Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Wolfram Brueck
University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland Valais, Switzerland
Keynote: Applied Microbes: The good, the bad and the fastidious
Time : .
Biography:
Wolfram Brück studied microbiology at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, USA before pursuing a M.Sc. in medical and molecular microbiology at the University of Manchester, UK. In 2003, he finished his Ph.D. at the University of Reading, UK on the influence of prebiotic milk peptides on infant health. Throughout his career, Prof. Brück has developed a strong international perspective in food and health microbiology and biotechnology through academic and industrial posts in Denmark, USA, Ireland, the UK and Switzerland. His areas of interest are gut health, food microbiology, "green" production of bioactives and added value ingredients from food wastes.
Abstract:
Assemblies of microorganisms in their various environmental niches harbour a vast metabolic potential. To make use of its specific activity, the targeted identification of particular members of these communities within or outside of its native habitat has been done to facilitate novel processes or functions or to hasten existing ones. Mining this prospective wealth of activity for biotechnology, agriculture, medicine, food microbiology and bioremediation is at the core of applied microbiology. For example, Entotheonella, a microbial marine invertebrate symbiont is assumed to produce an antifungal agent in the Palauan sponge Theonella swinhoei. The same organism, on the other hand may produce an immunosuppressive, neuroprotective, antiproliferative, microtubule-stabilizing and antifungal compound in the Caribbean sponge Discodermia dissoluta. Another example is the use of the shell wastes of marine invertebrates and the chitinolytic machinery of Serratia marcescens in combination with the acid production of Lactobacillus and the proteases of Bacillus cereus, which leads to an environmentally friendlier alternative to traditional production of chitin and chitosan. Additionally, Lactobacillus by itself has been shown to protect from urinary tract infections while its status as probiotic has long been established. Today it is well known that the microbiota composition of our gut influences strongly our health and dysbiosis is a serious risk factor. Targeted intervention of probiotics such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium may counteract the dysbiosis caused by various extrinsic factors during the acquisition of the early microbiota and into adulthood. Microorganisms for the maintenance of our well-being.
Keynote Forum
Xuehua Xu
National Institutes of Health, USA
Keynote: Dictyostwlium discoideum: A Model Organism for G Protein Coupled Receptor-Mediated Chemotaxis in Human Diseases
Time : .
Biography:
Dr. Xuehua Xu expertise in developing and applying state-of-the-art imaging technologies to monitor the signaling network of GPCR-mediated chemotaxis in the model organism Dictyostelium discoideum, human neutrophils, and breast cancer cells. The interplay between computational simulation and experimental verification allow her to identify new components and novel signaling pathways essential for chemotaxis. Her research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of GPCR-mediated chemotaxis in multiple systems and identifying new therapeutic strategies for inflammatory diseases and metastasis of breast cancer.
Abstract:
Chemotaxis is a directional cell migration guided by extracellular chemoattractant gradients. This cellular behavior plays critical roles in many physiological processes, such as neuron patterning, immune responses, angiogenesis, metastasis of cancer cells, and the early development of the model organism Dictyostelium discoideum. Inappropriate recruitment and dysregulated activation of human neutrophils contribute to tissue damage and cause autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Neutrophils and D. discoideum sense and migrate to sites of inflammation using G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and share remarkable similarity in signaling pathways of governing this cellular behavior. During the last two decades, it has been proven that the latter provides a powerful model system to identify new components and develop novel theories to understand the molecular mechanism underlining chemotaxis. To accurately navigate through an enormous concentration-range gradient of various chemoattractants, neutrophils and D. d cells employ a mechanism called adaptation, in which they no longer respond to present stimuli but remain sensitive to stronger stimuli. Homogeneous, sustained chemoattractant stimuli trigger transient, adaptive responses in many steps of the GPCR-mediated signaling pathway, that adaptation is a fundamental strategy for eukaryotic cell chemotaxis through large-range gradients of chemoattractants. Abstract modules and computational simulations have proposed some temporal dynamics of adaptation: an increase in receptor occupancy activates two antagonistic signaling processes, namely, a rapid “excitation” that triggers cellular responses and a temporally delayed “inhibition” that terminates the responses and results in adaptation. Many excitatory components have been identified; however, the inhibitor(s) largely remain elusive. The small GTPase Ras mediates multiple signaling pathways that control directional cell migration in both neutrophils and D. discoideum. Here, we identified Ras GAP protein that mediates Ras adaptation and chemotaxis in both D. and neutrophils. Our findings reveal a general inhibitory mechanism for chemotaxis and provide the potential therapeutic targets for inflammation-related diseases and cancer.
Keynote Forum
Tetyana Milojevic
University of Vienna, Austria
Keynote: Biotransformation of extraterrestrial and terrestrial metal-bearing materials
Biography:
Tetyana Milojevic has her expertise in the area of metal-microbial-mineral interactions. Since 2014 she is a deputy head of the Department of Biophysical Chemistry at the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna and a leader of Biochemistry/Space Microbiology group investigating biotransformation of terrestrial and extraterrestrial minerals and microbial survivability in outer space environment. She has been leading an “excellence” Elise-Richter FWF research project to decipher metal-oxidizing machinery of the extreme thermoacidophile Metallospaera sedula.
