Scientific Program

Conference Series Ltd invites all the participants across the globe to attend 12th International Congress on Microbial Interaction and Applications of Beneficial Microbes Munich, Germany.

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Scientific Program Day 1
Scientific Program Day 2

Day 2 :

Keynote Forum

Andreas Vilcinskas

University of Giessen, Germany

Keynote: Insect-derived beneficial microbes for industrial applications
Conference Series Microbial Interactions 2017 International Conference Keynote Speaker Andreas Vilcinskas photo
Biography:

Andreas Vilcinskas is a Professor of Applied Entomology and Director of the Institute for Insect Biotechnology Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany. His fields of research are insect biotechnology; development of innovative approaches for the control of pest and vector insects; insect immunity, ecology and evolution; invasion biology; and genome biology and epigenetics of insects.

Abstract:

Industrial (white) biotechnology focuses on the biotransformation of raw materials into useful industrial products, predominantly using microbes and/or enzymes. Insects, the most diverse group of organisms on the earth, owe part of their evolutionary success in extreme habitats to their own version of white biotechnology-symbiosis with microorganisms. The presentation highlights how the industrial biotechnology toolbox can be expanded by developing insect-associated microbes as biological resources for the production of enzymes and as tools in their own right, e.g. for the conversion of biomass. Focusing on selected examples such as the black soldier fly Hermetia illucens, the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides or the clothes moth Tineola bisselliella it is demonstrated how advanced and complementary methods covering biochemistry (bioassays, proteomics), molecular biology (genomics, RNA-Seq and candidate gene-centered analysis of insect hosts and their microbiota) and cell biology (cell cultures, enzyme assays, biotechnology-based processing) are used to decipher the interactions between insect species occupying unique ecological niches and their microbiota, emphasizing the partitioning of adaptive processes between the host and symbionts to convert biomass more efficiently.

Keynote Forum

Robert Czajkowski

University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Poland

Keynote: Biological control of plant pathogens with the use of beneficial bacteria and lytic bacteriophages - fact or fiction?

Time : 10:55-11:35

Conference Series Microbial Interactions 2017 International Conference Keynote Speaker Robert Czajkowski photo
Biography:

Associated Professor at University of Gdansk, Poland. He is a graduate of Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk in Gdansk (2006). ln 2006 he received a year-fellowship from EU Marie Curie Early Stage Research programme and from 2006 till2007 he worked as a visiting scientist at the Max Planck lnstitute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg, Germany. Scholar of doctoral studies at the Netherlands lnstitute of Ecology, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences in Wageningen, the Netherlands (2007-2011). Postdoctoral researcher at Wageningen University and Research Center - Plant Research lnternational in Wageningen, the Netherlands (2011- 2012), Assistant Professor in the Department of Biotechnology in the lntercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk (2012-2016). ln 2013 received a fellowship from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education for outstanding young scientists (2013-2016) and in 2014 fellowship from The Foundation of Polish Science in the EU Skills Mentoring Programme. Between 2013 and 2015 was a Secretary of Polish Society of Experimental Plant Biology, Presently, a member of The Council of Young Scientists at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and a member of editorial board of BioTechnoloqia and Journal of Plant Pathology.

Abstract:

It is forecasted that the world population will reach 10 billion people by 2050. Overpopulation, climate instability and plant pest and diseases are directly responsible for increasing global hunger. It is estimated that more than 60% of the human population is starving and plant diseases play a major role in food shortages worldwide. Global loss of staple crops due to plant pathogens is predictably estimated to be as high as even 40 percent. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important staple food crops worldwide and the fourth main food crop after rice, maize and wheat. The area of potato cultivation is rapidly increasing especially in developing regions. In Europe potato has always been recognized as an significant food crop. Intensive potato cultivation together with the international potato tuber market may result in the increased risk of transmission and spread of potato diseases that lead to decrease of crop quality and yield. Diseases caused by pectinolytic bacteria: blackleg during potato cultivation and soft rot of potato tubers in storage and transit are among the most important bacterial diseases leading to substantial losses in potato production in Europe and worldwide. Traditional pathogen control methods based on chemical and physical applications are insufficient to cure infected potato tubers from pectinolytic bacteria as well as they are unable to prevent spread of the pathogens in the field. Biological (environmentally friendly) control of plant pathogens could be an alternative to chemical and physical approaches. We are eager to develop new biological control strategies based on the use of beneficial bacteria and bacteriophages in order to prevent buildup of the pathogen populations in potato tubers. This presentation acknowledges past and present work on biological control of potatopathogens – pectinolytic bacteria, with the major focus on research leading to commercialization.

