Past Events
VUCEL Seaweek 2013
Date: 9 March 2013
Time: 10.00 am
Interactive displays showcasing the diversity of marine biology research that happens on your doorstep!
Touch tanks of marine creatures, see examples of research equipment in action, talk to knowledgeable researchers
Fun and educational for all ages!
Open to the public only 1 day. Take this rare opportunity to tour Victoria University's coastal research facilty on the south coast!
Open Day 2013 flyer (192 KB, PDF)
Information Events
VUCEL Open Day
Date: 10 March 2012
Time: 10.00 am
Open Day at the south coast's Victoria University Coastal Ecology Laboratory:
- Intereactive displays showcasing the diversity of marine biology research that happens on your doorstep
- Touch tanks of marine creatures, see examples of research equipment in action, talk to knowledgeable researchers
- Fun and educational for all ages
VUCEL is open to the public only 1 day a year. Take this rare opportunity to tour Victoria University's state-of-the-art research facilty on the south coast
Public Lectures
Professor Phil Lester Inaugural Lecture
Date: 7 May 2013
Time: 6.00 pm
Venue: Hunter Council Chamber, Level 2, Hunter Building
Tiny brains with big effects: The World of Ants Bees and Wasps
As pollinators, social insects such as ants, bees and wasps are vital for our food production. As invasive species, these animals can also change entire ecosystems. Professor Lester will show how the success of these insects is associated with their population density, and their ability to learn and modify their behaviours in different situations. He will also explain how successful insect populations can occasionally collapse and disappear, and discuss why now, more than ever, we need to manage social insects for conservation and biodiversity benefits.
RSVP by Friday 3 May. Phone: 04-472 1000 or email: rsvp@vuw.ac.nz with ‘Lester’ in the subject line.
Watch a video of wasps picking up and dropping ants
Biodiversity & Tuataras
Date: 16 April 2013
Time: 5.30 pm
Venue: Taupo
Victoria University invites you to a free public lecture on predator control presented by Professor Charles Daugherty and Dr Nicola Nelson.
2013 Regional Public Lecture Series
As part of Victoria University‘s 2013 Regional Public Lecture Series, two conservation experts will be visiting Taupo to talk about their work helping protect treasured native species, and the issue of pest control in New Zealand.
Professor Charles Daugherty and Dr Nicola Nelson will give a talk titled Predator control—protecting tuatara and other natural treasures for future generations, on Tuesday 16 April at the Great Lake Convention Centre.
Professor Daugherty is a conservation biologist and expert in pest management, and is Professor of Ecology and Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Research) at Victoria. His involvement in bringing tuatara back from the brink of extinction was recognised this year when he was chosen as a semi-finalist in the 2013 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards.
Professor Daugherty will be presenting an overview of whether pest-free New Zealand is achievable.
"The concept of pest-free New Zealand has gathered a lot of attention recently, through debates over whether we should control cats and how this might be done, for example. I'll be discussing whether a pest-free New Zealand is feasible, and the reasons why predator control matters to all New Zealanders," says Professor Daugherty.
He will be joined by reptile expert Dr Nicola Nelson, a Senior Lecturer in Conservation Ecology at Victoria.
Dr Nelson will discuss some of the surprising implications relating to the effect temperature has on determining the sex of baby tuatara, and how these might influence conservation efforts in a warming climate.
She will also show how efforts to control introduced predators on the mainland can help improve the long-term outlook for populations of treasured species, like tuatara.
Professor Daugherty and Dr Nelson will also present their talk later in the year, in Nelson, as part of the Victoria University Public Lecture Series.
Victoria University Public Lecture Series—Taupo
Tuesday 16 April 2013, 5.30pm-8pm
Great Lake Convention Centre—5 Story Place, Taupo 3330
To attend, email rsvp@vuw.ac.nz with 'tuatara‘ in the subject line or phone (04) 472 1000 by Friday 12 April.
Public Lecture flyer (PDF, 329KB)
Toxic Algae
Date: 28 February 2013
Time: 6.00 pm
Venue: Cafe Scientifique, 34 Knights Rd, Lower Hutt
Seminars
Dr Andrew Munkacsi - Malaghan Seminar
Date: 17 May 2013
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Title: Exacerbate-Reverse: a genomic strategy to identify off-label uses of approved drugs
Presented by Dr Andrew Munkacsi
Senior Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington
Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is a fatal, pediatric neurodegenerative and gastrointestinal disease due to lysosomal accumulation of cholesterol and sphingolipids. Currently there is no effective therapy to treat NPC disease. We have established an “exacerbate-reverse” approach as a novel therapeutic strategy wherein we identify genetic modifiers of NPC disease using unbiased, genome-wide analyses of the yeast model of NPC disease. We identified pathways that exacerbate disease severity in yeast that can be reversed in human cells. In proof-of-principle experiments, we used a clinically approved anti-cancer histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, SAHA, Vorinostat, ZolinzaÒ) to treat human NPC patient fibroblasts and reversed the major diagnostic criteria of NPC disease. This seminar will focus on the translation of Vorinostat and additional unexpected promising targets from yeast to animal models of NPC disease in which these targets impact lipid accumulation, life span, and disease markers such as weight loss, ataxia, and Purkinje cell loss. These results are critical to evaluating the potential of these therapeutic targets to treat children with NPC disease who do not have the time to wait for development and approval of new drugs.
All Welcome
A/Prof Diana Sarfati - Malaghan Seminar
Date: 10 May 2013
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Title “The unlevel playing field: ethnic inequalities in cancer outcomes in New Zealand”
Presented by A/Prof Diana Sarfati - Dept of Public Health, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Otago Wellington
One of the challenges facing the New Zealand health system is how to maintain equitable access to a high-performing health system and to eliminate existing health inequities. This talk focuses on ethnic inequities in cancer outcomes in New Zealand. It summarises recent evidence for the existence of inequities in cancer incidence, survival and mortality; considers why such inequities might exist and suggests approaches to reducing them.
All Welcome
Dr Ian Hermans - Malaghan seminar
Date: 3 May 2013
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Presented by A/Prof Ian Hermans
SBS VUW & Group Leader, Vaccine Research Group, MIMR
Developing novel cancer vaccines
It is known that immune cells can recognise tumour cells and prevent tumour growth in vivo. There is therefore considerable interest in developing therapeutic vaccination strategies to provoke anti-tumour immune responses in patients. Cancer vaccines generally aim to stimulate cells of the adaptive arm of the immune system, provoking those cells that recognise tumour-associated antigens to proliferate and differentiate into effective anti-tumour cells. We have evidence from preclinical studies that vaccine efficacy can be enhanced significantly if cells of the innate arm of the immune system are also stimulated, providing a supportive stimulatory environment within hours of vaccine administration. We have now developed the infrastructure to manufacture such vaccines, and we are about to test their activity in cancer patients. In doing so, a flexible clinical-grade synthesis pipeline has been established so that different refinements and/or applications can be tested directly in New Zealand. A promising synthetic vaccine strategy at the early stage of this pipeline will be discussed.
All Welcome
Dr Geoff Chambers seminar
Date: 30 April 2013
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HULT119 – Hunter Building
Speaker: Dr Geoff Chambers
Title: Seeking solutions to the ‘Species Problem’
Abstract:
In his talk Dr Chambers will claim that after the last 10 years of particularly intensive scholarship we now know what this problem, is but we still do not have a satisfactory solution! One recent book by Richards (2010) ‘The Species Problem’ explores the tension between high level philosophical concepts of species and operational biological definitions.
Geoff will draw on many years of genetic research experience and present his view that this tension is confounded by a general failure to recognise the significance of relativity and contingency when biologists name species, plus other factors. He will discuss a prescriptive programme for biologists to complement the ‘conceptual framework’ that Richards (2010) has provided for philosophers.
Chambers (2012) Biol. Philos. 27: 755-765
All Welcome
Dr Melanie McConnell - Malaghan Seminar
Date: 26 April 2013
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Immunotherapy for GBM” – Podcast of Society for Neuro-Oncology Meeting
Presented by Dr Melanie McConnell
Group Leader, Cell Survival Group
All Welcome
Ryan Kyle - Malaghan Institute Seminar
Date: 19 April 2013
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Ryan Kyle, PhD Student, Allergic & Parasitic Diseases Group, MIMR
Title: Using interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 dual reporter mice to investigate cellular contributions to type II immune responses
Type II immune responses are associated with protection against helminth infections, as well as the pathology of allergic diseases that are initiated against innocuous antigens. Despite some of the key factors for type II immunity having been identified over 30 years ago, the underlying mechanisms for initiating and maintaining these responses remain to be elucidated. Two of the integral cytokines associated with type II immunity are interleukin (IL-)4 and IL-13, and observing when and where these cytokines are produced is important to understanding how to contribute to the overall response. The 4C13R transgenic dual reporter mouse has been created to allow identification of IL-4 and IL-13 producing cells by the production of two intracellular fluorescent molecules, AmCyan and DS-Red respectively. This technology allows for the analysis of in situ IL-4 and/or IL-13 production by the relevant differentiated immune cell types without any effect on the endogenous cytokine genes or their effector activities in the mouse. Using this reporter model we have identified cells of both the adaptive and innate branches of the immune system producing cytokine in a range of disease models associated with type II immune responses.
All Welcome
Dr Amanda Gilbert Seminar
Date: 16 April 2013
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HULT119 – Hunter Building
Speaker: Dr Amanda Gilbert, Centre for Academic Development, VUW
Title: Making constructive alignment work: choosing teaching methods that achieve your objectives
Abstract:
Victoria University recommends the use of Constructive Alignment (Biggs and Tang, 2011) in its course and curriculum design, but what does this mean? In this seminar we will try to break through the "eduspeak" to get at what Constructive Alignment might mean for our teaching. Using our observations of students' needs and our own teaching values we will discuss how different methods and techniques can achieve the outcomes we want for our students.
All Welcome
Dr Marcus Robinson - Malaghan Institute Seminar
Date: 12 April 2013
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Dr Marcus Robinson
Research Officer, Allergic & Parasitic Diseases Group, MIMR
Title: Unravelling the CD4+ T cell component of the intestinal allergic process
Food allergies present a significant health risk and are thought to be increasing in prevalence. Five percent of infants will have an allergic episode before they turn three and the majority of these episodes will be caused by one of six common foods. Despite more than a century of research into the allergic process, the earliest sensitization events are unknown and allergies remain difficult to control: the best current management strategy for a food allergy is to exclude the allergen from the diet. A deeper understanding of the allergic process is required to permit the development of new prophylactic and therapeutic disease management strategies. Universal features of proteins that make them likely to be allergens are not established and the earliest immunological events that cause sensitization in the gut are unclear. Data will be presented which begins to address the role of CD4+ T cells and non-classical Th2 cytokines in the allergic inflammatory process.
All Welcome
Dr Sonja Miller Seminar
Date: 9 April 2013
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HULT119 – Hunter Building
Speaker: Dr Sonja Miller, FRST Te Tipu Pūtaiao Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Āwhina VUCEL Incubator, Victoria University Coastal Ecology Laboratory
Title: The Āwhina VUCEL Incubator: Investigating sediment effects on pāua (Haliotis iris) and kina (Evechinus chloroticus) - an alternative research approach
Abstract:
New Zealand comprises only 0.2% of the world’s land area, yet inputs of sediments to the coastal zone approach almost 1% of world sediment yields. Sediments can negatively impact benthic species such as pāua and kina, both of which comprise significant fisheries.
The Āwhina VUCEL Incubator, at Victoria University’s Coastal Ecology Laboratory (VUCEL), has been investigating the impact of suspended sediments on reproduction, growth, and respiration for pāua and kina. However, we take an alternative research approach. Our kaupapa (goal) is to produce Māori and Pacific marine scientists to contribute to Māori and Pacific community development and leadership. Our team comprises a Māori postdoctoral fellow, and undergraduate and postgraduate students who are Māori or Pacific or non-Māori / Pacific but support our kaupapa. We all have backgrounds in the biological sciences and statistics, and belong to Te Rōpū Āwhina (Āwhina) at Victoria University.
Our unique and ground-breaking approach is important for future Māori and Pacific development, creating a model for indigenous peoples and universities to successfully work together to build indigenous capability. Most importantly, we put the established evidence for Māori and Pacific student success in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subject areas into practice, and provide a strategic pathway for the New Zealand Tertiary Education Commission’s Māori and Pacific focal demographic. Our research is discussed in this context.
