Toxicology Seminars, TOX 504, TOX 689

All Toxicology students, including graduating students, should sign up for TOX 689 each fall and spring semester. Satisfactory completion of this course requires 80% attendance of all seminars listed for the semester. If students inform the instructor, Aileen Keating (akeating@iastate.edu) prior to attendance, they may substitute attendance at a national or international conference or symposium during the semester for one missed seminar during the semester. Students may also substitute OPTIONAL seminars to meet the attendance requirement if they inform the instructor prior to attendance. This substitution will count towards meeting the 80% attendance requirement.

Unless otherwise noted with the seminar announcement, Seminars are held in 1102 Molecular Biology at 4:10 on Tuesdays.

Past Seminars

 

FALL 2018  

4:10 p.m.  1102 Molecular Biology

  • August 28: Welcome New Students to Toxicology. Social. Introduce each other.
  • Sept 4: Open
  • Sept 11:  Richard Martin, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University "Nematode Control and Toxicology"
  • Sept 18:  Aileen Keating, Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University
  • Sept 24 (MONDAY, E164 Lagomarcino, 4:10 p.m.): Francisco Marques, Professor of Chemistry, Federal University of Parana, Curtitiba, BRAZIL, Topic: Natural Product chemistry for finding insecticides and repellents from plants. Host: Joel Coats.
  • Oct 2: Kevin Schalinske, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University
  • Oct 9: Boris Jovanovic, Department of Natural Resources and Ecology Management, Iowa State University "Adverse effects of microplastics in the aquatic environment"
  • Oct 16 Joel Coats, Department of Entomology, Iowa State University
  • Oct 23:
  • Oct 30: Derrick Mayfield, Ph.D. Postdoc, Munkvold Lab, Plant Pathology and Microbiology. Topic: The mycotoxin analysis of Bt and non-Bt maize inoculated with Fusarium subglutinans and Fusarium temperatum and infested with lepidopteran insect larvae."
  • Break till after Thanksgiving.
  • Then finish up with TOX 504 students
  • Nov 27: Vickie Cooper, Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, Iowa State University
  • Dec 4: Jon Mochel, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University

SUMMER 2018

Date: Friday, June 15, 2018 Dharmin Rokad (TOX 504) . 3:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology

"Molecular mechanisms of Manganese induced exosomal release and its relevance to Synucleopathies"

Date:  Friday, June 15, 2018 Vivek Lawana (TOX 504). 4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology

"cAbl and Parkinson’s Disease: A Master Regulator of Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration and Microglial Activation"

Date:  Tuesday, July 17, 2018 Laura Burns (TOX 504). 4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology

SPRING 2018

Location: 1102 Molecular Biology, 4:10 p.m. on Tuesdays

SOT Meeting 2018 is scheduled for March 11-15, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas

  • Tuesday, March 20: Kayla Cappelle (Wolt Lab/Agronomy). "Fumonisin B1 in Bt and Non-Bt Maize: A Meta-Analysis". Tox 504
  • Tuesday, March 27: James Sacco, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Drake University. "Genetic variation in the canine Glutathione-S-Transferase P1 (GSTP1) gene promoter"
  • Tuesday, April 3: Edmund Norris, Entomology/Coats Lab.  Tox 504. "The Localization of Biodegradable Nanoparticles in Mosquitoes: The Potential of Nanoparticles to More Effectively Deliver Insecticides”
  • Tuesday, April 10: Silvia Balbo, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota. "High resolution mass spectrometry-based approaches for the investigation of carcinogenesis."
  • Monday, April 16: Chuan He, Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago. 12:10 p.m. in 1204 Kildee (Ensminger Room). Zaffarano Lecture. "RNA Methylation in Gene Expression Regulation".
  • Tuesday, April 17: David Borts, Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. “Analytical Chemistry Services and Research at the ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory”.
  • Tuesday, April 24: Niranjana Krishnan (Bradbury Lab/NREM). Tox 504. "Quantifying risks of insecticide exposure to monarch butterfly larvae".
  • Monday, April 30: E164 Lagomarcino, 4:10 p.m. Peter Piermarini, Ohio State University, "Discovery of natural and 'unnatural' mosquitocides with novel mechanisms of action."

FALL 2017

Friday, August 18, 2017

Scott Radke (Tox 504 seminar)
Part of Tox Orientation
Carver Co-Lab
noon to 2:00 p.m. Lunch provided. Social from noon to 1:00 with seminar at 1:00 p.m.

FALL 2017: Attend CSSOT to meet the requirements for TOX 689 for Fall 2017. CSSOT is Thursday-Friday, September 21-22, 2017.
Friday, October 6, 2017: ToxMSDT activity, 3-8 p.m. in Atrium of the Molecular Biology Building.

