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The 9th Symposium on Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB9) will open soon (August 31st) in the Congress Centre “Hotel Zuiderduin”, Zeeweg 52, Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands. The 9th Symposium programme will involve a limited number of plenary invited lectures covering state-of-the-art developments with attention on Systems Biology, Evolution and Health, as well as a larger number of plenary or parallel short lectures. Besides scientists working on LAB, key note lecturers from outside the LAB field will give stimulatory talks on subjects that are of emerging interest and importance for the LAB. Evening thematic sessions on topics of specific interest will take place.

Poster contributions in all areas of research on Lactic Acid Bacteria, especially also on industrial applications are encouraged. There will be ample time for poster viewing and the posters will be on display during the whole symposium.

Finally, there will be several plenary sessions during which a number of selected posters will be explained briefly.

Further information   More microbiology conferences: Microbiology Conference

Further reading: Lactobacillus Molecular Biology: From Genomics to Probiotics

Labels: lactic acid bacteria, lactobacillus, probiotics

The genus Xanthomonas consists of 20 plant-associated species, many of which cause important diseases of crops and ornamental plants. Individual species comprise multiple pathovars, characterized by distinctive host specificity or mode of infection. Genomics is at the center of a revolution in Xanthomonas biology. Complete genome sequences are available for nine Xanthomonas strains, representing three species and five pathovars, including vascular and non-vascular pathogens of the important models for plant biology, Arabidopsis thaliana and rice. With the diversity of complete and pending Xanthomonas genome sequences, the genus has become a superb model for understanding functional, regulatory, epidemiological, and evolutionary aspects of host- and tissue-specific plant pathogenesis.
Further reading: Damien F. Meyer and Adam J. Bogdanove Chapter 7 in Plant Pathogenic Bacteria

Furthermore, Xanthomonas strains produce the acidic exopolysaccharide xanthan gum. Because of its physical properties, xanthan gum is widely used as a viscosifer, thickener, emulsifier or stabilizer in both food and non-food industries.
Further reading: Anke Becker and Frank-Jörg Vorhölter Chapter 1 in Microbial Production of Biopolymers and Polymer Precursors

Labels: bacteriology, bacterium, biopolymers, biotechnology, xanthan, xanthomonas

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Plasmids: Current Research and Future Trends Buy now! Edited by: Georg Lipps Published: 2008 ISBN: 978-1-904455-35-6 Price: GB £150 or US $310 This volume provides an up to date treatment of the structure, function and application of plasmids with a particular emphasis on current and future trends. The book is aimed primarily at research scientists, graduate students and professional scientists but will also be of great interest to all molecular biologists and microbiologists involved in research or teaching. read more ...

August 2008

August 30 - September 5, 2008. International Plasmid Biology Conference 2008
Gdansk, Poland Further information
The conference will cover all areas representing plasmids and other mobile genetic elements such as replication, partition/stability, transfer, evolution, ecology, genomics, systems biology, medical and veterinary aspects, applied aspects, and bioinformatics.
Suggested reading: Plasmids: Current Research and Future Trends

August 31 - September 4, 2008. 9th Symposium on Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB9)
Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands Further information
Health, Evolution and Systems Biology. The Symposium will start with a Welcome Reception, a Keynote Lecture and a buffet dinner on August 31 at 17.00 h. There will be a number of plenary invited lectures covering state-of-the-art developments with attention on Systems Biology, Evolution and Health, as well as a larger number of plenary or parallel short lectures. Besides scientists working on LAB, key note lecturers from outside the LAB field will give stimulatory talks on subjects that are of emerging interest and importance for the LAB. Evening thematic sessions on topics of specific interest will take place. The conference is organised under theauspices of the Netherlands Society for Microbiology (NVvM) and the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS).
Suggested reading: Lactobacillus Molecular Biology

Any conference missing from this list? Please send details

September 2008

September 1 - 3, 2008. Evolving microbial food quality and safety (FOOD MICRO 2008)
Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, UK Further information
Suggested reading: Foodborne Pathogens

September 4 - 6, 2008. Symposium on the Evolution of Antiviral and Antibacterial Defense
Berlin, Germany Further information
Suggested reading: Virology Books

September 7 - 11, 2008. Extremophiles 2008
Cape Town, South Africa Further information
Will encompass the latest research developments in a broad range of subjects including extremophile molecular ecology, metagenomics, physiology, genetics, protein structure and function and biotechnology.
Suggested reading: Archaea: New Models for Prokaryotic Biology