All Welcome
A/Prof D. Branch Moody - Seminar
Date: 25 March 2013
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HMLT001 Hugh Mackenzie Building
Speaker: A/Prof. D. Branch Moody, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA
ASI Visiting speaker program
Title: The Surprising Nature of Human T cell Activation by Self and Foreign Lipids
Post-graduates & Under-graduates are warmly welcome to attend.
Dr Odette Shaw - Malaghan Seminar
Date: 22 March 2013
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Dr Odette Shaw, Arthritis and Inflammation Group, Malaghan Institute
Title: The inflamed brain: hypoxia-ischaemia, cyclooxygenase and L-arginine
Worldwide, stroke is the third most common cause of death with approx 5.5 million people dying annually. There is also a major health burden caused by long lasting motor and cognitive deficits in stroke survivors. Stokes result from either a blockage in blood flow (ischaemic) or a rupture (haemorrhagic) within the brain. The current therapeutic options for treating these conditions are extremely limited despite extensive research in this area. Strokes, and other ischaemic and neurodegenerative pathologies, involve a number of pathways resulting in apoptotic and necrotic cell death. These include arachidonic acid metabolism resulting in the production of inflammatory eicosanoids like PGE2 as well as free radical generation by enzymes such as nitric oxide synthase. This study looked at the roles of arachidonic acid and L-arginine metabolism in contributing to neurodegeneration, using a model of hypoxia-ischaemic brain damage. This presentation will discuss important interactions between a number of inflammatory pathways during hypoxia-ischaemia. Specifically, we found that targeting individual enzymes, such as cyclooxygenase-mediated arachidonic acid metabolism, modulated other pathways, including nitric oxide production, in the inflammatory cascade and led to decreased neuronal loss. This work illustrates the interdependence of inflammatory pathways involved in neurodegeneration and highlights the need to understand the way these pathways interlink in order to effectively target them for intervention.
All Welcome
Dr Gabriele Dachs - Seminar
Date: 19 March 2013
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HULT119 – Hunter Building
Speaker: Dr Gabriele Dachs; University of Otago Medical School, Christchurch
Title: The Role of Vitamin C in Cancer
Abstract:
Vitamin C (ascorbate) has a controversial history in cancer therapy. Although it is administered widely to late-stage cancer sufferers, there is no robust scientific data to either support or refute this practice. Vitamin C is an important anti-oxidant, but also acts as co-factor for several enzyme families. We have investigated this property of ascorbate as a potential link between tumour progression and physiological levels of vitamin C in cell culture, a relevant animal model and human cancer patients.
Post-graduates & Under-graduates are warmly welcome to attend.
Kylie Price - Malaghan Seminar
Date: 15 March 2013
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Kylie Price
Hugh Green Flow Cytometry Fellow, Cell Technology Suite, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
Title: Measuring cell cycle and proliferation by Flow Cytometry
This tutorial will consider flow cytometric techniques for monitoring different aspects of cell proliferation. Covering principles, methods and analysis strategies for measuring cell cycle progression using DNA binding dyes, thymidine analogues, proliferation-related antigens and phase specific expression vectors. It will also cover principles, methods and analysis strategies for monitoring extent of cell division using proliferation tracking dyes (CFSE, PKH26 and newer analogs of each).
Examples of applications using the different methods will be used to compare and contrast the information that is obtained using different probes and techniques.
All Welcome
Dr Robert Chow - Seminar
Date: 12 March 2013
Time: 4.00 pm
Venue: AM101 – Alan MacDiarmid Building, Kelburn Campus
Speaker: Associate Professor Robert Chow, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Physiology & Biophysics
Title: Using light to control cellular electrical activity and secretion
Abstract:
Light-Triggered Modulation of Cellular Electrical Activity by Photovoltaic Compounds
Incorporation into cell membranes of organic complexes that undergo light-activated charge separation offers a novel way to control the electrical activity of electrically excitable cells. Ruthenium diimine complexes have previously been used to facilitate light-activated electron transfer in the study of redox metalloproteins. Here, we demonstrate that illumination of cells treated with RubpyC17, a transition metal complex designed to anchor in the external face of the cell membrane, leads to membrane depolarization when the sacrificial reductant ascorbate is in the bath, and leads to hyperpolarization when the sacrificial oxidant ferricyanide is in the bath. With RubpyC17, we can control action potential firing and cellular secretion of adrenal chromaffin cells, using the patch clamp technique to monitor membrane potential and amperometry to monitor oxidation of secreted catecholamines. While the present work is focused on ruthenium diimine complexes, our findings point more generally to broader application of other transition metal complexes to mediate light-induced biological changes.
All welcome
Dr Sabine Kuhn Seminar
Date: 12 March 2013
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HULT119 - Hunter Building, Kelburn Campus
Speaker: Sabine Kuhn, PhD, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Immune Cell Biology Group
Title: Adjuvants that stimulate both the adaptive and innate anti-tumour immune response induce inflammatory dendritic cells
Abstract:
There is now compelling evidence that tumours can elicit protective immune responses that result in tumour regression or stable disease. However, tumours often develop immune escape mechanisms and can subvert the infiltrating immune cells, inducing them to be immuno-suppressive and favouring tumour growth instead of tumour rejection. In response to infections, immune cells are frequently activated via recognition of conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns and danger signals. Therefore, we wished to investigate the ability of microbial stimuli and danger signals to re-programme tumour-infiltrating immune cells, in particular dendritic cells (DCs), to an immuno-stimulatory phenotype.
We included the non-pathogenic Mycobacterium smegmatis to provide multiple pathogen-associated molecular patterns, the intracellularly-recognised TLR ligands CpG and poly IC, the extracelullarly recognised TLR ligand LPS, and the danger signal monosodium-urate crystals (MSU) in our study. Mice bearing established, transplantable tumours were injected peri-tumorally with the different adjuvants and tumour growth was monitored. We found that some adjuvants were capable of delaying tumour growth and increasing survival, whereas others were ineffective. Effective adjuvants activated both innate natural killer (NK) cells and adaptive CD8+ T cells. This was associated with the rapid induction of a distinct pattern of cytokines and the appearance of inflammatory DCs in tumour draining lymph nodes, but did not correlate with up-regulation of classic DC activation markers.
A better understanding of the immune pathways required for effective anti-tumour immune responses will greatly help the development of successful cancer immunotherapies.
All welcome
Prof Mike Dragunow - Malaghan Seminar
Date: 8 March 2013
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Prof Mike Dragunow
Dept of Dept of Pathology & Centre for Brain Research, Auckland University
Title: Human Brain Inflammation
Inflammation plays a major role in the development, progression and symptoms of neurodegenerative disorders, epilepsies, as well as traumatic and ischemic brain injuries. Currently there is no effective treatment for human brain inflammation. Most studies of brain inflammation have utilized rodent in vitro and in vivo models. However, translation of results from these rodent models to humans in the clinic has, so far, failed. We have developed an adult human brain drug testing and drug target validation platform to directly study human brain inflammation and brain disease. This platform, which combines adult human brain tissue microarray, primary adult human brain cell cultures, molecular pharmacology and high-content analysis, will be described and the application to specific studies of human brain inflammation detailed. These combined research tools are being used to understand the causes of human neurodegeneration and to test and develop new treatment strategies.
All Welcome
Prof Vern. L. Schramm, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York (The Inaugural Ferrier Lecture)
Date: 5 March 2013
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HU 204, Hunter Council Chamber, Level 2 Hunter Building,
The Inaugural Ferrier Lecture
12noon TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013
HU 204, Hunter Council Chamber, Level 2 Hunter Building,
Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn Campus
The Ferrier Lecture has been established in honour of Emeritus Professor Robert (Robin) J. Ferrier, one of New Zealand’s eminent chemists and a leader in the field of carbohydrate chemistry. Such is the recognition of Robin that two widely used organic chemistry reactions bear his name: known worldwide as the Ferrier reactions and/or the Ferrier rearrangement (carbocyclisation). This Inaugural Lecture has been made possible by generous support, via the Victoria University Foundation, from Dr Peppi Prasit, Callaghan Innovation, Victoria University and the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry.
Refreshments will be served in the Hunter Common Room, Level 2 Hunter Building from 11:15am. Please RSVP to Helen Rowley (helen.rowley@vuw.ac.nz, 04 463 5335) by 5pm Friday 1 March.
Enzymatic Transition States and Drug Design
Professor Vern L. Schramm
Professor and Ruth Merns Chair of Biochemistry
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
Transition state theory proposes that chemically stable mimics of individual enzymatic transition states will be the most powerful inhibitors known. This approach has the potential to create transition state analogues as powerful inhibitors of enzymes. We use experimental isotope effects and computational methods to establish the nature of enzymatic transition states and to design transition state analogues. Chemical synthesis of transition state analogues is brought to reality by the skilled chemists in the Carbohydrate Chemistry Team at Callaghan Innovation. Using the powerful approach of transition state analysis and chemical synthesis, transition state analogues have been obtained for specific targets in leukemia, gout, cancers, malaria and in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Some of the transition state analogues developed by our team bind to the target enzymes by as much as 97,000,000 times tighter than substrate. Four chemical scaffolds of transition state analogues have been produced for human purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP). One is in clinical trials for leukemia and another in clinical trials for the treatment of gout. A third shows promise in animal models for malaria. Transition state analogues of human methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) show promise as anticancer agents in mouse xenografts. Malaria parasites are purine auxotrophs and blocking host and parasite PNPs can kill the parasites and are effective in primate malaria infections. Transition states of bacterial metylthioadenosine nucleosidases (MTANs) have promise for ulcers and for the inhibition of bacterial quorum sensing. Inhibition of bacterial quorum sensing is not expected to induce antibiotic resistance. Application of transition state theory, combined with innovative chemical synthesis has provided access to some of the most powerful enzymatic inhibitors. Several are finding application in improving human health.
Biography
A native of South Dakota, Schramm studied chemistry, microbiology, nutrition and enzymatic mechanisms at South Dakota State University, Harvard and the Australian National University. After postdoctoral studies at the NASA Ames Research Center he began his research in transition state analysis at the Departments of Biochemistry at Temple University School of Medicine and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is the Ruth Merns Chair of Biochemistry. Schramm pioneered the use of kinetic isotope effects and computational chemistry to understand enzymatic transition states. Knowledge of the transition-state permits design of powerful inhibitors. Two of the inhibitors designed by the Schramm laboratory have entered clinical trials and others are in earlier stages of development.
Honors in recognition of his contributions to research and teaching include a Merit Award from the NIH, election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Rudi Lemberg Award from the Australian Academy of Science, the George A Sowell Award for Excellence in Teaching from Temple University School of Medicine, and the Harry Eagle Award for Outstanding Basic Science Teaching from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Schramm received the Repligen Award from the Biological Chemistry Division of the American Chemical Society in 2006 and in 2007 he was elected to membership in the National Academy of Sciences.
Dr Julia Horsfield - Malaghan Seminar
Date: 1 March 2013
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Dr Julia Horsfield, Dept of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, Otago University, Dunedin
Title: Cohesin: The glue that links cell proliferation with developmental programmes
A recently fertilised embryo contains rapidly dividing cells that have the potential to develop into any part of the body. One of life's biggest mysteries is how cells in the early embryo decide what to be. Cohesin proteins are essential for both chromosome duplication and for controlling expression of specific developmental genes. Cohesin also regulates genes that promote stem cell identity. Therefore, this protein complex could form a vital link between cell division and differentiation.
In zebrafish and in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, we have shown that cohesin positively regulates the expression of the oncogene Myc. ChIP-seq results from early zebrafish embryos show potential for cohesin to directly regulate genes controlling pluripotency. Cohesin also binds to genes encoding factors that control epigenetic modification of DNA, with widespread implications for transcriptional programming in the early embryo.
