Genetics and physiology of food-associated micro-organisms Fourth edition 22 - 24 November 2010 Wageningen, The Netherlands organised by the Graduate School VLAG, in co-operation with the Laboratory of Food Microbiology, Wageningen University |
Background
There is considerable public concern regarding the microbial safety of food. At the same time there are strong and increasing demands for foods that are more convenient, fresher, more natural, less heavily preserved and less reliant on added preservatives. With such a general reduction in the intrinsic preservation of foods a real reduction in food poisoning in the immediate future will be difficult to achieve without a greatly improved understanding of the physiology of food-borne human pathogens. Novel effective procedures will be developed only if they are based on a thorough basic understanding of the genetics and physiology of the micro-organisms of concern including their virulence characteristics. Micro-organisms deliberately used in food and feed, such as the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and fungi, play an important role in food and feed fermentations and the production of safe and wholesome foods and are therefore included in the course.
Target group
Persons interested in this advanced course should have a graduate level in life sciences or a comparable background. The course may attract microbiologists, biochemists, process engineers, food scientists, and biotechnologists.
Course aim
This advanced course aims to develop expertise in the genetics, ecology and physiology of food-associated micro-organisms, in particular with respect to their reactions to a variety of stresses that can be imposed deliberately on micro-organisms during food processing, by food preservation techniques, during distribution and storage, and in the human GI-tract.
Various genome sequences of food-associated micro-organisms have become available more recently, and the implementation of (functional) genomics will be discussed in several lectures. Moreover, special attention will be given to metagenomics, systems biology and microbe-host interactomics.
Course design
The course will be mainly composed of lectures with ample opportunity for discussions.
Programme topics
Provisional programme
Click here for the provisional programme in pdf.
Course coordinators
Other faculty
Date & duration
The course is scheduled from Monday 22 November (starting at 8.30 a.m.) till Wednesday 24 November 2010 (closure at 1.30 p.m.).
Study load
The study load of this course is 0.8 ECTS credits.
Language
The course language will be English.
Location & accommodation
The course venue is Conference Centre Hof van Wageningen. A number of hotel rooms have been blocked at Hof van Wageningen. Accommodation cost are € 75, - (single room; bed & breakfast) or € 92, - (double room; bed && breakfast).
Participants have to book their own room by sending an e-mail to: info@hofvanwageningen.nl. Please mention booking code GEN10.
The town of Wageningen is 5 km form Ede-Wageningen railway station and can be reached by taxi or bus. Ede-Wageningen railway station is about one and a half hours from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. For train schedules visit: www.ns.nl
Social programme
There will be a course dinner on Monday evening, 22 November 2010.
Contact information
More information about the contents of the course can be obtained from:
Prof. Tjakko Abee
phone: +31 317 484981
e-mail: Tjakko.Abee@wur.nl
For organisational matters please contact:
Chantal Doeswijk
The Graduate School VLAG
P.O. Box 8129
6700 EV Wageningen
The Netherlands
phone + 31.317.485143
fax: +31.317.483342
e-mail: Chantal.Doeswijk@wur.nl
To register please complete the electronic reply form before october 25, 2010.
The number of participants to the course is limited to 40. Registrations are accepted in the order in which the registration form is received.
Applicants will be notified on acceptance of their registration before November 1 2010 and will then receive instructions for payment and further information. Cancellation may be made free of charge until October 25, 2010. After this date the charge will be 25% of the fee paid or due. Substitutions may be made at any time until the start of the course.
The course fee includes printed materials, coffee/tea during breaks, lunches and one dinner (Monday) but does not cover accommodation. The course fee depends on the participant's affiliation:
| Industry / For-Profit | € 1200 |
| University Staff / Non-Profit organisations | € 600 |
| PhD student | € 300 |
| VLAG / WU / NUTRIM PhD student | € 150 |
Click on the photos (courses 2010, 2007 and 2004) to enlarge them.
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