Set up posters between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. in Atrium
Plan on poster attendance between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.
5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. is supper
Five awards of $150 each for "Best Poster Presentation".
Sign up in advance to participate at lmwild@iastate.edu
Students enrolled in TOX 504 will present this fall on Tuesdays at 4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology.

Tuesday, October 24, 4:10 p.m., 1102 Molecular Biology

Jorrell Fredericks, VMPM (TOX 504). "Cytotoxic effects of manganese oxide nanoparticles on gut epithelium"
Tuesday, November 14, 4:10 p.m., 1102 Molecular Biology

Edmund Norris, Entomology (TOX 504). "The potential of plant components in future insecticidal formulations for the control of mosquito populations."
 

SPRING 2017

4:10 p.m., 1102 Molecular Biology

  • Friday, January 13, 2017: Poster and Supper with Toxicologists from outside of Iowa State. 6:30 p.m. Present research posters to 15 toxicologist from outside Iowa State; interact with 15 undergraduates from Iowa State University and Tuskegee University who are interested incorporating toxicology into their present areas of research. Part of a NIH R25 Toxicology Mentoring Grant.
  • SOT March 12-16, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland OPTIONAL
  • Tuesday, March 21, 2017: Poojya Anantharam, Veterinary Diagnostic and Preventive Animal Medicine, Graduate Student in Toxicology (Rumbeiha Lab). TOX 504. "Therapeutic Efficacy of Cobinamide as Treatment for H2S-induced toxicity."
  • OPTIONAL: Monday, March 27, 2017 at 4:10 p.m. in E164 Lagomarcino Hall: Judy Wu-Smart, Ph.D., University of Nebraska, Department of Entomology. "Effects of neonicotinoids on honey bee and bumble bee queens and impacts on colony development."
  • Tuesday, March 28, 2017: Silvina Arias, Ph.D., Plant Pathology and Microbiology (sarias@iastate.edu). "Participation of fumonisin B1 as a pathogenicity factor in the interaction maize (Zea mays L.)- Fusarium verticillioides�.
  • Tuesday, April 4, 2017: Manju Reddy, FSHN, Ph.D., Iowa State University: "Role of Iron in Parkinson's Disease".
  • Tuesday, April 11, 2017: Sireesha Manne, Grad Student in Kanthasamy Lab (manne@iastate.edu) Tox 504 presentation/student evaluations.
  • OPTIONAL, Tuesday, April 11, 2017: Melanie Abongwa, Ph.D. Defense, Martin and Robertson Labs, "POtential new drug targets and therapeutic approaches for parasitic nematode infections" 1:30 p.m. in 2010 Vet Med.
  • Tuesday, April 18, 2017: Daniel Schlenk, Ph.D., University of California-Riverside. "Identification and interaction of agricultural contaminants from the San Francisco Bay Delta and Central Valley, CA, on fish endocrinology."
  • Monday, April 24, 2017: LOCATION: E164 LAGOMARCINO. Murray Isman, Applied Biology (Entomology/Toxicology), Interim Director Wine Research Centre, University of British Columbia, BC, Canada. "Botanical Insecticides: The Magic of Mixtures". Paul Dahm Memorial Lecture.
  • Tuesday, May 2, 2017: Shanthi Ganesan, Animal Science (shanthig@iastate.edu). "Bisphenol A- induced ovotoxicity."

Fall 2016

Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at 4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology: Monica Langley (Kanthasamy Lab).

"Evaluating Neuroprotective Strategies for Parkinson's Disease in the MitoPark Mouse Model."
Tuesday, October 25, 2016 at 4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology: Souvarish Sarkar (Kanthasamy Lab).

Title: "Manganese exposure mediates exosomal release of ASC leading to NLRP3 inflammasome activation in microglia in cell culture and animal models."
Environmental exposure to Manganese(Mn) has been linked to increased risk of neurological diseases like Parkinsons Disease(PD). Chronic exposure to Mn has also been linked to manganism, a motor disorder which has similar syptoms of PD. Inflammation has been characterized to play a major role in Mn induced neuronal loss but the mechanism underlying sustained inflammation has not been elucidated. Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, is one of the key mediators of inflammation. Recently, various inflammasomes have been studied in neurodegenerative disorders to elucidate the mechanism underlying this sustained inflammation. Here, using microglial cell line and mouse models, we have shown that Mn can induce NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Further, Mn leads to mitochondrial dysfunction through reduction of Mfn2 in microglial cells. Also, Mn exposure causes VPS35 downregulation leading to enhanced exosomal release of ASC, an inflammasome component, from microglial cells, hence, propagating the inflammasome. Furthermore, exosomes from Mn gavaged animals were able to elicit significantly higher IL-1Beta release from primed microglial cells than exosomes from control animals. We have also confirmed the presence of significantly higher ASC content in welder exosome. Collectively, these results demonstrate that Mn exposure promotes NLRP3 inflammasome activation in microglial cells by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction, retromer downregulation and exosomal release of ASC.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at 4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology: Discussion about CSSOT 2017. Who to invite. Theme? Involvement of students and faculty in the fall 2017 CSSOT.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at 4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology: Poojya Anantharam (Rumbeiha Lab).