Abstract:
The ability of chemolithotrophic microorganisms to catalyze redox transformations of metals is an exquisite tool for energy transduction between a mineral body and a living entity. Evolutionally diversified metal-solubilizing microorganisms with their fascinating metabolic routes have developed an exquisite set of capabilities for manipulating minerals, dissolving them to access useful metals. In the meantime, mankind has begun to learn how to harness their activities in biotechnological processes. Biomining is an increasingly applied biotechnological procedure for processing of ores in the mining industry (biohydrometallurgy), which relies on metal solubilization mediated by microorganisms. Iron- and sulfur-oxidizing acidophiles have widespread use in the processing of metals ores. We have been investigating the microbial-mineral interface of bioleaching extremophile Metallosphaera sedula, which is a metal-oxidizing archaeon that lives in hot acid conditions and exhibits unusual heavy-metal resistance. Exploring the viability and metal extraction capacity of M. sedula living on and interacting with extraterrestrial and terrestrial minerals, we have shown that this microbe actively colonizes meteorite NWA 1172, synthetic Martian regolith materials, and hard, rare metal oxide ores. Ultrastructural analysis of the hard metal-biomineralized cell wall of M. sedula is a focus of our current investigations to reveal redox destiny and coordination chemistry of the incorporated metals. The results of our work have direct implications for extraterrestrial (e.g., asteroid) biomining and development of In-Situ Resource Utilization Programs, as well as for biomining of rare hard metal ores on Earth.
Keynote Forum
Tian Jin
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, NIH, USA
Keynote: How eukaryotic phagocytes locate and interact with microorganisms: lessons from the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum
Time : .
Biography:
Dr. Tian Jin is a senior investigator and chief of the chemotaxis signal section in Laboratory of immunegenetics, NIAID, NIH. The section is studying how eukaryotic cells find and interact with bacteria. We focus on molecular mechanisms underlying chemotaxis and phagocytosis.
Abstract:
How eukaryotic cells find and interact with bacteria is a fundamental question in biology. Eukaryotic phagocytes and their interactions with bacteria began when single-celled life forms, protozoans, appeared about 2.5 billion years ago. Since then, multicellular organisms endowed with increasingly complex genomes gradually formed, and phagocytic cells from these organisms, such as invertebrates and vertebrates, patrol in a host body to detect, recognize, and eliminate invading pathogenic bacteria for host immunity. The current dogma is that phagocytic cells use at least two types of receptors for defense against invading pathogens: one for detecting and chasing pathogens via chemotaxis and another for recognizing and eliminating them via phagocytosis. Detection and chasing is facilitated by G-protein-coupled-receptors which sense diffusible chemoattractants derived from bacteria. Recognition and elimination employs pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs), such as Toll-like receptors, for recognizing microbial-associated molecular pattern (MAMPs) and/or phagocytic receptors for bacterial surface-bound complements or immunoglobulins. However, the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum does not encode orthologs of any known PRRs or phagocytic receptors; yet, they are highly evolved as professional phagocytes that chase bacteria via chemotaxis and consume them as food through phagocytosis. We find that this stereotypical phagocyte, breaking the dogma, assembles a simple and elegant molecular machinery to detect a diffusible chemoattractant and recognize an immobile component on the bacterial coat for both chasing and engulfing bacteria. Our studies on the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum sheds new light on the origin of bacterial recognition by eukaryotic phagocytes, the path through which PRRs evolved, and the unexpectedly close mechanistic connection between chemotaxis and phagocytosis.
Keynote Forum
Shu-Lin Liu
Harbin Medical University, China
Keynote: Defining natural species of bacteria by a common yardstick: Universal genomic parameter to delineate bacteria into discrete phylogenetic clusters
Biography:
Shu-Lin Liu has expertise in bacterial systematics and evolution. He was the first in the world to conduct comparative genomic studies on Salmonella bacteria and uncovered a series of genomic evolutionary events, with findings published in PNAS, Journal of Bacteriology, Molecular Biology and Evolution, etc. He proposed the 3Cs criteria to define natural species of bacteria and put forward the Adopt-Adapt Model of bacterial speciation, which may lead to the origin of pathogenic species. He teaches Microbiology, Genomics, Evolution, and Classic Chinese Literature. He has an adjunct academic position at University of Calgary, Canada, and conducted teaching and research there. As the Dean of College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, he was active in international collaboration and communication activities and organized a broad range of exchange programs with international institutions including University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, Canada, and Purdue University, University of Missouri, Kentucky State University, USA, etc.
Abstract:
Bacteria are classified, like higher organisms, into species, but the current taxonomic species contain bacteria of enormous phylogenetic diversity, causing serious confusions in medical practice and other fields. Therefore, a common yardstick is badly needed for universally defining bacterial species by using a parameter that produces discrete rather than continual data to reveal clear-cut distinctions among the species. Using Salmonella as the primary model to search for such delineating genomic parameters, we found that members of a monophyletic bacterial grouping equivalent to natural species have a high percentage of their common genes sharing identical nucleotide sequences. The percentage windows are mostly broad: >70% for members within a species and <10% for bacteria between species. Similarly broad percentage windows were also seen in Streptomyces; we propose percentages <70% to reflect genetic boundaries and exclude bacteria from a species. The clear-cut nature of such percentages makes them suitable as a common yardstick to define natural bacterial species. The broad percentage windows could be interpreted as the results of non-overlapping gene pools: bacteria of the same gene pool can purge less adapted members once they acquire beneficial traits, but they cannot do that across different gene pools.
- Microbiology
Session Introduction
Le Tang
Harbin Medical University, China
Title: Genetic boundary to delineate bacteria into discrete natural clusters
Biography:
Dr. Tang is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Calgary. She received her MD and PhD degrees from Harbin Medical University, one of the top medical schools in China. She has won multiple national and provincial awards and scholarships from China and Canada in the past three years, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Postdoctoral Fellow of Canada, Heilongjiang Provincial Innovation Endowment Award for graduate studies, and the Heilongjiang Provincial Endowment Award for International Academic Exchanges. Her research focuses on understanding how benign bacteria evolve into human pathogens. Her research work has been published in international core journals, along with book chapters in prestigious references like Molecular Medical Microbiology (2nd Edition) and Encyclopedia of Genetics (3rd Edition).
