Center for Biofilm Engineering

News Update: 

July, 2003

Volume 6, Issue 7

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Research Highlights

Paper Spotlight by Marty Hamilton

In biofilm research, experimental protocols often require many technical steps, some of which require monitoring, decisions, or intervention by the experimenter. Because of the subjective components, the experimental results are potentially affected by significant technician-to-technician variation. Such variation profoundly influences standard error calculations, significance tests, and other statistical summaries. It has been surprising to me, however, that when Center for Biofilm Engineering experimenters checked, they usually found that the variability among technicians was negligible. In general, given the inherent biological variation and difficulty of measuring biofilm systems, one need not be concerned with variation among technicians. Nevertheless, each new experimental protocol that involves potentially subjective steps should be checked. This paper describes two cases where protocols used in the Center for Biofilm Engineering did exhibit significant technician effects. Both cases pertain to the extraction of quantitative information from microscope images. This paper describes the experimental design and statistical analyses that were used for those determinations.

Webb, D., M.A. Hamilton, G.J. Harkin, S. Lawrence, A.K. Camper and Z. Lewandowski (2003) Assessing Technician Effects When Extracting Quantities from Microscope Images, Journal of Microbiological Methods, 53:97-106.

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A Biofilm Symposium for Dentists

Twenty dental professionals met in Bozeman, MT, for "The Biofilm Revolution Symposium," held June 19-21, 2003. One day of the symposium was spent at the CBE working in various labs with the research staff. The symposium was sponsored by Drs. Lawrence Funt and Bill Costerton.

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Congratulations and Farewell

Dr. Mark Shirtliff will be leaving the CBE in early August for a position as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. Mark arrived at the CBE nearly three years ago after completing his Ph.D. at the University of Texas Medical Branch to work on a project related to biofilms in drinking water systems. After setting this project on its path, he quickly turned to investigating Staphylococcus biofilms, with a particular emphasis on S. aureus. His research has utilized proteomics to investigate the differences between the physiology of biofilm and suspended S. aureus, and recently he has incorporated arrays to determine gene expression (transcription) differences in these populations. Mark has been instrumental in training staff and students in the laboratories, has mentored numerous undergraduates, and has been a prolific writer of grants and peer-reviewed publications. In addition to his scientific contributions, we will miss his 3 a.m. emails, excessive coffee consumption, and warped sense of humor. We wish you the best in your new endeavors.

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CBE Researchers Provide Biofilm Science Training in New Series of E-Learning Short Courses

Drs. Bill Costerton and Phil Stewart are featured faculty members in a new series of science
e-learning short courses offered by Cytergy (www.CYTERGY.com). TAC Member Companies are eligible for a 25% discount off any Cytergy products, including both single user and enterprise product licenses. Order by telephone (mention our TAC Coupon Code: CBE603) to receive your discount: +1.406.582.0846.

Biofilm Biotechnology: Recent Advances in the Understanding of Proteomics, Genomics, and Signaling in Biofilms, by Dr. Bill Costerton
http://www.cytergy.com/cgi-bin/cytergy/CW_SHC_2003_0007.html

Battling Chronic Infections: A State of the Science Review of Antimicrobial Resistance in Biofilms, by Dr. Phil Stewart
http://www.cytergy.com/cgi-bin/cytergy/CW_SHC_2003_0010.html

Medical Biofilm Microbiology: The Role of Microbial Biofilms in Disease, Chronic Infections, and Medical Device Failure, by Dr. Bill Costerton
http://www.cytergy.com/cgi-bin/cytergy/CW_SHC_2003_0011

In addition to Drs. Costerton and Stewart, biofilm science courses are also offered at Cytergy's WWW site by other friends of the CBE, including Dr. Buddy Ratner (UWEB), Dr. Joel Berg (University of Washington), and Dr. Chris McInnes (Philips Oral Healthcare).

Cytergy short courses are available in CD-ROM or Internet (streaming) formats, and can be
purchased online, or by phone, fax, or mail. Purchase orders and credit cards are accepted.

Cytergy is releasing several more biofilm science training products in 2003.
 

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Media Coverage

Dimensions of Dental Hygiene

An interview with Drs. Bill Costerton and Paul Stoodley, “A Closer Look,” is published in this month’s issue of Dimensions of Dental Hygiene June/July 2003; 1(3):36-37. See http://www.dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com/june_issue/closer_look.htm

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Boston Globe

Germs Throw Cold Water on Hot Tub Hygiene

By Cathryn M. Delude, Globe Correspondent, 5/6/2003

Cue the ''Psycho'' music. There's a stranger in your shower, though it's not a knife-wielding murderer. It's a mysterious consortium of bacteria embedded in shower curtain slime. They also hover in the mist above hot tubs and swim with you in pools. Before you ease onto those pulsating jets of water to soothe your aches and pains, consider that the bacteria in indoor hot tubs, pools, and even decorative fountains and waterfalls may pose a health risk.
 

Complete story.....

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Boston Globe

Germs Can Lurk in Water Bottles

By Cathryn M. Delude, Globe Correspondent, 6/3/2003

Dr. Ryan Jordan was featured in the Boston Globe in an article entitled: “Germs can lurk in water bottles,” published on June 3.

