
Soil and Water Science Department |
June 26-28, 2006
McCarty Hall
University of Florida,
Gainesville, FL |
SITE
INDEX
Course Overview
 |
Many bacteria can spread rapidly
over moist surfaces by coordinated, multi-cellular movement called
“swarming”. A swarming colony (now the size of silver dollar) formed
after the overnight incubation of a needle stab. |
Illnesses caused by water- and soilborne human pathogens
lead to thousands of deaths annually. In addition, they cost the U.S. economy
millions of dollars. This short course was developed in response to growing
public concern over the microbiological quality of our water supplies,
agricultural produce and recreation areas. Lectures, discussions and hands-on
laboratory exercises will build on your expertise and help you optimize
environmental management and monitoring programs to avoid these preventable
illnesses.
This unique short course compares and contrasts modern and
classical techniques for identification of pathogens in the
environment.Techniques for microbial source tracking will be discussed in
detail. The main focus will be on the latest published research on bacterial
contamination and persistence in drinking, industrial and irrigation water
supplies, recreation areas and agricultural produce.We will also discuss in
detail the efficacy of water quality tests during routine monitoring and after
natural disasters and bioterrorism. Morning lectures will briefly introduce
common and emerging water- and soilborne pathogens. Laboratory demonstrations
will illustrate advantages and limitations of several culture-dependent methods
to identify coliforms. Demonstration exercises will also test the effectiveness
of common antibacterial chemicals in controlling planktonic and biofilm
bacteria.
 |
 |
Different water bacteria
streaked for identification on McConkey + lactose agar. Pink
diffusing halo indicates lactose-fermenting bacteria (e.g. E.
coli), non-fermenting isolates (e.g. Salmonella
Typhimurium) remains colorless (left image).
Different bacterial isolates on XLD agar. Black colonies are
indicative of the Salmonella’s ability to produce hydrogen
sulfite on this medium. E. coli, Enterobacter and
Klebsiella form opaque yellow colonies (right image). |
This three-day 22-hour course was developed for
working professionals who have basic or modest background in biology. Course
enrollment is limited to 20 people and a Certificate of Completion will be
issued upon conclusion. For more information on the course, or to suggest
additional topics for discussion, please contact the course facilitator, Dr. Max
Teplitski.
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Who
Should Attend?
-
Agricultural Engineers
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Consultants
-
Developers
-
Ecologists
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Environmental Engineers
-
Environmental Regulators
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Environmental Scientists
|
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6
Ways to Benefit
As a participant of this short course:
 |
Salmonella detected on the surfaces of seedlings. |
-
You will learn about recent culture-dependent and
molecular techniques for pathogen identification and microbial source
tracking.
-
Lectures and hands-on laboratory exercises will
clarify different microbiological quality testing techniques.
Upon completion of this course, you will be equipped to choose commercial
testing methods, which best fit your specific needs.
-
Summaries of the research presented during the
course will help you rationalize management program details to monitor,
control and eliminate E. coli and Salmonella outbreaks. Course discussions
should inspire you to introduce new, more effective environmental, water or
waste management programs.
-
You will learn about the latest published
research to control and reduce E. coli and Salmonella contamination of
poultry, cattle, pigs, pets, and agricultural produce.
-
You will be able to put the latest news stories
into their proper biological and historical framework.
-
Upon completion of this short course, each
participant will be comfortable with developing and evaluating
culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques.
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Course
Topics
 |
A biofilm formed by Salmonella on a plastic surface overnight (the biofilm is stained blue). Forming biofilms is one of the strategies
bacteria use to survive. |
This short course combines brief lectures with
inquiry-based hands-on laboratory exercises. The course focuses on methods for
detection and source tracking of water- and soilborne human pathogens, and
explores questions such as:
-
What are the most common
water- and soilborne human pathogens? What are the "emerging" pathogens?
Where
do they come from? How do we detect and deal with them?
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There are hundreds of ways
to test microbiological quality of waters, soils and produce. Why do we need
so many? How do I make sense of them all?
-
How do new indicator media
differ from the classic formulations? What are the "secret ingredients" that
justify higher prices?
 |
Modern techniques allow identification of coliforms within
hours, without the need to culture bacteria on selective media
overnight. |
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What exactly are the
"molecular" techniques? What can
I learn from them? How reliable is this information?
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What are the sources of
microbial contamination in drinking, soil and recreational waters? How do I
track these sources
of contamination?
