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FEMS and the Pathogens and Disease editors warmly welcome you as reader and potential contributor to the new journal.

The official newsletter for FEMS Affiliates

A F F I L I AT E S L E T T E RJANUARY 2013

infections) and Translational Research (experimental immunity to infection/disease, identification of host/pathogen targets for drug screening, susceptibil-ity/resistance to experimental drugs, including probiotics, identification of host/pathogen diagnostic markers)

The new ‘Omics and Systems Biology section will feature functional full-length research articles, including advanced computational analyses, and last, but not least, a new journal sec-tion termed Shortomics will showcase short communications that capture the more salient features of ‘omic datasets while providing a functional web-based link to the data.

Read more about PAD and happy submitting at pathogensanddisease!

Also in this issue:

Publication Corner:• New covers for FEMS

Journals 2013

Grants Page:• FEMS Meeting Grants

Society Feature:• Society for General

Microbiology (SGM)

DEADLINES

List of FEMS-sponsored meetings

Microbiology Tidbits

Articles in the first issue of FEMS new journal Pathogens and Disease (for-merly FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology) may be previewed online in Early View at Pathogens and Disease

In addition to already-established areas in molecular and cellular pathogenesis, and the host response to infection, Pathogens and Disease also highlights Research articles, MiniReviews and Short communications in new sections reflecting cutting-edge research on microbial communities, systems biol-ogy and ‘omic approaches, as well as experimental translational applications.

These include Virulence Factors (en-compassing all structural studies of virulence factors); Microbial Commu-nities in Infection and Disease (role of biofilms, microbiota in infection, co-

PAD: We have lift off!

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P U B L I C AT I O N S PA G E

Cover image (Ecology): Scanning electron micrograph of Tetrahymena sp. (MB125) preying on diarrheagenic E. coli. Image made by Charlotte D. Smith, from Smith et al. (2012) FEMS Microbiol Ecol 82:574-583.

Cover image (Reviews): Scheme representing a rosette of T. gondii parasites From Kemp, L. E., Yamamoto, M. and Soldati-Favre, D. (2012) FEMS Microbiol Rev in press. Adapted by Federation of European Microbiological Societies

Cover image (PAD): NIAID/CDC/Science photo library. Coloured scanning electron micrograph of Salmonella bacteria.

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Cover image (Letters): Images illustrating the vast scale range of microbiology studies. Left panel: “earth” (top) Wikipedia Commons/ NASA; “satellite image” (middle left) courtesy of NASA/ JPL-Caltech; “freshwater ecosystem” (middle right) Eckhard Jakob at Wikipedia Commons; “grand prismatic spring” (middle right) and “diatoms” (bottom) Wikipedia Commons. Right panel: “SEM photograph of interacting Archaea” (top left) taken by S. Schopf/ R. Wirth, courtesy of Dr Moissl-Eichinger; “SEM photograph of Microcystis aeruginosa” (top right) Zhai et al. (2012) FEMS Microbiol Lett 336: 38-44; “DAPI-stained string-of-pearls community” (middle right) courtesy of Dr Moissl-Eichinger; “bacteriophage”, “myoglobin”, “ATP molecule” (middle) and “DNA helix” (bottom) Wikipedia Commons. Adapted by E. Ripmeester, Federation of European Microbiological Societies.

P U B L I C AT I O N S PA G E

Cover image (Yeast Research): A colour enhanced nano-micrograph obtained by Nano Scanning Auger Microscopy linked to Argon etching in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) mode showing for the first time gas bubbles inside the cytoplasm of a fermenting yeast. From Swart et al. FEMS Yeast Res 12:867-869. Adapted by F Belliard, Federation of European Microbiological Societies

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CHECKLIST FOR YOUR FEMS MEETING GRANT

APPLICATIONFEMS Meeting Grants regulations apply to each application for the FEMS Meeting Grants, the requirements consist of but are not limited to the following:

• You are a meeting organiser• The meeting that you are planning is microbiology-related• This microbiology-related meeting is either a Scientific conference, labora- tory workshop and/or training course• This meeting will be held in Europe• The grant that you will receive will be used to support Young Scientist/s and Invited Speaker/s• You have read the regulations for your application and you fulfill ALL require ments• General and budgetary information• Full programme with list of speakers• Endorsement by the FEMS Delegate of your FEMS Member Society• You have read the application form• You have completely filled-in the ap plication form• Send the complete application to grants@fems-microbiology.org before the deadline of 1 March 2013.

FEMS MEETING GRANTSThe first grant deadline of every FEMS year is always for the FEMS Meeting Grants which is 1 March (of the year preceding that in which the meeting takes place).

So as early as now, we are calling on all those who are currently planning Scientific confer-ences, laboratory workshops, and training courses in the European area in the year 2014. Events such as these will be consid-ered for a FEMS Meeting Grant.

The maximum amount of a Meeti ng Grant is EUR 15 000.The Meeting Grant may only be used to support the attendance of:• Young Scientists (minimum of 60% and a maximum of 80% of total grant value) • Invited Speakers (minimum of 20% and a maximum of 40% of total grant value)

On special request by the organis ers and upon approval by the Grants Secretary, a total grant amount can be used to support young scientists only.