September 7 - 10, 2008. 13th International Symposium on Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Infections (ISSSI)
Cairns Australia Further information
Suggested reading: Staphylococcus: Molecular Genetics

September 8 - 11, 2008. SGM 163nd Meeting
Trinity College Dublin, Ireland Further information
Suggested reading: Microbiology Books

September 10 - 13, 2008. Brucellosis 2008 International Research Conference
Royal Holloway College, University of London, UK Further information

September 28 - October 1, 2008. 10th Clostridium Workshop (Clostridium 10)
Wageningen, The Netherlands Further information
The 10th Workshop on the Genetics and Physiology of Acid- and Solvent-producing Clostridia continues the tradition of scientific meetings that take place every two years in which scientists from all over the world come together to exchange their knowledge on these industrially interesting organisms.
Suggested reading: Clostridia: Molecular Biology in the Post-genomic Era

Any conference missing from this list? Please send details

October 2008

October 3, 2008. PCR Perfection: Insider tricks
BioPark, Hertfordshire, UK Further information
Suggested reading: Real-Time PCR

October 5 - 9, 2008. Course and Symposium: Microbes and the Law
Uppsala, Sweden. Further information
A joint course and symposium to be held at the Ultuna campus of SLU (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) in Uppsala, Sweden. The event is designed for researchers and PhD students, as well as representatives of industry and regulatory authorities.

October 12 - 16, 2008. 2nd ASM Conference on Beneficial Microbes
San Diego, CA, USA Further information
Suggested reading: Lactobacillus Molecular Biology: From Genomics to Probiotics

October 19 - 23, 2008. 15th International Meeting on Frankia and Actinorhizal Plants
Bariloche, Argentina Further information: lgwall@unq.edu.ar

October 25 - 28, 2008. 48th ICAAC, a joint meeting with IDSA
Washington, DC, USA Further information

Any conference missing from this list? Please send details

November 2008

November 5 - 7, 2008. Conference on Congenital Cytomegalovirus 2008
Harkin Global Communications Center, Centers for Disease Control,Atlanta, Georgia, USA
The theme of CCC 08 will be Public Health Action towards Awareness, Prevention, and Treatment. Planned topics include: epidemiology, pathogenesis, maternal diagnosis, newborn screening, prognostic markers, prevention/counseling, immunity, vaccination and therapy.
Suggested reading: Cytomegaloviruses: Molecular Biology and Immunology

November 11 - 13, 2008. Understanding and controlling infections diseases: an agenda for the XX1st Century
Institut Pasteur, Paris, France Further information

Any conference missing from this list? Please send details

December 2008

December 1 - 3, 2008. Federation of Infection Societies Conference 2008
Cardiff City Hall. Contact: pjmccoy@bsac.org.uk

December 12, 2008. Future Perspectives in Immunology and Infectious Diseases
Berlin, Germany Further information
The 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize. Max Planck Institute - Sanofi Pasteur Symposium.

Any conference missing from this list? Please send details

Microbiology conferences 2009

January 2009

January 5 - 6, 2009. 4th Annual Recent Independent Virology Researchers' (RIVR) Meeting
Derby, UK Further information
An opportunity for those individuals just starting on their independent virology research career (i.e. new lecturer or independent research fellow) to get to meet and establish collaborations with other virology researchers who are at a similar stage in their career.
Suggested reading: Virology Books

January 22 - 23, 2009. An International Meeting On Cronobacter (Enterobacter Sakazakii)
Dublin, Ireland Further information

January 25 -30, 2009. Genomics and Clinical Microbiology
Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK Further information
Training for clinical scientists, specialist registrars and consultants in medical microbiology (including joint medical microbiology and infectious diseases) in the application of current genetic techniques to the general medical microbiology laboratory.

February 2009

February 22 - 25, 2009. 7th ASM Biodefense and Emerging Diseases Research Meeting
Baltimore, MD, USA Further information
Suggested reading: Microbiology Books

March 2009

March 1 - 6, 2009. Virus Discovery In The Clinical Setting
Cambridge, UK Further information
Suggested reading: Virology Books

March 2 - 6, 2009. Working With Pathogen Genomes
Cambridge, UK Further information

March 20 - 24, 2009. 13th International Symposium on Viral Hepatitis
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC, USA Further information
The 13th ISVHLD will commemorate progress made in the global fight against viral hepatitis and liver disease and focus the field's attention on the key future challenges.

