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Announcements:
Miscellany
of cyanobacteriological interest (last post 7 October 2002)
(see more, particularly regarding books, at CyanoSite)
Meetings:
Various aggregates of cyanobacteriologists and others (last post
15 November 2002)
Positions
Available: Job ads
(last post 15 January 2003)
Transitions:
The
comings and goings of ourselves (last post 19 July 2002)
If you encounter difficulties obtaining this newsletter,
please
let me know. Also, please
pass
on any suggestions you may have.
Cyanobacterial reference service to move to the web
(posted 7 October 2002)
For several years, visitors to CyanoSite have been able to download installments of CyBib, a collection of research articles and reviews focusing on cyanobacteria. Since the number of articles exceeds 12000, the files are of limited value without software that can read them and facilitate searches. Up until now, the responsibility has been on the user to find that software. Now, Mark Schneegurt, proprietor of CyanoSite, is developing an online search engine that can perform searches for the user on the spot. The database has also been considerably expanded to include many more articles before 1990.
A working prototype of the search engine now exists, and
when the site is open to the public, the URL will appear in this newsletter.
Cyanobacteria in Symbiosis To Be Published Soon
(posted 26 January 2002)
Many of us have on our bookshelves the Handbook of Symbiotic Cyanobacteria, published in 1990 by CRC Press. The editor of that volume, Amar Rai, tells us that Kluwer Academic will be publishing sometime this year a new volume, Cyanobacteria in Symbiosis, intended to update and extend the original work. There will be new chapters on algal symbioses, the evolution of symbiosis, cyanobiont diversity and the Geosiphon-Nostoc symbiosis.
Global Anti-GlnA, Anti-Rubisco, Anti-PsbA (D1) Antibodies
Available
(posted 26 December 2001)
Polyclonal antibodies have been developed that recognize peptide targets found in all known GlnA proteins (glutamine synthetase), RbcL Type I (ribulose bis-phosphate carboxylase; rubisco), and PsbA/D1 (Photosystem II core protein). The antibodies are commercially available from AgriSera AB. Using antibodies with broad taxonomic ranges may facilitate tracking changes in photosynthesis and metabolism in a wide range of samples, including uncharacterized cyanobacteria and mixed phytoplankton samples. More global antibodies are under development including Anti-NirB (nitrite reductase) and Anti-NifH (nitrogenase).
| Contact: Joanna Porankiewicz-Asplund, AgriSera AB, Box 57, SE-911 21 Vännäs, Sweden. Phone: +46-(0)-935-33033; Fax:+46-(0)-935-33044; Email: Joanna@agrisera.se |
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Monograph Describes Practical Application of Cyanobacteria
(posted 26 December 2001)
A new book, Algal
Biotechnology, despite its name, devotes much of its 398 pages
to cyanobacteria and their uses. The book (ISBN 8171322867) was written
by PC Trevedi and published in 2001 by Pointer Publishers, Jaipur. It has
several chapters on agricultural exploitation of cyanobacteria as well
as problems in realizing their potential as food and feed. The book may
be obtained from Books & Periodicals
Agency
for US$56.25.