Keynote Forum

Vladimir Zajac

Cancer Research Institute of Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovakia

Keynote: Participation of bacteria and yeasts in the AIDS process: evolutionary view

Time : 11:35-12:15

Conference Series Microbial Interactions 2017 International Conference Keynote Speaker Vladimir Zajac photo
Biography:

Vladimir Zajac has completed his PhD. in 1982 at the Cancer Research Institute of Slovak Academy of Sciences in Bratislava (Slovakia), where he worked as the Head of Department of Cancer Genetics from 1996 to 2010. He joined the Medical Faculty of the Comenius University as Associate Professor of Genetics in 2007. He has published 72 papers mostly in reputed journals and he was editor of the book “Bacteria, viruses and parasites in AIDS process” (InTech, 2011)

Abstract:

We have identified HIV-like sequences homologous with HIV-1 isolates for about 90% and HIV-like proteins in bacteria/ yeasts in a cohort of 80 AIDS patients from Slovakia, USA, Kenya and Cambodia. Based on these results, we assume that HIV is an integral part of humans from the beginning of our existence and bacteria and yeasts are natural hosts of HIV, thereby affording affinity to T cells. The results obtained and the subsequent analysis have led us to believe that on the epidemic of "Black Dead" in the 14th century participated except Yersenia pestis and other agents, and thus in our view he is HIV. This version corresponds to the means of human-to-human transmission, speed and intensity of the epidemic. This epidemic took place in Europe, parts of Asia and North Africa,but not in America and sub-Saharan Africa. The victims of the Black Death epidemic were individuals with a damaged immune system due to violation of symbiosis between the prokaryotic and eukaryotic kingdom in their body. The epidemic was so devastating, because resulted also in the elimination of HIV carriers. Those who survived had delta 32 mutation in the CCR5 co-receptor, which is predominantly expressed in T cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and eosinophils. A mutation to prevent participants from Yersenie pestis infection, but the smallpox virus and HIV infection, as well. The “Black Dead” epidemic results in an increase in the number of CCR5 delta 32 mutations in the Caucasus population to 10%, in some areas to 15-20%. This epidemic on the other side as "sanitary process" led to the restoration of balance between the two kingdoms in the human body and to the recovery of most of the human population. In Sub-Saharan Africa, this epidemic and subsequent "sanitation process" has not taken place and that’s why HIV-related genetic information has not been eliminated in the population. Therefore, there is no CCR5Δ32 mutation in this population and the level of HIV genetic information is much higher than in other parts of the world. Options to remedy this situation in Sub-Saharan Africa are under discussion. Confirmation of the presented hypothesis can bring new insight into AIDS, especially in Africa, and open up new possibilities in diagnostics and therapy of this syndrome.

  • Microbial Association-Microbial Interactions | Plant-Microbe Interaction | Agricultural Microbiology | Host Microbe Interactions
Location: Forum 10
Speaker

Chair

Konstantinos Kormas

University of Thessaly, Greece

Speaker

Co-Chair

Robert Czajkowski

University of Gdansk, Poland

Session Introduction

Mayada Ali Salah Eldin Sabra

Alexandria University, Egypt

Title: Beneficial root endophytic fungi change growth and oil composition of sweet basil in heavy metal contaminated soil
Speaker
Biography:

Mayada Sabra has completed her PhD from Alexandria University, Egypt in collaboration with Leibniz-Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), Erfurt, Germany. She received the Doctorate degree from Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University. Her publications investigate that some kind of beneficial microorganisms could reduce pollution from agricultural soil. She has written research papers after years of experience in research, teaching and administration both in the Leibniz-Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), Germany and Alexandria University, Egypt.