March 30 - April 2, 2009. SGM Spring 2009 Meeting
Harrogate International Centre, UK Further information
Suggested reading: Microbiology Books

April 2009

April 1-3, 2009. Advances in Plant Virology
Harrogate, UK Further information

April 7-8, 2009. The Second European Ramularia Workshop
Edinburgh, UK Further information
Suggested reading: Plant Pathogenic Bacteria: Genomics and Molecular Biology

April 23 - 24, 2009. SGM Irish Division Meeting
Cork, Ireland Further information

May 2009

May 10 - 13, 2009. 7th International Symposium on Shiga Toxin
Buenos Aires, Argentina Further information
Latest information on all aspects of infections due to Shiga Toxin- producing E. coli (STEC), also known as verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC)

May 10 - 16, 2009. Molecular Basis of Bacterial Infection
Cambridge, UK Further information

May 17 - 21, 2009. ASM 109th General Meeting
Philadelphia, PA, USA Further information

May 30 - June 5, 2009. 3rd ASM Conference on DNA Repair and Mutagenesis
Whistler, BC, Canada Further information

June

June 14 - 18, 2009. 5th International Conference on Gram-positive Microorganisms
San Diego, USA Further information
The focus of the meeting will be signaling mechanisms and how they coordinate the physiology, metabolism, pathogenicity and development of Gram-positive microorganisms. Recognized experts from industry and academia will present studies of the following related microorganisms: Bacillus, Clostridium, Enterococcus, Lactococcus and Lactobacillus spp, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Listeria, and others. Symposia addressing major biosynthetic and catabolic pathways and their control mechanisms unique to these organisms will permit an understanding of how this group of pathogenic and industrially important microbes grows and survives in its ecological niche.
Suggested reading:
Lactobacillus Molecular Biology
Staphylococcus: Molecular Genetics
Clostridia: Molecular Biology
Bacillus: Cellular and Molecular Biology

June 28 - July 2, 2009. 3rd FEMS Congress
Goteborg, Sweden Further information
Suggested reading: Microbiology Books

July 2009

July 1 -4, 2009. 3rd ASM Conference on Prokaryotic Development
Cambridge, Massachusetts Further information

July 11 - 15, 2009. American Society for Virology 28th Annual Scientific Meeting
Vancouver, Canada Further information
Suggested reading: Virology Books

August 2009

August 9 - 14, 2009. 13th International Symposium on Phototrophic Prokaryotes
Montreal, Quebec, Canada Further information
Phylogeny, taxonomy and diversity, ecology, physiology, metabolism and global responses, environmental sensing and signal transduction, bioenergetics, proteins and genomics, bioremediation, secondary metabolites, and applied aspects.

August 30 - September 3, 2009. Bacillus-ACT 2009: The International Bacillus anthracis, B. cereus, and B. thuringiensis Conference
Santa Fe, New Mexico Further information
Suggested reading:
Lactobacillus Molecular Biology
Bacillus: Cellular and Molecular Biology

September 2009

September 7 - 10, 2009. SGM Autumn 2009 Meeting
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Further information
Suggested reading: Microbiology Books

September 22 - 25, 2009. ASM-ESCMID Conference on MRSA in Animals: Veterinary and Public Health Implications
UK Further information

October 2009

October 5 - 9, 2009. 3rd ASM Conference on Salmonella: Biology, Pathogenesis & Prevention
Aix-en-Provence, France Further information
Suggested reading: Foodborne Pathogens: Microbiology and Molecular Biology

October 13 - 17, 2009. Legionella 2009
Paris, France Further information
The 7th International Conference in this series, Legionella 2009, will address a wide range of current research and trends related to Legionella. Sessions will be dedicated to epidemiology and clinical aspects; pathogenesis and immunology; genetics and genomics; ecology and evolution; physiology, regulation, and biochemistry.
Suggested reading: Legionella: Molecular Microbiology

November 2009

November 15 - 19, 2009. 5th ASM Conference on Biofilms
Cancun, Mexico Further information
Suggested reading: Molecular Oral Microbiology

December 2009

Microbiology conferences 2010

June 28 - July 1, 2010. 11th International Symposium on the Genetics of Industrial Microorganisms
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Further information
Special meeting that occurs once every four years.

