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The University, College, and the Rocky Mtn ASM chapter have been busy over the last month bestowing numerous awards on MIP faculty, students and staff. Read all about it below!

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Ralph Smith received the Oliver P. Pennock Award which recognizes meritorious and outstanding achievement over a five-year period by a full-time member of the academic faculty.

The Microbiology Students in MB400 - "Service-Learning Capstone Course" pictured below, received the Exceptional Achievement in Service and Experiential Learning Student Award from the Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement. The award recognized the group for remarkable contributions in service learning courses and community-based research.

The students in this course are pictured above and include; Front Row (left to right): Trevor Wasmund, Krista Crawford, Stefanie Manzer, Jennifer Fletcher, Kate James, Jennifer Quick
Back Row (left to right): Lynsey Reed, Ellie Brooks, Megan Royer.

The students in this course present experiential activities to K-12 students--over 500 this semester! Class activities this semester included;

• "How and Why We Wash Our Hands" - 1^st & 2^nd grades
• "Gummi Germs" - Jr/High School
• "Outbreak!" - Jr/High School
• "A Medical Mystery" - Jr/High School

On April 22, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences hosted its annual Scholarship and Awards Luncheon to recognize students, staff and faculty who have received awards, and honor those whose generous donations make the CVMBS scholarship program a reality.

Congratulations to the following MIP recipients:

Lisa McCann received the Outstanding Employee Service Award in the Biomedical Area.

Brian Foy received the Pfizer Animal Health Award for Research Excellence.

Ralph Smith received the Outstanding Academic Advising Award in Undergraduate Education.

• Jacquelyn Brown, Beulah and Doyle Blair Memorial Scholarship
• Kara Leach, Pamela Hill Griffith Memorial Scholarship
• Jacob Miller, Barbara Joyce Microbiology Scholarship
• John Prucha, Myron Brown Ludlow Scholarship
• Kathryn Mladinich, Microbiology Undergraduate Scholarship
• Megan Cassidy, Microbiology Undergraduate Scholarship
• Robert Sons, Microbiology Undergraduate Scholarship
• Petra Gest, Sumner M. Morrison Scholarship
• Sara Kennedy, Rowena Odell Scholarship
• Shreaf Khattab, Delano F. Scott Scholarship
• Lenden Neeper, Delano F. Scott Scholarship
• Adam Zandman-Zeman, Delano F. Scott Scholarship
• Brittany Rebits, Jofrid L. Torgersen Memorial Scholarship
• Ashley Sohn, Jofrid L. Torgersen Memorial Scholarship
• Beth Stallman, Microbiology Student Association Officer Scholarship
• Samantha Kantrowitz, Microbiology Student Association Member Scholarship

Pictured Above: Sukantha, Stefanie, Laura and Jesse

• Laura Mitrescu
  "Leukocyte population dynamics in response to ovalbumin peptide immunization in DO11 mice"
  Advisor: Alan Schenkel

1. Sukantha Chandrasekaran
   "Structural and Serological Characterization of Lipoarabinomannan from Different Isolates of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis"
   Advisor: Julia Inamine
2. Jesse Terry
   "Determining the Persistence of the Aedes aegypti Densonucleosis virus"
   Advisor: Erica Suchman

1. Stefanie Manzer
   "Structural and Serological Characterization of Two Polar Lipids Specific to Mycobacterium paratuberculosis"
   Advisor: Julia Inamine
2. Michael Frazier
   "Evaluation of Triclosan as a Non-antibiotic Selectable Marker in Yersinia pestis KIM6+ "
   Advisor: RoxAnn Karkhoff-Schweizer

• Kiera Coffin (double major in Microbiology)
  "Emerging Contaminants in Environment: Biosolids Borne Antibiotics"
  Advisor: Mary Stromberger

And many thanks to Erica Suchman and the
11 Judges from MIP who helped with the event!

