Bacterial viruses, or bacteriophages, are estimated to be the most widely distributed and diverse entities in the biosphere. From initial research defining the nature of viruses, to deciphering the fundamental principles of life, to the development of the science of molecular biology, phages have been 'model organisms' for probing the basic chemistry of life. With more recent advances in technology, most notably the ability to elucidate the genome sequences of phages and their bacterial hosts, there has been a resurgence of interest in phages as more information is generated regarding their biology, ecology and diverse nature. Phage research in more recent years has revealed not only their abundance and diversity of form, but also their dramatic impact on the ecology of our planet, their influence on the evolution of microbial populations, and their potential applications. This review focuses on this new post-genomic era of phage biology, from information emerging from genomics and metagenomics approaches through to applications in agriculture, human therapy and biotechnology.
from McAuliffe et al. in: Bacteriophage: Genetics and Molecular Biology
28 November - 1 December 2007. II International Conference on Environmental, Industrial and Applied Microbiology (BioMicroWorld2007)
Seville, Spain.
Microbiology ConferencesGENERAL TOPICS OF BIOMICROWORLD2007
Space Microbiology, Astro(micro)biology
Agriculture, Soil, Forest Microbiology
Analytical Techniques, Imaging Techniques, Microscopy
Cell Engineering
Environmental Microbiology, Marine Microbiology, Water/Aquatic Microbiology, Geomicrobiology
Food Microbiology
Industrial Microbiology - Future Bioindustries
Medical Microbiology
Methods in Basic and Applied Microbiology
Microbial Biotechnology
Microbial Physiology, Metabolism and Gene Expression
Microbiology Education
Pharmaceutical Microbiology
Structure and Morphogenesis
Quantitative Models and Bioinformatics in Microbiology
IMPORTANT DATES
Abstract submission deadline: 17 September 2007
Early registration deadline: 22 August 2007
Final registration deadline: 21 November 2007
Full paper submission for publication: On-site (28 November 1 December)
The double-stranded (ds)RNA viruses represent a diverse group of viruses that vary widely in host range (humans, animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria), genome segment number (one to twelve), and virion organization (T-number, capsid layers, or turrets). Members of this fascinating group include the rotaviruses, renowned globally as the commonest cause of gastroenteritis in young children, and bluetongue virus, an economically important pathogen of cattle and sheep.
In recent years, remarkable progress has been made in determining, at atomic and subnanometeric levels, the structures of a number of key viral proteins and of the virion capsids of several dsRNA viruses, highlighting the significant parallels in the structure and replicative processes of many of these viruses. By providing unique insights into fundamental aspects of structure-function relationships in virus particles, virus particle assembly, virus-cell interactions, and viral pathogenesis, approaches for the development of novel antiviral strategies and/or agents can be designed.
More information from: Segmented Double-Stranded RNA Viruses
Real-time PCR is currently used in many clinical microbiology laboratories to diagnose microbial infections. This method combines PCR chemistry with fluorescent probe detection of amplified product in the same reaction vessel. Real-time PCR assays can be completed in an hour or less and provide sensitivity and specificity. The combination of high sensitivity and specificity, low contamination risk, and speed has made real-time PCR technology a popular method for diagnosing many infectious diseases.
Further reading:
Real-Time PCR in Microbiology: From Diagnosis to Characterization Ian M. Mackay (2007)