Center for Biofilm Engineering

News Update: 

May, 2006

Volume 9, Issue 5

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Research Highlights

Summer Technical Advisory Conference

The summer 2006 Industrial Associate Technical Advisory Conference (TAC) will be held in Bozeman June 20-22 (Tuesday-Thursday). The TAC will feature sessions on Antimicrobial Surfaces, Biofilms in Food and Food Processing, Industrial Water Treatment, Biofilm Methods, and Environmental Biofilms. Other special presentations include regulatory issues and microscopy.

A preview of invited speakers is shown below. See the complete Agenda.

Dave Worley, Professor and Interim Chair, Department of Chemistry, Auburn University
Kim Lewis, Professor of Biology, Northeastern University
Mark Fornalik, Kodak
Mike Doyle, Director Center for Food Safety, University of Georgia
Amy Wong, Professor of Food Microbiology, University of Wisconsin
Mike Dorsey, Corrosion Technologist, DuPont
Stephen Tomasino, US EPA
Ron Crawford, Professor of Microbiology, University of Idaho
Yuri Gorby, Senior Research Scientist, Pacific Northwest Labs
 

Biofilms Method Workshop

In addition to the general TAC sessions, there will be a Biofilms Method Workshop on June 19th. The workshop will feature hands-on demonstrations of biofilm growth and enumeration techniques in use at the CBE and is a great educational experience for researchers performing laboratory experimentation with biofilms.

Workshop registration form

Workshop agenda

If you'd like further information about the TAC, please contact Paul Sturman at paul_stu@biofilm.montana.edu or 406 994-2102.

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INRA Grant Award
 

The Center for Biofilm Engineering (Montana State University) and the Department of Biological and Irrigation Engineering (Utah State University) will organize and administer an Inland Northwest Research Alliance (INRA) initiative to develop a sustainable, collaborative research program in the area of Subsurface Biotechnology and Bioremediation. The initiative will consist of three elements: 1) an annual symposium/workshop series, 2) a program to award INRA matching funds to researchers who develop qualifying research proposals which are funded by non-INRA sources, and 3) a plan for long-term sustainability of this initiative. These elements are aimed at developing collaborative relationships among INRA investigators which provide enhanced funding opportunities along with enhancing the pool of graduate students participating in the INRA Subsurface Science Graduate Program. Project PI, Al Cunningham, will receive $38,892 for two years.

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Subsurface Biotechnology & Bioremediation Symposium & Workshop

The CBE recently received a grant (see announcement above) from the Inland Northwest Research Alliance (INRA) to host a one-day symposium on Subsurface Biotechnology and Bioremediation (SBB). The symposium has been scheduled June 22 – 23, 2006, to coincide with this summer’s Technical Advisory Conference (see above). The SBB symposium will take place on Thursday June 22nd and the workshop on Friday June 23rd. The symposium begins Thursday morning with the TAC Session 6: Environmental Biofilms. The SBB symposium will then continue with a luncheon, afternoon sessions and an evening poster session. See the agenda below.

Faculty, researchers and students from all Inland Northwest Research Alliance (INRA) institutions are cordially invited to attend the first INRA-sponsored symposium and workshop. Please contact: Al Cunningham, Symposium Coordinator, 406 994-6109

Registration form
Draft Agenda

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Paper Spotlight

The study of water and solute transport as well as solute consumption in biofilm-affected porous media is difficult due to the opacity of most porous media. It is important to understand such processes though since porous media reactors are being utilized in biotechnology, bioprocessing, and bioremediation. This paper describes a study conducted by Margo Adgie, a visiting student from Manhattan College (NY) under the mentorship of Drs. Robin Gerlach (CBE), Al Cunningham (CBE), Paul Stoodley (CBE), and Robert Sharp (Manhattan College). Utilizing Vibrio fisheri, a naturally bioluminescent bacterium, two-dimensional porous media flat plate reactors, time-lapse photography, and dye tracer studies, the group demonstrated that under constant flow conditions, biofilms can plug most of a porous medium. See images.  However under constant flow conditions (forced flow), channeling occurs within the biofilm affected porous medium, which causes the formation of high velocity flow regions, resulting in accelerated breakthrough of non-reactive solutes (tracers). Reactive solutes (e.g. oxygen) in these channels are being consumed quickly indicating that, although higher average flow velocities are observed in biofilm-affected porous media, reactive solute transport is reduced. These studies demonstrate that we can manipulate hydraulic properties of porous media using biofilms. Additional studies are underway investigating the effects of different flow conditions on biofilm formation and dynamics.

