Center for Biofilm Engineering News Update:  February, 2002 Volume 5, Issue 2   __________________________________________   Research Highlights   Structure and Function Research Group News   The Image Structure Analyzer (ISA) software has been made available to the public. Version 1.0 is being distributed free of charge for evaluation purposes until May 16, 2002. The software calculates textural entropy, homogeneity, energy, contrast, correlation, areal porosity, run lengths, diffusion distances and fractal dimension from digital biofilm images. The ISA biofilm image analysis software was developed by the Center's Biofilm Structure and Function Research Group. To request a copy of the software along with pertinent information please send an email to: ISA@erc.montana.edu.    _______   ASM International Professorship and Minority Activities Program Grant   Drs. Bill Costerton and Richard Veeh received a grant from ASM through the International Professorship and Minority Activities Program to teach a course at the University of Concepción, Chile. The course will be held March 11-29, 2002, and is titled "Molecular Tools in Microbial Ecology." Specifically, this program award supports an International Professorship for Latin America, which is co-sponsored by Dr. Homero Urrutia at the University of Concepción. The program is designed to increase future collaboration between researchers in the USA and foreign countries. In 2001, Dr. Urrutia spent three months in collaborative work at the CBE.   _______   ASM's MicrobeLibrary Dr. Paul Stoodly has had several of his movies accepted to the ASM MicrobeLibrary (http://www.microbelibrary.org/). Two of his most recently accepted movies show the growth and detachment of cell clusters from biofilms. The movie titles are "Growth and Detachment of Cell Clusters from a Tap Water Biofilm," and "Growth and Detachment of Cell Clusters from a Four-Species Biofilm." Each image and movie has an extensive caption, explaining the images and the possible implications of the research. The MicrobeLibrary is an excellent web resource for researchers as well as a quality website for publishing research work. To access the website, go to http://www.microbelibrary.org/ and click on the "visual resources" link, then "search visual resources." Once you reach the search page, simply enter a keyword in the search string, (e.g. biofilm) or an author name (e.g. Stoodley) to find microbe images and movies.      _________________________________________   Research Associate Position   The Center for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University is recruiting a Research Associate to be responsible for the laboratory implementation of all project research conducted in the Biofilm Systems Training Laboratory. A Masters of Science in microbiology or a closely related field is required. To view the complete position description go to: http://www.montana.edu/msuinfo/jobs/prof/sn440-3.htm.     _________________________________________   Education   Katie Dawson, undergraduate researcher and chemical engineering major, was one of forty MSU students tapped for the Award for Excellence and will be recognized at the 19th annual Awards for Excellence Banquet on February 19th, sponsored by the Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce. Dedicated to excellence, the evening is designed to recognize seniors who have outstanding records of achievement in academic and extracurricular activities, and service to MSU and the local community. The program also recognizes outstanding students and campus mentors. Katie works for Mark Pasmore (Medical Projects Supervisor) and has been with the CBE for more than two years. Congratulations Katie!   _________________________________________   Upcoming CBE Workshops and Meetings   Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Meeting February 14-15, 2002 Montana State University Strand Union Building, Registration Room 275-276 Note: If you plan to attend the Wednesday evening reception at the Gran Tree Inn, please register with Susan Cooper at (406) 994-4743 or susan_c@erc.montana.edu. See complete agenda at: http://www.erc.montana.edu/Ind-Col99-SW/IAP/tac/AgendaTACfEB02.html _______   Biofilm Image Analysis Workshop July 25-26, 2002 Center for Biofilm Engineering Montana State University Bozeman, MT, U.S.A Daily workshop activities will include lectures and laboratory sessions. The lectures will cover biofilm structure and image analysis of biofilms. The lab sessions will cover how to acquire biofilm images and how to use the biofilm image analysis software developed by the Biofilm Structure and Function Research Group. Workshop details and registration forms can be found at: http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/research/Structure_function/default.htm _______   Microsensors: Manufacture and Applications Workshop August 19-23, 2002 Center for Biofilm Engineering Montana State University Bozeman, MT, U.S.A Microsensors (pH, dissolved oxygen, ion selective microelectrodes) are becoming indispensable tools for studying biofilms and small biological samples. The goal of this workshop is to provide the participants with the knowledge necessary to design, manufacture, and apply such microsensors. Lab sessions and lectures will illustrate the electrochemical principles of the measurements, explain how microsensors are manufactured, and demonstrate how they are applied to study biofilms.  The workshop is sponsored by the Biofilm Structure and Function Research Group at the Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University. The activities include four days of lectures and lab sessions, and a one-day field trip to Yellowstone National Park.  For details on this workshop see the following web address. http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/research/Structure_function/default.htm See the Events Calendar for more conference and workshop information at http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/whats_new/index.htm     __________________________________________   CBE People in Action   Dr. Bill Costerton was an invited speaker at the Orthopedic Surgical Manufacturers Association (OSMA) Winter Meeting at the South Sea Resort, Captiva Island, Florida. Bill presented "The Role of Biofilms in the Failure of Certain Current Orthopedic Devices," January 10-11, 2002. Dr. Bill Costerton and Dr. Paul Stoodley were invited speakers at Philips Oral Healthcare's first annual symposium on "Emerging Trends in Oral Care," January 17-20, 2002. Bill presented "The Role of Biofilms in Oral Health," and Paul presented "Biofilm Research Methods and Fluid Dynamics." The aim of the conference was to bring the attention of biofilms to dental practitioners from all fields - orthodontists, periodontists, hygienists, researchers, marketers, dental school lecturers, etc. Bill and Paul put together a CD ROM with a PowerPoint presentation which dental professionals can use for educational purposes, both to patients and students. Scientific American will be producing a supplement covering the conference which will be distributed to the international dental community. Bill and Paul will be contributing articles. Dr. Anne Camper presented "Biofilms in Water Systems," to Colgate-Palmolive, Piscataway, NJ, January 18, 2002. The presentation was followed by discussions and a facilities tour.  Dr. Bill Costerton was invited to participate in the first official workshop of the Coral Disease and Health Consortium (CDHC), "Coral Health and Disease: Developing a National Research Plan," January 22-25, 2002.  Bill's talk was titled "The Role of Biofilms in Diseases of Coral Reefs."  __________________________________________   Theses   See theses abstracts at http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/pubs/Theses/default.htm     __________________________________________   Web Watch     Subscribe to the BiofilmsOnline.com Newsletter   A newsletter subscription will keep you notified of recent postings in the Biofilm News, Patents and Research Digest. The Subscribe link is located under Current Contents.  See the BiofilmsOnline.com February issue at http://www.BiofilmsOnline.com.    __________________________________________   Newsletter Listserve   The CBE News Update is a listserve newsletter. If you need to subscribe or unsubscribe from the listserve, follow the directions at the following CBE website.   http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/newsarchives/subscribe.htm   An alternative to subscribing to the listserve is to view the CBE News Update on our web page at http://www.erc.montana.edu/Ind-Col99-SW/Current_Newsletter/default.htm. Newsletter archives can be found at http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/newsarchives/index.htm   __________________________________________   Diane Williams  editor of the CBE News Update