Center for Biofilm Engineering News Update:  August, 2002 Volume 5, Issue 8   __________________________________________   Research Highlights   Paper Spotlight    Regulatory Mechanisms of Biofilms   This paper reviews some common themes found in the formation of biofilms and also in the regulatory mechanisms of biofilms. As the genetic and environmental factors in the attachment, development and detachment of biofilms are more clearly understood, the opportunities to develop sophisticated control strategies continue to increase. Hall-Stoodley, L. and P. Stoodley, "Developmental Regulation of Microbial Biofilms," Curr. Opin. Biotech., 13:228-233 (2002).    _________________________________________   NIH Award   Modeling Antibiotic Susceptibility of Bacteria in Biofilms Phil Stewart, chemical engineering professor and CBE’s Deputy Director, has been awarded a four-year grant from the NIH to develop mathematical and computer models of biofilm formation that can then be used to investigate antibiotic resistance mechanisms in biofilms. Collaborating MSU faculty include Paul Stoodley, Jack Dockery, Isaac Klapper, and Marty Hamilton. The collaborative disciplines represented in this work are civil and chemical engineering, mathematics, statistics, and microbiology. The overall goal of the project is to complement ongoing experimental investigations of antibiotic resistance in biofilms by developing the first comprehensive, phenomenological model of biofilm reduced susceptibility to killing by antibiotics. An experimental portion of the project is designed to integrate with the large ongoing project sponsored by the W. M. Keck Foundation. The Keck students working on this experimental portion are Steve Hunt, Lee Richards, and Todd Shaw. Progress in understanding the stubborn persistence of biofilm infections in the face of antibiotic chemotherapy has been surprisingly slow. This modeling study will accelerate research efforts by integrating the many constituent phenomena that must be considered and by serving as a vehicle for dialogue between the diverse disciplines working to solve this problem. The project will be funded August 2002 - August 2006.   _________________________________________   Farewell   Joanna Heersink is leaving the CBE to pursue a graduate degree in epidemiology at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. She finds the epidemiology program a nice blend of her interests in microbiology and statistics. Joanna was an undergraduate intern in the Biofilm Systems Training Laboratory (BSTL) and upon graduating in 1998 she took a position as Laboratory Specialist in the BSTL. Since then she has been exceptionally effective both as a mentor to BSTL interns and a workshop lecturer. She conducted projects for industrial sponsors on issues ranging from oil field souring to medical devices. She made significant contributions to various standardized biofilm methods research projects, including the rotating disk reactor biofilm growth protocol (ASTM Method E2196-02), the evaluation of the drop plate method for enumerating viable cells, microscopy methods, establishing the feasibility of the respirometer for use in antibiofilm studies, and creating and maintaining the Biofilm Protocol Manual.    _________________________________________   Upcoming CBE Workshops and Meetings   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   Marty Hamilton presented "Applied Statistical Thinking in Biofilm Research" at PNNL in Richland, WA, June 4, 2002. Following the talk, he met with four PNNL research groups to discuss statistical problems of mutual interest. Marty Hamilton presented "Applied Statistical Thinking in Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Research" at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, OH, July 2, 2002. Following the talk, he met with the P&G Fabric and Home Care Microbiology Team to discuss statistical issues. Bill Costerton was an invited speaker at the NORM 2002 meeting presented by the Inland Northwest Section of the American Chemical Society, June 21, 2002. Bill presented "Bacterial Behavior in the Subsurface." Peg Dirckx and Betsey Pitts presented “Bioglyphs,” at the “Capturing Change” program in the Exploratorium Museum, San Francisco, CA, July 17, 2002. Bill Costerton was an invited speaker to the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Ft. Detrick in Frederick, MD, July 29, 2002. He presented "Biofilms in Nature & Disease." __________________________________________   Theses   See theses abstracts at http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/pubs/Theses/default.htm     __________________________________________   Web Watch     BiofilmsOnline.com   See the August issue of BiofilmsOnline.com at http://www.BiofilmsOnline.com.      _______   Recent Web Updates   Check the Recent Web Updates link located on the CBE home page, to view the latest information posted on the CBE web.   See <http://www.erc.montana.edu/Recent%20Web%20Updates/default.htm>    __________________________________________   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