Microbiology & Infectious Diseases

Dr. Nassiri is a former Associate Dean of Global Health at the Michigan State University (MSU). He also served as MSU director of Institute of International Health. He is currently Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Professor of Family and Community Medicine, and, lecturer in Global Health, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine. He currently works on international public health issues and has expertise in global health. He has made contributions in various fields of medical sciences including clinical investigation and health education. On the basis of his extensive experience and expertise in HIV/AIDS, TB and antimicrobial resistance, he developed clinical research programs in Brazil, South Africa, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Mexico. He had served as editorial board member for the journal of HIV and AIDS Review. He is currently on editorial board member for AIDS Patient Care and STDs. Prof. Nassiri has delivered seminar presentations on Tropical Medicine, HIV/AIDS, TB, Global Health and public health interventions in numerous national and international conferences and workshops. He is internationally recognized for his work in the areas of building effective international partnerships particularly in global health, community health, clinical care capacity building, and technical assistance mechanism. He is the founder of Michigan State University Osteopathic and Primary Health Clinic in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. He has developed academic and research partnership programs with Federal University of Para Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belem, Brazil.

He currently works on international public health issues and has expertise in global health. He has made contributions in various fields of medical sciences including clinical investigation and health education.

Diego Omar Serra is originally from Argentina, where he earned a Licentiate degree in biotechnology from The National University of Litoral and a Doctorate in microbiology from The National University of La Plata. In 2011, he joined Dr. Regine Hengge’s research group at the Free University of Berlin (Germany) as postdoctoral researcher under sponsorship of an Alexander von Humboldt fellowship. Currently, he is a Research Assistant associated to Dr. Regine Hengge’s group at the Humboldt University of Berlin. His research is focused on uncovering the molecular mechanisms by which Escherichia coli forms architecturally complex biofilms, with emphasis on understanding the role of extracellular matrix components as biofilm building materials.

He is interested in understanding how E. coli self-organizes into architecturally complex communities.

Professional experience: 1989 employed at Veterinary Faculty Ljubljana, Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology; 2004 Assist. Prof. in the field of microbiology and epizootiology; 2009 Senior Research Fellow in the field of microbiology and immunology; 2014 Research Counsellor in the field of microbiology and immunology; 2016 DipECVM (European Veterinary Specialist in Veterinary Microbiology).Mentor for five and co-mentor for three completed PhD dissertations. He has published more than 90 original scientific papers. He is a member of the editorial board and a reviewer for several international scientific journals and a member of the European Society of Mycobacteriology (chairman of the 31st ESM congress), International Association for Paratuberculosis, International Society for Infectious Diseases and Slovenian Microbiological Society (past president). A board member of the European College of Veterinary Microbiology.

He is engaged in development and implementation of the methods for diagnostics of zoonoses. He is also a leader of several scientific projects and a principal investigator one of the main research groups at the Veterinary Faculty.

Carmela Saturnino, professor in Medicinal Chemistry University of Basilicata. 1989 University L. Pasteur in Strasbourg (F) (.DEA - Pharmacologie et Pharmacochimie, option = Pharmacochimie. Supervisors prof.C.G.Wermuth and J.J.Bourguignon. 1991-1993: Fellow of the pharmaceutical industry -Servier in Paris and later the University of Caen (F). Co-autor: 112 (publications, 6 Patent, etc.)

Carbazoles, Metalocines, Pyrazoles, suzuki reaction, Design, Synthesis and biological studies and understanding of the mechanisms of action of new therapeutic molecules for: cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, antimicrobial agents.

Dr Paulina Baran-Rachwalska graduated from the University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland, with a Master degree in Applied Biotechnology. In 2015, she obtained a PhD degree in Molecular Biology at the Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences. Currently, she is a postdoctoral researcher in Biomedical Sciences Research Institute at Ulster University, United Kingdom, and serves as a KTP Associate in SiSaf Ltd, Belfast, a specialty biopharmaceutical company with a unique patented next-generation drug delivery technology. Dr Baran-Rachwalska has been involved in several interdisciplinary research projects, has published the findings in reputed journals, and enthusiastically presented results at numerous international conferences.

.

Dr. Saleh received the Ph.D. degree from the University of Toronto in 1997. Working at the Department of medical biophysics his work concerned the interaction of bacterial toxins and membranes. Prior to joining the Department of Biology at Laurentian University, I spent time as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and Colorado State University. Dr. Saleh is currently the Chairperson for the Department of Biology at Laurentian University.

The area of my expertise is molecular biophysics. My training in this area has been used in the past 15 years to study various aspects of bacterial physiology and their interactions with their environments. Several research programs were carried out in relation to interaction of bacteria with their environments in both pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria. In non-pathogenic bacteria, I used bioinformatics techniques to address certain questions on the process of protein secretion in bacteria. Specifically, how the structural features of signal sequences direct the membrane translocation of signal sequence-containing secretory proteins. I currently have a graduate student looking at the involvement of the mRNA of such secretory proteins in targeting the protein to the membrane for translocation and secretion. In terms of other aspects of bacterial protein secretion (relevant to pathogenesis), I'm interested in the secretion mechanisms and characterization of bacterial extracellular polypeptides. My group is involved in several projects at the present time to include work with RNA-binding proteins and their role in protein secretion, physiological and immunological comparative studies of Streptomyces and Mycobacteria, and the cloning and characterization of a number of virulence factors of mycobacteria, mycoplasma and streptomyces.

Dr Paulina Baran-Rachwalska graduated from the University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland, with a Master degree in Applied Biotechnology. In 2015, she obtained a PhD degree in Molecular Biology at the Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences. Currently, she is a postdoctoral researcher in Biomedical Sciences Research Institute at Ulster University, United Kingdom, and serves as a KTP Associate in SiSaf Ltd, Belfast, a specialty biopharmaceutical company with a unique patented next-generation drug delivery technology. Dr Baran-Rachwalska has been involved in several interdisciplinary research projects, has published the findings in reputed journals, and enthusiastically presented results at numerous international conferences.

.

Diego Omar Serra is originally from Argentina, where he earned a Licentiate degree in biotechnology from The National University of Litoral and a Doctorate in microbiology from The National University of La Plata. In 2011, he joined Dr. Regine Hengge’s research group at the Free University of Berlin (Germany) as postdoctoral researcher under sponsorship of an Alexander von Humboldt fellowship. Currently, he is a Research Assistant associated to Dr. Regine Hengge’s group at the Humboldt University of Berlin. His research is focused on uncovering the molecular mechanisms by which Escherichia coli forms architecturally complex biofilms, with emphasis on understanding the role of extracellular matrix components as biofilm building materials.

