JANUARY 2014
A F F I L I AT E S L E T T E R The official newsletter for FEMS Affiliates
Publications Page Gut microbiota Graphical abstract Grants Corner FEMS Meeting Grants Society Page Serbian Microbiology Society Good Bugs, Bad Bugs Deadlines FEMS-Sponsored Meetings Microbiology TidBits
Listen to your gut After the hedonistic splurges indulged by many during the Holidays, came the voice of the gut. It asked for one thing only: healthy food please! Unfortunately, when you read this, many New Year’s resolutions have already been abandoned.
image by Dreamstime
Also in this issue:
Got milk? Gut yoghurt!
Online now (and later) For starters, have a look at the MiniReview on Gut microbiota-based translational biomarkers to prevent metabolic syndrome via nutritional Research on the gut modulation. a preview of FEMS EcolNo, we would not insinuate that you ogy’s Virtual Issue on gut microbiota use your intuition only. There is much that will be published in February. scientific research on the gut microFEMS’ resolution biota. You can even say it is sexy or profitable to add the word ‘probiotic’ As for our own New Year’s resolution, we hope to celebrate our 40th birthor ‘research’ to food. day this year and share many extras The ‘gut microbiota’ plays an imporwith you. What they are? That’s a tant role in human and animal health. surprise we like to keep a secret just a A role that is being researched, but little longer... that has not revealed all of its secrets yet. In highlighting some of the P.S. Do you want to be the first to be research we will hopefully inspire you notified about this Virtual Issue and FEMS anniversary celebrations? Then to unveil more of the secrets of gut follow us on Twitter or Facebook! microbiota. Surely a resolution stating, say, “I must lose 10 kilos” may be too strict to follow. But why not make a resolution to start listening to our guts?
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Gut microbiota The microbiota living in a person’s GI tract can be your best friend or your worst foe. Whether it is their impact on health or their role in breaking down explosives, we get to understand gut microbiota and how to ‘use’ them more and more with every research. The words of the late American humorist Josh Billings express it in an odd but stunningly striking way: “I have finally come to the konklusion that a good reliable set ov bowels iz worth more to a man than enny quantity of brainz.”
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FEMS Pathogens and Disease MiniReview Biofilm communities in the human gastrointestinal tract - How do they affect our health and disease? The GI tract contains the highest concentration of bacteria anywhere within the human body. It is constantly exposed to materials originating from the external environment, which help to maintain a constant supply of nutrients for its resident microbiota. A more helpful environment for biofilm formation is difficult to imagine. Go on a trip through the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The review article by Erik C. von Rosenvinge et al. will guide you from the esophagus through the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine (colon) and terminating in the rectum, describing all known biofilm communities residing and their effects on the human health and diseases. Erik C. von Rosenvinge et al. Pathogens and Disease Vol. 67, Issue 1, pages 25–38, 2013
FEMS Microbiology Ecology Research Article Modulating gut microbiota of Siberian sturgeon
Most of the host-microbiota interaction, whether beneficial of detrimental, happens here.
Gut microbiota play an important role in the health of aquatic vertebrates. There is increasing evidence that the microbial community of the intestinal tract provides both nutritional benefits and protection against pathogens in fish. Manipulation of the gut flora is therefore an important mechanism to achieve an increased feed efficiency, growth and health of fish in aquaculture. Zahra Geraylou et al. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Volume 86, Issue 2, pages 357–371, 2013
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FEMS Letters Research Letter Send in the sheep! Did you know sheep’s powerful gut flora can degrade high melting explosive HMX? Hillary L. Eaton et al. compared the ability of ruminal microorganisms to degrade octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) as consortia from whole rumen fluid (WRF), and individually as 23 commercially available ruminal strains, under anaerobic conditions. Their findings led to the conclusion that microorganisms from the rumen are sometimes capable as individuals in the bioremediation of other explosives, but they excel as a community in the case of HMX breakdown. Hillary L. Eaton et al. FEMS Letters Vol. 350, Issue 1, pages 34–41, 2014
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FEMS Microbiology Reviews Review Article Small animals, big diversity: insects’ gut microbial communities Different insect groups are host to a broad diversity of gut microbial communities, which vary in complexity, extent of adaptation to the host gut environment, and roles in host ecology and function. For instance, the social interactions of termites, ants, and bees provide opportunities for transfer of gut bacteria, and some of the most distinctive and consistent gut communities, with specialized beneficial functions in nutrition and protection, have been found in social insect species. Still, gut bacteria of other insects have also been shown to contribute to nutrition, protection from parasites and pathogens, modulation of immune responses, and communication. Philipp Engel & Nancy A. Moran FEMS Microbiology Reviews, Special Issue: Hostassociated microbiota: impact on health and disease, Volume 37, Issue 5, pages 699–735, 2013
A sheep only has one stomach. The stomach is divided into four different compartments, leading to the incorrect belief that sheep have four stomachs.
