Bacterial Histone-Like HU Proteins
Bacterial histone-like HU proteins are critical to maintenance of the nucleoid structure. In addition, they participate in all DNA-dependent functions, including replication, repair, recombination and gene regulation. Their function is typically architectural, inducing a specific DNA topology that promotes assembly of higher-order nucleo-protein structures.
Although HU proteins are highly conserved, individual homologs have been shown to exhibit a wide range of different DNA binding specificities and affinities. The existence of such distinct specificities indicates functional evolution and predicts distinct in vivo roles. Emerging evidence suggests that HU proteins discriminate between DNA target sites based on intrinsic flexure, and that two primary features of protein binding contribute to target site selection: The extent to which protein-mediated DNA kinks are stabilized and a network of surface salt-bridges that modulate interaction between DNA flanking the kinks and the body of the protein.
These features confer target site selection for a specific HU homolog, they suggest the ability of HU to induce different DNA structural deformations depending on substrate, and they explain the distinct binding properties characteristic of HU homologs. Further divergence is evidenced by the existence of HU homologs with an additional lysine-rich domain also found in eukaryotic histone H1.
Further reading: Functional Evolution of Bacterial Histone-Like HU Proteins
Although HU proteins are highly conserved, individual homologs have been shown to exhibit a wide range of different DNA binding specificities and affinities. The existence of such distinct specificities indicates functional evolution and predicts distinct in vivo roles. Emerging evidence suggests that HU proteins discriminate between DNA target sites based on intrinsic flexure, and that two primary features of protein binding contribute to target site selection: The extent to which protein-mediated DNA kinks are stabilized and a network of surface salt-bridges that modulate interaction between DNA flanking the kinks and the body of the protein.
These features confer target site selection for a specific HU homolog, they suggest the ability of HU to induce different DNA structural deformations depending on substrate, and they explain the distinct binding properties characteristic of HU homologs. Further divergence is evidenced by the existence of HU homologs with an additional lysine-rich domain also found in eukaryotic histone H1.
Further reading: Functional Evolution of Bacterial Histone-Like HU Proteins
Conference Update
Category: Conferences
September 18 - 23, 2011 WaterMicro 2011
Rotorua, New Zealand Further information
16th International Symposium on Health-Related Water Microbiology, Sub-Group of the International Water Association. Topics include: Water pollution and diseases; Microbial source tracking; Catchment protection; Biofilm studies; Water and sanitation in developing country; Climate change and water quality; Recreational water and health; Epidemiology of waterborne diseases; Microbial risk assessment; Microbial quality of shellfish growing areas, Applications of nanotechnology; Water and energy; Zoonoses.
Suggested reading: Environmental Microbiology: Current Technology and Water Applications
June 15, 2010 Novel Antimicrobial Agents
Aberdeen, UK Further information
Society for General Microbiology/Society for Applied Microbiology/Society of Biology regional meeting on Novel Antimicrobial Agents, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom. This regional meeting will be an opportunity to hear about developments in the field of antimicrobial agents primarily focussed on research taking place within Scotland.
Suggested reading: Microbiology Books
November 1 - 3, 2010 Bio-Processing and Application of Microbial Biotechnology in Agriculture
Cairo, Egypt Further information
1st International Conference of Bio-Processing and Application of Microbial Biotechnology in Agriculture
Suggested reading: Microbiology Books
Rotorua, New Zealand Further information
16th International Symposium on Health-Related Water Microbiology, Sub-Group of the International Water Association. Topics include: Water pollution and diseases; Microbial source tracking; Catchment protection; Biofilm studies; Water and sanitation in developing country; Climate change and water quality; Recreational water and health; Epidemiology of waterborne diseases; Microbial risk assessment; Microbial quality of shellfish growing areas, Applications of nanotechnology; Water and energy; Zoonoses.
Suggested reading: Environmental Microbiology: Current Technology and Water Applications
June 15, 2010 Novel Antimicrobial Agents
Aberdeen, UK Further information
Society for General Microbiology/Society for Applied Microbiology/Society of Biology regional meeting on Novel Antimicrobial Agents, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom. This regional meeting will be an opportunity to hear about developments in the field of antimicrobial agents primarily focussed on research taking place within Scotland.