He is interested in understanding how E. coli self-organizes into architecturally complex communities.

Ahmed Hegazi is currently a Professor of Microbiology and Immunology in the National Research Center, Egypt. Prof. Hegazi received his master’s degree in 1979, and his PhD in 1981. He has published 211 scientific papers and articles in national and international journals. He also served on the board of multiple national and international scientific journals. Dr. Hegazi is also the president of the Egyptian Environmental Society for Uses and Production of Bee Products, secretary of the Egyptian Society of Apitherapy, secretary general of the African Federation of Apiculture Associations, and a member of the International Apitherapy Commission (APIMONDIA). Dr. Hegazi awards; First Class Decoration of Excellence, Egypt, 1995, The Senior Scientist Prize of National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt, 1996, The National Scientific Prize In Biological Sciences, Egypt, 1990, The Scientific Prize of The National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt, 1989, The Second Best Research Paper Award, International Congress of Propolis, Bones Aires, Argentina, 2000, Main Speaker Award,10th Academic Conference, PRA and NAS (Nippon Apitherapy Soc.) Japan, 2006, 2 Bronze medals from The International Innovation Fair of the Middle East, Kuwait, 2007 Awarded of Ghazi Wad Allah Salon Prize, 2008, Finally awarded the Merit Ward in Medical Sciences, National Research Centre, Egypt, 2016 and have 4 patents.

Hegazi's research work has been focused lately on bee products and their therapeutic effects. Hegazi organized and contributed to national and international research projects since 1977 and up till now; he has been the principal investigator on multiple research projects within the National Research Center.

Abeer Mostafa Abdalhamed is working as an Assistant Professor of Microbiology at Clinical laboratory Sciences at College of Applied Medical Sciences Shaqra University. She is an Editorial board Member of Donnish Journal of Biomedical Research (DJBR), Member of Journal of Immunology and Cellular Microbiology.

My research focuses on the Molecular Typing and Epidemiological Studies of Microbial Diseases of Human and Animal Origin with Special Interest of Molecular Bacteriology and Open Journal of Medical Microbiology.

Diego Omar Serra is originally from Argentina, where he earned a Licentiate degree in biotechnology from The National University of Litoral and a Doctorate in microbiology from The National University of La Plata. In 2011, he joined Dr. Regine Hengge’s research group at the Free University of Berlin (Germany) as postdoctoral researcher under sponsorship of an Alexander von Humboldt fellowship. Currently, he is a Research Assistant associated to Dr. Regine Hengge’s group at the Humboldt University of Berlin. His research is focused on uncovering the molecular mechanisms by which Escherichia coli forms architecturally complex biofilms, with emphasis on understanding the role of extracellular matrix components as biofilm building materials.

He is interested in understanding how E. coli self-organizes into architecturally complex communities.

Armelle Phalipon is group leader in the Molecular Microbial Pathogenesis Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. With about 25 years of experience working on Shigella, she has deciphered the targets and effectors of the humoral response to infection, discovered two novel molecular mechanisms of secretory IgA-mediated protection at mucosal surfaces, and highlighted the Shigella-mediated targeting mechanisms, and their functional consequences, on human B and T lymphocytes. In addition, in collaboration with Dr. Laurence Mulard (Institut Pasteur), she has developed a Shigella subunit vaccine candidate which is presented here. Armelle Phalipon has co-created the International Vaccinology Course launched at the Pasteur Institute in 2008, and is Co-Director since then. Dr. Phalipon was also a member of the WHO Steering Committee for Diarrheoal Diseases (2007-2009).

.

Dr. Sztein is Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Maryland. In addition, Dr. Sztein is Associate Director for Immunologic Research, Leader of the Immunology Group and Chief of the Cellular Immunology Section and Flow Cytometry Core Laboratory at the prestigious Center for Vaccine Development. Dr. Sztein is an accomplished investigator in the area of immunology of infectious diseases. He has published 200 papers in peer-reviewed journals and written 35 invited chapters.

Dr. Sztein is Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Maryland. In addition, Dr. Sztein is Associate Director for Immunologic Research, Leader of the Immunology Group and Chief of the Cellular Immunology Section and Flow Cytometry Core Laboratory at the prestigious Center for Vaccine Development. Dr. Sztein is an accomplished investigator in the area of immunology of infectious diseases. He has published 200 papers in peer-reviewed journals and written 35 invited chapters.

Anna Hirsch read Natural Sciences with a focus on Chemistry at the University of Cambridge and spent her third year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, doing a research project with Prof. Timothy Jamison on the total synthesis of amphidinolide T1.For her Master’s project, she returned to Cambridge to develop the double conjugate addition of dithiols to propargylic carbonyl systems reaction in the group of Prof. Steven V. Ley.She received her Ph.D. from the ETH Zurich in 2008. Her research was carried out in the group of Prof. François Diederich and consisted of de novo structure-based design and the synthesis of the first inhibitors for an enzyme as a novel approach to treat malaria.Subsequently, she joined the group of Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn at the Institut de Science et d’Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS) in Strasbourg, before taking up a position as assistant professor at the Stratingh Institute for Chemistry at the University of Groningen in 2010. In 2015, she was promoted to associate professor of structure-based drug design. In 2017, she moved to the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), where she heads the department for drug design and optimization.

Her work focuses on rational approaches to drug design (with a strong focus on anti-infective targets), including structure- and fragment-based drug design in combination with dynamic combinatorial chemistry and kinetic target-guided synthesis. Anna Hirsch was awarded the Gratama Science Prize in 2014, the SCT-Servier Prize for Medicinal Chemistry in 2015 and the Innovation Prize for Medicinal Chemistry of the GdCh/DPhG in 2017.

Richard Dybowski is a senior research scientist at Cambridge University. He have been involved with the application of artificial intelligence to medicine for over 20 years. This includes the use of deep learning for automatic image analysis and the use of Bayesian networks for optimizing clinical decision-making, including those cases associated with infectious diseases.

His research interests lie within the areas of stochastic models of biomedical phenomena, machine learning (particularly deep learning), and normative clinical reasoning.