The Rocky Mountain Branch of the ASM held its 2006 Spring Meeting at the University of Wyoming on April 22nd. MIP'ers gave 10 presentations, 7 of which received awards as follows:

Graduate Oral Presentation:

• Hyung-Jin Eoh, mentors: Patrick Brennan and Dean Crick
• Kevin Sokoloski, mentors: Carol Wilusz and Jeff Wilusz

• Maria Massimelli, mentor: Herbert Schweizer
• Nicole Garneau, mentors: Carol Wilusz and Jeff Wilusz
• James Starbuck, mentors: Mike McNeil, Delphi Chatterjee, Patrick Brennan, and Dean Crick
• Shiva Angala, mentors: Dean Crick and Delphi Chatterjee

• Mike Frazier, mentors: RoxAnn Karkhoff-Schweizer and Herbert Schweizer

Check out the Photo Gallery.

Sukantha (Suki) Chandrasekaran was both a University Honors Scholar and a Hughes Research Scholar. Her research mentors were Julia Inamine and Torsten Eckstein. Dr. Inamine has been very impressed with Suki's dedication, organizational skills, and commitment to learning. In her nomination letter, Dr. Inamine wrote, "Suki has been an absolute joy to have in the lab. She can work independently but is also a great team member who helps to create a fun and productive lab environment. Suki sets high standards for herself and takes the initiative in working towards her goals. She has an easy-going personality, cheerful nature, and a mature attitude about what it takes to be successful in graduate school."

Suki's main project during the past two years was to characterize a major cell wall lipopeptide of M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis, the causative agent of Johne's disease in cattle that has been implicated as a possible cause of Crohn's disease in humans. Suki won awards for each of the three years that she presented her work at the "Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity" (CURC) Symposium: Highest Honors in 2004, CVMBS College Honors in 2005, and High Honors in 2006! In addition, Suki presented her work at the 2004 Spring Meeting of the Rocky Mountain Branch of the American Society for Microbiology and will also present at the May 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Orlando, FL.

We're not the only ones with a high opinion of Suki's potential as a PhD student and researcher. Suki was accepted to four graduate programs, and is planning to enter the PhD program in Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis at Washington University - St. Louis next fall.

Congratulations Suki!

One of our Microbiology graduates, Nick Rancis, is one of 18 CSU graduate students profiled by CSU for the Spring 2006 commencement ceremonies. In May of 2004, he was seriously injured in a car accident, fracturing his neck in three places. Nick returned to school in the fall of 2004, although he was still in the healing process and unable to turn his head. Carol Wilusz served as Nick's research and academic advisor. Click here to read the full profile.

