Molecular Diagnostics of Medically Important Bacterial Infections
Beverley Cherie Millar, Jiru Xu, and John Edmund Moore
Molecular biology has the potential to revolutionise the way in which diagnostic tests are delivered in order to optimise care of the infected patient, whether they occur in hospital or in the community. Since the discovery of PCR in the late 1980s, there has been an enormous amount of research performed which has enabled the introduction of molecular tests to several areas of routine clinical microbiology. Molecular biology techniques continue to evolve rapidly, so it has been problematic for many laboratories to decide upon which test to introduce before that technology becomes outdated. However the vast majority of diagnostic clinical bacteriology laboratories do not currently employ any form of molecular diagnostics but the use of such technology is becoming more widespread in both specialized regional laboratories as well as in national reference laboratories. Molecular biology offers a wide repertoire of techniques and permutations of these analytical tools.
More information from Current Issues in Molecular Biology
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Molecular Diagnostics of Medically Important Bacterial Infections
Molecular biology has the potential to revolutionise the way in which diagnostic tests are delivered in order to optimise care of the infected patient, whether they occur in hospital or in the community. Since the discovery of PCR in the late 1980s, there has been an enormous amount of research performed which has enabled the introduction of molecular tests to several areas of routine clinical microbiology. Molecular biology techniques continue to evolve rapidly, so it has been problematic for many laboratories to decide upon which test to introduce before that technology becomes outdated. However the vast majority of diagnostic clinical bacteriology laboratories do not currently employ any form of molecular diagnostics but the use of such technology is becoming more widespread in both specialized regional laboratories as well as in national reference laboratories. Molecular biology offers a wide repertoire of techniques and permutations of these analytical tools.
More information from Current Issues in Molecular Biology
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Loyal readers of the Microbiology Blog can access the full text of this article. Click on the following link:
Molecular Diagnostics of Medically Important Bacterial Infections
Bacillus: Cellular and Molecular Biology
from Bacillus: Cellular and Molecular Biology Peter Graumann University of Freiburg, Germany
Bacillus subtilis is one of the best understood prokaryotes in terms of molecular biology and cell biology. Its superb genetic amenability and relatively large size have provided powerful tools to investigate a bacterium in all possible aspects. Recent improvements in fluorescence microscopy-techniques have provided novel and amazing insight into the dynamic structure of a single cell organism. Research on B. subtilis has been at the forefront of bacterial molecular biology and cytology, and the organism is a model for differentiation, gene/protein regulation and cell cycle events in bacteria.
Bacillus subtilis is a ubiquitous soil bacterium that can be easily isolated from soil, using starch as an energy source and relatively high salt concentration. Ideally, the soil sample is heated up to 100°C for 30 minutes, allowing only for enduring spores to be cultured from the sample. B. subtilis is unique in that it can choose between at least 3 different genetic programs when nutrients or other resources become scarce, and/or cell density reaches a critical threshold. To survive or adapt to adverse condition, cells can either enter stationary phase, which is characterized by the formation of single motile cells (exponentially growing cells usually grow in chains and are non-motile), differentiate into enduring and metabolically inactive spores, or become competent and take up DNA from the environment for acquisition of new genetic material. In all three cases, strikingly different genetic programs are turned on that guide the cell through the differentiation processes. In addition to this, B. subtilis shows social behaviour, in that the cells communicate with each other, and form multicellular structures in the form of swarming cells and biofilms. Two component systems, cascades of different sigma factors, regulatory RNAs and specific proteolysis of target proteins form an intricate regulatory network, which is beginning to be unravelled, not only in terms of specific processes, but also in terms of whole complex processes that are connected with each other. Most strikingly, it has become clear that many proteins have specific subcellular addresses in bacterial cells. These findings have established the field of "Bacterial Cell Biology", and B. subtilis has been a forerunner in this field. Many vital processes are disturbed if proteins lose their specific localization, but the fundamental question of how proteins are targeted and specifically located in a call lacking intracellular compartments is still unclear for most cases. Therefore, it has become important to also study proteins in terms of their localization within the cell, in addition to analysing their biochemistry and regulation. It is important to understand how a bacterial cell functions as a whole entity and in 3D, i.e. how it is spatially organized, and even how bacteria talk to each other, or give their life for the sake of the whole community.