Suggested reading: Microbiology Books
November 1 - 3, 2010 Bio-Processing and Application of Microbial Biotechnology in Agriculture
Cairo, Egypt Further information
1st International Conference of Bio-Processing and Application of Microbial Biotechnology in Agriculture
Suggested reading: Microbiology Books
Bacterial Spores
Category: Bacteria
Endospore-forming bacteria produce some of the most potent toxins known and are important pathogens in hospital-borne infections (Clostridium difficile) food contamination (Bacillus cereus, Clostridium botulinum), wound infestation (Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium tetani) and bioterrorism (Bacillus anthracis).
Bacilli and Clostridia spores form in response to unfavorable environmental conditions and can withstand extremes of heat, radiation, and chemical agents. The spore's durability is even more remarkable considering that dormant spores revert back to actively growing cells almost immediately after nutrients return to the environment. The intrinsic resistance and the ability to remain dormant for long periods make spores the perfect delivery vehicle for infectious diseases.
Further reading: The Ger Receptor Family from Sporulating Bacteria
Bacilli and Clostridia spores form in response to unfavorable environmental conditions and can withstand extremes of heat, radiation, and chemical agents. The spore's durability is even more remarkable considering that dormant spores revert back to actively growing cells almost immediately after nutrients return to the environment. The intrinsic resistance and the ability to remain dormant for long periods make spores the perfect delivery vehicle for infectious diseases.
Further reading: The Ger Receptor Family from Sporulating Bacteria
The Ger Receptor Family
Category: Bacteria
Ger receptor activation is the first committed step in the germination process. Ger receptors are encoded, in general, as tricistronic operons containing three protein-coding genes, the A-, B-, and C-subunits. However, some Ger receptor subunits are encoded as orphan monocistronic genes and yet other ger receptor operons encode duplicated subunit genes.
The A-subunit protein of Ger receptors consist of five or six predicted membrane-spanning domains, as well as large N- and C-terminal hydrophilic domains. A-subunit proteins share significant homology to SpoVAF, a late-sporulation protein with no known function. Intriguingly, Ger receptors have been shown to interact with proteins from the spoVA operon. Whether these interactions are relevant to spore germination remains to be elucidated.
Further reading: The Ger Receptor Family from Sporulating Bacteria
The A-subunit protein of Ger receptors consist of five or six predicted membrane-spanning domains, as well as large N- and C-terminal hydrophilic domains. A-subunit proteins share significant homology to SpoVAF, a late-sporulation protein with no known function. Intriguingly, Ger receptors have been shown to interact with proteins from the spoVA operon. Whether these interactions are relevant to spore germination remains to be elucidated.
Further reading: The Ger Receptor Family from Sporulating Bacteria
Getting The Most Out of PCR
We think you will be interested in an online seminar series entitled "Getting The Most Out of PCR", which is being broadcast by the popular life science blog, Bitesize Bio. Bitesize Bio is headed by Nick Oswald and Suzanne Kennedy, who co-edited our recent title "PCR Troubleshooting and Optimization".
The series lineup includes many of the authors from this book and kicks off on 18 May with a talk from LightCycler co-inventor, Carl Wittwer, entitled "Magic in Solution: An Introduction and Brief History of PCR". This will be a great learning experience with an opportunity to ask questions and learn from experts and pioneers in the PCR field. The full program is shown below.
Click here to book your place on these excellent events.
Recommended reading: PCR publications
The series lineup includes many of the authors from this book and kicks off on 18 May with a talk from LightCycler co-inventor, Carl Wittwer, entitled "Magic in Solution: An Introduction and Brief History of PCR". This will be a great learning experience with an opportunity to ask questions and learn from experts and pioneers in the PCR field. The full program is shown below.
Click here to book your place on these excellent events.