Labels: microbiology conference, microbiology meeting, virology conference, virology meeting

Microorganisms synthesize a wide spectrum of exopolysaccharides many of which have important applications in biotechnology and the food imdustry. Exopolysaccharides produced by microorganisms include:

acetan (Acetobacter xylinum)

alginate (Azotobacter vinelandii)

cellulose (Acetobacter xylinum)

chitosan (Mucorales spp.)

curdlan (Alcaligenes faecalis var. myxogenes)

cyclosophorans (Agrobacterium spp., Rhizobium spp. and Xanthomonas spp.)

dextran (Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Leuconostoc dextranicum and Lactobacillus hilgardii)

emulsan (Acinetobacter calcoaceticus)

galactoglucopolysaccharides (Achromobacter spp., Agrobacterium radiobacter, Pseudomonas marginalis, Rhizobium spp. and Zooglea spp.)

gellan (Aureomonas elodea and Sphingomonas paucimobilis)

glucuronan (Rhizobium meliloti)

N-acetyl-heparosan (Escherichia coli)

hyaluronic acid (Streptococcus equi)

indican (Beijerinckia indica)

kefiran (Lactobacillus hilgardii)

lentinan (Lentinus elodes)

Levan polysaccharide|levan (Alcaligenes viscosus, Zymomonas mobilis)

pullulan (Aureobasidium pullulans)

scleroglucan (Sclerotium rolfsii, Sclerotium delfinii and Sclerotium glucanicum)

schizophyllan (Schizophylum commune)

succinoglycan (Alcaligenes faecalis var myxogenes)

xanthan (Xanthomonas campestris)

welan (Alcaligenes spp.)

Anita Suresh Kumar and Kalpana Mody from Chapter 10 in Microbial Production of Biopolymers and Polymer Precursors

Further reading: Microbial Production of Biopolymers and Polymer Precursors

Labels: bacterium, exopolysaccharides, lactic acid bacteria

Many bacteria possess the genes needed to produce cellulose. However, Gluconacetobacter xylinus (formerly Acetobacter xylinum) is used for studies of the biochemistry and genetics of cellulose biosynthesis. Structurally cellulose is a simple polysaccharide, in that it consists only of one type of sugar (glucose), and the units are linearly arranged and linked together by β-1,4 linkages only. The mechanism of biosynthesis is however rather complex, partly because in native celluloses the chains are organized as highly ordered water-insoluble fibers. Currently the key genes involved in cellulose biosynthesis and regulation are known in a number of bacteria, but many details of the biochemistry of its biosynthesis are still not clear. A survey of genome sequence databases clearly indicates that a very large number of bacteria have the genes needed to produce cellulose, and this has also been experimentally confirmed for a smaller number of organisms. The biological functions of bacterial celluloses vary among species, and range from a role as a floating device to involvement in plant root adhesion and biofilm formation.
Valla et al from Chapter 3 in Microbial Production of Biopolymers and Polymer Precursors

Further reading: Microbial Production of Biopolymers and Polymer Precursors

Labels: bacterium, biopolymers, biotechnology, cellulose

The methods currently available to diagnose Legionnaires' disase are culture, urinary antigen detection, direct fluorescent antibody testing, detection of nucleic acid and detection of specific antibodies in serum samples. Presently, none of the diagnostic tests available offers the desired quality with respect to sensitivity and specificity. Culture should be obligatory, especially when hospitalized patients with underlying diseases are investigated. A positive culture is the prerequisite of molecular epidemiological investigations. Urinary antigen detection is a valuable tool in the majority of community-acquired cases when L. pneumophila serogroup 1 is the causative agent. In cases of nosocomial disease, when Legionella pneumophila serogroups other than sg 1 are frequent, this assay has limitations. The detection of nucleic acid is very useful method of diagnosis but requires further validation. The detection of antibodies in a patient's serum is of little use in the acute phase of the illness. Several molecular subtyping techniques are in use to subtype L. pneumophila strains in epidemiological investigations. Legionella pneumophila is genetically very heterogeneous thus allowing an individual fingerprint of each strain. However, the majority of clinical cases are caused by a limited number of clones that cause disease worldwide. The therapy for Legionnaires' disease requires drugs that can access and are active intracellularly. Currently, fluorochinolones and macrolides are the most active agents.

