syntrophy volume 12 - asm nsw vol 12 issue 9 2011.pdf · global shipping industry. following the...

12
S S Y Y N N T T R R O O P P H H Y Y Volume 12 Issue 9: 2011 The Australian Society for Microbiology Incorporated NSW ACT Branch Newsletter (ABN 52 360 314 588) Upcoming event ASM NSW/ACT Branch Christmas Party Date and venue to be announced Please note the following deadline for submissions to Syntrophy Volume 12:10:2011 closes 24 th November 2011. Email all contributions, as well as any suggestions or comments, to the Administrative Officer, Natasha Pavic, at [email protected] . Syntrophy is distributed to members via details recorded on the National office database. Print copies are available upon request. Editorial board: Syntrophy is produced via the combined efforts of Natasha Pavic and the committee. The editorial is rotated amongst the editorial board members. The board members solicit the lead articles. In this issue Focus 1 Dates for your Diary 2 ASM Sponsors 2011 2 Awards 2011 6 Focus continued 8 Reports from Recent Events 9 ASM Contact Details 11 From the Editor While October was a busy month for events organized by our SIGs, in November we seem to be resting. However, for the Virologists, there is information about a Conference in early December organized by the Australasian Virology Society. There's a report on the recent Clinical SIG Meeting. This issue of Syntrophy also contains lots of interest, particularly in the area of our all important marine microbial communities. An informative report of the September JAMS evening which showcased at some marine community projects, and this issue's Focus article by Gee Chong, a Ph.D. student at the Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, UNSW and a BD Award participant, also has a marine ecology flavour. The next JAMS meeting will be on November 30th - check their website for details of who is speaking. We are announcing two awards for which applications close soon. The NSW-ACT Branch Member's Review Award, which aims to assist one of our members in furthering their career. We'll also publish a short form of the review. The ASM Student Honours Prize is open to Honours students who have been Society members for over a year. We will be having a Christmas party in 2011 and hope to see you all there. Unfortunately, the time and place have not yet been finalized, but we will announce it ASAP. Ruth Hall, Branch President Focus Micro-Fabricated Surfaces for the Control of Marine Microbial Colonisation and Biofilm Formation By Gee Chong My research aims to develop a novel, non-toxic, environmentally friendly antifouling technology to protect and sustain the marine environment. By exposing micro-fabricated PDMS surfaces in marine waters, I have observed an altered pattern of attachment and development of the surface associated microbial communities via the inhibitory action on microcolony formation. Surprisingly, the alteration occurs without impacting the overall attached biomass or community composition during the time course of the experiment. The findings highlight the need to study interactions of marine microbes and the surfaces they colonise. Marine biofouling results in major economic loss for the global shipping industry. Following the ban, in early 2008, of antifouling paints containing tri-n-butyl tin (TBT), due to their environmental impact, there is a strong need to identify novel antifouling approaches. The project addresses the global issue of marine biofouling, as it impacts on a range of industries, including shipping and desalination. This research may deliver much-needed technology to address the consequences of biofouling on energy consumption and mechanical threats to structural components in many processes. The project is based on the notion that the disruption of early stage biofilm formation, which is essentially the first stage in the biofouling process, will impact on the later stages of biofouling development. In order to understand the Continued on page 8

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Page 1: SYNTROPHY Volume 12 - ASM NSW vol 12 issue 9 2011.pdf · global shipping industry. Following the ban, in early ... Trott. The University of Adelaide. ... Competency Unit 3.2 Provide

SSYYNNTTRROOPPHHYY

Volume 12 Issue 9: 2011

The Australian Society for Microbiology Incorporated NSW ACT Branch Newsletter (ABN 52 360 314 588)

Upcoming event ASM NSW/ACT Branch Christmas Party

Date and venue to be announced

Please note the following deadline for submissions to Syntrophy Volume 12:10:2011 closes 24th November 2011. Email all contributions, as well as any suggestions or comments, to the Administrative Officer, Natasha Pavic, at [email protected].

Syntrophy is distributed to members via details recorded on the National office database. Print copies are available upon request.

Editorial board: Syntrophy is produced via the combined efforts of Natasha Pavic and the committee. The editorial is rotated amongst the editorial board members. The board members solicit the lead articles.