| Contact: Books & Periodicals Agency- B-1, Inder Puri, New Delhi-12, INDIA. Fax: (U.S. number)1-719-623-7004 |
XIth International Symposium on Phototrophic
Prokaryotes
(revised 19 October 2002)
The 2003 edition of the International Symposium on Phototrophic Prokaryotes will be held in Tokyo, August 24 through 29. This occasion marks the first time that the symposium will take place in Asia. The symposium will cover the usual wide range of topics, from biochemistry and molecular biology, through genomics, to ecology and applied aspects. An announcement of the symposium is available on-line, where it is also possible to preregister, insuring oneself of future notices. Deadline for registration is 15 May 2003, and deadline for application for financial support is 15 March 2003. The organizing committee can be contacted at:
| Ken-ichiro Takamiya, Department of Biological Sciences,
Faculty of Bioscience and Biotechnology
Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta, Midoriku, Yokohama 226 JAPAN. E-MAIL:ispp2003@takamiya.bio.titech.ac.jp |
* * * * * * * * * * * *
2004 Cyanobacterial Molecular Biology Workshop
(posted 15 November 2002)
After several meetings at the Asilomar Conference Center, the next (VIIIth) Cyanobacterial Molecular Biology Workshop will be held in the Montreal area as a satellite meeting to the 2004 Photosynthesis Congress. The dates are set for August 25 - 29, 2004 at the Hotel Le Chantecler in Ste. Adele, Quebec. The program will be developed starting this winter. In the meantime, for input and/or more information contact:
| Rob Burnap, Oklahoma State University. E-MAIL: burnap@bmb
fs1.biochem.okstate.edu
or George Bullerjahn, Bowling Green State University. E-MAIL: bullerj@bgnet.bgsu.edu |
| Position offered: | PhD Student (posted 15 January 2003) |
| Contact: | Sven Janson, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of Kalmar, Barlastgatan 1, S-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden Tel: +46 480 447310; Email: Sven.Janson@hik.se Internet:www.bom.hik.se/~njasv and www.bom.hik.se/plankton |
| Research: | Evolution of photosynthetic capability in dinoflagellates. Dinoflagellates are unicellular protists that often gain their nutrients through phagocytosis, and to a large extent through photosynthesis. The dinoflagellate Dinophysis norvegica is the dominating dinoflagellate in the Baltic Sea during summer and is capable of both phagocytosis and photosynthesis. The plastid inside D. norvegica originates from a cryptophyte, another type of protist, but whether it is a permanent component of the cell or needs to be re-filled periodically is still an open question. The main focus within this project will be to study how species of Dinophysis obtain(ed) their plastids and how active they are. The source of the plastids and their activity will be examined using molecular biology methods. The project also includes tropical dinoflagellates that have conquered new plastids or contain symbiotic cyanobacteria. |
| Requirements: | Bachelors degree. Special merits are given for microbial ecology-, plant-, biochemical or molecular biological knowledge. |
| Start: | Available immediately. Open until a suitable candidate has been appointed. |
| Position offered: | Post Doc (posted 19 October 2002) |
| Contact: | Fevzi Daldal, University of Pennsylvania, Department of Biology and Johnson Research Foundation, 204 Mudd Building, Philadelphia PA 19104-6019, U.S.A. Tel: 215-898-4394; Fax: 215-898-8780; Email: fdaldal@sas.upenn.edu |
| Research: | Structure/function and biogenesis
of cytochrome complexes in bacteria. For current examples of work, see:
|
| Requirements: | Solid background and experience in any of the following areas: molecular genetics, protein biochemistry, or spectroscopy. A keen interest in interdisciplinary approaches. |
| Start: | Available immediately. |
| Salary: | Commensurate with experience, and negotiable. Positions are for several years. |
| Send: | CV, a brief description of previous research accomplishments and names or references. |
| Position offered: | Post Doc (posted 19 June 2002) |
| Contact: | Bridgette
Barry, Dept. of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, 140
Gortner Laboratory, 1479 Gortner Ave., University of Minnesota, St. Paul,
MN 55108, U.S.A. TEL: 1-612-624-6732; FAX: 1-612-625-5780;
EMAIL: Barry@Biosci.Cbs.UMn.Edu; WEB:http://cbs.umn.edu/bmbb/faculty/Barry.B.A.html |
| Research: | Study of the photosynthetic water-splitting reaction with time resolved FT-IR spectroscopy. The laboratory is equipped with an EPR spectrometer, two Nicolet FT-IR spectrometers, and a new Bruker 66v step scan/rapid scan FT-IR spectrometer, with time resolution in the nanosecond time regime (see http://biosci.cbs.umn.edu/BMBB/barrylab/). |
| Start: | Summer 2002 |
| Send: | CV, summary of previous research experience, and the names of three references |
Four cyanobacteriologists working at University of Stockholm in the laboratory of Bergitta Bergman recently defended their PhD theses:
PERNILLA LUNDGREN defended her thesis on January 25, 2002, concerned the characterization of nitrogen fixation and the molecular phylogeny of marine non-heterocystous cyanobacteria. She is rewarding herself with a long holiday traveling in Asia. (19/vii/02)
CHARLES LUGOMELA completed his thesis on cyanobacterial diversity and productivity in coastal areas of Zanzibar. Charles continues to work on Tanzanian cyanobacteria at University of Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania. (19/vii/02)
JENNY DEGERHOLM presented her thesis on Ecophysiological Characteristics of the Baltic Sea N2-fixing cyanobacteria Aphanizomenon and Nodularia. (19/vii/02)
ANTON LIAIMER successfully defended his thesis May 31, 2002, on communication between cyanobacteria and plants. He will be moving from Birgitta's lab down the hall where he'll be a post-doc in the lab of Stanislaw Karpinski studying mostly Arabidopsis but perhaps continuing his work on cyanobacterial symbioses on the side.
