Center for Molecular and Comparative Endocrinology for Molecular and Comparative Endocrinology...
Transcript of Center for Molecular and Comparative Endocrinology for Molecular and Comparative Endocrinology...
About CME
UNH established a new Center for Compara9ve and Molecular Endocrinology in July 2008. The foci of the center is Environmental Endocrinology, Reproduc9ve Biology and the Evolu9on and Regula9on of Physiological Phenomena. We seek to expand the capacity and synergism of "systems endocrinology and physiology" research that links to other areas of UNH and regional medical schools.
Mission The mission of the Center for Compara9ve and Molecular Endocrinology focuses on the molecular components shared by endocrine systems, especially in their dynamic interac9ons. We seek to understand the structure of the system such as gene regulatory and biochemical networks; to understand the dynamics of the system both quan9ta9ve and qualita9ve analysis; and to understand the control methods of the system. Overview Currently studies of the Center converge on environmental endocrinology, reproduc9ve biology, microbial endocrinology and fisheries biology. Research in the center is emphasizing approaches to studying reproduc9ve biology and neuroendocrinology that u9lize new methodologies becoming available through the disciplines of hormonal genomics and proteomics, and presen9ng themselves through a knowledge of compara9ve organisms, par9cularly fish, and phylogene9cally related species. The inves9gators of the center are examining the roles that modifica9ons in interac9ve cellular networks, as for instance: DNA and RNA products, their modified forms, and their products (hormones, receptors, and signaling molecules), have on biological and reproduc9ve func9ons viewed from the perspec9ves of molecular, cellular, and systems biology. Examining the characteris9cs of hormone and receptor gene sequences from an increasing number of organisms will enable researchers to determine the evolu9onary origin of diverse human genes important for ligand signaling.
Highlights
We con9nued our “chalk talks/mee9ngs” during the Fall, 2011 and spring 2012. Our first mee9ng was a get together to meet the new people and briefly discuss the ongoing research.
Oct 14, First mee9ng—to meet the new people and plan for upcoming talks Dec 2, Presenta9ons by Wayne Decatur, Jeff Hall, Sco` Morin, Tim Breton
Feb 24, CME “Retreat”, Open invita9on to COLSA faculty to learn about the CME April 6, CME Group, G89 Rudman April 17, Dr. Heather Hamlin, Univ of Maine
Stacia Sower, Jeff Hall, and Wayne Decatur are members of a collabora9ve and interna9onal team in sea lamprey genomics research led by Professor Weiming Li, Michigan State University. The objec9ves are: (1) to annotate the drag sea lamprey genome, and (2) to establish a systema9c and comprehensive sea lamprey transcriptome. Research for the project is supported by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the Na9onal Ins9tute of General Medical Sciences. Paper submi`ed to Science, July 2, 2012.
CME sponsored Stacia Sower, David Berlinsky, Jeff Hall, Wayne Decatur, Taka Kosugi and Tim Breton to a`end and present either an oral or poster at the inaugural mee9ng of the North American Society for Compara9ve Endocrinology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 13‐16, 2011.
Tim Breton, a Ph.D. Candidate in David Berlinsky’s lab at the Univ. New Hampshire, received 1st Prize for the Best Poster for PhD Students. His poster was en9tled “Iden.fica.on of ovarian gene expression pa;erns during vitellogenesis in Atlan.c cod (Gadus morhua)” at the inaugural mee9ng of the North American Society for Compara9ve Endocrinology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 13‐16, 2011.
Sco` Morin Tim Breton Sco` and Tim Mihael Freamat
Sco6 Morin, an undergraduate in Stacia Sower’s lab, was selected to present his poster at the 2012 Na9onal Conference on Undergraduate Research, at Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, March 29‐31, 2012. His poster was en9tled “Cloning cDNA of Gonadotropin‐Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Isoforms from Brains of Black Sea Bass, Centropris.s striata.” This research was a CME collabora9on between the Sower and Berlinsky laboratories. Authors were Sco` J. Morin, Wayne A. Decatur, Timothy J. Breton David Berlinsky, and Stacia A. Sower
The CME is sponsoring a visi9ng faculty member, Dr. Mihael Freamat, to develop an interac9ve digital resource for sea lamprey brain neuroanatomy, that will be available to the scien9fic community.
Highlights
Dr. Sower served on a Na9onal Science Founda9on Review panel in the Division of Integra9ve Organismal Biology, April 2012.
During 2010 and 2011, the CME and Dr. Sower hosted three New York University film students, Sam Miron, Stav Basis and Eamon Downey, who have almost completed a documentary on lampreys and hagfish. Expected comple9on date, August 2012.
Wayne Decatur presented a workshop en9tled “Proteopedia and Other Tools for Easily Accessing Structural Biological Informa.on” at NASCE 2011: The inaugural mee9ng of the North American Society for Compara9ve Endocrinology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 13‐16, 2011.
Stacia Sower was selected in December, 2011, to be an Associate Editor of General and Compara9ve Endocrinology in recogni9on of her scien9fic contribu9ons to the discipline.
Benjamin Duckless, an undergraduate in David Townson’s lab, received an Excellence Award at the Parents Associa9on Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 2012.
Top Le9: Tom Kelleher, Ka9e Hayes, Jeff Hall & Stacia Sower Top Right: Dr. David Berlinsky Bo6om Le9: Ma` Gerding & Rachel Donner Bo6om Right: Sower Lab 2012
Alyssa Birt, an undergraduate in David Townson’s lab, presented her Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship project at the Na9onal Conference on Undergraduate Research held in Ithaca, NY, April 2011.
David Berlinsky was selected for the 1937 Professorship in Marine Science, UNH, 2011‐2013.