In this issue Focus 1

Dates for your Diary 2

ASM Sponsors 2011 2

Awards 2011 6

Focus continued 8

Reports from Recent Events

9

ASM Contact Details 11

From the Editor While October was a busy month for events organized by our SIGs, in November we seem to be resting. However, for the Virologists, there is information about a Conference in early December organized by the Australasian Virology Society. There's a report on the recent Clinical SIG Meeting. This issue of Syntrophy also contains lots of interest, particularly in the area of our all important marine microbial communities. An informative report of the September JAMS evening which showcased at some marine community projects, and

this issue's Focus article by Gee Chong, a Ph.D. student at the Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, UNSW and a BD Award participant, also has a marine ecology flavour. The next JAMS meeting will be on November 30th - check their website for details of who is speaking.

We are announcing two awards for which applications close soon. The NSW-ACT Branch Member's Review Award, which aims to assist one of our members in furthering their career. We'll also publish a short form of the review.

The ASM Student Honours Prize is open to Honours students who have been Society members for over a year.

We will be having a Christmas party in 2011 and hope to see you all there. Unfortunately, the time and place have not yet been finalized, but we will announce it ASAP.

Ruth Hall, Branch President

Focus Micro-Fabricated Surfaces for the Control of Marine Microbial Colonisation and Biofilm Formation By Gee Chong

My research aims to develop a novel, non-toxic, environmentally friendly antifouling technology to protect and sustain the marine environment. By exposing micro-fabricated PDMS surfaces in marine waters, I have observed an altered pattern of attachment and development of the surface associated microbial communities via the inhibitory action on microcolony formation. Surprisingly, the alteration occurs without impacting the overall attached biomass or community

composition during the time course of the experiment. The findings highlight the need to study interactions of marine microbes and the surfaces they colonise.

Marine biofouling results in major economic loss for the global shipping industry. Following the ban, in early 2008, of antifouling paints containing tri-n-butyl tin (TBT), due to their environmental impact, there is a strong need to identify novel antifouling approaches. The project addresses the global issue of marine biofouling, as it impacts on a range of

industries, including shipping and desalination. This research may deliver much-needed technology to address the consequences of biofouling on energy consumption and mechanical threats to structural components in many processes.

The project is based on the notion that the disruption of early stage biofilm formation, which is essentially the first stage in the biofouling process, will impact on the later stages of biofouling development. In order to understand the

Continued on page 8

Page 2: SYNTROPHY Volume 12 - ASM NSW vol 12 issue 9 2011.pdf · global shipping industry. Following the ban, in early ... Trott. The University of Adelaide. ... Competency Unit 3.2 Provide

biomerieux.com.au 1800 333 421

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Page 3: SYNTROPHY Volume 12 - ASM NSW vol 12 issue 9 2011.pdf · global shipping industry. Following the ban, in early ... Trott. The University of Adelaide. ... Competency Unit 3.2 Provide

2 Syntrophy, Vol 12:9:2011

Dates for your Diary ASM Sponsors 2011

JAMS – Joint Academic Microbiology Seminars

To be notified of all upcoming meetings register on the new JAMS website: http://www.jams.org.au

4 – 8 December

AVS6 2011 – Australasian Virology Society

Meeting 2011 Mantra on Salt Beach, Kingscliff NSW

http://www.avg.org.au/

1 – 4 July 2012

ASM National Conference Brisbane

www.biomerieux.com.au

Platinum

www.merck-chemicals.com.au

Gold

www.thermofisher.com.au

Silver

www.diagnostictechnology.com.au

Bronze

www.bd.com

Page 4: SYNTROPHY Volume 12 - ASM NSW vol 12 issue 9 2011.pdf · global shipping industry. Following the ban, in early ... Trott. The University of Adelaide. ... Competency Unit 3.2 Provide

AUSTRALASIAN VIROLOGY SOCIETY CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT

4th to 8th December 2011 Mantra on Salt Beach, Kingscliffe, NSW

6th Australasian Virology Society Meeting (formally the Australian Virology Group)

AVS6 is an opportunity for all those with interests in human, animal, plant or prokaryotic virology to come together in a relaxed environment and discuss issues from basic molecular virology to diagnosis and control. Topical general interest oral presentations from leading virologists will be combined with oral presentations

selected from proffered abstracts where young postdoctoral researchers and students typically shine. Once again, we will offer generous student prizes for the best oral and poster presentations.