Further Information: Bacillus: Cellular and Molecular Biology
Bacillus subtilis is one of the best understood prokaryotes in terms of molecular biology and cell biology. Its superb genetic amenability and relatively large size have provided powerful tools to investigate a bacterium in all possible aspects. Recent improvements in fluorescence microscopy-techniques have provided novel and amazing insight into the dynamic structure of a single cell organism. Research on B. subtilis has been at the forefront of bacterial molecular biology and cytology, and the organism is a model for differentiation, gene/protein regulation and cell cycle events in bacteria.
Bacillus subtilis is a ubiquitous soil bacterium that can be easily isolated from soil, using starch as an energy source and relatively high salt concentration. Ideally, the soil sample is heated up to 100°C for 30 minutes, allowing only for enduring spores to be cultured from the sample. B. subtilis is unique in that it can choose between at least 3 different genetic programs when nutrients or other resources become scarce, and/or cell density reaches a critical threshold. To survive or adapt to adverse condition, cells can either enter stationary phase, which is characterized by the formation of single motile cells (exponentially growing cells usually grow in chains and are non-motile), differentiate into enduring and metabolically inactive spores, or become competent and take up DNA from the environment for acquisition of new genetic material. In all three cases, strikingly different genetic programs are turned on that guide the cell through the differentiation processes. In addition to this, B. subtilis shows social behaviour, in that the cells communicate with each other, and form multicellular structures in the form of swarming cells and biofilms. Two component systems, cascades of different sigma factors, regulatory RNAs and specific proteolysis of target proteins form an intricate regulatory network, which is beginning to be unravelled, not only in terms of specific processes, but also in terms of whole complex processes that are connected with each other. Most strikingly, it has become clear that many proteins have specific subcellular addresses in bacterial cells. These findings have established the field of "Bacterial Cell Biology", and B. subtilis has been a forerunner in this field. Many vital processes are disturbed if proteins lose their specific localization, but the fundamental question of how proteins are targeted and specifically located in a call lacking intracellular compartments is still unclear for most cases. Therefore, it has become important to also study proteins in terms of their localization within the cell, in addition to analysing their biochemistry and regulation. It is important to understand how a bacterial cell functions as a whole entity and in 3D, i.e. how it is spatially organized, and even how bacteria talk to each other, or give their life for the sake of the whole community.
Further Information: Bacillus: Cellular and Molecular Biology
Conference Alert: Respiratory Viruses of Animals Causing Disease in Humans
December 10 - 15, 2006 Swissotel, The Stamford/Biopolis, Singapore
Most human viral infections are derived from viruses of animals at some time in the past. The process continues, with adaptation taking place before our eyes. There is a need to bring together medical and veterinary virologists to discuss the ecologies of these agents, how they are transmitted and how we can block transmission to humans. The key problems in this area are the identification of reservoirs, the mechanics of transmission, and how to predict and perhaps control adaptation to new hosts. This meeting will be held in Singapore, a central point in Asia, where most of the interaction between animals and humans is occurring, and thus where new knowledge needs to be applied. We will seek to bring as many Asian virologists as possible to give short papers.
Organizers: Stanley A. Plotkin, Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus and Martin L. Hibberd
Further information
Virology books: Virology
Most human viral infections are derived from viruses of animals at some time in the past. The process continues, with adaptation taking place before our eyes. There is a need to bring together medical and veterinary virologists to discuss the ecologies of these agents, how they are transmitted and how we can block transmission to humans. The key problems in this area are the identification of reservoirs, the mechanics of transmission, and how to predict and perhaps control adaptation to new hosts. This meeting will be held in Singapore, a central point in Asia, where most of the interaction between animals and humans is occurring, and thus where new knowledge needs to be applied. We will seek to bring as many Asian virologists as possible to give short papers.
