5 women in front of presentation board
Research students India Drummond (MBBC ‘21.5), Emily Bulczynski (MBBC ‘22) and Jenny Pushner (MBBC ‘21.5) traveled with Professor Grace Spatafora to the American Society for Microbiology meetings in Washington, DC June 9th-12th to present the results of the work their senior work.  Also in attendance was Spatafora researcher Ali DePaolo (MBBC ‘23).  Their posters received many visitors including Middlebury College alumni Emily Putnam (MBBC ‘10), Julia Schwartzman (MBBC ‘09), and Daniel Tetrault (MBBC ‘2020).  While not attending the meetings a good time was had by all at the National Mall.
 

 

* Denotes Middlebury students

2019

D. Allen. 2019. Larval blacklegged tick phenology changes with elevation: implications for Lyme disease. Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases, Princeton, NJ.

 Kotin*, S.G.; Willig*, A.E.; Coe, K.K.; Costanza-Robinson, M.S. A Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction GCMS Method for Ethylene Determination with Application to the Acetylene Reduction Assay. Champlain Area Chemistry Symposium, Burlington, VT, October 2019.

 Carvajal Janke*, N., Clark, T., Stark, L., Coe, K.K. (2019) Variation in carbon balance in the dryland biocrust moss Syntrichia caninervis along a natural precipitation gradient in the Mojave Desert. Botanical Society of America (Botany) Annual Meeting, July 27-31, Tuscon, AZ

 Brencher*, Q., Rengifo Faiffer, C., Antoninka, A., Bowker, M., Stark, L., Coe, K.K. (2019) Effects of increased aridity on recovery from desiccation in the biocrust moss Syntrichia caninervis. Botanical Society of America (Botany) Annual Meeting, July 27-31, Tuscon, AZ

M. Perlman* and D. Allen. 2019. Soil moisture and soil texture as predictors of American beech and sugar maple in an old growth hardwood forest in Middlebury, VT. Northeast Natural History Conference, Springfield, MA. 

M.D. Spritzer, K.J. Zhang*, R.A. Ramdev*, N.J. Tuta*. 2019. Dose-dependent effects of testosterone on spatial learning strategies and brain-derived neurotrophic in male rats. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.

Goins*, S. and G.A. Spatafora. 2019. Identification of SloR binding sites throughout the S. mutans genome. (Presentation ID#1411) International Association for Dental Research, Vancouver, BC. (poster presentation). 

O’Grady*, D., R. Brach* and G. A. Spatafora. 2019. F187 and Y167 Aid Cooperative SloR-DNA Binding in Streptococcus mutans. (Presentation ID#0810) International Association for Dental Research, Vancouver, BC. (poster presentation). 

Reigle*, M., R. Brach* and G.A. Spatafora. 2019. Investigating Small Regulatory RNAs in the S. mutans SloR Regulon. (Presentation ID#0811) International Association for Dental Research, Vancouver, BC. (poster presentation). 

Wright*, L., J. Abranches, and G.A. Spatafora. 2019. The S. mutans adcRCBA Transporter is Subject to SloR control. (Presentation ID#0794) International Association for Dental Research, Vancouver, BC. (poster presentation). 

Rustad*, J. and G.A. Spatafora. 2019. Investigating a Putative SloR-LivK Interaction in Streptococcus mutans. 4th Mini-Symposium for Young Investigators, Vancouver, BC. (oral presentation). 

Peters*, Z. and G.A. Spatafora. 2019. SloR Degradation by the Clp Protease System and its Role in the S. mutans Oxidative Stress Response. (Presentation ID#0833) International Association for Dental Research, Vancouver, BC. (poster presentation). 

Conaway, A.* D. O’Grady*, and G.A. Spatafora. 2019. A Quintet of Amino Acids is Necessary for SloR-mediated Gene Repression in the Oral Pathogen, Streptococcus mutans. 2019 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, Anaheim, California.

2018

D.E. Morrison*, K. Zhang*, O. Artaiz*, E. Ferrari*, and M.D. Spritzer. 2018. A neurotrophic factor mimetic improves memory retention in an aged, transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.

M.D. Spritzer, M.R. Sinks*, D. E. Morrison*, R.A. Ramdev*, and S. Lentzou*. 2018. Relationships between home range size and markers of cellular turnover in the dentate gyrus of wild male meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus). Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.

P. Ryan, E. Norris*, and D. Allen. 2018. Tracing groundwater flow by inorganic hydrogeochemistry: a tool to understanding PFOA migration in a fractured rock aquifer. 53rd Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Section of the Geological Association of America. Burlington, VT. March 19, 2018.

