addressed “Dear Sir” although presumably it was sent to Bryant. Richardson, by the way, was later called upon to investigate the cause of the Figure 1 The effect of maggot gases on the growth of notorious explosion in an ammunitions factory near Bradford Mycobacterium phlei on Monday 21 August 1916. Confirmation that maggot fumes inhibit died from pulmonary tuberculosis prior to the advent of Mycobacterium antibiotics in the mid 1940s leads to the inevitable assumption that inhalation maggot therapy was not effective We have recently shown that fumes from the blue blow fly in easing the symptoms of TB, or curing the disease. It should (Calliphora quadrimaculata) grown on beef heart prevent be remembered however, that during the 1930s, the British the growth of Mycobacterium phlei. This is a non- medical authorities were antagonistic to the use of maggot pathogenic Mycobacterium that is widely used as a model to therapy on wounds and burns, despite the fact that this avoid using the more dangerous, M. tuberculosis, and the method was widely used with great effect in the US; as a cause of pulmonary tuberculosis. Gasses from the C. result, it is unlikely that they would have taken kindly to the quadrimaculata and the green blow fly (Phaenicia idea that breathing in maggot fumes could have any beneficial sercicata, formally Lucilia sericata) grown without meat effect on tuberculosis. Maggot inhalation therapy may also produce gasses inhibitory to M. phlei. A mixture of the therefore have been effective, but was shunned by main components of maggot gasses, ammonia, di- and conservative medical administrators and practitioners. trimethylamine (both used as the hydrochloride) also inhibit Since there is increasing evidence that the tubercular M. phlei, as does ammonia vapour alone (from ammonium bacillus will eventually become resistant to all current hydroxide). A mixture of the two amines and ammonia (i.e. a antibiotics, we may yet have to resort to other therapies; simulated maggot gas mix) is also inhibitory to M. phlei. It is perhaps we have not seen the last of maggot inhalation noteworthy that maggot gasses do not inhibit the growth of therapy. Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA, as a result, the inhibition of the growth of M.phlei by maggot gases is not a generalised germicidal effect. In Figure1 the exposed plate is on the right, while the further reading control is on the left; the bacterium also grew anaerobically, and in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide, showing that the ■ Wainwright, M. (1988). Maggot therapy-a backwater in the fight inhibitory effect shown was in fact due to maggot gases. against bacterial infection. Pharm. Hist. 30, 19-26. These results confirm the antibacterial activity of maggot gases noted by Richardson, and suggest that there is indeed a scientific rationale behind the claims made by Bryant and his “patients’ that maggot gasses improve the condition of Milton Wainwright, Amar Laswd consumptives, and are possible curative.” Richardson also and Sulaiman Alharbi University of Sheffield noted that, according to Dr J.V. Shoemaker, ammonia possesses marked antiseptic virtues and also acts “in a

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microorganism which is satisfying — sometimes they look really attractive too! Sophisticated imaging techniques of microbial communities, or of components of individual cells are commonplace now, in textbooks, and on the web, and their aesthetic appeal may be overlooked. Images can be enhanced and modified, and find a diverse range of uses: calendars (e.g., SfAM 2007), websites, graphic art posters, clothing (www.iawareables.com), ceramics (ASM News, 2005, 71 (4), p 165), collage and so on (Figures 1 and 2). Microorganisms can themselves be used to produce art. Alexander Fleming recognised the artistic potential of pigmented bacteria when he drew several cameos ‘not written with ink but with bacteria which develop colours as they grow’. Since then, many budding artistic microbiologists have followed in his footsteps, drawing on agar plates with pigmented (Microbiologist Vol 3, No.4, December 2002) and bioluminescent species (e.g., www.erc.montana.edu/ bioglyphs/default.htm). Microscopic pictures made with diatoms were a Microbiology and art: a Victorian interest, but production is still ongoing (www.diatoms.co.uk)! comfortable combination? Three-dimensional representations of microorganisms are not uncommon. Of course, models of toadstools can be e all know that art provides typically negative microbially-induced found in many a craft shop, but more an opportunity for spoilage of art and heritage material. Of scientifically accurate models have been Wvisualisation and course, to the deteriogens, the art is but produced by bygone botanists and communication, and also that some a substrate for colonisation and growth, some are on display in the Whipple scientific images are truly beautiful. but to microbiologists and students, museum in Cambridge. The 20-sided Links between science and art — or this is an important, fascinating (and polygon, the icosahedron, provides the indeed the arts — are diverse, and can poorly funded) example of applied maximum volume for the minimum be clearly demonstrated when focusing microbiology (refs 1,2,3). Indeed building material, thus is an ideal on microbiology. several EU funded projects are using structure for viruses and geodesic Over the past few years, I have microorganisms to assist in the buildings such as the Eden project. The collected examples of this conservation of heritage (BIODAM, art of phage interdisciplinarity, and produced a BACPOLES, BIOBRUSH). Research (www.phage.sdsu.edu/imagery) has also lecture which I have given to first year publications and presentations on the found exhibition space (Figure 3). Biology undergraduates at Manchester topic are also substantial (e.g., The consequences of bacterial and Metropolitan University (MMU), to International Biodeterioration and viral diseases, rather than the audiences at other Universities, Biodegradation Society microorganisms themselves, provide conference delegates and the general [www.biodeterioration.org] Symposia ideal subjects for imaging the public. Suggestions for additional and Journal; HMS2005, third in a series destruction wreaked by plagues through examples inevitably arise from the floor, of International Conferences on the history (e.g., www.wellcome.ac.uk), and irrespective of the audience, thus aptly Microbiology and Conservation of to the more personal symptoms visited illustrating the ability of art to inspire Cultural Heritage — the fourth will be upon individuals (e.g., The Inheritance cross-discipline thinking and in 2008). by Edvard Munch). Stained glass communication. Some examples (and More positively, microorganisms windows have more recently provided a only some!) are illustrated in this themselves have considerable aesthetic vehicle for symbolic representation of article. appeal. Success in a microscopy influenza pandemics (e.g., Medical The most obvious link between practical is itself inspirational, but it is Library window, Royal London microbiology and art is perhaps the not only the success of finding the Hospital). The wide-ranging potential

36 March 2007 Figure 1: Silk painting of Aspergillus fumigatus (Natasha Khan) Figure 3: Three dimensional educational Figure 5: A collage of icons and images for using art to interpret or illustrate model of influenza virus, accompanied by used to raise awareness of AIDS (Athena the significance of microorganisms was cutaway hand model and powerpoint Chandni and Tramantza Bhagat) demonstrated to me in a University presentation (Nicola Barker and Rachel assignment where students produced, Herstell) inevitably associated with the among other things: a Powerpoint epidemiology and management of presentation outlining the influence of been artwork, exhibition, or emerging and re-emerging disease - plague on contemporary art through installation, rather than scientific paper, thus whatever the focus of the history; an artistic representation of the report or presentation. Postgraduate art audience, microbiology becomes of history of science; a collage in 1930s students have also used interest and relevance. style of the importance of tuberculosis microorganisms and/or principles of in literature; panels for the AIDS quilt; microbiology as part of their project a profile of artists who interpret science work. Undergraduates in art and through the medium of paint, etc biology together designed an (Figures 1 – 6) . The enthusiasm and installation for the foyer of a new talent of the students was really science building. Although not inspirational. successful due to the cost implications,

Figure 6: Prototype model for installation in foyer of Science Faculty

references

Figure 2: Notebook and jewellery inspired Figure 4: Images of micronucleus and ■ 1. Living History. C. Brownlee (2005), by microorganisms (Katy Lloyd) chromosome damage using the FISH assay Science News 168:216-217 (Martin Curtis-Emerson and Anna Carlisle). ■ Cross-disciplinary projects involving 2. Art Attack. E. Young (2005), New Scientist 2 April. artists and scientists are common, and the work considered the importance of encouraged, particularly by the repeating, yet evolving structures in all ■ 3. The Microbiology of art (2005), B. Wellcome Trust (Sciart) and other aspects of science (fractals, DNA, Dixon, ASM News 71: 212 – 213. organisations (eg evolution, polymers). The three ■ 4. J. Verran,. J.Biol.Ed., 1992, 26, 135. www.NESTAfuturelab.org). An dimensional prototype (Figure 6) exhibition, Wonderful: visions of the reflects this flexibility within a more ■ 5. J. Verran, J.Biol.Ed., 1993, 27, 291. near future rigid framework. ■ 6. K.C.Calman. Lancet, 1997, 350, (www.wonderfulwebsite.net) sponsored It rapidly becomes apparent that the 1622. by Wellcome, NESTA and the Arts combination of microbiology with other Council, presented the discussions and subjects such as literature (5), where ■ 7. http://mail.elsevier-alerts.com/ realisations of artists and scientists the impact of disease on the go.asp?/bELA001/qXADI43/xQIZZ4 working together collaboratively. One development of particular novels can be provocative piece, HeLa Hot (Christine explored; or music (Helen Davies, Borland) related the imagery of HeLa University of Pennsylvania), where Joanna Verran cells to the person, Henrietta Lacks, composition or lyrics can assist in School of Biology, from which the cells had originated. recall of complex terminology, is easily Chemistry and Health Science, Manchester Discussions with artists at MMU have possible. Subjects such as history, Metropolitan University led to projects where the outcome has geography, politics, economics are

