AffiliAtes letter

september 2018

Get Ready for the EUROmicroMOOC! The EUROmicroMOOC is a project by the Spanish Society for Microbiology (SEM) and is supported by FEMS. It will be the first world-wide open access microbiology course delivered through Twitter.

It runs from 2 October to 15 November, with three topics every week. 21 enthusiastic teachers will provide instruction and learning coordinated around the hashtag: #EUROmicroMOOC (“micro” acknowledges both the subject under focus, Microbiology, and the small 140-character format of a tweet; and “MOOC” stands for Massive Online Open Course).

Lectures will be divided into 30-40 tweet sized statements with links to webpages, blogs, news, and plenty of images and videos. The tweets go out at a rate of 1 tweet per minute, starting at 17:00 on the day of that course.

A Spanish Origin

This global version is the evolution of an idea that was initialised by Ignacio López-Goñi in the midst of the Spanish Society for Microbiology. Their Teaching and Dissemination of Microbiology Group created a twitter MOOC which aimed to deliver microbiology lessons to as many people as possible.

In 2016, a team of 30 researchers from SEM - located in the US, UK, and Spain - delivered 26 lessons on General Microbiology. The results were impressive: 175,000 people visited the SEM twitter account during the MOOC, the tweets reached a device’s screen over 4 million times, and followers of the SEM account increased by 330%. 62% of the followers were located in Spain and 61% were female.

Also in this issuePuBliCAtions / GRAnts CoRneR / oPPoRtunities / DeADlines

the officiAl newsletter for fems AffiliAtes

Delftechpark 37A, 2628 XJ Delft, The NetherlandsT: +31 15 302 0050 | E: fems@fems-microbiology.org

EURO micro MOOC at a glance

• 21courses,by21professors,from18institutions,in9countriesacrosstheworld

• classesscheduledeveryTuesday,WednesdayandThursdayat17:00(CET)from2Octoberto15November

• tweetswillbesentfromthe@SEMicrobiologiaTwitteraccount

• eachcourseconsistsof30-40tweetsizedstatementspostedatarateof1tweeteveryminute

• allclasseswillbeinEnglishandthetweetsstoredonlineusingtheopentoolWakelet

september 2018

Follow the link to the @SEMicrobiologia account - courses running from 2 October >

Continuedfrompage1

The 21 courses will be delivered across the 6 week project through the @SEMicrobiologia Twitter account. But you can use the information below to check out the teachers involved:

ScienceCommunicationTeacher: Tarsha Sturm Institution: Cabrillo College (USA)Twitter profile: @tasturm1Date: 2 October

BacterialsurfacestructuresTeacher: Jenny-Lee ThomassinInstitution: Institut Pasteur (France)Twitter profile: @JennyThomassinDate: 3 October

BacterialbiofilmsTeacher: Akos T. KovacsInstitution: DTU Bioengineering (Denmark)Twitter profile: @EvolvedBiofilmDate: 4 October

SpacemicrobiologyTeacher: Marta CotesaoInstitution: German Aerospace Center-DLR (Germany)Twitter profile: @martacortesaoDate: 10 October

FoodpathogensTeacher: Joaquin GinerInstitution: Centro Nacional de Biotecnología CNB-CSIC (Spain)Twitter profile: @GineroramaDate: 11 October

FoodmicrobiomeTeacher: Avelino Alvarez-OrdoñezInstitution: University of León (Spain)Twitter profile: @MetaResistantBDate: 16 October

GutmicrobiotaTeacher: Thibault SanaInstitution: Stanford University (USA)Twitter profile: @ThibGSanaDate: 17 October

AntibioticproductionTeacher: Dennis ClaessenInstitution: Leiden University (The Netherlands)Twitter profile: @ClassenLABDate: 18 October

AntimicrobialresistanceTeacher: Wiep Klaas SmitsInstitution: Leiden University (The Netherlands)Twitter profile: @SmitsLabDate: 23 October BacteriophagesTeacher: Andrea DreuschInstitution: MicroMol GmbH Laboratory (Germany)Twitter profile: @MicroMol_LabDate: 24 October

MicrobiologicalwarfareTeacher: Daniel GarcíaInstitution: University of Salamanca (Spain)Twitter profile: @SoyBiotecDate: 25 October

#VaccinesworkTeacher: Ignacio López-GoñiInstitution: University of Navarra (Spain)Twitter profile: @microbioblogDate: 30 October

MicrobialgenomicsTeacher: Alfonso Benitez-PaezInstitution: Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos IATA-CSIC (Spain)Twitter profile: @alfbenpaDate: 31 October

