Several staff and student members of FABI attended the 13th International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria (ICPPB) that was held in Shanghai, China, from the 8th to 13th June 2014. The conference was preceded by the 3rd International Erwinia workshop which was attended by 35 scientists conducting research on members of the Enterobacteriaceae.  The theme of ICPPB was the control of plant pathogenic bacteria for healthy food and life. Attending both the workshop and the congress was a great opportunity for networking and also allowed the FABI group to share their research with other specialists in the field. The FABI attendees included Professors Teresa Coutinho and Fanus Venter, Dr Lucy Moleleki, and Tania Weller-Stuart, Phattie Sibanda and Gabrielle Carstensen. Between them, the group gave altogether four oral and four poster presentations at the congress and workshop.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Carstensen GD, Venter SN, Chen SF, Wingfield MJ, Coutinho TA. 2014. Metagenomic analysis of the bacterial exudate from Eucalyptus trees with symptoms of bacterial wilt in China. 13th International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, 8-13 June 2014, Shanghai, China.

Du Plessis M, Steenkamp ET, Coetzee MPA, Coutinho TA, Venter SN. 2014.  Defining the genus Pantoea.  3rd International Erwinia workshop, 6-7 June 2014, Shanghai, China.

Mosina G, Tanui C, Coutinho T, Moleleki L. 2014.  Tolerance mechanisms of potato plants against Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. brasiliense.  13th International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, 8-13 June 2014, Shanghai, China.

Sibanda S, Shyntum D, Theron J, Coutinho TA. 2014.  Quorum sensing systems in Pantoea ananatis regulate acylated homoserine lactones synthesis, virulence, biofilm formation and exopolysaccharide production.  3rd International Erwinia workshop, 6-7 June 2014, Shanghai, China.

POSTERS
Carstensen GD, Venter SN, Wingfield MJ, Coutinho TA. 2014. Phylotyping Ralstonia solanacearum isolates associated with bacterial wilt of Eucalyptus spp. 13th International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, 8-13 June 2014, Shanghai, China.

Sibanda S, Pretorius R, Moleleki L, Theron J, Coutinho TA. 2014.  A rapid assay for indirect measurement of acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs) using Chromobacterium violaceum in liquid systems without violacein extraction.  13th International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, 8-13 June 2014, Shanghai, China.

Weller-Stuart T, Toth I, Theron J, Coutinho TA. 2014.  Identification and characterization of pili mediating attachment of Pantoea ananatis to Eucalyptus leaf surfaces.  13th International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, 8-13 June 2014, Shanghai, China.

Shin G, Coutinho TA, Venter SN. 2014.  Investigating the genetic diversity of Pantoea ananatis. 13th International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, 8-13 June 2014, Shanghai, China.

PHOTO
From left to right: Phattie Sibanda, Fanus Venter, Tania Weller-Stuart, Teresa Coutinho, Gabrielle Carstensen, and Lucy Moleleki.
See the official congress photo in the attached pdf.