Special International Speaker – Prof. Marilyn Roossinck

Virus Evolution and Ecology, Penn State University, USA.

Symposia themes ● New and emerging viruses

● Virus structure, receptors and assembly ● Virus-host interactions ● Gene expression and replication

● Evolution and Ecology ● Viral epidemiology and diagnostics ● Viral disease ● Immunity and immune evasion

● Viral control strategies – Vaccines and Therapeutics

Call for abstract submissions and registrations Abstracts for oral consideration – Friday 30th September (note EXTENDED deadline!) Abstracts for posters – Friday 21st October Early Bird registration rate expires – Friday 30th September (note EXTENDED deadline!)

Organizing Committee Nigel McMillan Chair, University of Queensland Paul Young University of Queensland Damian Purcell University of Melbourne Patrick Reading University of Melbourne

Vernon Ward University of Otago, NZ Tim Mahony University of Queensland Barry Slobedman Westmead Millennium Institute Roy Hall University of Queensland

Joanne Meers University of Queensland Ralf Dietzgen University of Queensland

AVS6 2011

www.avs.org.au

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ANTIMICROBIALS 201223rd–25th February 2012Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia

R E G I S T R A T I O N A N D C A L L F O R A B S T R A C T S

Australian Society for Antimicrobials 13th Annual Scientific Meeting

IMPORTANT DATES

• ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE Friday 2nd December 2011

• ABSTRACT NOTIFICATION Friday 9th December 2011

• EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE Friday 16th December 2011

PLENARY SPEAKERS

• Robert Skov. Statens Serum Institute. Denmark.

• Alex van Belkum. bioMérieux. France.

• Lindsay Grayson. Austin Health. Australia.

ONLINE REGISTRATION AND ACCOMMODATION RESERVATIONShttp://www.antimicrobials2012.com

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

http://www.antimicrobials2012.com

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

Abstracts must be submitted to the Australian Society for Antimicrobials by e-mail ([email protected]) by Friday 2nd December 2011. Hardcopy submissions will not be accepted. The abstract word limit is 350 words, not including abstract title, authors or institutions. One table permitted. Please nominate your presentation preference (oral or poster). Please note oral presentations cannot be guaranteed. Presentation format will be decided by the ASA Committee. Accepted abstracts will be eligible for early bird registration.

ASA TRAVEL AWARDS

Travel Awards are available to ASA financial members presenting a proffered paper (oral or poster). Applicants must have been a financial ASA member for at least the last 12 months. The awards consist of a return economy airfare, accommodation and registration.Applications must be forwarded to the ASA Secretary,

Despina Kotsanas ([email protected]) before Friday 2nd December 2011. The application must include a copy of the abstract and for abstracts with more than one author a letter stating the relative contribution of the applicant towards the research.

MEETING SECRETARIAT:

ICMS Pty Ltd, 84 Queensbridge Street, Southbank, Victoria 3006, Australia Telephone:+61 3 9682 0244 Fax:+61 3 9682 0288

Please direct all registration and accommodation queries to the Meeting Secretariat ([email protected]). All other enquires must be directed to the Australian Society for Antimicrobials ([email protected])

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THURSDAY, 23 FEBRUARY FRIDAY, 24 FEBRUARY SATURDAY, 25 FEBRUARYINDUSTRY BREAKFAST

SYMPOSIUM (TBC) 0700 - 0845

INDUSTRY BREAKFAST SYMPOSIUM (TBC)

0700 - 0845

INDUSTRY BREAKFAST SYMPOSIUM (TBC)

0700 - 08450900 - 1000Plenary 1Community MRSA: A European Perspective (Robert Skov. Statens Serum Institute. Denmark)

0900 - 1000 Plenary 2Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. (Alex van Belkum. bioMérieux. France)

0900 - 1000 Plenary 3Back to the Future - Antibiotics are Dead - So how can we Manage? (Lindsay Grayson. Austin Health. Victoria)

MORNING TEA AND POSTER SESSION

1000 - 1030

MORNING TEA AND POSTER SESSION

1000 - 1030

MORNING TEA AND POSTER SESSION

1000 - 10301030 - 1200 Symposium 1Emerging Resistance in the Tropics and Subtropics • Malaria (James McCarthy. University of Queensland.