Further reading: Paul C. Lück in Legionella: Molecular Microbiology

Labels: bacteriology, bacterium, legionella

RNA and the Regulation of Gene Expression
"This book is a well-selected compilation of 14 mostly review-style articles, written by experts in the field ... a well-written, successful endeavour to present the field of eukaryal RNA-mediated regulation of gene expression. It has its major strength in providing an extremely well structured, up-to-date, comprehensive overview that skillfully zooms the reader into each topic from a general introduction to a high degree of detail ... suited for a broad range of readers, from advanced students to researchers in the field. Personally, we very much enjoyed reading it."
from D. K. Willkomm and R. K. Hartmann, Universitat Marburg, Germany in ChemBioChem (2008) 9: 2005-2007

Further reading: RNA and the Regulation of Gene Expression
Edited by: Kevin V. Morris. 
ISBN: 978-1-904455-25-7

Labels: book review, rna

The genus Clostridium represents a heterogeneous group of toxin-producing species, such as C. difficile, C. botulinum, C. tetani and C. perfringens. C. tetani and C. botulinum produce the most potent biological toxins known to affect humans. Further reading: Clostridia: Molecular Biology in the Post-genomic Era

Botulinum and Tetanus Neurotoxins
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) and tetanus toxin (TeNT) are potent toxins which are responsible for severe diseases, botulism and tetanus, in men and animals. BoNTs induce a flaccid paralysis, whereas TeNT causes a spastic paralysis. Both toxins are zinc-dependent metalloproteases, which specifically cleave one of the three proteins (VAMP, SNAP25, and syntaxin) forming the SNARE complex within target neuronal cells which have a critical function in the release of neurotransmitter. BoNTs inhibit the release of acetylcholine at peripheral cholinergic nerve terminals, whereas TeNT blocks neurotransmitter release at central inhibitory interneurons. Only a single form of TeNT is known, but BoNTs are divided in 7 toxinotypes and various subtypes, which differ in amino acid sequences and immunological properties. In contrast to TeNT, BoNTs are associated to non-toxic proteins (ANTPs) to form highly stable botulinum complexes. TeNT is produced by Clostridium tetani, and BoNTs by Clostridium botulinum and atypical strains of Clostridium barati and Clostridium butyricum. The genes encoding the neurotoxin and ANTPs are clustered in a DNA segment, called botulinum locus, which is located on chromosome, plasmid or phage. Neurotoxin synthesis is a highly regulated process, which occurs in late exponential growth phase and beginning of stationary phase, and which is dependent of alternative sigma factors (BotR or TetR). BotR and TetR are related to other clostridial sigma factors, TcdR and UviA, which are involved in the control of Clostridium difficile toxins A and B, and Clostridium perfringens bacteriocin, respectively. BotR, TetR, TcdR and UviA form a new subgroup of RNA polymerase sigma factors.

Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin
Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) causes the intestinal symptoms of a common food-borne illness and ~5-15% of all antibiotic-associated diarrhea cases. In food poisoning isolates, the enterotoxin gene (cpe) is usually present on the chromosome, while cpe is carried by conjugative plasmids in antibiotic-associated diarrhea isolates. CPE action involves its binding to claudin receptors, oligomerization/prepore formation, and prepore insertion to form a functional pore that kills cells by apoptosis or oncosis. The C-terminal half of CPE mediates receptor binding, while its N-terminal half is required for oligomerization. CPE/CPE derivatives are being explored for cancer therapy/diagnosis and improved drug delivery.

The Cholesterol-dependent Cytolysins and Clostridium septicum α-Toxin
Two classes of pore-forming toxins of the clostridia are represented by the cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) and the Clostridium septicum α-toxin. The CDCs are found in a wide variety of clostridial species, but are also found in many species from other Gram-positive genera. As a result, various CDCs have evolved specific traits that appear to enhance their ability to complement the pathogenic mechanism of a specific bacterial species. In contrast, closely related toxins to C. septicum α-toxin (AT) have not been found in other species of the clostridia, although C. perfringens epsilon toxin appears to be distantly related. Remarkably, distant relatives of AT have been found in species of Gram-negative bacteria as well as certain species of mushrooms and the enterolobin tree seed. Although the CDCs appear to be restricted to Gram-positive bacterial pathogens it has recently been shown that the unusual protein fold of their membrane-penetrating domain is present in proteins of the eukaryotic complement membrane attack complex. Both toxins penetrate the membrane by the use of a β-barrel pore but differ significantly in their pore-forming mechanisms.