• Elizondo-Quiroga A, Flores-Suarez A, Elizondo-Quiroga D, Ponce-Garcia G, Blitvich BJ, Contreras-Cordero JF, Gonzalez-Rojas JI, Mercado-Hernandez R, Beaty BJ, Fernandez-Salas I. Gonotrophic cycle and survivorship of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) using sticky ovitraps in Monterrey, northeastern Mexico. J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2006 Mar;22(1):10-4.
• Kinhikar AG, Vargas D, Li H, Mahaffey SB, Hinds L, Belisle JT, Laal S. Mycobacterium tuberculosis malate synthase is a laminin-binding adhesin. Mol Microbiol. 2006 May;60(4):999-1013.
• Black WC 4th, Gorrochotegui-Escalante N, Duteau NM. Heated oligonucleotide ligation assay (HOLA): an affordable single nucleotide polymorphism assay. J Med Entomol. 2006 Mar;43(2):238-47.
• Calisher CH. Doing well or doing good? Croat Med J. 2006 Apr;47(2):228-32.
• Philbey AW, Cousens C, Bishop JV, Gill CA, Demartini JC, Sharp JM. Multiclonal pattern of Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus integration sites in ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Virus Res. 2006 May;117(2):254-63.
• Kamstock D, Guth A, Elmslie R, Kurzman I, Liggitt D, Coro L, Fairman J, Dow S. Liposome-DNA complexes infused intravenously inhibit tumor angiogenesis and elicit antitumor activity in dogs with soft tissue sarcoma. Cancer Gene Ther. 2006 Mar;13(3):306-17.
• Dennis MM, Ehrhart N, Duncan CG, Barnes AB, Ehrhart EJ. Frequency of and risk factors associated with lingual lesions in dogs: 1,196 cases (1995-2004). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2006 May 15;228(10):1533-7.
• Dennis MM, Bennett N, Ehrhart EJ. Gastric adenocarcinoma and chronic gastritis in two related persian cats. Vet Pathol. 2006 May;43(3):358-62.
• Eisen L, Eisen RJ, Lane RS. Geographical distribution patterns and habitat suitability models for presence of host-seeking ixodid ticks in dense woodlands of Mendocino County, California. J Med Entomol. 2006 Mar;43(2):415-27.
• Pandher K, Podell B, Gould DH, Johnson BJ, Thompson S. Interstitial pneumonia in neonatal canine pups with evidence of canine distemper virus infection. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2006 Mar;18(2):201-4.
• Morley PS, Strohmeyer RA, Tankson JD, Hyatt DR, Dargatz DA, Fedorka-Cray PJ. Evaluation of the association between feeding raw meat and Salmonella enterica infections at a Greyhound breeding facility. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2006 May 15;228(10):1524-32.
• Kennedy JA, Mortimer RG, Powers B. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction on pooled samples to detect bovine viral diarrhea virus by using fresh ear-notch-sample supernatants. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2006 Jan;18(1):89-93.
• Titus RG, Bishop JV, Mejia JS. The immunomodulatory factors of arthropod saliva and the potential for these factors to serve as vaccine targets to prevent pathogen transmission. Parasite Immunol. 2006 Apr;28(4):131-41.
• Tanner JM, Traub-Dargatz JL, Hill AE, Van Campen H, Knight AP, Cunningham WE, Salman MD. Evaluation of factors associated with positive IgM capture ELISA results in equids with clinical signs compatible with West Nile virus infection: 1,017 cases (2003). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2006 Feb 1;228(3):414-21.
• E. Suchman, K. Uchiama, R. Smith, and K. Bender (2006) Evaluating the use of a Classroom Response System in a Microbiology Course. Journal of Microbiology Education, 7:3-11.
• E. Suchman, S. Deines, C. Hurd (2006) Service Learning in the Sciences. Focus on Microbiology Education, 12(3): 9-11.
• Palaniswamy V, Moraes KC, Wilusz CJ, Wilusz J. Nucleophosmin is selectively deposited on mRNA during polyadenylation. Nature Struct Mol Biol. 2006 May; 13:429-435.

We are VERY pleased to announce that the State of Colorado has appropriated $3.5 million to initiate the planning and construction of a new veterinary diagnostic lab on the CSU campus. Congratulations and thanks to Barb Powers for her tireless efforts in the pursuit of upgrading this facility.

Drs. Sandra Quackenbush and Joel Rovnak wish to announce the marriage of their Research Associate, Connie Brewster to Mr. Timothy Inghram on April 11th. The ceremony took place in Room 313 of the Pathology Facility. Check out the attached photos. While there sure has been a lot happening in the Path Bldg over the years, we're pretty sure that this was the first wedding in its history. Connie first met Tim when they rode the bus together in grade school. As per departmental policy for in-lab weddings, the bride was allowed the rest of the afternoon off, but reported in bright and early the next day.
Congratulations and Best Wishes!

CENTRIFUGE DAMAGED
IN MICRO FACILITY

In early April, the Avanti floor centrifuge on the second floor of the Micro Facility was discovered to be severely damaged. While things weren't quite as dramatic as the 1998 Cornell incident pictured above, our unit suffered a damaged drive motor, smashed hall effect sensor and 3 broken drive mounts. These are all abnormal failures that most likely occurred when a rotor was improperly balanced or placed in the machine incorrectly. The cost to repair the instrument is ~$6000. The individual responsible for this abuse has not been identified.

Preventable accidents affect our research effectiveness. Please take care in operating all departmental equipment and always sign the log book. If you need help, please ask and report all problems with departmental equipment promptly to your facility office.

