EFB Microbial Physiology Section

Minutes of the Open Meeting of the Section,

at Villa Erba, Cernobbio, Italy

on Friday, Nov. 15, 2002, 18:00-18:35

Microbial Physiology Section European Federation of Biotechnology

MINUTES

1. Apologies for absence.

Apologies have been received from 12 Section members

2. Minutes of the last Section meeting held in Vejle, Denmark, on July 5, 2002.

The minutes were accepted, and signed by the Chairman.

3. Matters arising from the Minutes

Diethard Mattanovich reported briefly on the last Section Symposium, “Analysis of Microbial Cells at the Single Cell Level”, Denmark, July 2002. The meeting was attended by 120 participants. The 2½ days programme was very well received, and it was decided to organise a third meeting on this topic, which is scheduled for 2005 in Austria.

4. Report from the Section Chairman

(a) Call for volunteers to help with Section Administration and membership of the Section Committee, especially for help with the organisation of future scientific meetings.

The Section is keen to identify a Section Treasurer who will work with other members of the Section Board in developing a sound financial strategy. Nominations (including self-nominations) are invited. The Section Board would also welcome other volunteers to join the Board to organise specialist meetings, or help with the general running of the Section.

(b) Report from the EFB Executive Committee.

The EFB Executive Committee last met in Frankfurt in October 2002.

The Section Chairman reported that the main topics were
Membership to the EFB

Webpages (especially Section webpages, where the Microbial Physiology Website was presented as a model for efficient and informative presentation).

Future European Congresses on Biotechnology: National Societies are invited to organise future ECB’S.

(c) Report of other Section activities since the last Meeting:

(d) Late items of business

5. Review of the arrangements for the current meeting.

Danilo Porro reported that:

More than 200 participants from 26 countries attend the current meeting. 40% of the participants are from industry. 100 abstracts were received, and up to date 20 manuscript for the special issue of J. Biotechnol. were submitted.

6. Review of progress in the organisation of the forthcoming Section symposia:

(a) “Electron transfer in microbial metabolism”.

This meeting is being organised by Prof.s Fritz Unden and Jeff Cole and is scheduled for October 2003 in Walberberg, Germany. The renovated monastery at Walberberg is booked, where there are comfortable accommodation and excellent conference facilities for 80 to 100 people at a cost of about 100 Euros a day. Ample space is available for posters, and there is a large, informal bar. Food is simple, but high quality. A light and airy location, with most helpful staff. DATE???

(b) “Physiology of yeasts and filamentous fungi II (PYFF II)”.

This meeting is being organised by Jean-Marie Francois from Toulouse, and scheduled for March 24-28, 2004, either in Toulouse or Biarritz, France.

(c) “Analysis of microbial cells at the single cell level III”:

This meeting will be organised by Nicole Borth in Austria. Date and location need to be finalised. The planned date is May or June 2005.

(d) Preliminary plans for a meeting on “Functional genomics of pathogenic bacteria”.

This meeting, planned to be held in Siena, Italy, in 2004 or 2005, will be organised in cooperation with the EFB Sections on Applied Functional Genomics and Pharma Medical Biotechnology. Appr. 300 participants are anticipated.

7. Contribution of the Section to ECB 11 in Basle and the FEMS Congress in Ljubljana.

For ECB 11 in Basle, Switzerland,(August 24-29, 2003), appr. 1200 participants are anticipated. Upon invitation by the organisers, the Microbial Physiology Section will organise 2 symposia there, one on recombinant protein production, and the other on microbial reaction to stress.

The first FEMS Congress will be held June 29-July 3 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The Microbial Physiology Section will organise two sessions there on the same topics as for ECB 11.

8. Involvement of the Section in future Congresses.

The Section is keen to cooperate with other groups (either within EFB or others) on the organisation of conferences within the scope of the section. Suggestions are welcome.

9. Ideas for future Section symposia and other activities.

New suggestions and volunteers from individuals to help organise them are invited. New topics of interest are e.g. the physiology of biofilms or mixed cultures.

10. Any other business.

None

11. Next meeting of the Section.

This will be held during ECB 11 in Basle, Switzerland (Aug. 24-29, 2003). Exact date and location will be announced in due time.

Jeff Cole and Diethard Mattanovich; Nov. 2002