February 2009 - The Legacy of Fleming

2009 marks the 80th anniversary of the publication of Alexander Fleming's classic paper on the discovery of penicillin. This issue takes a look back at the event and the man himself, as well as looking at what's to come for combating infectious disease.

'That's funny!': the discovery and development of penicillin
Alexander Fleming discovered the antibiotic effect of penicillin quite by chance. Kevin Brown takes a look at the fortuitous discovery and how the drug was developed.

What manner of man was Alexander Fleming?
The Society's first President, Alexander Fleming did so much more than just discover penicillin, as Philip Mortimer describes.

Antibiotics and Streptomyces: the future of antibiotic discovery
There are many options still available for new antibiotics. While the search for new drugs seems to be declining, Flavia Marinelli takes a look at the need for new antimicrobials.

Look who's talking!
Antibiotics aren't just for fighting infections. As Julian Davies describes, they play a part in the bacterial signalling network.

When good bugs fight bad
Alternative methods to antimicrobial chemotherapy for combating infectious disease do exist. Roy Sleator describes the role of probiotics in keeping pathogens at bay.

A precious memory
There are few people left who met or knew Alexander Fleming. Norberto Palleroni recalls his meeting with the great scientist.

The Defra-commissioned independent review of bovine tuberculosis research
With the Randomized Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) at an end, Defra asked SGM to review research into bovine TB and identify some new approaches. Co-chairs of the expert panel Mike Barer and Charles Penn found it a fascinating but demanding exercise. The full report can be downloaded at http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/atoz/tb/documents/tb-report.pdf

Comment: Debating creationism
2009 is also the 200th anniversary of the birth of Darwin: the architect of the theory of evolution. Lucy Goodchild discusses the relevance of the creationism versus evolution debate for microbiologists.

Schoolzone
The recent outbreak of cholera in Zimbabwe shows how relevant to everyday life this disease is. Dariel Burdass describes both the bacterium that causes the infection and the situation in Zimbabwe.

Gradline
Applying for funding for research is a big concern for early career microbiologists. In this issue, Jane Westwell looks at strategies for maximizing application success rate.

Going Public
Informing people about microbiology is important. SGM aims to promote the science to a whole range of audiences and in this issue we see how scientists get involved in public engagement and how microbes can be used to take photographs, amongst others activities.

Hot off the Press highlights some new developments in microbiological research published in the Society's journals - Microbiology, Journal of General Virology, International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology and Journal of Medical Microbiology. Topics covered include:

• Candida and the Asuga beauties
• Enzymes from friendly bacteria
• Biodiesel from fungi?
• Fighting hepatitis infection with gamma interferon

Last updated 8 February 2010