Title: "Developing a mouse model of hydrogen sulfide-induced neurotoxicity"
 

TOX RETREAT Fall, Saturday, October 8, 2016

Location: McFarland Park Conservation Center Saturday, October 8, 2016
Open at 8:00 a.m.

  • 9:00 a.m. Welcome, light refreshments, interactions.
  • 9:30 a.m. Wilson Rumbeiha, Professor, Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine (VDPAM).
    • Title: "Challenges and considerations in developing translational animal models for evaluation of countermeasures against hydrogen sulfide-induced neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration."
  • 11:00 a.m. Udayan Apte, Dept of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS.
    • Title: "HNF4alpha: A Novel Molecular Target for Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Liver"
  • 12:15 p.m. Lunch
  • 1:15 p.m. Alan Kolok, Ph.D., Director, Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory, Ph.D., Professor, Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha. Research: Aquatic Toxicology.
    • Title: Toxicology as Interdisciplinary Science: An Old game with new rules."
  • 2:15 p.m. Bulat Kenessov, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Ecology of Biosphere Laboratory, Kazakhstan (Vice-Director on International Relations of the Center of Physicochemical Methods of Research and Analysis.
    • Title: "Environmental impact assessment of hydrazine-based rocket fuel spills"
  • 3:15 p.m. End of Retreat

Spring 2017 TOX Seminar Series

  • Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at 4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology
  • Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at 4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology

Stephan Schmitz-Esser, Animal Science, Iowa State (any date but 21; flexible)

  • Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at 4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology
  • Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology
  • Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology
  • Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at 4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology

TOX 689 SUMMER 2016

Tuesday, July 12, 1102 Molecular Biology (pizza at start of 2nd presentation)

  • 3:00 p.m.: Vivek Lawana, Biomedical Sciences (Arthi Kanthasamy Lab) TOX 504
  • 4:00 p.m.: Melanie Abongwa, Biomedical Sciences (Richard Martin Lab) TOX 504
     