Organizers: Stanley A. Plotkin, Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus and Martin L. Hibberd
Further information
Virology books: Virology
Meeting Alert: Bacterial Cell Wall Biosynthesis
Bacterial Cell Wall Biosynthesis meeting 6th-7th December 2006
To be held on Thursday December 7th 2006 at the Honiley Court Hotel & Conference Centre near Solihul, West Midlands with registration from 4.00pm and Conference Dinner on Wednesday, 6th December, 7.00pm for 7.30pm.
Further details
To be held on Thursday December 7th 2006 at the Honiley Court Hotel & Conference Centre near Solihul, West Midlands with registration from 4.00pm and Conference Dinner on Wednesday, 6th December, 7.00pm for 7.30pm.
Further details
Meeting Alert: Biofilms
Biofilm: a system microbiology analysis
19-20 April 2007
University of Limerick, Ireland
Contact: catherine.adley@ul.ie
19-20 April 2007
University of Limerick, Ireland
Contact: catherine.adley@ul.ie
Multiple Resistant Acinetobacter
The Health minister in the UK has confirmed that a strain of Acinetobacter baumannii with multiple antibiotic resistance has been isolated from injured soldiers returning to the UK from Iraq. The multi-resistant strain of A. baumannii known as the 'T strain' has been reported to have caused an outbreak at one UK hospital infecting at least 93 people. In the US A. baumannii has been identified in more than 240 military personnel since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and has been associated with five deaths.
Acinetobacter Molecular Biology
Acinetobacter Molecular Biology
Acinetobacter 2006. Forthcoming Meeting
7th International Symposium on the Biology of Acinetobacter
8 – 10 November 2006
Institut d'Estudis Catalans, Barcelona, Spain
8 – 10 November 2006
Institut d'Estudis Catalans, Barcelona, Spain
The aim of the meeting is to provide an informal international forum in which to discuss all aspects of the genus Acinetobacter. In particular, it is hoped to stimulate discussion and collaboration between medical and non-medical microbiologists, all of whom deal with this group of organisms in the course of their working lives. Each topic session will comprise a 30-min ‘state of the art’ lecture by an invited expert, supplemented by offered oral contributions and posters describing research work currently in progress.
Acinetobacter Molecular Biology
Molecular Methods in Microbial Ecology
Erwin G. Zoetendal and Roderick I. Mackie
It is now generally accepted in microbial ecology that cultivation-based approaches provide an incomplete picture of microbial diversity in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract because only a minority of microbes can be obtained in culture. Therefore, the application of molecular approaches, especially those focused on 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequence diversity, have become popular as they enable researchers to bypass the cultivation step. These approaches have provided considerable information about microbial ecosystems, including the GI tract. This article summarizes the different approaches and their impact on our knowledge of the ecology of the GI tract and provides guidelines for future research directions with a focus on pre- and probiotics. from Probiotics and Prebiotics: Scientific Aspects
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Molecular Methods in Microbial Ecology
It is now generally accepted in microbial ecology that cultivation-based approaches provide an incomplete picture of microbial diversity in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract because only a minority of microbes can be obtained in culture. Therefore, the application of molecular approaches, especially those focused on 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequence diversity, have become popular as they enable researchers to bypass the cultivation step. These approaches have provided considerable information about microbial ecosystems, including the GI tract. This article summarizes the different approaches and their impact on our knowledge of the ecology of the GI tract and provides guidelines for future research directions with a focus on pre- and probiotics. from Probiotics and Prebiotics: Scientific Aspects
Free access to full article for limited time only!
Loyal readers of the Microbiology Blog can access the full text of this article. Click on the following link:
Molecular Methods in Microbial Ecology