Microbiology, Immunology & Pathology
NEWSLETTER


Volume 5, Issue 1
January 2008


Jacob Miller was a truly outstanding student! He earned a nearly perfect GPA while completing both the rigorous curriculum required for a degree in microbiology and the additional coursework required for the Honors Scholars Program. Based on Jake's academic performance, you might think he spent all of his time studying, but you would be wrong. In addition to being a full-time student, Jake was also employed part-time in the research laboratory of Dr. Ramesh Akkina and for Good Shepherd Communities, where he worked with disabled individuals. In addition, Jake was a member of the CSU Marching Band and the CSU Rodeo Club. Obviously, Jake is a person with very diverse interests and talents.

When faculty members were asked to describe Jake, they repeatedly used two adjectives: creative and artistic. Indeed, Jake is an extremely creative young man. A great example can be found in his Honors thesis - which he wrote in the format of a radio show. Using clever characters, Jake presents some pretty complex scientific principles in a manner that he hopes will be interesting and accessible to middle-school and high-school students. Jake will do all of the character voices, and we can't wait to hear the finished product.

Jake aspires to become a physician. We hope he is successful in realizing his goal, because Jake will be the kind of physician we would all like to have - one who inspires confidence in his patients not only because of his technical skills, but also because of his interpersonal skills.


MIP Welcomes Diane Ordway to the Faculty

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Diane Ordway has accepted an Assistant Professor position in the department effective January 1. Diane received her BS in Microbiology from what some folks say is one of the best programs on the planet (CSU Microbiology) and her PhD in infection and tropical diseases from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine across the pond. After a postdoctoral stint in Portugal, Diane returned to CSU in 2003 as a visiting scientist and was soon appointed as a research scientist. Diane's interests lie in the immunology of infections (primarily tuberculosis), animal models of disease, and BSL 3 work. She's also certified in flow cytometry. To date, she's published an impressive ~40 papers in peer-reviewed journals. In addition to research, Diane is also very interested in teaching and is making plans to present 'Topics' courses on immunology and animal models. On the personal note, Diane loves to ski and run - in addition to running after her three boys. Welcome aboard Diane!


We are pleased to announce that Debra Kamstock has accepted a tenure-track assistant professor position as an Anatomic pathologist in the department. A Gator earlier in her career, Debra received DVM training from the University of Florida and did her PhD and residency training 4,920 feet higher in elevation here at CSU. Debra is ACVP board certified in anatomic pathology. Her clinical interests include cancer pathologies and her research interests lie in the area of cancer immunology and vaccines. Congratulations Debra on your new appointment.


  • Jacob Miller (Gerry Callahan)
  • Erin Lothringer (Gerry Callahan)
  • Cori Probasco (Sandy Quackenbush)
  • Laura Backus (Coleen Duncan)

Thanks to the Honors Program mentors for your efforts in teaching Honors course sections (Drs. Callahan, Justice and Quackenbush), supervising the thesis projects listed above, and for generating a significant amount of funding through the CSU Honors Program that MIP uses towards a scholarship fund for recruitment of outstanding students into the Microbiology major.




(MIPnews editor's note to self: ask the Dept to purchase a wide angle lens so that we can fit all of the theses into one picture next year)

2007 PhD Recipients
Eric Beck
Barbara Biller
Douglas Brackney
April Davis
Hyungyin Eoh
Debra Kamstock
Dan Konet (CMB)
Carlos Machain-Williams
Dennis Pierro
Mark Sartain
Claudia Schneekloth
Laura Thompson
Andrea Torres
2007 MS Recipients Heather Blair
Melissa Byrne
Renee Krohne
Angela Morrison (CMB)
Mary Sanders
Rodman Tomkins


It's that time of year again when MIP evaluates all of the applications to our graduate program. As the pile of folders on Marcia's desk attests, we sure get a bunch of them! Thanks to Marcia and the MIP Graduate Education Committee for all of the hard work they put into managing and ranking this highly competitive pool of applicants.


