MIP Newsletter

Volume 8, Issue 3, March 2011

Spotlight

MIP trainees
lead the pack at
CVMBS Research Day

The CVMBS 12th Annual Research Day was held on March 5, 2011. There were over 200 attendees and 105 abstracts presented. Congratulations to the following students:

Christy Wyckoff

Christy Wyckoff
1st Place Basic Oral Presentation
"Development of a Novel Detection Assay for Chronic Wasting Disease Prions in Soil"

Fumi Sagawa

Fumihiko Sagawa
1st Place Poster Presentation
"Deposition of the oncoprotein nucleophosmin on mRNAs influences poly(A) tail length
and mRNA export"


CMB/MCIN/BMB/MIP Poster Symposium: MIP Student Awards

The annual CMB/MCIN/BMB/MIP Poster Symposium was held on Feb 25th in the Lory Student Center. Congratulations to all the students and postdocs who assembled and presented posters! Listed below are the MIP Students who received special recognition for their work:

HONORS

Drew Rholl
Drew Rholl
Amber Troy
Amber Troy
Erik Arthun
Erik Arthun
Stephanie Moon
Stephanie Moon

POSTDOC CATEGORY

Alexa Dickson and Gavin Ryan
Alexa Dickson and Gavin Ryan

HONORABLE MENTION

Crystal Meyerett
Crystal Meyerett

Sarah Eck, Jennifer Sneden, and Jenny Ross

Congratulations to Jenny Ross, Jennifer Sneden, and Sarah Eck, all members of the Basaraba Lab, for being accepted into the Professional Veterinary Program starting this Fall Semester.


Phi Kappa PhiCongratulations to Rebecca Timmons and Bianca Christensen for being nominated for the Phi Kappa Phi Outstanding Junior Award. As finalists for the award, Rebecca and Bianca have been invited to become members of Phi Kappa Phi and attend a recognition ceremony on May 3rd.

Phi Kappa Phi was established with a slated intent of recognizing students as juniors in college who have demonstrated outstanding acheivemen and who show excellent promise to further distinguish themselves beyond Colorado State University as members of professional communities.


Service Milestones

40 Years of Service

Donald Klein

35 Years of Service

Carol Blair
Mary Anna Thrall

30 Years of Service

Patrick Brennan
Beverly Meyer

25 Years of Service

Ramesh Akkina
Michael McNeil

15 Years of Service

Robert Burnett
Claudia Gentry-Weeks
Roxann Karkhoff-Schweizer
Susan Rogers
Herbert Schweizer
John Spencer
Erica Suchman

10 Years of Service

Meaghan Beaty
Devinder Kaur
Anne Lenaerts
Erin Petrilli
Irma Sanchez-Vargas
Richard Slayden
Hana VanCampen


pub highlight

A multistage tuberculosis vaccine that confers efficient protection before and after exposure

Claus Aagaard, Truc Hoang, Jes Dietrich, Pere-Joan Cardona, Angelo Izzo, Gregory Dolganov, Gary Schoolnik, Joseph Cassidy, Rolf Billeskov & Peter Andersen

Nature Medicine 17: 189-195, February 2011

One third of the world is currently infected with TB and 5-10% of these folks will develop overt disease or become infectious. On average, a person with active TB will infect 10-15 other people through the air in a fashion similar to how the common cold is spread. While efforts of the Global Plan to Stop TB are making headway around the globe (e.g. TB death rates have fallen 35% since 1990), the fact that 4700 people still die every day from this disease emphasizes the enormous value an effective vaccine would have in breaking the hold of this pathogen on the human race.

In a grand example of international collaborative science, MIP’s Angelo Izzo has teamed up with researchers from Denmark, Spain, Ireland, and California (ok – that’s in the good old US of A but parts of CA can seem like another world…) to work on developing a highly effective TB vaccine. The strategy they used was to build upon earlier work that focused on TB proteins (Ag85B and ESAT-6) that were highly expressed early in infection and add to that cocktail a TB antigen (Rv2660c) that was also highly expressed during latent/persistent TB infections. This tripartite antigen was made as a recombinant protein in E. coli and used to vaccinate mice. Vaccination with this new ‘H56’ cocktail proved to be superior to the old BCG vaccine and a cocktail containing just Ag85B and ESAT-6 ("H1") in three key ways. First, the efficacy of the H56 vaccine was sustained much longer than the other two vaccines. A robust poly-functional CD4+ T cell response was also nicely documented by the group. Second, the H56 vaccine clearly augmented immune responses to the classic (but somewhat ineffective) BCG vaccine. Finally, the H56 vaccine showed some efficacy as a post-exposure treatment, reducing the overall number of TB bacilli (but it could not fully eliminate reactivatable bacteria). What was a little puzzling was that the immune response to H56 remained focused on the Ag85B and ESAT-6 antigens like the old, less effective H1 vaccine, but the limited response to the new Rv2660c component appeared to be sufficient to increase the effectiveness of the immune response to TB ~5- 10 fold. Guess a little Rv2660c may go a long way when it comes to TB immunology.

