MARCH 2014
A F F I L I AT E S L E T T E R The official newsletter for FEMS Affiliates
Yeast: a model and a rebel Also in this issue: Publications Page Yeast Society Page Association for General and Applied Microbiology FEMS 40th Anniversary Anniversary Virtual Issue
Deadlines FEMS-Sponsored Meetings Microbiology TidBits
The spotlight is on yeast. From baking bread to research on life and death, yeast proves to be a versatile and helpful model for research. Recently, two issues dedicated to yeast came out: Yeast Cell aging and death (FEMS Yeast Research) and Yeast as models in cell biology (FEMS Microbiology Reviews). On top of that, yeast is a subject of research in our other journals, both as a model and as a rebel We challenge you to get your portion of yeast here! FEMS Yeast Research: Cell aging and death is a special issue for which Austen R. Ganley and Dina Petranovic have collected and edited 16 Mini Reviews that provide an overview of research in the field of yeast cell aging and death. This is a highly relevant topic as it is associated with many human diseases. The many excellent papers in this thematic issue illustrate very well how yeast can be used as a model organism for studying human diseases.
In the introduction film, the editors explain: “(…) much of the interest in cell aging and death research comes from the parallels that have been found between yeast and more complex organisms, particularly ourselves.” Some of the reviews also are making the comparison with mammals. The special issue offers an update on the status quo, both for the researchers new to the field, and for those who are already active in the subject. Keen on finding out more on yeast? Why not read on in the Publications Page or apply for the 10th International Meeting on Yeast Apoptosis.
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Yeast as a model The latest Thematic Issue of FEMS Microbiology Reviews digs deeply into the subject of yeast as models in cell biology, reviewing nine papers on the subject, covering a broad range of fields in which yeasts as models continue contributing seminal discoveries. These cover very diverse topics, including DNA structure, chromosome biology, cellular organization, and physiology. While this topic choice represents only a fraction of those in which yeast models continue to uncover fundamental concepts, the Editors Jure Piskur, Sophie Martin and Martin Kupiec hope that this thematic Issue will provide the readers of FEMS Microbiology Reviews insights into the breadth of research using yeast models.
The yeast actin cytoskeleton What are some of the important insights generated by the study of actin cytoskeleton in two important yeast models the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe? Mishra et al. DOI: 10.1111/1574-6976.12064
Kinetochore composition and its function: lessons from yeasts Reviewing the current understanding of the composition, assembly, functions and regulation of kinetochores revealed mainly through studies on fission and budding yeasts. The reviewers focus especially on the molecular mechanisms underlying this regulation. Yamagishi et al. DOI: 10.1111/1574-6976.12049
Biology of telomeres: lessons from budding yeast An overview of all the aspects of telomere biology investigated in yeast, which continues to provide new insights into this complex and important subject, which has significant medical implications, especially in the fields of aging and cancer. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has provided many fundamental concepts in telomere biology, which were later found to be conserved in all organisms. M. Kupiec DOI: 10.1111/1574-6976.12054
Physiological and environmental control of yeast prions Physiological and environmental modulation of yeast prions points to new opportunities for pharmacological intervention / prophylactic measures targeting general cellular systems rather than the properties of individual amyloids and prions. Chernova et al. DOI: 10.1111/1574-6976.12053 P U B L I C AT I O N S PA G E
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Yeast Research MiniReview Apoptosis regluation by sphingolipids Bakers yeast can be used to understand how sphingolipids regulate cell death, with potential impacts on novel therapies for human diseases associated with alterations of sphingolipid-dependant cell suicide processes. “Blues is to jazz what yeast is to bread. Without it, it’s flat.” — Carmen McRae
Yeast Research MiniReview Yeast prions: rebels with a cause One of the MiniReviews chosen in the special issue FEMS Yeast Research: Cell aging and death concerns yeast prions. Long viewed as agents of disease, the self-perpetuating protein conformations of prions are emerging as common mechanism for inheritance of adaptive traits in fungi.
Yeast apoptosis induced by exogenously added sphingolipids and involvement of sphingolipid metabolism in response to different stimuli.