Missed it the first time or would you like to see it again? Check out the CVMBS Fall 2007 Graduation Slide Show.

In the News...

  • Bill Black was highlighted in the December 18th Issue of the Montrose Daily Press in the article entitled, "Insecticide-resistant mosquito population developing in Delta County".

    Read the article.

The MIPnews reached a new plateau in January with its 40,000th hit. That, by the way (for those of you who can't wait for Spring Training to start next month) is 35,744 more hits than Pete Rose had in 24 years.


MIP Publications Late December - early January 2008


Are you one of the many who can't hear enough about sex, blood meals and inexplicable ignorance? Then be sure to check out the MIP Dept Spring Seminar Schedule. Seminars are held on Mondays from 4-5PM in Path 103. Outside speakers for the semester include Roger Miesfeld (Univ of Arizona), Ethan Shevach (NIAID), Caroline Kulesza (UCHSC), Gary Simpson (New Mexico Dept Pub Health) and three scientists from Johns Hopkins (George Dinopoulus, John Rasgon and Sabra Klein).


Just a reminder that due to the hours of operation of the Micro Student Study Lounge, a new Microbiology building security policy is in effect. ALL doors leading to the B and C wings of the Microbiology Facility will be locked every afternoon at 5PM. So be sure to bring your trusty departmental keychain with you so that you're not left out in the cold this semester.


Best Wishes Karamjeet!
We are sorry to report that Dr. Karamjeet Pandher has resigned from his tenure-track Anatomic Pathologist faculty position to pursue other interests. Dr. Pandher will, however, maintain an affiliate appointment in MIP so that he can continue to serve on graduate student committees and wrap-up several research projects. We collectively wish him well in his future endeavors.


The Prion Biologist Search Committee has invited three candidates to interview for the open faculty position as follows:

  • Magdalena Ivanova will inteview on Jan 24 & 25
  • Jiri Safar will interview on Jan 28 & 29
  • Mark Zabel will interview on Jan 30 & 31

  • MIP700 - TOPICS

The Topics class this semester will take a look at parasites, some of which have been overlooked in recent years as being important causes of human and animal disease. Consistent (or perhaps just coincidently) with it being offered just before lunch, the class will focus on food borne parasites that can be transmitted through the ingestion of meat, fish, or plant materials. Not-so-tasty nematodes, trematodes, cestodes, or protozoans "lie in wait" in these food products until they can continue their lives once their new host has eaten them. The class will look at the prevalence of some well known parasites, such Trichinella and Toxoplasma, as well as some lesser known parasites including Baylisascaris and Cysticercosis. This is truly an exciting area for a topics class - plus you can impress your friends at the Super Bowl Party by knowing which nematode has a football-shaped egg.

  • MIP581 - ADVANCED BIOANALYTICAL PATHOLOGY(experimental course)

Students will learn basic concepts needed to interpret clinical laboratory data from large and small animals. Topics to be covered include acid-base homeostasis, hemostasis, laboratory and diagnostic statistics, pathogenesis / diagnosis of leukemias and laboratory evaluation of organ systems. At the end of the course, the students should be able to evaluate hematological and biochemical data from clinical cases and produce a list of differential diagnoses as well as understand the underlying pathogenesis associated with the data.


Jenna Achenbach will be working in Dr. Richard Bowen's lab

Wafa Alturkistini will be working in Dr. Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann's lab.


New Recruits for Anatomic Pathology Residency Program to start in July

Three may be considered a crowd in some situations, but for the Anatomic Pathology Residency Program, it's just what Doctor Ehrhart ordered. We are very pleased to announce that Deanna Dailey, Brendan Podell, and Gopi Palanisamy have all accepted offers to enroll in the Anatomic Pathology Residency Program.


The 9th Annual CVMBS Research Symposium will take place at the Fort Collins Hilton two days after Valentine's Day. More information on this college-wide event can be found at www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/researchday.


