field of microbiology students @ cornell university …...don’t forget to attend and present a...

The Microbiology Letters Combined Issue 6 & 7 | February - March 2016

Field of Microbiology Students @ Cornell University

GraduateSpotlight–DaveSannino

UpcomingEvents

RecruitmentWeekendFrom February 4-7th, FoMS and theMicrobiology Department organized itsannualrecruitmentweekend.Atotalofelevenprospectivestudentsflewinfromalloverthecountry to interview with our field faculty,interact with our current graduate students,andgetatasteoftheCornellexperience.

1!Significant Milestones! FrancineArroyo–On January28th,FrancinepassedherA-exam,makingheranofficialPhDCandidate!

Daniel Rojas Tapias –On February22nd, Daniel passed his A-exam,making him an official PhDCandidate!

Powered by FoMS: FrancineArroyo-fa257|DanielRojasTapias-dfr47|AzulPinochetBarros-vap48 www.micro.cornell.edu/academics/graduate/foms

The Microbiology LettersIssue 2 | October 2015

Field of Microbiology Students @ Cornell University

NewsHighlights

OctoberEvents

FarewellwishestoMichelleL.ColeOnOctober2,wecelebratedMichelle’slastdaywithMicroandwishedherthebestonhernewpositionoutsideofCornell.

Callforposters!Don’tforgettoattendandpresentaposteratthe2ndAnnualCornellMicrobiologySymposium.

Presentations and Awards OlgaLastovetsky–2015-2016Procter&Gambleoralpresentationprizewinner

Powered by FOMS: FrancineArroyo-fa257|DanielRojasTapias-dfr47|AzulPinochetBarros-vap48 www.micro.cornell.edu/academics/graduate

October31stHalloweencontest

Oct2-3rdHelmannLab25th

anniversaryreunion

Oct12thMicrobiologySymposium

More pics & updates on Facebook

Field of Microbiology Students

CoffeeHour@WingHallOnSeptember25,wehadourfirstcoffeehourofthesemester.Itgaveeveryoneachancetocatchupandenjoysometastybagels.

TeamAquaticViruswithDr.IanHewson

FormoreinformationonSSWDresearchandamphipodcircoviruses,visitDr.Hewson’sactiveblogsat:http://seastarwastingdisease.wordpress.com;http://www.teamaquaticvirus.com

TeamAquaticVirushavebeeninvestigatingtwoexcitingareasofviralecology:Seastarwastingdisease(SSWD)andcircovirusesofamphipods.

SSWDisadiseaseattributedtothesuddenandmassivedieoffofmillionsofseastarsalongtheNorthernAmericancoastline(fromBajaCalifornia,MexicotoSouthernAlaska).CombiningKoch’spostulatesandviralmetagenomics,theHewsonteamhaveidentifiedacandidatepathogenforSSWD,theseastar-associateddensovirus(SSaDV).

TheyreceivedNSFfundingfora3-yearstudytofurtherinvestigatetheepidemiologyofSSWD.LedbygraduatestudentElliotJackson,theyplantodeterminehowSSaDVcausesdiseaseusingcomparativetranscriptomicanalysisofhostresponsesfromhealthyanddiseasedseastars.Additionally,thegroupplanstoexplorehowthevirusistransmitted,examinetherelationshipbetweengeneticvariabilityandheterogeneityofSSWDsymptoms,andinquireastowhetherthemolecularevolutionofSSaDVhadaneffectonthecurrentepidemic.

Circoviruses,specificallycircularRep-encodingssDNA(CRESS-DNA),haverecentlybeenfoundinhighoccurrenceinmarineandfreshwaterarthropods.MicrobiologygraduatestudentKaliaBistolasexplains,“Circoviruseswereoriginallythoughttoonlyinfectplantsandvertebrates,butitturnsoutthattheymightbemoreubiquitousthanwethought!”Littleisknownhowthesevirusesaffecttheirhostsortheirhost’sroleinfoodwebs.Kalialeadsthegroupinexploringtheecologicalandbiogeochemicalimpactsofamphipodcircoviruses.HerworkfocusesonthefreshwatertaxonDiporeiaspinthelaurentianGreatLakesandthekelpamphipodPeramphithoefemorataontheUSwestcoast.