Abstract:
The current taxonomy classifies bacteria into largely arbitrary species, because it is still unclear whether the prokaryotes exist as natural species. Based on our previous findings that bacterial genomes are highly conserved in evolution, we hypothesize that bacteria, like all other life forms, should dwell in nature in discrete biological units, members within each of which should share common genetic and biological traits. The key evidence to support this hypothesis would be the demonstration of clear-cut genetic distinction among even very closely related bacterial lineages. To this end, we carried out systematic genomic comparisons among representative Salmonella lineages. Remarkably, we found that Salmonella, highly related from one serotype to another, formed distinct phylogenetic clusters separated by various genetic distances: whereas over 90% of the approximately four thousand shared genes had completely identical sequences among strains of the same lineage, the percentages dropped sharply to below 10% across the lineages with rare exceptions, demonstrating the existence of genetic boundaries. Recombination assays supported the genetic boundary hypothesis, showing that genetic barriers had been formed between bacteria of even very closely related lineages. We found similar situations also in other bacteria, such as Yersinia and Staphylococcus. We conclude that bacteria are genetically isolated into discrete clusters equivalent to natural species.
- Microbial Pathogenesis
Session Introduction
Huidi Liu
Harbin Medical University, China
Title: Oncolytic Virotherapy for Clear Cell Ovarian Carcinoma: a potential treatment strategy
Biography:
Dr. Huidi Liu received her PhD degree from Harbin Medical University (HMU), Harbin, China, with a major in Microbial and Biochemical Pharmacy. After her graduation in 2011, she joined the Genomic Research Center at HMU and worked on genomic research of ovarian cancer and natural anti-cancer drugs. She has an overseas experience at University of Calgary as a visiting scholar supported by China Scholar Council (CSC, 2016-2017). She has published more than ten papers in core international journals on ovarian cancer. Besides research, Huidi Liu teaches a course on Systematic Bacteriology. Recently, Huidi Liu has been appointed project manager for the Centre for Infection and Genomics, a joint project between HMU and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary.
Abstract:
Ovarian cancer is one of the three leading gynecological malignancies, hardly to be diagnosed at early stages. Mammalian lignans enterodiol (END) and Enterolactone (ENL) can reduce the risk of various cancers. We have previously reported the production of END and ENL from flaxseeds by human intestinal microbiota through biotransformation (seeds of Linum usitatissimum L.) and isolated bacterial strains that produced mammalian lignans. Both END and ENL reduce the risk of various cancers, but their anti-cancer mechanisms in ovarian cancer remain unclear. We used in vitro assays on the ES-2 cell line to evaluate the inhibiting effects of END and ENL on ovarian cancer cell proliferation, invasion and migration ability and in vivo xenograft experiments on nude mice to validate the anticancer effects of END and ENL. We also sequenced the transcriptomes of high-dose ENL to look into the possible anticancer mechanisms of ENL. The in vitro assays demonstrated that high-doses of END and ENL could obviously inhibit ovarian malignant properties, including cancerous proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Compared to END, ENL behaved in a better time-dose dependent manner on the cancer cells. The in vivo experiments showed that END (1 mg/kg), ENL(1 mg/kg) and ENL (0.1 mg/kg) suppressed the tumor markedly with statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups in tumor weight and volume. Compared to END, which have serious side effects to the animals at high concentration such as 1 mg/kg, ENL had higher anticancer activities and less side effects in the animals than END at the same concentrations. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that ENL mainly inhibited the invasion and metastasis of the cancer cells. We further confirmed that the expression levels and activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were inhibited by ENL treatments in a dose-dependent manner. ENL had better inhibition effects than END on ovarian cancer. The inhibition was achieved by suppressing the cancer invasion and metastasis pathways and down-regulating the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9. These results demonstrated possibilities of clinical application of the phytoestrogens in the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Zheng Zeng
Harbin Medical University, China
Title: END and ENL inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasiveness of ovarian cancer
Biography:
Zheng Zeng is a PhD student at Harbin Medical University, with major in Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy. Her research focuses on gynecological cancers and natural anticancer products. In 2016, she was founded by the Chinese government to study at Okayama University, Japan, for a year as an exchange student in immunopathology under the guidance of Prof. Akihiro Matsukawa, where she obtained plenty of clinical diagnosis experience. Currently, she works on human intestinal bacteria for their biotransformation of phytoestrogen polymers in daily diet to the potent anticancer mammalian lignans END and ENL with ovarian cancer as the target and the underlying mechanisms involving cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and/or autophagy as her primary goas of research.
Abstract:
Ovarian carcinoma is the third most common malignancy and the fifth most fatal cancer among the gynecological cancers. Those of the epithelial origin account for 80%−90% of all types of ovarian cancer and are the deadliest, giving rise to 5-year survival rates of the patients lower than 30%. At present, chemotherapy is still among the most important treatment strategies along with surgery and radiotherapy, but drug resistance, poor prognosis and tumor recurrence remain to be the overwhelming challenges. Over the past years, natural substances, such as the mammalian lignans enterodiol (END) and enterolactone (ENL), have gained attention for their excellent activities against a broad range of cancers and low side effects. However, whether END or ENL can inhibit ovarian cancers is not clear. In this study, we found that the proliferation, migration and invasion characteristics of epithelial ovarian cancer derived ES-2 cells were severely limited by ENL and END in an incremental dose and time pattern. In the parallel tumor-bearing mouse model, ENL exhibited more effective tumor-suppressing capability and less side effects than END. These findings may help develop novel strategies for the treatment of ovarian cancers by the use of ENL and END.