Graduate Students
On May 12, the following students participated in the Graduate School commencement ceremony in Moby Arena:

Doctor of Philosophy
• Kimberly Keene
  Advisors: Carol Blair and Ken Olson
  Dissertation: "Evidence for RNA Interference as an Antiviral Immune Response to Alphavirus Infection in the Mosquitoes Anopheles Gambiae and Aedes Aegypti.
• Ma. Isabel Salazar Sanchez
  Advisors: Barry Beaty and Ken Olson
  Dissertation: "Determinants of Dengue Type 2 Virus Infection in the Mosquito Aedes aegypti
• Wendy Sprague
  Advisor: Ed Hoover
  Dissertation: "The Pivotal Role of Dendritic Cells in Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
• Raquel Walton
  Advisor: Mary Anna Thrall and John Wolfe
  Dissertation: "In Vitro and In Situ Properties of Canine Neural Precursor Cells with Respect to Transplantation Potential.

Master of Science
• Christine Lee
  Advisor: Ramesh Akkina
• Janae Raetz
  Advisors: Ken Olson and Ann Powers

Candidates for Graduate Degrees Summer 2006:

Doctor of Philosophy
• Kyoung-hee Choi
  Advisor: Herbert Schweizer
• Susan Cleveland
  Advisor: Hana Van Campen
• Daniel Konet
  Advisor: Jon Carlson

Spring 2006 Undergraduates
On May 12^th fifty three Microbiology majors received their Bachelor of Science degree at the CVMBS commencement ceremony in the Main Ballroom of the Lory Student Center.

This outstanding group of students included 10 people who graduated with distinction. Two of the Summa Cum Laude candidates, Jennifer Fletcher and Joanna Virgin, achieved perfect 4.0 grade point averages! In case you didn't know, CVMBS has one of the highest GPA thresholds for distinction within the University--you have to maintain ≥ a 3.92 average in order to be considered for two-thirds of the honors designations!

Eight of our graduating seniors were also University Honors Scholars. In addition, two Honors Scholars in Zoology and Biochemistry were advised by MIP faculty.

Congratulations Graduates!

• Kelly Adducci
• Julie Bentzoni
• Angela Bosco-Lauth, Cum Laude, Honors Scholar
• Elizabeth Brooks
• Jennifer Brown
• Jessica Bushanam
• Jeffrey Chandler
• Sukantha Chandrasekaran, Honors Scholar
• Timothy Cifelli
• David Colburn
• Krista Crawford
• Nicole Easley
• Daniel Farber, Cum Laude
• Jennifer Fletcher, Summa Cum Laude, Honors Scholar
• Megan Halstead
• Katherine James
• Nicholas Jimenez
• Omar Jimenez
• Michelle Keefer
• Melissa Koerner
• Sarah Kopasz
• Gina Kwong
• Ryan LeBaron, Summa Cum Laude
• Bret Luedke
• Michael Manning
• Stephanie Manzer, Honors Scholar
• Brady Michel
• Kellie Osborn
• Laura Mitrescu, Cum Laude
• Emily Plake
• Saige Probasco, Honors Scholar
• Jennifer Quick, Cum Laude
• Nicholas Rancis
• Lynsey Reed
• Diana Rubino, Cum Laude
• Kenneth Serenyi
• Mark Smith
• Zachary Spaw
• Katie Swift
• Kimberly Tekavec
• Jesse Terry, Magna Cum Laude
• Lee Thompson
• Christopher Villafuerte
• Joanna Virgin, Summa Cum Laude, Honors Scholar
• James Ely Walker, Cum Laude, Honors Scholar
• Trevor Wasmund
• Chelsea Zimmerman, Honors Scholar

After graduation, here's where some of our graduates are headed:

CSU Veterinary School - Jennifer Fletcher and Jesse Terry

School of Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center - James Ely Walker

Graduate Programs:

