Fungi
01 August 2000 publication
The lead articles of the August 2000 issue of Microbiology Today are on mycology today; weird and wonderful fungi; exploiting fungal metabolites; brewing yeast selection; yeast genomics; fungal skin diseases; and biofilms.
Institute of Learning & Teaching in Higher Education - Should you join? (p. 114)
Experienced university academics can currently apply for membership of the newly established Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (ILT). Society Education Officer Liz Sockett outlines the nature of ILT and the application process so that Society members can decide whether membership may be beneficial to them.
Mycology today (p. 115)
Tony Trinci, former President of the British Mycological Society, emphasises the importance of fungi in our lives and ponders on the future of mycology.
Weird and wonderful fungi (p. 116)
Fungal spores are produced in prodigious numbers. Elio Schaechter describes some unusual mechanisms for their dispersal.
Exploitation of fungal secondary metabolites old and new (p. 118)
Fungal secondary metabolites have been exploited by scientists for many years. Geoffrey Turner describes some current applications and shows how increasing knowledge of fungal gene structure and metabolic pathways is paving the way for the development of new drugs.
Brewing yeast selection (p. 122)
Some 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 takes a look at beer and the selection of the yeasts used in brewing.
Yeast genetics and genomics (p. 126)
Research into yeast genetics has brought great insights into eukaryotic cell biology. Alan Wheals describes how yeast genomics is opening up even more exciting possibilities in microbiology.
Now who would have thought it? (p. 128)
The classification of fungi is turning out to be more complex than was once thought. Roy Watling considers the inter-relationships of fungi and the changing views of mycologists in the light of rDNA sequencing data.
Fungi and skin (p. 132)
Diseases of the skin, hair, nails and mucous membranes are the most common of fungal infections, with treatment costing millions of pounds each year in the UK.
Biofilms: united they stand, divided they fall (p. 136)
A preview of the topics to be discussed in the SGM Main Symposium Community Structure and Co-operation in Biofilms at the University of Exeter.
Going Public (p. 145)
Dariel Burdass reports on the Schools Competition 2000, titled Vaccination: Just a Shot in the Arm?
Comment (p. 160)
Stephen Inglis discusses the academia/industry interface.