All Welcome
Dr Celine Beamer - Malaghan Institute Seminar
Date: 22 February 2013
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Dr Celine Beamer
Research Assistant Professor, Dept of Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Environmental Sciences, University of Montana, USA
Title: Understanding the immune responses to inhaled carbon nanotubes
The innate immune system of the lung is one of the most critical homeostatic systems of the body. Life threatening damage can occur by either failure to rapidly detect and clear inhaled pathogens, or as a result of an unbridled response. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are family of heterogeneous cells that serve as crucial regulators of immunity and inflammation at mucosal surfaces including the lungs. In particular, type-2 ILCs (ILC2) play significant roles in Th2 mediated immunity, inflammation, and tissue remodeling in allergy and asthma. Asthma is the prototypical example of an environmentally mediated disease in genetically susceptible individuals. Engineered nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), may be one trigger for asthma that may not only mimic, but also exacerbate many of the features of allergic asthma in both the presence and absence of allergen. These studies suggest that exposure to CNTs alone may trigger allergic-like immune responses and that individuals with allergic asthma may be very susceptible to CNTs. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these effects remain largely unknown. The Beamer laboratory has recently shown that exposure of mice to CNTs results in enhanced production of Th2-associated cytokines (e.g. IL-33 and IL-13), enhanced airway hyperreactivity, eosinophil recruitment, and production of Th2-associated cytokines and chemokines. Moreover, these events were dependent on IL-13 signaling and the IL-33/ST2 axis, but independent of T and B cells. Finally, CNT exposure resulted in the recruitment of ILCs. Collectively, our data leads us to test the hypothesize that CNT-induced epithelial damage results in the release of IL-33, which in turn promotes ILCs recruitment and the development of IL-13-dependent inflammatory response.
All Welcome
Dr Paul Giacomin Seminar
Date: 15 February 2013
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Dr Paul Giacomin
Research Fellow, Queensland Tropical Health Alliance, James Cook University, Queensland
Epithelial regulation of innate and adaptive immune cell function in the intestine
Epithelial cells that line the gastrointestinal tract are critical for maintenance of immune homeostasis and for regulation of immune responses against invading pathogens. However, the mechanisms by which intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) can recognize distinct commensal or pathogenic microorganisms and elicit appropriate immune responses remain incompletely understood. Following infection with the gastrointestinal helminth Trichinella spiralis, expression of the cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) by IECs is essential for the mobilisation of basophils to intestinal draining lymph nodes, which promotes CD4+ T helper Type 2 (Th2) immune responses that are required for expulsion of the parasite. Epithelial-derived TSLP also is essential for regulating long-lasting memory immune responses against the related helminth Trichuris muris. Collectively, these data implicate IECs and the cytokines they produce as a critical interface between innate and adaptive immunity for promoting distinct immune responses to infectious pathogens.
All Welcome
Dr Jean-Francois Hubert Seminar
Date: 11 February 2013
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HMLT001 – Hugh McKenzie Building
Speaker: Jean-Francois Hubert, INRA-ENS, UMR Bioemco, Paris France
Title: Genetic and genomic diversity in the toxic freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa: What explains the ecological success of this bloom-forming species?
Abstract:
Microcystis aeruginosa is a toxic cyanobacterium, which is able to bloom in very diverse freshwater ecosystems (shallow and deep lakes) in tropical, subtropical and temperate areas. This species produces numerous secondary metabolites, including microcystins, which are harmful for human health. By a comparative genomic approach, we showed that the genome evolutionary strategy of this species combines unusual genome plasticity, characterized by a high number of repeated sequences, numerous rearrangements and an ability to include new adaptive genes by horizontal gene transfer. When comparing the genomes of Microcystis and Prochlorococcus, one of the dominant picocyanobacteria living in marine ecosystems, our findings show that they are characterized by having almost opposite evolutionary strategies, both of which have led to ecological success in their respective environments.
All welcome
Prof Paul Atkinson - Malaghan Institute Seminar
Date: 8 February 2013
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Prof Paul Atkinson - Professorial Research Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, VUW
Title: Secretory pathway network biology & Pharmacology analysed by genomic tools including automated microscopy
Most diseases, as most phenotypes, are genetically complex i.e. are multi-genic and an example is cystic fibrosis. The mutated CTFR gene fails to fold correctly in the ER and is minimally transported to the cell surface where it normally forms a transmembrane ion (chloride) channel. Though often thought of as a “single gene” disease the mutated (“ΔF508”) CTFR nonetheless has a druggable network of “modifier genes” that alter severity and symptoms. This is typically the case for many diseases. CF is only one of about 40 different human disease thought to have an underlying protein folding/secretory pathway basis including some cancers, diabetes, atherosclerosis, Alzheimers.
Our lab is specifically interested in the secretory pathway, including the unfolded protein response and cystic fibrosis is a classic misfolded protein case. There are 554 genes, identified by miRNA knockdown techniques, that affect the secretory pathway in human cells. Making sense of this kind of genetic complexity requires “genomic tools”. High-through put high-content automated microscopy, sophisticated genetic interaction analysis using genome wide mutations and small molecule inhibitors will be described in this seminar to work out the mechanism of action of a promising new drug, neothyonidioside, a triterpene antifungal with a novel mechanism.
All Welcome
Dr Khaled Greish MD Malaghan Institute Seminar
Date: 1 February 2013
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Dr Khaled Greish MD
Lecturer, Dept of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Medical Sciences, Otago University, Dunedin
Title: Role of tumor vascular biology in advancing translational anticancer nanomedicine
Effective cancer therapy remains a challenging tasks to the scientific and healthcare communities, with little advancement on overall cancer survival rates during the last two decades. A major limitation inherent to conventional anticancer chemotherapeutic agents is their lack of tumor selectivity and subsequent toxicity leading to patient morbidity. One way to achieve selective drug targeting to solid tumors is to exploit abnormalities of tumor vasculature, namely, hypervascularisation, aberrant vascular architecture, and up regulation of vascular permeability mediators. The advantages of nanosystems in exploiting tumor vascular biology, for selective anticancer treatment will be discussed.
All Welcome
Dr Kathy McCoy - Malaghan Institute Seminar
Date: 25 January 2013
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Dr Kathy McCoy
Research Director, Clinical Research, Dept. of Gastroenterologie, University of Bern, Switzerland
Title: Neonatal bacterial exposure modulates immune regulation
We harbor an enormous load of bacteria in our intestines, which are physically excluded from entering the body by a single layer of epithelial cells and overlying mucus. The mucosal immune system, containing over one third of the body’s immune cells, is strategically situated in very close proximity to this massive load of bacteria. All mucosal tissues are colonized with bacteria, with densities up to 1012 bacteria/ml of luminal contents found in the colon, which is one of the highest densities of bacteria found on earth. The endogenous flora of the intestine provides a wealth of stimuli for maturation and shaping of the immune system. Indeed, germ-free mice, which are devoid of all bacteria, have immature mucosal and systemic immune systems. Immunoglobulin levels in germ-free mice are generally reduced with the exception of IgE which is highly elevated, indicating that the intestinal microflora is a major modulator of IgE responses. In this seminar I will discuss how the intestinal microflora impacts on development of the immune system with particular focus on the regulation of IgE.
All Welcome
Dr Rachel Perret - Malaghan Institute Seminar
Date: 23 January 2013
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Dr Rachel Perret
Research Fellow, University of Lausanne, LICR, Geneva Switzerland
Title: Vaccines that increase the antigen-specific effector to regulatory T cell balance enhance tumor immunity
However, the role that cancer vaccines play in regulating this balance within a tumor-specific T cell population is not well understood. We have used mouse models of ovalbumin and gp100/Trp-1 self-peptide immunisation to study the effect of different vaccine formulations on T effector:Treg ratios. We found that the frequency of antigen-specific Tregs was increased following subcutaneous immunisation with peptide, alone or in combination with TLR7-agonist Imiquimod or the saponin-based adjuvant QuilA. In contrast, addition of TLR9-agonist CpG-ODN or TLR- agonist Poly(I:C) preferentially amplified the effector T cell response. This resulted in a dramatic increase in the ratio of antigen-specific T effectors:Tregs, which was found to be associated with early production of IFN-b and Th1 cytokines. Following therapeutic immunisation of tumor-bearing mice, we found that the high ratios of tumour-specific T effectors:Tregs induced by CpG-ODN and Poly(I:C) in the lymphoid organs corresponded with enhanced CTL infiltration of the tumor and improved tumour control. These findings broaden our understanding of the mechanism of action of successful adjuvants and propose a potential new correlate of vaccine efficacy.
All Welcome
Dr Erik Aschehoug, North Carolina State University
Date: 11 December 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HMLT001 - Hugh McKenzie Building
Speaker: Dr Erik Aschehoug, Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University
Title: Multi-Species Competition and the Structure of Plant Communities
Abstract:
Understanding the forces that drive the assembly of diverse communities is of fundamental importance in ecology, but a complete understanding of the processes that allow species to coexist remains elusive. For instance, classic theories of coexistence are based on simplified, two-species models and pairwise experimentation that have established competition as a process that reduces, rather than maintains, diversity. My research program uses field experiments to examine competition and coexistence in more realistic, complex multi-species communities where the outcomes of competition are profoundly different than predicted by traditional theory. This suggests that classic niche differentiation is not necessary to permit coexistence and that community assembly theory based on pair-wise approaches both overestimates the strength of competition and the inevitability of competitive exclusion in species rich communities. These results provide insight into how diverse groups of species interact simultaneously in space and time and how these complex suites of interactions influence ecological processes.
All welcome
Dr Andrew Tanentzap - York University
Date: 7 December 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HMLT001 – Hugh McKenzie Building
Speaker: Dr Andrew Tanentzap, Department of Biology, York University, Toronto
Title: Conserving global ecological functions threatened by multiple stressors
Abstract: Human impacts are degrading natural ecosystems, but in order to intervene, policymakers and conservation managers need predictions of how ecosystems respond to, and recover from, anthropogenic stressors. I will discuss how dynamical models can be used to inform conservation of the policy and management interventions that are most urgently needed to mitigate different stressors and protect ecosystem function and biodiversity. I will describe two specific projects focusing on the impacts of:
- herbivory and deforestation on carbon capture in the Scottish Highlands; and
- altered flooding and nutrient regimes on indigenous biodiversity of ephemeral wetlands in South Island, New Zealand.
All welcome.
Dr Romina Rader, Stockholm University
Date: 3 December 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HMLT001 – Hugh McKenzie Building
Speaker: Dr Romina Rader, Landscape & Community Ecology, Stockholm University, Sweden
Title: Biodiversity, species interactions and global change
Abstract: Drivers of global environmental change are negatively affecting biodiversity and the resilience of ecosystems globally, yet we lack understanding of the functional consequences of this loss, beyond species numbers and abundances.
This is largely due to knowledge gaps in three main areas:
- First, the conventional approach of using species richness to determine community response to land use change fails to incorporate species identity, hence we currently have little mechanistic understanding of the underlying causes of biodiversity loss.
- Second, it is unclear which species or functional groups directly contribute to ecosystem processes.
- Third, although global environmental change is known to alter diversity and community composition, our grasp of how it may impact ecosystem functioning is limited.
My research contributes to these knowledge gaps by using life history traits to better understand the impacts of land use and climate change upon different components of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
This will enable a greater understanding of the functional consequences of biodiversity loss in real world landscapes.
Prof Shaun Holt - Malaghan Institute Seminar
Date: 30 November 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Prof Shaun Holt, Founder of Clinicanz, Honorary Research Fellow MRINZ and Lecturer at Victoria University
Title: Complementary therapies for people with cancer
Abstract: Almost everyone with a diagnosis of cancer will try complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) or will seriously consider using them. There are many reasons for this, not least a determination to “leave no stone unturned”. Unfortunately, there are few sources of good information and many treatments are totally ineffective or even dangerous. No CAM therapies will cure cancer but a surprisingly large number have been shown in high quality research studies to reduce symptoms and/or increase quality of life. Most health care professionals receive little if any teaching on evidence-based CAM and their patients often have questions on the subject, often based on information in weekly magazines and the internet. This presentation gives an overview on which CAM therapies can help people with cancer, which do not help or can harm....and how to tell the difference.
All Welcome.
Assoc Prof Simon Davy & Dr Paul Fisher Seminar
Date: 20 November 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: AMLT105 – Alan MacDiarmid Building
Speaker: Associate Professor Simon K. Davy & Dr Paul L. Fisher, SBS
Title: Corals in a Changing World: Determining what controls coral thermal tolerance
Abstract: Coral reefs are in serious decline, with global warming recognised as a significant threat to coral reefs. Oxidative stress during periods of elevated seawater temperatures result in the loss of symbiotic algae that are essential to the corals survival (coral bleaching). However, some corals bleach more readily than others giving rise to specific thermal thresholds. Differences in thermal tolerance have been linked to the type of symbiotic algae living within the coral, although the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Our research aims to determine whether differences in the protective mechanisms against oxidative stress can explain this range of thermal tolerance.
All welcome.
Assoc Prof David Shepherd - Malaghan Institute Seminar
Date: 16 November 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Assoc Prof David Shepherd, Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Dept of Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montana, USA
Title: Consequences of Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in dendritic cells and their therapeutic potential
Abstract: Dr. Shepherd is a visiting scientist from the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana, USA. His laboratory has been studying dendritic cells (DCs), with a special emphasis on the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling pathway, for the last 10 years. Activation of the AhR has emerged as a significant event in the development of T cell-mediated immune responses and immune-mediated diseases. Despite the fact that naïve T cells are predominantly insensitive to AhR-activating chemicals, T cell-mediated responses are acutely affected by AhR activation and contribute to immune dysfunction. DCs play a critical role in the activation and differentiation of T cells and because they constitutively express significant levels of AhR, they are especially sensitive to AhR ligands. Therefore, DCs represent a critical cell population capable of mediating the immunomodulatory effects following exposure to compounds capable of activating the AhR. The Shepherd research group has recently demonstrated that AhR-activated DCs possess a regulatory phenotype and function that can direct differentiation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and effectively suppress the generation of antigen-specific immune responses. However, the specific mechanisms underlying the induction of regulatory DCs are currently unknown. Moreover, the AhR can bind to a vast array of chemicals, both natural (ie indole-3-carbinol and indirubin) and man-made (ie TCDD), and ligand-specific effects may exist for the generation of DCs with tolerogenic potential. Defining the consequences of AhR activation in DCs is expected to significantly advance our understanding of how DCs control T cell differentiation. Therefore, the goal of Dr. Shepherd’s laboratory is to test the central hypothesis that AhR activation in DCs generates immunoregulatory cells that directly induce Tregs ultimately leading to active immunologic tolerance. In addition to challenging the current paradigm that T cells are primarily responsible for the immunomodulatory effects of AhR activation, this research will expand our understanding of how AhR activation generates immunoregulatory DCs capable of influencing T cell-mediated immune responses. It is also expected to demonstrate how AhR activation may be manipulated to yield novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment immune-mediated diseases and identify biomarkers of environmentally induced immune dysfunction.
All Welcome
Dr Michele Grimbaldeston Seminar
Date: 9 November 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Dr Michele Grimbaldeston, Center for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology, Adelaide
Title: Mast Cells: Delinquents or ‘D’ lightful
Abstract: Dr Grimbaldeston's research focuses on the immunomodulatory role of mast cells in settings such as contact dermatitis, sun exposure, and IgE-mediated anaphylaxis. While historically thought of as pro-inflammatory effector cells, her work has led to a paradigm shift and shown that mast cells can also negatively regulate immune responses in certain settings. This has opened up a new area of mast cell-dependent immunoregulation and has begun to identify novel therapeutic strategies to modulate the immune system. In this seminar, she will focus on how Vitamin D3, the 'sunshine vitamin', can alter mast cells from a pro-inflammatory state to an anti-inflammatory one.
All Welcome.
Assoc Prof Dean Burkin - Centre for Biodiscovery Seminar
Date: 6 November 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: Hunter Building - HULT119
Speaker: Dean J Burkin, PhD, Department of Pharmacology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, USA
Title: The Matrix Reloaded: Discovering Integrin and Lamininbased therapies for the muscular dystrophies
Abstract:
Duchenne and Merosin‐deficient congenital muscular dystrophies are lethal neuromuscular diseases for which there is no cure and limited treatment options. Mutations in the dystrophin gene cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), while mutations in the LAMA2 gene resulting in loss of laminin‐211/221 cause Merosin deficient congenital muscular dystrophy type 1A (MDC1A). Loss of dystrophin or laminin‐211/221 in these patients results in defective association of muscle with the surrounding basal lamina that results in progressive muscle weakness. As muscle disease progresses DMD and MDC1A patients are confined to a wheelchair, require ventilator assistance to breathe and have reduced life expectancies. Using transgenic and knockout mouse technology we have demonstrated the laminin binding alpha7beta1 integrin is a major modifier of disease progression in mouse models of DMD and MDC1A. These observations suggest drugs that increase alpha7 integrin levels in muscle may act to restore the defective myomatrix in DMD or MDC1A and prevent muscle disease progression. To test this hypothesis we developed a novel muscle cell–based assay and screened over 400,000 compounds including FDA approved, synthetic and natural compound libraries to identify alpha7 integrin enhancing molecular probes. We have identified several small molecules and proteins that promote alpha7 integrin in mouse and patient muscle cells. Laminin‐111, a protein expressed during embryonic muscle development, was shown to increase alpha7 integrin to levels that were therapeutic in transgenic mouse studies. Administration of Laminin‐111 protein before disease onset prevented muscle pathology and improved strength in the mdx mouse model of DMD. We have also shown that Laminin‐111 can serve as a protein replacement therapy and prevent muscle disease and increase longevity in the dyW mouse model of MDC1A. Together our results show that drugs that target the alpha7beta1 integrin to restore the defective myomatrix may have significant potential for the treatment of muscle disease. Support: National Institutes of Health (NIH), Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), CureCMD, Parent project for Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), Charley’s Fund and Struggle against muscular dystrophy (SAM)
Disclosure statement:
The University of Nevada, Reno, has been issued a patent in April, 2012 on the therapeutic use of laminin, laminin derivatives, and their compositions. The patent inventors are Dean J Burkin and Jachinta E Rooney. The University of Nevada, Reno, has licensed this technology to Prothelia Inc. and has a small equity share in this company.
All Welcome
Assoc Prof Lai-Ming Ching - Malaghan Institute Seminar
Date: 2 November 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Assoc Prof Lai-Ming Ching, Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, Auckland University
Title: Short stories on stromal targeting agents for treating cancers: i. IDO-inhibitors for melanoma; ii. epoxides for gliomas; iii. DMXAA for haemangiomas
Abstract:
The non-malignant cells comprising the tumour stroma play an essential role in supporting the growth and survival of the cancer cells. There is increasing research into the development of strategies that block the pro-tumour functions of the stromal cells for cancer therapy to complement the current therapies that are targeting only the cancer cells. This seminar will provide a brief overview of work by the Stromal Targeting Group at the ACSRC in three such areas: i. inhibitors of 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) to reverse tumour-mediated immune suppression; ii. overcoming the blood brain barrier with synthetic omega-3 fatty acid derivatives for the treatment of brain cancers; and iii. the use of DMXAA to disrupt the vasculature for the treatment of haemangiomas and other soft tissue sarcomas.
Sabine Kuhn Seminar Malaghan Institute
Date: 26 October 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Sabine Kuhn, PhD Student, Immune Cell Biology Group, MIMR
Title: Using adjuvants to stimulate anti-tumour immune responses
Abstract: Tumours often develop immune escape mechanisms and can subvert the infiltrating immune cells, inducing them to be immuno-suppressive and favouring tumour growth instead of tumour rejection. In response to infections, immune cells are frequently activated via recognition of conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns and danger signals. Therefore, microbial stimuli and danger signals may be able to function as adjuvants and re-programme tumour-infiltrating immune cells, in particular dendritic cells (DCs), to an immuno-stimulatory phenotype.
We used the non-pathogenic Mycobacterium smegmatis to provide multiple pathogen-associated molecular patterns, the intracellularly-recognised TLR ligands CpG and poly IC, the extracelullarly recognised TLR ligand LPS, and the danger signal monosodium-urate crystals (MSU) as adjuvants in our study. Peri-tumoral injection of these adjuvants into mice bearing established transplantable tumours showed that some adjuvants could delay tumour growth and increase survival, whereas others were ineffective. The effective adjuvants required both NK and CD8 T cells to exert their function and also induced inflammatory monocyte-derived DCs in tumour-draining LNs. These findings contribute to an understanding of the requirements of a beneficial anti-tumour immune response and may lead to the development of better tumour-immunotherapies.
All Welcome
Claire Horvat Seminar Malaghan Institute
Date: 19 October 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Claire Horvat - Research Officer, Cell Survival Group, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
Title: Development of masked fluorophores as reporters of nitroreductase activity and their biological applications
Abstract:
An emerging anti-cancer strategy is the development of cancer prodrugs for targeted therapies. Nitroaromatic prodrugs have shown great promise in this regard due to the ability of the strongly electronegative nitro group to act as a “molecular switch”, which upon reduction can activate the cytotoxic properties of other substituent groups in the molecule. A variety of nitroaromatic prodrugs in combination with oxygen-independent nitroreductase (NTR) enzymes derived from bacteria have been evaluated in various Gene Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy (GDEPT) models to develop next-generation cancer therapies, but further work is required to effectively study and optimise these strategies.
A key limitation in GDEPT is inefficient gene delivery. To improve gene delivery it is important to be able to effectively monitor vector distribution and gene expression. This presentation will discuss research that aimed to test and screen novel masked fluorophores for their ability to report on NTR activity in a GDEPT context, then to utilise these masked fluorophores in other biological applications including identification of novel NTRs and their potential as cellular reporters of gene expression.
Dr Olivier Gasser
Date: 12 October 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Dr Olivier Gasser
Senior Research Fellow, Vaccine Therapy Group, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
Title: Generation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells for immunotherapy
Dendritic cells are the most potent antigen-presenting cells in our body. Thus, it comes as no surprise that recent efforts in cancer vaccine research aimed at harnessing their immunological potency, in particular to induce and expand cancer specific T cell responses. The optimal methodology to generate functional monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) for immunotherapeutic purposes is however not clearly established and various methods have been put forth in the quest for the best vaccine product. But as the specifications of dendritic cell-based vaccines are highly variable, any given vaccine study will need to customize existing protocols to its needs. Within the context of the upcoming melanoma vaccine trial, we performed validation studies to identify a moDC-generating protocol in line with our unique vaccine design, i.e. the combination of antigen-derived peptides and a-galactosylceramide. Those studies are still ongoing.
All Welcome
Naomi Baker - Malaghan Institute Seminar
Date: 5 October 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Naomi Baker - PhD Student, Immune Cell Biology Group, MIMR
Title: “Cytotoxic T cell-mediated immunotherapy of allergic airway inflammation”
Abstract:
Allergic asthma results from inflammation of airways caused by inappropriate activation of CD4+ T cells to innocuous antigens. These cells are driven to a Th2 phenotype and induce an allergic response characterised by eosinophilia, goblet cell hyperplasia, remodeling of airway epithelium and production of the cytokines IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13. Previous work found that allergen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) can inhibit airway inflammation in a model of acute allergic asthma. It was not known what the effect of CTLs may be in the context of established airway inflammation, and the mechanisms of allergic pathogenesis remain to be elucidated. We developed an experimental asthma model to investigate the efficacy of CTLs over multiple airway allergen exposures and an adoptive transfer model to track disease-mediating CD4+ Th2 cells.The ability of allergen-specific CTLs to reduce established airway inflammation and retain efficacy over a number of airway allergen challenges was observed. This effect was associated with significantly lower numbers of disease-mediating CD4+ T cells in the airway. These findings provide the basis for a potential immunotherapy for allergic airway disease.
All Welcome
Dr Stephen Hartley Seminar
Date: 2 October 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HMLT002 – Hugh Mackenzie Building
Speaker: Dr Stephen Hartley, Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington
Title: Stressed and disturbed: experimental eco-restoration in New Zealand’s sand dunes and wetland habitats
Abstract:
Restoration ecology aims to move human-altered environments toward a more “natural” state. The motivations for this are many, including a utilitarian desire to improve ecosystem services such as erosion control, flood protection or water purification; and/or ethical desires to increase local biodiversity. At the base of all food webs are plants, rooted in soil or water, hence understanding and control of these three elements is central to most eco-restoration projects. In today’s talk I will describe a number of eco-restoration experiments which aim to improve our understanding of the interactions between native and exotic plants, the soil and water in two contrasting habitat types.
At Wairio wetlands, near Lake Wairarapa, the aim was to recreate a kahikatea “swamp forest”. We conducted a field-scale multi-factorial experiment of the most common management techniques used to manipulate a plant’s experience of competition, disturbance and stress. In practical terms, the use/non-use of mechanical clearance, weed-mats or herbicides applied along a gradient of increasing soil moisture and flooding. The growth and survival of c.2000 planted trees (including kahikatea, cabbage tree, totora and bush daisy) were monitored for one year. Relatively dry (non-stressful) conditions resulted in the best survival for all species, including kahikatea which was the most tolerant of prolonged inundation. Scraping of topsoil (to reduce competition from grasses) was beneficial in dry sites, but had a negative or neutral effect in wetter sites as it lowered the local ground-level and encouraged pooling of water. e competition) was beneficial in dry sites but of pecies, including kahikatea whcih ltion f Facilitation by nurse species was a fourth experimental factor, whose influence is predicted to gain in prominence as succession proceeds. In summary, when attempting to recreate a swamp forest, the more stressful the environment (i.e., the more water-logged the soil) the less need there is to reduce competition from grasses through mechanical or chemical means.
In contrast, facilitation is of immediate importance in sand dune restoration which involves the planting of the native sand-binding grass Spinifex. Experiments here investigated the balance of positive and negative interactions between Spinifex and the South African ice plant, Carpobrotus edulis. Determining the optimum level and mode of intervention required under different environmental conditions has the potential to substantially reduce the labour costs of many eco-restoration schemes.
All welcome
Dr Matthew Dunn Seminar
Date: 28 September 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HULT119 - Hunter Building
Speaker: Dr Matthew Dunn, Principal Scientist, NIWA – National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd
Title: Providing scientific advice for fisheries management in a changing world
Abstract:
The interaction between fish, fisheries, science, and politics is complex. The aim of fisheries management is to ensure sustainable fisheries, often balancing conflicting conservation and utilisation objectives. In recent years, the global expectations of what a ‘sustainable’ fishery is have grown, from simple concerns about only the target species, to including wider ecosystem effects, and assurances that effective fishery management systems are in place. The story of the orange roughy, a deep sea fish often associated with poor fisheries management, will be used to demonstrate the role of fisheries science, and the substantial challenges that are often faced. Unfortunately, management decisions are commonly required well before scientists have had the time to complete the research they would like to in order to provide full answers. Scientific progress has been rapid, but a great deal remains unknown. This talk will conclude by considering some of the global challenges that are likely to be faced by fisheries and fisheries science in the future, including continued human population growth, and climate change.
All Welcome
Dr Alan Lee Seminar
Date: 25 September 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HMLT002 – Hugh MacKenzie Building
Speaker: Dr Alan Lee, Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine; Neurobiology/Ageing Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore
Title: Physiological and pathophysiological functions of Semaphorin 5A and plexin-B3 in the nervous system
Abstract:
Semaphorins are a large family of guidance molecules that regulate a plethora of biological processes ranging from axon guidance, cell motility, angiogenesis, organogenesis, immune responses, to cancer progression. These functions are mediated through cross interactions of semaphorins with their receptors neuropilins and plexins, which can couple to various co-receptors to elicit specific network of signalling events in different cell types. We have recently uncovered novel functions of semaphorin 5A (Sema5A) and its receptor plexin-B3 in oligodendrocyte development and in brain cancer progression. Plexin-B3 is expressed in oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), and the level correlates with their maturation to oligodendrocytes. Stimulation of OPCs with Sema5A was found to inhibit migration and promote differentiation into mature oligodendrocytes. Strong expression of plexin-B3 is also observed in clinical specimens of human gliomas. Nonetheless, Sema5A expression is markedly downregulated in high-grade glioblastomas, which are highly infiltrative and anaplastic. Interestingly, stimulating glioma cells with Sema5A results in suppression of cell invasion and proliferation but promotion of astrocytic differentiation. These findings led to the speculation that Sema5A and plexin-B3 subserve tumor suppressor function, which is significantly compromised in high-grade gliomas due to deregulated expression of Sema5A. The underlying mechanisms and genetic basis of these processes will be discussed in the presentation. A thorough understanding of the mechanistic role of Sema5A and plexin-B3 in oligodendrocyte development and glioma progression will provide insight into their therapeutic potential in demyelinating diseases and brain cancers, respectively.
All welcome
Dr Anita Dunbier seminar
Date: 21 September 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Presented by Dr Anita Dunbier
Dept of Biochemistry, Health Sciences, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin
Title: “Does anti-hormone therapy inadvertently drive immunological escape in breast cancer?”
Approximately 80% of human breast carcinomas express oestrogen receptor α (ER) and are treated with therapies that block the synthesis or activity of oestrogens. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) inhibit aromatase, a key enzyme in oestradiol synthesis and typically prompt dramatic reductions in the proliferation of ER+ve tumour cells. Although such treatment is the best currently available, up to 50% of patients obtain no little to no benefit and many ultimately develop resistance. We investigated determinants of response to oestrogen deprivation in both oestrogen-deprived breast cancer cells in vitro and in AI-treated tumours from patients using whole genome expression arrays. A strong association between poor outcome and an inflammatory gene expression signature was observed in patients. Further analysis suggested that the signature was derived from infiltrating immune cells. Together with analysis of additional cohorts, in vitro analysis suggests that oestrogen deprivation may stimulate chemokine production by tumour cells. These chemokines have the potential to trigger infiltration by inflammatory cells which produce growth and survival factors, thus helping the tumour cells to proliferate in the absence of oestrogenic stimulation.
All Welcome
Dr Richard Edwards
Date: 21 September 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: EALT206 - Easterfield Building
Speaker: Dr Richard Edwards, Lecturer (Bioinformatics & Molecular evolution) Centre for Biological Sciences - University of Southampton
Title: SLiM Pickings: the hunt for functional Short Linear Motifs in proteins
Abstract:
Many protein-protein interactions are mediated by Short Linear Motifs (SLiMs): short stretches of proteins (5-15 amino acids long), of which only a few positions are critical to function. These motifs are vital for biological processes of fundamental importance, acting as ligands for molecular signalling, post-translational modifications and subcellular targeting. SLiMs have extremely compact protein interaction interfaces, generally encoded by less than 4 major affinity-/specificity-determining residues, which makes experimental discovery a challenge. Considerable attention has therefore been given to computational methods for SLiM prediction and analysis.
Over recent years, computational methods for the prediction of SLiMs from sequence and interaction data have come along leaps and bounds. In this talk, I will give an overview of my contributions to this exciting and expanding field, with a particular emphasis on some of the tools that I have developed for SLiM prediction. These developments, combined with dramatic improvements in the quantity and quality of the underlying data, mean that we can now predict SLiMs with good confidence measures and are looking increasingly to applications. I will also outline the current and future developments in this area and the direction I see my research taking over the next few years. The small size of SLiMs enables high functional density and evolutionary plasticity, which has important implications for human pathogens and genetic diversity. I will focus on applications to human health and disease in three areas: (1) the exploitation of host SLiMs by rapidly evolving pathogens that use them to hijack cellular processes; (2) possible roles of SLiMs in human cancer mutations; and (3) the role of SLiMs in “personalised medicine” and complex human diseases.
All welcome
Dr Michael Knapp Seminar
Date: 18 September 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HMLT002 - Hugh MacKenzie Building
Speaker: Dr Michael Knapp, Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution and Department of Anatomy, University of Otago
Title: Understanding our past: insights from mammoths, man and ancient bacteria
Abstract:
The migration of humans out of Africa and across the globe has had a significant impact on the newly settled environments. In many regions the arrival and spread of modern humans coincided with large scale extinction events that affected large, slowly reproducing vertebrate species. Still the role of humans in these megafaunal extinctions remains controversial. Are humans to blame for the extinction of mammoths and cave bears, and what role did the severe climate changes towards the end of the last ice age play? I will present results from our paleogenetic studies that address these questions and provide new insights into the causes of the late Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions.
I will also discuss my current research program into the settlement of Polynesia. This last great human migration which ended with the arrival of Polynesian voyagers on the shores of Aotearoa/New Zealand only 750 years ago holds many mysteries. Where did the first New Zealanders come from and who were their ancestors? Did Polynesians reach the Americas before Columbus and if so, what was the nature of their interactions with local populations? Were bacterial diseases such as syphilis and tuberculosis already on board the first boats that crossed the Pacific or were these plagues introduced to Polynesia by European sailors? New high-throughput DNA sequencing technology for the first time allows us to address these questions by analysing the remains of ancient Polynesian voyagers. Results from these studies will not only provide unprecedented insights into the settlement of the Pacific but also allow us to reconstruct human health through the centuries.
All welcome
Dr Melanie McConnell Seminar
Date: 13 September 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HULT119 - Hunter Building
Speaker: Dr Melanie McConnell, Group Leader - Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
Title: Cancer, Cancer Stem Cells and Therapy Resistance
Abstract:
The identification and isolation of the cancer stem cell has revolutionized cancer cell biology research, and polarized the cancer research community. While definitions vary, the most common description of a cancer stem cell is the cells within a tumour that are both (i) capable of initiating new tumor growth and (ii) resistant to therapy. The CSC is therefore responsible for relapse, which implies therapy resistance is an integral part of the cancer stem cell phenotype. We have isolated both cancer stem cells and therapy resistant cells from the aggressive brain tumor glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), and have examined the relationship between cancer stem cell activity and resistance to multiple therapeutic strategies - chemotherapy, radiation and immune attack.
All welcome
Dr Janet Pitman Seminar
Date: 10 September 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: EALT206 Easterfield Building
Speaker: Dr Janet Pitman, Senior Research Fellow, School of Biological Sciences
Title: The oocyte: the conductor of the ovarian orchestra
Abstract:
The egg (oocyte) plays a central role in the growth and maturation of ovarian follicles. Through the paracrine secretion of oocyte-specific growth factors, the oocyte regulates the function of the surrounding somatic cells. In turn, the closely-associated somatic cells provide the oocyte with the necessary nutrients and substrates to undergo cytoplasmic maturation. Hence, the growth and health of ovarian follicles is dependent upon a bi-directional communication system between the oocyte and adjacent follicular somatic cells. Furthermore, only the co-ordinated maturation of the oocyte together with the surrounding somatic cells will result in a developmentally competent oocyte that is capable of embryogenesis. This talk will address my three current externally-funded research programmes. The first two programmes concern both genetic and environmental factors regulating oocyte developmental competence and relate to assisting human fertility and improved reproductive outcomes for the Sheep and Dairy industries. The third research programme relates to a new paradigm for the origins of epithelial ovarian cancer and the importance of the oocyte in the preventing the development of ovarian cancers.
All welcome
Prof Ulus Atasoy Seminar - Malaghan
Date: 4 September 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Surprising connections between allergies, immunity and breast cancer
Presented by
Prof Ulus Atasoy
Dept of Surgery & Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, USA
Many genes are regulated at the posttranscriptional level by RNA binding proteins and microRNAs. Yet, in contrast to transcriptional regulation, little is known about these mechanisms. However, there is a poor correlation between steady state mRNA levels and protein. In order to better understand posttranscriptional gene regulation, we have developed techniques called, RNA immunoprecipitation applied to microarrays (RIP-Chip) to identify coordinately regulated groups of mRNAs in different biological processes such as T cell activation/differentiation as well as in malignant transformation. We will discuss our efforts directed towards a better understanding of T cell differentiation in allergen driven airway inflammation as well as breast cancer transformation and potential connections between the two processes.
All Welcome
Anne La Flamme Seminar
Date: 4 September 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HMLT002 – Hugh McKenzie Building
Speaker: Associate Professor Anne Camille La Flamme, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington and Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
Title: Targeting innate receptors with MIS416 – a new strategy to treat multiple sclerosis
Abstract:
Modification of the innate immune cell environment has recently been recognized as a viable treatment strategy for reducing autoimmune disease pathology. MIS416 is a microparticle developed by Innate Immunotherapeutics that targets the innate receptors, NOD2 and TLR9. It is a promising new therapeutic for progressive multiple sclerosis and has just completed a phase 2a trial; however, the precise mechanism for disease reduction in patients is unknown. Thus, using mouse models we are investigating the pathways by which activation of TLR9 and NOD2 modify the innate immune environment and the subsequent T cell-mediated autoimmune responses. We have found that MIS416 has profound effects on the Th subset balance by depressing Th17 and Th2 development, sustaining Th1 responses, and augmenting splenic regulatory T cells. These effects coincided with increased levels of serum IFN-γ induced by MIS416 treatment. We believe that this enhanced systemic IFN-γ is key to the MIS416-mediated protection as serum levels correlate strongly with disease reduction and the protective effect of MIS416 is abrogated in IFN-γ-deficient animals. Together, these studies indicate that administration of MIS416, which initially targets innate cells, reshapes autoimmune T cell responses and in an IFN-γ-dependent manner leads to a significant reduction in CNS inflammation and disease.
