UNDERSTANDING AND EXPLOITING THE IMPACTS OF LOW pH ON MICROORGANISMS: A COST ACTION

Abstract

Understanding the impact of low pH on bacteria and yeasts is clearly of critical importance for a range of pure and applied microbiology disciplines, including clinical/veterinary, industrial/environmental, and food/drink microbiology. Research in this area has made great progress in recent years, with much improved understanding of the molecular events which enable micro-organisms to sense and respond to low pH, and synergies between fundamental and applied research in the disciplines above have begun to develop. Despite this, there is considerable unrealised potential for people working in these different disciplines to interact more fully, and to share concepts, methods, and data. With this in mind, we established a COST Action (CA18113) entitled “EuroMicropH: Understanding and exploiting the impacts of low pH on micro-organisms”, which was launched in Spring 2019 and will run until 2023. We have used this Action to develop databases of relevant literature and of Action participants and their diverse expertise. In addition, we have specific working groups looking at applications in all the above fields, working to develop more and better links between fundamental and applied research. Role of Funding is available from the Action to enable lab exchanges and conference visits for people working in this area. Details of the work of the Action to date, and of the available funding opportunities that we can offer, will be presented.