A comparison of a range of commercially available qPCR machines or real-time PCR machines lists various features to help you decide which qPCR instrument is most suitable for your needs.

• Applied Biosystems: ABI 7300, ABI 7500, ABI 7500 Fast, ABI 7900 Fast HT with automation accessory, ABI StepOne
• Roche: LightCycler 480, LightCycler 1.5, LightCycler 2.0
• Stratagene: Mx4000, Mx3000P, Mx3005P
• Cepheid: SmartCycler
• Corbett: Rotor-Gene 6000
• Eppendorf: Mastercycler ep realplex
• BioRad: MiniOpticon, MyiQ, Opticon2, Chromo4, iQ5

read more ...

Bibliography:

1. Real-Time PCR: Current Technology and Applications
2. Real-Time PCR in Microbiology: From Diagnosis to Characterization
3. PCR Troubleshooting: The Essential Guide
4. PCR Books

Labels: PCR, qPCR, real-time PCR

Influenza Virology: Current Topics "should be on the shelf of every flu virologist, public health scientist, and vaccinologist ... I recommend it for all virologists and public health scientists who want to have the most updated picture on influenza and why a flu pandemic may occur in the near future." from from ASM Microbe (March 2007)

Further reading:
Influenza Virology: Current Topics
Animal Viruses: Molecular Biology

Labels: flu virus, swine flu, swine influenza

The 'Spanish' influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 caused acute illness in 25-30% of the world's population and resulted in the death of up to an estimated 40 million people. Using fixed and frozen lung tissue of 1918 influenza victims, the complete genomic sequence of the 1918 influenza virus is being deduced. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the completed 1918 influenza virus genes shows them to be the most avian-like among the mammalian-adapted viruses.

This finding supports the hypothesis that:
(1) the pandemic virus contains genes derived from avian-like influenza virus strains and that
(2) the 1918 virus is the common ancestor of human and classical swine H1N1 influenza viruses.

The relationship of the 1918 virus with avian and swine influenza viruses is further supported by recent work in which the 1918 hemagglutinin (HA) protein crystal structure was resolved. Neither the 1918 hemagglutinin (HA) nor the neuraminidase (NA) genes possess mutations known to increase tissue tropicity that account for virulence of other influenza virus strains like A/WSN/33 or the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 or H7 viruses. Using reverse genetics approaches, influenza virus constructs containing the 1918 HA and NA on an A/WSN/33 virus background were lethal in mice. The genotypic basis of this virulence has not yet been elucidated.

The complete sequence of the non-structural (NS) gene segment of the 1918 virus was deduced and also tested for the hypothesis that enhanced virulence in 1918 could have been due to type I interferon inhibition by the NS1 protein. Results from these experiments suggest that in human cells the 1918 NS1 is a very effective interferon antagonist, but the 1918 NS1 gene does not have the amino acid change that correlates with virulence in the H5N1 virus strains identified in 1997 in Hong Kong.

Sequence analysis of the 1918 pandemic influenza virus is allowing us to test hypotheses as to the origin and virulence of this strain. This information should help elucidate how pandemic influenza virus strains emerge and what genetic features contribute to virulence in humans.

from Jeffery K. Taubenberger and Peter Palese in Influenza Virology

Labels: avian flu, flu, swine flu, swine influenza

Metagenomics is a rapidly growing field of research that has had a dramatic effect on the way we view and study the microbial world. By permitting the direct investigation of bacteria, viruses and fungi irrespective of their culturability and taxonomic identities, metagenomics has changed microbiological theory and methods and has also challenged the classical concept of species. This new field of biology has proven to be rich and comprehensive and is making important contributions in many areas including ecology, biodiversity, bioremediation, bioprospection of natural products, and in medicine.

from Diana Marco in Metagenomics: Theory, Methods and Applications

Labels: archaea, archaeal metagenomics, bioremediation, horizontal gene transfer, metagenomics, microbial communities, microbiome, plant-microbe interactions

September 21 - 23, 2009 Frontiers of Retrovirology: complex retroviruses, retroelements and their hosts
Montpellier, France Further information
This conference will bring together leading human retrovirus researchers to review current progress and to chart future challenges. Internationally renowned speakers will present their insights into the principles guiding the life cycle of endogenous retroelements, complex human retroviruses, and their pathogenic interactions with the hosts. Cutting edge presentations will be delivered by internationally renowned researchers. Short oral platform presentations and posters will be selected from registrants. A limited number of scholarships will be available.
Suggested reading: Virology Books

Labels: retroelements, retrovirology, retroviruses

June 21 - 26, 2009 Microbial Ecology Modeling Summer PhD Course
Lyngby, Denmark Further information
PhD Course on Individual-based Modeling of Microbial Interactions and Processes. In this course we will introduce individual-based modeling in the context of microbial ecology, and will detail some of the history behind this field as well as the current work being carried out. We will also introduce software for individual-based models in microbial ecology and will assist students as they adapt the software to their own problems
Suggested reading: Environmental Molecular Microbiology

Labels: ecology, microbial ecology

"This book represents a most thorough and comprehensive review of current research into the genetics, biology, host-parasite interactions and developments in the treatment of Leishmaniasis. The chapters are contributed by many eminent researchers in the field, and thus it contains the most recent research and developments relating to this organism.

... This book represents a most valuable reference for any scientist who wishes to expand their knowledge and understanding of current research into this important parasitic infection, I feel that it is a must for the library of any individual undertaking research into this disease." ... read more

from Richard Bradbury (Microbiology Department, Royal Hobart Hospital) writing in Aus. J. Med. Sci. 2009 30(1): 25-26

Further reading: Leishmania: After The Genome

Labels: leishmania, leishmaniasis, parasites, parasitic infections