Abstract:

Heavy metal pollution in the soil is toxic to animals, humans and aquatic life. Their tendency to accumulate in the food chain has led to stricter environmental regulations in the past decades. Little is known about the interaction between contaminated soil, plants and the rhizosphere. Root endophytic fungi such as Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi and Piriformospora indica belong to the rhizosphere and are associated with a huge variety of plant species. Both symbioses improve plant productivity by enhancing nutrient supply and conferring resistance and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The effect of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and the beneficial fungus P. indica on sweet basil was tested in a pot experiment with soil contaminated with lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) under defined greenhouse conditions. The AM fungus R. irregularis mediates an increase in shoot and root dry weight of sweet basil plants when the soil is contaminated with Pb or Cu, as well. Mycorrhization of sweet basil roots decreases in contaminated soil with Cu, but not with Pb. The Pb content in the shoot is decreasing with AMF, but not the Cu content. In contrast, sweet basil inoculated with P. indica shows a decrease in shoot Cu content. Furthermore, AMF have a dramatic effect on the content of the essential oils linalool and eucalyptol even on contaminated soils. Therefore, we conclude that beneficial fungi can be used to improve the quantity and quality of sweet basil also under conditions, which are stressful for the plant, such as heavy metal contaminated soils.

Sahar Ali Mohamed Ali

Menofia University, Egypt

Title: Serum expression levels of miR-141and miR-215 for differentiation between Liver Cirrhosis , Chronic Heptitis C and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients
Speaker
Biography:

Sahar Ali Mohamed Ali has completed his PhD from Menoufia University of Medicine. She is the Medical Director of AL Ansaar Hospital Lab in Medina KSA and an Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Menofia University. She has published more than 14 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of repute.

Abstract:

Objectives: To evaluate the ability of estimation of serum expression levels of microRNA-141 and 215 to differentiate between liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.
 
Patients & Methods: The study included 25 liver cirrhosis patients, 25 CHC patients, 25 HCC patients and 15 volunteers (Control group). All patients and controls gave fasting blood samples for estimation of serum levels of α-fetoprotein (AFP), quantitative PCR estimation of HCV RNA titers and real-time PCR quantitation of serum expression levels of microRNA-215 and -141.
 
Results: Serum AFP levels were significantly higher in HCC patients than cirrhosis and CHC patients. Estimated serum expression levels of microRNA-215 were significantly higher in CHC and HCC patients compared to both controls and cirrhosis, while serum expression levels of microRNA-141 were significantly lower in HCC patients compared to controls and cirrhosis patients and in CHC patients than controls. Estimated HCV viral load in CHC patients showed positive significant correlation with serum expression level
of microRNA-215, while showed non-significant correlation with microRNA-141. Estimated serum levels of microRNA-215 and 141 could differentiate hepatic patients and controls with AUC=0.872 and 0.250, respectively. Estimated serum levels of microRNA-215 could differentiate between cirrhosis and CHC patients with AUC=0.899. Estimated serum levels of microRNA-215 and 141 could identify HCC patients out of hepatic disease patients with AUC of 0.818 and 0.351, respectively.
 
Conclusion: Serum expression levels of microRNA-215 and 141 could identify hepatic disease patients with high positive predictive value (PPV) especially for microRNA-215. MicroRNA-215 can differentiate between cirrhosis and CHC patients and correlated with HCV load.

Hossein Bannazadeh Baghi

Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Title: Alphaherpesviruses Infection in the Upper Respiratory Tract
Speaker
Biography:

Hossein Bannazadeh Baghi is the holder of a PhD awarded to him by the Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology at Ghent University, Belgium. Currently, he is working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. He is also a research member of the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Dr. H.B. Baghi is the author and coauthor of several scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Abstract:

Alphaherpesviruses are recognized to have a broad host cell range with a rapid replication cycle, followed by destruction of the host cell in a wide variety of susceptible cells and swift spread among these cells. They use multiple strategies to hijack infected host immune cells, establish latent infection and evade antiviral immune responses in order to eventually permit the production
and subsequent dissemination of infectious virions. Passage through the mucus layer on top of the epithelial cells and the basement membrane (BM) underneath the epithelial cells is essential for a successful invasion at the respiratory tract. In this presentation, I would like to focus on Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) as an example of an invasive virus of the airway mucosa. The mucosa of the URT is the primary replication site for EHV-1, similar to other alphaherpesviruses. Infection with the virus direct the migration of the m-APCs toward the lymph nodes or blood vessels. In our research, we showed the presence and localization of different components of mucosal basement membrane molecules in EHV-1-infected tissues. We found that EHV-1 infection has a major effect on two important basement membrane components, namely integrin alpha 6 and collagen VII. The interesting aspect of this finding was that they were inversely affected: while integrin alpha 6 was degraded by infection, the collagen VII layer increased in thickness during infection. These structural changes are attracting monocytic cells that are guided in the direction of infected epithelial cells. Afterwards, the monocytic cells become infected and move in a physiological way back to lymph and blood vessels.