Latest Publications PetersLab Shietal.2015–ConformationaltogglingcontrolstargetsitechoicefortheheteromerictransposaseelementTn7(NuclAcidsRes) HelmannLab Pandeyetal.2015–MntR(Rv2788)atranscriptionalregulatorthatcontrolsmanganesehomeostasisinMycobacteriumtuberculosis(MolMicrobiol) Dr.JohnHelmann–Editedthevolumeon“ArchaealandBacterialTranscription”intheMETHODSseries(Elsevier) MadsenLab Dr.EugeneMadsen–Releasedthesecondeditionofhistextbook“EnvironmentalMicrobiology:FromGenomestoBiogeochemistry”(Wiley)

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The Microbiology LettersIssue 2 | October 2015

Field of Microbiology Students @ Cornell University

NewsHighlights

OctoberEvents

FarewellwishestoMichelleL.ColeOnOctober2,wecelebratedMichelle’slastdaywithMicroandwishedherthebestonhernewpositionoutsideofCornell.

Callforposters!Don’tforgettoattendandpresentaposteratthe2ndAnnualCornellMicrobiologySymposium.

Presentations and Awards OlgaLastovetsky–2015-2016Procter&Gambleoralpresentationprizewinner

Powered by FOMS: FrancineArroyo-fa257|DanielRojasTapias-dfr47|AzulPinochetBarros-vap48 www.micro.cornell.edu/academics/graduate

October31stHalloweencontest

Oct2-3rdHelmannLab25th

anniversaryreunion

Oct12thMicrobiologySymposium

More pics & updates on Facebook

Field of Microbiology Students

CoffeeHour@WingHallOnSeptember25,wehadourfirstcoffeehourofthesemester.Itgaveeveryoneachancetocatchupandenjoysometastybagels.

TeamAquaticViruswithDr.IanHewson

FormoreinformationonSSWDresearchandamphipodcircoviruses,visitDr.Hewson’sactiveblogsat:http://seastarwastingdisease.wordpress.com;http://www.teamaquaticvirus.com

TeamAquaticVirushavebeeninvestigatingtwoexcitingareasofviralecology:Seastarwastingdisease(SSWD)andcircovirusesofamphipods.

SSWDisadiseaseattributedtothesuddenandmassivedieoffofmillionsofseastarsalongtheNorthernAmericancoastline(fromBajaCalifornia,MexicotoSouthernAlaska).CombiningKoch’spostulatesandviralmetagenomics,theHewsonteamhaveidentifiedacandidatepathogenforSSWD,theseastar-associateddensovirus(SSaDV).

TheyreceivedNSFfundingfora3-yearstudytofurtherinvestigatetheepidemiologyofSSWD.LedbygraduatestudentElliotJackson,theyplantodeterminehowSSaDVcausesdiseaseusingcomparativetranscriptomicanalysisofhostresponsesfromhealthyanddiseasedseastars.Additionally,thegroupplanstoexplorehowthevirusistransmitted,examinetherelationshipbetweengeneticvariabilityandheterogeneityofSSWDsymptoms,andinquireastowhetherthemolecularevolutionofSSaDVhadaneffectonthecurrentepidemic.

Circoviruses,specificallycircularRep-encodingssDNA(CRESS-DNA),haverecentlybeenfoundinhighoccurrenceinmarineandfreshwaterarthropods.MicrobiologygraduatestudentKaliaBistolasexplains,“Circoviruseswereoriginallythoughttoonlyinfectplantsandvertebrates,butitturnsoutthattheymightbemoreubiquitousthanwethought!”Littleisknownhowthesevirusesaffecttheirhostsortheirhost’sroleinfoodwebs.Kalialeadsthegroupinexploringtheecologicalandbiogeochemicalimpactsofamphipodcircoviruses.HerworkfocusesonthefreshwatertaxonDiporeiaspinthelaurentianGreatLakesandthekelpamphipodPeramphithoefemorataontheUSwestcoast.

