Second international Metrology for monitoring infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and harmful micro-oganisms (INFECT-MET) interim meeting took part on Wednesday, 8.5.2013, on the NIB. Institutes and hospitals from UK (LGC and UCL), Germany (BAM and PTB), Turkey (TUBITAK), European Union (JRC) and Slovenia (NIB and Golnik hospital) participated in the meeting. Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology was, under the leadership of PhD Mojca Milavec, given the leading role in the biggest work package because of its valuable experiences in quantification and detection of nucleic acids. Partners presented the progress of their research and discussed the actual topics. At the end, new approaches for accomplishing the vision of INFECT-MET project were set. After the meeting, the participants visited the facilities of the Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology. We are able to participate in the project because the Metrology Insitute of the Republic of Slovenia named us as a holder of the National etalon of Amount of substance from food and plant origin.
D.04 Initiative to set up a new research area in Slovenia
Based on our long lasting work on GMO detection in food and feed, for which we are also the National reference laboratory, we were invited to write six chapters in book, published by Blackwell. We also show our work in a TV show [COBISS.SI-ID 2675279] .
F.13 Development of new production methods and tools or processes
Workshop organized by the European Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) and the National Institute of Biology (NIB) took place in Ljubljana from 19.2.-21.2.2013. During workshop, results of the European project Q-DETECT were presented. Of more than 70 participants, researchers, diagnosticians and inspectors come from 20 European countries, China and Peru. International project group, among whom were also researchers from the National Institute of Biology, presented the use of entirely new methods for detection of pathogens in the field. By increasing the free movement of goods and by increasing cargo volumes, the risk of the spread of plant pathogens to new areas also increased. In order to develop new, more appropriate diagnostic methods, some of the best European research laboratories and high-tech companies joined their strength in the EU project Q-DETECT. The aim of the project is to develop methods that can be used in the field and would allow sensitive detection of plant pathogens. However, since pathogens are very different - from viruses, bacteria, fungi and insects, we have developed methods, based on the perception of smell, hearing and sight. For a more accurate determination of the organism, we have developed molecular methods that can be performed and results read in the field.
D.01 Chairing over/coordinating (international and national) projects
We participated at 5th Days of civil protection and rescue , which took palce in Velenje from October 2 to 10, 2013. We presented methods and technologies for detection of pathogens in water, i.e. CIM chromatography and LAMP.
F.18 Transfer of new know-how to direct users (seminars, fora, conferences)
The international workshop on high technology research and the molecular diagnostics of pathogens using real-time PCR was held in Ljubljana from 3rd to 6th December 2013. This international workshop was co-organized by the Slovenian National Institute of Biology (NIB) and BioSistemika d.o.o., in collaboration with the European project Bicopoll (http://www.coreorganic2.org/) and was one in a series of similar workshops organized by tje members of the Programe and Biosistemika d.o.o. qPCR Workshops integrate excellent technical knowledge with vast practical experience in design, validation and use of real-time PCR in official diagnostics and research in plant pathology. Up to date news from the field are part of the course as well as a special section of troubleshooting tailord to participants. Also this time researchers and diagnosticians from many European countries attended the workshop: Austria, Great Britain, France, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Montenegro and Slovenia.
F.18 Transfer of new know-how to direct users (seminars, fora, conferences)