Center for Biofilm Engineering
News Update:
February, 2003
Volume 6, Issue 2
Research Highlights
Upcoming Technical Advisory Conference
The winter 2003 Technical Advisory Conference (TAC) will be held here in Bozeman, Montana, February 6th-7th. The updated agenda is posted on the CBE web at http://www.erc.montana.edu/Ind-Col99-SW/IAP/tac/AgendaTACFeb03.html. There will be sessions on:
• Distribution System Biofilms
• Biofilm Methods and Regulatory Update
• Medical Applications
• Mechanical Disruption of Biofilms
• Biofilm Structure and Function
Plus other topics of general biofilm interest.
ASM Journal Highlight
A paper from the Biofilm Control lab was selected for the Journal Highlights section of ASM News (February issue). The paper presents data showing that oxygen limitation and slow growth are more important than poor antibiotic penetration in determining the resistance of the biofilm to killing. The citation is:
Walters, M.C., F. Roe, A. Bugnicourt, M.J. Franklin, and P.S. Stewart. (2003). Contributions of antibiotic penetration, oxygen limitation, and low metabolic activity to tolerance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms to ciprofloxacin and tobramycin. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., 47(1):317-323
Monitoring Biofilms in Remote Environments
Drs. Paul Stoodley and Peter Suci were subcontracted to work on a project funded by a W.M. Keck Foundation grant from Portland State University. The entire project received $111,575 for one year with the possibility of another year of funding at the same level. The focus of the project is to develop a mobile biofilm field unit for microscopically observing biofilms in remote environments. Preliminary testing has already been conducted using the Western Transportation Institute’s mobile lab in collaboration with Robb Larson, Mechanical Engineering, Montana State University – Bozeman.
This work is being done in collaboration with Sherry L. Cady, Associate Professor of Geomicrobiology, Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Department of Geology, Portland State University.
Education
Research Opportunity for the CBE Industrial Associates: Sponsor an REU Student!
The CBE is extending an invitation to the Industrial Associates to submit a two-page research proposal appropriate for a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) student. The REU program brings talented students from across the US to the CBE for a ten-week intensive research program that includes laboratory research, oral and written communications development, ethics seminars and industrial interaction. For more information about this opportunity, go to http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/education/REU/industry.htm or contact Darla Goeres at darla_g@erc.montana.edu.
The deadline for submission is March 10, 2003.
Announcements
Invitation for Abstracts
Biofilms 2003 is set for Victoria BC, Canada, from November 1 - 6, 2003. The Organizing Committee has invited 28 speakers. The deadline for abstract submission is July 30, 2003, but early abstracts are invited and will be considered for platform presentations by the appropriate session chairperson. The meeting will generally follow the format of Snowbird 1996 and Biofilms 2000. The middle day of the meeting (Tuesday Nov 4th) will be dedicated to workshops and demonstrations of biofilm-specific techniques. Early registration is strongly recommended because attendance will be capped at 1,000.
New Journal for 2003
Cambridge University Press is delighted to announce the launch of a new journal, Biofilms, in November 2003. The journal aims to become the major forum for the publication of articles relevant to biofilms and the journal of choice for researchers in the biofilm field. Biofilms, published quarterly, will contain fully peer-reviewed papers on all aspects of biofilms. Main areas of coverage will include medical, environmental and industrial biofilms.
The editors welcome original research articles, review articles, book and Internet site reviews and letters to the editor on any research relevant to biofilms.
Call for Papers
The editors are now issuing this call for papers to be submitted to the journal. All papers will be peer-reviewed before acceptance.
Contributions for consideration for publication, accompanied by a covering email, should be submitted to:
Professor Michael Wilson
Editor-in-Chief, Biofilms
Department of Microbiology
Eastman Dental Institute
University College London
256 Grays Inn Road
London, WC1X 8LD, UK
Email: biofilms@Cambridge.org
All prospective authors should request author guidelines from the Editor-in-Chief (see above) or from www.cambridge.org.
J.W. Costerton,
USA, Associate Editor, Biofilms
Center for Biofilm Engineering
Montana State University – Bozeman, Montana, USA
Editorial Board
M. Brown, United Kingdom
H.J. Busscher, The Netherlands
D. de Beer, Germany
M. Brown, United Kingdom
A. Camper, USA
D. Davies, USA
H.H. Fang, China
H.C. Flemming, Germany
J.M. Ghigo, France
P. Gilbert, United Kingdom
P. Greenberg, USA
N. Hoiby, Denmark
S. Kjelleberg, Australia
R. Kolter, USA
H.M. Lappin-Scott, United Kingdom
G.T. MacFarlane, United Kingdom
D. Mack, Germany
K. Mahanty, New Zealand
P. Marsh, United Kingdom
S. Molin, Denmark
P.H. Nielsen, Denmark
G.A. O'Toole, USA
M. Parsek, USA
K. Sauer, USA
P. Stewart, USA
P. Stoodley, USA
I. Sutherland, United Kingdom
M. Wagner, Germany
P. Williams, United Kingdom
Upcoming CBE Workshops
Biofilm Methods Workshop
The CBE is offering a workshop on April 14-15, 2003, at Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA. 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 2-day workshop is $1500. If you are interested in more information about the workshop, please contact Paul Sturman (paul_stu@erc.montana.edu).
Biofilm Image Analysis Workshop
July 10-11, 2003
Registration: see http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/research/Structure_function/default.htm
Microsensors Workshop
August 11-15, 2003
Registration: see http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/research/Structure_function/default.htm
CBE People in Action
Bill Costerton, as keynote speaker, presented “Biofilms,” at the Philips RDH Symposium “Emerging Trends in Oral Healthcare” Seattle, WA, January 16-18, 2003. Paul Stoodley, as invited speaker, presented “Effects of Shear Forces and Fluid Dynamics on Biofilm." The presentation was to a group consisting primarily of dental hygienists, educators, and researchers. The scientific content of the symposium was used for eight hours of credit in the continuing education program approved by the American Academy of Dental Hygiene.
Web Watch
BiofilmsOnline.com
See the BiofilmsOnline.com February issue at http://www.BiofilmsOnline.com.
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>
Newsletter Listserve
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
Diane Williams editor of the CBE News Update
