We would like to bring to your attention a new meeting entitled “EMBO-workshop on AIDS-related mycoses” to be held in Cape Town in July (3-5th) 2013. This conference is bringing together, for the first time, clinicians and scientists working in AIDS and in mycology, and it will be a highly focused meeting discussing the state of the art in basic science and clinical management. The speakers list is a fabulous international "who's who" sampling. But hurry, registration ends on the 30th of April and there are only 15 places left. Please see the website for details: www.aids-and-mycoses-2013.co.za.
Novel antimicrobial wound dressing by encapsulation of bacteriocins in nanofibers
Written by Heinrich Volschenk
Antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens is a major cause of concern for modern medicine, as this renders these “miracle drugs” ineffective. The accidental discovery of penicillin in 1928 by Alexander Fleming and the countless lives saved by this antibiotic in the 1940’s pioneered modern medicine. However, injudicious use of penicillin and various other antibiotics has caused a major problem in the treatment of “once easily treatable” bacterial infections. A marked increase in antibiotic-resistant pathogens has been reported over the last few decades, including the well-known methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria has amplified this problem. Antibiotic resistance is causing a regression back to a “pre-antibiotic era” where a minor scrape or cut can lead to a battle between life and death. Skin is our first line of defence against the onslaught of various pathogens causing infection; it plays a role in thermoregulation and maintaining of homeostasis in addition to having immunological, neurosensory and metabolic functions. Severe skin damage, however, exposes underlying tissue to microbial invasion which can easily progress into severe life threatening infections if not treated successfully.
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Bioinformatics
Written by Heinrich VolschenkThe Next Generation Sequencing Unit at the Central Analytical Facilities (CAF) is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to join the NGS team and expand the Bioinformatics capacity.
Project title: NGS data analysis in projects related to wheat and wheat diseases
Duration: 2 years
Scope of Research:
CAF currently boasts a SOLiD 5500xl and an Ion Torrent PGM together with conventional sequencing equipment. The DNA Sequencing unit has been operational for over 12 years with recent expansion into the NGS market, and delivers a service to local and international clients from academia as well as industry.
The successful candidate will initially mainly be involved in analysis of data relevant to two projects in the Agri Biotech field.
The first project will generate genomic NGS data for 4 fungal races of the same species. The genomes have to be assembled and annotated. Comparative analysis between the four races will be part of the project in collaboration with the client.
The second project entails transcriptome sequencing of wheat. RNA-seq data will be analyzed and differentially expressed genes be identified for our international collaborator.
The candidate might also be requested to get involved in other projects running at CAF.
Requirements: PhD in Genetics, Bioinformatics, Computer Science or related field (must have graduated within the last five years.
The successful candidate will have at least 2 years experience in the analysis of NGS data preferably with experience of SOLiD data.
- The accepted applicant should have strong written and communication skills, and be proficient in the following:
- Linux
- Open source command line Bioinformatics software
- HPC (not required)
- Perl or Python and shell scripts
- Understanding of basic genetics and molecular techniques
Successful applicants will be subject to University policies and procedures.
Commencement of duties: As soon as possible
Remuneration: A bursary will be available – value depends on experience of successful candidate
Closing date: 7 April 2013
Please Note:
- Postdoctoral fellows do not hold posts or positions; neither do they enter into an employment contract with the University.
- They receive a fellowship in order to conduct research, and do not receive a salary or remuneration for contract research or teaching.
- Their bursaries are paid out via the bursary system and not Human Resources.
- They are not part of the teaching staff of the university, neither are they contract researchers.
- They are not postgraduate students
Enquiries:
Send a letter of application, accompanied by a comprehensive curriculum vitae, including list of publications and the names and contact details of at least two referees, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Applicants should request their referees to forward confidential reports by the closing date direct to the same address.
Our weekly round-up of Microbiology in the news
Actinobacteria as a source of novel oxidative enzymes
Written by Heinrich VolschenkVery few people know that the smell from wet soil on a rainy day is due to the presence of a compound called geosmin. This compound is produced by a variety of soil dwelling actinobacterial strains. Actinobacteria are amazing microorganisms and have been exploited over the past century for their ability to produce antibiotics, enzymes, antioxidants and pigments.