TOX 689 Spring 2016

TUESDAYS, 4:10 p.m., 1102 Molecular Biology

  • January 19: Dan Luo, Biomedical Sciences, (Anumantha Kanthasamy Lab) TOX 504. "Role of Prokineticin 2 in Early Responses to Manganese Neurotoxicity in Mice and Tissue Culture Models"
  • February 9: Qi Xu, Food Science and Human Nutrition, Manju Reddy's lab, TOX 504. "The neuroprotective effects of EGCG in cell culture and animal models of Parkinson's disease."
  • February 16: Jorrell Fredericks, Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine (Wannemuehler/Kanthasamy Labs). TOX 504. Title: "Cytotoxic effects of metal nanoparticles and interaction with microbial components on maintenance of gut epithelium and mucosal homeostasis"
  • February 23: Tim Mattes, Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa. Title: "Biological transformation and removal of polychlorinated biphenyls from soils and sediments". Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) pose potential risks to human and environmental health because they are carcinogenic, persistent and bioaccumulative. Recently, we have been studying the potential for microbial PCB biodegradation in environmental samples (sediment from Indiana Harbor and Ship canal) and in laboratory scale reactors containing plants (plant-assisted). Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) was employed as a means to improve overall PCB removal in soil reactors. The improved PCB removal in switchgrass treated soils could be explained by phytoextraction processes and enhanced microbial activity in the rhizosphere. Efforts to enhance PCB removal by bioaugmentation with a PCB-degrading bacterium and redox cycling (i.e. sequential periods of flooding followed by periods of no flooding) were also studied. After 24 weeks of incubation, loss of 39.9 0.41% of total PCB molar mass was observed in switchgrass treated soil, significantly higher than in unplanted soil (29.5  3.4%). Transformation products were detected in all microcosms, indicating the occurrence of PCB dechlorination. Microbial analyses show that PCB spiking, switchgrass planting and redox cycling affected microbial community structure. Putative Chloroflexi populations, some of which are known PCB dechlorinators, were enriched after two weeks of flooding but not found in unflooded microcosms. The presence of potential dehalorespiring bacteria suggests their role in PCB dechlorination and the dechlorination potential within the indigenous microbial community.
  • March 1: Jeff Wolt, Agronomy. "Genome Editing with Engineered Nucleases: Toxicity and Safety Questions for Human Health and the Environment"
  • March 8: Jaymie Voorhees, University of Iowa, Human Toxicology program. Title: "The effects of occupational pesticide exposure on neurodegenerative disease." Abstract: Organophosphates (OPs), which are used extensively worldwide as insecticides, are acutely toxic at high levels due to acetylcholinesterase inhibition. The effects of repeated exposure to lower levels of OPs, such as occupational exposure, are poorly understood, however. Epidemiology studies suggest that the central nervous system is particularly vulnerable to this type of exposure, with increased risk of developing neurodegenerative and psychiatric disease later in life. Here, we aim to study the relationship between occupational OP exposure and neurodegeneration, using rodent models of occupational OP exposure and Alzheimer's disease.
  • Thursday, March 10 in 305 Kildee Hall at 1:00 p.m.: Porsha Thomas, Animal Science (Keating Lab). Final Oral Defense. TOX 504. Location: 305 Kildee Hall at 1:00 p.m.
  • March 15: no class: 55th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo Society of Toxicology, March 13-17, New Orleans, Louisiana and ISU Spring Break
  • March 22: Miao Li, Human Toxicology program, University of Iowa. "TERA Dose Assessment Response Boot Camp" Information on the Boot Camp can be found here. Intensive, in-depth hands-on training in hazard characterization and dose-response assessment for human health risk assessments.
  • OPTIONAL. March 24 down at Vet Med: Andrew Pieper, University of Iowa, Human Toxicology. Subject: "Neurotox; Parkinson's disease, discovery of treatments for neuropsychiatric disease"
  • March 29: Keri Carstens, Senior Manager, DuPont Pioneer. "Communicating Science to Diverse Audiences- It's not a science, It's an art."
  • April 5: Richard Martin, BMS, "SLO-1 K channels, emodepside and worms." Recognition of toxicology students for their awards this year.
  • Monday, April 11, at 4:10 p.m.: Ke Dong, Michigan State University, Department of Entomology. E165 Lagomarcino, 4:10 p.m. Topic: Molecular action of pyrethroid Insecticides on sodium channels, role of cation channel, DSC1, in neurotoxicology.
  • April 19 Souvarish Sarkar, Biomedical Sciences (Anumantha Kanthasamy Lab) TOX 504
  • April 26 Geetu Tuteja, Genetics Development and Cell Biology. Topic: Molecular mechanisms underlying trophoblast invasion, a process that occurs in early placental development.

TOX 689 Fall 2015

 
FALL 2015 TOXICOLOGY RETREAT

Friday, October 23, 2015

9:00 to 3:30 p.m.
ISU Alumni Center

  • 8:30 Registration (coffee, rolls, fruit, juice, Pepsi, water)
  • Computer Specialist: Edmund Norris
  • 9:00 Welcome by Richard Martin, Chair, Interdepartmental Toxicology
  • 9:10 Introduction of Dr. Stone: Steven Bradbury, Entomology
  • 9:15 Dr. David Stone, Ph.D., Director, National Pesticide Information Center, Associate Professor, Environment and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. Title: "The Art and Science of Risk Perception and Communication"
  • 10:15 to 10:40 break
  • 10:40 Introduction of Dr. Willette: Suzanne Hendrich, FSHN
  • 10:45 Auriel A. Willette, Ph.D., Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University. Title: "Neuroinflammation and dysmetabolism strongly predict Alzheimer's disease neuropathology"
  • 12:00 Lunch (cod, vegetarian lasgne, wild rice, broccoli salad, tea, coffee, lemonade)
  • 1:25 Introduction of Mr. Pechacek: Joel Coats, Entomology
  • 1:30 Nathan Pechacek (MS Toxicology/Iowa State/DiSpirto, DABT), EcoLab, Eagan, MN. Title: "A Nonlinear Career Path - A Random Walk as a Toxicologist"
  • (2015 publication: "Evaluation of the toxicity data for peracetic acid in deriving occupational exposure limits: a minireview.")
  • 2:25 Introduction of Dr. Vorst: Porsha Thomas, Graduate Student, Toxicology, Keating Lab/Animal Science
  • 2:30 Keith Vorst, Ph.D., Food Science and Human Nutrition. Title: "Evaluating methods for determining heavy metal contamination in polymeric food packaging"
  • 3:30 end.