- Agricultural Microbiology
Session Introduction
Nurfadzilah M
Malaysian Cocoa Board, Malaysia
Title: Utilization of selected beneficial bacteria incorporated with carrier materials on growth response of (theobroma cacao l.) Cocoa seedlings.
Biography:
Nurfadzilah Madian has her expertise in microbiology and soil ecology of cocoa crops. She has joined Malaysian Cocoa Board for 10 years since November 2008. She holds Bsc (Hons) in Plantation Technology and Management, University Technology Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam, Malaysia and now continue her study in Master of Science of Agriculture Technology in University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. She has involved in several studies especially in organic fertilizer and crop intercropping system. She is the author of 2 journal, 5 proceedings and involved in technical and advisory for the cocoa farmers in Malaysia.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: Cocoa industry in Malaysia has undergone challenging phase recently. The planting industry has started to decline since 1990’s due to the outbreak of disease and relatively high cost of fertilizer. Hence, there is a potential value by emerging the technologies of potential bacteria with selected carrier materials such as cocoa pod husk (CPH) and rice husk charcoal (RHC) as biofertilizer. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential value of selected bacteria incorporation with selected carrier materials on growth response on cocoa seedlings.
Methodology: This study has been conducted in nursery at Cocoa Research and Development Centre, Malaysian Cocoa Board, Pahang. Four treatments with three replications were arranged in this study. Physical growth of cocoa seedlings was recorded biweekly; fresh and dry weight of plant parts were recorded at the end of the study.
Findings: Based on data recorded, the application of beneficial bacteria in the carrier materials significantly influenced the plant height and plant girth of cocoa seedlings. Cocoa seedlings grown on soils treated with 30 gm of CPH and RHC in addition of 1.2% of beneficial bacteria were higher in plant height and plant girth whereas, applications of 45 gm of CPH and RHC in addition of 1.2% of beneficial bacteria in the carrier materials were significantly affected the fresh and dry weight of plant parts.
Conclusion: The application of 1.2% of beneficial bacteria with 30 gm of CPH and RHC influences the cocoa seedlings growth rate by 56.05% and 73.15% where, applications of 1.2% of beneficial bacteria with 45gm of CPH and RHC increase leaves, stem, root weight by 38.66%, 75.35% and 50.40% respectively as compared with normal NPK applications. This result indicated that bacteria incorporated with selected carrier material improve cocoa seedling growth and biomass.
- Applied microbiology and Environmental microbiology
Session Introduction
Takehiko Tsuruta
Hachinohe institute of Technology, Japan
Title: Removal, separation and removal of cesium, cobalt and strontium from the mixed solution using microbial cells
Biography:
Takehiko Tsuruta has his expertise in removal, separation and recovery of toxic and/or useful metal(s) from aqueous solution using microbial cells. He published, uranium removal (Tsuruta, 2002), thorium removal (Tsuruta, 2003), gold recovery (Tsuruta, 2004), lithium recovery (Tsuruta, 2005), rare earths separation (Tsuruta, 2005), cadmium removal (Tsuruta, 2014), and chromium removal (Tsuruta 2017).He was started researching in this field from 1991 as assistant professor of Miyazaki Medical college, Department of Chemistry. From 1998, he was transferred to Tohwa University, Department of Industrial Chemistry as Associate Professor. Now he is working Department of Life and Environmental Sciences at Hachinohe Institute of Technology as Professor.
Abstract:
Removal of cobalt, strontium and cesium ion from the aqueous solution containing thesolution containing three kinds of metal ion using microorganism was examined. Arthrobacter nicotianae which had a high ability to remove cationic metal ion was used for the removal of these metal ions. The removals of cobalt, strontium and cesium using A. nicotianae were affected by the solution pH, concentration of metal, and cell amount. The amounts of metal ion removed were increased with increasing the pH (1-5) of the solution. Those (mmol metal ion/g dry wt. cells) were also increased with increasing the concentration of the metal ions, however, the amounts of total metal ion removed (%) were decreased. The amount of each metal removed (mmol metal ion/g dry wt. cells) from each metal ion was fitted with Langmuir isotherm. On the other hand, the amounts of total metal ion removed (%) were increased with increasing the cell amounts, however, the amounts of each metal ion removed (mmol metal ion/g dry wt. cells) were decreased. The removal of strontium using A. nicotianae was very fast and almost reached equilibrium within 5 minutes. The amount of cobalt or strontium removed was higher than that of cesium removed by batch system. Therefore, the removal these metal ions was examined by column system. All of the metal ions were removed by column system, Next the separation of these metal ions adsorbed on immobilized microbial cells was desorbed using diluted nitric acid by stepwise concentration. All of the adsorbed cesium was desorbed and most of them was separate from adsorbed strontium and cobalt. However, most of desorbed strontium and cobalt ions was not separated in this method. Additional separation method of these metal ions will be present in te conference.
- Applied microbiology and Environmental microbiology
Session Introduction
Takehiko Tsuruta
Hachinohe institute of Technology, Japan
Title: Removal, separation and removal of cesium, cobalt and strontium from the mixed solution using microbial cells
Biography:
Takehiko Tsuruta has his expertise in removal, separation and recovery of toxic and/or useful metal(s) from aqueous solution using microbial cells. He published, uranium removal (Tsuruta, 2002), thorium removal (Tsuruta, 2003), gold recovery (Tsuruta, 2004), lithium recovery (Tsuruta, 2005), rare earths separation (Tsuruta, 2005), cadmium removal (Tsuruta, 2014), and chromium removal (Tsuruta 2017).He was started researching in this field from 1991 as assistant professor of Miyazaki Medical college, Department of Chemistry. From 1998, he was transferred to Tohwa University, Department of Industrial Chemistry as Associate Professor. Now he is working Department of Life and Environmental Sciences at Hachinohe Institute of Technology as Professor.
