Toxicology Track

Weekly Newsletter of the MSU Center for Integrative Toxicology
Director: Norbert Kaminski/Editor: Lois Furry

January 28, 2008, Vol. 31, Number 4

Seminars this week / Seminars Upcoming /
Trainee Enrichment and Professional Development / Recent Publications / Recent Grants / Positions

Seminars this week

Tuesday, January 29
*The MSU Risk, Values, and Decisions Initiate presents Joe Arvai, MSU, to speak on “First You’re Irrelevant, Then You’re Late” on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. to noon in 103 AB, Kellogg Center.

The Genetics Program presents Quing Lu, Case Western Reserve University, to give a faculty candidate seminar on “Designing and Forming Predictive Genetics Tests Using Optimal Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curve” on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 9 a.m. in 1425 Biomedical Physical Sciences.

The Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Department presents Dr. Carol Lange, University of Minnesota, to speak on “Integration of Progesterone Receptor Action with Intracellular Signaling Events in Breast Cancer Models” on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. in 1415 Biomedical Physical Sciences.

Wednesday, January 30
The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition presents Dr. Nathan Bryan, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas-Houston, to speak on “Dietary Nitrite and Nitrate Contribution to Nitric Oxide Homeostasis and Cardiovascular Health” on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 4 p.m. in 1135 S. Anthony Hall.

Thursday, January 31, 2008
The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program presents Dr. Zheng Hua Ye, University of Georgia, to speak on “Transcriptional Regulation of Secondary Wall Byosynthesis” on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. in 101 Biochemistry.

*The CIT presents Drs. Scott Loveless and Robert Rickard, Dupont, to speak on “An Internal-Dose Approach to the Risk Assessment of Perfluoroocatanoic Acid (PFOA) - A Biopersistent Chemical” on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. in 162 Food Safety and Toxicology. Lunch will be provided. Registration required by Monday, January 28 to swagart@msu.edu. More information posted at toxicology seminars.

The Neuroscience Program presents Dr. James Greene, Emory University, to speak on “Enertic Neuropathy in Rodent Models of Parkinson’s Disease” on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. in 1425 Biomedical Physical Sciences.

*Fulfills seminar requirements for the Environmental and Integrative Toxicological Sciences Graduate Programs. Seminars that fulfill this requirement are archived at http://www.cit.msu.edu/Graduate%20Program/seminars.html.

Seminars Upcoming

*The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology presents Priya Raman to give a thesis proposal seminar on “Suppression of Interleukin-2 Secretion by a Cyclooxygenase-2 Meatabolite of 2-Arachidonyl Glycerol Involves the Activation of Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Gamma” on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 12 noon in B448-9 Life Sciences.

*The Chemistry Department presents Jennifer Froelich, MSU, to speak on ”Development and Application of Multistage Tandem Mass Spectrometry Methods for Proteomic Analysis” on Friday, February 8, 2008, in 136 Chemistry.

*The CIT and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology present Dr. Joel Pounds, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, to speak on "Systems Toxicology of Engineered Nanomaterials" on Thursday, February 14, 2008 11:30 a.m. in 101 Biochemistry. This is the second talk in the annual Distinguished Scholars in Toxicology Lecture Series. More information will be posted at http://www.cit.msu.edu.

*Fulfills seminar requirements for the Environmental and Integrative Toxicological Sciences Graduate Programs. Seminars that fulfill this requirement are archived at http://www.cit.msu.edu/Graduate%20Program/seminars.html.

Trainee Enrichment and Professional Development

The Graduate School presents the following workshops and seminars open to all MSU graduate students. A calendar of these workshops is also available at http://www.grad.msu.edu/stuwork.htm.

“From Graduate Student to Professor: Stages of Professional Development” on Saturday, January 26, 2008, in Big Ten C, Kellogg Center. For more information and to register, go to http://grad.msu.edu/professional.htm.

“The Academic Job Search” on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 from 5 to 7 p.m. in 6 Student Services. For more information and to register, go to http://grad.msu.edu/current/jobseries.htm#job.