Workshop: Advances in algae cultivation technologies
Written by Heinrich VolschenkDate: Thursday 14 March
Place: UWC campus, SANBI, Life Science Building, 5th Floor, Core 1, Room: Aaron Klug
RSVP: Rolene Bauer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
13h00 Jean-Paul Schwitzguébel, Laboratory for Environmental Biotechnology, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland. Challenges of sustainable cultivation of microalgae to produce biofuels and added-value chemicals.
13h45 Deborah Robertson-Andersson, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. Macroalgae as biomass feedstock: Opportunities in South Africa.
14h30 Miguel Verhein, Sweden (www.algasolrenewables.com) Floating Photo Bioreactors: A platform for low-cost and resource-efficient production of algae biomass.
Two career opportunities at CPUT
Senior Lecturer: Biotechnology
Lecturer: Biotechnology: Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) 1 year contract position
Second Circular & Call for Abstracts: Functional Metagenomics - 2013
Written by Heinrich Volschenk.jpg)
The International Society for Functional Metagenomics is pleased to announce that a dedicated website is now open for registration and submission of abstracts for the international conference:
FUNCTIONAL METAGENOMICS - 2013
Pretoria, South Africa
Details and registration forms can be found on www.up.ac.za/functionalmetagenomics/2013
More...
Microbiology Conferences/Workshops 2013
Written by Heinrich Volschenk
March 13 - 18, 2013 Tuberculosis: Understanding the Enemy
€9m EU-project on deep-sea organisms started
Written by Heinrich Volschenk
The University of the Western Cape is partner of a large-scale, four-year project launched in October 2012 called PharmaSea funded by the EU. The UWC team is led by Prof Marla Tuffin, Acting Director of the Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics (IMBM), and in collaboration with Prof Michael Davies-Coleman.The collaborative project PharmaSea will bring European researchers to some of the deepest, coldest and hottest places on the planet. Scientists from the UK, Belgium, Norway, Spain, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Denmark will work together to collect and screen samples of mud and sediment from huge, previously untapped, oceanic trenches. The large-scale, four-year project is backed by more than €9.5 million of EU funding and brings together 24 partners from 14 countries from industry, academia and non-profit organisations.
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PhD and Post-Doctoral Fellowships Available
Written by Heinrich Volschenk“Modified insect RNA viruses as gene delivery systems”
Recent publicationsThe positions are available immediately.Successful applicants should have a proven background in general recombinant DNA techniques. Molecular virology with hands-on expertise in cell culture and experience in generating recombinant baculoviruses and fluorescence microscopy will be an advantage.PhD and Post-Doctoral Scholarships are available to participate in a research programme funded by the NRF Blue Skies Programme to develop a novel gene delivery system based on the virus-like particles (VLPs) of a family of small insect RNA viruses, the Tetraviridae. The aim is to produce modified tetravirus VLPs that package RNAs with therapeutic potential and that can be targeted to deliver these non-viral RNAs to diseased cells and tissues. Specific research projects include the characterisation of RNA packaged by VLPs using next generation sequencing, the design and construction of recombinant baculoviruses to produce modified VLPs and assessment of the ability of modified VLPs to bind to target cells.
Successful applicants should have a proven background in general recombinant DNA techniques. Molecular virology with hands-on expertise in cell culture and experience in generating recombinant baculoviruses and fluorescence microscopy will be an advantage.
The positions are available immediately.
Recent publications
- Short & Dorrington (2012) Membrane targeting of an alpha-like tetravirus replicase is directed by a region within the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase domain. J Gen Virol; 93:1706 – 1716
- Dorrington, & Short (2010) The Tetraviruses. In "The Insect Viruses". K Johnson and S Asgari, Eds. Caister Academic Press, (UK). pp 283 - 305
- Short et al. (2010) Subcellular localisation and live cell imaging of the Helicoverpa armigera stunt virus replicase in mammalian and Spodoptera frugiperda cells. J Gen Virol; 91 (6): 1514 – 1523
For more information contact: Prof Dorrington (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140 South Africa. Tel: 27-46-603 8442; Fax: 27-46-6223984