MobilegeneticelementsTeacher: María del Toro HernandoInstitution: Fundación Rioja Salud (Spain)Twitter profile: @Miss_SalmonellaDate: 1 November

MicrobialsyntheticbiologyTeacher: Kris Niño G. ValdehuesaInstitution: Myongji University (South Korea)Twitter profile: @krisnino86Date: 6 November

IndustrialmicrobiologyTeacher: Manuel SánchezInstitution: University of Miguel Hernández (Spain)Twitter profile: @ManoloSanchezADate: 7 November

VirulenceandpathogenicityTeacher: Jesus L. RomaldeInstitution: University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain)Twitter profile: @baylorete / @gimikrobiosDate: 8 November

BacterialpathogenomicsTeacher: Marta ZapotocznaInstitution: Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Science (Poland)Twitter profile: @MartaZapotocznaDate: 13 November

ThemicrobialpathtocancerTeacher: Jorge Garcia-LaraInstitution: University of Central Lancashire (UK)Twitter profile: @GarciaLaraClanDate: 14 November ThinkingoutsidetheboxTeacher: Félix SangariInstitution: Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnologia IBBTEC (Spain)Twitter profile: @LaMicroMolaDate: 15 November

http://bit.ly/2mwuqN6http://www.femsjournals.com/content/virtual-special-issue-conference-physiology-yeasts-and-filamentous-fungi-pyff6http://bit.ly/2mwuqN6http://www.femsjournals.com/content/virtual-special-issue-conference-physiology-yeasts-and-filamentous-fungi-pyff6

4 september 2018

Pathogens and DiseaseMiniReview

Mycobacterialbiomaterialsandresourcesforresearchers

This paper evaluates whether the hyphal form of Candida albicans and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) formed by Staphylococcus epidermidis increases biofilm virulence.

Authors:Hazbónetal.

PUBLICATIONSFEMS Microbiology ReviewsReview

AvisualreviewofthehumanpathogenStreptococcuspneumoniae

This article provides a visual overview of central molecular processes in Streptococcus pneumoniae through a series of eight watercolour paintings that are based on known scientific data and done to a consistent nanometer scale.

Authors:Engholm,Kilian,Goodsell,Andersen,Kjærgaard FEMS Microbiology EcologyResearchArticle

Gutmicrobialandmetabolomicprofilesafterfecalmicrobiotatransplantationinpediatriculcerativecolitispatients

To characterize changes in the gut microbiome after FMT the authors performed RNA and DNA suquencing, virome analysis, gas chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry on stool samples collected before and after FMT from four children with ulcerative colitis.

Authors:Nusbaumetal.

FEMS Yeast ResearchResearchArticle

Anexpandedenzymetoolboxforproductionofcis,cis-muconicacidandothershikimatepathwayderivativesinSaccharomycescerevisiae

The authors demonstrate the production of gallic acid in S. cerevisiae for the first time.

Authors:Brückner,Oreb,Kunze,BolesandTripp

FEMS Microbiology LettersMiniReview

Howdidcyanobacteriafirstembarkonthepathtobecomingplastids?

This paper reviews the genetic, physiological and developmental hurdles involved in early primary endosymbiosis, wherein a cyanobacterium was engulfed by a eukaryote and became genetically integrated as a heritable photosynthetic organelle, or plastid

Authors:GavelisandGile

The new thematic issue of FEMS Microbiology Letters: PseudomonasThe genus Pseudomonas includes not only the important human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but also a range of other important species. It is also a group of organisms used widely for the study of host-pathogen interactions, cell-cell communication systems, evolutionary biology, gene regulation and many more microbiological systems.

Image from: Matrix exopolysaccharides; the sticky side of biofilm formation - by Eve Maunders and Martin Welch

https://doi.org/10.1093/femsle/fnx014https://doi.org/10.1093/femspd/ftx010https://doi.org/10.1093/femsre/fuw045https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiw249https://doi.org/10.1093/femsle/fnx014http://bit.ly/2nOgGvS

6 september 2018

GRANTS CORNeR OPPORTUNITIeSFEMS Meeting Attendance Grant - Grantee StatementJerónimoRodríguezBeltrán,PlasmidBiologyandEvolutionlab.RamonyCajalInstituteforHealthResearch,Madrid,Spain

Jerónimo attended the Plasmid Biology 2018 conference at the University of Washington, School of Medicine, WA, USA which took place from the 5 – 9 August 2018.