Dr. Sower presented an invited seminar at Dartmouth College, August 30, 2011, “Iden.ty and func.onal divergence of vertebrate glycoprotein hormones and receptors.”
Highlights
2012 NSF Highlight: Hagfish Hormone Discovered: h`p://www.research.gov/research‐portal/appmanager/base/desktop;jsessionid=3djpPvpQGPvX6fyFzV9kTvvq5b3H3pYgD1y60SyMtTJV8Wd0nLqW!‐957596532!‐482155997?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=assetsInTheStates_1&_urlType=ac9on&assetsInTheStates_1_ac9on=selectAwardDetail&assetsInTheStates_1_id=/researchGov/AwardHighlight/PublicAffairs/21893_HagfishHormoneDiscovered.html
The 22th Annual COLSA Undergraduate Research Conference, was held April 28, 2012. The following CME members presented their research: Sco6 Morin (Stacia Sower and David Berlinsky) “Cloning cDNA of Gonadotropin‐Releasing Hormone (GnRH) isoforms from brains of black sea bass, Centropris.s striata”; Jeffrey Sun (graduate student, Cheryl Whistler) “Direct Characteriza.on of Vibrio parahae‐moly.cus Virulence Using Fruit Flies “; Andrew Clark and Rachel Frede6e (David Townson) “Ovarian Mapping: Tracking the Recruitment, Growth, and Regression of Ovarian Follicles in Dairy Ca;le”; Benjamin Duckless ( David Townson) “Influence of Cytoskeletal Stress Filaments on Cell Death in Human Cervical Carcinoma”.
Top Le9: Tim Breton Top Right: Alyssa Birt Bo6om Le9: Juvenile Hawaiian Bobtail Squid Bo6om Right: Rachel Donner
David Townson‐ NIH Panel Reviewer, Na9onal Ins9tute of Child Health and Human Development Special Emphasis Panel, “Topics In Female Reproduc9on”, ZHD DRG‐H (41) 2011.
David Berlinsky hosted a visi9ng scholar, Dr. Steven Parker, from the Na9onal Ins9tute of Water and Atmospheric Research in Nelson, New Zealand, May 7‐11, 2012.
David Townson‐ Editorial Board, Journal of Animal Science, 2011‐present.
Evan DaSilva, a Ph.D. student from Cheryl Whistler’s lab, presented his Ph. D. research project in June 2012 at the American Society of Microbiology General Mee9ng in San Francisco, CA.
CME Members
Research AcHvity Current Grants • Na9onal Science Founda9on Supplemental Grant, "Research Experience for Undergraduates", 2011‐2012,
$6,000. Principal Inves9gator. • NH Agriculture Experiment Sta9on, (Hatch 332) "Endocrine Control of Reproduc9on", 2008‐2011, Principal
Inves9gator, $18,000. • Na9onal Science Founda9on, “Insight from Lamprey Genome: Inves9ga9ons of the GnRH‐GTH System
"2009‐2013, $420,000. Principal Inves9gator. • NH Agriculture Experiment Sta9on, (Hatch 571) "Endocrine Control of Reproduc9on", 2011‐2014, Principal
Inves9gator, $36,000 (There is an addi9onal NH AES Graduate RA support for 3 years, ~$48,000) • Na9onal Science Founda9on Supplemental Grant, "Research Experience for Undergraduates", 2012‐2013,
$6,000. Principal Inves9gator. Submi;ed
• Na9onal Science Founda9on, MRI: Acquisi9on of an Illumina HiSeq 2000. Principle Inves9gator, W. Kelley Thomas. $930,000. Submi`ed Jan 2012, One of several major users. Recommended for funding.
• Na9onal Ins9tute of Health, NICHD, “GnRH‐Induced Signaling Mechanisms and Transcriptome Profiling”, 2012‐2015, $442,000, Submi`ed October, 2011. Not Funded
• Na9onal Science Founda9on, “IOS Preliminary Proposal, ABR: Novel Glycoprotein Hormone, Signaling Mechanisms and Transcriptome Profiling in a Basal Vertebrate,” 2013‐1018, Invited to submit a full proposal‐Due Aug 2, 2012
Dr. Stacia A. Sower, PhD Director, CME Professor, Biochemistry Program Professor, Dept. of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences Professor, Center for Marine Biology Arthur K. Whitcomb Professor, 1999‐2002
Dr. Sower’s research program in molecular and biochemical endocrinology and neuroendocrinology integrates a system approach that includes mul9disciplinary, compara9ve, genomics, neuroendocrine, physiological, biochemical and molecular studies. Her laboratory focuses on two species of fish, lampreys and hagfish, which are the only two living representa9ves of the oldest lineage of vertebrates. The overall objec9ve of Dr. Sower’s current research has been to test the global hypothesis that the reproduc9ve physiology of the lamprey is controlled at the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis by a gonadotropin releasing‐hormone (GnRH)/receptor and glycoprotein hormone/glycoprotein hormone receptor system homologous to the system ac9ng in gnathostomes.
Honors and Awards In the fall of 2011, I was invited to serve as the historian of compara9ve endocrinology by the Editor of General and Compara9ve Endocrinology and Elsevier as quoted: “I would also invite you to take on the task of serving as the historian for compara.ve endocrinology. There is actually considerable interest in the careers of the past scien.sts that made significant contribu.ons to our field throughout the last century. A series of editorials (bios) on these scien.sts would be most welcome.” Stacia Sower was nominated a Fellow for AAAS, American Associa9on for the Advancement of Science, in Spring 2012.