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How and why do we detect
viruses and phages in drinking water? What exactly are "phages"?
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What is the latest research
on monitoring water quality after natural disasters? What are the best ways
to provide safe drinking water after natural disasters or other disruptions
in water supply?
-
Are there
portable kits for testing microbiological quality of drinking water? How
effective are they?
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Daily
Agenda
Monday, June 26, 2006
10:00am-noon |
Brief Introduction to Soil and Waterborne
Pathogens. Overview of Detection Methods |
1:00pm-3:00pm |
Computer Lab |
3:00pm-6:00pm |
Laboratory Work ("wet lab") |
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
8:00am-noon |
Laboratory Work, Group Discussions |
1:30pm-3:00pm |
Computer Lab |
3:00pm-5:30 pm |
Wet lab |
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
8:00am-noon |
Wet Lab |
1:00pm-4:00pm |
Discussions, Concluding Remarks |
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Course
Instructor
Dr.
Max Teplitski is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Soil and Water
Science at the University of Florida/IFAS. His research focuses on molecular
ecology of soil and water bacteria. Dr. Teplitski studies genetic mechanisms,
which allow Salmonella and related bacteria to survive in soil and water
environments outside their animal hosts. Dr. Teplitski is a recipient of W. E.
Krauss Director’s Award for Excellence in Research from the Ohio Agricultural
Research and Development Center. More information about him can be found on his
website:
quorumsensing.ifas.ufl.edu
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Registration
Information
Enrollment in this course is limited to the
first 20 participants, and registrations will be accepted on a first-come,
first-served basis. Advance registration is required to participate and the
final deadline to register is Friday, June 16, 2006 or until the course is full. All figures are presented in US dollars ($).
Early Reduced Registration
(on or before May 19, 2006) |
$450 |
Regular Registration
(after May 19, 2006) |
$500 |
Please Note: Registration will close on
June 16, 2006.
What Does the Fee Include? The full
registration fee includes one copy of the printed course manual, course
instruction, training materials and daily refreshments. Participants are on
their own for all meals.
REFUND POLICY: Requests for registration
refunds will be honored if written notification of cancellation is received by
the Office of Conferences no later than May 26, 2006. A $100.00 processing
fee will be deducted from all refunds.
SPECIAL NEEDS: Participants with special
needs can be reasonably accommodated by contacting Dr. Max Teplitski at least 10 working days prior to the conference.
He can be reached
by phone at 1-352-392-1592, ext. 254, by email at
maxtep@ufl.edu, or by calling
1-800-955-8771 (TDD), within the state of Florida.
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Training
Site
This course will be held on the University of Florida campus in Room 2103 in
McCarty Hall B. A link of the map with detailed directions to the training site
will be sent to you in your Registration Confirmation email upon completion of
your online registration.
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Hotel
Accommodations
Several hotel and motel establishments are available in the Gainesville area
to provide guest room accommodations throughout the course. Participants are
responsible for making their own hotel guest room reservations and a list of
properties and applicable guest room rates will be sent to you upon request.
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Transportation Information
Parking & Directions
We recommend parking in the new
Visitor Welcome Center and Bookstore parking garage located on Museum Road.
There is a daily fee of $5.00 to park in this garage. Park first and then follow
payment instructions posted on signs at each space. These signs direct customers
to one of four pay stations where electronic space meters accept payment in
bills, coins or Visa and MasterCard. An attendant will be available to answer
questions or assist you at the pay stations .
If you are staying at the Reitz Union Hotel, you will
receive parking privileges in the garage for one vehicle per room. Parking
passes and directions are distributed at check-in.
Map to Welcome Center & Bookstore
Parking Garage
http://parking.ufl.edu/RUgarage/pages/map.htm
Driving Directions to Welcome Center
& Bookstore Parking Garage
http://www.union.ufl.edu/directions.asp
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Area
Information
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For
Further Information
Training Information:
Dr. Max Teplitski
University of Florida/IFAS
Soil and Water Science Department
PO Box 110290
Gainesville, FL 32611-0290
PHONE: (352) 392-1951 ext. 254
FAX: (352) 392-3092
EMAIL: maxtep@ufl.edu |
Registration Information:
Ms. Sharon Borneman
University of Florida/IFAS
Office of Conferences & Institutes (OCI)
Building 639 Mowry Road
PO Box 110750
Gainesville, FL 32611-0750
PHONE: (352) 392-5930
FAX: (352) 392-9734
EMAIL: spb@ufl.edu |
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