| Department of Botany, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, SWEDEN. EMAIL: Anton.Liaimer@Botan.Su.Se |
PER PAULSRUD passed his PhD thesis defense on October, 2001. The thesis described the diversity and specificity within the interaction between Nostoc and fungi to form lichen. He has since continued work in the lab of Peter Lindblad and obtained a certificate enabling him to teach in high school.
| Department of Physiological Botany, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Villavägen 6, SE-752 36 Uppsala, SWEDEN. EMAIL: Per.Paulsrud@Fysbot.Uu.Se |
ADRIAN CLARKE moved in 2001 from University of Umeå to University of Gothenberg in south western Sweden. The chair position he accepted was part of the establishment of a new plant molecular biology department at the Botanical Institute.
| Botanical Institute, Göteborg University, Box 461, 405 30 Göteborg, SWEDEN. TEL:46-31-7732502; FAX:46-31-7732626; EMAIL: Adrian.Clarke@botinst.gu.se |
FRANCOISE JOSET has retired from her position at University of Marseille, after a career of increasing our understanding of areas including carbon uptake and salt stress. She also managed to find time to write what has been a standard text in bacterial genetics. She plans to reinvent her life, rediscovering paths left unattended owing to the pressures of the moment. Cyanobacteria will still grow in Marseille, as her former lab is now inhabited by another cyanobacteriologist, Cheng-Cai Zhang. (26/xii/01)
Boris V. Gromov
Boris Gromov died 28 August 2001 after a long career primarily at Leningrad State University/St. Petersburg State University. He had broad interests, contributing to the understanding of cyanobacterial ultrastructure, toxins and other bioactive products, cyanophages. His legacy includes the CALU collection of algae, which includes hundreds of cyanobacteria and the many cyanobacteriologists who developed under his tutelage.
ALEX GLAZER was elected this past spring to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Alex has devoted much of his professional life to understanding the function of phycobilisomes. (11/ix/01)
MICHELLE WOOD has spent most of her career trying to understand the community structure of marine cyanobacteria. Now she turns her attention to the community of phycologists, assuming the post of President of the Phycology Society of America for the year 2001. (7/ix/01)
JEFF ELHAI has moved from U. Richmond across town to Virginia Commonwealth University to work in the lab of Jerry Peters (not much more than 100 km from Washington, D.C., for those passing through). He'll continue to work on the regulation of heterocyst differentiation. (31/viii/01)
| Dept. of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1000 W. Cary St., Richmond, VA 23284 U.S.A. E-MAIL: ElhaiJ@VCU.Edu; TEL: 1-804-828-0794; FAX: 1-804-828-0503; WEB: http://www.people.vcu.edu/~elhaij |
OLAF NEUSCHAEFER-RUBE, formerly at U. Konstanz, has moved to Oslo to work with Hans Utkilen on the regulation of microcystin biosynthesis.
| Folkehelsa, National Institute of Public Health, Dep. of environmental medicine, Geitmyrsveien 75, P.O.Boks 4404 Nydalen, N-0403 Oslo, Norge. E-MAIL: Olaf.Neuschaefer.Rube@folkehelsa.no; TEL: (+47) 22 04 23 70; FAX: (+47) 22 04 26 86 |