Abstract:
Removal of cobalt, strontium and cesium ion from the aqueous solution containing thesolution containing three kinds of metal ion using microorganism was examined. Arthrobacter nicotianae which had a high ability to remove cationic metal ion was used for the removal of these metal ions. The removals of cobalt, strontium and cesium using A. nicotianae were affected by the solution pH, concentration of metal, and cell amount. The amounts of metal ion removed were increased with increasing the pH (1-5) of the solution. Those (mmol metal ion/g dry wt. cells) were also increased with increasing the concentration of the metal ions, however, the amounts of total metal ion removed (%) were decreased. The amount of each metal removed (mmol metal ion/g dry wt. cells) from each metal ion was fitted with Langmuir isotherm. On the other hand, the amounts of total metal ion removed (%) were increased with increasing the cell amounts, however, the amounts of each metal ion removed (mmol metal ion/g dry wt. cells) were decreased. The removal of strontium using A. nicotianae was very fast and almost reached equilibrium within 5 minutes. The amount of cobalt or strontium removed was higher than that of cesium removed by batch system. Therefore, the removal these metal ions was examined by column system. All of the metal ions were removed by column system, Next the separation of these metal ions adsorbed on immobilized microbial cells was desorbed using diluted nitric acid by stepwise concentration. All of the adsorbed cesium was desorbed and most of them was separate from adsorbed strontium and cobalt. However, most of desorbed strontium and cobalt ions was not separated in this method. Additional separation method of these metal ions will be present in te conference.
Biography:
Dr. Nasreen S. Munshi has 10 years of research and teaching experience at post-graduation level. She has a good number of publications in peer reviewed journals. She has an expertise in microbial diversity analysis, bioremediation process, microbial fuel cell and biosensing of hydrocarbon pollutants in industrial wastewater. Her research interest focuses on microbial diversity in wastewater and wastewater treatment. CETPs (Common Effluent Treatment Plants) which are treating the effluents from thousands of different industries and generally face tremendous problems of refractory COD, mostly contributed by hydrocarbons is focused in her major research. Moreover, in the field of Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) which utilizes the metabolic potential of microbes for converting energy present in organic matter to electrical energy, focus is on increasing the power output using waste substrates.
Abstract:
Gujarat and Maharashtra are the brightest jewels in India’s industrial crown. But impressive industrial development escalated along with environmental pollution. Hydrocarbon compounds comprise major pollutants from industries such as, petroleum, chemical, textile, food, automobile and oil or agricultural runoff containing pesticides or other toxic organic matter. Environmental pollution caused by petro-chemical industries and oil spills are of great concern, hence it is always very important to treat the same at point source. Development of efficient bioremediation process of such compounds at industrial scale is a major challenge. Many microbial strains are reported for their degradation ability at laboratory scale. However they mostly face failures at large scale due to lower survival in competitive environment of industrial effluents and toxicity of various pollutants. Native microbial community of effluent may be looked for bioremediation solution for industrial wastewater. The present study was undertaken to explore and understand the current status of microbial community present in common effluents of South Gujarat industrial zone for isolation of the most abundant bacteria and bioremediation of aromatic hydrocarbon. Nine CETPs located at South Gujarat were explored for microbial community analysis. Sixty bacterial cultures were isolated on basis of abundancy and were compared using 16S rDNA restriction profiling (ARDRA). One of the screened isolates, also one of the most abundant bacteria was identified as Pseudomonas citronellolis, with 30.02% abundance in wastewater effluents. This bacterium was able to degrade 1 and 5 mM of the model hydrocarbon compound, sodium benzoate by 97.05% and 98.6% respectively within 24 h. Using statistical tools for designing experiments, the bioremediation bioprocess was optimized and later scaled up to 100 l of CETP wastewater treatment capacity. As this bacterium was able to degrade a model hydrocarbon, it could be applied for field application further for development of suitable consortium.
- Advancements in Food and Industrial Microbiology
Session Introduction
Shabarinath Srikumar
University College Dublin, Ireland
Title: On the application of DNA pyrosequencing in pathogenomics and food safety
Biography:
Shabarinath Srikumar has his expertise in investigating pathogenomics of food borne pathogens. He has contributed to detection, physiology and intracellular survival with Salmonella Typhimurium as model organism. He has widely used next generation sequencing approaches in characterizing the transcriptional landscape of the pathogen during survival in a variety of in vitro and in vivo conditions. Apart from Salmonella, Srikumar has used also used RNA-seq in characterization of desiccation survival of a neonatal pathogen Cronobacter sakazakii. Recently, Srikumar has focused on the utilization of next/third generation sequencing approaches in the taxonomic characterization of bacteria from complex microbiomes. He anticipates utilizing DNA sequencing technologies to identify the microbiomes of different food processing facilities and thereby ensure food safety.
