GLIN==> UPCOMING SEMINARS

[Kanika Suri <Kanika.Suri@noaa.gov>]

We have two very interesting seminars coming up this week. Both seminars 
are a part of the ongoing NOAA/University of Michigan Seminar Series.

1) Speaker: *Alan E. Wilson*, Georgia Institute of Technology, Biology 
Department

Title:"Cyanobacteria-grazer interactions: effects of toxicity, 
morphology, and genetic diversity"

Date: Thursday, January 12

Time: 1030AM

Location: Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory

Abstract:
Interactions between herbivores and bloom-forming cyanobacteria play an 
important role in mediating the responses of freshwater phytoplankton 
assemblages to nutrient enrichment and top-down manipulation. 
Consequently, numerous observations have been made over the past four 
decades aimed at understanding the mechanisms mediating these 
interactions, namely cyanobacterial morphology or toxic secondary 
metabolites. Results from laboratory and field experiments will be 
presented that show how the morphology or secondary metabolites of the 
cyanobacterium, Microcystis aeruginosa, influence the feeding 
preferences of the invasive bivalve, Dreissena polymorpha, or the 
fitness of the common lake-dwelling zooplankter, Daphnia pulicaria. 
Interesting responses across different Microcystis and Daphnia strains 
isolated from Michigan lakes will be highlighted.

(For more information about this particular talk, please contact Dr. 
Peter Landrum at 734-741-2276)


2) (This seminar is a part of the NOAA/University of Michigan Great 
Lakes and Human Health Seminar Series)

Speaker: Anne Camper <http://www.coe.montana.edu/ce/faculty/acamper/>, 
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education, College of 
Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman

Title: "Health Implications of Biofilms"

Date: Friday, January 13

Time: 11am

Location: 109 S. Observatory, School of Public Health, Auditorium 1
              University of Michigan Central Campus, Ann Arbor
*driving directions can be found at 
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/globalhealthcouncil/files/directions.html*

(Transportation arrangements (including parking passes) can be made for 
those coming from GLERL- please contact me if you are interested)

Abstract:
Biofilms in drinking water systems can impact health in at least two 
ways. First, it is known that opportunistic pathogens can be part of the 
indigenous microbial biofilm populations found on distribution system 
and premise plumbing surfaces. When released from the biofilm and 
ingested/inhaled by a susceptible host, disease may occur. Organisms 
known to be associated with drinking water systems and disease include 
Legionella and Mycobacteria, and there is some evidence that Pseudomonas 
aeruginosa may also be in this category. Even less well understood is 
the interaction of other pathogens with indigenous drinking water 
biofilms. Questions include: How well are pathogens retained? What is 
their physiology? Are they rendered less susceptible to disinfection? Is 
their infectivity altered? Can they be released in sufficient numbers to 
cause disease? Although there are no answers at present to most of these 
questions, research is underway to provide initial insight. Our work has 
been focused on the manner in which the pathogenic bacteria Escherichia 
coli O157:H7 and Salmonella typhimurium are trapped and retained by 
biofilms. Inherent in these studies is the need to have good methods for 
pathogen detection in environmental samples. Recent advances in 
real-time PCR detection and the use of novel live/dead methods will be 
discussed. Results of experiments demonstrating the retention of 
pathogens in biofilms will also be presented.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at 
kanika.suri@noaa.gov; or call 734-741-2147.

For more information about the seminar series, please visit our website 
at http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/news/seminars/

***************************************************************************************** 

Kanika Suri
Center of Excellence for Great Lakes and Human Health (CEGLHH)
2205 Commonwealth Blvd.
Ann Arbor, MI
48105

734-741-2147

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