Queensland)• Tourism Medical and Recreational (Ben Rogers.

University of Queensland. Queensland)• Multi Drug Resistant TB (Chris Coulter. Queensland

Pathology. Queensland)

1030 - 1200 Symposium 3Impact of Rapid Diagnosis on Clinical Outcomes (The Tail Wagging the Dog)• Staphylococcus aureus (Alex van Belkum.

bioMérieux. France)• Real Time Multiplex Respiratory Viruses (Theo

Sloots. Royal Children’s Hospital. Queensland)• Procalcitonin (Bala Venkatesh. Princess Alexandra

and Wesley Hospitals. Queensland)

1030 - 1200 Symposium 5Food and Farms as a Source of Antimicrobial Resistance • Antimicrobial Resistance in the Food Chain - Prioritising the

Risks (David Jordan. NSW Department of Primary Industries. New South Wales)

• ST398 (Robert Skov. Statens Serum Institute. Denmark)• How are We Travelling and What Needs to be Done? (Darren

Trott. The University of Adelaide. South Australia)

INDUSTRY LUNCH - TIME SYMPOSIUM (TBC)

1200 – 1400

INDUSTRY LUNCH - TIME SYMPOSIUM (TBC)

1200 – 1400

INDUSTRY LUNCH - TIME SYMPOSIUM (TBC)

1200 - 13001400 - 1530 Proffered Papers Session 1(six presentations)

1400 - 1530 Proffered Papers Session 2(six presentations)

1300 - 1430 Proffered Papers Session 3(six presentations)

AFTERNOON TEA AND POSTER SESSION 1 1530 - 1600

(Authors in Attendance)

AFTERNOON TEA AND POSTER SESSION 2 1530 - 1600

(Authors in Attendance)

AFTERNOON TEA1430 - 1500

1600 - 1730 Symposium 2Mycology Update • Role of PCR/Galactomanan/CT in Invasive

Aspergillosis Diagnosis (Orla Morrissey. Alfred Heath. Victoria)

• Clinical Relevance of New Breakpoints (John Turnidge. SA Pathology. South Australia)

• Drug Monitoring and Influence on Treatment (Debbie Marriott. St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney. New South Wales)

1600 - 1730 Symposium 4Trends in Antibiotic Resistance (Australia and Beyond)• Staphylococcusaureus (Graeme Nimmo.

Queensland Pathology. Queensland)• Enterococci and AESOP (John Turnidge. SA

Pathology. South Australia)• Gram Negative Bacilli (Jan Bell. SA Pathology.

South Australia)

1500 -1630

MALDI-TOF and Beyond• MALDI-TOF: Identification – Current State of Play (Sanmarie

Schlebusch. Mater Pathology. Queensland) • MALDI-TOF: What’s Missing – Future Developments (Alex van

Belkum. bioMérieux. France)• Sequenome (David Wylie. Queensland Children’s Medical

Research Institution. Queensland)

1730 – 1830 Annual General Meeting

1830 – 2000Welcome Reception

DISCLAIMER: This program is correct at the time of printing, but organisers reserve the right to alter

the program as deemed necessary.

1730 - 1900 Industry Reception

1300 - 1430Pharmacy Workshop Session 1What and How Much to Give?• Paediatrics Are not Mini-Adults? (Lucy Holt. Children’s Hospital

at Westmead. New South Wales)• Antibiotics in Respiratory Disease (Andrew Burke. The Prince

Charles Hospital. Queensland)• Dosing the Masses and its Limitations (Jason Roberts. Royal

Brisbane & Women’s Hospital. Queensland.)