"Visualization and Characterization of Dynamic Patterns of Flow, Growth, and Activity of Biofilms Growing in Porous Media"
Sharp, R.R., P. Stoodley, M. Adgie, R. Gerlach, A. Cunningham
Water Sci. Technol., 52(7):85-90 (2005)
View the abstract

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Gen-Probe Joseph Award

Timothy E. Ford, Professor and Head of the Department of Microbiology at Montana State University will be presented with the Gen-Probe Joseph Award from the American Society for Microbiology. Ford will receive his award May 22nd in Orlando, Fla. where he will be the honored guest and lecturer at the society's general meeting. This award honors Ford as a distinguished microbiologist for his exemplary leadership and service in the field of public health. Ford's specialty is environmental health and water. Recent biofilm-related work has focused on survival of opportunistic pathogens in drinking water and routes of exposure. His work on drinking water has resulted in elevated awareness of health risks from water in countries around the world. As winner of the award, Ford will receive a $2,000 cash prize, a commemorative piece and a $2,000 travel stipend.

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Visitor Presentations
 

Recent invited visitors to the Center who have presented to the MSU campus on biofilm-related topics are shown below.

Dr. Ron Sims
Professor in Biological & Irrigational Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, UT
Seminar presentation: “Biological & Irrigation Engineering,” April 6, 2006.

Dr. Matthew Fields
Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Miami University, Oxford, OH
Seminar presentation: "Characterization of Bacterial Biofilms in the Sulfate-Reducer, Desulfovibrio vulgaris, and the Metal-Reducer, Shewanella oneidensis," April 17, 2006.

Dr. Luke Hanley
Professor of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL
Seminar presentation: “Vacuum Ultraviolet Postionization for Mass Spectrometry of Biomaterials & Bacterial Biofilms,” April 20, 2006.
 
Dr. Karin Sauer
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY
Seminar presentation: “Regulatory Aspects of the Biofilm Developmental Life Cycle,” April 24, 2006.
 
Dr. Paul Stoodley
Associate Professor, Center for Genomic Sciences, Allegheny-Singer Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA
Seminar presentation: “Bacterial Biofilms in Laboratory, Natural Environments and Medical and Dental Specimens,” May 1, 2006.

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Education

Fellowship Award

Pat Secor received an IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) fellowship to assist him in pursuing his graduate degree in Cell Biology and Neuroscience. Pat is the CBE's first graduate student to be getting a degree in Cell Biology and Neuroscience, thus forging new connections with this department. Pat will be advised by Dr. Tom Hughes.

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Honor Society Inductions & Fellowship Nominee

Ben Klayman and Stewart Clark were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi on April 21st. Elizabeth Sandvik was the MSU nominee for a Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Fellowship at the same ceremony.

Nicholas Beck and Benjamin Unterreiner were inducted on April 9th into the Alpha Epsilon Delta, the world's largest honor society for premedical education. The 38 MSU students inducted are all in pre-medical or pre-dental programs, carry a grade point average of 3.2 or higher and have completed three or more semesters of work at MSU.

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Undergraduate Scholars Conference

Each year this conference is held to recognize students who participate in the Undergraduate Scholars Program (USP). This program is designed to encourage, facilitate and support undergraduate research collaborations with faculty in all disciplines. On April 4th, USP students presented oral and poster presentations about their research work at Montana State University.

CBE’s USP students and their presentation and poster titles:

Title: Community Analysis of Chronic Wounds Using Molecules
Student: Pat Secor, Biochemistry
Mentor: Garth James

Title: Influence of Co-Toxins and NOM on Toxin Reduction
Student: David Steppler, Biochemistry
Mentor: Robin Gerlach

Title: Use of Propidium Monoazide for Discrimination Between Live and Dead Bacteria Using Molecular Tools
Student: Michelle Wagner, Biochemistry
Mentor: Andreas Nocker

Title: Developing a Model for the Flow Cytometeric Analysis of Ice Cores
Student: Bryan Close, Bio-Resources Engineering
Mentor: Christine Foreman

Title: Growing Staphylococcus aureus in a Flow Cell
Student: Kathryn Hoyt, Chemical Engineering
Mentor: Sarah Codd

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Thesis Alert

“Spatial Patterns of DNA Replication, Protein Synthesis, and Oxygen Concentration within Bacterial Biofilms Reveal Active and Inactive Regions,” Thesis Defense by Suriani Abdul Rani, M.S. Candidate in Chemical Engineering, Montana State University, May 2006.