Latest Publications PetersLab Shietal.2015–ConformationaltogglingcontrolstargetsitechoicefortheheteromerictransposaseelementTn7(NuclAcidsRes) HelmannLab Pandeyetal.2015–MntR(Rv2788)atranscriptionalregulatorthatcontrolsmanganesehomeostasisinMycobacteriumtuberculosis(MolMicrobiol) Dr.JohnHelmann–Editedthevolumeon“ArchaealandBacterialTranscription”intheMETHODSseries(Elsevier) MadsenLab Dr.EugeneMadsen–Releasedthesecondeditionofhistextbook“EnvironmentalMicrobiology:FromGenomestoBiogeochemistry”(Wiley)

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Oct$30th$Halloween(contest(&(coffee(hour(

The Microbiology LettersIssue 2 | October 2015

Field of Microbiology Students @ Cornell University

NewsHighlights

OctoberEvents

FarewellwishestoMichelleL.ColeOnOctober2,wecelebratedMichelle’slastdaywithMicroandwishedherthebestonhernewpositionoutsideofCornell.

Callforposters!Don’tforgettoattendandpresentaposteratthe2ndAnnualCornellMicrobiologySymposium.

Presentations and Awards OlgaLastovetsky–2015-2016Procter&Gambleoralpresentationprizewinner

Powered by FOMS: FrancineArroyo-fa257|DanielRojasTapias-dfr47|AzulPinochetBarros-vap48 www.micro.cornell.edu/academics/graduate

October31stHalloweencontest

Oct2-3rdHelmannLab25th

anniversaryreunion

Oct12thMicrobiologySymposium

More pics & updates on Facebook

Field of Microbiology Students

CoffeeHour@WingHallOnSeptember25,wehadourfirstcoffeehourofthesemester.Itgaveeveryoneachancetocatchupandenjoysometastybagels.

TeamAquaticViruswithDr.IanHewson

FormoreinformationonSSWDresearchandamphipodcircoviruses,visitDr.Hewson’sactiveblogsat:http://seastarwastingdisease.wordpress.com;http://www.teamaquaticvirus.com

TeamAquaticVirushavebeeninvestigatingtwoexcitingareasofviralecology:Seastarwastingdisease(SSWD)andcircovirusesofamphipods.

SSWDisadiseaseattributedtothesuddenandmassivedieoffofmillionsofseastarsalongtheNorthernAmericancoastline(fromBajaCalifornia,MexicotoSouthernAlaska).CombiningKoch’spostulatesandviralmetagenomics,theHewsonteamhaveidentifiedacandidatepathogenforSSWD,theseastar-associateddensovirus(SSaDV).

TheyreceivedNSFfundingfora3-yearstudytofurtherinvestigatetheepidemiologyofSSWD.LedbygraduatestudentElliotJackson,theyplantodeterminehowSSaDVcausesdiseaseusingcomparativetranscriptomicanalysisofhostresponsesfromhealthyanddiseasedseastars.Additionally,thegroupplanstoexplorehowthevirusistransmitted,examinetherelationshipbetweengeneticvariabilityandheterogeneityofSSWDsymptoms,andinquireastowhetherthemolecularevolutionofSSaDVhadaneffectonthecurrentepidemic.

Circoviruses,specificallycircularRep-encodingssDNA(CRESS-DNA),haverecentlybeenfoundinhighoccurrenceinmarineandfreshwaterarthropods.MicrobiologygraduatestudentKaliaBistolasexplains,“Circoviruseswereoriginallythoughttoonlyinfectplantsandvertebrates,butitturnsoutthattheymightbemoreubiquitousthanwethought!”Littleisknownhowthesevirusesaffecttheirhostsortheirhost’sroleinfoodwebs.Kalialeadsthegroupinexploringtheecologicalandbiogeochemicalimpactsofamphipodcircoviruses.HerworkfocusesonthefreshwatertaxonDiporeiaspinthelaurentianGreatLakesandthekelpamphipodPeramphithoefemorataontheUSwestcoast.