March 2007 37 features

Anthony Hilton

Richard Armstrong

Stat Note 8 In the eighth of a series of articles about statistics for biologists, Anthony Hilton and Richard Armstrong discuss: Statistical power and sample size

here are two important questions that should be asked between the groups. This may not mean, however, that the about any experiment. First, before the experiment is hypothesis should actually be rejected because the Tcarried out, what sample size (N) would it be experiment may have been too small to detect the ‘true’ appropriate to use in a given situation? Second, what is the difference. In any hypothesis test, the statistical test, e.g., a ‘t’ strength or ‘power’ (P’) of an experiment that has been or ‘F’ test, indicates the probability of a result if H0 were conducted, i.e., what difference between two or more groups actually true and therefore, if that probability is less than 5% was the experiment actually capable of detecting? (P < 0.05), H0 is usually rejected. The ability of an The second question is of particular interest because an experiment to reject the hypothesis depends on a number of experiment in which a non-significant difference is reported factors including the probability chosen to reject H0 (usually confirms the null hypothesis (H0) that no difference exists set at 0.05), the variability of the measurements, the sample

38 March 2007 size since larger values of N lead to more accurate estimates However, in reality, sample sizes are usually constrained by of statistical parameters, and the effect size, i.e., the size of expense, time, or availability of human subjects for research the actual effect in the population, larger effects being easier and quite often a sample size calculation will result in an to detect. Statistical software is now available to calculate P’ unrealistic N. Microbiologists would be surprised at the and to estimate N in a variety of circumstances and it is number of samples required to detect modest differences therefore important to understand the value and limitations of between two groups given the level of variability often this information. This Statnote discusses statistical power and encountered in experiments. Hence, sample size calculations sample size as it relates to the comparison of the means of may be an interesting adjunct to a study and may provide an two or more independent groups using ‘t’ tests or analysis of variance (ANOVA). Table 1. Examples of sample size (N) and power (P’) How to calculate sample size for comparing calculation for comparing two independent treatments two independent treatments A) Sample size calculation (N) In Statnote 2 (Hilton & Armstrong 2005) we described an Difference to be detected δ = 10 units experiment to investigate the efficacy of a novel media Standard deviation σ = 15 units supplement in promoting the development of cell biomass. Essentially two sets of 25, 10-litre fermentation vessels were Significance of test P = 0.05, Ζα (from Z table at P = 0.05) = 1.96 (two- filled with identical growth media with the exception that the tail test) media in one of the vessels was supplemented with 10ml of Power of test say P = 0.80 and therefore P of not demonstrating an the novel compound under investigation. The vessels were effect = 0.20 then inoculated with a culture of Bacterium ‘x’ and the Zβ = (from Z table at P = 0.20) = 0.84 (one-tail test) fermentation allowed to proceed until all the available (Ζα + Zβ)2 2σ2/δ2 = 3528/1000 = 35.28, say 36 per group nutrients had been exhausted and growth had ceased. The dry B) Power calculation (P’) weight of cells was measured in each flask. A good question might be how many flasks should actually have been used in Suppose in above example, the experiment had been carried out with 36 this experiment? per group but the standard deviation had been 20 units not 15: As a first step, decide on a value δ that represents the size Zβ = (√ N. δ/ √2. σ) – Ζα = 0.17. of difference between the media with and without supplement Hence, P of not demonstrating an effect = 0.43 (from Z table) and that is regarded as important and which the experiment is therefore, experiment has a P’ = 0.57 (57%) of demonstrating a designed to detect. If the true difference is as large as δ, then difference of 10 units the experiment should have a high probability of detecting this difference, i.e., the test should have a high P’ when the approximate guide to N but should not be taken too seriously true difference is δ. Levels of P’ = 0.8 (80%) or 0.9 (90%) (Norman & Streiner, 1993). In addition, increasing sample are commonly used whereas levels of 0.95 or 0.99 can be set, size is only one method of increasing P’. Reducing the but are often associated with substantial sample sizes. To variability between replicate samples by using more determine N for two independent treatments, the following homogenous groups or the use of experimental designs such data are required: as a paired or randomised block design and which eliminate 1. δ the size of the difference to be detected certain sources of variability may also increase P’. 2. The desired probability of obtaining a significant result Calculation of P’ if the true difference is δ (Zβ) 3. (Zβ) obtained from ‘z’ tables Sample size calculations also contain a useful corollary, 4. The significance level of the test (Zα) usually P = 0.05) calculation of the strength or power (P’) of an experiment to 5. The population standard deviation σ usually estimated detect a specific difference. This type of calculation is very from previous experiments useful in experiments that have failed to detect a difference The formula for calculating sample size is: the investigator thought was present. In such circumstances, N = (Zα + Zβ)2 2σ2/δ2------1. it is useful to ask whether the experiment had sufficient P’ to A worked example using this formula is shown in Table 1 detect the anticipated difference. To calculate P’ of an and suggests that given the parameters listed, the investigator experiment equation 1 is rearranged to give Zβ: should have used N = 36 in each group to have had an 80% Zβ = (√ N.δ/ √ 2.σ) – Zα ------2. chance of detecting a difference of 10 units. Note that Zα is A worked example utilising this equation is given in Table based on a two-tail probability but Zβ is always based on a 1. Suppose that the experiment described in the previous one-sided test (Norman & Streiner, 1993). This is because the section had been conducted with a sample size of N = 36 but tails of the two distributions representing the two media that the σ was actually 20 and not 10 units. The value of Zβ overlap on only one side. has fallen to 0.17 corresponding to a probability of not What are the implications of sample size demonstrating an effect of P = 0.43. Hence, the probability calculations? of detecting a difference between the two means of 10 units has fallen to 57% and hence, P’ would have been too low for This procedure is designed to protect the investigator this experiment to have had much chance of success. against finding a non-significant result and reporting that the Power and sample size in other designs data are consistent with H0 when in fact the experiment was too small. This suggests that a sample size calculation should The equations used for calculating P’ and N differ always be carried out in the planning stage of an experiment. depending on the experimental design, e.g., in a ‘paired’

March 2007 39 features

design (Hilton & Armstrong, 2005) or when comparing two Table 2. Sample size calculation for a one-way analysis of proportions (Katz 1997). Statistical software is available for variance (ANOVA) calculating P’ and N in most circumstances and although the equations may differ, the principles described in this Statnote Difference to be detected (largest mean – smallest mean) = δ remain the same. However, the situation becomes more Assume individual means (K groups) equally distributed σ complicated if there are more than two groups in a study and Standard deviation = if the data are analysed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) 1. Calculate effect size d = δ/σ (Armstrong & Hilton, 2004). 2. Adjustment to formula (from Fig 1): effect size for ANOVA = (f) = √d x 0.5 (K + 1/3(K – 1) Figure 1. Adjustment to the effect size for calculation of 3. Look up ‘f’ in Table I (Norman & Streiner, 1993) to give sample size sample size in a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (K = having chosen Zα and Zβ number of groups, * = control group)