View thesis abstract

 

Thesis abstracts can be found on the CBE website and copies can be ordered from there as well. To view the thesis abstracts see: http://www.biofilm.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/pubs/Theses/Database/TD_DisplayScript.asp

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Outreach

The Northwest Academic Forum (NWAF), a committee that addresses regional higher education issues and engages in cooperative resource sharing, toured the Center April 28, 2006. The institutions of higher education are represented by the provosts, academic vice presidents, and the chief executive or chief academic officers from the state governing board.

The CBE showcased significant and interesting research projects and facilities for the NWAF participants. The individuals who participated in this tour included Su Abdul Rani, Holly Berg, Willy Davison, Laura Jennings, Ben Klayman, John Neuman, Phil Stewart and Ellen Swogger.

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CBE People in Action

Phil Stewart as an invited speaker presented "Biofilms and Their Control," Medtronic, Inc., Fridley, MN, April 24-25, 2006.

Zbigniew Lewandowski as an invited speaker presented “Structure and Activity of Bacterial Biofilms,” Northeast Algal Symposium, School of Science Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, April 22, 2006

Al Cunningham presented "Microbially Enhanced Geologic Sequestration of Supercritical CO2," Conference on Carbon Sequestration, Washington, DC, May 8-10, 2006

David Steppler presented a poster on Capitol Hill, "Mobility of Source Zone Heavy Metals and Radionuclides: The Mixed Roles of Fermentative Activity on Fate and Transport of U and Cr,” at the 2006 Environmental Remediation Science Division Annual Principal Investigator Meeting, Airlie Conference Center (Virginia), April 3-5, 2006 Poster co-authors were William Apel, Brent Peyton, Robin Gerlach, and Brady Lee

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Biofilm Education Resources

Upcoming CBE Workshops

“Biofilm Methods Workshop,” organized by the CBE at Montana State University, June 19,  2006.

Workshop registration form

Workshop agenda

The summer Technical Advisory Conference workshop will offer a series of advanced topics and lectures. Demonstrations and discussions will include: Using FISH probes in biofilm research; community analysis of wound biofilms using DGGE; pathogen detection in drinking water systems using molecular techniques; biofilm analysis using high throughput 96-well screening. If you are interested in attending the workshop, contact Susan Cooper, 406-994-4770 as soon as possible. Workshop attendance is limited. CBE Industrial Associates may attend at no cost, and visitors pay a $400. Continental breakfast, lunch, coffee breaks and workshop notebooks are provided.

More information about the Biofilm Methods Workshops.
 

“Biofilms Summer School,” organized by the CBE's Biofilm Structure-Function Research Group, includes the following three workshops listed below.
Bookmark this site: http://www.biofilm.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/research/workshops/default.htm
July 24 – August 4, 2006
Details:  http://www.biofilm.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/research/workshops/SUMMER%20SCHOOL%20-%20BIOFILMS.pdf

Biofilm Structure Quantification and Image Analysis
July 24 – 25, 2006
Details:  http://www.biofilm.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/research/workshops/Biofilm Structure Quantification and Image Analysis.pdf

Fundamentals of Biofilm Research
July 26 – 28, 2006
Details: http://www.biofilm.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/research/workshops/Fundamentals of biofilm research.pdf

Microsensors – Manufacture and Applications
July 31 – August 4, 2006
Details: http://www.biofilm.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/research/workshops/Microsensors workshop.pdf

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Web Watch

CBE Web

The 2005 Conference Proceedings have been posted for downloading.
See: http://www.biofilm.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/Proceedings/default.htm

BiofilmsOnline.com

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

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

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Newsletter Listserv

The CBE News Update is a listserv newsletter. If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe from the listserv, follow the directions at the following CBE website.

http://www.biofilm.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.biofilm.montana.edu/Ind-Col99-SW/Current_Newsletter/default.htm. Newsletter archives can be found at http://www.biofilm.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/newsarchives/index.htm.

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