November 2, 2015, Dr. Brad A. Racette, Professor and Vice Chairman of Neurology at Washington University in Stl Louis. 12:10 to 1:00 p.m. down at Vet Med. Catered lunch, maybe Hickory Park. His research focuses on environmental epidemiology of Parkinson's disease, particularly manganese. He also does clinical work for management of Parkinson's disease and performin botulinum toxin injections for patients with dystonia and children with cerebral palsy.

December 8, 2015, 1102 Molecular Biology at 4:10 p.m.: Adhithiya Manohar Charle, Biomedical Sciences (Anumantha Kanthasamy Lab). Title: Alterations in mitochondrial dynamics induced by tebufenpyrad and pyridaben in a dopaminergic neuronal cell culture model.

December 15, 2015, 1102 Molecular Biology at 4:10 p.m.: Wenda Zhu, Ag & Biosystems Engineering (Koziel Lab). topic: Mitigation of odor from livestock operation with UV light treatment.
 

SPRING 2015 SEMINARS

4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology unless otherwise specified.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015: Tserenchimed Sainnokhoi, DVM, MSc PhD. "Environmental-induced animal diseases in Mongolia". Popcorn and sweet soft drinks. Dr. Tserenchimed (Chimed) Sainnokhoi obtained his DVM and PhD from the State University of Agriculture, Ulaanbaatar Mongolia. He is currently the State Veterinarian, State Central Veterinary Laboratory. The Central State Veterinary Laboratory is the reference laboratory for all animal diseases in Mongolia. He is also currently President of the Mongolian National Council of Scientists, and is the key contact for Toxicologists Without Borders, Inc, in Mongolia. At the Central State laboratories he spent many years investigating environment induced diseases in livestock. Mongolia has a vibrant animal agriculture sector. Also, Mongolia has several industrial mining activities which cause environmental pollution. Mongolia is also experiencing significant climate change impacts and dwindling fresh water resources. He has received many honors and distinctions from his illustrious career at the State Central Veterinary Laboratory in Mongolia.

Thursday, April 2, 2015 : This lecture is optional and can be used to meet towards the 80% attendance for TOX 689. "Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School." Adam Rueben. 7 p.m., MU Great Hall. A comedian and molecular biologist, Ruben is the author of a book of the same title, which discusses the "sadistic and often hypocritical world of post-baccalaureate education through grad students' own bloodshot eyes." Ruben holds a Ph.D. in molecular biology from Johns Hopkins University, where he also teaches an undergraduate stand-up comedy class. He writes the humor column "Experimental Error" in the journal Science and blogs for the Journal of Visualized Experiments. He co-hosts Outrageous Acts of Science on the Science Channel and has appeared on the Food Network's Food Detectives, the Science Channel's Head Rush and National Public Radio's All Things Considered. If you attend this seminar and would like to use it towards meeting the 80% attendance requirement for TOX 689 please submit a paragraph about some highlight of the seminar by the beginning of the next class period.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015: Jo Ann Powell Coffman, GDCB. Topic: Professional Development. Vegetables, cheese and crackers.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015: Vurtice Albright (Coats Lab, Entomology). "Detection and bioactivity of CrylAb fragments: Implications on risk assessments". Chocolate covered donuts (filled) and cookies. Use Speaker Evaluation Form.

Thursday, April 16, 2015: This lecture is optional and can be used towards the 80% attendance for TOX 689. Jim E. Riviere, DVM, Ph.D, Kansas State University. "What can modern pharmcokinetics do for you?" Thursday, April 16, Room 2532 Vet Med 12:00 noon to 1:00. Applying biomathematics to problems in toxicoloogy, including the risk assessment of chemical mixtures. If you attend this seminar and would like to use it towards meeting the 80% attendance requirement for TOX 689 please submit a paragraph about some highlight of the seminar by the beginning of the next class period.