All welcome
Wai Yan Sun Seminar - Malaghan Institute
Date: 3 September 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Sphingosine kinase-1 regulates adhesion molecule expressions for neutrophil trafficking during allergic inflammation
Presented by
Wai Yan Sun
PhD Student, Centre for Cancer Biology, Adela
Rapid recruitment of neutrophils to a site of inflammation is associated with allergic diseases, such as asthma and anaphylaxis. The effectiveness of current treatment is varied and the health costs are more than $7 billion yearly worldwide. We propose that sphingosine kinase maybe a target for developing a new therapeutic approach for the prevention of excessive neutrophil recruitment during allergic inflammation.
All Welcome
Dr William Telford Malaghan Institute Seminar
Date: 24 August 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Presented by
Dr William Telford
Head of Flow Cytometry Core Laboratory, Experimental Transplantation & Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
Fluorescent proteins for flow cytometry
Dr Ian Hermans - Seminar
Date: 21 August 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HMLT002 - Hugh McKenzie Building, Kelburn Campus
Speaker: Assoc Prof Ian Hermans, Vaccine Research Group Leader,
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
Title: Stimulating immune responses to tumours
Abstract:
Cells of the immune system can recognise and eliminate tumour tissue, leaving normal tissues intact. While this response is often observed in cancer patients, typically it is a case of “too little, too late”, with the tumors ultimately overwhelming the immune cells, or actively suppressing them. We have been involved in developing and modelling vaccines that can be used to boost anti-tumour immune responses. This work has focussed on stimulating T cells that can distinguish between healthy and diseased tissue by recognising uniquely expressed proteins (“tumour antigens”) expressed within tumour cells. Strategies to stimulate the activity of these T cells will be discussed.
All welcome
Malaghan Seminar Dr Tiffany Bouchery Smith
Date: 17 August 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Presented by Dr Tiffany Bouchery Smith
Research Fellow, Allergic & Parasitic Diseases Group, Malaghan Institute
Title: Filariae: Chemokines at every turn
Filariases are one of the oldest and most debilitating neglected tropical diseases, affecting more than 150 million people in the world. The major forms of the disease, namely lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis, may cause severe pathologies such as elephantiasis or blindness. However, a fraction of infected people neither present the pathology, nor microfilariae, thus showing that protective immunity against the parasite is an achievable goal. The murine filarial parasite Litomosoides sigmodontis undergoes complete development in BALB/c mice, from infective larvae inoculation to circulating microfilariae produced by adult worms settled in the pleural cavity. Development of L. sigmodontis in other inbred strains is restricted. This model also presents an association with Wolbachia, an endosymbiont bacteria that controls the reproduction of the main filarial species infecting humans. Thus, murine infection with Litomosoides can provide mechanistic explanations of susceptibility and resistance that are not possible in any other known systems. The role of chemokines in parasite infection has been relatively little studied. However, we show that they can be crucial both for worm development and for protection of the host at each stage of the parasite life cycle: CXCL12 controls the establishment of the parasite, its larval development and even the survival of the adult stage and of microfilarie. Other chemokines even present an antibacterial activity that kills Wolbachia, resulting complete sterilization of female worms.
ALL WELCOME
Prof Alan Dixson
Date: 7 August 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HMLT002 – Hugh McKenzie Building
Speaker: Professor Alan Dixson, School of Biological Sciences
Title: Mating Systems: Monkeys, Apes, and Humans
Abstract:
There are almost 400 species of primates alive today, although many of them are becoming increasingly rare. Their mating systems are diverse, and include monogamy and polygyny as well as more variable systems in which multi-partner matings result in copulatory and post-copulatory sexual selection via sperm competition and cryptic female choice. This talk will consider comparative aspects of the mating systems of monkeys and apes, and explore the evolutionary origins of human monogamy and polygyny.
WHBRS 87th Scientific Meeting
Date: 6 August 2012
Time: 4.00 pm
Venue: Old Government Buildings (GBLT3), Pipitea Campus, VUW
Wellington Health and Biomedical Research Society 87th Scientific Meeting
Smoking Addiction
All welcome
Light refreshments will be provided
Invited speakers
4.00-4.50: Joe DiFranza: “ The FOUR Stages of Smoking Addiction”
4.50-5.15: Refreshment break
5.15-5.40 Brent Caldwell: “Nicotine Replacement Therapy: can we
replace the reward of smoking?”
5.40-6.05: Katie Brennan: “New animal model of tobacco dependence:
tobacco particulate matter self-administration in rats”
6.05-6.30: Richard Edwards: “ASPIRE 2025 - the drive to make New
Zealand Smoke-free”
WHBRS is proudly supported by :
Victoria University
ESR
Massey University
University of Otago
Prof Graham Le Gros Seminar Malaghan Institute
Date: 3 August 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Title : The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of parasite infection and the associated immune response
Presented by : Prof Graham Le Gros - Director & Allergic & Parasitic Diseases Research Group, Malaghan Institute
Establishing protective immunity to helminth nematodes through vaccination is currently a major global health objective. Of particular note is human Hookworm which is estimated to infect up to 1 billion people worldwide and poses significant economic and health issues on the poorest countries. Surprisingly, the immune cells, cytokines, effector responses and vaccination strategies that could be used to provide immunity against infections such as hookworm remain largely undefined. We use green fluorescent protein/interleukin-4 (IL-4), reporter mice, cytokine gene deficient mice and truncated infection studies with N. brasilienisis and H. polygyrus to identify the role different tissues, immune cells and molecules play in mediating immunity to invading helminth parasites. The role of IL-4 producing CD4 T cell and basophil recirculation and memory cell development will be discussed with respect to helminth infection induced immunity and suppression of chronic inflammatory diseases.
Prof John Miller Seminar
Date: 31 July 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HMLT002 - Hugh McKenzie Building
Speaker: Professor John Miller, School of Biological Sciences, VUW
Title: Natural Products? - Elementary My Dear Watson
Abstract:Despite the exciting challenge of discovery of new natural products with unknown mechanisms of action, the microtubule-targeting drugs remain a major focus. We are using new biochemical techniques to further define the drug-microtubule interactions and have been using chemical genetics in yeast to search for alternative targets and secondary actions of the drugs. Our main lead compounds are two microtubule-stabilizing drugs peloruside and zampanolide, and one microtubule-destabilizing drug isatin that also displays protein kinase inhibitory activity. These compounds have potential not just as anticancer drugs, but may also prove efficacious in other diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimers disease.
All welcome
Malaghn seminar PRof Alan Musgrave
Date: 27 July 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Title: Strict empiricism versus explanation in science
Presented by : Prof Alan Musgrave
Dept of Philosophy, Otago University, Dunedin
As everybody knows, science aims to explain things and uses empirical evidence to decide between competing explanations. But the search for explanation is at odds with strict empiricism, the view that only empirical evidence should determine theory-choice, so that there is nothing to choose between empirically-equivalent theories. This means that there is nothing to choose between an explanatory theory T and its non-explanatory surrealist transform 'The empirical phenomena are as if T were true'. Surrealist transforms were invoked by the Church against Galileo, by creationists against evolutionists, and by Bishop Berkeley against science in general. I argue that strict empiricism and surrealist transforms should be rejected on explanatory grounds.
Prof Ken McNatty seminar
Date: 24 July 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: AMLT105 - Alan MacDiarmid Lecture Theatre
Speaker: Professor Ken McNatty, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington
Title: In search of the golden egg
Abstract:
In the mammalian ovary, the number of follicular enclosed-oocytes (eggs) is determined either before, or shortly after, birth. After formation, follicles start to grow sequentially, but asynchronously, towards ovulation. Regardless of reproductive status or health (e.g. prepubertal, pregnancy, disease etc), this production line of hierarchical follicular growth continues, without rest, until the follicles die or ovulate or becomes depleted with age (e.g. menopause). This hierarchical growth pattern has implications for artificial reproductive technologies (ART) such as in vitro fertilisation and/or embryo transfer. This is because, at any moment in time, most eggs are present within follicles at different maturational stages and that current hormonal therapies are unable to override the hierarchical pattern of follicular development. Consequently, when multiple eggs (2-14) are generated by exogenous hormones and/or recovered for ART, the current method for selecting one for a positive pregnancy outcome is essentially a guess. Recently, our research team has made significant progress in identifying a procedure for selecting good quality eggs as well as alternatives to hormonal therapies for increasing yields of quality eggs.
From measuring the expression of specific genes in cells adjacent to individual eggs, we have achieved a ~75% success-rate of selecting human eggs that will form embryos following IVF and identified one gene which predicts a positive pregnancy outcome in women ≤37 years of age. Moreover, from investigating genetic mutations in highly prolific sheep, we have identified an alternative strategy for enhancing egg quality in species that normally yield 1-3 eggs at ovulation.
All welcome
Prof Clive Beggs seminar
Date: 19 July 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: AMLT105 - Alan MacDiarmid Building
Speaker: Prof Clive Beggs - Centre for Infection Control & Biophysics, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
Venue: AMLT105 – Alan MacDiarmid Building
Title: Fluid dynamics of blood flow associated with multiple sclerosis
Abstract:
Introduction: There is increasing evidence that multiple sclerosis (MS) may have a vascular component, with many researchers [1-3] implicating the venous system in its aetiology. Recently it has been observed that many patients with MS exhibit stenosis of the extracranial venous pathways from the brain [4], with the result that there is extensive collateral rerouting of the blood flow back to the heart. This condition, termed Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI), has been associated with a decrease in cerebral venous volume in MS patients [5]. Despite this, the role that CCSVI plays in the pathophysiology of MS remains unclear.
Materials & Methods: Hydraulic analysis was undertaken to interpret the findings of other researchers regarding: (i) occlusion of the internal jugular veins (IJVs); and (ii) cerebral blood flow (CBF) in MS patients.
Results: Stenosis of the IJVs is likely to increase pressure in the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) by about 2–10 mm Hg, depending on the nature of the occlusion. While this will tend to reduce CBF, it cannot, on its own, account for the >40% reduction in CBF observed in some MS patients [6,7]. This suggests that physiological changes other than CCSVI may be at work. Analysis of data produced by Law et al [6], Ge et al [7] and Varga et al [8] suggests that the reduction in CBF observed in MS patients is likely to be caused by increased hydraulic resistance of the cerebral vascular bed.
Discussion & Conclusion: Although collateral rerouting of blood flow may occur, stenosis of the extracranial venous pathways will tend to raise the pressure in the venous sinuses [9]. While no published data exists regarding blood pressure in the venous sinuses of MS patients, indirect evidence of hypertension in these vessels comes from Zamboni et al who observed that following angioplasty to open up stenotic vessels, the venous pressure in MS patients dropped by approx. 2.2 mm Hg [10]. Analysis of changes in IJV vessel diameter (pre and post angioplasty) suggests that occlusions of this nature might increase the up-stream venous pressure by approximately 9.6 mm Hg. Given that CBF is directly proportional to the pressure drop through the cerebral vascular bed (approximately 80 mm Hg when supine), it can be estimated that a 10 mm Hg increase in venous pressure would equate to a reduction in CBF of about 12.5% - far less than the 15.6 – 53.4% reduction reported by Law et al, Ge et al and Varga et al for CBF in the normally appearing white matter (NAWM) of MS patients.
It has been hypothesized that the hypoperfusion associated with MS arises from reduced metabolic demand due to axonal degeneration [11]. However analysis of the data produced by Law et al, Ge et al and Varga et al suggests that this is not the case. In these studies cerebral blood volume (CBV) was reduced by 8.4 – 13.6% in MS patients compared with healthy controls, indicating that MS is associated with systemic intracranial vascular changes. If one applies Poiseuille’s Law to the mean data collected by Varga et al, it can be calculated that the reported decrease of 8.4% in the CBV, equates to a 19.2% increase in the hydraulic resistance of the vessels – something which is more than enough to account for the 15.6% decrease in CBF reported by Varga et al. In short, narrowing of the intracranial blood vessels appears to account for much of the observed reduction in CBF in MS patients. So while CCSVI might increase the hydraulic resistance of the extracranial pathways back to the heart, it is doubtful if this alone could account for the reduction in CBF reported in MS patients. Other vascular changes would therefore appear to be at work.
