MEB Seminar | Collective functionality in bacterial groups

Please join us tomorrow, Tuesday Dec 13th, at 11am for Dr. Martin Ackermann's seminar in the AHF Torrey Webb Room. Below is a link to his website as well as an abstract for his seminar tomorrow. 

Look forward to seeing you there!

http://www.mme.ethz.ch

Abstract: How microbial diversity shapes the dynamics and processes in microbial communities is a fundamental question in microbial ecology. While the focus of such research is typically on biological diversity that results from genetic differences between strains and species, functional diversity can also arise in clonal groups, through phenotypic differences between individuals. My presentation will focus on this microbial individuality, that is, diversity at the level of single cells. Using examples from bacterial genetic model systems, I will discuss how microbial individuality can promote interactions within and between populations, allow microbes to cope with dynamic environments, and give clonal groups of bacteria new biological properties. Then I will discuss how one can test these laboratory-derived concepts in natural environments, and ask whether and how microbial individuality is an important driver of the dynamics of natural microbial communities. 

5th International Course in Microbial Ecology, Venice (Italy)

Dear Microbial Ecologist,

We are proud to announce the 5th International Course in Microbial Ecology, this year entitled “Deciphering microbial diversity and function in the environment through Next Generation Sequencing” (October 6-10, 2014), which will take place at the Institute of Marine Science, National Research Council in the old town centre of Venice, Italy.

The course builds on the successes of the four previous courses (former “SItEmicro Course in Microbial Ecology”) and is dedicated to advanced master students, PhD students, post-docs and young researchers interested in aquatic and terrestrial microbial ecology, and in bioinformatics. The course will focus on the use of next generation sequencing datasets for the study of microbial communities, under the guide of experienced international researchers. Participation is limited to 30 applicants.

The course will train microbial ecologists in the analysis of the structure and function of environmental microbial communities by using molecular tools. The techniques covered include sample collection and processing, DNA extraction, PCR of ribosomal genes, quanti­fication/analysis of environmental DNA, amplicon (marker gene) data generation and analysis using different tools (QIIME, Mothur) and metagenomics.

Detailed information is provided in the flyer attached to this email, and at the official webpage of the course: www.microbeco.org. Updates on the registration procedures, the selection of the successful applications, the final program and preliminary materials for the course will be periodically published on the website and on the next numbers of the SM Newsletter.

We look forward in seeing you in Venice.

Sincerely,

The Organizing Committee

Gian Marco Luna

Stefano Amalfitano

Manuela Coci

Gianluca Corno