Dr. Jordan’s work on biofilms and backcountry hygiene has established him as the nation’s leading authority on backcountry water quality and treatment among backcountry equipment manufacturers, outdoor writers, and outdoor recreation publications, receiving national recognition in magazines such as Boundary Waters and Outside. Dr. Jordan remains active as an outdoor industry consultant, providing instruction and design guidance about backcountry water quality, waterborne diseases, water treatment chemicals, portable filters, and other technologies to state and federal land management agencies, outdoor equipment manufacturers, outdoor recreation program managers, and outdoor writers.

Dr. Jordan will be conducting a week-long field course this fall entitled: “The Science of Backcountry Health, Safety, and Hygiene,” a program in its third year. The course is open to a limited number (6-8 per year) of participants. Applications are currently being accepted – submit a letter of inquiry to jordan@biofilm.org. Cost is $2,000 for the 5-day field program, which is instructed in the context of a 30-50 mile backpacking trip in Wyoming’s Rocky Mountains. This years’ course will be based out of Jackson, Wyoming, with field training being held in either the nearby Teton or Wind River mountain ranges. Continuing professional education credit is available to eligible participants. The course is open only to land management agency employees, employees of chemical or technology manufacturers, and journalists. Spaces are limited, so plan early. The course is usually filled by July 31.

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Education

CBE Undergraduate is Looking for Reasons Behind Sinus Infections

Sinus infections afflict both adults and children and are thought to be caused by a biofilm. Biofilms are sticky clusters of bacteria that can cause a variety of illnesses and can be hard to treat because their sticky coating keeps antibiotics out. Ellen Swogger, a chemical engineering undergraduate, is currently working on a project to identify the bacteria found in mice sinuses to gain a better understanding of sinus infections. Read the full story at:

http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/education/archives/Students%20in%20the%20News070903.htm

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Upcoming CBE Workshops

Microsensors Workshop

August 11-15, 2003
Registration: see http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/whats_new/workshops.htm
 

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Biofilm Methods Workshop
 

October 20-21, 2003
The workshop will cover:
- analysis and repeatability of biofilm measurements
- aseptic technique
- biofilm reactor design considerations
- four stages of biofilm study (growth, sampling, treatment, analysis)
- reactor protocols (set up, inoculation, treatment)
- anaerobic reactor design and operation
- microscopy for biofilm enumeration
- using fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) probes to study biofilms, and
- biosafety instruction

The cost of the two-day workshop is $1500. If you are interested in more information about the workshop, please contact Paul Sturman (paul_stu@erc.montana.edu).
 

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CBE People in Action

Zbigniew Lewandowski presented “Microbial Fuel Cells,” ONR Program Review, Coolfont, West Virginia. April 9-11, 2003.

Mark Shirtliff presented “Evaluation of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms” Department of Microbiology, University of New Hampshire, May 6, 2003.

Zbigniew Lewandowski presented “Mapping Toxin Expression in Biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus,” Procter & Gamble's 2002 TSS Researchers Meeting in Cincinnati, OH. June 3-4, 2003.

Bill Costerton as invited speaker presented "The Role of Biofilm in Device-Related and Other Chronic Bacterial Infections," Pediatric Otolaryngology Grand Rounds, Seattle Children's Hospital, June 11-12, 2003.

Paul Stoodley as invited speaker presented "Biofilms as Dynamic Complex Systems: Implications for Control," European Federation of Periodontology EUROPERIO 4 Berlin, Germany, June 19-21, 2003.

Rick Veeh taught a molecular techniques course for application to biomedical and health issues, Rome, Italy, June 22-July 3, 2003. This workshop was arranged through our colleagues, Marcos Artini and Laura Selan, at the University of Rome "La Sapienza".

Phil Stewart as invited speaker presented “Current Protocols in Biofilm Research,” 17th Annual Bacterial Adherance and Biofilm Conference, Okayama, Japan, July 4, 2003.

Phil Stewart as invited speaker presented “Frontiers of Biofilm Research,” Keynote Lecture, 17th Annual Bacterial Adherance and Biofilm Conference, Okayama, Japan, July 5, 2003.

 
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CBE Annual Report

A web version of the annual report was created by Peg Dirckx.  The report can be viewed with images or in plain text. Appendices have been separated into separate files.
http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/AnnualReports/default.htm

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See the BiofilmsOnline.com July issue at http://www.BiofilmsOnline.com.

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Biofilms Journal

Announcement and Call for Papers
See http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/newsarchives/Biofilms%20Journal/default.htm

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Recent Web Updates

Check the Recent Web Updates link located on the CBE home page, to view the latest information posted on the CBE web.

See <http://www.erc.montana.edu/Recent%20Web%20Updates/default.htm> 

The CBE News Update is a listserve newsletter. If you need to subscribe or unsubscribe from the listserve, follow the directions at the following CBE website.

http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/newsarchives/subscribe.htm

An alternative to subscribing to the listserve is to view the CBE News Update on our web page at http://www.erc.montana.edu/Ind-Col99-SW/Current_Newsletter/default.htm. Newsletter archives can be found at http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/newsarchives/index.htm