Distribution of means Formulae practice to have at least 15 DF for the error term and this figure will be dependent on both the number of treatments and N. In factorial designs (Armstrong & Hilton 2004), with ▲* ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ different factors or variables in the experiment, the presence A. √ d x 1/2K of factorial combinations of treatments leads to internal replication and therefore such experiments can often be carried out using much smaller sample sizes. The principles ▲* ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ underlying factorial experiments will be discussed in more B. d x 0.5 √(K + 1)/3(K−1) detail in a future Statnote. Conclusions Statistical software is now commonly available to calculate * ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ P’ and N for most experimental designs. In many C. √ 2 − K = odd: d x (K 1)/2K circumstances, however, sample size is constrained by lack of K = even: d x 1 time, cost, and in research involving human subjects, the problems of recruiting suitable individuals. In addition, the calculation of N is often based on erroneous assumptions Sample size and power in ANOVA about σ and therefore such estimates are often inaccurate. At best, we would suggest that such calculations provide only a Calculation of P’ is more complex when several group very rough guide of how to proceed in an experiment. means are involved because the difference between the means Nevertheless, calculation of P’ is very useful especially in may be distributed in various ways (Figure 1). An important experiments that have failed to detect a difference which the statistic when several means are present is the effect size d = experimenter thought was present. We would recommend that δ σ δ / where is the difference between the highest and lowest P’ should always be calculated in these circumstances to mean (Norman & Streiner, 1994). For example, if there are determine whether the experiment was actually too small to five groups (K = 5, a control and four treatments), one test H0 adequately. treatment may have a large effect while the remaining three may have similar but lesser effects (scenario A). In scenario B, the treatment means are spread more or less evenly and in scenario C, three treatments have large but similar effects and references one has little effect and is therefore similar to the control. ■ Armstrong R A & Hilton A (2004) The use of analysis of variance The essential approach is that ‘d’ is transformed into the (ANOVA) in applied microbiology. Microbiologist Vol 5: No. 4, pps effect size for ANOVA by multiplying by a formula which 18 - 21. varies depending on the distribution of means. Various ■ scenarios and sample formulae are illustrated in Figure 1 and Hilton A & Armstrong R A (2005) Statnote 2: Describing the how the calculations are made is shown in Table 2. normal. Microbiologist Vol 6: No.3, pps 30 - 33. ■ Hilton A & Armstrong R A (2005) Statnote 3: Testing the More complex experimental designs difference between two groups. Microbiologist Vol 6: No.4, pps 30 - In more complex experimental designs where there are 32. many treatments or if a factorial arrangement of treatments is ■ Katz D L (1997) Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive present, calculation of N by these methods becomes less medicine review. W B Saunders, Philadelphia. useful. A more relevant concept is to consider the number of ■ Norman R N & Streiner D L (1993) Biostatistics: The Bare degrees of freedom (DF) associated with the error term of the Essentials. Mosby, Toronto. ANOVA. In the general case, in a one-way design (Armstrong ■ & Hilton, 2004) if there are ‘p’ treatments and N observations Snedecor G W & Cochran W G (1980) Statistical Methods, 7th in each group, the error term will have p(N-1) DF and the Ed. Iowa State University Press, Ames Iowa. greater the value of N, the greater the DF of the error term and the more precise and reliable the error estimate will be. A Dr Anthony* Hilton and Dr Richard Armstrong** change of 1DF has a large effect on ‘t’ or ‘F’ when DF < 10 *Pharmaceutical Sciences and **Vision Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK but the effect is quite small when DF > 20. Hence, it is good

40 March 2007 members

Mark Reed explores the work of a a Technical Sales Representative: the essential link between the scientific commercial world and the laboratory careers

European Technical Sales

icrobiology offers many and someone has to spread the hospitals. Having successfully gained careers in many different fields word...the Technical Representative. the required qualifications for state Mspecialising in clinical sample When I started my career in registration, I achieved the title of a testing, finished product, food sample Microbiology, I had no intention of Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer in testing and water testing, you can even entering the commercial world, it was Microbiology. test the structure of oil rigs for the foreign to me. Having left school I I then asked myself “where do I go effects of micro-organisms on them. started as a Junior “A” Medical now?” After much thought I decided to If we were to consider the total Laboratory Scientific Officer (MLSO) enter the commercial world. This number of microbiology laboratories in and spent two years rotating through started with observing a number of testing, teaching and research, you can the disciplines in the pathology technical representatives calling on the imagine that the number of tests being department of Arrowe Park Hospital on laboratory to promote new products carried out is immense. In fact it is in the Wirral (Microbiology, and services to the department heads, the region of 1.2 billion tests per Haematology/Transfusion, Biochemistry and also to service and support annum for the UK alone. Although there and Histology/Cytology). products being used in the laboratory. are many variants across the diverse As you would expect in the most My first action was to collar one of field of microbiology testing, there are junior role, you get all the best jobs these visitors and find out more. This also many similarities, and one core from labeling hundreds of samples to resulted in a number of days travelling similarity is that they all require filing hundreds of reports, everyone has with a technical sales representative to commercially supplied kits, reagents, to start somewhere. The career a number of sites around the UK, and at analysers, and disposable items. The structure at the time required a Junior this point I decided that this was for technicians certainly wear the white “A” MLSO to select one discipline after me. Although a difficult decision to coats and have the required this initial two years to specialise in one make to leave the security of the qualifications, but they need an area. For me this was to be laboratory, I had the comfort of enormous array of products and Microbiology and I spent three knowing I would still be in touch with services to help them do their job. enjoyable years in the Wirral the industry that I enjoyed and I was These products and services come Microbiology Department based at merely crossing into an associated field. from the scientific commercial world, Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge From there on I have never stood still.

March 2007 41 members

Following an initial interview with a potentially typical week with examples week ahead, with your hotels booked scientific recruitment agency (this is an of the challenges and commitments that for overnight stays where necessary. essential starting point) I secured the are required. Monday: Planning, appointments, post of Technical Representative with What are your key responsibilities as emails, prepare required literature GIBCO Laboratories for the North West a Technical Representative? packs, assemble catalogues, check of England, specialising in the They will include, but are not always samples and demonstration material. manufacture and supply of clinical limited to: Complete required quotations, respond microbiology media and associated ■ Accepting responsibility for the in writing to customers from previous products. efficient and profitable work, update office on plan for week. As the company developed over the management of a sales territory. Tuesday: Five appointments years, so did the challenges available ■ Assessing achievable market share Wednesday: Five appointments and and within three years I held the for your products and achieving an evening discussion group to attend position of European Industrial targets set. as the sponsor. Business Development Manager for ■ Being honest and truthful with Thursday: Five appointments with a Europe, international travel became yourself, your company, your piece of equipment to install at 4.30pm extensive and experiences became products and your customers. on the last appointment. varied. Of course as careers develop, ■ Understanding and fulfilling your Friday: Sales meeting at head office the need for training continues. Not customers needs and those of your for new product launch. only do we have to continually update company. With all preparations made, the week our technical knowledge for our ■ Reporting and assessing all activity continues with an early departure on products and their practical application, on your territory. Tuesday to arrive on time for your first we need numerous other skills such as ■ Understanding all aspects and negotiation, time planning, capabilities of your products and presentations skills, management and being able to communicate them communication to name just a few. to your customers. There are many companies that ■ Supporting all current business specialise in the training of technical and handling all technical, service, representatives and all other levels of and delivery enquiries. staff in commercial organisations and ■ Reporting back to your company the continual learning process is as on your market and your important as it is within the laboratory customer’s needs. itself. My next move involved almost a ■ Attending sales meetings, training chance encounter at an international sessions and seminars in house. trade show, where a company based in ■ Attending trade shows, North America specialising in the conferences, lectures and development and manufacture of in discussion groups to represent vitro diagnostic kits and reagents for your company and also to further microbiology were considering your own education. establishing a subsidiary in the UK. So, A typical Week there I was, 26 years old, married with appointment allowing for traffic issues two young children working for a large Like most jobs the week begins on and parking. corporation with an opportunity to Monday with an early rise, into the Appointment one: the first call gamble all again and move to a brand home based office, or if you are involves a well-known customer who new start up opportunity with all the fortunate enough to live close to your has used your products for many years associated risks. The potential of the company office, you can work from and always welcomes you to discuss challenge was the driving force behind there. The first task is to check emails, new developments in your product my decision to take the opportunity at post and faxes for any details that may range. Everything is satisfactory with its starting point in Europe, now 18 alter your planning of the coming week the products being used, stocks are years in, I realise it was a wise one. and any appointments and sufficient at present, no performance If I were to offer advice to any commitments you may have. With a issues have been raised and deliveries reader about a career in technical sales, map of a large geographical area are arriving on time. I would always emphasise that you must covered in a range of coloured markers, Today you have a new product that do what you enjoy most. As previously you now begin the task of contacting you believe will offer an improvement mentioned the world of microbiology is your customers by phone and making over the current method being used by extremely diverse, one aspect being your appointments to a manageable eliminating equipment requirements Technical Diagnostic Sales travel plan. During this period you are and waiting time for results. Your Representative into the Laboratory interrupted constantly of course by the presentation goes well covering all Industry, a role that I initially held office contacting you with questions, technical aspects of the product and myself. A typical day would be your customers contacting you with you suggest an actual demonstration of impossible to describe, as there are so questions, and the boss always wanting the product in the laboratory for your many potential variants. What I will to know what you are doing. Finally customer’s colleagues at a later date. attempt to do here, is describe a you have in front of you a plan for the Having checked your diaries, a date is