Rego et al, 2013 DOI: 10.111/1567-1364.12096
Microbiology Ecology Research Article Influence of abiotic variables on culturable yeast diversity in two distinct Alpine glaciers. The influence of some abiotic variables (pH, dry weight, organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous) on culturable yeast diversity in two distinct, but adjacent Alpine glaciers (Glacier du Géant, France, and Miage Glacier, Italy) was investigated. In all, 682 yeast strains were isolated and identified by D1/D2 and ITS sequencing. Turchetti et al. DOI: 10.1111/1574-6941.12164 Yes, yeast prions can be more than agents of disease
Garcia and Jarosz, 2013 DOI: 10.1111/1567-1364.12116
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Microbiology Letters Research Letter FEMS
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Microbiology Letters Research Letter
How yeasts resist dehydration stress
How yeasts are protected against oxidative stress
Yeasts grow at very different potassium concentrations, adapting their intracellular cation levels to changes in the external environment. Mutants lacking the TRK2 gene accumulated significantly lower amounts of potassium ions in the stationary culture growth phase, and these lower amounts correlated with decreased resistance to dehydration/rehydration stress. Our results showed Trk2 to be the major potassium uptake system in stationary cells, and potassium content to be a crucial parameter for desiccation survival.
This article shows that deletion of PSK1 increased the sensitivity of yeast cells to oxidative stress (H2O2 treatment) and partially inhibited cell growth; however, the growth of the PSK2-deleted mutant was similar to that of the wild type. The results suggest that PSK1 induces SOD1 expression to protect against oxidative stress in yeast.
The Trk2 transporter (whose role in S. cerevisiae physiology was not clear) is important for cell viability in the stationary phase of growth and, moreover, it plays a crucial role in the yeast survival of dehydration/rehydration treatments.
Borovikova et al, 2013 DOI: 10.1111/15746968.12344/abstract
Huang et al, 2013 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6968.12329/abstract
“I’m a kind of fun-gi” The guys at Doodlecook made a great infographic explaining what yeast is. Fun for kids, good for education!
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Association for General and Applied Microbiology The Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM) promotes the exchange of scientific information and cooperation between its members with a view to harnessing the results of microbiological research for the benefit of society and the environment. VAAM was founded in 1985, but its roots date back to 1973 when the local branch of ASM was established in Germany. VAAM grew rapidly and is now one of the largest microbiological associations in Europe. Its members come from more than 100 institutions including universities, independent research centres and companies. Once a year the members meet at an annual conference where all areas of basic and applied microbiology are represented. With nearly 1,500 participants the conference brings together students, teachers, scientists and representatives from industry. It offers excellent opportunities to present the latest research results and discuss new findings. Travel grants and reduced registration fees are designed to encourage students to participate.
In 2008, VAAM introduced an award valued at EUR 10,000 for exceptional research being conducted by young scientists in the field of microbiology This year VAAM launched a novel initiative by proclaiming the “Microbe of the Year”. It includes a competition open to students both at school and university level. One of its aims is to promote the visibility of microbiology. The members’ journal is entitled BIOspektrum. Published seven times a year, it offers an overview of current developments in the life sciences and biotechnology, in addition to up-to-the-minute news in politics and economics.
The Executive Board appointed for the term 2013 – 2015 includes: President: Prof. Dieter Jahn, Technical University of Braunschweig 1st Vice-President: Prof. Oskar Zelder; BASF-SE, Ludwigshafen 2nd Vice-President: Prof. Gerhard Schmid; Wacker AG, München General Secretary: Prof. Hubert Bahl, University of A joint meeting of VAAM and DGHM – the GerRostock man Society for Hygiene and Microbiology – takes Treasurer and FEMS Delegate: Prof. Beate Averhoff, place every four years. The next joint meeting is Goethe University, Frankfurt scheduled to be held in Dresden from 5 to 8 October 2014. In addition to the annual conferences, VAAM’s 15 divisions organise numerous symposia, workshops and summer schools. These divisions comprise VAAM members grouped according to their specialist areas and cover the entire spectrum of microbial research. Every year VAAM awards PhD prizes in recognition of outstanding theses. These prizes are sponsored by various companies and are presented during the annual conferences. .