Service AcHvity • Hamel Center Undergraduate Review Commi`ee, Member of UNH SURF/UROP Commi`ee (2005‐ present) • Endocrinology, Member of the Editorial Board of Endocrinology (2007‐2011) • NSF IOS Pre‐proposal Review Panel, Member at NSF, April 2012. Reviewed 19 Pre‐proposals • Interna9onal Journal of Endocrinology, Member of Editorial Board (2010‐present) • Fron9ers in Neuroendocrine Research, Member of Editorial Board, (2010‐present) • Interna9onal Federa9on of Compara9ve Endocrinology, Member of the Interna9onal Board, (2005‐present) • Society of Integra9ve and Compara9ve Biology (SICB), Member of Division of Compara9ve Endocrinology Poster
naming Commi`ee (Spring, 2011) • North American Society of Compara9ve Endocrinology Council Member, (March 2010‐present) • Member of the North American Society of Compara9ve Endocrinology Program Commi`ee, (2010‐1011) • University of New Hampshire Commencement, Faculty Marshall, (1990‐2003; 2005‐2012) • Peer Reviewer of Scien9fic Journals, Reviewed 28 manuscripts for the following journals: Endocrinology,
Proceedings of the Royal Society, Proceedings of the Na9onal Academy of Sciences, General and Compara9ve Endocrinology, Zoological Sciences, Environmental Biology of Fishes, Neuroscience le`ers: American Journal of Physiology, Journal of Neuroendocrinology, Cell Tissue Research, Brain Research, Aquaculture
• Peer Reviewer of Scien9fic Proposals, Ad hoc reviewer of grant proposals, reviewed 6 research proposals (these do not include the ones on research review panels) from NSF, NSERC (Canadian government), Sea Grant and BRG
• Nomina9on Le`ers, Wrote 8 nomina9on or support le`ers for colleagues world‐wide • Tenure Package Le`er, Served as an ad hoc reviewer for a faculty promo9on package for a faculty University of
South Africa Medical School. • Grand Challenges in Organismal Biology, Served on Na9onal working group, 2009‐present • Member of the University Pre‐professional Health Programs Advisory Commi`ee, 2011‐present • Member of the Academic Senate “Other En9ty Commi`ee, 2011‐2012 • Chair of the SICB Nomina9ng Commi`ee for Societal officers, 2011‐2012 • Chair, NASCE Trainee Best Paper Award Commi`ee, July 2011 • I gave interac9ve lectures on hormones to Honors students at Sommersworth High School, December 14, 2011
Dr. Stacia Sower
Le9: Taka, James, Tim & Mihael Bo6om: Amanda and lamprey
PresentaHons: Regional, NaHonal and InternaHonal • Hall Jeff* Aquilina‐Beck A., Joseph N., MACDONALD C., Decatur W.A., Kavanaugh S.I., Freamat M., Sower S.A.
2011. Expression and Func9onal Studies Of Two Novel Type III GnRH Receptors (2 And 3) In The Sea Lamprey, A Basal Vertebrate. Front. Endocrin. Conference Abstract: NASCE 2011: The inaugural mee9ng of the North American Society for Compara9ve Endocrinology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2011. *Presen9ng Author, poster
• Decatur Wayne A.*, Smith J.J., Hall J., Li W., Sower S.A. 2011. Annota9on of the Neuroendocrine‐Associated Genes of the Lamprey Petromyzon Marinus and the Implica9ons for Evolu9on of Vertebrate Gonadotropin‐Releasing Hormones. Front. Endocrin. Conference Abstract: NASCE 2011: The inaugural mee9ng of the North American Society for Compara9ve Endocrinology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2011. *Presen9ng Author, poster
• Sower Stacia A.*, K. Gazda, D. Daukss, T. Kosugi, T. Osugi and K. Tsutsui. 2011. Are Novel Rfamide Pep9des Neuroregulators of the Lamprey Neuroendocrine System? Front. Endocrin. Conference Abstract: NASCE 2011: The inaugural mee9ng of the North American Society for Compara9ve Endocrinology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2011. *Presen9ng Author, poster
• Joseph, Nerine*, K. Morgan, R. Millar, I. Dunn, G. Bedecarrats, and S.A. Sower. Agnatha and Avian: Evolu9onary Recruitment of GnRH Systems. Front. Endocrin. Conference Abstract: NASCE 2011: The inaugural mee9ng of the North American Society for Compara9ve Endocrinology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 13‐16, 2011. Presen9ng Author, Invited Symposium Speaker
• Kosugi, Taka*, M.T. Wilmot and S.A. Sower. Iden9fica9on of ancestral vertebrate glycoprotein hormones from a basal vertebrate, the sea lamprey. NASCE 2011: The inaugural mee9ng of the North American Society for Compara9ve Endocrinology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 13‐16, 2011. *Presen9ng Author, Invited Speaker
• Sower, Stacia. Endocrine Control of Lamprey Reproduc9on. 141st Annual American Fisheries Society Mee9ng. Sea`le, Washington, Sept. 4 to 8, 2011. Invited Symposium Speaker
• Sower, Stacia, Invited Seminar Speaker. August, 30 2011. Dartmouth College. “Iden9ty and Func9onal Divergence of Vertebrate Glycoprotein Hormones and Receptors.” NASCE‐workshop
• Wayne Decatur*: Proteopedia and Other Tools for Easily Accessing Structural Biological Informa9on. NASCE 2011: The inaugural mee9ng of the North American Society for Compara9ve Endocrinology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 13‐16, 2011. *Presenter of Workshop.