He is a member of the Spanish Society for Microbiology (SEM), a FEMS Member Society.

You can read his statement of the successful trip below:

“I am from Madrid (Spain) where I work as a postdoc studying the evolution of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance.

As an early career researcher, it is very important to present my results to the experts in the field, as well as to learn from other scientist’s work during conferences.

One of the most exciting conferences in my field is the Plasmid Biology Meeting organized by the International Society for Plasmid Biology.

This year’s edition was held in Seattle (USA) so obtaining the FEMS Meeting Attendance Grant was crucial to pay the high expenses of such a long trip. Attending this conference has been key to my career development, as I was awarded the Karen Ippen-Ihler Memorial prize to the best young researcher in plasmid biology after my oral presentation.

Therefore, I am more than thankful to FEMS for giving me the opportunity to attend this meeting, learn a lot about plasmids and obtain such prestigious award. “ - JerónimoRodríguezBeltrán,PlasmidBiology andEvolutionlab.RamonyCajalInstitutefor HealthResearch,Madrid,Spain

Post on our Opportunities Board!

Doyouwanttopromoteyourevent,job,fundingorinterestingprojectsonourwebsitetothewidermicrobiologycommunity?

You can do this on our Opportunities Board!

Here you can find FEMS-sponsored events and funding, as well as many other exciting jobs, events, courses, resources and funding opportunities from the microbiology community.

Job of the monthAssistantProfessorofSoilMicrobiomics:USA

Finalapplicationdate:01.10.2018University:https://www.psu.edu/Location:Pennsylvania, USAEmail:contactmvb10@ps u.edu

The Pennsylvania State University announces an Assistant Professor Position in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management with a 75% research, 25% teaching appointment.

The Department seeks candidates interested in conducting research to understand the distribution, composition, diversity, and functional impact of microbial communities in soil-plant habitats. We seek individuals with diverse interests in soil microbiomes and in teaching related courses.

http://fems-microbiology.org/fems-work/grants/fems-research-grants/https://fems-microbiology.org/opportunities/13th-yeast-lipid-conference-ylc13/http://www.femsjournals.com/content/virtual-special-issue-conference-physiology-yeasts-and-filamentous-fungi-pyff6http://www.fems-microbiology.org/jobs-and-opportunities/network-opportunities.htmlhttps://fems-microbiology.org/network/opportunities-board/

8

exTRAS

A new molecule can kill deadly strains of common bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia, that are resistant to most existing antibiotics. The drug works differently from currently available antibiotics, potentially making it harder for bacteria to develop resistance, researchers report September 12 in Nature.

Source: Science News

Prof. Portnoy and team explain that some of the strands of electricity-generating bacteria that they have now identified include Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium perfringens, and Enterococcus faecalis.

However, numerous other electricity-producing bacteria in the gut are benign.

Source: Medical News Today

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have now unraveled how the virus shuts down the genes that make macrophages function as immune cells. The study is published September 11 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Source: Science Daily

DeADLINeS eVeNTS

Zika virus is vectored by the mosquito Aedes albopictus. It is associated with increased incidence of microcephaly in fetuses born to mothers infected with Zika virus.

Post your Events with us >

04.11.2018, Turkey | 38th Turkish Microbiology Congress >

18.10.2018, Switzerland | 3rd International Conference on Clinical Metagenomics >

26.09.2018, Italy | 46° National Congress of the Italian Society of Microbiology >

08.10.2018, Italy | MedVet Pathogens 2018 >

24.09.2018, Italy | IAAASS >

10.10.2018, Bulgaria | 14th Congress of Microbiologists in Bulgaria 2018 >

30.09.2018, Belgium | Bacterial protein export 2018 >

12.11.2018, Denmark | Annual congress of Danish Microbiological Society 2018 >

http://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/http://https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161222143401.htmhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Pagethttps://www.newscientist.com/article/2124893-tardigrades-turn-into-glass-to-survive-complete-dehydration/https://phys.org/news/2017-03-anti-bacterial-discovery-infections-medical-devices.htmlhttps://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170314081623.htmhttp://fems-microbiology.org/fems-work/grants/fems-meeting-grants/http://http://fems-microbiology.org/fems-work/grants/fems-meeting-grants/

MeetingsMembershipA Diverse CommunityActivities

Button 152: Button 158: Button 159: Button 162: Button 22: Button 26: Button 23: Button 24: Button 144: Button 151: Button 27: Button 140: Button 1017: Button 150: Button 167: Button 42: Button 43: Button 44: Button 108: Button 141: Button 1010: