Microbiology Australia Research Articles

Retirement of İpek Kurtböke from the Microbiology Australia Editorial Board

Retirement of İpek Kurtböke from the Microbiology Australia Editorial Board

Contextualising SARS Coronavirus 2 and COVID-19

It is timely to assess where we are in the current SARS Coronavirus-2 pandemic. This edition of Microbiology Australia has national, and international, authorities authoring a series of papers on SARS Coronavirus 2 and related subjects. We are extremely fortunate to have papers on the overarching issues of zoonotic spread (Gartner, Selleck) and how this relates to the practicalities of our responses via public health (Bennett), vaccination (Macintyre), antivirals (De Clercq), and immunotherapies (Kelleher). Diagnosis and transmission control have been at the centre of public health responses (Blackall, Speers), as has been research informing our understanding of the virus (Dhakal, Zaunders, Eden). A focus on basic research, translated into outcomes in real time, has been a very successful feature of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are privileged to be able to feature some of this research, in these papers, although this is only part of the extensive and excellent Australian work in reducing the impact of SARS CoV2 infection, and COVID-19 disease.

Zoonoses

The selection of papers included in this issue of Microbiology Australia present a broad brush of zoonotic diseases, from those known or described in ancient times such as rabies, first described in the Eshnunna cuneiform law tablets from ancient Mesopotamia dating back to the 18th–19th centuries BC, and glanders, thought to be first described in donkeys by Aristotle in Ancient Greece in 420–450 BC and subsequently by the Romans, to some discovered or recognised as zoonotic within the past 30 years, such as the recently described zoonotic bat-borne pathogens in Australia, and Clostridium difficile, only recently recognised as a zoonotic pathogen. The selection of papers also demonstrates the wide range of zoonotic origins, including arthropod-borne viruses and potentially seafood-borne parasites.

One health probiotics

This issue of Microbiology Australia is on the topic of probiotics. The word ‘probiotic’ meaning ‘for life’ is derived from Latin ‘pro’ and Greek ‘bios’. According to the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, probiotics are defined as ‘live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host’1, while a very similar definition, albeit with the term ‘body’ (i.e. not plant), is used by the US National Institutes of Health: ‘. . . live microorganisms that are intended to have health benefits when consumed or applied to the body.’2.

Bacteriophages

In order to avoid a return to the pre-antibiotic era, alternative treatments to combat microbial diseases are urgently needed. In this context, bacteriophages, which have been used effectively in distant parts of the world during the cold war era, are now gaining significant interest in the West. This special issue of the Microbiology Australia thus focusses on bacteriophages with contributions from Australia and from the members of the Expert round table on acceptance and re-implementation of bacteriophage therapy.

From the Editorial Team

Microbiology Australia, the official journal of the Australian Society for Microbiology, works towards publishing content that is of interest and benefit to ASM members. It does this with contributions and feedback from members, through its Editorial Board, which meets five times each year (usually by teleconference), and through support from CSIRO Publishing. Articles in the thematic issues are usually solicited via Guest Editors who are knowledgeable in the particular topic of the issue. The aim is produce topical informative articles that are readable by the ASM audience who have very broad interests.

Tick-borne pathogens and diseases

Welcome to this edition of Microbiology Australia in which we examine the second most dangerous ectoparasite for humans, the tick (the most dangerous being without doubt the mosquito!), for the pathogens it carries and the diseases it can cause.

Environmental microbiomes

The March 2015 issue of Microbiology Australia was devoted to ‘Mammalian microbiomes’ and this March 2018 issue on ‘Environmental microbiomes’ complements that previous one. Additionally, authors of articles in the current issue were largely chosen from oral presenters at the inaugural ASM-sponsored Australian Microbial Ecology (AUSME2017) conference held a year ago in Melbourne. That 3-day conference in February 2017 celebrated the field of Microbial Ecology.

Public Health

This issue of Microbiology Australia looks at some evolving aspects of microbiology as it relates to Public Health in Australia.

Industrial microbiology

The exploitation of microorganisms has been part of humankind for millennia. Today this use has increased immensely as we re-purpose microorganisms in many novel ways to facilitate processes in food, pharmaceutical, detergent and mining industries. This issue of Microbiology Australia includes a brief look at the breadth of Industrial Microbiology and what it is offering us now and into the future.

Editorial

Issues of Microbiology Australia usually have a specific microbiology theme; however, this issue is different. It resulted from a call from the Editorial Board to Early Career Researchers of The Australian Society for Microbiology for expressions of interest to contribute to an issue showcasing upcoming leading Australian research, over a year ago. After submission, the Editorial Board then invited full submissions from Early Career Researchers who had ‘breaking’ research to present. These went through the normal process of peer review and revision before acceptance.

Graduate employability: are we doing enough?

It is with great pleasure that I introduce this special issue of Microbiology Australia with its focus on the work currently being performed around Australia to help our microbiology graduates develop the skills and attributes required to become career ready and to secure employment. Preparing students for employment is a multi-faceted challenge. Modern education moves beyond classroom or online instruction to working with industry to provide student learning opportunities, as well as mentoring our students to engage in experiences that will expand their outlook and capabilities. This multi-faceted approach is important to give our students the best preparation for entering the new workforce, where innovation and creativity is key.

Microbial diseases of travel

The November 2016 special issue of the Microbiology Australia is the first joint one with the Microbiology Society of the UK. Deciding on an appropriate theme for this issue, the 'Microbial Diseases of Travel' was a relatively straightforward task and a direct 'fallout' from the geographical distance that separates our two societies. In the recorded history of mankind, travel has been one of the most effective means of disseminating infectious diseases throughout and among different populations. Explorers carried with them, many infectious agents such as influenza, measles, small pox, typhus and yellow fewer resulting in devastating consequences for the indigenous populations that they encountered on their travels. Nowadays, with the current explosive rates and speed of travel the consequences of carrying infectious agents continue to be significantly detrimental to human, animal and crop populations even with our understanding of effective public health measures. Exposure to disease causing agents carried on wild animals can also be a potent force in the emergence of disease on travellers' return to their home country. In addition, migratory animals and birds can bring disease into far away countries as illustrated by the avian influenza.

From the Editorial Team

Welcome to the first issue of Microbiology Australia for 2016.

Retraction notice to ‘Subversion of immunity by schistosomes’. [Microbiology Australia 2013, 34(3), 137–141. doi:10.1071/MA13046

After due consideration, the editors of the journal and the authors of the paper agree that the paper be retracted from Microbiology Australia. Reason: irresolvable authorship dispute.

Interactions with other microbiology societies through Microbiology Australia

Interactions with other microbiology societies through Microbiology Australia

Anaerobic bacteria

In the beginning there was no oxygen. The anaerobes ruled the earth at that time and they continue to play an important role in our oxygenated world, in food microbiology, microbial ecology and bacterial pathogenesis. Welcome to this special issue of Microbiology Australia, which is dedicated to anaerobic microbes.

Vertical Transmission

Welcome to this issue of Microbiology Australia, which focuses on the ongoing challenges of the AIDS pandemic and is timed to coincide with the 20th International AIDS Conference to be held this year in Melbourne in July. A wide range of topics from leaders in the field have been brought together by the guest editors Johnson Mak and Stephen Kent, and so this issue presents a current state-of-play with regards the challenges and progress in combating this deadly disease.

Vertical Transmission

Welcome to the last edition of Microbiology Australia for 2013. We hope you have been enjoying the tactile experience of the revitalised print edition. Rest assured we are working on the issue of timely delivery! We also hope that you are taking advantage of the new, user-friendly online format for the journal. If you have any suggestions for improvements to either the print or online versions, topics for future editions or any other feedback please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our office (admin@theasm.com.au).

Microbes and chronic disease

This edition of Microbiology Australia is addressing the issue of microbes and chronic disease. Many of the microbes dealt with in this edition are viruses, partly due to interest, but also due to the nature of viral infection, which is of a host cell parasite, often of limitedgenomicmeans.Virusesonlyreplicatebyinfectingcells,and theessenceofviralinfectionofthecellismanipulationofthecellular processes, presumably in order to increase viral replication and allow viral persistence for the duration of infection. Even viruses with shorter genomes (such as RNA viruses typically with genomes in the order of seven to 10 kilobases in length) have considerable