• Ellens, E.R.*; Ki|lison, J.D.; Sower, S.A.; Sheridan, M.A. 2012. Evolu9onary Origin and Divergence of the Growth Hormone/Prolac9n/Somtolac9n Receptor Family: Insights from Studies in Sea Lamprey. Annual Mee9ng of the Society of Integra9ve and Compara9ve Biology. Jan 3‐7, 2012, Charleston, SC. *Presen9ng author, poster.
• Sower, Stacia *; Osugi, Tomohiro; Daukss, Dana; Gazda, Kristen; Ubuka, Takayoshi; Kosugi, Takayoshi; Tsutsui, Kazuyoshi. Evolu9onary Origin of Gonadotropin‐Inhibitory Hormone (GnIH): Isola9on, localiza9on and Biological Ac9vity of Lamprey GnIH Orthologs. . Annual Mee9ng of the Society of Integra9ve and Compara9ve Biology. Jan 3‐7, 2012, Charleston, SC. *Presen9ng author, oral.
• Sco6 J. Morin*, Wayne A. Decatur, Timothy J. Breton David Berlinsky, and Stacia A. Sower. Cloning cDNA of Gonadotropin‐Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Isoforms from Brains of Black Sea Bass, Centropris.s striata. 2012 Na9onal Conference on Undergraduate Research, at Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, March 29‐31, 2012.
• Sco6 J. Morin*, Wayne A. Decatur, David L. Berlinksy, Stacia A. Sower. Cloning cDNA of Gonadotropin‐Releasing Hormone (GnRH) isoforms from brains of black sea bass, Centropris9s striata. 22nd Annual COLSA URC, April 28, 2012. Presen9ng author, oral
Dr. Stacia Sower
CME Members
David Berlinsky, PhD Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Dr. Berlinsky’s research primarily focuses on improving the culture of commercially important finfish species by understanding and ul9mately controlling physiological processes. Much of his research has focused on understanding reproduc9ve processes, as this is requisite for successful propaga9on of aqua9c species and ogen limits produc9on. Fishes exhibit an astonishing array of reproduc9ve strategies and each species' unique strategy must be unraveled before successful culture can be realized. Some of the specific topics which are of interest to me include the endocrine control of sex differen9a9on, factors that influence egg development and quality, effects of social interac9on and environmental condi9ons on sex change (sequen9al hermaphrodi9sm), role of pheromones in reproduc9ve success and environmental control of reproduc9ve cycles.
Honors and awards Awarded a 1937 Professorship in Marine Science, UNH, 2011‐2013 Promo9on to Full Professor, July 1, 2011 Service AcHvity Chair Elec9on Commi`ee ‐ Department of Biological Sciences Undergraduate Curriculum Commi`ee ‐ Department of Biological Sciences NH‐Agriculture Experiment Sta9on Advisory Commi`ee Outreach to Great Bay Aquaculture and Harmon Brook Farm
Research AcHvity Current Grants • NH Sea Grant, “Alewife Popula9on Assessment and Aquaculture”, 2012‐2014, $150,000. • Northeast Consor9um, “Understanding the Biological Characteris9cs of the Acadian Redfish in US Waters”,
2011‐2013, $34,953. • Na9onal Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) Mid‐Atlan9c Research Set‐Aside (RSA) Program, “Understanding the
effects of fishing on the size, age, and sex distribu9on of black sea bass (Centropris.s striata) during the spawning season” with Olaf Jensen, Rutgers University, 2011‐2012, UNH‐$20,760
• NH Agricultural Experiment Sta9on, “Improving Finfish Produc9on in Recircula9ng Systems”, 2010‐2014 • NH Agricultural Experiment Sta9on, “Developing integrated mul9‐trophic aquaculture methods for land‐based and
near‐shore systems”, 2010‐2014, $75,000 (With, Drs. Larry Harris, Raymond Grizzle, Christopher Neefus and Ken LaValley).
• NH Agriculture Experiment Sta9on, Equipment – Dual Block Thermal Cycler System, 2011, $14,180.38, Principal Inves9gator, (Co‐Pls Louis Tisa, and David Berlinsky).
Submi;ed • NH Sea Grant, “Alewife Popula9on Assessment and Aquaculture”, $170,000, Pending • Na9onal Science Founda9on, MRI: Acquisi9on of an Illumina HiSeq 2000, Principle Inves9gator, W. KelleyThomas.
One of several major users, $930,000 Submi`ed Jan 2012, Recommended for funding.
David Berlinsky, PhD
Tim Breton holding cod Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)
PresentaHons: Regional, NaHonal and InternaHonal • Breton T.S., Anderson J.L., Goetz F.W., Berlinsky D.L. 2011. Iden9fica9on of ovarian gene expression pa`erns during
vitellogenesis in Atlan9c cod (Gadus morhua). Presented at the inaugural mee9ng of the North American Society for Compara9ve Endocrinology, July 13‐16, 2011 Ann Arbor, MI.
• Kovach A.I., Breton T.S, Berlinsky D.L.. 2011. Iden9fying the special scale of popula9on structure in anadromous rainbow smelt. Presented at the Reconciling Spacial Scales and Stock Structures for Fisheries Science and Management Workshop, June 27‐28, 2011 Portsmouth, NH.
• Berlinsky D.L., Clapp A., Smith T., Breton T.S., Kovach A.I.. “Adap9ve varia9on in Atlan9c cod (Gadus morhua)” Presented at the Reconciling Spacial Scales and Stock Structures for Fisheries Science and Management Workshop, June 27‐28, 2011 Portsmouth, NH.