So why did we choose this paper as our coveted MIPublication of the Month ® (and dare to pass up terrific papers such as the one by new CVMBS Research Dean Sue VandeWoude and our incoming Dept Head Gregg Dean)? First, this study highlights the large effort and international reach of the TB vaccine research arm of our world-renowned MRL group. Second, the study is a great example of a hypothesis-driven fusion of molecular and immunological approaches to attack an important clinical problem. Finally, it gives us the opportunity to reveal another possible major international influence that Angelo has had: Is it just us or do you see the name ‘Izzo’ in the new logo for the 2012 Olympics in London?

Izzo 2012

MIP Publications Late Feb 2011 - Early March 2011

Perry JA, Thamm DH, Eickhoff J, Avery AC, Dow SW.  Increased monocyte chemotactic protein-1 concentration and monocyte count independently associate with a poor prognosis in dogs with lymphoma.  Vet Comp Oncol. 2011 Mar;9(1):55-64.

García-Rejón JE, Loroño-Pino MA, Farfán-Ale JA, Flores-Flores LF, López-Uribe MP, Najera-Vazquez Mdel R, Nuñez-Ayala G, Beaty BJ, Eisen L.  Mosquito Infestation and Dengue Virus Infection in Aedes aegypti Females in Schools in Merida, Mexico.  Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011 Mar;84(3):489-96.

Sutherland IW, Mori A, Montgomery J, Fleming KL, Anderson JM, Valenzuela JG, Severson DW, Black WC 4th.  A linkage map of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) based on cDNA markers.  J Hered. 2011 Jan-Feb;102(1):102-12.

Bai Y, Calisher CH, Kosoy MY, Root JJ, Doty JB.  Persistent Infection or Successive Reinfection of Deer Mice with Bartonella vinsonii subsp. arupensis.  Appl Environ Microbiol. 2011 Mar;77(5):1728-31.

Lester SJ, Malik R, Bartlett KH, Duncan CG.  Cryptococcosis: update and emergence of Cryptococcus gattii.  Vet Clin Pathol. 2011 Mar;40(1):4-17.

Carlson JC, Engeman RM, Hyatt DR, Gilliland RL, Deliberto TJ, Clark L, Bodenchuk MJ, Linz GM.  Efficacy of European starling control to reduce Salmonella enterica contamination in a concentrated animal feeding operation in the Texas panhandle.  BMC Vet Res. 2011 Feb 16;7(1):9.

Aagaard C, Hoang T, Dietrich J, Cardona PJ, Izzo A, Dolganov G, Schoolnik GK, Cassidy JP, Billeskov R, Andersen P.  A multistage tuberculosis vaccine that confers efficient protection before and after exposure.  Nat Med. 2011 Feb;17(2):189-94.

De Groote MA, Gilliland JC, Wells CL, Brooks EJ, Woolhiser LK, Gruppo V, Peloquin CA, Orme IM, Lenaerts AJ.  Comparative Studies Evaluating Mouse Models Used for Efficacy Testing of Experimental Drugs against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.  Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2011 Mar;55(3):1237-47.

Hess AM, Prasad AN, Ptitsyn A, Ebel GD, Olson KE, Barbacioru C, Monighetti C, Campbell CL.  Small RNA profiling of Dengue virus-mosquito interactions implicates the PIWI RNA pathway in anti-viral defense.  BMC Microbiol. 2011 Feb 28;11(1):45.

Orme IM.  Development of new vaccines and drugs for TB: limitations and potential strategic errors.  Future Microbiol. 2011 Feb;6:161-77.

Goehring LS, Hussey GS, Ashton LV, Schenkel AR, Lunn DP.  Infection of central nervous system endothelial cells by cell-associated EHV-1.  Vet Microbiol. 2011 Mar 24;148(2-4):389-95.

Thomas CJ, Casquilho-Gray HE, York J, Decamp DL, Dai D, Petrilli EB, Boger DL, Slayden RA, Amberg SM, Sprang SR, Nunberg JH.  A specific interaction of small molecule entry inhibitors with the envelope glycoprotein complex of the junin hemorrhagic Fever arenavirus.  J Biol Chem. 2011 Feb 25;286(8):6192-200.

