US/France Science Mini-Conference at the Institut Pasteur

 US/France Science Mini­Conference at the Institut Pasteur de Lille: Celebrating US and French STEM excellence around posters, seminars and friends MORNING POSTERS Presenting author underlined Nickel hyperaccumulation in Psychotria grandis (rubiaceae) from serpentine soils in Puerto Rico A.R. Campbell1, C.O. Stone1, N.M. Shamsedin1, D.A. Kolterman2 and A.J. Pollard1, 1Department of Biology, Furman University, Greenville, SC USA 2Departamento de Bilogia, UPRM, Mayagues, PUERTO RICO Acatalasemia: Molecular evolutionary inferences into the nature of the mutation W. Towler, J. Hartung and N. Schisler, Department of Biology, Furman University, Greenville, SC USA Selection of Internalized aptamers Y.M. Chang, M.B. O’Donoghue, T. Bayrac and W. Tan, Center for Research at the Bio/Nano Interface, Department of Chemistry, Shands Cancer Institute, UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA Thrombospondin 1 regulates IL­6 secretion by a TGFβ1 mediated mechanism in an experimental model of colitis D. Nye1,2, Z. Lopez­Dee1, C. Simone1, K. Papathomas1, J. Ling2 and L.S. Gutierrez1, 1Department of Biology, Wilkes University, Wilkes‐Barre, PA USA 2The Commonwealth Medical School, Scranton, PA USA Lipid extraction techniques on native Chlorella strain T. Rouse, M. Gutierrez­Wing, K. Rusch, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA USA Effect of the selective vasopressin ­1b antagonist SSR149415 on precipitated nicotine withdrawal in the rat Y. Ji, J. Alexander and A Bruijnzeel. Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA Changes in heat capacity as a result of the dissociation of the HMGA1 A/T Hook by netropsin A. Gorensek and K. Buchmueller, Department of Chemistry, Furman University, Greenville, SC USA Making fuels green using molecularly imprinted polymers E. Lissy, J. LeJeune and D. Spivak, Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA USA Bacterial microbiome of the carnivorous plant Sarracenia alata D. Fusilier and B. Carstens, Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA USA Hybridized gold nanoparticles of ssDNA systems S. Burleigh, C. Knorows and A. Travesset, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Ames Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames, IA USA Hermansky­Pudlak Syndrome candidate genes: BLOC­1 E. Martin1,2, J. Curry1, A. Cullinane1, R. Hess1, M. Huizing1 and W. Gahl1 1Section on Human Biochemical Genetics, Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD USA 2John Hopps Research Scholar, Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA USA Visual­tactile integration during passive observation of touch: Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence B. Malcolm1, T. Ro1, K. Reilly2, R. Salemme2, J. Mattout3, O. Bertrand3 and A. Farnè2 1Program in Cognitive Neuroscience, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, NY USA 2INSERM U1028 ‐ CNRS UMR5292, Lyon 1 University, Neuroscience Research Centre of Lyon, ImpAct Team, Lyon FRANCE 3
INSERM U1028 ‐ CNRS UMR5292, Lyon 1 University, Neuroscience Research Centre of Lyon, Brain Dynamics and Cognition Team, Lyon FRANCE Vancomycin MIC creep: The explanation for vancomycin and daptomycin treatment failures of methicillin­resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia H. Namdari1, R. Fagerburg2, S. Piemontese2 and K. Pidcock3 1
ClinMicro Immunology Center, Clarks Summit, PA USA 2Community Medical Center, Scranton, PA USA 3Wilkes University, Wilkes‐Barre, PA USA Investigating the interaction between novel Cr(III) complexes and DNA in search of alternative routes to chemotherapy R.M. Graybill, H.D. Rodgers, S.K.Wheeler and J.F. Wheeler, Department of Chemistry, Furman University, Greenville, SC USA ORAL PRESENTATIONS Presenting author underlined The levamisole­sensitive acetylcholine receptors of Oesophagostomumdentatum: Molecular & electrophysiological characterization. S.K. Buxton1, C.L. Charvet2, C Neveu2, J Cabaret J2, A.P. Robertson1 and R.J. Martin1 1Biomedical Science Department, College of Veterinary Medicine. Iowa State University, Ames IA USA. 2Institut Nationale de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Nouzilly. FRANCE Arsenic uptake & speciation in the green marine alga Ulva lactuca: Development of a coastal aquatic bioindicator C. Pham1,2, L. Charlet2 and G. Sposito1 1
