 
Microbiology
Today August 2000
Fungi thread their way into our lives in a whole variety of ways. Once
considered to be
plants by scientists, these widely diverse eukaryotes are now firmly
established as the
province of microbiologists. This issue looks at various aspects of
mycology and some of
the activities of fungi.
Tony Trinci of the University of Manchester, a former President of the
British
Mycological Society, emphasizes the importance of fungi and ponders on
the future of
mycology, in an era when individual scientific disciplines seem to be
disappearing.
Classifying fungi was once believed to be a simple matter for
botanists, but
DNA sequencing data are revealing some unexpected relationships. First of
all, fungi
have turned out to be closer to animals than plants on the evolutionary
tree. Roy Watling,
retired Head of Mycology at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Edinburgh,
describes some of the
intricacies of fungal systematics.
Most fungi reproduce by spores. As mushroom lover and retired
microbiologist Elio
Schaechter describes, some amazing ways have evolved to distribute these
around the
planet. Some rely on insects for spore dispersal, whilst others use
people or
animals to ensure their spread.
Developments in molecular biology are also enabling the decoding of
entire yeast
genomes such as those of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and
Schizosaccharomyces
pombe. Alan Wheals, of the University of Bath, explores the ensuing
benefits for
fundamental research into eukaryotic cell biology and the potential
applications of this
knowledge.
Some brewing yeasts may be used as model organisms, but down in
the pub, their
role in the production of alcoholic drinks is probably considered more
important! Iain
Campbell of the International Centre for Brewing & Distilling at
Heriot-Watt University
takes a look at beer and the selection of the yeasts used to make it.
Fungi produce a whole range of useful secondary metabolites such
as antibiotics.
Research into fungal genetics and biochemistry is paving the way to expand
on this work in
the development of new drugs, as Geoff Turner, University of Sheffield,
describes.
Not all fungi are beneficial. Illustrated by some photographs with a
high "yuck"
factor, Ruth Ashbee and Glyn Evans of the University of Leeds take a look
at some of the
fungal diseases of the skin, hair and nails that cost millions of
pounds of
treatment each year in the UK.
Yeasts and moulds are often found living in nature in spatially
organised communities
with other micro-organisms. These communities, known as biofilms,
can survive and
exploit circumstances beyond their capabilities as individual microbes.
Hilary Lappin-Scott
and Peter Gilbert, co-organisers of the Main Symposium at the SGM meeting
at Exeter
University from 12-15 September which covers aspects of biofilm behaviour,
preview the
topics to be discussed.
Hot off the Press
 [Acrobat PDF] highlights some new
developments in microbiological research that have been published in the
Society's
journals - Microbiology, Journal of General Virology and
International
Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. Topics covered
include:
- Recombination network - begomovirus isolates in cotton plants
in Pakistan
- Developmental cheating - mass suicide in slime moulds
- Gene silencing - multi-virus resistance in transgenic plants
- Hawaii 2-0 - identification of a new yeast in Hawaii
- Purple haze - a new purple sulphur bacterium
- If you can't stand the heat - microbes in a hydrothermal vent
- Bridging the gap - interactions of E. coli with the gut
wall cells
- Antifungal toxin from fishery waste bacteria - New species of
Paenibacillus inhibits fungal growth
Going Public
[Acrobat PDF], which features science promotion
activities, covers:
- MISAC Schools Competition 2000 - Vaccination - Just a Shot in
the Arm?
Other items include:
Last updated 29 May 2003
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