• Angela Bosco-Lauth, PhD Program in Microbiology at CSU
• Sukantha Chandrasekaran, PhD Program in Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis at Washington University-St. Louis
• Jeff Chandler, MS Program in Microbiology at CSU
• Daniel Farber, MS Science Program in Human Nutrition at Columbia University, NY
• Brett Luedke, MS Program in Biomedical Sciences at CSU
• Stefanie Manzer, PhD Program in Molecular and Cellular Biosciences at Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
• Brady Michael, MS Program in Microbiology at CSU
• Laura Mitrescu, PhD Program in Immunology at The Rockefeller University, NY
• Nicholas Rancis, Graduate program in Mechanical Engineering at CSU
• Joanna Virgin, MS Program in Biomedical Sciences at CSU
• Chelsea Zimmerman, MS Program in Biomedical Sciences at CSU

• Saige Probasco - Doctor of Pharmacy Program at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
• Kate James - The Colorado Center for Medical Laboratory Science, Denver

• Jennifer Brown - Quality Assurance Department at Anheuser Busch Brewery, Ft. Collins
• Megan Halsted - Laboratory Technician for Infinity Laboratories, Littleton
• Rachel Johnson - Research Assistant at the University of Wisconsin
• Nicholas Rancis - Lab manager for SunSource Industries, Ft. Collins

Tina Daniels, graduate student in the Quackenbush Lab, recently returned from a 1½ year deployment for the Army Reserves in Germany. Thank you Tina for your service and welcome home!

Upcoming Birthdays

• Laurel Respicio, May 15
• Lance U'Ren, May 15
• Emily Smith, May 16
• James Starbuck, May 16
• Sue VandeWoude, May 16
• Rama Sakamuri, May 17
• EJ Ehrhart, May 18
• Eric Knotts, May 18
• Erica Suchman, May 18
• Zheng Wang, May 18
• Krystle Reagan, May 19
• Ashley Sicks, May 21
• Mark Hughes, May 22
• Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann, May 25
• Delphi Chatterjee, May 26
• Karamjeet Pandher, May 26
• Lisa Wolfe, May 26
• John Anderson, May 28
• Andrea Bohn, May 28
• Sherry McElwain, May 28
• Erin Napier, May 28
• Eric Beck, May 29
• Anne Lenaerts, May 29
• Gopi Palanisamy, May 29
• Chelsey Sobeck, May 31
• Ayush Kumar, June 1
• Shuhui Wang, June 1
• John Wydallis, June 1
• John Betz, June 2
• Elizabeth Handwerk, June 3
• Daniel Konet, June 4
• Julia Shimizu, June 5
• Joseph Piper, June 6
• Thomas Keene, June 7
• Richard Titus, June 8
• Mary Sanders, June 9
• Atisaya Vimuktanon, June 9
• Michael Scherman, June 10
• Heather Blair, June 11
• Jennifer Mahaffey, June 11
• Wade Whitcomb, June 11
• Brian Foy, June 12
• Paul Kaufmann, June 12
• Catharine Bosio, June 13
• Hataichanok Scherman, June 13

"You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world. " ~Tom Brokaw

The votes are in for renaming of the CETT Facility to reflect its new use as an MIP research Facility. Infectious Disease Annex, or IDA is the name that we have forwarded to university officials for approval. Thanks to all those who voted.

Since its official MIP policy to try to find humor in everything, here's a few 'IDA' jokes:

1. If Ida Lupino married George Wendt, then divorced him to marry Ted Danson, divorced him to marry Alan Alda, then divorced him to marry Tony Knight, and divorced him to marry Shelly Long, she'd be Ida Wendt Danson Alda Knight Long.

2. Knock knock.
Who's there?
Ida.
Ida who?
Ida know, I gotta ask.

3. Knock knock.
Who's there?
Ida.
Ida who?
Ida thought you'd stop reading this drivel by now.

4. Send in yours!

"Paul Avery Celebrates a Birthday Milestone"

Alternative Captions:
1. "Paul, our daughter wants her tiara back - NOW!"
2. Paul inadvertently makes the Guinness Book of World Records by keeping his hand on a range top burner longer than anyone
3. "Gosh, I hope this photo doesn't appear in the Newsletter"
4. What do you get when you cross a tall prom queen with a school crossing guard?
5. Submit your own caption.

"Charlie"

"Felipe"

Click here for the questions to MIPuzzle #10
Click here for Answers to MIPuzzle #10

MIPuzzle #10

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