Recently, Zivadinov et al [5] found MS to be associated with: (i) reduced absolute venous volume (AVV) for veins with a diameter <0.3mm; and (ii) an increased voxel brain average distance-from-vein (DFV), compared with healthy controls. These results strongly correlated with decreased CBF in MS patients, and suggest that reduced CBV is a characteristic of the disease. Similar findings were observed for individuals diagnosed with CCSVI. Furthermore, because CCSVI was found to be strongly associated with reduced AVV and increased DFV, it raises intriguing questions about the role that CCSVI might play in modifying the intracranial vasculature. While the nature of this role is at present unclear, it is known that CSF efflux from the subarachnoid space into the SSS is impaired in MS patients [12] – something that indicates the presence of hypertension in the SSS. Given that Monro-Kellie homeostasis is strongly influenced by the timing and magnitude of the CSF pulse, there is good reason to believe that changes in the dynamics of this pulse, arising from venous hypertension, could have a systemic affect, which might have an impact on the entire cerebral vasculature.
References: (1) Dawson. Trans Roy Soc Edinb 50:517, 1916. (2) Putnam & Adler. Ach Neurol Psychiat 38(1), 1937. (3) Schelling. Med Hypotheses 21:141, 1986. (4) Zamboni et al. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 80:392, 2209. (5) Zivadinov et al. BMC Neurology 11:128, 2011. (6) Law et al. Radiology 231:645, 2004. (7) Ge et al. Am J Neuroradiol 26:1539, 2005. (8) Varga et al. J Neurol Sci 282:28, 2009. (9) Beggs. Ann Neurol 68:560, 2010. (10) Zamboni et al. J Vasc Surg 50:1348, 2009. (11) De Keyser et al. J Cereb Blood Flow & Met 28:1645, 2008. (12) Zamboni et al. Int Angiol 29:140, 2010.
Dr Ben Bell
Date: 17 July 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: Alan MacDiarmid Lecture Theatre 105 - AMLT105
Speaker: Dr Ben Bell, Assoc. Prof., SBS
Title: Delving into the lives of New Zealand’s threatened native frogs
Abstract
Conservation relevant research on the life histories of New Zealand’s evolutionarily distinct and globally threatened native frogs (Leiopelma spp.) over recent decades is reviewed, highlighting new and at times unexpected discoveries. Four species survive, while another three species are now extinct. National surveys have clarified the frogs’ distribution, extending known ranges of some, and confirming restricted ranges of others. Long-term demographic studies of Leiopelma represent some of the most lengthy population research on any wild anuran. They identified a major population decline in Archey’s frog and revealed that the Maud Island frog not only lives longer than most other frogs, but has one of the smallest home-ranges known for any vertebrate. Research has also clarified aspects of Leiopelma reproduction and development, allowing assessment of evolutionary history but also raising questions for further study. While the taxonomy of Leiopelma species needs further resolution, our knowledge of their natural history has substantially informed conservation management, embracing programmes dealing with habitat restoration, translocation, adaptive management, captive breeding, and disease prevention.
All Welcome
Year of the Coast
Date: 27 June 2012
Time: 5.30 pm
Venue: VUCEL
Come along to the Victoria University Coastal Ecology Lab (VUCEL) and find out about some of the amazing research happening in the heart of Wellington.
Speakers include
Keith Michael
What does science know about the Bluff oyster, one of New Zealand’s oldest fisheries?
Agnes Rouchon
The effect of pollutants on pāua and kina. Jeannine Fischer Do marine snails on the rocky shore get sunburnt?
Paul Mensink
Reproductive output in the common triplefin: Putting all your eggs in one basket and how to get lucky if you’re a fish!
Āwhina VUCEL Incubator team
The effects of sediment on pāua and kina: building Māori and Pacific science capability through the Āwhina VUCEL Incubator.
Anne Wietheger
Coral reefs: an ecosystem in crisis – the important association between corals and algae in tropical coral reefs. What exactly is coral bleaching and where is the connection to New Zealand’s rocky reefs?
Don’t miss this opportunity to see inside VUCEL, and hear about the things that are impacting on our precious coastal environment. Each talk will be less than 10 minutes.
Where: VUCEL, 396 The Esplanade, Island Bay
When: 5.30-7pm, Wednesday 27 June
Light refreshments will be served beforehand. Parking is available in various locations off The Esplanade or it’s a 10-minute walk from the Island Bay (number 1) bus. For more information, phone 470 9252
Year of the Coast flyer 2MB PDF
Dr Joanne MacKichan
Date: 27 June 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HMLT104 Hugh MacKenzie Building
Speaker: Dr Joanna MacKichan, Senior Scientist, Health Programme, Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR)
Title: Tipping the balance: toward an understanding of Neisseria meningitidis pathogenesis
Abstract:
Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) is a major cause of infectious disease worldwide. Bacterial infection can result in a life-threatening illness – septicaemia or meningitis – when infection enters the bloodstream or reaches the brain. In spite of this, meningococcus is frequently carried by about 10% of the population as a commensal, residing in the nasopharynx and rarely causing any illness at all. Bacterial, environmental, and host factors all contribute to the risk of acquiring the disease; however, little is known about what makes certain strains or lineages particularly virulent. New Zealand suffered from a protracted epidemic of meningococcal disease, driven primarily by a single strain type. We have used a variety of genetic and in vitro assays to identify bacterial factors that contribute to the virulence of the NZ epidemic strain type. Among these is an in vitro assay for wound repair, which has revealed that disease-associated meningococci inhibit cell migration. In ongoing work, we are searching for bacterial factors that inhibit wound repair. Simultaneously, using human microarrays, proteomics studies, and immunofluorescence microscopy, we have demonstrated that key host cell pathways are altered or targeted by disease-associated meningococci, but not by carriage-associated isolates.
All Welcome
Snark or Snipe
Date: 15 June 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Malaghan Institute
"Snark or Snipe? - The hunt for a more effective vaccine for high grade glioma"
Speaker: Mr Martin Hunt, Vaccine Research Group, Malaghan Institute
Abstract: Glioblastoma multiforme is a highly malignant primary brain tumour that is almost always fatal. The limitations of conventional treatment have led to a strong interest in using the immune system to target this tumour. In our own recently-completed Phase I trial of dendritic cell-based immunotherapy we found evidence of vaccine-induced immune responses in some patients that correlated with improved clinical outcomes. However, in common with all previous immunotherapy trials for glioma, the overall clinical benefit was modest and there is a need for more effective vaccination strategies. Using a murine model, we have developed a simple vaccine based on whole tumour cells combined with the potent immuno-adjuvant alpha-galactosylceramide that is effective against intracranial tumours. We have also explored the possibility of improving vaccine efficacy by targeting certain tumour cell subsets. In this seminar I will describe the lessons learned from this model that are applicable to the design of future clinical trials.
Lifeng Peng seminar
Date: 5 June 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: MCLT102 Maclaurin Building, Kelburn Campus
Speaker: Dr Lifeng Peng, Lecturer, SBS
Venue: MCLT102 Maclaurin Building
Title: Mass Spectrometry Based Proteomics and Metabolomics
Abstract:
In this seminar I will describe mass spectrometry based proteomics and metabolomics approaches for cell and molecular biology research. In particular, I will touch on the following topics: (1) Membrane proteomics (2) quantitative proteomics for protein biomarker identification (3) Functional annotation of proteome (4) Metabolite and metabolic flux analyses based on tandem MS that we are currently developing. These topics will be presented in several research projects.
All Welcome
Stefanie Steiger Malaghan Seminar
Date: 1 June 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building, Victoria University
Speaker: Stefanie Steiger - PhD student, Arthritis/Inflammation Group, MIMR
Title: “Neutrophil cannibalism and inflammatory resolution via TGF-b1 ”
Transforming growth factor (TGF-b1) is a hallmark feature in the resolution of acute gouty inflammation associated with the clearance of apoptotic neutrophils by macrophages. However, neutrophils also have the capacity to phagocytose apoptotic neutrophils and shut down pro-inflammatory neutrophil functions. Using a model of MSU crystal-induced inflammation, my data indicate that this process of ‘non-inflammatory’ neutrophil self-clearance triggers the production of TGF-b1, and contributes to the suppression of neutrophil respiratory burst and IL-1b production. Therefore neutrophil cannibalism represents a macrophage-independent mechanism of TGF-b1-mediated resolution in acute inflammation.
All Welcome
Misha Vorobyev seminar
Date: 29 May 2012
Time: 11.55 am
Venue: MCLT102 Maclaurin Building, Kelburn Campus
Speaker: Dr Misha Vorobyev, Senior Lecturer, Optometry and Vision Science, University of Auckland
Title: Evolution of colour vision
Abstract:
Different animals have in their eyes different sets of photoreceptors and therefore have different colour vision. How can these differences be explained? It is often assumed that colour vision has co-evolved with colourful signals, and differences in colours of biologically important objects explain the differences in colour vision. For example, colour vision of insects evolved as an adaptation for foraging on flowers, and colour vision of birds has evolved as an adaptation for looking at their colourful plumage. However, recent evidence suggests that we need to reconsider the co-evolution hypothesis. I will present the analysis of the relationship between vision of bees and flower colours, vision of birds and plumage colours and primate vision in the relationship to colours of fruits.
All Welcome
Dr James Harris seminar
Date: 25 May 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: HULT119 Hunter Building
Speaker: Dr James Harris, Immunology Research Centre,
School of Biochemistry & Immunology and Immunology Research Centre,
Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Dublin, Ireland
Title: Autophagy controls inflammatory responses in innate immune cells
Abstract:
Autophagy is a highly conserved homeostatic mechanism for the lysosomal degradation of cytosolic constituents, including long-lived macromolecules, organelles and some intracellular pathogens. Autophagosomes are formed in response to a number of environmental stimuli, including amino acid deprivation, but also by both host- and pathogen-derived molecules, including Toll-like receptor ligands and cytokines. Conversely, autophagy regulates the production and secretion of a number of cytokines. In particular, inhibition of autophagy in LPS-treated macrophages and DC leads to increased secretion of IL-1a, IL-1b, IL-18 and IL-23. Moreover, stimulation of autophagy leads to a decrease in intracellular levels of pro-IL-1 and the cytokine is sequestered by autophagosomes in LPS-treated cells, suggesting that autophagy directly regulates IL-1b through lysosomal degradation. The secretion of IL-23 in response to the inhibition of autophagy appears to be dependent on IL-1, as it can be blocked with an IL-1R antagonist, IL-1 neutralising antibodies and closely follows IL-1b secretion profiles. Moreover, supernatants from LPS-stimulated, autophagy-deficient, macrophages and DC drives the secretion of IL-17 by CD3+ T lymphocytes, suggesting that autophagy indirectly regulates Th17 responses through the modulation of IL-1 and IL-23. Thus, autophagy represents a potential target for the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of some inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.
All Welcome
KC Seminar
Date: 22 May 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: MCLT102 Maclaurin Building
Speaker: Dr Kevin Burns, Senior Lecturer, SBS, VUW
Title: Network properties of an island mega-mutualism
Abstract:
On continents, animals that pollinate flowers (e.g. hummingbirds) are usually different from those that disperse seeds (e.g. toucans). However, on oceanic islands, the same species are often involved in flower-nectivore and fruit-frugivore networks, leading to ‘mega-mutualisms’. Here, I will explore the network properties of a mega-mutualism between birds and plants in Zealandia, which I have quantified in weekly observations since 2006.
All Welcome
Joe Zuccarello Seminar
Date: 15 May 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: Maclaurin Building MCLT102
Speaker: Dr Joe Zuccarello, Associate Professor, SBS, VUW
Venue: MCLT102 Maclaurin Building
Title: Seaweed evolution: Diversity and distribution in a world-wide context
Abstract:
The evolutionary relationship of algae are still being elucidated. New species are routinely being discovered and while molecular methods may help us to discover these species, to understand their evolution and distribution world-wide sampling is needed. These collection can address questions of ubiquity (do small organisms have biogeography?). Sampling done in most phylogeographic studies on seaweeds can not give accurate descriptions of their historical dispersal (What happens to your hypotheses when you sample more?) The southern hemisphere has always been considered a hot-bed for this diversity and is even considered an area of origin for many groups, but is it? These and other questions I will address from my own research.
