July 1997

ANIMALCULES

Pathogen Eradication (and Emergence?) Bernard Dixon                    p.348 

Disease eradication efforts are often succeeding to the point where 
pathogens themselves disappear, which can have consequences we are just 
beginning to understand

CURRENT TOPICS

Clinton Administration Details Food Safety Plans                       p.350 
Food Safety Priorities: Eggs                                           p.350
Consumers Concerned About Food Contamination but Don't 
use Safe Practices at Home                                             p.352
New Quest for, Further Testing on Candidate AIDS
Vaccines                                                               p.353
ICU Surveillance Reveals Drug Resistance Trends                        p.353
EPA Introduces while USDA Simplifies Biotech Rules                     p.354
Some 20% of U.S. Researchers Admit to Hoarding Data                    p.355

FEATURES

What Is a Pathogen?
Stanley Falkow                                                         p.359

Many different types of microorganisms can cause disease and may do so in 
vastly different ways, but it may be possible to outline the core principles
defining pathogenicity

Root-Associated Azospirillum Species Can Stimulate Plants
Yaacov Okon and Jos Vanderleyden                                       p.366

Azospirillum species form symbioses with many economically important plant 
species, significantly enhancing the growth and yield of host plants by 
fixing nitrogen, stimulating root development, and producing plant growth 
hormones

Quorum Sensing in Gram-Negative Bacteria
E. Peter Greenberg                                                     p.371

In the 30 years since J.W. Hastings began to study the control of 
luminescence in Vibrio fischeri, the system that allows this organism to 
sense and respond to changes in population density has been defined and 
shown to control a variety of genes in many gram-negative bacteria

ASM NEWS

New Scientist Reporter Wins ASM Public Communications Award            p.380

Andrew Coughlan, a reporter for New Scientist, won the 1997 Public 
Communications Award with a story entitled "Slime City: When Bugs Build 
Skyscrapers"

ASM Establishes Distinguished Public Leadership Award                  p.380

The award will be issued for the first time in 1999 and will recognize an 
individual who has made outstanding contributions to advance the cause of 
science through special efforts and leadership in government or in various 
fields in the private sector

ASM Adds Two New Education Awards                                      p.381

The two new awards are the Graduate Microbiology Teaching Award and the 
William A. Hinton award. Both will recognize scientists for their impact on 
students and their future achievements

AAM Restructured                                                       p.381

A major change in the bylaws of the Academy was approved by Council. A new 
component has been created, the American College of Microbiology, to help 
provide strategic direction to the certification and accreditation boards

Julius Youngner Appointed Chair of Ethics Committee                    p.382

Julius Youngner will chair the Ethics Committee, which is charged with 
maintaining and refining the ASM Code of Ethics

ASM Pamphlet Encourages Appropriate Antibiotic Use                     p.382

The pamphlet, which is produced by the Public and Scientific Affairs Board, 
explains that unnecessary antibiotic use can be harmful by promoting the 
development of antibiotic resistance

Education and Training                                                 p.384
Divisions                                                              p.385

DEPARTMENTS

Letters                                                                p.345
Public Affairs Report                                                  p.357
Journal Highlights                                                     p.378
Reviews and Resources                                                  p.386
Application Deadlines                                                  p.387
Calendar                                                               p.392
Employment                                                             p.399

Copyright © 1998 American Society for Microbiology
All rights reserved.
Created: July 9, 1997
URL: http://www.asmusa.org