Abstract:
The development of DNA pyrosequencing approaches has enabled researchers to study and understand microorganisms from deeper perspectives. DNA sequencing technologies has evolved through first, second (next) and currently stands at third generation sequencing platforms. Since bacteria can be transmitted from wider environment to animals and humans, they encounter diverse environments which include food, water, plant surfaces, extra- and intracellular phases of infection in eukaryotic hosts. An intricate transcriptional network has evolved to respond to the wide variety of environmental signals and control the ‘right time/right place’ expression of genes. We used deep sequencing of cDNA libraries (RNA-seq) to understand the transcriptional landscape of Salmonella Typhimurium during survival in 23 infection related in vitro conditions and mouse macrophages as an ex-vivo model. Our analysis yielded data on the simultaneous gene expression profiling of all genes present in the genome of S. Typhimurium. In addition, we used a technology called dRNA-seq to profile the expression of different promoters during survival of the bacterium in different conditions. Reduction in water activities inhibit many bacteria and desiccation is therefore a very traditional method of food preservation. We were also interested in understanding the intricate mechanisms behind survival of bacteria in desiccated conditions. However, neonatal pathogens like Cronobacter sakazakii are capable to survive desiccation conditions. We used RNA-seq to understand the genetic mechanism underlying desiccation survival in C. sakazakii. DNA deep sequencing not only helps us understand how transcriptional alterations aid survival of bacteria in different conditions but also enables taxonomic identification of bacteria in complex microbiomes. We sampled low/medium/high care areas within a powder infant formula industry and used 16S rDNA sequencing/Metagenomic/Metatranscriptomic approaches to understand the composition and interactions between different bacterial communities within each area. Overall, this lecture will explore the different possibilities of DNA pyrosequencing in understanding pathogenomics and food safety.
Shabarinath Srikumar
University College Dublin, Ireland
Title: On the application of DNA pyrosequencing in pathogenomics and food safety
Biography:
Shabarinath Srikumar has his expertise in investigating pathogenomics of food borne pathogens. He has contributed to detection, physiology and intracellular survival with Salmonella Typhimurium as model organism. He has widely used next generation sequencing approaches in characterizing the transcriptional landscape of the pathogen during survival in a variety of in vitro and in vivo conditions. Apart from Salmonella, Srikumar has used also used RNA-seq in characterization of desiccation survival of a neonatal pathogen Cronobacter sakazakii. Recently, Srikumar has focused on the utilization of next/third generation sequencing approaches in the taxonomic characterization of bacteria from complex microbiomes. He anticipates utilizing DNA sequencing technologies to identify the microbiomes of different food processing facilities and thereby ensure food safety.Â
Abstract:
The development of DNA pyrosequencing approaches has enabled researchers to study and understand microorganisms from deeper perspectives. DNA sequencing technologies has evolved through first, second (next) and currently stands at third generation sequencing platforms. Since bacteria can be transmitted from wider environment to animals and humans, they encounter diverse environments which include food, water, plant surfaces, extra- and intracellular phases of infection in eukaryotic hosts. An intricate transcriptional network has evolved to respond to the wide variety of environmental signals and control the ‘right time/right place’ expression of genes. We used deep sequencing of cDNA libraries (RNA-seq) to understand the transcriptional landscape of Salmonella Typhimurium during survival in 23 infection related in vitro conditions and mouse macrophages as an ex-vivo model. Our analysis yielded data on the simultaneous gene expression profiling of all genes present in the genome of S. Typhimurium. In addition, we used a technology called dRNA-seq to profile the expression of different promoters during survival of the bacterium in different conditions. Reduction in water activities inhibit many bacteria and desiccation is therefore a very traditional method of food preservation. We were also interested in understanding the intricate mechanisms behind survival of bacteria in desiccated conditions. However, neonatal pathogens like Cronobacter sakazakii are capable to survive desiccation conditions. We used RNA-seq to understand the genetic mechanism underlying desiccation survival in C. sakazakii. DNA deep sequencing not only helps us understand how transcriptional alterations aid survival of bacteria in different conditions but also enables taxonomic identification of bacteria in complex microbiomes. We sampled low/medium/high care areas within a powder infant formula industry and used 16S rDNA sequencing/Metagenomic/Metatranscriptomic approaches to understand the composition and interactions between different bacterial communities within each area. Overall, this lecture will explore the different possibilities of DNA pyrosequencing in understanding pathogenomics and food safety.Â
- Video Presentation
Session Introduction
Sharon Lafferty Doty
University of Washington, USA
Title: Advancements in Food and Industrial Microbiology
Biography:
Sharon Lafferty Doty is a professor at the University of Washington, Seattle. Her research is on the roles of the plant microbiome in nutrient acquisition, abiotic and biotic stress tolerances, and overall growth and health.
Abstract:
Just as the human microbiome is essential for our health, the microorganisms within plants play critical roles in plant growth and health. The plant microbiota provide numerous benefits to the host plant including nutrient acquisition, phytohormone production, reduced stress responses, antimicrobial production, tolerance to heat, salt, and drought, and pollutant degradation. We study the microbial endophytes of plants in challenging environments. Poplar (Populus) and willow (Salix) are pioneer plant species able to colonize the rocky substrates deposited following riparian flooding. We demonstrated that N-fixation occurs in these non-nodulating plant species, and that N-fixing bacterial species could be cultured from wild poplar and willow and added to hybrid poplar, increasing growth and N-fixation. Not only did the microbes improve growth of this important bioenergy tree species, they also increased growth, health, and yields of an exceptionally broad range of plant species, including rice, tomato, pepper, strawberries, ryegrasses, and forest tree species under nutrient-limited conditions. Considering the negative consequences of the production and use of chemical fertilizers, these naturally-occurring bacteria offer a more environmentally-sustainable approach for increasing plant health and growth. In addition to improving nutrient acquisition, inoculation of plants with endophytes improved water use efficiency and drought tolerance of the host plant. With the increased stress of climate change, the implications of plant-microbe symbioses for agriculture, forestry, and bioenergy production are profound.
Human health is also impacted by the widespread presence of pollutants, both organic and inorganic. Phytoremediation, the use of plants to remove environmental pollutants, can be limited by the phytotoxic effects of the chemicals. However, through specific plant-microbe partnerships, these effects can be overcome, leading to substantial improvements in our ability to remove carcinogenic pollutants from the environment.