Division of Ecosystem Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA 2Institut des Sciences de la Terre, Université Joseph Fourier, BP 53,, Grenoble, FRANCE Competition­colonization dynamics Drive coexistence in an experimental metacommunity G Livingston1, M. Matias2, N. Mouquet3 and M. Leibold1, 1University of Texas at Austin, University Station C0930, Austin, TX, USA 2Institut des Sciences des l’Evolution – CNRS, UMR 5584 – Universite’ de Montpellier II – CC065, 34095 Montpellier, FRANCE 3INRA, Sophia‐Antipolis, 400 route des Chappes – BP 267, 06903 Sophia‐Antipolis, FRANCE Survival and differentiation of transplanted adenovirus­generated induced pluripotent stem cells K.D. Fink1,3,4, X. Leveque3,4, A.T. Crane1, J. Rossignol1,2, M. Lu1,2, T.H. Nguyen5, L. Lescaudron3,4 and G.L. Dunbar1,2 1Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI USA 2Field Neuroscience Institute, 4677 Towne Centre Rd. Suite 101 Saginaw, MI USA 3Univ. de Nantes, Faculté des Sci. et des Techniques, Nantes, FRANCE 4INSERM U643, ITERT, CHU Hotel Dieu, Nantes cedex, FRANCE 5INSERM U948, Biothérapies hépatiques, CHU Hotel Dieu, Nantes cedex, FRANCE Functional importance of the 5­HT2B receptor in psychiatric disease models S.C. Rogan and L. Maroteaux, Institut du Fer à Moulin, INSERM UMR‐S 839; Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris FRANCE; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA PLENARY 1: DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS GUMBOS: A New Breed of Micro­ and Nano­Materials Isiah M. Warner, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA USA My research group has recently developed a new approach to the production of micro‐ and nano‐materials using a group of uniform materials based on organic salts (GUMBOS). These micro/nanoGUMBOS are typically produced from frozen ionic liquids by use of a variety of methods employed for creation of relatively monodispersed nanoparticles. However, some of our materials do not follow the strict definition for ionic liquids (melting point less than 1000C) and thus we have adopted the more broadly based acronym of GUMBOS (melting point 250C to 2500C) to more accurately describe our materials. In regard to these new materials, we believe that our approach represents a major shift in the approach to producing nanomaterials such that our materials are designed and assembled for specific uses, rather than adapted for uses as is the case with most nanomaterials in use today. This is because our approach to this materials development allows for easy production of a variety of properties that can be exploited for selected bioanalytical measurements and applications. This talk will focus on discussions of these new kinds of materials, as well as provide an example of a unique sensing application for these materials. PLENARY 2: Infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis : TB or not TB? Camille Locht, PhD, Research Director, INSERM, Scientific Director, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Director, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, FRANCE Although widely considered as an ancient disease, tuberculosis (TB) is still a major global killer, with approximately 2 million deaths and 9 million new TB cases every year. Approximately 1/3 of the human population is estimated to be infected with the causative agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Fortunately, most (90 – 95%) infected subjects will never develop active disease, but remain latently infected during their entire lifespan. Disease is thus the exception. Understanding the molecular, cellular and immunological differences between latent infection and active TB should therefore be helpful to develop improved diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. INVITED PRESENTATION: Mobility of (young) Researchers Olivier Giron, Chef du département Amérique, Afrique du Nord et Moyen­Orient, Ministere des Affaires Etrangers et Europeennes, FRANCE Following a worldwide trend towards more structured mobility and sustainable collaborations, the French government is a strong proponent of international partnerships. This presentation will outline some emerging models for international collaboration including academic programs such as cotutelle degrees, endowments and international mixed laboratories. Examples will highlight how each type of program functions and the many benefits of each.