Center for Biofilm Engineering

News Update: 

July, 2005

Volume 8, Issue 7

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Research Highlights

25 Years of Industrial Interaction

The upcoming Technical Advisory Conference (TAC), to be held July 6th–8th, represents the 25th anniversary of this semi-annually hosted event. The first conference was held in Bozeman during the summer of 1980, and included 5 Industrial Associate companies. The TAC has grown to 24 companies with diverse interests in biofilms. See a list of current Industrial Associate companies at: http://www.erc.montana.edu/Ind-Col99-SW/IAP/ialist.htm

In keeping with the anniversary theme, this summer's TAC will feature current CBE researchers and a host of CBE alumni, invited back because of the impact of their work and also to illustrate the dissemination of biofilm knowledge around the world. If you'd like more information about the meeting, please contact paul_stu@erc.montana.edu.

Technical Advisory Conference Agenda (pdf): http://www.erc.montana.edu/Ind-Col99-SW/IAP/tac/ArchivedTACagendas/sTAC05_FormattedAgenda.pdf
 

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Biofilm Control Group

At the Technical Advisory Conference, attendees will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the faculty, staff and students working in Dr. Phil Stewart's lab, also known as the Biofilm Control Lab. Their research will be presented at the conference in Session 5 – Alternative Control Strategies.

Read about this enthusiastic and innovative team of people at: http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/research/Control/cntrl_research_grp2.htm

Read about the research at: http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/research/Control/default.htm

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Frequently Read Article in Microbiology

Monthly, Microbiology publishes a “50 Most-Frequently-Read Articles” page based on hits received by articles archived on their site only. For the month of May, this CBE article was listed number four in the top fifty!

"Phenotypic differentiation and seeding dispersal in non-mucoid and mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms"
Purevdorj-Gage, B., W.J. Costerton, and P. Stoodley
Microbiology May 01, 2005; 151:1569-1576
See biofilm movies included in this article at: http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/Movies/2005/05-M003-4.htm

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Recent CBE Publications

“Glacial Ice Cores: A Model System for Developing Extraterrestrial Decontamination Protocols”
Christner, B., J.A. Mikucki, C.M. Foreman, J. Denson and J.C. Priscu
Icarus, 174:572-584 (2005)

“Interaction of Klebsiella oxytoca and Burkholderia cepacia in Dual-Species Batch Cultures and Biofilms as a Function of Growth Rate and Substrate Concentration”
Komlos, J., A.B. Cunningham, A.K. Camper and R.R. Sharp
Microb. Ecol., 49:114-125 (2005)

“Phenotypic Differentiation and Seeding Dispersal in Non-mucoid and Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms”
Purevdorj-Gage B., W.J. Costerton, and P. Stoodley
Microbiology, 151(Pt 5):1569-1576 (2005)

“Ammonium Removal in Constructed Wetland Microcosms as Influenced by Presence and Species of Plants and Organic Carbon Load”
Riley, K.A., O.R. Stein and P.B. Hook
J. Environmental Science and Health Pt. A., 40(6-7):1109-1121 (2005)

“Biofouling in the Oil Industry”
Sanders, P.F. and P.J. Sturman
In: Petroleum Microbiology, Olivier, B. and Magot, M. (eds.), ASM Press, Washington, DC, pp. 171-198 (2005)

“Temperature, Plants and Oxygen: How Does Season Affect Constructed Wetland Performance?”
Stein, O.R., and P.B. Hook
J. Environmental Science and Health Pt. A., 40(6-7):1109-1121 (2005)

To read paper abstracts or to order paper copies see:
http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/pubs/Database/PD_DisplayScript.asp

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Visiting Researchers

Vildan Caner, Assistant Professor at the University of Pamukkale, Turkey, Department of Medical Biology & Genetics obtained a fellowship to work with the Drs. Lewandowski and Beyenal’s Biofilm Structure and Function group for the next six months. Her project is “The Determination of Extended Survival and Persistence of Campylobacter jejuni in Bacterial Biofilms Isolated from Different Sources."

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Education

Undergraduate Research Programs

Montana State University's summer undergraduate research program kicked off with a dinner on June 17th. CBE undergraduates and their mentors were invited to attend and meet students from all over the U.S. involved in REU, USP and other student programs. This summer the CBE has 38 undergraduate and high school students working on research projects. In addition to the Center undergraduates, we are hosting students from the programs below.

MAP Students (The goal of the Montana Apprenticeship Program (MAP) is to increase the number of Native American and disadvantaged high school students who want to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math career fields). See a CBE student in action at the MAP homepage: http://www.montana.edu/wwwai/map_home.htm

BRIDGES Students (Bridging Tribal Colleges to MSU), a partnership between Montana State University and five tribal colleges.  For more program information see:
http://www.montana.edu/~wwwai/Bridges/bridges2_4.htm

INBRE Students (IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence) a five-year program (2004-2009) focusing on increasing the biomedical research capacity of the state of Montana. For more program information see:  http://www.brin.montana.edu/

The CBE continues to be a magnet for students from all over the state of Montana and the U.S. who wish to be a part of the excellent opportunities for research and learning available here.

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CBE People in Action

Phil Stewart as invited speaker presented, "Biofilm Infections and Antibiotic Tolerance," American Society for Artificial Organs (ASAIO) 51st Annual Conference in Washington, DC, June 9, 2005.

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Biofilm Education Resources

Upcoming CBE Workshops

“Biofilm Methods Workshop,” organized by the CBE in partnership with the Biofilm Institute at Montana State University, July 5, 2005 See the tentative agenda at:

http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/whats_new/sTAC05_Wrkshp.pdf

For more information about the Biofilm Methods Workshops go to http://www.erc.montana.edu/Ind-Col99-SW/Workshops/index.htm

“Biofilm Structure Quantification and Image Analysis,” sponsored by the CBE Structure-Function Research Group, Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, July 21–22, 2005

“Microsensors: Manufacture and Applications,” sponsored by the CBE Structure-Function Research Group, Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, August 8–12, 2005

“Bioelectrochemistry: Microbially Influenced Corrosion and Microbial Fuel Cells,” sponsored by the CBE Structure-Function Research Group, Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, August 24–27, 2005

For more information on the workshops go to http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/research/workshops/default.htm

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Web Watch

BiofilmsOnline.com

See the BiofilmsOnline.com July issue at http://www.BiofilmsOnline.com.

Subscribe to the bi-weekly newsletter by registering at: http://www.biofilmsonline.com/cgi-bin/biofilmsonline/newsletter_signup.html

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Newsletter Listserve

The CBE News Update is a listserve newsletter. If you wish 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.

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