Schweizer HP, Choi KH.  Pseudomonas aeruginosa aerobic fatty acid desaturase DesB is important for virulence factor production.  Arch Microbiol. 2011 Mar;193(3):227-34.

Weng X, Heiden JV, Xing Y, Liu J, Vissa V.  Transmission of leprosy in Qiubei County, Yunnan, China: Insights from an 8-year molecular epidemiology investigation.  Infect Genet Evol. 2011 Mar;11(2):363-74.

Wood BA, O'Halloran KP, Vandewoude S.  Development and Validation of a Multiplex Microsphere-Based Assay for Detection of Domestic Cat (Felis catus) Cytokines.  Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2011 Mar;18(3):387-92.

Mikkelsen SR, Long JM, Zhang L, Galemore ER, Vandewoude S, Dean GA.  Partial regulatory T cell depletion prior to acute feline immunodeficiency virus infection does not alter disease pathogenesis.  PLoS One. 2011 Feb 25;6(2):e17183.

Happenings

Snowshoeing at Cameron Pass

Prospective graduate students went on a snowshoeing trip at Cameron Pass

Thirteen prospective MIP graduate students visited the CSU campus on Feb 24-27. One of the applicants is a current CSU undergrad, while the other twelve are from out-of-state. After arriving on Thursday, a couple of current graduate students took them to dinner. Friday morning they met in Micro for breakfast and an overview of the Graduate program from Drs. Hoover and Quackenbush. Then they took a tour of the Foothills facilities conducted by Dr. Schweizer and met with the GEC and individual faculty whose research programs are of interest to them. They attended lunch with Susan Deines, Erica Suchman, and Pete Justice and spent the afternoon at the CMB/MCIN/BMB/MIP Poster Symposium in the Student Center. Friday evening, the Microbiology Graduate Student Organization organized a FAC at The Rio for the prospective students to spend time with current graduate students and Faculty. Saturday morning, they headed up Poudre Canyon for a day of snowshoeing with Drs. Quackenbush, Black, Blair, Brennan, and Rovnak.

See the Snowshoeing at Cameron Pass Photo gallery.


Stephen Benjamin Just Desserts

"It started Saturday night when Billy Thornborough’s dessert attacked him….."

MIP Professor Emeritus Steve Benjamin recently had his short story, Just Desserts, e-published by TWB Press. To check out this supernatural humor piece, visit Steve’s website at www.stephenabenjamin.com


Where's Jeanette

If you are looking for our Facility Coordinator and cannot find her, you are probably looking in the wrong facility. Even though Jeanette Fritzler works in all MIP's facilities, she recently moved her ‘home office’ to room B107 of the Microbiology Facility. Be sure to stop by and welome her to Micro!


RMASM Spring Mtg

MIPers and Microbiologists
of all Ages!

The Spring meeting of the Rocky Mtn Branch of the Amer Soc for Microbiology will take place on April 1st (Fri evening plenary talk) and 2nd (full day talk and poster sessions). This is a fantastic opportunity (aka supportive, high yield environment) for grad students, postdocs and undergrads to present their research projects in a poster or oral format. As the premier microbiology department in the state, I think that MIP should have a strong showing at this meeting. I hope that you agree.

Here are the specifics:
When: April 1 & 2 (all student/postdoc talks will take place on Saturday 4/2; its OK to just come for the Saturday session)

Where: UC- Boulder (Room A2B70 of the MCDB Bldg)

Registration deadline: March 20

Additional info can be found in the RM-ASM newsletter and the UC campus map.


Art and Science Expo

March 11th - April 8th

For the sixth year, the College of Natural Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts are co-sponsoring the Art and Science Exhibition - an ‘all media’ show featuring the work of CSU artists and scientists. CSU students, staff, and faculty have submitteed works for this show. Be sure to stop by and check out the MIP submissions!


CRC Call for Proposals

The College Research Council (CRC) 2011 Call for Proposals information is now available on the web at the College Employee Resources Webpage. The deadline for proposal submission is 5:00pm on Monday, March 21st.


CURC

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

This year's Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity event will be held on April 19 in the Main Ballroom of the Lory Student Center. Registration is open at the CURC website. Presenting at CURC is a great resume builder and awards will be given for most outstanding poster presentations.

If you have undergraduate students working in your lab, please encourage them to participate!