Monday, April 20, 2015: This lecture is optional and can be used towards the 80% attendance for TOX 689. Chris Mullin, Pennsylvania State University, Department of Entomology (ISU Dahm Memorial Lecture). 4:10 p.m. in E164 Lagomarcino Hall. Title: The formulation makes the poison. If you attend this seminar and would like to use it towards meeting the 80% attendance requirement for TOX 689 please submit a paragraph about some highlight of the seminar by the beginning of the next class period.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015: Elizabeth (Betsy) Stone, University of Iowa, Chemistry. Title: "Seasonal and meteorological influences on bioaerosols in Iowa." Pizza Prof. Elizabeth Stone is an assistant professor in Chemistry at the University of Iowa where she teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in analytical chemistry. Her research program focuses on the study of atmospheric aerosols, particularly their chemical composition, sources, and chemical transformations in the atmosphere. Her presentation will focus on a recent study of bioaerosol in Iowa, conducted in partnership with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the State Hygienic Laboratory, and the Environmental Health Sciences Research Center. She will discuss how and why bioaerosol levels are enhanced in urban locations relative to background locations in Iowa. Through case studies conducted during how meteorology influences the release, size distribution, and transport of bioaerosols in Iowa during springtime tree pollen and late-summer ragweed seasons. She will conclude with a discussion of how climate change is expected to impact human exposure to bioaerosol levels in Iowa.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015: Melanie Abongwa (Martin Lab, BMS)(Tox 504). Cupcakes and fruit. Use Speaker Evaluation Form.
Title: Asu-ACR-16: a homomeric nAChR drug target widely distributed in Ascaris tissues
Abstract: Control of nematode parasite infections relies largely on anthelminthic drugs, several of which act on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Unfortunately, the widespread use of anthelmintics has given rise to concerns of resistance development in many parasite species. There is an urgent need for development of new resistance-busting drugs which require characterization and validation of novel anthelmintic drug targets. We report for the first time the functional expression and pharmacological characterization of the homomeric nAChR subunit gene, acr-16, from a nematode parasite. Using molecular cloning, PCR and two-electrode voltage-clamp electrophysiology, we cloned and expressed acr-16 from Ascaris suum in Xenopus oocytes. Amino acid sequence comparison with vertebrate nAChR subunits revealed ACR-16 to be most closely related to a7, but with some striking distinctions that may account for their pharmacological differences. RT-PCR showed wide distributions for acr-16 mRNA in A. suum somatic muscle, pharynx, ovijector, head and intestine, suggesting it may be involved in different functions including digestion, reproduction/development and movement. We found that RIC-3 is required for functional expression of Asu-ACR-16 in Xenopus oocytes. When ric-3 cRNAs from A. suum, X. laevis or Haemonchus contortus were co-injected with A. suum acr-16 cRNA, currents were largest in oocytes expressing A. suum RIC-3, suggesting species-specific RIC-3 effects. In electrophysiological experiments, we observed that, with the exception of oxantel which produced only small current responses, Asu-ACR-16 did not respond to cholinergic anthelmintic agonists. However, other nicotinic agonists: nicotine, acetylcholine, cytisine, 3-bromocytisine and epibatidine produced robust current responses which desensitized at a rate that varied with the agonists. Interestingly, unlike a7, Asu-ACR-16 was insensitive to a-bungarotoxin, and did not respond to genistein or other a7 positive allosteric modulators. Also, Asu-ACR-16 had a lower calcium permeability than a7. We hypothesize that ACR-16 may have diverse tissue-dependent functions and presents an attractive target for new anthelmintic compounds.

Tuesday, May 5: Finals week

Toxicology Seminars Spring 2015

  • Tuesday, February 3, 2015: Speaker: Suzanne Hendrich, FSHN. "Being in the right place at the right time? How expected and unexpected events shape a career." Hot drinks and pizza. br>Tuesday, February 10, 2015: Speaker: Suzanne Hendrich, FSHN. "Thinking like a toxicologist, achieving our program's learning outcomes." Pastries and fruit. Homework Assignment
  • Tuesday, February 17, 2015: Carlie LaLone, Postdoctoral Associate, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, US EPA. "Creating the "Easy Button" for Cross-Species Extrapolation of Chemical Toxicity Information". Pizza.
  • Tuesday, February 24, 2015: Film: Leaded Gasoline: Trading IQ for Octane. (30 minutes). Flavored Popcorn and sweet soft drinks.
  • Tuesday, March 3, 2015: This lecture is optional and can be used towards the 80% attendance for TOX 689. What Was in the Water? Toxic Dumping in Toms River. Dan Fagin. 7:00 p.m. Great Hall Memorial Union. Fagin is an investigative reporter, prize-winning science journalist and author of Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation, which won the 2014 Pulitzer for General Nonfiction and the National Academies Science Book Award. In his book, Fagin combines science and statistical analysis with investigative reporting to tell the story of Toms River, New Jersey, which experienced industrial pollution, a subsequent cancer epidemic and a decades-long fight for answers. Fagin is a professor of journalism at New York University and director of the graduate program in science, health and environmental reporting. If you attend this seminar and would like to use it towards meeting the 80% attendance requirement for TOX 689 please submit a paragraph about some highlight of the seminar by the beginning of the next class period.
  • Tuesday, March 10, 2015: Dan Luo (Kanthasamy Lab, BMS) (Tox 504). "Parkinson's disease and Prokineticin": Cookies and filled donuts. Use Speaker Evaluation Form.
  • Tuesday, March 17, 2015: Spring Break
  • Tuesday, March 24, 2015: SOT (22-26). If you attend SOT and would like to use it towards meeting the 80% attendance requirement for TOX 689 please submit a paragraph about some highlight of the Conference by te beginning of the next class period.