42 March 2007 set for the following Friday, when you around to suit all. portfolio on your territory. Your last will return to perform the Appointment two: offers a appointment was particularly satisfying demonstration to the laboratory staff challenge where you have previously as you have successfully installed a unit and a presentation covering the science performed a demonstration of your new of your latest equipment in a laboratory behind the technology of the product. product, and your customer is now on loan for two weeks. All of the This later develops into a lunch time ready to negotiate the terms under laboratory staff appeared very excited discussion group and you agree to which you may potentially supply the at the prospect of the department head perform a powerpoint presentation product. The staff in the laboratory allowing this, and perhaps finding prior to the laboratory demonstration. were impressed with the product funding for its purchase. This latter On returning to your car, provided evaluation to the extent that they have point of course is another area where by your company of course, you find a requested a change. Negotiations are your skills, patience and missed call from the office on your completed and all that now remains is professionalism will be required as you mobile phone and a voice mail to for you to confirm all details in writing. will now also be dealing with the contact a customer urgently. The office You advise your customer you will do Estates Management, the Purchasing are asking for guidance on pricing that this via email that evening such that he and the Medical Devices departments is required for a tender document that has it for the following morning and within a hospital. has been received from your customer can arrange matters with his On Friday you are required to attend base. This takes up approximately 20 purchasing department. head office for a sales meeting in the minutes of your time as you work with Appointment three: following on morning where you will be required to your colleagues to ensure the tender is from successful discussions concerning present your sales results for your as required. The customer, who has left some of your disposable products, you territory over the last 3 months. You have the opportunity to arrange will also offer a comparative analysis to samples to be sent to the customer for the same period last year and submit evaluation. This you do by telephone forecasts for the coming three months once you have left the customer, you with details of all evaluations, samples, then contact the customer again to quotations and tenders currently active confirm that the samples will arrive the or underway. following day and that you will contact During the afternoon you will attend him a few weeks to discuss their a training session presented initially by evaluation. the product manager, concerning a new Appointment four: on arrival your product that is being launched next customers has been called to an urgent month, and then with the marketing meeting and is unable to see you. At manager to plan the launch on your your request one of his colleagues steps territory. in for a few minutes and you ascertain Whilst all of this is going on in your that all is well with the products that day, many other support roles are you are supplying, and make continuing behind you as back up. arrangements to return the following Many of these roles offer career path Friday, this you will confirm by email. opportunities, and all offer service, a message for you to contact him, left Back to the car now with perhaps 30 support and a future to your customers. no details as to what the enquiry may minutes to spare that you will use to These will include customers services be. Your first task is to check your files call customers you saw last week to management, dispatch management, to familiarise yourself with details of confirm arrival of quotations, technical sales and marketing management, your last meeting with the customer, details, promotional details and samples technical support, regulatory affairs, and to check with the office to ensure that you arranged. production and perhaps of most there are no issues with the customer Appointment five: much the same interest, certainly to your customer, that may help you. On contacting the as appointment one and very satisfying. product research and development customer you learn that they have a With a day completed, all that based on new emerging technologies problem with the interpretation of some remains is to check your messages, and customers market requirements. results with a product supplied by write up your reports, set a list of Technical Sales is a challenging and yourselves. Having offered advice by action points following the rewarding career and offers many telephone, you ascertain that you will commitments that you have made with opportunities for career progression. need to visit the customer as soon as your customers, and start what may be Technical Sales Representatives are an possible and agree to do this the a long journey home depending on the essential link between the scientific following Tuesday as requested by traffic. If you are staying over night in a commercial world and the laboratories, them. hotel, a relaxing time awaits before you and a professional technical relation Having now dealt with two start a little paperwork in the evening, between both is essential. No day will unexpected interruptions, you are this of course you would also do if you ever be the same, and no career will running 40 minutes late for your next were travelling home. ever follow a set path. appointment. A few courtesy calls to Your week now progresses well as Mark Reed, General Manager your customers resolve any potential you work through your appointments, Pro-Lab Diagnostics Europe inconvenience as you shuffle the times and gradually build your business

March 2007 43 members

Students into Work Grant reports

The Impact of Environment upon the information Metabolome of E. coli and L. monocytogenes

comparison of the metabolic profiles of am I eligible - bacteria grown under different conditions to identify any changes that can I apply? take place. Although still in its infancy, the potential of metabolomics is vast. It If you are FULL member who can has already been used to discriminate offer an undergraduate strains of pathogenic Bacillus cereus microbiology student work during their summer vacation. If you (Bundy et al., 2004) and for profiling would like to read about the of Cryptosporidium in water (Ruecker experiences of Students who et al., 2005). Possible applications have benefited from this Grant, include microbial forensics and drug you can do so in each issue of discovery (Jaki et al., 2006). However, Microbiologist. For Further despite these current and possible information visit: applications, data on the impact of www.sfam.org.uk/grants.php altered environments on the metabolome of microorganisms is still guidelines relatively scarce. It is data of this kind I set out to gather during my summer 1. Any full member of the Society who project. can offer an undergraduate student, An avirulent Listeria or a recent graduate (within three monocytogenes hlyA EGD, deficient in months of graduation), a work Between the second and third the haemolysin gene, and Escherichia placement is eligible to apply for this grant. The placement can last up to a years of my BSc Microbiology degree at coli W3110 were used in this study. maximum of 10 weeks. The University of Nottingham I was Starter cultures were first prepared by offered a ten week research placement. incubation in Brain Heart Infusion 2. The Grant will normally provide This took place within the University of broth (BHI) for 24h. Cells were then support for the student at the rate of Nottingham Food Microbiology subjected to a low nutrient stress and to £160 per week and up to £500 for specified research costs, e.g., laboratories, and was generously a moderate thermal stress. This was consumables used by the student. The funded by the Society for Applied achieved by transferring cells from BHI monies will usually be paid to the Microbiology. The placement involved a into Maximum Recovery Diluent Department in which the metabolomic study of Listeria (MRD), either alone or supplemented student/graduate works. monocytogenes and Escherichia coli, with Sucrose. The effects of various 3. Applications should be made by the allowing me to gain experience of an incubation temperatures were also supervisor using the ‘Students into emerging area of microbiology. studied. The aim of the work was to Work’ PDF application form provided Metabolomics is a new tool for the identify specific compounds that were on the website or the paper form microbiologist, allowing a snap-shot of characteristic for these different obtainable from the Society Office. the pool of intracellular metabolites to environmental conditions. 4. Applicants must provide details of be taken. This then allows for After incubation, the cells were the intended project as well as information about how the project will Table 1. Examples of compounds that differed between E.coli and benefit the student. Listeria monocytogenes

5. Successful applicants and their Iona Timeb cCompound Probability value students/graduate must write a report on the placement. This may be 88 5.35 acetoin 0.0082 published in Microbiologist. 59 20.89 octanoic acid 0.0008 6. Normally a member may not apply 117 25.1 indole 0.0012 for a further grant until a period of two years has elapsed. 129 26.89 decanoic acid 0.0112 60 37.1 tetradecanoic acid 0.0026 7. There is no closing date for this Grant and applications can be made aIon is the key ion used to preliminarily identify compounds. bTime is retention time any time during the year. Applicants c d must apply at least 6 weeks before the from GCMS. Compound represents the identity of the compound. Probability value proposed start date. represents the statistical significance of the difference between E.coli samples and L.monocytogenes samples (by Students T-test)

44 March 2007 Figure 1. The GC-MS was used to isolate the relevant peak in The placement has taught me many the chromatogram set, allowing them to transferable skills that I feel will help be integrated to yield peak areas by me in my future career. This includes another computer program. A second skills specific to microbiology, but also spreadsheet was subsequently more generally time management, produced, containing the areas of peaks organisation and communication skills. of interest in all of the samples tested. My Information Technology skills have Basic statistical tests are in the process also vastly improved, and I am far more of being applied in order to determine confident in using IT for data transfer the differences between the samples. and analysis. I am very grateful to Dr. Considering the complexity of the Tim Aldsworth and the SfAM for giving intracellular metabolome, even studying me the opportunity to undertake this a subset of it as we did here, has placement. My thanks also go to generated an enormous and complex Professor Andy Taylor and Dr Rob dataset that we are still evaluating Linforth for use of the GC-MS statistically. Metabolomic differences equipment and for their invaluable were observed between Listeria assistance. sonicated on ice to release their monocytogenes and Escherichia coli, intracellular metabolites. with sixteen compounds showing a References Dichloromethane was added to dissolve consistent statistical difference. Table 1. ■ Bundy et al., (2004) FEMS Microbiol the organic compounds released from gives details of some of these Letts 242: 127-136 the cells, and the mixture was compounds. The results indicate that ■ Ruecker et al., (2005) Appl. Environ. centrifuged to yield a separate DCM extraction and analysis techniques were Microbiol. 71:8991-8994 successful, and that the method we layer containing the metabolites. This ■ Jaki et al., (2006) J Pharm Biomed Anal DCM layer was concentrated by used is efficient in detecting metabolite 41:196-200) evaporation under a flow of nitrogen level changes. Initial analysis also shows that there are differences gas, transferred into vials and analyzed Cerith Jones using Gas Chromatography with Mass between the two bacteria grown under University of Nottingham Spectroscopy (GC-MS) (Figure 1). All different environmental conditions, but of the samples were spiked with a it has proven difficult to achieve known volume and concentration of 3- reproducible results with the growth SfAM Associate heptanone to act as an internal control. conditions used. Membership

Figure 2. Example chromatogram obtained using GC-MS. Sample shown is from E.coli incubated at 42 °C in MRD without sucrose. The probable identity of some key peaks is noted

The chromatograms produced were Throughout this placement I felt I used to identify and quantify was building on the knowledge and compounds in the DCM extract of skills already gained during my Why not recommend SfAM intracellular metabolites (Figure 2). undergraduate degree. I have learnt membership to your local Firstly, a computer programme was new techniques, such as metabolite school? used to generate a spreadsheet extraction and the use of GC-MS. I have containing information on the retention also gained a greater understanding of Benefits ■ times of all of the ions in the samples. how a microbiology laboratory Quarterly copies of Microbiologist ■ This data was then used to identify operates, and I understand how much Full access to the Society website ■ clusters of ions at a constant retention preparation takes place before teaching Preferential rates at Society Meetings ■ time, indicative of a single compound. practicals, that I had once taken for All for only £15.00 per annum! The ion and retention time information granted!

March 2007 45 members

Evaluation of the effectiveness of contact plates for monitoring a microbial environment Hospital acquired infections due times with 10ml of buffer (tryptone I also investigated the effect of to opportunistic pathogens are an sodium chloride). Ten drops (10µl) expiry date on recovery efficiency of important problem in the healthcare were then plated on the surface of a the Biomerieux contact plates, which environment. Many microorganisms can TSA plate and the colonies / drop were did not affect the recovery from the survive drying on inanimate surfaces, counted after 24h incubation at 37°C. plates. contributing to an increased rate of The % of recovery was calculated as: Furthermore, we decided to use microbial transmission to patients. The (CFU/ml measured / CFU/ml expected another biological indicator. I provision of sterile pharmaceutical (i.e. control)*100. For validation investigated the recovery of products made in situ in hospitals is purposes, this protocol was repeated Staphylococcus aureus (NCIMB9518) particularly challenging, and the ten times. The experiment showed a on stainless steel sheets, using the same absence of microbial contaminants recovery from the steel disc of 71.4% protocol as above. The recovery was from surfaces and their monitoring and of the original suspension. significantly higher than with S. control are essential. There are many Contact plates were obtained from epidermis for the Biomerieux and control tests to evaluate surface Biomerieux (Count-Tact Irradiated Oxoid contact plates. However, the contamination. A commonly employed Agar; France), Cherwell (T/V Contact Cherwell contact plates showed a protocol makes use of Contact Plates. Plate; UK) and Oxoid (Tryptone soya similar recovery for the two micro- This method is simple and mostly useful agar contact plate; UK). The surface of organisms. for sampling flat and smooth surfaces. three sterile stainless steel sheets (of The objectives of this project were It consists of pressing a contact plate, identical grade and finish to the discs) met and interesting results were containing sterile agar with or without was divided into a four box grid. In observed. Contact plates, which have neutralizers, on the surface for 10 each box, four drops (10µl) of a known an important role in monitoring seconds and then incubating the plate bacterial concentration were inoculated. microbial contamination of the to allow the growth of any surviving Different contact plates were randomly environment, did not appear completely microbial contaminants. Unfortunately assigned to each of the 12 boxes. An reliable with an overall low recovery there is little documented evidence to applicator was used to standardise observed when a validated protocol was support the efficiency of this technique surface testing by applying a uniform used. More importantly differences in assessing the actual level of surface pressure of 500gr on the surface of the between brands were observed. contamination. The aims of this project agar plate for 10 seconds. Then, Underestimating the microbial were to validate a quantitative sampling contact plates were incubated for 24h contamination of surfaces might have technique and compare the efficiency of at 37°C and colonies counted. The three consequences on the quality assurance three different commercial contact commercial brands showed significantly of pharmaceutical sterile products plates used to monitor the microbial different recovery. Cherwell contact made in situ in hospitals. environment. plates showed the highest recovery rate I would like to thank my supervisor, Staphylococcus epidermis with 39%, whereas the Biomerieux and Jean-Yves Maillard, and in particular (NCIMB8853) was the biological the Oxoid recovered 27% and 23% SfAM for funding this short-term indicator used for this project. It was bacteria, respectively. Cherwell contact project, which provided the opportunity grown daily on TSA slopes at 37°C. plates, even though they show a high work in a microbiology laboratory and The counting procedure was recovery rate, were less reliable due to to acquire new skills. I am also grateful validated in order to assess the number a high variability in results. to my colleagues, who helped me with of bacteria in the suspension used. The Other parameters were measured, my project and made the work very procedure consisted of serially diluting such as loss of water, wetness of pleasant. I have since decided to the resuspended slope and plating three surface, presence or absence of undertake a PhD in microbiology. drops (10µl) of the highest dilutions on neutralizers, and fertility. Loss of water TSA plates. Three replicates were after incubation was higher for the prepared for each suspension. After Oxoid plates. Regarding wetness of 24h incubation at 37°C, the number of surface, I observed that when the agar colonies for each drop was counted and surface was more moist, contact plates the number of colony forming units had a better adherence to the surface, (cfu) in the original suspension possibly allowing dried bacterial calculated. inoculum to inoculate the agar more Stainless steel surfaces were effectively. Finally, the presence or investigated in this study. Before using absence of neutralizers within the agar contact plates, I validated the bacterial did not make any difference to recovery from stainless steel discs. One recovery. Fertility was measured by drop of 10µl of bacterial suspension (1- inoculating the diluted resuspended 4 x 106 cfu/ml) was inoculated at the agar slope directly onto the contact centre of a steel disc and dried for 1h plates, which were incubated at 37°C under a laminar air flow cabinet. The for 24h. There was no difference in Federica Pinto surface of the disc was then flushed 12 fertility between the different plates.