Binary Bacterial Toxins
Several proteins from Gram-positive, spore-forming bacilli use a synergistic binary mechanism for intoxicating eukaryotic cells. These toxins include Clostridium botulinum C2 toxin, Clostridium difficile toxin (CDT), Clostridium perfringens iota (ι) toxin, and Clostridium spiroforme toxin (CST). Each of these clostridial binary toxins consists of distinct enzymatic "A" and binding "B" proteins that work in concert. Conservation of a basic intoxication theme between different genera clearly suggests retention of an evolutionarily successful mechanism promoting bacterial survival and dissemination.

Group I and II Clostridium botulinum
Clostridium botulinum, producing highly potent botulinum neurotoxin, is a diverse species consisting of four genetically and physiologically distinct groups (Groups I-IV) of organisms. Groups I and II C. botulinum produce A, B, E, and/or F toxins which cause human botulism. In addition, some strains of Clostridium butyricum and Clostridium barati produce type E and F toxins, respectively, and have thus been related to human illness. Human botulism appears in five different forms, such as the classical food botulism, infant botulism, wound botulism, adult infectious botulism, and iatrogenic botulism. Typical of all forms of human botulism is descending flaccid paralysis which may lead to death upon respiratory muscle failure.

C. difficile large clostridial toxins
Clostridium difficile is a toxin producing microorganism and the toxins are the main virulence factors. Two large toxins are produced by the bacterium and epidemiological studies have indicated that strains either produce both toxins (toxin A, TcdA, and toxin B, TcdB) or none of them. Toxigenic strains are usualy associated with the disease, while nontoxigenic are not. Strains producing only TcdB or strains producing an additional toxin (binary toxin CDT) have been described. Such strains with unusual toxin production pattern have changes in the genomic PaLoc region encoding the toxins TcdA and TcdB. These changes are the basis for a method that distinguish C. difficile strains into toxinotypes.

Further reading: Clostridia: Molecular Biology in the Post-genomic Era

Labels: botulism, clostridia, clostridium, tetanus, toxin

Recent research suggests that Clostridium-based tumor targeted therapy holds promise for the treatment of solid tumors. Upon systemic administration, various strains of non-pathogenic clostridia have been shown to infiltrate and selectively replicate within solid tumors. This specificity is based upon the unique physiology of solid tumors, which is often characterized by regions of hypoxia and necrosis. Clostridial vectors can be safely administered and their potential to deliver therapeutic proteins has been demonstrated in a variety of preclinical models.

from Asferd Mengesha, Ludwig Dubois, Kim Paesmans, Brad Wouters, Philippe Lambin and Jan Theys in Clostridia: Molecular Biology in the Post-genomic Era

Further reading: Clostridia: Molecular Biology in the Post-genomic Era

Labels: bacteriology, bacterium, clostridia, clostridium, therapy, tumor

Writing in the journal Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy, Steven Bates of the University of Exeter, UK, reviews a new book on Pathogenic Fungi published by Caister Academic Press. His comments include:

"The book Pathogenic Fungi: Insights in Molecular Biology, edited by Gioconda San-Blas and Richard A. Calderone, is a natural extension of the two volume set previously published in 2004 (Pathogenic Fungi: Structural Biology and Taxonomy, and Host Interactions and Emerging Strategies of Control). The current volume extends on the previous two by detailing some of the major advances that have been made in recent years through the application of 'omics' technologies and the generation of new molecular tools. The application of these technologies has resulted in a significant increase in the published research on pathogenic fungi, and this book provides a timely survey of key topics that have been advanced through their use ... The book clearly meets the stated aim of the editors 'to help the busy research scientist and/or teacher of medical mycology to keep abreast of all the latest advances'. Overall the book provides essential reading covering the recent advances, utilising molecular biology approaches, to further our understanding of fungal pathogens of humans. Despite the high price it would be a valuable addition to collections, and recommended reading for those with an interest in the molecular biology of human pathogenic fungi."
For full details please visit Pathogenic Fungi: Insights in Molecular Biology

Labels: book review, fungi