CME Members
Cheryl Whistler, PhD
Associate Professor, Molecular, Cellular & Biomedical Sciences
Dr. Whistler’s studies aim to provide insight into bacteria‐derived signals that allow hosts to respond appropriately to beneficial organisms, thus allowing associa9on, without compromising the ability of immune responses to protect the host from pathogenic infec9on. She is currently u9lizing a recently generated DNA microarray of the en9re genome of V. fischeri, and will also combine this genomic approach with random mutagenesis screens to discover previously uncharacterized genes and traits that contribute to animal 9ssue coloniza9on.
Top right: Hawaiian bobtail Squid, Euprymna scolopes Bo6om right: Vibrio fischeri bacteria on a plate are visible with ambient light (leg), and also in the dark (right), due to their produc9on of blue‐green bioluminescence.
Research AcHvity Current Grants • Sea Grant, “Interac9ons between salinity and the resident microbial community in excluding pathogenic Vibrio
from oysters”, 2012‐2013, $145,000. Role:Co‐PI with Vaughn Cooper. • NHAES Hatch, “Applica9on of alterna9ve host models to assess virulence poten9al of the foodborne pathogen
V. parahaemoly.cus from na9ve New Hampshire Oysters”, 2011‐2013, $20,000. Principle Inves9gator. • NSF Collabora9ve Research, “Use of genome enabled tools to understand symbiosis”, 2009‐2013, $772,709.
Principle Inves9gator. • NH Agriculture Experiment Sta9on, Equipment – Nanodrop200C Spectrophotometer System, 2011, $14,528.
Principal Inves9gator‐Louis Tisa (Co‐Pls Stacia Sower, Vaughn Cooper, Aaron Margolin, Cheryl Whistler, and Michael Lesser).
• Na9onal Science Founda9on, MRI, Acquisi9on of an Illumina HiSeq 2000, 2012 $930,000. Principle Inves9gator, W. Kelley Thomas. One of several major users.
Pending • NSF IOS, “The molecular basis of host adapta9on and origin of new mutualisms”, Preproposal invited for full
proposal (submission August 2)
Cheryl Whistler, PhD
Le9: Dr. Cheryl Whistler Right: Hawaiian bobtail Squid, Euprymna scolopes
PresentaHons: Regional, NaHonal and InternaHonal • DaSilva, E., Desy, R., Whistler, C.A. 2012. An Analysis of the Genes Involved in Iron Uptake and Their Role in
Squid Symbiosis by Vibrio fischeri. Abstracts of the 112th Annual Mee9ng for the American Society for Microbiology , June 16‐19. San Francisco, CA
• DaSilva, E., Desy, R., Whistler, C.A. 2012. An Analysis of the Genes Involved in Iron Uptake and Their Role in Squid Symbiosis by Vibrio fischeri. The 24th annual Squid Vibrio symposium. Avila Sea Life Center and Cal
Poly San Luis Obispo, June 21‐22. San Luis Obispo, CA • DaSilva, E., Desy, R., Whistler, C.A., Mandel, M., DeLoney‐Marino, C., Fidopias9s, P., Lostroh, P., and Stabb, E.
2012. Genome Enabled Tools for the Study of the Squid Symbiont Vibrio fischeri: A Progress Report. The 24th annual Squid Vibrio fischeri symposium. Avila Sea Life Center and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. June 21‐22. San Luis Obispo, CA
• Whistler, C.A., 2012. “How Squid can illuminate in9mate associa9ons”, Invited talk at the Dartmouth M2 Molecular Microbiology and Pathogenisis Program retreat February 9‐10. Lake Morey Resort, VT
• Whistler, C.A., 2011. “Popula9on structure and seasonal dynamics of human pathogenic Vibrios in the Great Bay Estuary of New Hampshire”, Na9onal Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra9on (NOAA), November 17. Sea`le, WA
• Whistler, C.A., 2011. “Regula9on of Virulence in the Emergent Pathogen Vibrio parahaemoly.cus”, South Eastern Branch of the American Society for Microbiology, October 14‐16. Gainesville, FL
• Schuster, B. M., Donner, R.A., Cooper, V.S. and C.A. Whistler. 2011. “Popula9on Dynamics And Convergent Evolu9on Of Fish Symbiont Vibrio fischeri MJ11 During Adapta9on To A Novel Squid Host”. 23rd Annual Squid‐Vibrio Symposium, June 8‐10. Madison, WI
• Schuster, B.M., Donner, R.A., Cooper, V.S. and C.A. Whistler. 2011. “Popula9on Dynamics And Convergent Evolu9on Of Fish Symbiont Vibrio fischeri MJ11 During Adapta9on To A Novel Squid Host”. 111th Annual Mee9ng of the American Society for Microbiology, May 16‐18, New Orleans, LA
• Schuster B.M., Tyzik A., Donner R.A., Jones S., Cooper V.S., and Whistler C.A.. 2011. Phenotypic and mul9locus sequence analysis of Vibrio cholerae isolated from the Great Bay Estuary of New Hampshire. Poster presenta9on at the Dartmouth College Molecular Microbiology and Pathogenesis Program Retreat, February 12‐13. Lake Morey Resort, VT
Honors and awards • Promo9on to Associate Professor, July 1, 2011 • Nominated for the UNH Outstanding Faculty Award for an Assistant Professor Service AcHvity • Undergraduate Curriculum Commi`ees – Gene9cs and Microbiology\ • Member and Chair Elect‐ Chemical Safety Commi`ee • Graduate Program Coordinator‐ Gene9cs Program • Faculty Senator • IACUC Commi`ee Member • Invited to give an interac9ve lecture about bacterial symbiosis to a 6th grade class at a southern New Hampshire
middle school
CME Members
David Townson, PhD
Associate Professor Molecular, Cellular & Biomedical Sciences
Our laboratory focuses on the rela9onships between the immune system and the reproduc9ve system in regula9ng fer9lity. Specifically, we are interested in how leukocyte‐specific chemotac9c molecules facilitate leukocyte recruitment to the ovary, and how these cells, in turn, influence ovarian func9on. Aspects of follicular growth and atresia, ovula9on, and the func9on of the corpus luteum are of interest. We use ultrasonography, cell culture, and molecular biology to inves9gate the regula9on of immune response under condi9ons of natural and experimentally‐controlled ovarian func9on. Currently we are engaged in studies examining aspects of cytoskeletal influence on cell stress and responsiveness to immune‐mediated mechanisms of cell death using bovine and human models.