46 March 2007 The President’s Fund reports

Investigating the role of freshwater epilithic information biofilms in harbouring virulent Escherichia coli O157 in an agricultural environment am I eligible - E. coli O157 is a relatively new virulence factors such as intimin or an can I apply? addition to the number of pathogenic enterohaemolysin. Verocytotoxigenic intestinal bacteria commonly isolated (VTEC) serotypes recovered include: If you often find difficulty in from both humans and animals. It first 02:K, 0103:K-, 0104:K, 0128:K, funding attendance at meetings. came to prominence around 25 years 0153:K- and O157:K-:H7 (González & It is not only our student ago and has since become the subject Blanco J, 1989). members who require our help. of a great deal of research, suspicion E. coli O157 has been isolated from Senior microbiologists often find and even fear among the lay and private and municipal water supplies, difficulty in funding attendance at scientific communities. It often makes mainly as a result of contamination of meetings. If you are in this the headlines as the etiological agent the source water. Animal grazing and position you are eligible for this behind food poisoning outbreaks, and the use of manure-based fertiliser can fund. has even been referred to as the lead to an influx of faecal bacteria to To apply, visit ‘hamburger bug’. However, its role as a the soil, where cultivation and natural www.sfam.org.uk/grants.php waterborne pathogen is much less well run-off, as well as ground and surface publicised, and outbreaks of waters, transfer the bacteria deep into waterborne E. coli O157-associated the soil. terms & conditions disease rarely make the same media Here at Brighton University we have impact as that of, for example, cholera. been researching the ability of 1. The applicant must have been a member of the Society for at least a full subscription E. coli O157 is a medically freshwater epilithic biofilms to harbour year before the event to be attended and important E. coli strain, its E. coli O157 that possess virulence must be a fully paid-up member at the time characteristic feature being the factors associated with incidence of of application. expression of two verocytotoxins (VTs) human disease. A mixed farm 2. A successful applicant cannot re-apply to the Fund for two years from the date of the and the protein, intimin, which are (containing arable farming with animal award. associated with incidents of both husbandry) situated on the South 3. Preference will be given to applicants who haemorrhagic colitis (HC) and Downs in East Sussex, UK, was selected are contributing to the meeting they wish to haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). for the field studies. Devices using attend and/or are unable to obtain funds elsewhere. The verocytotoxins are also known as indigenous flint shingle were set up at Shiga-like toxins because they share four sites along the stream network to 4. Completed applications must include an abstract of any intended contribution to be 97% amino-acid sequence homology allow natural biofilm formation. Stones made at the meeting and must be received with the Shigella dysenteriae type 1 were removed from each site at four by the Society not less than six weeks before the date of the event. toxin (Paton & Paton, 1998), which is week intervals for one year, and the causative agent of bacillary screened to characterise eight 5. Student member applications must be supported by their supervisor and include the dysentery. E. coli O157 is not, however, Enterobacteriaceae genera and obtain contact telephone number(s) and email the only serotype known to express total heterotrophic counts. Pooled address(es) of the supervisor or head of department who is supporting their these verocytotoxins. It has been faecal samples were obtained from application. reported that numerous ‘O’ and ‘H’ indigenous grazing animals and 6. The maximum grant available is normally serotypes, and combinations of characterised to investigate their £1,000. serotypes, may express the toxins potential role as vectors of this 7. Under exceptional circumstances this either singly or in addition to other pathogenic organism. Using the maximum may be exceeded. 8. The award of this grant is at the sole discretion of the Honorary President of the Society for Applied Microbiology. 9. The applicant must write a short article of between 500 - 1,000 words within four weeks of the meeting, the content of which will be agreed with the Editor of SfAM Microbiologist and will be published in the magazine at the discretion of the Editor. Photographs of the applicant and/or the subject of the article are desirable. These should be supplied as (a) digital files at a size of not less than 4 inches square at a resolution of not less than 300 pixels per inch, or (b) original photographic prints which will be scanned and promptly returned Figure 1. Summary of the total E. coli and E. coli O157 isolates recovered from each site to the applicant. sampled; E. coli O157 population presented as a portion of the total E. coli number (sites 1-4 represent the four biofilm locations).

March 2007 47 members

PhenePlate™ technique, all of the E. neighbouring countries, having pathogenic bacteria. This work coli isolates were analysed for kinetic replaced indigenous V. cholerae strains, demonstrates that E. coli O157 related biochemical phenotypes. The presence and to be itself replaced by the O1 to agricultural animal populations are of four virulence genes associated with strain by 1996. able to exist within aquatic epilithic E. coli O157-associated disease were This situation suggests that a strain biofilms and retain the potential to identified using PCR. The genes tested can come to dominate regions inhabited cause disease in human populations. for were the stx1 (verocytotoxin 1), by closely related strains and cause stx2 (verocytotoxin 2), eaeA (intimin) widespread disease in susceptible Acknowledgments and hly (enterohaemolysin) alleles. populations. Hence the presence of Phenotypic analysis revealed that viable pathogenic E. coli O157 isolates With thanks to Mr M. Helias of the Image distinct sub-populations of E. coli exist in temperate freshwater biofilms is a Analysis Unit, University of Brighton. This for each animal population, some of public health concern and this research project is an AMACOM project (supported which displayed a significant should be followed up. by INTERREG IIIA (EU), Grant 162/025/263). phenotypic similarity to those Ian Cooper recovered from the biofilms, suggesting University of Brighton a common source. Of 1002 E. coli isolates recovered from biofilms and animal faeces, 48 were confirmed as Anti-microbial activity the O157 strain by latex agglutination. in traditional milk Sub-populations of E. coli, including E. coli O157, that demonstrated fermentations of significant phenotypic similarity with Southern Africa animal faecal isolates (T-test, P = 0.05) were isolated from the biofilms, The presence of coliform bacteria perhaps suggesting a common origin. in milk products generally provides an The stx2 gene was the most frequently index of the hygienic standards of the Figure 2. An electron micrograph of a isolated single gene (31 isolates), while product. In addition, coliforms present freshwater epilithic biofilm stx1 was the least frequently recovered in the milk product may include + (3 isolates). These three stx1 E. coli pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli. O157 isolates were recovered from References Lactic acid bacteria in fermented dairy biofilm matrices but none were ■ 1. Paton A., Paton J. (1998) Detection products inhibit E coli through the recovered from the pooled faeces of and characterization of Shiga toxigenic resulting low pH and by producing anti- grazing animals. They displayed a high Escherichia coli by using multiplex PCR microbial compounds including phenotypic similarity to each other, assays for stx1, stx2, eaeA, hydrogen peroxide, lactic acid, volatile perhaps suggesting that the isolates Enterohemorrhagic E. coli hlyA, rfbO111, and fatty acids, bacteriocins and rfbO157. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 36 may originate from the same source or bacteriocin-like peptides (De Vuyst & (2): 598-602 host, although a reservoir was not Vandamme, 1994). However, survival of determined in this investigation. In ■ 2. González E., Blanco J. (1989) E.coli in fermented dairy products is Serotypes and antibiotic resistance of cattle it has been reported that stx1+ highly variable, depending on the Verotoxigenic (VTEC) and necrotizing strains are superseded by stx2+ ones as species of lactic acid bacteria, amount (NTEC) Escherichia coli strains isolated their hosts mature. It is possible that and rate of lactic acid production from calves with diarrhoea. FEMS these isolates originate from calves that Microbiology Letters, 60 (1): 31-36 during fermentation, and storage have matured and that their gastric temperature of the product after flora has been replaced or that an ■ 3. Hunter P. (2003) Drinking water and fermentation. environmental reservoir exists for this diarrhoeal disease due to Escherichia coli. In Zimbabwe and other countries in Journal of Water and Health, 1 (2): 65-72 strain that was not identified during the the Southern African region, rural course of this study, such as soil or communities produce naturally other sediments. In the UK, HUS is the most common fermented milk ‘Amasi’, which forms a Epidemiological studies have often cause of acute renal failure in children major part of their diet. Unpasteurised reported that an environmental (Hunter, 2003). An understanding of cow’s milk is allowed to ferment reservoir may allow for the the behaviour of the causative spontaneously in an earthenware clay reintroduction of a pathogen to a bacterium in the environment is pot or gourd for two to three days at susceptible host population to cause important to the prevention of future ambient temperature, and the microbial additional disease after an initial cases of disease. The presence of viable flora responsible for the fermentation epidemic or outbreak has subsided. and virulent E. coli O157 isolates in derived mainly from the raw milk and Cholera is a major problem concerning aquatic biofilms represent a potential the walls of the container. Fermentation the rivers of the Indian sub-continent, hazard to human health. Although is dominated by lactic acid bacteria, and a series of Vibrio cholerae O139 aquatic biofilms may not be a typically in the order of 108 CFU/mL outbreaks in 1992 lead scientists to fundamental component of the life (Beukes et al., 2001). Species isolated believe that this was the start of the cycle of human pathogens such as E. from Amasi and other traditional eighth pandemic of this disease. Within coli O157, biofilms are increasingly fermented milks in previous studies ten months the strain had spread to recognised as an important reservoir of include Lactobacillus plantarum,