AFTERNOON TEA 1430 - 1500

1500 - 1630Pharmacy Workshop Session 2The Rare and the New• CNS Infections: What to Use? (Thomas Gottlieb. Concord

Hospital. New South Wales)• HIV – What’s Up? (Mark Kelly. AIDS Medical Unit.

Queensland) • SAS and Beyond: Is Hope in Sight? (Matthew Rawlins. Royal

Perth Hospital. Western Australia)

PROPOSED PROGRAM

The material in the Pharmacy Workshops (3 hours of content as Group-1 activity) has been accredited by SHPA as suitable for inclusion in an individual pharmacist’s CPD plan as outlined in the SHPA CPD program at http://cpd.shpa.org.au/ The program

addresses pharmacist competencies, including:

The program addresses pharmacist competencies including:

Competency Unit 1.2 Practise to accepted standardsCompetency Unit 1.3 Pursue life-long professional learning and contribute to the development of othersCompetency Unit 3.1 Participate in therapeutic decision makingCompetency Unit 3.2 Provide on-going pharmaceutical management

Competency Unit 3.3 Promote rational drug useCompetency Unit 4.1 Assess prescriptionsCompetency Unit 4.2 Evaluate prescribed medicinesCompetency Unit 7.2 Evaluate and synthesise informationCompetency Unit 7.3 Disseminate information

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Australian Society for Microbiology NSW-ACT Branch

ASM Honours Student Prize

AWARD: $500.00 towards a conference or meeting within the following 12 months. Payment will be made on presentation of tax invoices or receipts. ELIGIBILITY: Student member of ASM (studying in NSW/ACT). Applicants must have been members of the NSW-ACT branch of the Australian Society for Microbiology for at least 12 months before the Award application is submitted. Applications must only be from the student’s honours year. It is acceptable to apply if the applicant finished in June of the same calendar year. APPLICATION PROCESS: A written application comprising the following (3 parts) should be submitted: Part 1 – About the student Approximately 250 words. Should include:

- How or why they got into microbiology, what they like about microbiology

- Information on what they want to do next year - Where they see themselves in five years

Part 2 – About the student’s project Approximately 1000 words. One extra page for graphs, figures or tables Should be written at a level that could be understood by a general microbiologist. Should include - An interesting title, - Clear aims of their project

- Relevant background - A summary of results - The implications of their findings - Suggestions for follow up

Part 3 – Two referee’s reports (to be submitted directly to NSW-ACT branch) supporting application for the Award. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that their referees submit the reports to the ASM NSW Branch committee by the closing date One must be from the student’s supervisor and the other can be independent

CLOSING DATE: 28th November APPLICATIONS MUST BE EMAILED IN .DOC FORMAT TO: Dr Gillian Scott ASM NSW-ACT Branch Secretary School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences University of New South Wales And Virology Research Department of Microbiology, SEALS Prince of Wales Hospital Ph: 61-2 9382 9096 Fax: 61-2 9382 8533 Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

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Australian Society for Microbiology NSW-ACT Branch

NSW-ACT ASM Branch Members Review Award

AWARD: Up to three awards of $500.00 each will be given in any one calendar year. The awards are to be used to further the applicant’s career in microbiology e.g. used for travel to a conference, text books, ASM membership etc. Payment will be made on presentation of tax invoices or receipts. ELIGIBILITY: All ASM members except student members-should have been a member of ASM for at least 1 yr prior to applying for award. Applicant must be currently residing in NSW-ACT. CRITERIA:

1. Applicants for the award are to submit a literature review in a topical microbiological subject of their choosing (supervisor’s written approval is required if applicable)

2. The Literature review is to be of 2000 – 3000 words and in a standardised format e.g. Journal of Clinical Microbiology

3. A one-page summary of the work should also be provided for publication in the NSW-ACT Branch Newsletter, Syntrophy

4. Payment will be made only on presentation of invoice/s

CLOSING DATE: Round 2- 15th December APPLICATIONS MUST BE EMAILED IN .DOC FORMAT TO: Dr Gillian Scott ASM NSW-ACT Branch Secretary School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences University of New South Wales And Virology Research Department of Microbiology, SEALS Prince of Wales Hospital Ph: 61-2 9382 9096 Fax: 61-2 9382 8533 Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