Biography:
Dr. Cangelosi earned a PhD in Mathematics from Washington State University in 2014. His research interests include modeling nonlinear phenomena with application to biology and ecology, models for biological pattern formation, delay equations, perturbation theory, chaos theory and the fractal geometry of strange attractors. He is currently a faculty member at Gonzaga University.
Abstract:
Mathematical models have proven valuable in understanding the dynamics of viral infections in vivo within host cells and were originally devised to examine HIV infection. For interactions of that sort, a basic three-component dynamical systems model consisting of an uninfected target-cell population, an infected cell population, and the free virus population was proposed (see Figure 1).
We shall consider non-cytopathic retroviral interactions; that is, interactions that satisfy the ratio of the death rate of the infected to the uninfected cells equal one, which is believed to be the case for the equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). EIAV shows many characteristics similar to other retroviruses, including a very rapid replication rate and high levels of antigenic variation. It, however, is unusual among retroviruses in that most infected animals, after a few episodes of fever and high viral load, progress to a stage with low viral load and an absence of clinical disease symptoms. The horses effectively control viral replication through adaptive immune mechanisms.
Analysis of previously published target-cell limited viral dynamic models for pathogens such as HIV, hepatitis, and influenza generally rely on standard techniques from dynamical systems theory or numerical simulation. We use a quasi-steady-state approximation to derive an analytic solution for the model with a non-cytopathic effect, that is, when the death rates of uninfected and infected cells are equal. The analytic solution provides time evolution values for all three compartments of uninfected cells, infected cells, and virus. Results are compared with numerical simulation using clinical data for equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), a retrovirus closely related to HIV (see Figure 2), and the utility of the analytic solution is discussed.
Figure 2(a) provides a comparison of the one-term asymptotic representation of the population (solid black curve) with a numerical simulation (dashed curve) of the governing equations using parameter values relevant to the clinical data. Figure 2(b) provides a comparison of the one-term asymptotic representation of the free virus population (solid black curve) with its numerical simulation (dashed curve). The initial virus population was taken to be 450 (viral RNA copies / ml) .We note the excellent agreement between the analytic asymptotic representation and numerical simulations.
Although such nonlinear problems can be solved numerically the computation must be performed sequentially for each different set of parameter values. The advantage of this asymptotic approach is that it yields an analytic representation, involving the parameters as well as time, required for least-squares parameter-identification curve-fitting procedures to experimental data. We conclude by discussing the application of this approach to an experimental data set on EIAV infection.
- Poster Presentation
Session Introduction
I-Hsiu Huang
National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
Title: Type IV Pili is involved in the pathogenesis of Clostridium difficile in vivo
Biography:
Abstract:
Background
Clostridium diffcile is a Gram-positive spore-forming anaerobic bacterium. It is the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in nosocomial infection. Recently type IV pili (TFP), a proteinaceous polymer widely studied in many gram-negative pathogens was discovered to by produced by C. difficile and has been reported to promote aggregation, gliding motility, and biofilm formation. However, the role that TFP plays in C. diffcile pathogenesis in vivo is still unclear.
Methods
TFP structural genes were inactivated using a modified ClosTron targeting system. Antibodies were raised against PilA1, the major component of TFP. For in vivo studies, mouse normal flora was disrupted by antibiotic cocktail and then spores were fed orogastrically.
Results
Our preliminary results indicated that TFP mutants was more virulence in mouse model of infection. Furthermore, competition assays and in vitro binding assays suggested that TFP mutants outcompeted WT in vivo and displayed increase adherence to epithelial cells. Since studies have indicated that the presence of erythromycin resistance gene in mutants could render them become resistant to clindamycin; an antibiotic used during animal studies, we proceed to construct marker-less mutants. Results showed that TFP mutants were still able to induce higher mortality in vivo. To further unravel the role of TFP in C. difficile pathogenesis.
Conclusion
Our results showed that type IV pili mutants of Clostridium diffcile caused a more severe disease on mice, which indicates that type　IV　pili is important in CDI. More works are needed to understand the role of CDI in vivo.
Biography:
Abstract:
1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) recently has been used in various industry field, such as the synthesis of biodegradable polyesters, polyurethanes and polyethers. Besides the chemical methods, 1,3-PD can be produced through fermentation processes of glycerol in certain bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumoniae. Glycerol is metabolized fermentatively through two kind parallel pathways: the reductive and oxidative pathways. The oxidative pathway leads to the production of DHAP, while the reductive pathways leads to 1,3-PD production. Aerobically, glycerol could be uptaken into bacterial cell through either direct diffusion or glycerol facilitator protein (GlpF), then will be phosphorylated by glycerol kinase (GlpK) to become glycerol-3-P (G3P), for being further metabolized. In Enterobacteriaceae, phosphotransferase system (PTS) protein Enzyme-IIAGlc (also called Crr, for catabolite repression resistance) was found to be the central regulator of carbon metabolism. Unphosphorylated Crr protein can bind to GlpK to inhibit its function. In our study we found that KPN00353, a novel KpEIIA, could inhibit 1,3-PD production in Klebsiella pneumoniae by direct binding to GlpK. Based on the protein-protein interaction site prediction, amino acid residue Histidine-65 (His-65) is predicted to be the important residue for KpGlpK-KPN00353 binding. We then mutated this histidine residue to aspartate (H65D), glutamate (H65E), arginine (H65R), and glutamine (H65Q) in order to reveal the importance of His-65 residue of KPN00353 in its interaction with KpGlpK. We found that the mutated H65Q of KPN00353 has the weaker binding to KpGlpK compared to wild type KPN00353, while other mutations cause the stronger binding of KPN00353 and KpGlpK. Furthermore, we found that the stronger the binding of KPN00353 and KpGlpK, the lower the production of G3P and 1,3-PD in Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Shih-Wen Cheng
