Center for Biofilm Engineering

News Update: 

June, 2008

Volume 11, Issue 6-7

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Industry Highlights

Upcoming Technical Advisory Conference

The summer 2008 Technical Advisory Conference (TAC) for our Industrial Associate members and invited guests will be held in Bozeman MT, July 15–17, 2008 (Tuesday-Thursday). The TAC will feature sessions on coatings for biofilm inhibition, environmental biofilms, water/industrial biofilms, biofilm methods and microscopy, nitrogen compounds and their biofilm impact, and physics of biofilm control.
 

See the TAC agendas on our homepage. Please contact Paul Sturman (406) 994-2102 for further information.

Conference Agenda (pdf)

Workshop Agenda (pdf)

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Research Highlights

EPA Contracts $1.7 Million to Support Test Method Development for Antimicrobial Products

On April 1, 2008, the MSU-CBE Standardized Biofilm Methods Laboratory was awarded a 5 year, $1.7 million contract with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Work performed under this contract will include laboratory research to support the development and standardization of test methods for measuring the performance of antimicrobial products, including those for biofilm bacteria, and statistical services related to EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs Antimicrobial Testing Program and various Homeland Security initiatives. Darla Goeres is the contract's principal investigator and Marty Hamilton of Big Sky Statistical Analysts LLC will collaborate on the project as a statistical subcontractor.

Darla attended an ASTM E35.15 subcommittee meeting in Anaheim, CA April 7–9, 2008. She was interviewed for an article published in the ASTM Standardization News, May/June 2008 issue, “Development of Latest Proposed Biofilm Standard Launched.”

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DOE Awards

Drs. Matthew Fields, Joseph Seymour, and Brent Peyton have each received $16,500 one-year grants funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, and contracted through the Inland Northwest Research Alliance, Inc. (INRA) and Montana State University. The funded projects are as follows:

Rapid deduction of stress response pathways in metal and radionuclide reducing bacteria.
Phase 2: Molecular determinants of community activity, stability and ecology (MDCASE) (ESPP2)
PI: Matthew Fields, Microbiology

Subsurface uranium fate and transport: Integrated experiments and modeling of coupled biogeochemical mechanisms of nanocrystalline uraninite oxidation by Fe(III)-(hydr)oxides
PI: Brent Peyton, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Mechanistically-based field-scale models of uranium biogeochemistry from upscaling pore-scale experiments and models
PI: Joseph Seymour, Chemical and Biological Engineering

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Faculty Research Award
 

Darla Goeres received the CBE faculty research award in recognition of her leadership of the Standardized Biofilm Methods group, initiative in engaging industry, regulators, and standard-setting organizations, and perseverance and success in bringing in major new EPA funding.
 

Read more about awards
 

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In the Media

Binghamton University Magazine recently published an article in the Spring 2008 issue, “Bioslime,” by Jim H. Smith. The article highlights the work of CBE alumni David Davies and Karin Sauer, and research colleague Alex Rickard, who has twice been an invited speaker at the CBE’s Technical Advisory Conferences. CBE Director Phil Stewart is also quoted in the article. See pages 22-27.

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Latest CBE Publications

“Localized gene expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms”
Lenz AP, Williamson K, Pitts B, Stewart PS, Franklin MJ.
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2008 May 16. [Epub ahead of print]

Read abstract

“Action of antimicrobial substances produced by different oil reservoir Bacillus strains against biofilm formation”
Korenblum E, Sebastián GV, Paiva MM, Coutinho CM, Magalhães FC, Peyton BM, Seldin L
Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2008; 79(1):97-103

Read abstract

“Resolving biogeochemical phenomena at high spatial resolution through electron microscopy”
Geesey GG, Borch T, Reardon CL
Geobiology 2008; 6(3):263–269

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“Antimicrobial-coated endotracheal tubes: An experimental study”
Berra L, F. Curto, G. Li Bassi, P. Laquerriere, B. Pitts, A. Baccarelli, T. Kolobow
Intensive Care Med. 2008 Apr 17 [Epub ahead of print]
Read abstract

“Biofilm penetration, triggered release and in vivo activity of inhaled liposomal amikacin in chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections”
Meers P, Neville M, Malinin V, Scotto AW, Sardaryan G, Kurumunda R, Mackinson C, James G, Fisher S, Perkins WR
J Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 61(4):859-868 (2008)

Read abstract

“Hexavalent chromium reduction in Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough causes transitory inhibition of sulfate reduction and cell growth”
Klonowska A, Clark ME, Thieman SB, Giles BJ, Wall JD, and Fields MW
Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 78(6):1007-1016 (2008)

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“Candida albicans viability after exposure to amphotericin B: Assessment using metabolic assays and colony forming units”
Khot PD, Suci PA, Tyler BJ
J Microbiol Methods 2008;72(3):268-274

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“Internally coated endotracheal tubes with silver sulfadiazine in polyurethane to prevent bacterial colonization: A clinical trial”
Berra L, T. Kolobow, P. Laquerriere, B. Pitts, S. Bramati, J. Pohlmann, C. Marelli, M. Panzeri, P. Brambillasca, F. Villa, A. Baccarelli, S. Bouthors, H.T. Stelfox, L.M. Bigatello, J. Moss, A. Pesenti

Intensive Care Med. 2008 Apr 17 [Epub ahead of print]