Top: Members of the Townson laboratory Bo6om: Sarah Kinsman scanning the reproduc9ve tract of a cow
PresentaHons: Regional, NaHonal and InternaHonal • Mechanisms influencing ovarian func9on and fer9lity in
the dairy cow. New Hampshire Farm and Forest Exposi9on, February 3, 2012, Manchester, NH
• Mechanisms of immune response and influence in ovarian func9on. Annual Mee9ng of Prince Agri Products, Inc., August 3, 2011, Denver, CO
• Kinsman S.E., Davis J.S., Townson D.H. Inves9ga9on of the role of cytokera9n 8/18 intermediate filaments in granulosa cell fate. Annual Mee9ng of the Society for the Study of Reproduc9on. August 11‐15, 2012, State College, PA
David Townson, PhD
Research AcHvity Current Grants • USDA Hatch Project, Regional Project NE‐2001, "Ovarian Influences on Reproduc9ve Success in Ruminants”,
2012‐2017, $50,000. Co‐Inves9gator (w/Paul Tsang, UNH). • Prince Agri Products, Inc., “Influence of OmniGen AF and Neutrophil Infiltra9on on Ovula9on and Fer9lity in
the Rat”, 2012‐2013,, $25,000. Principal Inves9gator. • UNH/COLSA Karabelas COLSA Faculty Development fund, “Role of cellular FLICE inhibitory protein (cFLIP) and
phosphorylated extracellular regulated kinases‐1/2 (ERK 1/2) in Fas ligand‐induced death of human cervical cancer cells”, 2011‐2012, $22,000. Principal Inves9gator.
• NRICGP/USDA Grant # 2011‐67016‐20041, “Control of oxida9ve stress during bovine folliculogenesis”, 2010‐2012, $149,958. Co‐Inves9gator (w/Catherine Combelles, Middlebury College).
• NIFA/USDA OREI Grant #2010‐01932, “Research and ‐Extension Needs Assessment of the Organic Dairy Industry in the Northeast”, 2010‐2011, $32,115. Co‐Inves9gator (w/Andre Brito).
• NERA Planning Proposal #NE1005, “Addressing the Nutri9onal and Reproduc9ve Research and Extension Needs of the Organic Dairy Industry in the Northeast”, 2010‐2011, $10,000. Co‐Inves9gator (w/Paul Tsang).
• NIFA/USDA OREI Grant, “Assis9ng Organic Dairy Producers to Meet the Demands of New and Emerging Milk Markets”, 2011‐2015, $2,863,915. Co‐Inves9gator (w/Andre Brito, Richard Smith, Kirk Broders et al.).
Honors and awards • Society for the Study of Reproduc9on • Gamma Sigma Delta, The Honor Society of Agriculture • Phi Sigma, The Honor Society of Biology Service AcHvity • NIH Panel Reviewer, Na9onal Ins9tute of Child Health and Human Development Special Emphasis Panel, “Topics In
Female Reproduc9on”, ZHD DRG‐H (41) 2011 • UNH Faculty Senate, 2011‐2012 • UNH Faculty Senate, Academic Affairs Commi`ee, 2011‐2012 • Commi`ee member, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA), Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
Academic Program Commi`ee, 2010‐present • Commi`ee member, Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, Undergraduate Program
Coordinator (UPC), 2009‐present
Le9: Alyssa Birt presented her SURF project at the Na9onal Conference on Undergraduate Research held in Ithaca, NY Right: Ben Duckless received an Excellence Award at the Parent’s Associa9on Undergraduate Research Symposium
Education & Training
Stacia Sower Current Graduate Students (Advisor) • Takayoshi Kosugi Ph.D. student; James Gargan,M.S.
student
Postdoctoral Research Associate (Advisor) Wayne Decatur Graduate Thesis Commi8ees (Member) • Timothy Breton (UNH, PhD); Ben Clemens (PhD Candidate, Oregon State University); Jaruwan (Pui) Pangaroen, PhD candidate, Co‐Interna9onal Advisor; Danielle Duque`e, MS Student, UNH; Alysha Heimberg (PhD Candidate, Dartmouth College) Undergraduates in Directed Studies • Sco` Morin, NSF Project, Iden9fica9on of GnRH in
Seabass by molecular cloning; In Situ hybridiza9on of Rfamide pep9des
• Mary Ka9e Hayes, NSF Project, In Situ hybridiza9on of GnRH receptors and Rfamide pep9des
• Timothy Marquis, UNH REAP Award, In Situ hybridiza9on of GnRH receptors
• Dana Daukss, Rfamide and PQRF amide studies • Kristen Gazda, Rfamide and PQRF amide studies • Amanda Berger, Supervised Research • Eric Landry, Supervised Research • Dana Hanf, Supervised Research
David Berlinsky Current Graduate Students (Advisor) • Danielle Duque`e, M.S. student; Amanda Clapp, M.S.