All Welcome
David Ackerley Seminar
Date: 8 May 2012
Time: 11.55 am
Venue: MCLT102 Maclaurin Building, Kelburn Campus
Speaker: Dr David Ackerley, Senior Lecturer in Biotechnology, VUW
Venue: MCLT102 Maclaurin Building
Title: Biotechnological applications of engineered bacterial enzymes
Abstract:
This seminar will be a series of vignettes overviewing a number of ongoing research projects in my laboratory. These include: Enhancing the potency of viral and bacterial vectors for cancer gene therapy; Strategies for PET imaging and safe elimination of gene therapy vectors from patients; A new approach to bioreduction of hexavalent chromium (the Erin Brockovich pollutant); and Discovery and biosynthesis of new bioactive molecules. I will also discuss a few novel cell biology tools we are developing, which may be of interest to some groups here at VUW.
All Welcome
Prof Evan Gallagher seminar
Date: 1 May 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: MCLT102
Speaker: Prof Evan Gallagher, Environmental Health Sciences School of Public Health, University of Washington, USA
Title: How environmental chemicals interfere with olfactory function in salmon
Abstract:
Salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest United States are declining. One factor implicated in this decline is the loss of olfactory function from exposure to environmental chemicals such as pesticides and trace metals. Manifestations of olfactory injury include a loss of detection of predators and prey, reproductive cues, as well as impaired homing to natal streams. This talk highlights our research on the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of chemical olfactory injury in salmon, and also how using zebrafish can help us better understand olfactory injury that is occurring in wild fish.
All Welcome
Prof Paul Klenerman - Malaghan Seminar
Date: 24 April 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Building
Speaker: Prof Paul Klenerman
Professor of Immunology, Snr Scientist & Consultant Physician, Nuffield Dept of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, UK
Title: Hepatitis C – Immune responses and vaccines
Abstract: Hepatitis C virus infects about 170 million people globally and is a major cause of liver disease. The virus is adept at setting up chronic infection. However, the virus can be contained by host immunity, with an important role for T cells. The talk will address the quality of host responses to HCV and development of T cell based vaccines to harness effective cellular immunity. I will also look at the uncovering of some novel CD8+ T cell responses associated with the liver, and which may have a general role in host epithelial defence and inflammation.
Elaine Dennison Seminar
Date: 24 April 2012
Time: 11.55 am
Venue: MCLT102 Maclaurin Building
Speaker: Elaine Dennison, Professor of Clinical Research,
School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington
Title: Trials and Tribulations: a voyage from the UK to New Zealand
Abstract:
In this seminar I will talk about my research on the epidemiology of osteoporosis, with particular reference to the Hertfordshire Cohort Study (UK) before talking about some of the New Zealand projects that are currently underway, including research into the effect of alcohol dependence upon bone mass in women and a clinical trial that will commence shortly studying the effect of teriparatide administration on fracture healing in hip fracture patients; I will conclude with a brief summary of trial work that I hope to undertake involving gout patients, where New Zealand leads the world. All Welcome
Food allergy
Date: 20 April 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Malaghan Institute
“Unplugging food allergy: Understanding the cellular mechanisms underlying food allergen sensitization”
Presented by Dr Elizabeth Forbes-Blom
Leader, Food Allergy Team, Asthma/Parasite Group Malaghan Institute
Abstract: Previous mouse and clinical studies demonstrate a link between Th2 intestinal inflammation and induction of the effector phase of food allergy. We have demonstrated that interleukin (IL)-9 has an important role in this process. In addition, intestinal IL-9 overexpression (iFABPp IL-9 Tg) predisposes to oral antigen sensitization, which requires mast cells and increased intestinal permeability. We have extended these findings by investigating the role of the Th2 response beyond the induction of sensitization. We are now taking these studies further by combining the iFABPp IL-9 Tg mouse with a newly generated IL-4 and IL-13 reporter mouse, generating a novel transgenic food allergy susceptible/Th2 cytokine reporter model that is able to reveal for the first time the earliest cellular and molecular events involved in allergic sensitisation in the gut.
Uric Acid
Date: 5 April 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute
Presented by Rene McLaughlin
PhD Student, Arthritis & Inflammation Group, Malaghan Institute
Abstract: There is strong evidence of a link between changes in serum uric acid (UA) levels and the development and progression of a variety of inflammatory diseases. Nevertheless, our understanding of the direct effects of soluble uric acid on cell-mediated inflammatory immune responses remains limited. We have seen that clinical and experimental elevation of soluble UA suppresses the inflammatory responses of LPS-activated human blood CD14+ monocytes and augments the production of IL-10. I have found a novel mechanism through which UA exerts its effects on the immune system. These results establish soluble UA as a clinically relevant regulator of inflammatory immune responses and point towards a key role for soluble UA in the pathophysiology of disease.
SBS 3rd April
Date: 3 April 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: MCLT102 Maclaurin Building
Title: Not all lysosomes are created equal: Genetic analysis of lysosome-related organelle biogenesis in C. elegans
Speaker: Greg Hermann, Associate Professor of Biology, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon, United States
Abstract:
During the golden age of electron microscopy in the 1960’s, many different types of “granules” and “bodies” were discovered in eukaryotic cells. Over the past decade, many of these compartments have been identified as specialized lysosome-related organelles. Notably, many of these coexist with conventional degradative lysosomes, thus distinct pathways promote the formation of these related compartments. Our lab is identifying the factors and mechanisms that mediate the formation of lysosome-related organelles using the model genetic system C. elegans.
All Welcome
Tubercolosis
Date: 28 March 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: MYLT220, Murphy Building
Australian Sociaety for Immulogy Inc
Speaker: Prof Joanne Flynn Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
Please contact Anne La Flamme (anne.laflamme@vuw.ac.nz) if you have any questions regarding this seminar.
SBS Tuesday Seminar
Date: 27 March 2012
Time: 12.00 am
Venue: MCLT102 Maclaurin Building
Speaker: Associate Professor Jeff Shima, Director, Victoria University
Coastal Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences
Title: Do coral reefs face a killer worse than climate change? Why you should care about worm snails...
Abstract:
Degradation of coral reefs is a global phenomenon and of immense concern to resource managers, conservationists, and the citizens of many Pacific Island nations. The causes of coral declines are hotly debated, and much attention has focused on anthropogenic agents that stress and/or kill coral. Our recent research in French Polynesia points to an inconspicuous and largely unstudied species of vermetid gastropod that may strongly contribute to coral losses on a global scale. We describe our multifaceted efforts to uncover the life history and population dynamics of this species, and the mechanisms that underlie its effects on coral reef communities.
All Welcome
Single gene analysis
Date: 23 March 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute
Presented by Dr Joel Ma
Research Officer, Dept of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Melbourne
Abstract: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 establishes latency within sensory neurons in the ganglia. Previous studieshave shown that only some neurons in the ganglia innervating the mucosal sites harbor HSV and that the copy number of HSV genome differs in individual infected neurons. Different subtypes of neurons are also differentially permissible to HSV infection. While global transcriptome analysis of whole ganglia provides valuable insight into molecular changes during infection, the heterogeneity of HSV infection in individual neurons and the presence of other cell types complicate the issue of teasing out meaningful differential gene expressions. To accurately examine the gene expressions in HSV-infected neurons, we developed a mouse model in which HSV-infected neurons fluoresced as YFP-positive. We first determined that these YFP+ cells were positive for neuronal markers. Using laser capture microdissection to capture single cells, we showed that YFP+, but not YFP-, cells contained HSV genomic DNA. By comparing the cellular gene expressions between infected and uninfected neurons in the same latently infected ganglia, we showed differential gene expression profiles that wereindistinguishable when examining whole ganglia. Our application of single cell analysis on HSV infection will shed light on pivotal molecular events during the establishment and maintenance of HSV latency.
Genome sequences
Date: 20 March 2012
Time: 12.00 pm
Venue: MCLT102 Maclaurin Building
Speaker: Matt Templeton, The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited
" The whole genome sequence of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae: insights into pathogenicity and genome dynamics."
Abstract:
An incursion of the devastating disease of kiwifruit caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) was detected in Te Puke in November 2010. There are currently no methods for controlling Psa which rapidly becomes systemic and can kill vines very quickly. A whole genome sequencing project has been completed. NZ Psa-V possesses two unique effectors, and a toxin biosynthetic pathway, that are absent from other Psa isolates. This information is important for breeding resistance to Psa and devising potential control strategies in the medium term.
All Welcome
CBRE Introduction
Date: 13 March 2012
Time: 12.00 am
Venue: Murphy MYLT220
SBS SEMINAR
Speaker: Dr Wayne Linklater, School of Biological Sciences, VUW
Title: A case for CBRE and your part in it
Abstract: CBRE has many masters with high expectations. It has the potential to meet some of those expectations very well. Nevertheless, success is unlikely unless potential participants, like you, believe that it contributes value to your work and career. In my presentation I will do three things. I will make a case for CBRE based on what it might achieve for us individually. I will describe how I think we might achieve an inter-disciplinary collective providing national and international leadership and innovation in applied ecology. Lastly, I will describe what I envision my role as Director to be.
All Welcome
Rotavirus disease
Date: 9 March 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
SPEAKER: Prof Keith Grimwood
Director, Queensland Children’s Medical Research Institute, Brisbane
TIME: 1-2pm
VENUE: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Bldg, Victoria University
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
Date: 27 February 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
SPEAKER: Dr Takaharu Okada, Unit for Immunodynamics, RIKEN RCAI, Japan
TITLE: Imaging of lymphocyte dynamics during the germinal center formation in the lymph node
VENUE: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Bldg, Victoria University
The germinal center (GC) is the important microstructure formed in the B cell follicle of the secondary lymphoid organs for producing long-term, high-affinity antibody responses. In GCs, GC B cells are clustered together with specialized helper T cells, called follicular helper T (Tfh) cells. However, the mechanism of the GC formation is incompletely understood. In this seminar, I will discuss how migration dynamics of GC B cells and Tfh cells are controlled for the formation of GCs based on the observations made by real-time two-photon imaging.
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
Date: 24 February 2012
Time: 1.00 pm
SPEAKER: Dr Andrew Clarkson, Dept of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin
TITLE: Cortical excitability and stroke recovery
VENUE: Seminar Room, Malaghan Institute, Central Services Bldg, Victoria University
Dr Scott Carver, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, USA
Date: 12 August 2011
Time: 12.00 am
Venue: n/a
Title: Climate, small mammals and transmission of a zoonotic hantavirus in North America
Background:
In the mid-1990s there was an outbreak of acute flu-like illness followed rapidly by pulmonary edema and high mortality in the Four Corners region of the U.S. This unusual outbreak prompted an investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ultimately revealing the causal agent to be a newly recognized and highly virulent hantavirus (named Sin Nombre virus). This outbreak and emergence of a novel pathogen was quite remarkable because it occurred in a nation with high quality health surveillance and because the reservoir host of this pathogen turned out to be a native and widespread rodent, the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). Since identification of SNV there has been a large amount of ecological and heath related research to understand the dynamics of this pathogen in nature and spillover to humans. I will present a general overview of the history, epidemiology and ecology of this pathogen in the U.S. I will also present recent advances and future directions aimed at better comprehending small mammal ecology, dynamics of SNV in nature and human exposure. SNV is an excellent example of a system defined by complexity and requiring multidisciplinary research approaches.
All Welcome
Symposiums
Centre for Biodiversity & Restoration Ecology: Urban Ecology Function
Date: 11 April 2013
Time: 3.30 pm
Venue: AM103, Alan MacDiarmid Building, Kelburn Campus
Title: Urban Ecology
What is it?
Urban ecology in its broadest sense includes the study of interactions between humans and wildlife in an urban context, as well as the incorporation of environmentally and socially sustainable practices into every facet of urban living. The VUW Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology (CBRE) would like to invite members of the wider university who have an interest in urban ecology to attend this function aimed at developing awareness and collaborations between disciplines. We aim to host seven 7-minute oral presentations followed by drinks, nibbles and a poster display.
Format: 3.30pm Welcome
3.40pm 7 x 7 minute oral presentations
4.30pm – 5.30pm Drinks, nibbles and poster display
RSVP acceptances only contact:
Delwyn Carter-Jarratt email: delwyn.carter-jarratt@vuw.ac.nz phone: 463 5207
More information contact:
Dr Stephen Hartley email: stephen.hartley@vuw.ac.nz phone: 463 5447