Deadline for Abstract Submission: March 30, 2011 at Noon


Two exciting workshops will be held at CSU this summer:

"Workshop on Comparative Genomics"
and
"Workshop on Molecular Evolution"

Directed by: Dr. Michael Cummings (University of Maryland), Scott Handley (Washington University, St. Louis) at Dr. Kendra Nightingale (Colorado State University)

For additional information (and to register) visit the Molecular Revolution website

For program details or other questions contact Michael Cummings


CVMBS Housing Website

The CVMBS Housing website will be down March 11-18 to purge existing postings. Once the site is back up and running all property owners who want their current listings to continue will need to create a new listing for their property.

As a reminder, this site is primarily for incoming DVM students - Class 2015 and will be made availablt to themin early May. This will give property owners several weeks to create their new listings.

The CVMBS Housing website is an excellent way to find roommates, tenants, or places to rent or buy. The website is open to those associated with the COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES. This is a great resource and it is FREE!!

For any questions regarding the website, please contact the Site Manager, Janet Janke.


STP Annual Symposium

Hyatt Regency, Denver
June 19-23, 2011

Registration for Residents, Graduate Students and Postdocs from CSU will be waived if you apply for student membership by March 1st!

Visit the STP Membership Online Application to apply for membership.

See the STP Annual Meeting site for more information about the meeting.


CSEFJudges Wanted

It’s that time again to sign up as a judge for the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair. The competition will be held at CSU on Thursday April 7th. You can sign up on line at CSEF website.


Baby Congrats Caden Pulford

A new Green Bay Packers fan arrived in time to watch (or maybe hear) his team win the Superbowl. Caden Smith Pulford was born to Breanna Smith and Bruce Pulford of the Zabel Lab on January 24th, weighing in at 6 pounds 8 ounces.


MIP Bits

Quote of the Month

"Don't find fault, find a remedy."
~ Henry Ford

 


Gavin Ryan

Gavin celebrating his
recent ‘best poster’ award

    Alternative Captions
  1. "Stay in school kids, study hard and you can grow up to be just like me"
  2. They say that dogs and owners start to look alike over time – now we have evidence for postdocs and their advisors
  3. Dr. Zabel, come quick – I think we have confirmed the first case of ‘chronic wasted disease’
  4. Submit your own

MIPuzzle
Questions for MIPuzzle #63
MIPuzzle #63 Answers
MIPuzzle 63

NIH Happenings
  • New RFA – Partnerships for Biodefense

    Interested in select agent therapeutics, diagnostics or vaccines and have an industrial/biotech partner? Then this new NIAID RFA for R01 applications may be just the ticket. Check it out at the NIH Health and Human Services website.

  • NIAID’s available ‘Omics’ tools/services

    Is your project in need of help with genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics or bioinformatics in general? You may want to check out the available resources and services that NIAID has to offer (many at no or minimal cost). Check it out at the NIH Resources for Researchers website.


New Grant Awards

Randall Basaraba, "Pathogenesis of Tuberculosis in Diabetic Guinea Pigs", American Diabetes Association, Inc.

Randall Basaraba, "Tuberculosis in Diabetic Guinea Pigs ", NIAID

Dean Crick, "Menaquinone Biosynthes: A Drug Target in Gram-Positive Bacteria", NIAID


MARCH 2011
Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri
  1
Grad Seminar
2
Microscopy Seminar 8am, 101 DMC
Faculty Seminar 4pm, Path 103
3  4
7 8
Grad Seminar
9
Microscopy Seminar 8am, 101 DMC
10  11
14
SP
B
15
R
R
16
I
E
17
N
A
18
G
K
21 22
Grad Seminar
23
Microscopy Seminar 8am, 101 DMC
Faculty Seminar 4pm, Path 103
24  25
28 29
Faculty Mtg 4PM
Grad Seminar
30
Microscopy Seminar 8am, 101 DMC
Faculty Seminar 4pm, Path 103
31  

 

APRIL 2011
Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri
        1
Faculty Seminar 9am, Path 103
4 5Grad Seminar 6
Microscopy Seminar 8am, 101 DMC
Faculty Seminar 4pm, Path 103
7  8
11 12
Grad Seminar
13
Microscopy Seminar 8am, 101 DMC
14 15
18 19
Grad Seminar
20
Microscopy Seminar 8am, 101 DMC
Faculty Seminar 4pm, Path 103
21  22 
25 26
Faculty Mtg 4PM
Grad Seminar
27
Microscopy Seminar 8am, 101 DMC
Faculty Seminar 4pm, Path 103
28 29

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MIP Newsletter Volume 8, Issue 3, March 2011
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