The European Commission has agreed to support a thematic network project dedicated to the provision of standardised genotypic methods for the study of Campylobacter epidemiology. A total of 23 institutes from 11 EU countries are involved. Financing is available for three years, starting from October 1^st, 1998 and will principally cover costs for meetings and the distribution of a common strain set (see below). Limited monies are also available for short-term training visits to other laboratories.

Campynet comprises a number of distinct tasks:

1. Selection, provision and characterisation of a common set of strains.

2. Identification of standard methods for performing (i), Fla gene typing, (ii), PFGE profiling, and (iii) AFLP fingerprinting.

3. Evaluation of standard methods for performing the above.

4. Evaluation of software for assimilation and analysis of genetic types.

5. Maintain awareness of new methods for possible standardisation.

6. Establish a WWW page for information purposes.

Professor Diane Newell (Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge, UK) is responsible for overall coordination.

The following personnel co-ordinate particular Campynet subgroups as follows:

Dr. Jaap Wagenaar (ID-DLO, Holland): Collection and distribution of common strain set

Dr. Robert Madden (University of Belfast, Northern Ireland): Fla gene typing

Dr. Stephen On (Danish Veterinary Laboratory, Copenhagen, Denmark): PFGE typing and informatics (software analysis, WWW page)

Dr. Jan van der Plas (TNO, Holland): New methods

The first meeting of the Campynet Management Committee (comprising the above persons) took place on October 16^th, 1998. The main objective of the meeting was to select the strains that would form the core of the typing project. The strains will ultimately be characterised by a variety of phenotypic and genotypic methods in order to provide an extensive evaluation of interstrain relationships.

A total of 119 strains (21 C. coli, 98 C. jejuni subsp. jejuni) were selected. These include human and poultry outbreak strains and geographically distinct isolates from various sources (cattle, pigs, domestic pets, sheep). Efforts were made to select strains which were well documented in scientific literature and that covered a reasonably broad area of Europe. A standard operating procedure for the transportation of strains is now being prepared by Jaap. It is hoped that strains will be distributed to Phase I participating laboratories early in 1999.

The first meeting of all Subgroup members is planned for January 23-24^th 1999. Jan has kindly offered to host the meeting in Zeijst and preparations are now underway. It is also hoped that a further meeting of Campynet can be arranged for the 10^th International workshop on campylobacters, helicobacters and related organisms scheduled for Baltimore in September 1999. This possibility is presently being investigated.

Three programs suitable for the assimilation and analysis of molecular fingerprints had been identified for evaluation. The programs are produced by Applied Maths (Belgium), Phoretix (UK), and Institut Pasteur. A number of possibilities for leasing and/or purchase of the software have now been discussed extensively by Stephen with the respective companies and final negotiations are pending approval.

There are limited funds available in Campynet to enable a few workers to visit other laboratories for training. Further details of the application procedure will follow in 1999.

A number of participating laboratories presently have projects running that are affiliated with Campynet. It was agreed to maintain a list of these with the option of circulation on the WWW page when available. If you have a project that is linked in some way to Campynet, please forward a title and summary to Diane.

This newsletter will be ultimately superseded with a WWW page from which current information on Campynet will be available. It is hoped that the first page will be accessible in March 1999.

Campynet has already generated significant international interest. The Management Committee has been approached, via Diane, to prepare a chapter on subtyping for a forthcoming successor to the renowned ASM book on Campylobacter. We will keep you informed of our progress!

I hope you have enjoyed this inaugural edition of "Campynet News"! Thank you for participating! We look forward to working with you in 1999! Until then, Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Successful New Year!!! –The Campynet Management committee

Editorial responsibility for "Campynet News": Stephen On. Comments by Fax to +45 35 30 01 20: E-Mail sto@svs.dk

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