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8 Syntrophy, Vol 12:9:2011

Focus continued interaction between marine microbes and surface substrata in their natural habitats, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was employed to observe and quantify the microbial biofilm biomass using 3D-CLSM image analysis. The community composition of the attached microbial biofilm on these surfaces was tracked using 16S-Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (TRFLP) molecular fingerprinting technique. CLSM imaging revealed a different biofilm formation pattern, with surface topography of microfabricated surfaces smaller than 4μm preventing microcolony formation and hence altering biofilm development without a change in biofilm biomass (shown in the figures below). 16S-TRFLP analysis of surface attached microbial communities revealed a successional pattern over time with no significant difference among the different microfabricated surfaces. The molecular fingerprinting analysis also revealed a convergent trend of community development spanning over two different seasons, Winter 2010 and Summer 2010-11. Interestingly, while the surface topography altered the course of biofilm structural development, the microbial community composition was very similar across the different surfaces. My research is one of the first studies to track marine microbial colonisation processes on manmade surfaces with sophisticated architecture.

The novel surface topographies used in this project reflects rapidly emerging techniques for generating surface micro-scale architecture with pronounced effect on microbial colonisation. Such surfaces could also offer an alternative anti-biofilm technology to that of antimicrobials against bacterial infections derived from colonization of medical implants, which have been continuously hampered by the development of multiresistant bacteria. Moreover, achieving biofilm control through surface topography modification, could not only be used to deter microbial colonisation on surfaces, but also to enhance microbial attachment in certain industrial applications where this is a required outcome, e.g. the use of biofilm communities for biocatalysis in fine chemical production. Additionally, this technology may be used in bioremediation processes, where microbial biofilms rather than individual cells, are required for the degradation of toxic compounds. In conclusion, my research has the opportunity to deliver environmentally friendly novel means of biofilm control, both for preventing as well as for enhancing and harnessing biofilms when required for processes in different environments.

This research project is co-funded by the Centre for Marine Bio-Innovations, UNSW and CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagships: Novel Antifouling Technologies Project under the supervision of Prof. Staffan Kjelleberg and Dr. Andrew J Poole.

Figures

About the author

Graduated from University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (BSc Hons I with University Medal in Microbiology, 2009). I am pursuing my interest in science by conducting a PhD project at the Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation at UNSW. I have presented my work at local and international conferences including ASM Sydney (2010) and ISME-13 (2010), also competed as finalist in AusBiotech-GSK Award for NSW State (2010) and ASM-BD Award (2011). I will also be presenting my latest findings at the FEMS Congress and the Eurobiofilm meeting this year funded by UNSW PRSS Travel Fund and CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagships: Novel Antifouling Technologies.

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9 Syntrophy, Vol 12:9:2011

Reports from Recent Events

Clinical SIG Meeting 26th October 2011 Though long overdue, the Microbiology Department at The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital had the privilege of hosting a “Clinical Special Interest Group” meeting on the 26th of October, 2011 with over 40 people attending the event.

The evening commenced with a presentation entitled “The Little Brother of Hepatitis B”. Dr. Andie Lee presented a case on a 35 year old male with chronic Hepatitis B which subsequently led to a superinfection with Hepatitis D. Min Li followed on with a background on the severity of Hepatitis D, and how Hepatitis D superinfections are often the most severe form of hepatitis. Min also described the testing algorithm used in the Serology section for Hepatitis D testing.

The next presentation “A String of Stubborn Streptococci” was once again presented by Dr. Andie Lee. Her case depicted a diabetic 64 year old male who developed a cough which subsequently led to pneumonia of the left lower lobe. Despite modifying antibiotic therapy to reflect the diagnosis of a Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, this patient developed purpura fulminans and consequently passed away. Khanh Pham continued the presentation outlining how our Microbiology department determines Streptococcus pneumoniae susceptibilities. Khanh also went on to emphasise the increasing trend of Penicillin non-susceptible pnuemoniae, since it was first reported in 1967 by our very own institution.