In 1993 I got my PhD in Engineering Sciences (Biotechnology) by University of Minho (Braga, Portugal) and in Mars 2004 I was appointed Full Professor of University of Minho. My primarily research is related with food and environmental mycology with integration of polyphasic approaches for fungal identification. Since 1996 I am the head of Micoteca da Universidade do Minho (MUM) fungal culture collection and I was member of the executive board of WFCC from 2007-10 and Collection Officer of ECCO from 2003-06. Currently, I am the President of ECCO. I have been partner of Portuguese, EU and Brazilian research funding projects and evaluator in several funding agencies. I supervised 24 PhD and 30 MSc theses. I have more than 300 publications. I am Invited Professor in different Brazilian Universities. In Mars 2016, I was granted with “Professor Honoris Causa” title by University Federal of Pernambuco (UFPE, Recife, Brazil).

Food and Environmental mycology

Dr. Brennan began his life-long involvement in tuberculosis and leprosy research in 1962 under Professor Frank Winder at Trinity College Dublin. His Ph.D. studies helped establish for the first time that the killing effect of isoniazid on the tuberculosis (TB) bacillus was through inhibition of the synthesis of mycolic acid. Under Professor Clinton Ballou at the University of California, Berkeley, he was responsible for the early definitive work on the biosynthesis of the phosphatidylisositolmannosides (PIMs) of mycobacteria.
On his return to Ireland, Dr. Brennan was Research Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry, Trinity College Dublin, and subsequently Lecturer in Biochemistry at University College Dublin. Dr. Brennan returned to the U.S. in 1975, to positions at National Jewish Hospital and the University of Colorado Medical Center, and in 1980 to Colorado State University.
Over the past 35 years, he has led research teams in conducting some of the most fundamental research on the nature of the tuberculosis and leprosy organisms:
(i) definition of the structure, biosynthesis, and genetics of the core cell wall of the TB bacterium and the mode of action of several key TB drugs;
(ii) discovery and molecular definition of LAM, the key ligand in the interactions of the TB organism with host cells;
(iii) the discovery and molecular structure of PGL I (phenolic glycolipid I), the specific antigen/marker of the leprosy organism and its application to the selective diagnosis of leprosy;
(iv) the introduction of the first skin test antigen for leprosy diagnosis for a leprosy endemic area;
(v) definition of the chemical basis of the serotype difference of most of the non-tuberculosis mycobacteria.
Brennan has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications in these and related areas. He has attracted over $20 million in research funds to the University. In 1998, he was named one of 12 University Distinguished Professors at Colorado State University and in 2004 he was elected to the American Academy of Microbiology. He is Editor-in-Chief of Tuberculosis and an editor of Pathogens and Disease and a former editor of Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Tuberculosis and Leprosy research

Professor Ibrahim M. Banat, Professor of Microbial Biotechnology at the University of Ulster, UK. Has more than 30 years’ experience in academic and research institutions in Europe and internationally and has several active collaborative project within the EU and other international academic and industrial establishments.

Research interests include biosurfactants and bio-actives production and potential utilization in environmental oil pollution control and hydrocarbon polluted land bioremediation and microbial enhanced oil recovery. He also recently concentrating on investigating biomedical, pharmaceutical, health and cosmetics related applications of biosurfactants. Prof. Banat also has interest and worked on molecular and cell biology of thermophilic Geobacilli bacteria and bioethanol fermentation and the molecular biology of biosurfactant producers.

Head of Microbiology Laboratory& Medicine Residency Coordinator, supervisor PhD in Medicine and also a member of the leadership of in ESC, ESGP & ESCMID. Prof Monica is also a member of the editorial staff / reviewer of national and international journals. She has been awarded with a honorary diploma by the National Society of Parasitology. She is a visiting professor of the Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Parasitology, Infection Control, Microbiology

Assoc. Prof. Helena Bujdáková, is the head of the Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovak Republic. She is a specialist in medical microbiology. She has had experiences with a management of national projects, but also with those bilateral ones with Austria, Armenia and Ukraine. She was a partner of the consortium in the project CanTrain Marie Curie Research Training Network (FP6) funded by EU. She got Fulbright and JSPS scholarships for research / teaching stays in USA and Japan.
She is also Vice President of the Czechoslovak Society for Microbiology, the bilateral organization joining Slovak and Czech microbiologists. She has been a member of the Group for teaching Microbiology in Europe, established at FEMS (Federation of European Microbiological Societies). Regularly she gave invited lectures at national and international conferences and congresses. In this very challenging and competitive science discipline, she published more than 60 reviewed articles indexed in Web of Sciences that have been cited more than 450 times.

she has worked in various topics dealing with microbial biofilms, especially, aimed at yeasts from the genus Candida.She has also been actively involved in the consortium COST Action iPROMEDAI TD1305 (Improved Protection of Medical Devices, 2014-2018).

Natalia Tschowri studied Biology at the Freie Universität Berlin, where she also obtained her PhD under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Regine Hengge with a thesis on blue light signalling in the control of biofilm formation in Escherichia coli. In September 2012 she joined Prof. Mark Buttner’s lab at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK as a PostDoc. Funded by the EMBO longterm fellowship, she began to work on c-di-GMP signalling in Streptomyces. Back in Berlin in October 2013 she continued with her studies on the role of cyclic di-nucleotides in Streptomyces developmental biology and is now an independent group leader at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

Role of cyclic di-nucleotides in Streptomyces developmental biology

Dr. Amparo Gamero Lluna works as Assistant Professor in Nutrition and Bromatology area at the University of Valencia, Spain. She holds an European Ph.D in Food Science, Technology & Management as well as Human Nutrition & Dietetics and Food Science & Technology degrees. Her main research topic is the study of aroma production by yeasts in food products, especially alcoholic beverages. The yeasts studied are Saccharomyces species, their natural interspecific hybrids and non-conventional yeasts. Her research interests reflect in her wide range of publications in international journals and her participation in congresses at international level. She has worked and carrying out short stays at different universities, research centers and companies of different European countries: Spain (Spanish National Research Council, CSIC; University of Valencia; University of Zaragoza; AINIA technology centre), The Netherlands (NIZO food research; Fungal Biodiversity Center, CBS-KNAW), Denmark (University of Copenhagen; Carlsberg Research Center; Christian Hansen) and Belgium (University of Leuven).

study of aroma production by yeasts in food products

Dr. Bożena Futoma-Kołoch graduated from University of Wrocław in 2004. She received her Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Wrocław in 2008. After that, she has held an academic position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology in the Institute of Genetics and Microbiology at University of Wrocław. She is a member of Polish Society of Microbiologists, and International Complement Society. She has published more than 50 papers in national and international journals, 30 presentations at congresses, with several awards. Dr. Futoma-Kołoch's research program focuses on bacterial surface antigens as molecular targets of the protective immune response and their role in bacterial resistance to disinfectants.

bacterial surface antigens as molecular targets of the protective immune response and their role in bacterial resistance to disinfectants.

