Identifying new ideas for an improved ‘microbial toolkit’ for Australian winemaking
Abstract
Attendance of ISSY34 – ‘Yeast Odyssey from Nature to Industry’ and 1st International Workshop on Brewing (Bariloche, Argentina)
The travel bursary enabled Dr Michelle Walker to attend the 34th International Specialized Symposium of Yeasts (ISSY34) and the 1st International Workshop on Brewing held in Bariloche, Patagonia (Argentina) in early October 2018. The ISSY34 symposium showcased important scientific advancements in yeast fundamental and applied research. Included was a workshop on yeast genomics and taxonomy dedicated to the late Cletus Kurtzman, 3 keynote lectures, 8 sessions (65 oral presentations and 187 e-posters). Following from ISSY34, 2 days were dedicated to the 1st International Workshop on Brewing Yeasts attended by academics and brewers. The workshop was conducted in English with spontaneous Spanish translation, and included a tour of the four main local Craft breweries and a distillery. The locally discovered yeast Saccharomyces eubayanus was showcased in several locally produced beers and the bread provided at the conference. Attendance allowed Dr Walker to be updated on the latest advances in science related to fermentation (beer, wine, dough, bioethanol), present her research (on yeast derived colour modulation and hydrogen sulfide production during wine fermentation), as well as reaffirm research acquaintances and establish new ones.
Summary
Dr Michelle Walker attended the 34th International Specialized Symposium of Yeasts (1-4 October, 2018) and the 1st International Workshop on Brewing (5-6 October, 2018), held in Bariloche, Patagonia (Argentina). Dr Walker presented an oral presentation in the Session 8B/ Yeasts in Food and Beverage. Industrial Fermentation. The talk entitled ‘Sulfate transport mutants affect hydrogen sulfide production during alcoholic fermentation’ reported on research undertaken as part of Wine Australia Projects UA1101, UA1302. She also gave an e-poster (3 min talk) in the E-poster 4 session on research related to colour modulation during red wine fermentation. The e-poster entitled ‘Investigation of yeast genes required for the modulation of colour in model red wine’ related to projects funded by Wine Australia (UA1405, UA1302).
The trip fostered new and current linkages with researchers from Canada, Japan and France. The conference was attended by Dr Phillipe Marullo (University of Bordeaux) and Professor Steve Olivre (Univesity of Cambridge) who have established collaborations within Professor Jiranek’s Group, and Professor Takagi, who will visit the group in November to discuss potential collaborations on proline-stress tolerance related research and hosting of ISSY37 in 2022.