“Getting to the HEART of the Matter” was the third presentation of the evening, with Dr. Indy Sandaradura describing the case of a 49 year old male with aortic vegetations. A causative agent of infection could not be identified by conventional microbiological methods. A vial of enrichment medium containing what was left of the aortic valve was forwarded to our Molecular Microbiology section, which then achieved a convincing identification of Bartonella species. Khoi Nguyen followed on providing a background on Bartonella, and then described how our department incorporates the use of the 16S test as a diagnostic aid.

Dr. Raymond Chan provided the final presentation “Angels and Demons”. He highlighted the dangers of using insertion sequences as an identification tool, due to their promiscuity. Two convincing positive Bordetella pertussis results reported by our laboratory turned out to be false positives, and a subsequent investigation proved that IS481 is not as specific as we first thought.

I would like to thank all of the presenters for all their hard work and effort.

Thank you to all who attended, to the ASM NSW-ACT branch and their sponsors. Your dedication to the industry keeps it moving forward.

Reported by Bobby Dimitrijovski

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10 Syntrophy, Vol 12:9:2011

September 2011 Report

A keen crowd of about 35 braved the rain to attend the September JAMS, which this month was held within the more spacious setting of the 4th floor at the Australian Museum. This month’s presentations all had a marine flavour, with the audience enjoying three entertaining talks focussed on the community dynamics and biogeochemical capabilities of marine microorganisms.

Mark Brown, a QEII Research Fellow at UNSW, kicked things off with a very interesting insight into the community dynamics of the ocean’s most abundant and ubiquitous bacterial clade, SAR11. This important group of bacteria often represents up to 50 % of the bacterial community in ocean surface waters. Mark’s presentation showed us that the distributions of discrete SAR11 ecotypes are not uniform across the global ocean, but vary with changes in seawater temperature. This ecological niche differentiation may provide new insights into how the SAR11 clade has become so dominant in the global ocean. Mark closed his presentation by demonstrating that potentially important shifts in SAR11 ecotypes may occur as a result of predicted increases in seawater temperature associated with global warming.

Next up was David Wilkins, also from UNSW. His presentation took us to the cold waters of the Southern Ocean, where microbial assemblages are demarcated by the Polar Frontal Zone, a region where temperatures drop by up to 2° C and salinity varies substantially over a distance of only 30 Km. David sequenced several metagenomes from both north and south of the Polar Front and found that the disparate environmental conditions between these regions support very different microbial assemblages. The warmer waters north of the Polar Front hosted a community rich in SAR11 and the dominant marine cyanobacteria Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus. On the other hand, south of the Polar Front, uncultured chemolithoautotrophic bacteria and ammonia oxidising archaea were over-represented. David’s work provides a nice example of how physical oceanography can structure microbial community characteristics in the ocean.

Finally, Lev Bodrossy from the CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research group in Hobart gave us an exciting and detailed insight into the use of microarrays as affordable high throughput tools to examine microbial community function. Lev described the use of microarrays used to probe for ammonia oxidation and methanotrophy, and described the application of these tools in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. He closed his presentation by describing the extremely exciting potential of using microarray technologies within in situ sensing equipment deployed in the marine environment.

This month’s JAMS continued to encourage the engagement of Sydney’s microbiology community within a relaxed and enjoyable setting. The JAMS organisers would like to thank each of the speakers, as well as the Australian Museum for providing the meeting venue and the Australian Society for Microbiology for providing funds for pizza and drinks.

Reported by Justin Seymour

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11 Syntrophy, Vol 12:9:2011

ASM Contact Details ASM NSW-ACT Branch Secretary – Gillian Scott

Tel: +61 2 9382 9096

Email: [email protected]

ASM National Office

Suite 23, 20 Commercial Road

Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia

Tel: +61 3 9867 8699

Fax: +61 3 9867 8722

Email: [email protected]

Submissions and enquiries can be directed to the Administrative Officer Natasha Pavic at [email protected]. Companies seeking to fill positions and ASM members seeking employment are welcome to place an advertisement in an upcoming issue of Syntrophy. Please contact the Administrative Officer with your details for inclusion.

ASM National Conference Calendar

July 2012 ASM2012 Brisbane

July 2013 ASM2013 Adelaide

Websites

National ASM: www.theasm.org.au/

ASM NSW-ACT Branch: www.asmnsw.com.au/