‘Social’ operations of for instance ants provide opportunities for transferring gut bacteria
“Save money on your next pair of Nike shoes, save money on the next gym membership, and get your microbiome sequence. It may be the best thing you do for your health in the next year”. Jeff Leach, the American gut project P U B L I C AT I O N S PA G E
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Graphical abstract & one sentence summary Are you looking to present your paper? Then have a look at the new feature of the FEMS journals: the graphical abstract and one sentence summary. It may require some practice, but once you have got the grip of it, your endeavors will be rewarded. The graphical abstract and one sentence summary aim to attract and engage both the dedicated researcher and the casual browser. How? By providing a visual, short, non-technical summary highlighting the novelty of the article. And although the one sentence summary is not limited to 140 characters, it is just the right size for browsing digital news.
In a blink of an eye
So, as an author, you get more people to find your paper and as a reader, you save time. Isn’t that a win-win situation?
Show and tell
How do you find the paper you are looking for, fast? This question is important to our journals. We are proud to say that we can now offer a graphical abstract and one sentence summary with all of our new articles. They are on the list of the early view and current issues of all our journals. Are you submitting an article? Get inspired and make sure your article is found by using the right image and words.
Example of a graphical abstract and one sentence summary as shown in FEMS Yeast Research
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Call for application FEMS Meeting Grants
Application checklist
FEMS Meeting Grants application deadline 1 March 2014.
FEMS Meeting Grants regulations apply to all applications; the requirements for the applicant consist of but are not limited to the following:
The call is directed to scientific conferences, laboratory workshops, and training courses in the European area planned for 2015.
• You are a meeting organizer • The meeting that you are planning is microbiology-related
The maximum amount of a Meeting Grant is EUR 15 000. The Meeting Grant may only be used to support the attendance of:
• This microbiology-related meeting is either a scientific conference, laboratory workshop and/or training course
• Young Scientists (minimum of 60% and a maximum of 80% of the total grant value)
• This meeting will be held in Europe
• Invited Speakers (minimum of 20% and a maximum of 40% of total grant value)
• The grant that you will receive will be used to support Young Scientist/s and Invited Speaker/s
On special request by the organizers and upon approval by the FEMS Grants Secretary, the total grant amount may be used to the sole support of early career scientists. The regulations and application form are available electronically. Please read them carefully and check the list at the right before contacting the FEMS Central Office. A list of events that have been granted a FEMS Meeting Grant is maintained online.
• You have read the regulations and fulfil ALL the requirements • You provide general and budgetary information • You provide the full programme with list of speakers • You have received endorsement by the FEMS Delegate of your FEMS Member Society • You have completed and signed the application form • You send the complete application to grants@fems-microbiology.org before the deadline of 1 March 2014
G R AN T S CO R N ER
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The Serbian Society for Microbiology (SSM) The Serbian Society for Microbiology (SSM) is an autonomous, non-profitable, professional and scientific organization that is established for the territory of Serbia. SSM is an independent association consisting of voluntary members and scientific workers in all fields of microbiology such as food microbiology, veterinary, medicine, ecology, molecular genetics, biotechnology, phytopathology, and to some extent medical microbiology. SSM is closely co-operating with similar national and international associations with an aim to exchange knowledge, experiences, personnel and publications. In former Yugoslavia (SFRY), SSM was a member of the Alliance of Yugoslav Microbiological Societies, later Yugoslav Society for Microbiology. This association became a FEMS member in 1974. Since 2008, SSM is an independent FEMS member Society. At the moment, SSM has about 240 members, coming from universities, research institutes, industry and different laboratories.