S O C I E T Y F E AT U R E
VAAM Head Office: General Manager: Dr Katrin Muth Mörfelder Landstraße 125 D-60598 Frankfurt am Main Phone: +49 (0)69/66056720 muth@vaam.de http://www.vaam.de www.fems-microbiology.org
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Anniversary Virtual Issue 37 years after the first release of FEMS Letters, FEMS journals are now internationally recognised in their respective fields attracting >2.4 million downloads in 2012. They provide an important vehicle for communicating microbiology research and also a major source of income to FEMS, which is used to fund its grants, fellowships and awards and other support for microbiology. The Virtual Issue Most influential FEMS publications consists of 10 of the most highly cited papers from the five FEMS Journals. A choice not based on numbers of citations alone, but aiming to highlight articles that made major contributions to microbiology. We hope that you will enjoy reading, or re-reading these papers.
Please make a note of our new address as per 28 March 2014: FEMS Central Office , Delftechpark 37a, 2628 XJ Delft, The Netherlands
Our new phone number is: +31-15-30 200 50 +31-15-30 200 51 Our new fax number is: (our email addresses remain the same)
You knew you could find us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. But did you also know our ‘social community is growing daily? That on Twitter we now have more than a 1,000 followers and that our Facebook page has over 1,000 likes? It is a great inspiration for us to see what’s going on in the ‘virtual’ microbiology world and we love sharing that with you. So why not join us on @FEMSTweets or on facebook.com/FEMSMicro! Page shutdown Our Facebook account facebook.com/FEMSMicrobiology was already no longer active. Starting 1 April it will shut down permanently. Do you wish to follow everything we do on Facebook? Then link to us at facebook.com/FEMSMicro.
IMAGE CONTEST SEEING IS BELIEVING can you explain microbiology through images? 40TH ANNIVERSARY
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MICROBIOLOGY TIDBITS 30,000-year-old giant virus ‘comes back to life’ An ancient virus has “come back to life” after lying dormant for at least 30,000 years, scientists say. It was found frozen in a deep layer of the Siberian permafrost, but after it thawed it became infectious once again. The French scientists say the contagion poses no danger to humans or animals, but other viruses could be unleashed as the ground becomes exposed. Source: BBC
1 April 2014 1 September 2014 FEMS Meeting Attendance Grants 1 June 2014 1 December 2014 FEMS National & Regional Congresses Grants 15 June 2014 1 December 2014 FEMS Research Fellowships
FEMS-Sponsored Meetings, Spring 2014 1 A P R I L 2 014 VIBRIO 2014 United Kingdom
New hope for under-threat koalas A Queensland microbiologist is optimistic a new vaccine will save thousands of under-threat koalas. Professor Peter Timms from the University of the Sunshine Coast is conducting a two-year trial of a vaccine for koala Chlamydia with about 30 of the marsupials. Source: ABC
OPPORTUNITIES
2 A P R I L 2 014 From emerging to Pandemic Viruses France
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will launch a call to renew membership of its Scientific Committee and 8 Panels. The call will be published early April on the EFSA website.
9 A P R I L 2 014 6th European Spores Conference United Kingdom 15 M AY 2 014 9th International Conference on Cryptococcus and Cryptococcosis, ICCC9 Netherlands 2 8 M AY 2 014 5th Congress of Macedonian Microbiologists with International Participation Macedonia
The FEMS Affiliates Letter is a production of FEMS Central Office
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Harvard University is soliciting nominations for the 2014 Nat Sternberg Thesis Prize. This is a cash award given each year to a student for the most outstanding Ph.D. thesis in prokaryotic molecular biology. Deadline for submissions 4/15/13.
Applying for a Grant? Please visit the FEMS-Grants webpage for the revised regulations that will be valid as per 1 April. Delftechpark 37a, 2628 XJ Delft, The Netherlands T: 0031 15 302 0050 | F: 0031 15 302 0051 | E: fems@fems-microbiology.org
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