48 March 2007 Lactococcus lactis, Leuconostoc Figure 1: mean log numbers to have a bacteriolytic mode of action lactis, Lactobacillus delbrueckii and of E. Coli in LACTO fermented (Todorov & Dicks, 2004). Lactobacillus helveticus (Feresu & at ambient temperature for 24 LACTO fermentation was more Muzondo,1990; Beukes et al., 2001; hours and stored at 5OC inhibitory to E. coli strains than the Mathara et al.,2004). natural fermentation of raw milk, It is necessary to know the probably due to the more rapid behaviour of pathogens during acidification by industrial starter manufacture and storage of fermented cultures. Although bacteriocin dairy products since it is possible that production in natural milk pathogenic bacteria may gain access to fermentations by LAB is inhibitory to these products before, during and after the growth and survival of E. coli and fermentation. The purpose of this study unpasteurised milk and to an even other pathogenic species, the E.coli was therefore to determine the fate of greater extent by 5-7 logs during strains under study were not eliminated pathogenic and non-pathogenic E.coli traditional fermentation of pasteurized by the fermentation process. High during fermentation of traditionally milk. However, numbers declined after standards of hygiene should therefore fermented milk and LACTO (an the initial 24 hours of fermentation by be observed during milking and industrial equivalent prepared from up to 3 logs after a further 48 hours fermentation of milk to minimize pasteurized milk and mesophilic starter storage at ambient or refrigeration potential health hazards from enteric cultures), during the fermentation temperatures. pathogens, particularly where process and storage of the fermented production is to be scaled up for products at ambient and refrigeration Figure 2: PCR band patterns of LAB isolates commercialisation. temperatures. from Zimbabwean traditional fermented I would like to thank the National The two pathogenic strains (104/8 milks University of Science and Technology, and 0125K70) used in the study were Zimbabwe, SARBIO and the National human strains obtained from the Public Research Foundation (South Africa) for Health Laboratories, Parirenyatwa financial support and SfAM for an Hospital, Harare. The non-pathogenic award from the President’s Fund for strain (NP1620) was a stock culture attendance at the Food-Micro 2006 maintained at the University of conference in Bologna, Italy. Zimbabwe, Department of Biological Sciences. Sufficient of each of the 24 References hour broth cultures of the three E.coli ■ Beukes, E.M., Bester, B.H. & Mostert, J.F. strains were added to unpasteurised, (2001) The Microbiology of South African pasteurised and freshly inoculated traditional fermented milks. Int. Jnl of ‘LACTO’ milk samples to give Food Microbiology 63, 189-197. approximately 103 E.coli cells/mL. All 1. AMA-1 (Traditional) ■ De Vuyst, L & Vandamme, E. J. (1994) the milk treatments were left to ferment 2. AMA-2 (Traditional) Bacteriocins of lactic acid bacteria: at ambient temperature for 24 hours, 3. AMA-K (Traditional) Microbiology, Genetics and applications. after which one set was stored at 4. INKO-3 (Commercial) Blackie Academic and Professional, ambient temperature, while the other 5. Control (L. plantarum) London. set was refrigerated at 50C for a further 6. Control (L. plantarum) 8. 50bp Marker ■ Feresu,S.B. & Muzondo,M.I. (1990) 96 hours. The pH, percentage lactic Identification of some lactic acid bacteria 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 acid, and numbers of E.coli were from two Zimbabwean fermented milk determined at 24 hour intervals. Lactic products. World Jnl of Microbiology and acid bacteria were identified to species Lactobacillus plantarum was Biotechnology 6, 178-186. level according to sugar fermentation shown to be dominant in the naturally ■ Mathara, J.M., Schillinger, U., Kutima, reactions (API 50 CHL Biomeriéux, fermented milk samples (Figure 2), P.M., Mbugua, S.K. & Holzapfel, W. (2004) Lactococcus lactis Marcy-L’Etiole, France), and while was also Isolation, identification and preliminary identifications confirmed isolated from the Amasi samples under characterization of the dominant by PCR analyses. study. A cell-free supernatant containing microorganisms of kule naoto: the Massai Both pathogenic strain 104/8 and bacteriocin from strain AMA-K traditional fermented milk in Kenya. Int. non-pathogenic strain NP 1620 identified as Lactobacillus plantarum Jnl of Food Microbiology 9, 269-278. Listeria decreased in numbers by 2 logs in the also inhibited the growth of ■ Todorov, S.D & Dicks, L.M.T. (2004) first 24 hours of ‘LACTO’ fermentations innocua Enterococcus faecalis, Partial characterization of bacteriocins and could not be recovered after a Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus produced by four lactic acid bacteria further 24 hours at 50C. Strain sakei, Enterococcus faecalis, Listeria isolated from regional South African barley 0125K70 could be recovered after 48 monocytogenes, Streptococcus beer. Annals of Microbiology 54, 51-61. hours, although there was a 2 log pneumoniae and Klebsiella reduction in numbers (Figure 1). All pneumoniae. The bacteriocin was Hilda Nyati E. coli three strains multiplied by 3-6 determined, based on Tricine — SDS National University of Science and 0 logs after 24 hours at 20 C during PAGE to be 2.9 kDa in size, and was Technology, Zimbabwe. traditional fermentation of also shown by atomic force microscopy

March 2007 49 commercial

Bacillus - ACT 2007 Oslo, Norway, June 17-21 2007

The International Conference on Bacillus anthracis, B. cereus, and B. thuringiensis (Bacillus-ACT2007) will be held in Oslo, Norway, June 17 - 21 2007 These bacteria comprises a genetically closely related group of gram-positive bacteria exhibiting a highly divergent range of phenotypic properties. Many bacteria classified as B.cereus are widely distributed in the environment, probably with reservoirs in the soil and as commensal inhabitants of the intestines of insects. Occasionally they cause food poisoning and soft tissue infections particularly of the eye. Other members of the group are classified as B.thuringiensis and are primarily insect pathogens which like B. cereus can occasionally cause human infection. A third pathogenic phenotype is exhibited by B.anthracis, which infects mammals and occasionally humans, and has gained notoriety as a consequence of its use as a bio- weapon. The diversity of phenotype within this group, often mediated by plasmid encoded factors, has resulted in the establishment of distinct, organism specific, research communities focusing on issues such as food spoilage, the development of bio-pesticides, animal and human health and bio-defense. Given the common genetic background of these organisms a major aim of Bacillus-ACT2007 is to facilitate the exchange of ideas between these different communities. The conference, under the chairmanship of Dr Anne-Brit Kolsto, represents a fusion of two meetings, the International Conference on Anthrax, and the International Workshop on the Molecular Biology of Bacillus cereus, B. anthracis, and B. thuringiensis. The mission of the conference, which is being supported by a generous grant from SfAM, is to bring together researchers involved in scientific research related to the physiology, genetics, genomics, molecular biology, and pathogenesis of this group of bacteria. The deadline for the submission of abstracts was the 15th February while registration opens on 1 April and closes 4 May. Further details can be obtained by visiting the website at: http://bacillus-act07.uio/act07/ Les Baillie, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, Baltimore, Maryland -ICROBIOLOGY 4ECHNICAL3PECIALIST3ANDWICH +ENT

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50 March 2007 The Rosco Resource Identification Schemes and Susceptibility Testing for most clinically important micro-organisms.

Diatab Users Guide Neo-Sensitabs Users describes more than 80 Guide covers routine diffusion different types of identification susceptibility testing and special tests applicable to species from situations such as VISA, GISA, A (Abiotrophia) to Y (Yersinia). MRSA, ESBL and detection of resistance mechanisms.

To access these guides follow the link from the BioConnections website

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Helping solve microbiological problems BioConnections Thorp Arch Estate, Wetherby, Leeds LS23 7BJ. UK Tel: 01937 541717 Fax: 01937 541774

Join the Washing and decontamination of fresh product forum at CCFRA

The forum provides members with the opportunity to:

 Discuss specific issues and new developments relating to fruit and vegetable washing and decontamination

 Exchange ideas between academics and industrialists with a view to identifying novel and alternative approaches to decontamination

Full (annual) members receive two issues of the forum bulletin and can attend two themed seminars.

Associate (annual) membership is ‘bulletins and papers’ only membership.

For full details contact Linda Everis +44(0)1386 842000 or visit the www.labm.com CCFRA website.

For further information visit: TM www.campden.co.uk/research/fresh.htm THE GATEWAY TO MICROBIOLOGY e-mail: [email protected] Topley House | 52 Wash Lane | Bury | Lancashire BL9 6AS | UK CCFRA, Chipping Campden Tel: +44 (0)161 797 5729 | Fax: +44 (0)161 762 9322 Gloucestershire, GL55 6LD. UK Email: [email protected] Tel: +44(0)1386 842000 Fax: +44(0)1386 842100 *+,-./01