Toxicology Seminars Fall 2014
 

Monday, September 8 in Room 106 Seed Science Center at 12:15 p.m. by James Delgado, Agronomy (Wolt Lab), Final Ph.D. Defense.
"Fumonisin B1 toxicity in swine: A comparative analysis of genetically engineering Bt corn and non-Bt corn by using quantitative dietary exposure assessment modeling and ecotoxicological investigations on earthworms."

Tuesday, September 9, 2014, in 1102 Molecular Biology, 4:10: WELCOME new Toxicology students. Meal provided. Meet and Greet. Two short science presentations: Platt and Rice.

Monday, October 6, 2014, in E164 Lagomarcino Hall, 4:10 p.m.: Ada Szcepaniec, South Dakota State University, Plant Science Department Title: Redefining non-target effects of pesticides: Impact of neonicotinoid insecticides on plants, unsusceptible pests, and natural predators.

TOX Retreat

Friday, October 24. 9:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. at the ISU Alumni Center, 420 Beach Avenue. Lunch provided.

  • 8:45 Coffee
  • Computer Assistant: Ed Norris (Ed will help presenters set up their presentations on the computer--PC).
  • 9:00 Welcome by Dr. Richard Martin, Chair, Interdepartmental Toxicology
  • 9:15 Presentation #1 Douglas Allchin, University of Minnesota. Title: "From Minamata to Modern Mischief: Ethics for the Practicing Toxicologist." Introduction by Somchai Rice, Agricultural and Biosciences Engineering, (Kozel Lab).
  • 10:15 Presentation #2 Claire Croutch, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, Medical Countermeasures Division, MRIGlobal, Kansas City, MO. Title: "Oh the Places You'll Go: How My Training as a Toxicologist Has Led to a Successful Career" Introduction by Aileen Keating, Animal Science
  • 11:15 break
  • 11:30 Presentation #3 Steven Bradbury, Visiting Professor, Iowa State, Title: "Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessments for Pesticides: Toxicology Challenges for the 21st Century". Introduction by Joel Coats, Entomology
  • 12:30 Lunch; student interaction with speakers
  • 2:15 Presentation #4 David Cwiertny, University of Iowa, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Title: "Environmental Designer Drugs: When Micropollutant Transformation Does Not Eliminate Risk". Introduction by Vic Albright, Entomology (Coats Lab).
  • 3:30 Thank everyone for attending.
  • 4:00 Retreat concludes

November 11, 2014 at Vet Med, 4:10 p.m. in Room 2025. Gary Miller, Environmental Health, Emory College, GA
"Pesticides, PCBs, and Parkinson's disease: A Story of Storage"
Research has focused on environmental factors involved in the development of neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson's disease. Refreshments during Seminar.
Sponsored by TGSO, BMS and TOX.

November 18, 2014 in 1102 Molecular Biology, 4:10 p.m.: Dilshan Harischandra, Biomedical Sciences (Anum. Kanthasamy Lab)

Molding Parkinson's disease: environmental perspective
December 2, 2014 in 1102 Molecular Biology, 4:10 p.m.: Somchai Rice, ABE (Koziel Lab).

Quantifying alprazolam (Xanax) in equine plasma using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
December 9, 2014 in 1102 Molecular Biology, 4:10 p.m.: Heliang Shi, Biomedical Sciences (Cho Lab).

"How to train Antibodies".
 

Toxicology Seminars Spring 2014

Tuesday, February 11: Edward Yu, Chemistry, Iowa State, 3:10 p.m., 240 Bessey Hall
Title: "Toxic Metal Ion Export in Bacteria"

Monday, March 3: Kirsten Larson, 4:10 p.m., (FSHN/Hendrich Lab), 1951 FSB
Title: "Type 4 Reistant Starch diminished Citrobacter rodentium induced diarrhea in C3H mice."

No Seminar on March 11. (March 10-14 SOT Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX)

No seminar on March 18. (March 17-21 Spring Break)

Tuesday, March 25, 2014 in 1102 Molecular Biology at 4:10 p.m.: Justin Grodnitzky, Department of Public Safety, Iowa Crime Lab

Tuesday, April 1, 2014, 4:10 p.m. in 1414 Molecular Biology: Matthew Moore, USDA
Title: "It's Not Easy Being Green: Phytoremediation Challenges in Agriculture."

