CLOSTRIDIA · Marie Curie training Conferences and Workshops on Clostridia

Final Activity Report Summary - CLOSTRIDIA (Marie Curie training Conferences and Workshops on Clostridia)

The clostridia are large and ancient group of bacteria notable because they are anaerobic, meaning they are poisoned by oxygen and thrive in oxygen-free environments like the human intestine. To survive exposure to oxygen, they form spores, which are also resistant to high temperature, disinfectant, desiccation and low energy radiation. The study of the clostridia is important to mankind in several, very different ways. Certain members may be employed on an industrial scale for the production of biofuels, e.g. biobutanol by Clostridium acetobutylicum. However, the genus has achieved greatest notoriety as a consequence of those members that cause disease in humans and domestic animals. In recent years, the medical and economic impact of these diseases has assumed worrying proportions. Thus, mortality due to the health-care associated infection (HCAI) Clostridium difficile is increasing as a consequence of the emergence of a highly virulent (hypervirulent) strain, necrotic enteritis in fowl has dramatically increased due to Clostridium perfringens and there are heightened public concerns over the use of Clostridium botulinum by bioterrorists. Thanks to the EU Marie Curie Actions programme, funding was awarded to hold a series of 6 conferences and 4 workshops between 2006 and 2009 focused on the genus Clostridium. Events were held at an average of four-monthly intervals at different European locations. The programme began with a general conference on the 'Molecular biology and pathogenesis of Clostridia' in Nottingham, in the United Kingdom. This encompassed the cutting edge developments made on an international scale in recent years throughout all clostridial pathogens, and set the scene for the specific conferences to come. Subsequent conferences / workshops focused on the technological developments being made (e.g. clostridial gene transfer, in silico genomics, molecular epidemiology and diagnosis), and the three organisms of greatest concern to health and well-being of the European Community: Clostridium difficile (Maribor, Slovenia), Clostridium perfringens (Exeter, United Kingdom) and Clostridium botulinum (Helsinki, Finland). One event was devoted to non-pathogenic clostridia (Toulouse, France), to ensure that the advances and knowledge gained in this arena is brought to the attention of the medical microbiologist. Finally, a general conference was again held (Rome, Italy) at the end of the conference series to allow progress in all organisms to be compared, contrasted and reviewed. All events were held at Centres of Excellence in clostridial molecular biology, and hosted by world renowned leaders in their field. The objective of these events was to educate and inform young European researchers, on the biology of the clostridia and the diseases they cause, whilst concurrently elevating European Clostridial research to the international forefront, and promoting the role women into this previously male dominated area. Thus at every event, 'Funded places' were available for young scientists where all costs of attendance (participation fee, accommodation, food and travel) were met by the EU. Thanks to funding a total of 379 young researchers participated in these events, 65 % of whom were women, including 62 from less favoured nations such as Slovenia, Greece, Turkey, Poland, Hungary, Latvia, Czech Republic, Israel and Lithuania. The project has strengthened the foundations of clostridial research in Europe; our young researchers. Without funding, few would have accessed such a rich environment, where they could feel comfortable while honing their skills, establishing networks and forging future collaborations. One Turkish MC eligible states that 'Although I am a medical doctor in Turkey, I could not attend any meeting in foreign countries since Marie Curie projects, due to limited salaries. So, many thanks to EU for this support'.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union