E. Feldman*, M. Reala*, and D. Allen. 2018. Parameterization of a spatially-explicit forest model, SORTIE, for Addison County, Vermont. Northeast Natural History Conference. Burlington, VT. April 15, 2018.

Brach, R.*, S. Bender, J. Chen, A. Glasfeld, and G. Spatafora. 2018. Investiating Cooperative binding in Streptococcus mutans. International Association for Dental Research Meetings. London, England, UK 

Peters, Z.*, A. Holtz*, and G. Spatafora. 2018. Investigating post-translational regulation of the SloR metalloregulator in Streptococcus mutans. International Association for Dental Research Meetings. London, England, UK 

Pastora, A., A. Stoner, and G. Spatafora. 2018.  Investigating a potential manganese efflux transporter in Streptococcus mutans. International Association for Dental Research Meetings. London, England, UK

2017

L. Bashor* and D. Allen. 2017. The effect of elevation on Borrelia burgdorferi infection rate of Ixodes scapularis ticks and two Peromyscus host species in Addison County, VT. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. Portland, OR. August 10, 2017.

Spritzer, M.D., E.C. Goins*, E.C.B. Jaeger*, L.E. Miller*, J.W. Lower*, D.E. Morrison*, R.A. Ramdev*. 2017. Testosterone replacement causes dose-dependent improvements in spatial memory among aged male rats. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. Washington, D.C.

Spritzer, M.D., C.G. Batson*, V.C. Braddick*, C.U. Chyr*, B.H. Cullen*, E.C. Goins*, E.C.B. Jaeger*, L.E. Miller*, C. Super*, B.A. Wagner*. 2017. Dose-dependent effects of testosterone on spatial memory in young and old adult male rats. International Meeting on Steroids and the Nervous System. Turin, Italy

G. Zhang*, E. Seavey*, C. Frare, J. Drew.  2017.   Temporal patterns of genetic structure in Fijian three-spot wrasse. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. Portland, OR. August 10, 2017. 

Cowan, A.* and G. Spatafora. 2017.  Autoregulation of the S. mutans SloR metalloregulator from a sloR-specific promoter. Abstract ID # 2856529, American Association for Dental Research 

Park, S.* and G. Spatafora. 2017.  Identifying SloR Binding Partners in Streptococcus mutans: A BACTH Approach.

2016

Miller, L.E.*, V.C., Braddick*, C.U. Chyr*, E.C. Goins*, and M.D. Spritzer.  2016. Testing the effects of testosterone and age on spatial memory in male rats using an object location memory task. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting.

Spritzer, M.D., A.E. Casler*, S.M. Engelman*, J.E. Georgakas*, E.C.B. Jaeger*, L.R. Nelson*, A.P, W.T. Prince*, E.A. Roy*, and B.A. Wagner*. 2016. Wild-caught meadow voles show seasonal changes in cell proliferation, neurogenesis, and cell death within the hippocampus. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting

Fields, E.* and G. Spatafora.  2016.  SloR and SloC contribute to the Streptococcus mutans oxidative stress response. 8th International Conference on Streptococcal Genetics, 2016. Washington, DC 

Monette, P. and G. Spatafora.  2016. *: Characterizing the SloR-DNA binding interface in Streptococcus mutans: A target for rational drug design?  8th International Conference on Streptococcal Genetics, 2016. Washington, DC 

Galan-Donlo, D.* and G. Spatafora. 2016.  A SloR-DNA binding model for virulence gene metalloregulation in Streptococcus mutans. Paula Fives-Taylor Mini-Symposium for Young Investigators, 2016. Los Angeles, CA

2015

L.S. Honican*, J. Burrill, A.E. Casler*, J.E. Georgakas*, D.S. Adams, M.D. Spritzer. 2015.  Potential memory restorative effects of a neurotrophic factor mimetic in an aged, transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting.

Spritzer, M.D., C. E. Super*. 2015. Effects of testosterone and age on spatial memory and BDNF in male rats.  Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. 

Crepps, S. * and G. Spatafora. 2015. SloR is involved in the Streptococcus mutans oxidative stress response (oral presentation). International Association of Dental Research, Boston, MA., March, 2015

2014

Cullen, B.H.*, C.G. Batson*, S.C. Spillane*, B.A. Wagner*, M.D. Spritzer. 2014. Testosterone replacement restores spatial working memory in castrated adult male rats. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting.

Spritzer, M.D., K.M.K. Calhoun*, E.A. Roy*, Z.E. Schneider-Lynch*, J. M. Barker, L.A.M. Galea. 2014. Effects of testosterone on stages of neural development in the dentate gyrus of adult male rats. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting.