Wednesday, April 2, 2014, 4:10 P.M. in 1102 Molecular biology: Scroll down to Global Senior Scholar Exchange Program Gonzalo J. Diaz, MV, MSc, PhD, Profesor Titular, Laboratorio de Toxicologia, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Columbia.
Title: "Aflatoxicoses in chickens: Another example of hormesis?"

Seminar of interest but not required attendance.
Jan Chambers, Mississippi State University presents "Novel Neuroprotectants for Organophosphate Toxicity: Saving Lives and Saving Brains" on Monday, April 14 at 4:10 p.m. in E164 Lagomarcino Hall. Monday,

Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at 4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology: Monica Langley, Biomedical Sciences (Kanthasamy Lab)

Title: "Characterization of the MitoPark Mouse Model of PD for Neurotoxicity and Neuroprotection Studies."
Seminar of interest but not required attendance

Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at Noon in 305 Kildee Hall: Jill Madden, Animal Science (Keating Lab/minor in TOX). Title: "Investigation of Mechanisms of Follicle Depletion and the Ovarian Protective Response to Ovotoxicant Exposure"

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at 4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology: Adhithiya Manohar-Charle, Biomedical Sciences (Kanthasamy Lab)

Title: "Environmental pesticides induce histones H3 and H4 acetylation in cell culture models of Parkinson's Disease: Interplay between mitochondrial dysfunction and epigenetic modifications in Parkinson's Disease."
Seminar of interest but not required attendance

Thursday, April 24, at NOON, in 2025 Veterinary Medicine: Dr. Keri Carstens, Senior Manager, Integrated Product Research, DuPont Pioneer (Ph.D. Toxicology/Coats Lab 2008). "I can do THAT with my degree?!?: Career opportunities in Industry". Pizza provided.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at 4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology: Aaron Gross, Entomology (Coats Lab)
Title: "Characterization of a Tyramine Receptor from the Southern Cattle Tick (Rhipicephalus microplus): A Potential Target for Biopesticides"

Tuesday, May 6, 2014, at 4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology: Heliang Shi, Biomedical Sciences (Cho Lab)
Title: "Development of Next-Generation HIV Vaccine Candidates"
Students enrolled for TOX 504 are Delgado, Gross, Langley, Larson, Shi, and Manohar Charle.

Spring 2014

Toxicology Retreat Spring 2014
Friday, February 28, 2014
Location: ISU Alumni Center
Reservations for speakers at Gateway Hotel

  • 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • 9:00 a.m. Welcome by Richard Martin, Chair and DOGE, Interdepartmental Toxicology
  • 9:15 a.m. Ken Voss, USDA-ARS, Georgia
    • Title: "Fumonisins, tortillas and neural tube defects: Is there a connection?"
    • Host: Richard Martin
  • 10:15 a.m. Keith Loftin, USGS, Lawrence Kansas
    • Title: subject will be on cyanobacterial (blue-green algal) blooms: tastes, odors, and toxins.
    • Host: Richard Martin
  • 11:15 a.m. break
  • 11:30 a.m. Michael Koch, Ph.D, DABT, Toxicologist, Monsanto, St. Louis, MO
    • Title: "Regulatory Toxicology as a Career Path"
    • Host: Aileen Keating
  • 12:30 p.m. lunch (West HyVee) and small group at table discussions of speakers with graduate students
    • Speakers will be a different tables and students will rotate every 25 minutes
  • 1:45 p.m. Break
  • 2:00 p.m. Bryony Bonning, Entomology, Iowa State University
    • Title: Toxins for Transgenic Resistance to Aphids
    • Host: Anumantha Kanthasamy
  • 3:15 p.m. end

Fall 2013

TOX 504 SPEAKERS

Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at 4:10 p.m. in Room 1102 Molecular Biology: Shanthi Ganesan, Animal Science (Keating Lab)

"DMBA-induced DNA damage and its responses in the ovary"
Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. in Room FSB 1951: Esther Haugabrooks, FSHN (Hendrich Lab)

"Evaluating the use of resistant starch as a beneficial dietary fiber and its effect on physiological response of glucose, insulin, and fermentation."
Tuesday, November 12, at 9:00 a.m. in 0331 Palmer or Wednesday, November 13 at 4:10 p.m. in Lagomarcino W0142: Bridget Nelson, FSHN (Birt Lab).

"Effect of Dietary Resistant Starch on Inhibition of Preneoplasia in Azoxymethane-Induced Rodent Models".
Tuesday, December 3, at 4:10 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology: Jill Madden, Animal Science (Keating Lab)
" title "

Central States Society of Toxicology (CSSOT) held Thursday, October 10-11: at Gateway Center

TOX 504 speakers during spring 2014 semester

Aaron Gross (in April)
Kirsten Larson (with FSHN 681 seminar)