Xia Yu

University of Helsinki, Finland

Title: A comparative characterization of different host-sourced Lactobacillus ruminis strains and their adhesive, inhibitory, and immunomodulatory functions
Speaker
Biography:

Xia Yu is a PhD student from the University of Helsinki, Finland. Currently, she is working on her thesis and will defend the thesis at the end of 2017. She was
awarded scholarships by the China Scholarship Council from 2012-2016, Finnish Veterinary Foundation during 2013-2017, and University of Helsinki from 2016-
2017. She made poster presentations at several international conferences and an international course, including 11th International Symposium on Lactic Acid
Bacteria, 8th Probiotics, Prebiotics and New Foods for Microbiota and Human Health and 3rd International Advanced Course on the Intestinal Microbiome and Diet
in Human and Animal Health. She has published three papers related to gut bacteria and their functional characteristics during the PhD study.

Abstract:

Lactobacillus ruminis, an autochthonous member of the gastrointestinal microbiota of humans and many animals, is a less characterized but interesting species for many reasons, including its intestinal prevalence and possible positive roles in host–microbe crosstalk. In this study, we isolated a novel L. ruminis strain (GRL1172) from porcine feces and analyzed its functional characteristics and niche adaptation factors in parallel with those of three other L. ruminis strains (a human isolate, ATCC 25644, and two bovine isolates, ATCC 27780 and ATCC 27781). All the strains adhered to fibronectin, type I collagen, and human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29), but poorly to type IV collagen, porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-1), and human colon adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2). In competition assays, all the strains were able to inhibit the adhesion of Yersinia enterocolitica and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC, F4+) to fibronectin, type І collagen, IPEC-1, and Caco-2 cells, and the inhibition rates tended to be higher than in exclusion assays. The culture supernatants of the tested strains inhibited the growth of six selected pathogens to varying extents. The inhibition was solely based on the low pH resulting from acid production during growth. All four L. ruminis strains supported the barrier function maintenance of Caco-2 cells, as shown by the modest increase in transepithelial electrical resistance and the prevention of dextran diffusion during co-incubation. However, the strains could not prevent the barrier damage caused by ETEC in the Caco-2 cell model. All the tested strains and their culture supernatants were able to provoke Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2-mediated NF-ĸB activation and IL-8 production in vitro to varying degrees. The induction of TLR5 signaling revealed that flagella were expressed by all the tested strains, but to different extents. Flagella and pili were observed by electron microscopy on the newly isolated strain GRL1172.

Alexandre Bourles

University of New Caledonia, New Caledonia

Title: New Burkholderia sp. isolated from pioneer plants roots of ultramafic soils, play a key role in the plant adaptation to harsh edaphic conditions
Speaker
Biography:

Bourles A is a PhD student at the ISEA (Institute of Exact and Applied Sciences), University of New Caledonia, New Caledonia. 

Abstract:

New Caledonia is a tropical archipelago located in the south Pacific and covered with ultramafic soils for one third. These soils are characterized by a lack of major plant nutrients (N, P and K), a strong unbalanced ratio of Ca/Mg and high levels of heavy metals (Co, Cr, Fe, Mn and Ni). Such geochemical constraints lead to the development of specific biological endemic ecosystems ranking New Caledonia among the world biodiversity hotspots. These ultramafic massifs are exploited as nickel’s ores sources which impact strongly the ecosystems that must be restored after mining activities. In this work, we present data about two new Burkholderia species isolated from roots of Costularia (Cyperacae), a tropical herbaceous pioneer plants growing on ultramafic soils and actively used in post mining ecological restoration strategies. Results indicated noteworthy bacterial specific ecological traits such as the tolerance to heavy metals. For example, the tolerance of these Burkholderia reached concentrations of nickel from 5 to 25 mM, metal tolerance supported by presence of specific markers such as nreB and Cnr genes. Moreover, these bacteria showed the ability to produce plant growth promoting molecules such as 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACC), indol-3-acetic acid (IAA), NH3 and siderophores. These two Burkholderia species were named B. ultramafica (STM10279T) and B. novacaledonica (STM10272T). Physiological nickel tolerance mechanisms and interactions with the plant were investigated such as (1) the capacity to produce exo-polysaccharides in planktonic mode, and (2) the ability to produce a biofilm in contact with plant root. B. ultramafica showed a production of a polysaccharide constituted of neutral (75%) and acid sugars (25%). Moreover B. ultramafica inoculated to Costularia comosa (Cyperaceae) grown on ultramafic substrate (Ni=78 mg.kg-1) enhanced the shoot biomass compared to the noninoculated plants (more than 40%). The two Burkholderia showed the ability to form biofilm (Fig. 1). The bacterial capacity to tolerate the nickel and to produce of both biofilm and polysaccharides suggest a key role of these bacteria in plant growth and adaptation to the ultramafic constraints with a view to using these strains as inoculum for ecological restoration of degraded mining sites program

