Research communications of early career scientists

This issue of Microbiology Australia comprises research communications by early career scientists (names in bold below), all members of The Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM). These peer-reviewed articles showcase some of the exciting and diverse research going on in laboratories of our ASM members.

A number of the articles address medically important microbes and their treatment, in particular, urinary tract and respiratory infections. Rhys White addresses the problem of E. coli’s resistance to 3rd generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones in Australia and New Zealand. The treatment of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae by haem restriction is discussed by Brianna Atto, David Gell and Stephen Tristram, while Maria Koutsakos and Stephen Kent discuss an overlooked and underestimated cause of respiratory illness, influenza B viruses.

Disease prevention is also a focus of several articles. The use of live probiotics to disrupt invasive interactions by the fungus Candida albicans with the human gut is discussed by Bronwyn Smit, Anna Kuballa, Samantha Coulson and Mohammad Katouli. Prevention of water-borne diseases through improved methods of monitoring water treatments is discussed by Chris Owens, Peter Cox, Paul Byleveld, Nicholas Osborne and Md. Bayzidur Rahman.

Sudip Dhakal discusses the awesome power of yeast, a model eukaryote, in providing greater understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and in researching prevention strategies.

The last research article, from Emma Harding, Grace Yan and Peter White, analyses viral fossils in marsupial genomes, discussing how sequences encoded within them could be guardians for their hosts.

COVID-19 has meant a tough 2 years for students, researchers, front-line microbiologists and for the ASM. Ian Macreadie provides a reflective article on how it affected him personally and as a university academic, But life went on. Karena Waller provides a report on ASM’s National conference, which was once again affected by lockdowns. Fortunately, a contingency plan was ready and the conference went ahead very successfully. On another positive note for microbiologists providing solutions, Cheryl Power reviews the book, Vaxxers. The Inside Story behind the AstraZeneca Oxford Vaccine and the Race against the Virus, while Barbara Porter reviews Peter Doherty’s new book on the scientific response to the COVID-19 pandemic, An Insider’s Plague Year.

In addition to Early Career Researchers, ASM encourages student members to undertake research assisted through Summer Student Research Awards. Priscilla Johanesen reports on our 17 ASM student members who were fortunate in being able to do summer research placements supported by 2021 Summer Student Research Awards. Abstracts of the outcomes of their research projects are presented.

Microbiology Australia continues to be freely available worldwide and is highly utilised by members and other interested parties around the globe. CSIRO Publishing has now made metrics on individual articles in Microbiology Australia available for viewing in real time. In the next issue readers will see some further format changes to further improve accessibility and use of articles. Also, we now offer our ASM members an opportunity to contribute stand-alone (non-themed) articles without invitation. Like other Microbiology Australia articles, these will be subject to rigorous peer review. Please contact the editor or editorial board members for further information.

The Editorial Board of Microbiology Australia comprises Ipek Kurtböke (Chair), Dena Lyras (ASM President), Rebecca LeBard (Vice President Communications), Ian Macreadie (Editor-in-Chief), Ross Barnard, Mary Barton, Linda Blackall, Prue Bramwell, Gary Lum, Sam Manna, Wieland Meyer, Chris Owens, Cheryl Power, William Rawlinson, Tom Ross, Paul Selleck, David Smith and Helen Smith. We have overseen the production of this issue, which encourages our talented early career researchers and informs others of their import works.