March 2007 51 commercial

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52 March 2007 Lab M introduce Fraser laboratory, we are charged with implementing the PLUS validation to these exacting standards. This Broth includes comparing the performance of the kit with the established reference method — for PLUS PLUS Fraser Broth and Half Fraser Broth are example, performance of kits for Salmonella recently introduced variants of Lab M’s standard would be compared with EN ISO 6579. We can Fraser Broth medium for the isolation of Listeria now carry out validation under a range of species. The new media are formatted to give schemes including AFNOR, AOAC International, improved results in both traditional culture and Microval and Nordval, as well as bespoke ELISA methods. In common with all Lab M’s validation for kit manufacturers. This recognition Fraser Broth range, they meet the specifications of our capabilities is a gratifying reflection of of the ISO 11290 standard for the detection and CCFRA’s world standing in analytical enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes. Fraser microbiology." Broth is traditionally used as a secondary enrichment medium for the isolation of all Listeria further information species. With the incorporation of half strength supplement, it can also be used as a primary visit: www.campden.co.uk resuscitation or or email: [email protected] enrichment medium. Fraser BrothPLUS and Engineering for Science Half Fraser BrothPLUS corporate differ from conventional These days it’s all bulk formulations in the buying, economies of inclusion of selective scale, mass marketing news agents in the base and very little medium. The ferric manufacturing The latest news, views and microbiological ammonium citrate (FAC) flexibility. Many of developments from our corporate members component is provided as today’s larger a supplement to be added manufacturers can only after sterilisation. This offer a standard format has been shown product range. to give improved However, one company, Don Whitley Scientific selectivity with pure cultures and food samples. Ltd, is different. The option to omit FAC from the final medium is Started by microbiologist, Don Whitley, the advantageous where ELISA techniques are used, company maintains an independent, innovative reducing the incidence of false positive results. stance. With an award winning range of well- Both new media are tested in accordance with, researched products to automate or semi- and meet the technical specifications of ISO/TS automate laboratory practices (from filling 11133-2 standard for the microbiology of food anaerobic jars to counting colonies), the company and animal feedstuffs. has the engineering knowledge to go one step further information further. How many manufacturers do you know who visit: www.labm.com would be willing to work with you to develop a solution to a particular problem you have? Are you familiar with many laboratory equipment AFNOR expert status for suppliers who would be able to make CCFRA modifications to a piece of equipment to fit in with your requirements? There are many test kits for food microbes. But Don Whitley Scientific Ltd has been in how does a food company know whether a business for over 30 years, inventing, particular kit meets their needs? This is usually manufacturing, supplying, servicing and addressed by looking at the kits validation status supporting laboratory equipment, particularly for — in other words, whether it has been put microbiology applications. Scientists may associate through its paces by an independent laboratory as the company with spiral platers, anaerobic part of a recognised scheme. In 2006 CCFRA was workstations or the RABIT (Rapid Automated awarded expert laboratory status by AFNOR Bacterial Impedance Technique), but are often (Association Française de Normalisation), a major unaware that the company has many other strings European method validation scheme. Dr Roy to its bow. Betts, Head of Microbiology comments: further information "The food industry can have confidence in kits validated by AFNOR, as the validation has to visit: www.dwscientific.co.uk conform to BS EN ISO 16140. As an expert or contact us on 01274 595728

March 2007 53 commercial

New Rapid Invitrogen launch new Tests for Application Notes ESbL Invitrogen Environmental Diagnostics Detection (formerly Dynal Biotech Microbiology) has recently launched a new series of Application The Kanto Chemical Notes which highlight new or interesting product Company, Japan has applications or developments. The Application recently appointed Notes are written by customers or research and Mast Group as their development scientists. Currently there are four authorised representative and exclusive European titles available in this series: distributor for their Cica Beta range of tests for 1. Enhanced Automated Immunomagnetic extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESbL) Separation (eAIMS) for Escherichia coli O157 detection. 2. Norwegian Institute for Food and The Cica Beta products incorporate the use of Environmental Analysis response to an a novel chromogenic compound to differentiate “E. coli Outbreak” (using Dynabeads® between the various beta lactamase enzymes and EPEC/VTEC O103) subsequently permit confirmation of an organism 3. Getting more out of US EPA Method as an ESbL, Metallo - beta lactamase (MBL), or 1623: Cryptosporidium and Giardia in AmpC producer. Separate kits are available for water by filtration/IMS/FA each type of beta lactamase enzyme and each kit 4. Automated IMS (AIMS) using the is colour coded for simple identification. The kits BeadRetriever™ instrument for the can be used individually or in combination for detection of Cryptosporidium oocycts comprehensive enzyme profiling. from environmental water samples The kits are easy to use; suspect colonies are streaked onto each strip and identification is further information made by a clear colour change from yellow to visit: www.invitrogen.com/microbiology red. Results are available within 15 minutes or contact [email protected] permitting rapid and accurate identification. The Cica Beta tests supplement the existing range of Mast's susceptibility and identification products and confirm our dominance as the Focus on Pall Medical market leader in ESbL detection. Pall Medical provides a diverse range of information further information filtration membranes to the healthcare market for critical contamination control. Specifically Are you a corporate visit: www.mastgrp.com engineered for the filtration of hospital water, member of the Society? or email Anne Kilpatrick: [email protected] If so, this section of respiration, parenteral therapy, general surgical Microbiologist is for applications and blood component therapy, you. Here you can including autologous applications, our filtration publish short press Bio-Rad launch SaSELECT products play a key role in control of healthcare releases, acquisition associated infections and blood safety. We are notices, news of new Bio-Rad Laboratories are pleased to sensitive to the intense pressures for cost- staff appointments, announce the launch of our new chromogenic containment and to the increased focus on technical developments and much more. media, SaSELECT, for the isolation and direct preventative care. identification of Staphylococcus aureus. This As a result, our emphasis is on not only Each corporate member complements our existing MRSASELECT improving patient outcomes, but also reducing of the society may publish up to 200 chromogenic media for the detection of the overall cost of providing that care. We are words on a topic Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. dedicated to improving the process of all health related to their field of We have also launched a newly modified latex care applications where filters are required and to activity in each issue of test for the detection of seven different soluble creating solutions for our customers. Microbiologist. For antigens in CSF, Serum and Urine specimens The Pall-Aquasafe Water Filter range further information called Pastorex™ Meningitis, offering a highly includes variants to protect against Legionella spp. please contact Lucy Harper by email at: sensitive, rapid and easy to use test. or other waterborne microorganisms in water [email protected] Bio-Rad offer a wide range of rapid latex tests used for drinking or showering. They provide an within our Pastorex™ range for the detection of instantaneous, validated, clinical barrier to the Both corporate Staphylococci, Streptococci, Meningitis, Rotavirus, passage of a variety of waterborne contaminants, members and ordinary members of the Society Cryptococcus, Candia, and Aspergillus. protecting both hospital staff and patients. will find a wealth of useful information and further information further information resources in this visit: www.bio-rad.com visit: www.pall.com section. or email: [email protected]. Email: [email protected]

54 March 2007 BD Diagnostic Systems

Solutions for Industrial & Clinical Microbiology

BD Diagnostics 21 Between Towns Road Cowley Oxford OX4 3LY Tel: 01865 781677 Fax: 01865 781528 www.bd.com BD, BD Logo and all other trademarks are the property of Becton, Dickinson and Company. ©2005 BD. of Becton, Dickinson and Company. the property BD, BD Logo and all other trademarks are INNOVATION IN FOOD MICROBIOLOGY

Inhibigen™ Technology: A NEW DIMENSION IN SELECTIVE MICROBIOLOGY

Oxoid has developed a unique, new class of selective agents known as Inhibigens™. When added to a culture medium, these molecules provide highly specific selectivity and allow improved recovery of often stressed target organisms.

Inhibigen™ technology, which is currently subject to a patent application, involves the use of an inhibitor molecule linked to a specific substrate. In this bound state, the inhibitor is non-toxic - however if taken up by a cell and cleaved from the substrate, the inhibigen molecule will prevent the organism from replicating. Only organisms with the required uptake mechanism and specific enzyme to cleave the inhibitor substrate complex will be affected. This allows very specific inhibition of competing, non-target organisms.

Unlike conventional selective agents, such as antibiotics, Inhibigens™ can be engineered to have no inhibitory effect on the target organism - even when the cells are stressed. This means that recovery of specific organisms is improved in two ways - by reducing the growth of competing flora and by minimising exposure to potentially inhibitory components.

Oxoid Salmonella Chromogenic Medium Mark II (OSCM II) is the first ever selective culture medium to incorporate Inhibigen™ technology, combining it with familiar chromogenic technology to provide excellent isolation and identification of Salmonella colonies.

The Inhibigen™ used in OSCM II specifically inhibits the growth of E. coli, a common competing organism in Salmonella investigations, whilst novobiocin and cefsulodin at carefully selected levels, inhibit the growth of other competing flora, such as Proteus and Pseudomonas. Two chromogens are also added to the medium, allowing the differentiation of Salmonella colonies (bright purple) from other The R&D team responsible for Oxoid’s new Inhibigen™ technology organisms, such as Klebsiella and Enterobacter (blue).

The combination of these principles makes it easier to identify Salmonella colonies and reduces the number of false positive results requiring follow-up investigations. With OSCM II you can experience a new level of efficiency in your laboratory. For more information please speak to your local Oxoid representative or contact Val Kane, Oxoid Ltd, on 01256 841144, email: [email protected]

Inhibigen™ technology - a new dimension in selective microbiology.

Oxoid Limited, Wade Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG24 8PW, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1256 841144 Fax: +44 (0) 1256 329728 Email: [email protected] www.oxoid.com