Journal of Applied Microbiology 2001, 91, 571
Preface
D A N G E R O U S P A T H O G E N S 2 00 0 , U N I V E R S I T Y O F P L Y M O U T H , 4 7 T H S E P T E M B E R 2 0 00
This issue of the Journal of Applied Microbiology contains
selected presentations from the second conference on
Dangerous Pathogens. Dangerous Pathogens 2000 took
place at the University of Plymouth, UK, 47th September
2000. The event was jointly organized by Defence Science
Technology Laboratories Porton Down (formally DERA)
Chemical and Biological Sciences, Porton Down and the
Society for Applied Microbiology.
The aim of the conference was, at the beginning of the
new millennium, to review the ongoing battle between man
and micro-organisms, past, present and future to identify
any gaps in our knowledge that need to be lled to ensure
that man comes out on top. The conference was divided into
the following themes;
The past which included the plagues of antiquity, disease
and war, the role of sanitation and clean water and the
impact of science.
The present covered the plagues of the present, antibiotic
resistant organisms, hospital acquired infections and
global vaccine programmes.
The future which talked about emerging pathogens,
genomics and bioinformatics and new antimicrobial
agents.
2001 The Society for Applied Microbiology
The conference attracted over 150 delegates from around
the world. We are pleased to acknowledge the support of the
following organizations; Biogene, Roche Diagnostics, The
Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research Porton
Down, Defence Science Technology Laboratories Porton
Down and the US Army Medical Research Acquisition
Activity. Finally we would like to thank Professor Duncan
Stewart-Tull for editing this compilation of papers. The
next in the series of Dangerous Pathogens conference will
take place in September 2002.
Les Baillie (Conference Chairman)
Defence Science Technology Laboratories
Porton Down, Salisbury
Wiltshire
UK
Alan Godfree
Editor, Journal of Applied Microbiology
United Utilities Water
Warrington
UK