- Magic in Solution: An Introduction and Brief History of PCR
Speaker: Carl Wittwer
18 May 2010 / 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET - Obtaining Maximum PCR Sensitivity and Specificity
Speaker: Cameron N. Gundry
25 May 2010 / 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET - Significance of Controls and Standard Curves in PCR
Speaker: Ian Kavanagh
01 June 2010 / 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET - The MBD2-based Enrichment Approach for Analyzing DNA methylation
Speaker: Chris Adams
08 June 2010 / 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET - The MIQE Guidelines Uncloaked
Speaker: Greg Shipley
15 June 2010 / 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET - High Resolution Melting Analysis - Beyond the SNP
Speaker: John Mackay
22 June 2010 / 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET
Recommended reading: PCR publications
Pharmaceutical Microbiology
Category: Conferences
June 15 - 16, 2010 Pharmaceutical Microbiology
Boston, MA, USA Further information
Best Practices for science and compliance in Pharmaceutical Microbiology. Microbiological contamination of products and processes continues to be a major concern to the industry and its regulators. The potential impact of such contamination can be catastrophic. This course, for non-biologists and microbiologists, is designed to provide you with the knowledge, confidence and decision making risk assessment skills to prevent this happening.
Suggested reading: Microbiology Books
Boston, MA, USA Further information
Best Practices for science and compliance in Pharmaceutical Microbiology. Microbiological contamination of products and processes continues to be a major concern to the industry and its regulators. The potential impact of such contamination can be catastrophic. This course, for non-biologists and microbiologists, is designed to provide you with the knowledge, confidence and decision making risk assessment skills to prevent this happening.
Suggested reading: Microbiology Books
Gastro-Intestinal Microbial Ecology
Category: Conferences
November 9 - 11, 2010 International Scientific Conference on Gastro-Intestinal Microbial Ecology - GME2010
Kosice, Slovakia Further information
At GME2010 leading scientists will present and discuss current advances in the research of gut microbiota and gut microbial ecosystem. The scientific programme aims to advance the understanding of microbial diversity of the gastro-intestinal ecosystem by presenting new insights in its complex balance or imbalance, and discuss ways to modulate the gut microbiota to the benefit of the host by means of bioactive substances.
Suggested reading: Bifidobacteria: Genomics and Molecular Aspects
Kosice, Slovakia Further information
At GME2010 leading scientists will present and discuss current advances in the research of gut microbiota and gut microbial ecosystem. The scientific programme aims to advance the understanding of microbial diversity of the gastro-intestinal ecosystem by presenting new insights in its complex balance or imbalance, and discuss ways to modulate the gut microbiota to the benefit of the host by means of bioactive substances.
Suggested reading: Bifidobacteria: Genomics and Molecular Aspects
Neisseria Book Review
I am pleased to provide the following excerpt from a book review of Neisseria: Molecular Mechanisms of Pathogenesis:
"written by outstanding and internationally highly recognized experts in the Neisseria research field ... The chapters are of the highest scientific quality including links to central primary publications on the different topics ... an excellent monography for the specialist" from Arzneimittelforschung/Drug Research (2010) 60: 226-227 read more ...
"written by outstanding and internationally highly recognized experts in the Neisseria research field ... The chapters are of the highest scientific quality including links to central primary publications on the different topics ... an excellent monography for the specialist" from Arzneimittelforschung/Drug Research (2010) 60: 226-227 read more ...
 | Edited by: Caroline Genco and Lee Wetzler "a comprehensive update" (Society for Microbial Ecology and Disease)ISBN: 978-1-904455-51-6 Publisher: Caister Academic Press Publication Date: January 2010 Cover: Hardback |
Metagenomics Book Review
I am pleased to provide the following excerpt from a book review of Metagenomics: Theory, Methods and Applications:
"the book is recommended for life science researchers and all students in biology and medicine wishing to learn more about this new and very interesting field" from Arzneimittelforschung/Drug Research (2010) 60: 226-227 read more ...
"the book is recommended for life science researchers and all students in biology and medicine wishing to learn more about this new and very interesting field" from Arzneimittelforschung/Drug Research (2010) 60: 226-227 read more ...
 | Edited by: Diana Marco "an excellent resource for students, researchers, and scientists ... a valuable resource on the newly evolving biological field of metagenomics, making contributions to ecology, biodiversity, bioremediation, bioprospection of natural products, medicine, and other disciplines." (Doodys)ISBN: 978-1-904455-54-7 Publisher: Caister Academic Press Publication Date: January 2010 Cover: Hardback |
Vaccine Design Book
Category: Books | Immunology
A new book on Vaccine Design edited by Rino Rappuoli and Fabio Bagnoli has been announced today read more ...
 | Edited by: Rino Rappuoli and Fabio Bagnoli ISBN: 978-1-904455-74-5 Publisher: Caister Academic Press Publication Date: February 2011 Cover: Hardback |