Giulio Tarro graduated from Medicine School, Naples University (1962). Research Associate, Division of Virology and Cancer Research, Children’s Hospital (1965-1968), Assistant Professor of Research Pediatrics, College Medicine (1968-1969), Cincinnati University, Ohio. Oncological Virology Professor, Naples University (1972-1985). Chief Division Virology (1973-2003), Head Department Diagnostic Laboratories, (2003-2006). D. Cotugno Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Naples; Emeritus, 2006 -. Since 2007 Chairman Committee of Biotechnologies and Virus Sphere, World Academy Biomedical Technologies, UNESCO, Adjunct Professor Department Biology, Temple University, College of Science and Technology, Philadelphia, recipient of the Sbarro Health Research Organization lifetime achievement award (2010). President Foundation de Beaumont Bonelli for Cancer Research.
His basic researches have been concerned with antigens induced early during the replication cycle of human herpesviruses. Another study has involved the identification, isolation and characterization of specific virus-induced tumour antigens, which were the "finger-prints" left behind in human cancer. Achievements include patents in field; discovery of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in infant deaths in Naples and of tumor liberated protein as a tumor associated antigen, 55 kilodalton protein overexpressed in lung tumors and other epithelial adenocarcinomas.

Viral Oncology, Tumor Liberated Protein (TLP), Emerging Viral Agents at Risk in Global Health Approaches to Early Diagnosis and Prompt Therapy

Dr. Judith Ascher-Jenull received her Master degree in Natural Sciences, Biology, Microbiology, from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, in 1998, and her PhD in Agricultural Chemistry from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Piacenza, Milan, Italy, in 2004. After graduation (till today) she worked at the Department of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science - now the Department of Agrifood and Environmental Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy, as a research soil microbiologist. Since 2012 she is collaborating with the Institute of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria as senior researcher.
She has published over 50 articles and 6 book chapters in the field of environmental molecular microbial ecology (e.g. linking microbial diversity and soil function; Responses of microbial communities to natural vs. anthropogenic environmental changes; Soil metamobilome: fate and ecological relevance of extracellular DNA), 34 in ISI journals with > 50 co-authors, with > 1500 citations in > 1000 documents (Scopus and Research Gate), resulting in a current scientific Hirsch-factor (H-index) of 14. Dr. Ascher-Jenull is currently active in collaborating with the University of Innsbruck (Austria), University of Zuerich (Switzerland) and the University of Osnabrueck (Germany) within the D.A.CH.-DecAlp Project on the “Effect of climate on coarse woody debris decay dynamics and incorporation into the soils of forested Alpine areas”, aiming at a multidisciplinary use of humus forms as missing link between the micro- and macro scale. She was/is active as reviewer for > 15 ISI Journals and since February 2014 she is Editor-in-Chief of Applied Soil Ecology (Elsevier).

Her scientific interest is also focused on the evaluation and optimisation of DNA-based molecular methods (sequential extraction of the soil metagenome: extra- vs. intracellular DNA; genetic fingerprinting) in relation to physico-chemical soil characteristics.

PhD in Microbiology and Virology, with an high specialization in Molecular and Cellular Pathology, Arnolfo Petruzziello was born in Naples, Italy, where actually works as Head of the Laboratory of Virology and Molecular Biology “V. Tridente” at National Cancer Research IRCCS Italia- Fondazione “G. Pascale” in Naples.
Professor of Microbiology, General Pathology and Clinical Microbiology for the University of Naples “Federico II”, he is also Quality Assurance Manager in the JACIE program for the autologous transplantation program of the Department of Haemathology and OECI (Organization of European Cancer Institutes) auditors.
He is author of numerous scientific publications and member of the Editorial Board of several prestigious scientific Journals in Virology and Microbiology.

Virology and Molecular Biology, with particular reference to PCR for the diagnosis of HBV, HCV, HIV infections and EBV, HSV and CMV co-infections in the context of the transplantation program.

Patrick Fickers has completed a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from University of Liège (Belgium). After a postdoc at Polytech’Lille (France), he joined in 2005 the Centre of Protein Engineering (Liège, Belgium) as a FNRS fellow. Form 2009 until 2014, he was an Associated Professor at Université libre de Bruxelles and the head of the Biotechnology and Bioprocess Unit. Since 2015, he is a Professor at Gembloux Agro BioTech, University of Liege, in the Microbial Processes and Interactions and Adjunct Professor at Ton Duc Thang University (Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam). He has published more than 40 research papers in peer-reviewed journals and 6 book chapters.

His researches focus on the development of yeast and bacterial strains by metabolic engineering and on process development in bioreactor for the production of compounds of biotechnological interest.

Svetlana Codreanu has completed her BSc and PhD in Microbiology from Moldova State University and joined the Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova in 1993, where she has held various executive and scientific positions. She has authored over 80 scientific publications and 15 patents. She has received numerous awards including the WIPO prise and Gold Medal. She is also a Fellow of Moldovan Society for Microbiology and FEMS Delegate.

Algae and Biomass

Nikos Mavroudis is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader in Food Science and leads the laboratory of Food Engineering & Separation of Actives (FoESA) in the Dept. of Applied Sciences in Northumbria University at Newcastle. Previously Nikos was a Research Scientist and Project Leader for Unilever R&D for 9 years and has been responsible for developing the separation expertise within Unilever R&D Vlaardingen, the Netherlands.
His research interests are focused on Food Security & Food Safety, particularly relevant is his interest on bacterial flow cytometry and surface decontamination. Nikos has published 10 research articles in peer review journals and 12 patents/patent filings and his work has attracted ca 325 citations excluding self-citations.

Food Security & Food Safety, bacterial flow cytometry and surface decontamination.

Dr. Bechan Sharma is presently working as a Professor and Head, Department of Biochemistry Allahabad University, Allahabad. Prof. Sharma’s earlier services include as an Assistant Professor at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural sciences and Technology-J&K, Kashmir and as Associate Professor at Dr. RML Avadh University Faizabad. He has twenty six years of teaching / research experience.
He has carried out several research projects and published over 130 research papers including book chapters, molecular methods in peer reviewed International and National Journals/ Books/Methods of repute with high impact factors. He has authored 4 books published by NOVA Sci. Inc. USA and LampBert Publishers-Germany. He has one US patent on HIV-1 genome structure based antiHIV-1 drugs design to his credit.He is member/life member of several national/international scientific societies and attended number of symposia/conferences in India and abroad and presented his research papers there in.
He is Chief-Editor/Associate Editor/Executive Editor and Member Editorial Board of 85 peer reviewed International and National Journals. He has been acting as honorary reviewer for about 135 International/National scientific journals. Prof. Sharma has recently been awarded with ICMR’s Senior Scientist Fellowship 2014-15 in Biomedical Sciences under Indo-USA joint research programme.

The areas of his research interest include Molecular Biology of HIV/AIDS, Tropical Diseases (Filariasis/Malaria) and Biochemical Toxicology.

Professor John G. Thomas is recognized as an “International Educator and Global Microbiologist “ (www.globalbugs.com) having lectured in more than 43 countries while a clinical microbiologist in pathology , dentistry and medicine for 51 years , He has over 50 publications , multiple book chapters , significant grant support , pending patents and over 100 posters/abstracts at national and international meetings. His sabbatical at Cardiff University , Wales, UK (2007) was a driving influence . He has been a member of the ADA Scientific Advisory Committee for the last 8 years . As Faculty at 6 Universities during his career , he has received Alumni and University awards for research and International Student Mentoring ; retiring from WVU in 2013 after 23 years as Professor Emeritus , he presently is expanding his research/teaching utilizing the advanced resources of the Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh ,PA , Carnagie –Mellon University and Mass. Gen. Hospital , Boston , MA, all under the umbrella of his Global Microbiology Consulting .(www.globalbugs.com)

Dr.John G Thomas research emphasizing biofilms and medical devices including endotrachs and the connection between oral diseases, VAP and wound infections (“Intellectual Design”) with the recent integration of micro 3-D- bio Printing using bio-plastics and unique Prebiotics (Therapeutic Bacteria ) for intervention.

Teodor-Doru Brumeanu earned MD degree in 1978 from Carol Davila School of Medicine, Bucharest, Romania. Started the medical career in 1978 in the Clinical Laboratory at the Municipal Hospital, Bucharest. 1985, did the first postdoctoral training in Immunology and Immunochemistry Department, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. In 1991 he came to New York City at Mount Sinai School of Medicine for 4 years in a second postdoctoral training in cellular and molecular immunology in the Department of Microbiology. In 1995, promoted to the rank of Assistant Professor, and in 1998 to the rank of Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York. In 2004, he joined the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. as Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Immunology, and in 2008 has been promoted to the rank of Professor with tenure where currently performs basic and clinical research projects.

The pathology of organ-specific autoimmune diseases

Zafar K. Khan is presently working as a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Drexel University College of Medicine in the United States. Earlier he served as Senior Scientist, Department Chair and Deputy Director Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) - a premier government organization chartered for novel drugs, diagnostics and human vaccines in India. He has been recipient of numerous fellowships and was Visiting Scientist in Pasteur Institute, France; Forschungs Institute, Germany; Uniformed Services, Bethesda, Maryland; and Texas Tech. Hlth Sci.Center, USA. Dr. Khan has over 30 year’s research experience on microbial pathogenesis and therapy of infectious diseases including retroviruses and opportunistic infections. His current research efforts primarily focus on defining the mechanism of virus-induced neuroinflammation and demyelination in the central and peripheral nervous system in order to identify potential diagnostic markers and targets for therapeutic intervention. His other areas of research are HIV and HCV co-infection, HIV-1 therapeutics & microbicide development, high-throughput (HTS) screening assays, pre-clinical evaluation of antibiotic and antiviral agents, transgenic animal modeling of microbial/viral infections and immunology of neuro-inflammation. Dr. Khan is also an Adjunct Professor, in the Blumberg Institute of Living Sciences, Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, USA. Dr. Khan has the credited for publishing over 120 research papers, several patents, edited book and book chapters; and is a professional member of numerous prestigious scientific societies.

High throughput screening and preclinical evaluation of antiviral agents; animal modeling of microbial infections and neuroinflammation.

Mervat G Al-Enany is a Professor of Clinical Microbiology, Cairo University Medical School. Microbiology & Infection control Consultant. She has completed medical study at the age of 23 years and postdoctoral studies from at the age of 31 years. She is the director of infective endocarditis laboratory committee. She is the head of infection control team of medical hospital. The research activities included different clinical microbiology subjects including molecular typing of resistant organisms, diagnosis of brucellosis and diagnosis of infective endocarditis. She has published more than 20 papers in national and international journals

Microbiology

Amr M. Mohamed was graduated from School of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University at 1991; he earned his master degree from Tanta University, Egypt at 1996 in the field of diagnostic Parasitology. Dr. Mohamed has completed his PhD at the age of 35 years from University of Nebraska Medical Center, USA at 2004 in the field of molecular diagnostic Mycobacteriology. He worked as Assistance Professor of molecular diagnostics of infectious diseases at School of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt. As an Associate Professor, he joined the Laboratory Medicine dept., collage of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, KSA at 2009. Currently he is a Full Professor and the director of Molecular Diagnostic Research Laboratory at the Central Laboratories of Collage of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University. He has published more than 20 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of many reputed Journals.

Clinical Veterinary Microbiology

Ghada A. Abou El-Ella has completed her PhD at the age of 35 years from Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA at 2003 She worked as assistant professor of clinical laboratory diagnosis at School of veterinary medicine, Assiut University, Egypt. Currently she is an associate professor of Laboratory Medicine at Umm Al-Qura University, KSA. she is the director of tissue culture Research Laboratory at the Central Laboratories of Collage of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University. she has published more than 15 papers in reputed journals.

Ghada A. Abou El-Ella has completed her PhD at the age of 35 years from Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA at 2003 She worked as assistant professor of clinical laboratory diagnosis at School of veterinary medicine, Assiut University, Egypt. Currently she is an associate professor of Laboratory Medicine at Umm Al-Qura University, KSA. she is the director of tissue culture Research Laboratory at the Central Laboratories of Collage of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University. she has published more than 15 papers in reputed journals.

Idress Hamad Attitalla is an Associate Professor in Botany Deaprtment of Omar Al-Mukhtar Universit, Al- Bayda, Libya

Plant Pathology, Plant Microbiology, Molecular Evolution

Dr. Brent E. Korba is working as Research Professor at the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Centre. He completed his Ph. D in the University of Maryland Baltimore County in the year 1981. He is working in Georgetown University Medical Center since 1984. Currently he is having lab for both PhD students and Post-Doctoral Fellows. The laboratory is focused on antiviral therapies against hepatitis B and C viruses using a variety of cell culture and enzyme-based technologies. Investigations examine a wide range of parameters (DNA, RNA, proteins), both viral and cellular utilizing a variety of molecular biology-based techniques. Studies extend from basic screening (e.g. drug discovery) to mechanisms of action.

Antiviral therapies against hepatitis B and C viruses

Thomas Bosch studied Biology at the Univboschersity of Munich and Swansea University College in the UK from 1976 to 1983. He earned his doctorate from the University of Munich in 1986. From 1986 to 1988, Bosch held a postdoctoral position at the University of California, Irvine, USA. After a position as research associate at the University of Munich, he was appointed to professorship for Zoology at the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena in 1997. Since 2000 Bosch is Professor of General Zoology at Kiel University. From 2010 to 2013 he served as Vice-President of Kiel University and was responsible for Kiel University’s institutional strategy and international relations. Since November 2013 Bosch is heading the interdisciplinary research center “Kiel Life Science” (KLS) at Kiel University. Bosch is spokesperson of the Collaborative Research Center (CRC/SFB 1182) “Origin and Function of Metaorganisms” (2016-2019) which addresses the relatively newly recognized role of multi-organismic interactions for health and disease. Bosch also is Editor-in-Chief of “Zoology”. He currently (2016/2017) is President of the German Society of Developmental Biology (GfE) and a member of several national and international Academic Committees and Boards. In 2015/2016 he will also serve as Deputy President of the German Zoological Society / Deutsche Zoologische Gesellschaft e.V. (DZG). His awards include a Dr. honoris causa degree from St. Petersburg State University, Russia (2004).

evolutionary developmental biology

Chit Laa Poh completed her PhD Monash University(Australia) in 1980 and conducted short periods of postdoctoral training at the Pasteur Institute, Cambridge University and the University College London (UCL). She is a Distinguished Professor in the Vice Chancellor’s Office(VCO), Sunway University and has been appointed as the Head of the new Research Centre for Biomedical Sciences. She has previously worked in the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine , National University of Singapore (NUS) for 25 years. She has a H-index of 33 She has published more than 85 papers in reputable journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of Journal of Biosceince and Bioengineering (Japan), Austin Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygeine (USA), Journal of Virology and Emerging Diseases (USA). She has successfully supervised and graduated PhD and MSc students from NUS, Swinburne University of Technology, University of Malaya and Sunway University.

Her research interests are focused on the development of antiviral agents and novel vaccines against Enterovirus 71(EV-A71) which causes hand, foot and mouth disease(HFMD). Currently, there are no FDA approved antivirals or vaccines that can be applied or treat EV-A71 infections. She is interested in gaining an understanding of the molecular determinants of neurovirulence which may explain the differences between virulent and non-virulent EV-A71. Her group is committed to develop effective antiviral agents such as antiviral peptides and morpholino oligomers as anti-sense agents, live-attenuated vaccine strains carrying multiple site specific mutations and viral strains bearing specific microRNAs as novel vaccines.

I joined bioMérieux in 2007, my current position is EU R&D Microbiology Director at bioMérieux in charge of all microbiology products developments for bacterial culture (conventional media culture, chromogenic media (ChromIDTM…), identification (API® system, mass spectrometry (VITEK® MS)… ) and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing: Etest®, VITEK®2 expert system, RAPIDEC ® Carba, ATB® sytem…) I received my Pharm D from the University of Lyon. After an Internship in medical biology in the Lyon area and obtaining an MSc in French National Reference Center for Staphylococci, I completed my residency in Clinical biology at the Hospices Civils de Lyon, France where I earned my PhD.

I conducted my research work at the French National Reference Center of Staphylococci. My research was focused on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) mainly on typing and virulence factors. I described a new emerging MRSA clone (Durand et al, Detection of New Methicilllin-Resistant-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clones Containing the Toxic Shock Sydrome Toxin-1 Gene responsible for Hospital-and community–acquired Infections in France, J. Clin. Microbiol 2006;44:847-853). This clone is now well known as “Geraldine’s clone”. As the leader of the bioMérieux Europe R&D microbiology group in recent years my research was directed on rapid microbiology (Van Belkum et al, Ann Lab Med.2013;(33(1):14-27, on mass spectrometry (Spinali et al, J Clin Microbiol.2015;53(3):760-5, and also on laboratory automation, mainly driven on the medical value brought by imaging technologies for bacterial culture (24th ECCMID, O075; 25th ECCMID, S097). My latest research covers S. aureus characterization through whole genome sequencing (EpiSEqTM service).

Haifaa Altalhi, Head of Infection Control Department in King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC), Co-chairman of Infection Control Committee of KSUMC. Haifaa is a Medical Technologist, Microbiologist and Board certified infection control expert. She has a special interest in engaging the community in infection prevention and control the transmission of infections both in healthcare facility as well as the public. She is extensively involved in Education of Microbiology and infection prevention and control, she is best known for being highly energetic and motivated leader. She participated in creating a system to monitor surgical site infections, participated in the infection control awareness and education group during Hajj of 2009, in year 2015 and 2016 led a group of volunteers and hospital employees to execute a country wide influenza awareness and vaccination campaign.

Infection diseases, Public Health, Microbiology, Vaccines, Infection Control

Dr. Anju Kaushal obtained her Bachelor and Master in Microbiology from Central Research Institute, Kasauli affiliated with H.P. University, Shimla, India and her PhD in Microbiology from Panjab University, Chandigarh, India in 2003. She’s awarded as Senior Research Fellow at Mycology Lab ( Centre for Advanced Research in Medical Mycology and Reference Laboratory for National Culture Collection), Microbiology Department, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research ( PGIMER), Chandigarh, sponsored from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi in 1995. After that she joined Microbiology Department, Panjab University in a project sponsored by Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Sciences, New Delhi in 1997. She also worked in Private Industrial Sector for few years.

Anju mainly worked on Rabies, Invasive Aspergillosis, Antifungal- susceptibility for non-albicans for Candida sps. , pathogenic Cryptococcus sp. isolation from environment, Fermentation technology & downstream processing, Enzymes characterization, HIV- virus & its diagnostics. Her main competences are in Diagnostics (Microbiology/ Virology/ Biotechnology), R&Ds, Quality Control/Assurance for Biologicals/ Immunobiologicals and Process validation.

Dr. Brennan began his life-long involvement in tuberculosis and leprosy research in 1962 under Professor Frank Winder at Trinity College Dublin. His Ph.D. studies helped establish for the first time that the killing effect of isoniazid on the tuberculosis (TB) bacillus was through inhibition of the synthesis of mycolic acid. Under Professor Clinton Ballou at the University of California, Berkeley, he was responsible for the early definitive work on the biosynthesis of the phosphatidylisositolmannosides (PIMs) of mycobacteria.
On his return to Ireland, Dr. Brennan was Research Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry, Trinity College Dublin, and subsequently Lecturer in Biochemistry at University College Dublin. Dr. Brennan returned to the U.S. in 1975, to positions at National Jewish Hospital and the University of Colorado Medical Center, and in 1980 to Colorado State University.
Over the past 35 years, he has led research teams in conducting some of the most fundamental research on the nature of the tuberculosis and leprosy organisms:
(i) definition of the structure, biosynthesis, and genetics of the core cell wall of the TB bacterium and the mode of action of several key TB drugs;
(ii) discovery and molecular definition of LAM, the key ligand in the interactions of the TB organism with host cells;
(iii) the discovery and molecular structure of PGL I (phenolic glycolipid I), the specific antigen/marker of the leprosy organism and its application to the selective diagnosis of leprosy;
(iv) the introduction of the first skin test antigen for leprosy diagnosis for a leprosy endemic area;
(v) definition of the chemical basis of the serotype difference of most of the non-tuberculosis mycobacteria.
Brennan has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications in these and related areas. He has attracted over $20 million in research funds to the University. In 1998, he was named one of 12 University Distinguished Professors at Colorado State University and in 2004 he was elected to the American Academy of Microbiology. He is Editor-in-Chief of Tuberculosis and an editor of Pathogens and Disease and a former editor of Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Tuberculosis and Leprosy research

Professor Ibrahim M. Banat, Professor of Microbial Biotechnology at the University of Ulster, UK. Has more than 30 years’ experience in academic and research institutions in Europe and internationally and has several active collaborative project within the EU and other international academic and industrial establishments.

Research interests include biosurfactants and bio-actives production and potential utilization in environmental oil pollution control and hydrocarbon polluted land bioremediation and microbial enhanced oil recovery. He also recently concentrating on investigating biomedical, pharmaceutical, health and cosmetics related applications of biosurfactants. Prof. Banat also has interest and worked on molecular and cell biology of thermophilic Geobacilli bacteria and bioethanol fermentation and the molecular biology of biosurfactant producers.

Head of Microbiology Laboratory& Medicine Residency Coordinator, supervisor PhD in Medicine and also a member of the leadership of in ESC, ESGP & ESCMID. Prof Monica is also a member of the editorial staff / reviewer of national and international journals. She has been awarded with a honorary diploma by the National Society of Parasitology. She is a visiting professor of the Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Parasitology, Infection Control, Microbiology

Assoc. Prof. Helena Bujdáková, is the head of the Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovak Republic. She is a specialist in medical microbiology. She has had experiences with a management of national projects, but also with those bilateral ones with Austria, Armenia and Ukraine. She was a partner of the consortium in the project CanTrain Marie Curie Research Training Network (FP6) funded by EU. She got Fulbright and JSPS scholarships for research / teaching stays in USA and Japan.
She is also Vice President of the Czechoslovak Society for Microbiology, the bilateral organization joining Slovak and Czech microbiologists. She has been a member of the Group for teaching Microbiology in Europe, established at FEMS (Federation of European Microbiological Societies). Regularly she gave invited lectures at national and international conferences and congresses. In this very challenging and competitive science discipline, she published more than 60 reviewed articles indexed in Web of Sciences that have been cited more than 450 times.

she has worked in various topics dealing with microbial biofilms, especially, aimed at yeasts from the genus Candida.She has also been actively involved in the consortium COST Action iPROMEDAI TD1305 (Improved Protection of Medical Devices, 2014-2018).

Natalia Tschowri studied Biology at the Freie Universität Berlin, where she also obtained her PhD under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Regine Hengge with a thesis on blue light signalling in the control of biofilm formation in Escherichia coli. In September 2012 she joined Prof. Mark Buttner’s lab at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK as a PostDoc. Funded by the EMBO longterm fellowship, she began to work on c-di-GMP signalling in Streptomyces. Back in Berlin in October 2013 she continued with her studies on the role of cyclic di-nucleotides in Streptomyces developmental biology and is now an independent group leader at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

Role of cyclic di-nucleotides in Streptomyces developmental biology

Dr. Amparo Gamero Lluna works as Assistant Professor in Nutrition and Bromatology area at the University of Valencia, Spain. She holds an European Ph.D in Food Science, Technology & Management as well as Human Nutrition & Dietetics and Food Science & Technology degrees. Her main research topic is the study of aroma production by yeasts in food products, especially alcoholic beverages. The yeasts studied are Saccharomyces species, their natural interspecific hybrids and non-conventional yeasts. Her research interests reflect in her wide range of publications in international journals and her participation in congresses at international level. She has worked and carrying out short stays at different universities, research centers and companies of different European countries: Spain (Spanish National Research Council, CSIC; University of Valencia; University of Zaragoza; AINIA technology centre), The Netherlands (NIZO food research; Fungal Biodiversity Center, CBS-KNAW), Denmark (University of Copenhagen; Carlsberg Research Center; Christian Hansen) and Belgium (University of Leuven).

study of aroma production by yeasts in food products

Dr. Bożena Futoma-Kołoch graduated from University of Wrocław in 2004. She received her Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Wrocław in 2008. After that, she has held an academic position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology in the Institute of Genetics and Microbiology at University of Wrocław. She is a member of Polish Society of Microbiologists, and International Complement Society. She has published more than 50 papers in national and international journals, 30 presentations at congresses, with several awards. Dr. Futoma-Kołoch's research program focuses on bacterial surface antigens as molecular targets of the protective immune response and their role in bacterial resistance to disinfectants.

bacterial surface antigens as molecular targets of the protective immune response and their role in bacterial resistance to disinfectants.

