Welcome to the Bacteria Division

Mission

Bacterial pathogens of insects and other pests continue to play an important role for use as alternatives to synthetic chemical insecticides. Much of the current interest is in the basic and applied biology of the -endotoxins of Bacillus thuringiensis and their use as biological control agents. There is also considerable interest in B. sphaericus, B. popilliae, bacterial diseases of non-insect invertebrates as well as such topics as symbiotic bacteria, bacterial systematics, and host defensive responses to bacteria.

It is estimated that between one quarter and one third of the members of the Society of Invertebrate Pathology have research on bacteria as their primary interest. This is also true for many researchers and trainees, whether or not they are members of the Society, who attend the Annual Meetings of the SIP and, in conjunction with them, the International Colloquia on Invertebrate Pathology and Microbial Control, which are held every four years, and the International Conferences on B. thuringiensis, which take place every second year.

The Bacteria Division represents the interests of its members within the Society and provides input with respect to the scientific programs at the Society's annual meetings and international colloquia. The Division might also have a say in where meetings are held, nominate candidates for offices of the Society, and on occasion, develop opinions on issues of public interest related to the disciplines of its members.

More to come on who are the members (a multidisciplinary group, etc.) and on the mission of the Division (promotes bacteria science, regroups the scientists of the SIP, promotes their interests within the SIP, promotes collaborations between the Division's members, facilitates interaction with othre Divisions, contributes to the training of students and young scientists, provides a forum to discuss issues of interest to the members and the public at large, and so on...