It is time again for food, fun, drink and a little competition compliments of the CMB Program. Students and postdocs should consider presenting a poster for the Annual Cell & Molecular Biology / Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Neurosciences / Biochemistry & Molecular Biology poster symposium run in conjunction with their graduate recruitment weekend. Please see the attached flyer for information and abstract submission.


Best Wishes Melody!

Melody Orso has been offered an Accounting Tech III position with the Infectious Disease Research Center. Her last day with MIP will be January 31. We wish her all the best in her new role!


Sharon Chapman, Accounting Technician II at the IDA Facility

I have been an employee with CSU since November 1996 having just transferred from Telecommunications in December. Between my husband and I we have 7 children, 6 boys and a girl, that are all grown up and on their own along with 7 grandchildren so far. We love family get-togethers and enjoy being with the grandchildren when we can. I look forward to meeting and working with everyone in MIP.

Claire Petray, Administrative Assistant II in the Pathology Office.

Hi y'all! I'm Claire Petray. I came to Colorado from the friendship state - Texas! Just before the snow hit last winter, I drove in with my patient boyfriend, JC, and two sweet dogs, Samantha and Skittles. Though I can't say I could fully live up to my home state's motto last winter, I'm all settled into beautiful Colorado now and loving it!

I'm glad to be here at CSU as an employee and a student. I'm most excited to report that this is my first semester at a university ever. I'm interested in pursuing a degree in Architecture/Landscape Architecture and then in Urban Design.

When I'm not at work, I'm either cooking and eating, doing yoga, cooking and eating, or dancing. I love to salsa, swing, tango, and two-step.

Y'all come by and see me anytime, and I'll be more than happy to help you with anything you need.


Dawn Petersen gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Sierra Reese, on December 23. Sierra tipped the scales at 7lbs 11 ozs and measured 20.5 inches from head to cute little toe.


If you are interested in mentoring a student in your lab for Spring 2008, please contact Susan Deines.



January 14, 2008: Over a month since the groundbreaking ceremony, construction crews can be seen diligently at work using cranes, cement trucks, and shovels to install piping and develop the structure's foundation.




"A pat on the back is only a few vertebrae from a kick in the pants - but is miles ahead in results"

~Ella Wheeler Wilcox, American Author and Poet


"Local fowl out enjoying the melt after a rather snowy December in Fort Collins"
    Alternative Captions
  • The CSU Biosafety Office finds an alternative explanation to dismiss fears of giant, genetically-engineered bacilli appearing on the sidewalk outside of the Microbiology Building
  • Honk if you like MIP
  • Members of the Avian Influenza/Zoonotic Disease Review Panel arrive on campus for a surprise site visit
  • Looks like Santa must've brought Randy a new goose call
  • Submit your own


Click Here for the questions to MIPuzzle #26
Click Here for the answers to MIPuzzle #26

  • NIAID Experts See Dengue as Potential Threat to U.S. Public Health. Read the full Jan. 8th news release.
  • NIH launches the Human Microbiome Project. Read more about this $115 million initiative.

New Grant Awards

Carol Wilusz/Jerome Lee, "Regulation of TNF mRNA Stability by CUG-BP in Heart Disease", American Heart Association.


JANUARY 2007

Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri
  1

University Holiday
2 3 4
FAS system shuts down
7 8 9 10 11
14 15
Faculty Mtg 11am Path 103
16 17 18
21

University Holiday
22
Classes Begin

Graduate Seminar
23 24 25
28
Faculty Seminar
29
Graduate Seminar
30 31  

FEBRUARY 2007

Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri
        1
4
Faculty Seminar
5
Graduate Seminar
6 7 8
11
Faculty Seminar
12
Graduate Seminar
13 14
15
18
Faculty Seminar
19
Faculty Mtg 11am Path 103
Graduate Seminar
20 21 22
25
Faculty Seminar
26
Graduate Seminar
27 28 29

Do you have NEWS or PICTURES you would like to share?

Send In your ideas or newsworthy items. Contributions make the Newsletter better!