Giulio Tarro graduated from Medicine School, Naples University (1962). Research Associate, Division of Virology and Cancer Research, Children’s Hospital (1965-1968), Assistant Professor of Research Pediatrics, College Medicine (1968-1969), Cincinnati University, Ohio. Oncological Virology Professor, Naples University (1972-1985). Chief Division Virology (1973-2003), Head Department Diagnostic Laboratories, (2003-2006). D. Cotugno Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Naples; Emeritus, 2006 -. Since 2007 Chairman Committee of Biotechnologies and Virus Sphere, World Academy Biomedical Technologies, UNESCO, Adjunct Professor Department Biology, Temple University, College of Science and Technology, Philadelphia, recipient of the Sbarro Health Research Organization lifetime achievement award (2010). President Foundation de Beaumont Bonelli for Cancer Research.
His basic researches have been concerned with antigens induced early during the replication cycle of human herpesviruses. Another study has involved the identification, isolation and characterization of specific virus-induced tumour antigens, which were the "finger-prints" left behind in human cancer. Achievements include patents in field; discovery of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in infant deaths in Naples and of tumor liberated protein as a tumor associated antigen, 55 kilodalton protein overexpressed in lung tumors and other epithelial adenocarcinomas.

Viral Oncology, Tumor Liberated Protein (TLP), Emerging Viral Agents at Risk in Global Health Approaches to Early Diagnosis and Prompt Therapy

Dr. Judith Ascher-Jenull received her Master degree in Natural Sciences, Biology, Microbiology, from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, in 1998, and her PhD in Agricultural Chemistry from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Piacenza, Milan, Italy, in 2004. After graduation (till today) she worked at the Department of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science - now the Department of Agrifood and Environmental Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy, as a research soil microbiologist. Since 2012 she is collaborating with the Institute of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria as senior researcher.
She has published over 50 articles and 6 book chapters in the field of environmental molecular microbial ecology (e.g. linking microbial diversity and soil function; Responses of microbial communities to natural vs. anthropogenic environmental changes; Soil metamobilome: fate and ecological relevance of extracellular DNA), 34 in ISI journals with > 50 co-authors, with > 1500 citations in > 1000 documents (Scopus and Research Gate), resulting in a current scientific Hirsch-factor (H-index) of 14. Dr. Ascher-Jenull is currently active in collaborating with the University of Innsbruck (Austria), University of Zuerich (Switzerland) and the University of Osnabrueck (Germany) within the D.A.CH.-DecAlp Project on the “Effect of climate on coarse woody debris decay dynamics and incorporation into the soils of forested Alpine areas”, aiming at a multidisciplinary use of humus forms as missing link between the micro- and macro scale. She was/is active as reviewer for > 15 ISI Journals and since February 2014 she is Editor-in-Chief of Applied Soil Ecology (Elsevier).

Her scientific interest is also focused on the evaluation and optimisation of DNA-based molecular methods (sequential extraction of the soil metagenome: extra- vs. intracellular DNA; genetic fingerprinting) in relation to physico-chemical soil characteristics.

PhD in Microbiology and Virology, with an high specialization in Molecular and Cellular Pathology, Arnolfo Petruzziello was born in Naples, Italy, where actually works as Head of the Laboratory of Virology and Molecular Biology “V. Tridente” at National Cancer Research IRCCS Italia- Fondazione “G. Pascale” in Naples.
Professor of Microbiology, General Pathology and Clinical Microbiology for the University of Naples “Federico II”, he is also Quality Assurance Manager in the JACIE program for the autologous transplantation program of the Department of Haemathology and OECI (Organization of European Cancer Institutes) auditors.
He is author of numerous scientific publications and member of the Editorial Board of several prestigious scientific Journals in Virology and Microbiology.

Virology and Molecular Biology, with particular reference to PCR for the diagnosis of HBV, HCV, HIV infections and EBV, HSV and CMV co-infections in the context of the transplantation program.

Patrick Fickers has completed a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from University of Liège (Belgium). After a postdoc at Polytech’Lille (France), he joined in 2005 the Centre of Protein Engineering (Liège, Belgium) as a FNRS fellow. Form 2009 until 2014, he was an Associated Professor at Université libre de Bruxelles and the head of the Biotechnology and Bioprocess Unit. Since 2015, he is a Professor at Gembloux Agro BioTech, University of Liege, in the Microbial Processes and Interactions and Adjunct Professor at Ton Duc Thang University (Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam). He has published more than 40 research papers in peer-reviewed journals and 6 book chapters.

His researches focus on the development of yeast and bacterial strains by metabolic engineering and on process development in bioreactor for the production of compounds of biotechnological interest.

Svetlana Codreanu has completed her BSc and PhD in Microbiology from Moldova State University and joined the Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova in 1993, where she has held various executive and scientific positions. She has authored over 80 scientific publications and 15 patents. She has received numerous awards including the WIPO prise and Gold Medal. She is also a Fellow of Moldovan Society for Microbiology and FEMS Delegate.

Algae and Biomass

Nikos Mavroudis is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader in Food Science and leads the laboratory of Food Engineering & Separation of Actives (FoESA) in the Dept. of Applied Sciences in Northumbria University at Newcastle. Previously Nikos was a Research Scientist and Project Leader for Unilever R&D for 9 years and has been responsible for developing the separation expertise within Unilever R&D Vlaardingen, the Netherlands.
His research interests are focused on Food Security & Food Safety, particularly relevant is his interest on bacterial flow cytometry and surface decontamination. Nikos has published 10 research articles in peer review journals and 12 patents/patent filings and his work has attracted ca 325 citations excluding self-citations.

Food Security & Food Safety, bacterial flow cytometry and surface decontamination.

Dr. Bechan Sharma is presently working as a Professor and Head, Department of Biochemistry Allahabad University, Allahabad. Prof. Sharma’s earlier services include as an Assistant Professor at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural sciences and Technology-J&K, Kashmir and as Associate Professor at Dr. RML Avadh University Faizabad. He has twenty six years of teaching / research experience.
He has carried out several research projects and published over 130 research papers including book chapters, molecular methods in peer reviewed International and National Journals/ Books/Methods of repute with high impact factors. He has authored 4 books published by NOVA Sci. Inc. USA and LampBert Publishers-Germany. He has one US patent on HIV-1 genome structure based antiHIV-1 drugs design to his credit.He is member/life member of several national/international scientific societies and attended number of symposia/conferences in India and abroad and presented his research papers there in.
He is Chief-Editor/Associate Editor/Executive Editor and Member Editorial Board of 85 peer reviewed International and National Journals. He has been acting as honorary reviewer for about 135 International/National scientific journals. Prof. Sharma has recently been awarded with ICMR’s Senior Scientist Fellowship 2014-15 in Biomedical Sciences under Indo-USA joint research programme.

The areas of his research interest include Molecular Biology of HIV/AIDS, Tropical Diseases (Filariasis/Malaria) and Biochemical Toxicology.