student; Ryan Brown, M.S. student; Timothy Breton, Ph.D student; Katy Hladki, Ph.D. student; Kris9n Duclos, M.S. student; Claire Enterline, M.S. student
Graduate Thesis Commi8ees (Member) • Gilad Heinisch (UNH, PhD) Lindsey Greene (UNH, PhD) Jonathan Bunker (UNH, MS), James Gargan (UNH, MS), Takayoshi Kosugi (UNH, PhD)
Undergraduates in Directed Study (Special Inves.ga.ons – Fish Biology Zoo796) • Ma` Lee, The effect of temperature on juvenile alewife • growth • Linas Kenter, The effect of genestein on sex
determina9on in southern flounder
Cheryl Whistler Current Graduate Students (Advisor) • Evan Dasilva Ph. D student; Jeffry Sun M.S. student Graduate student commi8ee (member) • Kenny Flynn (PhD); Megan Striplin (M.S.); Keith
Ferguson (M.S.); Rediet Oshone (M.S.) Undergraduates in Directed Studies • Ma`hew Gerding, The method of characterizing the
virulence of Vibrio parahaemoly.cus in fruit flies • Feier Liu, An experimental evolu9on approach to
elucida9ng the basis of dark symbiont exclusion in the squid‐Vibrio symbiosis
• Avery Normandin, Gene9cs analysis of symbiosis traits • Heather Natola, Supervised Research David Townson Current Graduate Students (Advisor) • Sarah Kinsman, M.S. student Graduate student commi8ee (member) • Taka Kosugi (Ph.D.); Jay Meyers (Ph.D.); Naomi Crystal
(M.S.)
Undergraduates in Directed Studies • Bri`any Welch, Senior honors thesis research • Alyssa Birt, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow • Benjamin Duckless, Supervised Research • Andrew Clark, Supervised Research • Caitlin McCarthy, Summer Undergraduate Research
Fellow • Kathryn Comeau, Supervised Research • Samantha Docos, Supervised Research • Benjamin Gro`on, Supervised Research • Chris DiCroce, Supervised Research • Ka9e Gagne, Supervised Research
CME Publications
2012 Breton, T, Anderson, J, Goetz, R and Berlinsky, D, 2012. Iden9fica9on of novel ovarian gene expression pa`erns
during vitellogenesis in Atlan9c cod (Gadus morhua). General and �Compara9ve Endocrinology Submi;ed. Brown, R, Colburn, H, Nardi, G and Berlinsky, D, 2012. Cryopreserva9on of Summer Flounder, Paralichthy dentatus
L ., Sperm. Aquaculture Research. Accepted. Brown, R, Colburn, H, Ziolkowski, A, Nardi, G and Berlinsky, D, 2012 Physical characteris9cs and fer9lizing capacity
of meiogynogene9c summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) spermatozoa. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. Accepted
Clapp, A, Smoth, T, Kovach, A and Berlinsky, D, 2012. No difference in egg buoyancy and an9‐freeze protein produc9on in gene9cally divergent subpopula9ons of Gulf Maine Atlan9c Cod (Gasus morhua). Fisheries Research. Accepted.
Clemens, BJ, Sower, SA and Schreck, CB, 2012. Incidence of male intersex in adult Pacific lamprey, Entosphenus tridentatus, with a brief discussion of intersex vs. hermaphrodi9sm in lampreys (Petromyzon.formes). Can J. Zool. In Press.
Colburn, H, Walker, A and Berlinsky, D, 2012. Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) weaning and the effects of salinity and temperature on juvenile growth. North American Journal of Aquaculture. 75, 235‐240.
DaSilva, E, Desy, R and Whistler, CA, 2012. An analysis of the genes involved in iron uptake and their role in squid symbiosis by Vibrio fischeri. Abstract published.
Daukss, D, Gazda, K, Kosugi, T, Osugi, T, Tsutsui, K and Sower, S, 2012. Biological ac9vity of novel lamprey RFamide pep9des, specifically PQRFamide and their related pep9des. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 177, 215‐219.
Ellis, C, Schuster, B, Striplin, M, Jones, S, Whistler, C and Cooper, V, 2012. Influence of seasonality on the gene9c diversity of Vibrio parahaemoly.cus in New Hampshire shellfish waters as determined by mul9locus sequence analysis. Appl Env Microbiol. 78, 3778‐82.
Fidopias9s, PM, Gerling, DG, Gu9errez, NA, Watkins, KH, Frey, MW and Whistler, CA, 2012. Characteriza9on of a cell surface aminopep9dase from the bioluminescent squid symbiont Vibrio fischeri. J Bacteriol In Press.
Joseph, NT, Aquilina‐Beck, A, Macdonald, C, Decatur, WA, Hall, JA, Kavanaugh, SI and Sower, SA, 2012. Molecular cloning and pharmacological characteriza9on of two novel GnRH receptors in the lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). Endocrinology. 153, 3345‐3346.
Kovach, A, Breton, T, EnterlIne, C and Berlinsky, D, 2012. Iden9fying the spa9al scale of popula9on structure in anadromous rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax). Fisheries Research. Accepted.
Osugi, T, Daukss, D, Gazda, K, Ubuka, T, Kosugi, T, Nozaki, M, Sower, SA and Tsutsui, K, 2012. Evolu9onary origin of the structure and func9on of gonadotropin‐inhibitory hormone: insights from lampreys. Endocrinology. 153, 2362‐2374.