Read abstract

“Development of a chronic wound in a diabetic (db/db) mouse by infection with biofilm”
Hochwalt P, Zhao G, Underwood R, Usui M, Singh P, Stewart P, Olerud J, Fleckman P
J Investigative Dermatology 2008; 128(S1):S195 Meeting Abstract 1168

Read abstract

"Autoinducer-2 triggers the oxidative stress response in Mycobacterium avium leading to biofilm formation"
Geier H, Mostowy S, Cangelosi GA, Behr MA, Ford TE
Appl Environ Microbiol 2008; 74(6):1798-1804

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“Strain-specific proteome responses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to biofilm-associated growth and to calcium”
Patrauchan MA, Sarkisova SA, Franklin MJ
Microbiology 2007; 153(11):3838–3851

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“Pseudomonas biofilm penetration and activity of liposomal amikacin (ArikaceTM)”
Meers P, Malinin, V, Lee J, Neville M, Sardaryan G, James G, Fisher S, Perkins WR
Pediatric Pulmonology 2007; 42(S30):322-323 Special Issue: 21st Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference

Read abstract

“Influence of the hydrodynamic environment on quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
biofilms
Kirisits MJ, Margolis JJ, PurevdorjGage BL, Vaughan B, Chopp DL, Stoodley P, Parsek MR
J Bacteriol 2007; 189(22):8357-8360

Read abstract

“The role of FLO11 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae biofilm development in a laboratory based flow-cell system”
Purevdorj-Gage B, Orr ME, Stoodley P, Sheehan KB, Hyman LE
FEMS Yeast Research 2007; 7(3):372–379

Read abstract


View the complete CBE publications database

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New Employee

Karen Moll recently joined the Standardized Biofilm Methods Laboratory (SBML) as a Research Assistant III on May 19, 2008. She will work with the rest of the SBML team on the development of biofilm methods and biofilm testing projects. Ms. Moll has a BS in Biology from Syracuse University and has close to six years experience working in industrial microbiology testing laboratories. In between her time working in industrial laboratories, Ms. Moll spent two years in Cameroon, West Africa where she taught biology to students at an equivalent level of 7th grade through freshman year of college as a Peace Corp volunteer.

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Outreach

Visitors

Jordon Gruber will be working in the Standard Methods Lab for the next two months. Jordon is a student intern with Procter & Gamble and is a senior in microbiology at Clemson University.

John Neuman, CBE technical operations manager, toured eleven students from Super Science High School in Oita City, Japan, 1 May 2008. Along with their teacher, project leader, Yuji Otsuka, and principal, Hideo Kawakami, they were visiting the CBE to learn more about biofilms. Oita City is located in a geothermal environment similar to Yellowstone National Park. From the geothermal activity, they experience negative impacts to the city from acid rain and sulfur dust.

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Education

Student Research Celebration

CBE faculty and students presented posters at the Student Research Celebration
(Formerly the Undergraduate Scholars Conference), MSU campus in Bozeman, Montana, April 15, 2008. Read more about the 24 authors and poster titles

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2008 Faculty Awards

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Thesis Alert

“Breakthrough of indicator organisms from slow sand filters as part of a drinking water production system for sub-Saharan Africa,” thesis defense by Sidy Ba, M.S. candidate in Environmental Engineering, Montana State University, May 2008.

“Hydraulic model calibration for the Girwood, Alaska water distribution system,” thesis defense by Trevor Ryan Trasky, M.S. candidate in Environmental Engineering, Montana State University, May 2008.

“Environmental and genetic factors leading to Mycobacterium avium biofilm formation,” thesis defense by Henriette Geier, PhD candidate in Microbiology, Montana State University, April 2008.


View thesis abstracts

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Professional Paper

“The two-component signal transduction systems of Pseudomonas aeruginosa,” by Jessica Richard, M.S. candidate in Microbiology, Montana State University, May 2008.

 

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CBE People in Action

Zbigniew Lewandowski was invited as a keynote speaker to present "Quantifying mass transport, structure, and microbial activity in biofilms," at The First Israeli Conference on Biofilms in Water and Food Industries," Israel Institute of Technology, Technion, Haifa, May 15, 2008.

Kelly Kirker presented “Staphylococcus aureus biofilms prevent scratch wound closure in vitro,” at the Society Advance Wound Care Meeting San Diego, CA April 24-27, 2008.

Elinor deLancey Pulcini presented "Biofilms and the biodiversity of slime," at the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Scientists (ASCLS), Idaho Spring Convention, Pocatello, Idaho, April 17-19, 2008.

Phil Stewart presented a three-day workshop on Biofilm Control at the University of Concepcion in Concepcion, Chile, April 7-9, 2008. This event was a continuation of interaction between the CBE and the biofilm group in Concepcion led by Homero Urrutia. The two groups have hosted reciprocal workshops and visits regularly since 2001. Dr. Stewart lectured to approximately 40 attendees on topics of: issues in biofilm control, antimicrobial tolerance in biofilms, and alternative strategies for biofilm control.
 

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Upcoming CBE Workshops

Advanced Biofilm Methods Workshop – Technical Advisory Conference
July 14, 2008
This workshop is for CBE’s Industrial Associate members on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is space available for more participants, other conference attendees will be invited to join the workshop. Read more about CBE workshops

See the July 14th draft workshop agenda

“Biofilms Summer School,” organized by the CBE's Biofilm Structure-Function Research Group, is composed of three workshops.

July 28 – August 8, 2008
Read the details of each workshop at the link below.

 

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