Hyeonjeong Lee

Pohang University of Science and Technology, South Korea

Title: Microbial respiration-based screening of residual enrofloxacin in milk using capillary tube indicators
Speaker
Biography:

Hyeonjeong Lee is a PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Korea. Her research is focused on the development of biosensors for detecting bacteria, protein, and chemicals based on multifunctional nanoparticles.    
 

Abstract:

A simple method was developed for detecting enrofloxacin in milk using microbial respiration and capillary-tube indicators. A glass vial containing E. coli ATCC 11303 in LB was spiked with enrofloxacin and sealed with a screw cap supporting a silicon septum. A capillary tube with a drop of ink was inserted through the septum, and the ink-level change was measured. The growth of E. coli produced CO2 gas, which increased the pressure inside the vial and raised the ink level in the capillary tube; in this manner, small changes in the gas volume were translated into large changes in the ink level. The increase in the ink level was inversely proportional to the concentration of enrofloxacin, which suppressed the growth of E. coli. The detection limit of enrofloxacin was found to be 10 ng/Ml by using the naked eye after the microbial culture had been permitted to grow over 2 hours.

Francisco Medina-Paz

CINVESTAV, Mexico

Title: Whom to let in? A 16S-based analysis of the rhizospheric and root endophytic microbiomes of bean
Speaker
Biography:

Francisco Medina-Paz has completed his Master’s from Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the IPN. Currently, pursuing his PhD and working on the assembly of the root microbiome of bean at the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the IPN, Mexico. His major goal is to integrate molecular and bioinformatics tools into field ecological work to understand mechanisms that determine plant-microbe interactions under natural conditions. 

Abstract:

Plant roots harbor a specific endophytic microbiome, which is largely obtained horizontally from the external (rhizospheric) soil microbiome. Both microbiomes contribute, e.g., to nutrient uptake and plant resistance. Endophytic bacteria colonize the root tissue despite the plant immune system. It remains an open question to which degree the microbiome's stability or dynamism over the lifetime of the plant depends on vertically versus horizontally transmitted bacteria. Here, we analyzed 16S rRNA gene amplicons generated from rhizosphere and endosphere samples of field-grown common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) plants (root samples excluded nodules) and from in vitro cultured plants. We detected Firmicutes such as Paenibacillus in the in vitro samples, indicating a vertical mode of transmission of these putatively plant-growth promoting bacteria. Dominant taxa in the endosphere were Proteobacteria such as Rhizobium and Agrobacterium, which are suggested to contribute to plant nutrition and hormone synthesis. Overall, the diversity in the root endosphere was approximately 5-10 times lower than in the rhizosphere samples. Interestingly, the endophytic microbiomes did not change significantly over three phenological stages (plants with three true leaves, early flowering phase and during pod filling). We conclude that root microbiomes can reach equilibrium early during the ontogeny of a plant and that vertically transmitted bacteria can contribute to the root microbiome of bean plants. An ongoing project employs metagenomic data to obtain a better understanding of the processes that determine the assembly of the root microbiome of bean plants under field and in vitro conditions.­

  • Microbial Ecology | Environmental Microbiology | Microbial Diseases and Epidemiology | Microbial Biotechnology | Bioremediation | Plant-Microbe Interactions | Soil Microbiology | Probiotics-Prebiotics Research
Location: Forum 10
Speaker

Chair

Andreas Vilcinskas

University of Giessen, Germany

Session Introduction

Gülşen Altuğ

Istanbul University, Turkey

Title: Occurrence and distribution of Bacillus species in Turkish marine environments
Speaker
Biography:

