Biology

“Key drivers, and epidemiological dynamics of drug-resistant tuberculosis: A model-based approach”, talk by Dr. Sourya Shretha, School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins. For the first time in many decades, new first-line drug regimens are being considered for treatment of tuberculosis (TB), which is the leading infectious disease source of mortality in the world, with an estimated 1.8 million TB-related deaths in 2015. A key concern with the launch of new drug regimens is the potential for rapid emergence of resistance.

“Visualizing the dynamic interactions between Plasmodium and mosquitos” - talk by Dr. Nathanie Trisnadi, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH. Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease responsible for over 200 million cases and 400,000 deaths each year. Efforts to reduce malaria transmission include blocking Plasmodium parasite development inside the mosquito vector. After a mosquito ingests infected blood, the parasite will invade the midgut which causes nitration reactions and irreversible damage in the mosquito.

Confronting modern marine conservations challenges in Cuba

Talk by Melissa J. Glenn, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology at Colby College: During early life, environmental factors exert significant influence over the developing brain and organize systems and structures in ways that continue to be evident across the lifespan. One particular factor to which the brain is exquisitely tuned is the dietary availability of specific nutrients. In my lab, we study the essential nutrient, choline, and the extent to which its availability during early life is neuroprotective.

“Chemical ecology of multispecies mutualisms: implications for plants, bees and agriculture” talk by Leif Richardson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Gund Institute for Ecological Economics Rubenstein School of Environment & Natural Resources, University of Vermont. Plant-pollinator mutualisms are embedded in ecological communities, where their outcomes are conditional on interactions among multiple species. Floral rewards for pollinators (e.g., nectar and pollen) often contain plant secondary metabolites, yet these chemicals may be deterrent or toxic to consumers.

The brain actively responds to stimuli by remodeling circuits. Of equal importance to this plasticity, is the simultaneous maintenance of synapses that embody key memories and functions. Despite the salience of this choice, the mechanisms that govern synaptic stability are largely unknown. To address this mystery, we are using C. elegans, a model organism with a simple nervous system and powerful genetic tools, to uncover pathways that either promote or block synaptic remodeling.

Science talk by Biology Class of 88 Speaker, Dr. Danielle E. Harlow, Medical Affairs, Teva Neuroscience, Formerly Research Instructor at University of Colorado Medical School. My research has focused on aspects of the neuro-immune interactions underlying the autoimmune demyelinating disorder multiple sclerosis (MS). Depletion of B lymphocytes is an effective treatment for MS, suggesting a pathogenic role for B cells, although the underlying mechanisms of myelin damage remain unclear.

Public Talk by Biology Class of 88 Speaker: Dr. Danielle E. Harlow, Medical Affairs, Teva Neuroscience, Formerly Research Instructor at University of Colorado Medical School. Dr. Harlow will talk about her career path and present some of her research projects at each stage (neural development, astrocyte biology & spinal cord injury, oligodendrocyte biology & myelination). (Will also give a science-oriented talk on Friday 3/4 at 12:30pm).

Lunch provided at 12:15pm. Sponsored by the Department of Biology, www.middlebury.edu/academics/bio

Seeing the Forest for the Trees: Mapping Tree Density at the Global Scale Charlie Bettigole (‘05) and Kris Covey will share results from a groundbreaking study of global tree density, one of the most discussed scientific articles of 2015. As part of an international research team lead by Yale’s Forestry School, Charlie and Kris collected over 400,000 ground-based estimates of forest density. Using remote sensing and statistical modeling the study estimates the global number of trees is 3.04 trillion, an order of magnitude higher than the previously thought.