Promoting and teaching microbiology SSM annually organizes 3 seminars that contribute to the better understanding of the research interests and acivities of certain microbiological labs, and at the same time is an ideal place for the promotion of young microbiologists, one of the main goals of the SSM. Usually, meetings are sponsored by representatives of related companies. On April 15-16th SSM will organize Days of Serbian Microbiology, dedicated to antimicrobial therapy and food microbiology. With help from ASM (American Society of Microbiology), four renowned microbiologists from USA will give virtual speaker presentations.
MICROBIOLOGIA BALKANICA 2011
Meetings As the main activity, SSM biannually organizes National Congressess, and Serbian Microbiology Days alternate years between National Congressess. It hosted the FEMS sponsored MICROBIOLOGIA BALKANICA 2011, the 7th Balkan Congress of Microbiology, that attracted over 540 microbiologists, not only from the Balkans but from sixteen European countries. All of these meetings have been organized in collaboration with the Serbian Medical Microbiological Society.
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SSM promotes the understanding of microbiology to schools, students, media and the wider public, through different types of activities. The Society members are also involved in the various activities of the Accreditation Body of Serbia (ATS) concerning competence assessment of microbiological labs.
Science festival in Belgrade
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Good Goo G Go ood Bugs Bu Bug B u ug gss g “Hello there!”
Bad Bugs
“That’s Benny. He’s a helpful sort of microbe. Lots of microbes are.” “Not you again. Can’t you leave us in peace?” “And that’s Mal. He’s not very nice. A few microbes are horrible. They’re called germs.” “Charming, I’m not keen on you either.”
These are the opening lines of the characters in the digital radio show on microbiology. By listening, kids will be zooming through the microscope to hang out with a helpful microbe called Benny and a rather grumpy germ called Mal. Between the pair of them they’ll be telling kids about all their microbe mates and the important roles they have in our everyday lives, from making food to cleaning up our poo!
Listen to Good Bugs Bad Bugs on Fun Kids radio
Good Bugs, Bad Bugs is supported by the Society for General Microbiology. It is a great way to teach children about microbiology! Good Bugs Bad Bugs has proved to be a very successful venture for the Society – to date the features have reached over 173,000 listeners and the series has been downloaded 6537 times online with over 8000 views to the microbiology content. Are you inspired and do you wish to learn more? Then do not hesitate to contact Dr Theresa Hudson, the Education and Outreach Officer of the Society for General Microbiology.
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DEADLINES
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MICROBIOLOGY TIDBITS Weighing the deep continental biosphere In 1998, Whitman et al. were the first to estimate a continental subsurface biomass on the order of 1016–1017 g C. More recent data led to a reassessed value. Evidence continues to support a deep continental biomass estimate of 1016–1017 g C, or 2–19% of Earth’s total biomass. Source: FEMS Microbiology Ecology
1 March 2014 FEMS Meeting Grants (for meetings to be held in 2015) 1 April 2014 1 September 2014 FEMS Meeting Attendance Grants 15 June 2014 1 December 2014 FEMS Research Fellowships 1 June 2014 1 December 2014 FEMS National & Regional Congresses Grants
FEMS-Sponsored Meetings, Spring 2014 2 3 M A R C H 2 014 12th European Conference on Fungal Genetics, ECFG12 Spain 3 0 M A R C H 2 014 Stalked alpha-Proteobacteria and Relatives: from Genes to Structure Germany 1 A P R I L 2 014 VIBRIO 2014 United Kingdom 2 A P R I L 2 014 R E V I S E D D AT E ! ! From emerging to Pandemic Viruses France
Microbial switch button A marine bacterium generates structures that are essential for the metamorphosis of a tubeworm. Hydroides elegans is a tiny marine tubeworm causing millions of dollars in increased fuel costs each year by settling on ships and creating drag. Before it settles, though, it must receive a signal to transition. Researchers found that a set of bacterial genes form an organized extracellular array that is required for this switch. Source: The Scientist Pest was brought over by rodents in the past, and can still return Y pestis lineages that caused the Plague 800 years later were independent emergences from rodents into human beings. After the last outbreak, three more cases of the pest were documented. They may not be the last Sources: IB Times Independent Sing along Make a microbiology statement: lift up your voice. To the music of a negro spiritual an ode to the microbes arose: swing low, eukaryotes.
9 A P R I L 2 014 6th European Spores Conference United Kingdom
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