The regulations and application forms are available electronically. Please read them carefully and check the list at the right be-fore contacting the FEMS Central Office.

A list of events that were granted a FEMS Meeting Grant is also maintained online.

G R A N T S C O R N E R

CALL for APPLICATIONS

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The Society for General Microbiology (SGM) was formally inaugurated on 16 February 1945 when Sir Alexander Fleming was elected as the first President. The aim was to bring members from different backgrounds together to gain the benefits of interdisciplinary discussion and learning from each other. Today, this aim is reflected in the Society’s vision: A world in which the science of microbiology provides maximum benefit to society and in its mission: to promote high-quality microbiological science, both nationally and internationally, to a diverse range of stakeholders.

The success of the original aim of the Society underlies its growth, from 241 original members, to its present position as the largest microbiological learned society in Europe with a worldwide membership based in universities, industry, hospitals, research institutes and schools. Council governs the Society; its business facilitated by six standing committees.

The Society publishes four key academic journals: International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, Journal of General Virology, Microbiology and Journal of Medical Microbiology and also organises regular scientific conferences.The next conference is in Manchester on 25–28 March.

The Society supports the professional development of its members, particularly early career microbiologists, with its wealth of grants and awards. Participation in SGM activities and resource development is actively encouraged. Diverse activities designed to achieve widening participation include:

• A dedicated schools website, http://www.microbiologyonline.org.uk• Educational resources for age group 7–19 years: for example The Secret World of Microbes, popular with primary school children• An interactive drama “Stopping the spread of superbugs”, which has been performed both within the UK and in Ireland • Topical briefing papers which provide need-to- know information on various subjects, such as hospital-acquired infections, climate change and pandemic influenza• Position Statements on relevant and topical policy areas, such as Food Security and Safety

Last, but not least, SGM recognises the value of collaboration and provides an international forum for communication among microbiologists to maximise our influence and impact in areas such as policy and education. For more information about SGM, visit www.sgm.ac.uk.

Society for General Microbiology

Professor Colin Harwood, SGM Treasurer, explaining the important role of soil micro-organisms in food security at the Society's stand at Chelsea Flower Show.

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S O C I E T Y F E AT U R E

www.fems-microbiology.org

The voice of microbiology in Europe.We advance and unify microbiology knowledge.

Keverling Buismanweg 4, 2628 CL Delft, The NetherlandsT: 0031 15 269 3920 | F: 0031 15 269 3921 | E: fems@fems-microbiology.org

The FEMS Affiliates Letter is a production of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies.

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DEADLINES1 March 2013

FEMS Meeting Grants(for meetings to be held in 2014)

1 April 2013 1 September 2013

FEMS Meeting Attendance Grants

15 June 2013 1 December 2013

FEMS Research Fellowships

1 June 2013 15 December 2013

FEMS National & Regional Congresses Grants

1 0 M a r c h 2 0 1 3 International Conference on MicrobiologyBremen, Germany

2 4 A p r i l 2 0 1 3Biodeterioration of Wood and Wood Products, BWWP 2013 | Tartu, Estonia

2 6 A p r i l 2 0 1 34th Microbial Genome Maintenance Meeting Oslo, Norway

2 5 M a y 2 0 1 3Molecular Mechanisms of Host -Pathogen Inter-actions and Virulence in Human Fungal Patho-gens - HFP2013 | Paris, France

FEMS-Sponsored Meetings, Spring 2013

MICROBIOLOGY TIDBITS

Evolution of multicellularity coincides with the Great Oxidation EventScientists at the Universities of Zürich and Gothenburg have studied the evolution of cyanobacteria, which are highly diverse prokaryotes with morphotypes ranging from unicellular to multicellular filamentous forms. They found that the evolution of multicellular forms coincides with the beginning of the rise of atmospheric oxygen, also known as the Great Oxidation Event, around 2.45 billion years ago.

Source: Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies

‘RePOOPulating’ the gutPatients suffering from Clostridium difficile infection, causing severe diarrhea, can effectively be treated with a synthetic mixture of intestinal bacteria from a healthy donor. This method, known as rePOOPulation or Microbial Ecosystem Therapeutics, was developed by Elaine Petrof and Gregory Gloor from the Kingston General Hospital in Ontario. The multi-species bacterial community from a healthy person was used successfully to treat two patients with recurrent C. difficile infection that had failed standard antibiotic treatment.

Source: Kingston General Hospital

Dog can sniff out bacterial C. difficile infection More news on C. difficile. Researchers of the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam have trained a beagle to identify this intestinal infection in stool samples and on patients themselves. The dog was able to detect C. difficile infection with high sensitivity, high specificity and rapidly. Traditional lab tests to identify C. difficile can take up to a week, allowing the disease to spread. The hope is that the use of trained dogs for detection of infections will prevent future outbreaks.

Source: VUmc Amsterdam