Tzu-Chi University, Taiwan
Title: The study of cAMP receptor protein (CRP) regulated type 3 fimbriae in Klebsiella pneumoniae
Biography:
Abstract:
Klebsiella pneumoniae, is the predominant pathogen causing pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) of diabetic patients in Taiwan. However, the effect of high blood glucose on the pathogenesis of K. pneumoniae strains remains largely unknown. Bacterial biofilm represents a key virulence determinant in promoting bacterial persistence and resistance to antibiotics. The ability of bacterial adherence to biotic or abiotic substrate is an essential step for biofilm formation. Such adherence can be mediated by bacterial ï¬mbriae, which are also important virulence factors in many bacteria. Type 3 fimbriae, encoded by the mrkABCDF operon genes, are important virulence factors in K. pneumoniae pathogenesis. In enterobacteria, cyclic AMP (cAMP) receptor protein (CRP) plays a vital role as a global regulator. CRP protein regulates several essential bacterial virulence gene expressions, including fimbriae and biofilm formation, responsing to intracellular concentration of cAMP. In our preliminary study, we found that different glucose level can regulate the expression of Type 3 fimbriae. Also we found that CRP can exactly bind to the putative CRP binding site which located at the promoter region of mrkA (encoding type 3 fimbriae subunit) in K. pneumoniae. Thus, Thus, our purpose is to clarify the effect of cAMP receptor protein (CRP) on Type III fimbriae in K. pneumoniae. Loss-of-function mutagenesis is an important tool to characterize gene function. Here, we successfully got crp mutants in K. pneumoniae MGH78578 by homologous recombination (HR) using our modified pK18mobsacB suicide plasmid. Our results indicated that CRP can directly regulate the expression of type 3 fimbriae in K. pneumoniae.
Kyu Seok Jung
National Institute of Agricultural Science, Korea
Title: Microbial analysis of red pepper and red pepper cultivated soil in Korea
Biography:
Abstract:
The occurrence of various pathogenic microorganisms on farms is a concern if they are able to contaminate fresh produce, which provides entry into the food supply. This study was undertaken to assess the microbiological quality and prevalence of pathogens in red pepper and red pepper cultivated soil in Korea. Microbiological analysis of red pepper and soil obtained from 8 farms, respectively, were conducted to determine the total aerobic bacteria count, coliforms count and the prevalence of Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes. The total aerobic plate counts in the red pepper and soil were in the range of 3 to 8 log CFU g-1 and 6 to 8 log CFU g-1, respectively. In the red pepper, coliforms were detected in the range of 2 to 7 log CFU g-1 and E. coli was not detected. In the soil, coliforms were detected in the range of 1 to 6 log CFU g-1 and E. coli was in the range of 1 to 4 log CFU g-1. In 3 out 63 red pepper samples, B. cereus was detected, while other pathogens were not detected. In 53 of 54 soil samples, B. cereus was detected, while no pathogens were detected. This research provides information regarding microbiological quality of red pepper and red pepper cultivated soil.
Enric Maroto Fernandez
Autonomous U. of Barcelona (UAB), Spain
Title: Grayscale Measurements of Microbial Colonies
Biography:
Abstract:
This work presents a facile technique that employs flatbed scanners for the measurement of colony grayscale values. Use of grayscale conversion of sRGB-based color images simplifies initially complex three dimensional color space attributes into a single dimension, allowing for a simplified approach to the detection and monitoring of colony chromogenesis. The performance of 4 often-used grayscale conversions is assessed using Letheen agar in combination with two chromogenic dyes, triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC), and tetrazolium violet (TV) in cultures of three model microorganisms (E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus). The effects of different concentrations of the chromogens and the differences in color development over time are evaluated. Affordable approaches to interpret derived data are suggested and insights related to analysis of color development are supplied. Metrological aspects of the technique are duly addressed. Thus, particular care is devoted to characterize the measurement technique employed, to highlight its limitations, and to assess cross-device reproducibility of obtained results. The suggested method is simple and resorts to affordable and readily available devices and software. This technique can be applied in culture media enhancement, phenotypic characterization of microorganisms, and, especially, in the detection of colony color development.
Yeo Reum Park and Ka Young Son
Chonbuk National University, Rep. of Korea
Title: Rapid detection and concentration of human norovirus through lectins
Biography:
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: Human norovirus (HuNov), which belongs to the Caliciviridae family, causes foodborne gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide. This viral family is responsible for 90% of all nonbacterial infections. HuNoV produces symptoms of watery diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration that typically resolve within a few days, but can result in death in children and the elderly. Detection and diagnosis of HuNoV has been studied extensively, but the absence of in vivo and in vitro models in growing the virus hampers scientific understandings. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Biophysical studies including hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) mass spectrometry and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) revealed that when the metal coordinated region of Con A, which spans Asp16 to His24, is converted to nine alanine residues (mCon AMCR), the affinity for HuNoV (GII.4) diminishes, demonstrating that this Ca2+ and Mn2+ coordinated region is responsible for the observed virus-protein interaction. Findings: We have developed a novel and highly sensitive ConA-conjugated polyacrylamide bead (ConA-column) that can be used for the prescreening of various food samples. This method offers many advantages over currently available methods, including a short concentration time. Norovirus can be detected in just 15 minutes using this technique. In addition, this method can be used over a wide range of pH values. Conclusion & Significance: This application was evaluated by measuring the recovery of different genotypes of GI and GII in HuNoV from different food matrices. Overall, this rapid and sensitive detection of HuNoV will aid in the prevention of virus transmission pathways and the method developed here may have applicability for other foodborne viral infections, especially HuNoV (GI and GII).