Latest Publications PetersLab Shietal.2015–ConformationaltogglingcontrolstargetsitechoicefortheheteromerictransposaseelementTn7(NuclAcidsRes) HelmannLab Pandeyetal.2015–MntR(Rv2788)atranscriptionalregulatorthatcontrolsmanganesehomeostasisinMycobacteriumtuberculosis(MolMicrobiol) Dr.JohnHelmann–Editedthevolumeon“ArchaealandBacterialTranscription”intheMETHODSseries(Elsevier) MadsenLab Dr.EugeneMadsen–Releasedthesecondeditionofhistextbook“EnvironmentalMicrobiology:FromGenomestoBiogeochemistry”(Wiley)

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2! WelcomeAnkitaSachla!Earlierthismonth,theHelmannLabwelcomedtheirnewpost-doc,Ankita.Sherecentlyreceived her doctorate degree fromGeorgia StateUniversity andwill be pursuing herresearchintheareaofcellwallhomeostasisinBacillussubtilis.

3! BabyShowerforDr.ToryHendry@WingHallOnFebruary12th,theMicrobiologyDepartmentorganizedababyshowertowelcomeDr.Hendry’snewdaughter,Coraline.

March30thContentfornextissuedue

March25thCoffeeHour

Upcoming News Sue Merkel – Will be doing a pre-conference workshop with RachelHorak on “Designing Lessons Basedon National Recommendations forSTEMEDUCATION”.

Also, if you are goingASMmicrobemeeting you can take a pre-conference workshop 018-WS“Engaging and InclusiveTeaching intheMicrobialSciences”.

FoMS workshop survey – FoMS iscurrentlyintheprocessoforganizinga bioinformatics workshop later inthesemester.Wewillbesendingoutsurveys concerning the workshopcontentanddetailsbytheendofthemonth.We look forward to hearingyour feedback so as to provide youwith a good learning experience forthisupcomingevent!

http://www.asmcue.org/index.php/preliminary-program!

This month, we’re taking a moment to familiarizeourselves with the work and life of one ourMicrobiologygraduatestudents.DaveSannino isa4thyeargradstudentworkinginProf.EstherAngert’slab.He has been involved in many facets of thedepartment, includingPresidentofFoMS(2013-2014),organizing journal club (2013-14), and TA of the year(2014-15).

Whatprojectsareyoucurrentlyworkingon?Thereare2majorprojects I'mworkingon.Thefirst isthecompletionandanalysisoftheEpulopisciumtypeBgenome. Particularly understanding itsmetabolic andbiosyntheticcapabilitiestotrytogetthemintoculture.Thesecond isunderstanding thebiological roleof thethiaminaseIenzymeproducedbybacteria.HowdidyoufindyourselfworkingonMadagascarhissingcockroaches?Madagascar hissing cockroaches are used in the

thiaminase Iproject.Oneof thepotential rolesof theenzyme is that it may function as a pathogenicityfactor. In the literature itwasshownthatMadagascarhissingcockroachescanserveasaninfectionhostforathiaminaseIproducer,soIamlookingatpathogenicityin cockroach infections. I also have a bit of anentomologybackground soworkingwith insects suitsme.Whatdoyoulikebestaboutyourwork?The best part aboutmy work is that I am on diverseprojectswithinterestingorganismslikeepulosandI'vebeenabletoworkonbacterialinteractionsindifferentsurgeonfish,fruitflies,andnowtheMadagascarhissingcockroaches. This allows me to employ differentmethods and techniques to get at the questions andkeepthingsinteresting.Whatdoyoulikeleastaboutyourwork?Leastfavoritepartisdefinitelykillingsomanyanimals.You've TA'd awide range of classes,what has beenyourfavoritemomentasaTA?Favoritemoment as a TA was giving the BioMI 2900lecture on transcription. Having the opportunity tolectureinfrontof180studentswasagreatexperience.Whenyoudofindsometimeawayfromthelab,whatdoyouliketodoforfun?Forfunmyfavoritethingsareplayinghockey,drawing,reading,music,andgoingtoconcerts.

http://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/4060/session/15!

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