Gulsen Altug (Prof. Dr.) is a Professor and Marine Microbiologist in the Department of Marine Biology of the Fisheries Faculty at Istanbul University. Her research focuses on marine bacteriology, including bacterial diversity and micro-geographical variations, clinical, industrial and ecological uses of marine isolates, bacterial pollution, epibiotic bacterial communities and anti-bacterial characteristics, bacterial remediation (oil degrading capacity of marine isolates), and resistant bacterial isolates against heavy metals and antibiotics. She is also the Inventing Founder of the biotechnology start-up company named Biyotek15 R&D Training and Consulting Industry and Trade Ltd. Company in Entertech of Istanbul University Technocity.

Abstract:

Although Bacillus species are isolated in both terrestrial and marine environments, marine bacilli display more effective metabolically peculiarities depending on the specific environmental conditions of marine habitats. While Bacillus species play a significant role in biogeochemical recycling processes of metal salts, some of them described as potential biocontrol agents. In this study, occurrence and distribution of Bacillus species were investigated using culture-dependent and independent methods in the sea water samples taken from various marine areas of Turkey in different periods between 2000 and 2016. Variable environmental parameters; temperature, salinity, conductivity, pH and dissolved oxygen were recorded in-situ. The members of Bacillaceae were identified using both culture dependent methods; VITEK compact 30 micro identification system and molecular methods; bacterial DNA isolation, real time PCR (Q-PCR), PCR product purification, DNA sequence analysis and phylogenetic analysis. Micro-geographical distribution of Bacillus species and environmental variables were determined. The most common species were recorded to be B. flexus. Besides, Bacillus cereus, B. thuringiensis, B. pumilus, B. firmus, B. mycoides, B. megaterium, B. oceanisedimini, Geobacillus stearothermophilus showed high frequency of occurrence. The metabolic characteristics and color, spore-forming forms and resistivity frequencies against heavy metal salts of the strains have been shown that marine bacilli isolated from the marine areas have significant potential for possible biotechnological applications such as remediation of heavy metal polluted areas, can be used as a source of natural carotenoids and bio-drugs. 

Martin Heil

CINVESTAV, Mexico

Title: An ecologist’s perspective on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): Host manipulation by STD agents as an explanation of silent infection modes and behavioral changes in HIV-infected MSM
Speaker
Biography:

Martin Heil obtained his Doctoral degree in Ecology from Würzburg University, Germany, performed Postdoctoral studies in France, was Junior Group Leader at the Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, and Chair of the Department of General Botany at Essen University, Germany. In 2007, he moved to CINVESTAV Irapuato, Mexico, where he leads the Plant Ecology Lab. He is on the editorial boards of Trends Plant Sci., J Ecol., J Chem. Ecol., Front Plant Sci. and Oecologia. He has published 130 journal articles to which Research Gate registers over 8000 citations (h-index 42).       
 

Abstract:

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as Syphilis, Hepatitis B and C, or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), maintain an asymptomatic, 'silent' mode of infection over extended time periods. Moreover, increased sexual activity, promiscuity and risk-taking sexual practices have been ­­observed among HIV-infected men, particularly men who have sex with men (MSM). Both features complicate early diagnosis and therapy, favour transmission rates and represent a major driver of the world-wide increase in STD infection rates. I propose the 'host manipulation hypothesis' as a framework to understand phenotypic and behavioural in human hosts to STDs. A manipulation of host phenotypes by parasites has been suggested as an evolutionary explanation of seemingly odd phenomena like the 'fatal' attraction of Toxoplasma-infected mice to cat urine, enhanced risk-taking behavior in Toxoplasma-infected men, or the attraction of Plasmodium-vectoring mosquitoes to people with Malaria. A literature survey revealed that STDs are under-represented in the literature on fatigue and sickness behaviour, as compared to non-sexually transmitted human infections. Evidently, STD agents would gain significant adaptive benefits when they employ mechanisms that suppress host sickness behaviour (including decreased sexual activity) or avoid the rejection of infected partners during mating. Moreover, reports on enhanced testosterone levels in mammals infected with Toxoplasma gondii or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) provide attractive models of molecular mechanisms that could underlie the intriguing behavioural changes in HIV-infected MSM. I hope that this ecologist’s perspective will motivate interdisciplinary research aimed at an understanding of the specific effects of STDs on human hosts.