Brach, J.*, C. Hatheway*, J. Corbett*, A. Merchant*, A. Glasfeld, and G. Spatafora. 2014.  Defining the amino acids that coordinate SloR:DNA binding and contribute to sloABC repression in Streptococcus mutans.  114th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Boston, MA

Wysota, M.S.*, D.  Galán Donlo*, L. P. Cornacchione* and G. A. Spatafora. 2014.  Characterizing the SloR Recognition Element (SRE) in the Oral Pathogen Streptococcus mutans.  114th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Boston, MA.

Tenenbaum*, K.J., and Allen, D.N. 2014. Scouting Bayes: a Bayesian forecast with scouting priors. Society for American Baseball Research Analytics Conference.

2013

Cornacchione, L.P.* and G. Spatafora. 2013.  Nucleotide substitutions in the Streptococcus mutans SRE impact gene expression. Meeting of the International Association of Dental Research, Seattle, WA (oral presentation)

Lloyd, A. and S. Weisser *.  2013.  Carbon uptake and storage in old-growth and second-growth forests in central Vermont.  American Geophysical Union.  

Spritzer, M.D., K.T. Grafmiller*, S.M. Engelman*. (2013). Effects of sexual interactions on neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of adult male rats. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting.

Tenenbaum*, K.J., and Allen, D.N. 2013. Nash equilibrium solution for fastball locations in two-strike counts. Society for American Baseball Research Analytics Conference.

2012

Students of the Fall 2012 BIOL0140 Ecology and Evolution Class. Dept. of Biology Middlebury College. Effect of Increased Stream Flow from Hurricane Sandy on Stream Invertebrates. Vermont Monitoring Cooperative Annual Meeting. Burlington VT.

Beguin, S.* 2012.   Middlebury College land use and experimental sedimentation mixed impact on macroinvertebrate assemblages in low order streams. Vermont EPSCoR Watershed Project Annual Symposium.  Presentation.

Beguin, S*. and S. P. Sheldon.  2012. Characterizing aquatic macroinvertebrate communities along an elevational gradient in Vermont rivers following tropical storm Irene. Vermont EPSCoR Annual Meeting. Presentation.

Batson, C.G*., B.A Wagner*, J. Maher*, E.C. Fox*, M.D. Spritzer. 2012. Sexual interactions with unfamiliar females reduce hippocampal neurogenesis among adult male rats. Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Annual Meeting.

Combelles, C.M.H., VanDeventer*, G.M., Chirunomula*, S., McGeehan*, M., McLean*, M., and Wilkinson*, B. 2012.  Relationships between antioxidants, dominance, atresia, and hormones in bovine follicles. 45th SSR Annual Meeting and the 18th Ovarian Workshop.

Haswell, J.R., B.W. Pruitt, and G. A. Spatafora.  2012.  Characterizing essential amino acids in the Streptococcus mutans SloR metalloregulator.  International Association for Dental Research, Iguacu Falls, Brazil (oral presentation)

Spritzer, M.D., M.G. Curtis*, J.P. Stern*, J. Maher*, L.M. Shulman*. 2012. Sexual interactions with unfamiliar females reduce hippocampal neurogenesis among adult male rats. Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Annual Meeting.

2011

Combelles, C.M.H., Hennet*, M.L., Yu*, H.Y. 2011. Follicular fluid hydrogen peroxide and lipid hydroperoxide in relation to the health and dominance of bovine antral follicles. 44th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Reproduction.

McConaughy, W.K.* and G. Spatafora. 2011.  Deciphering the SloR:DNA binding interaction at the Streptococcus mutans sloABC locus.  111th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, New Orleans, LA.

Shulman, L.M.*, M.D. Spritzer, and M.R. Stefani. 2011. Effects of sexual experience on spatial memory and behavioral flexibility in male rats. Joint meeting of the Animal Behavior Society and International Ethological Conference.

Spritzer, M.D.,E.C. Fox*, G.D. Larsen*. 2011. Effects of testosterone on spatial strategies used by adult male rats. Joint meeting of the Animal Behavior Society and International Ethological Conference.

2010

Pesesky*, M. E. Smith*, Kevin O’Rourke* and G. Spatafora. 2010.  Characterizing the SloR:DNA binding interface in Streptococcus mutans.   110th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, San Diego, CA.

Spritzer, M.D.,M.G. Curtis*, L.M. Shulman*. 2010. Interactions with novel sexual partners reduce hippocampal neurogenesis compared to repeated interactions with the same sexual partner among adult male rats. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting.

Spritzer, M.D.,M.K. Coneeny*, S.M. Engelman*, W.T. Prince*. 2010. Prolonged exposure to testosterone improves spatial learning in male rats. Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Annual Meeting.