Smith, JJ, Kuraku, S, Holt, C, Sauka‐Spengler, T, Jiang, N, Campbell, MS, Yandell, MD, Manousaki, T, Meyer, A, Bloom, OE, Morgan, JR, Buxbaum, JD, Sachidanadam, R, Sims, C, Garre`, AS, Cook, M, Krumlauf, R, Wiedemann, LM, Sower, SA, Decatur, WA, Hall, JA, Amemiya, CT, Saha, NR, Buckley, KM, Rast, JP, Das, S, Hirano, M, McCurley, N, Guo, P, Rohner, N, Tabin, CJ, Piccinelli, P, Elgar G, Ruffier, M, Aken, BL, Searle, SMJ, Muffato, M, Pignatelli, M, Herrero, J, Jones, M, Brown, CT, Chung‐Davidson, Y, Nanlohy, KG, Libants, SV, Yeh, C, McCauley, DW, Langeland, JA, Pancer, Z, Fritzsch, B, Jong, PJ, Fulton, LL, Theising, B, Flicek, P, Bronner, M, Warren, WC, Cligon, SW, Wilson, RK and Li, W, 2012. The lamprey genome: illumina9ng vertebrate origins. Science Submi;ed July 2012.
Sower, S, The hypothalamus‐pituitary axis. In lampreys: biology, conserva9on and control. In: M. Docker, (Ed.), Fish and Fisheries Series. Springer Accepted, 2012.
Townson, D and Combelles, C, Ovarian follicular atresia. In: A. Darwish, (Ed.), Basic Gynecology‐ Some Related Issues. Tech Publishing, Rijeka, Croa9a, 2012, pp. 43‐76.
Uchida, K, Moriyama, S, Sower, SA and Nozaki, M, 2012. Glycoprotein hormone in the pituitary of hagfish and its evolu9onary implica9ons. Fish Physiol. Biochem. In Press.
Wong, MK, Sower, SA and Takei, Y, 2012. The presence of teleost‐type angiotensin components in lamprey buccal gland suggests a role in endocrine mimicry. Biochimie. 94, 637‐48.
CME Publications
2011 Colburn, H, Breton, T, S9lwell, J, Sidor, I, Gannum, A and Berlinsky, D, 2011. Par9al replacement of fishmeal with
soybean meal and soy protein concentrate in diets of Atlan9c cod (Gadus morhua). North American Journal of Aquaculture. 73, 76‐83.
Jones, S, Striplin, M, Mahoney, J, Cooper, V and Whistler, C, 2011. Incidence and Abundance of Pathogenic Vibrio Species in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire. Proceedings of the Interma9onal Conference on Moluscan Shellfish Safety.
Kim, DK, Cho, EB, Moon, MJ, Park, S, Hwang, JI, Kah, O, Sower, SA, Vaudry, H and Seong, JY, 2011. Revisi9ng the evolu9on of gonadotropin‐releasing hormones and their receptors in vertebrates: Secrets hidden in genomes. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 170, 68‐78.
Pa9ño, R, Barton, B, Maule, A, Mesa, M, Redding, J, Rodnick, K and Sower, SA, 2011. Profiles in Compara9ve Endocrinology: Carl B. Schreck Howard Bern Lecturer, Annual Mee9ng of Society of Integra9ve and Compara9ve Endocrinology, Sea`le, January 5, 2010. Gen Comp Endocrinol., 276‐282.
Schuster, BM, Tyzik, AL, Donner, RA, Striplin, MJ, Almagro‐Moreno, S, Jones, SH, Cooper, VS and Whistler, CA, 2011. Ecology and gene9c structure of a northern temperate Vibrio cholerae popula9on related to toxigenic isolates. Appl Environ Microbiol. 77, 7568‐75.
Sower, SA, Balz, E, Aquilina‐Beck, A and Kavanaugh, SI, 2011. Seasonal changes of brain GnRH‐I, ‐II, and ‐III during the final reproduc9ve period in adult male and female sea lamprey. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 170, 276‐282.
Sower, SA and Baron, MP, 2011. The interrela9onship of estrogen receptor and GnRH in a Basal vertebrate, the sea lamprey. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2, 1‐8.
Walker, A and Berlinsky, D, 2011. Effects of par9al replacement of fishmeal protein by microalgae on growth, feed intake and body composi9on of Atlan9c cod Gadus morhua. North American Journal of Aquaculture. 73, 76‐83.
Zeiss Confocal Microscope
The Zeiss LSM 510 Meta laser scanning confocal microscope is used primarily by researchers in the biological sciences to image fluorescent probes in cells and 9ssues. This microscope is equipped with ICS op9cs for high image quality. The motorized microscope automa9cally iden9fies the microscope se|ngs and the objec9ves used with high precision. The Meta op9on on the Zeiss instrument allows the distribu9on of mul9ple fluorophores (up to 8) with overlapping emission spectra to be imaged within a single sample. The collec9on of z‐stacks allows 3‐D images and anima9ons to be generated. The confocal was funded through a Na9onal Science Founda9on MRI grant (#0618719) to Dr. Stacia Sower, PI.
Resources
unh.edu/cme/confocal_microscope.html
AFAIR Laboratory
The Anadromous Fish and A q u a 9 c I n v e r t e b r a t e Research Laboratory (AFAIR) for studies of aqua9c organisms is located on campus . The bu i ld ing provides running freshwater f o r a n a d r o m o u s (freshwater/marine) fish and freshwater facili9es for t h e s t u d y o f l i v i n g organisms, both at the ecological and molecular levels.
Hubbard Center for Genomic Studies
The HCGS leads the development of compara9ve and environmental genomics research, with a special emphasis on novel model species. The Center provides services in high‐throughput DNA sequencing, fragment analysis, and analysis of gene expression, as well as technical assistance through construc9on of BAC and cDNA l ibrar ies . To support these ac9vi9es, the center maintains exper9se in biocompu9ng and database services.
Wayne Decatur & Mark Townley