Tuesday, 24th November
• Opening lecture: Overview on rapid methods, automation and miniaturization in microbiology (Dr. José Juan Rodríguez Jerez, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra –Cerdanyola del Vallès–, Barcelona) 10:15-11:35 a.m.
– Sampling of solid and liquid foods, surfaces, and air
– Miniaturization: microtiter plate, most probable number (MPN), viable cell counts. Diagnostic kits
– Methods for viable cell counts: hydrophobic grid, spiral plating, flow cytometry, direct epifluorescence filter technique (DEFT), turbidity
– Methods for viable cell counts, based on electric impedance and conductance
– Methods for viable cell counts, based on ATP – bioluminiscence and colorimetry
– Immunological methods for microbial and toxin detection and identification: immunomagnetic separation, ELISA and ELFA, reversed passive latex agglutination, lateral immunomigration, immunoprecipitation
– Molecular biology methods for microbial detection and identification: polymerase chain reaction (PCR), whole genome sequencing (WGS) and massive genome sequencing (NGS), proteomics
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and massive genome sequencing applied to food safety (Dr. Armand Sánchez Bonastre, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra –Cerdanyola del Vallès–, Barcelona) 11:50 a.m.-1:10 p.m.
• 5:45-6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 25th November
• Effective microbiological control strategies: applications in meat and poultry industries (Ms. Alexandra Roijals Sansano, Chemital, Sant Pere Molanta –Olèrdola–, Barcelona) 12:15-1 p.m.
• From control to trust: integrated strategies in quality, food safety and occupational risks (Ms. Mercè Freixes Graells and Ms. Paloma Freitas Marques, bonÀrea Agrupa, Guissona, Lleida) 5:15-6 p.m.
• Open discussion about risks: analysis, assessment, communication (chairman: Dr. Oscar J. Esteban Cabornero, Grupo Entrepinares, Valladolid) 6-6:30 p.m.
Thursday, 26th November – Thanksgiving day
• Impact of false positives, atypical strains, and new Listeria species on results of Listeria monocytogenesanalyses (Dr. Nathalie Gnanou Besse, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety –ANSES–, Maisons‐Alfort, France) 12:05-12:50 p.m.
• Studies on safe shelf-life of ready-to-eat meals (Dr. Montse Vila Brugalla and Mr. Samuel Portaña Tudela (Barcelona Public Health Agency –ASPB –, Barcelona) 5:15-6 p.m.
• Open discussion about instrumentation in food microbiology, world trade trends, and other current topics (chairman: Dr. José Juan Rodríguez Jerez, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra –Cerdanyola del Vallès–, Barcelona) 6-6:30 p.m.