“Developing Communication and Conflict Management Skills to Save Time and Enhance Productivity” on Friday, February 1, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. in 104 Kellogg Center.  For more information and to register, go to http://grad.msu.edu/workshop/developingcommunication.pdf.

“Responsibility to the Subjects of Research: Animals” on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Lincoln Room, Kellogg Center.  For more information and to register, go to http://grad.msu.edu/all/respconduct.htm.

“Responsibility to the Subjects of Research: Humans” on Thursday, February 7, 2008 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Lincoln Room, Kellogg Center.  For more information and to register, go to http://grad.msu.edu/all/respconduct.htm.

“Networking for Ph.D.'s: Building Relationships for Your Future” on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 from 5 to 7 p.m. in 6 Student Services. For more information and to register, go to http://grad.msu.edu/current/jobseries.htm.

“Thesis/Dissertation Formatting and Graduation Requirements” on Thursday, February 14, 2008 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Kellogg Center. For more information and to register, go to http://www.grad.msu.edu/pdf/TD%20F07.pdf

“Objectivity & Conflicting Interests in Academic Research” on Thursday, February 28, 2008 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Lincoln Room, Kellogg Center.  For more information and to register, go to http://grad.msu.edu/all/respconduct.htm.

“From CV to Resume: Developing Written Credentials for Nonacademic Positions” on Thursday, March 19, 2008 from 5 to 7 p.m. in 6 Student Services. For more information and to register, go to http://grad.msu.edu/current/jobseries.htm.

“Mastering the Interview” on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 from 5 to 7 p.m. in 6 Student Services. For more information and to register, go to http://grad.msu.edu/current/jobseries.htm#interview.

“Identify the Obstacles To Your Thesis/Dissertation” on Saturday, March 29, 2008. For more information and to register, go to http://www.grad.msu.edu/stuwork.htm.

“Translating Academic Success into Expanded Career Opportunities in Agencies, Industry, and Academia” on Saturday, April 5, 2008 in Big Ten B, Kellogg Center. For more information and to register, go to http://grad.msu.edu/professional.htm.

Recent Publications

William Atchison
Mancini JD, Atchison WD. The NR2B subunit in NMDA receptors is functionally important during cerebellar granule cell migration. Neurosci Lett. 2007 Dec 18;429(2-3):87-90.

Steven Bursian
Beckett KJ, Yamini B, Bursian SJ. The Effects of 3,3',4,4',5-Pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126) on Mink (Mustela vison) Reproduction and Kit Survivability and Growth. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2008 Jan;54(1):123-9.

Zhang S, Bursian SJ, Martin P, Chan HM, Martin J. Dietary accumulation, disposition, and metabolism of technical pentabrominated diphenyl ether (De-71) in pregnant mink (Mustela Vision) and their offspring. Environ Toxicol Chem. 2008 Jan 2;:1 [Epub ahead of print]

Jack Harkema
Rodriguez TE, Falkowski NR, Harkema JR, Huffnagle GB.Role of neutrophils in preventing and resolving acute fungal sinusitis. Infect Immun. 2007 Dec;75(12):5663-8.

Buchweitz JP, Karmaus PW, Williams KJ, Harkema JR, Kaminski NE. Targeted deletion of cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 produced enhanced inflammatory responses to influenza A/PR/8/34 in the absence and presence of {Delta}9-tetrahydrocannabinol. J Leukoc Biol. 2007 Dec 11; [Epub ahead of print].

Robert Hollingworth
Tan J, Salgado VL, Hollingworth RM. Neural actions of imidacloprid and their involvement in resistance in the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say). Pest Manag Sci. 2008 Jan;64(1):37-47.

Norbert Kaminski
Buchweitz JP, Karmaus PW, Williams KJ, Harkema JR, Kaminski NE. Targeted deletion of cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 produced enhanced inflammatory responses to influenza A/PR/8/34 in the absence and presence of {Delta}9-tetrahydrocannabinol. J Leukoc Biol. 2007 Dec 11; [Epub ahead of print].

Veronica Maher and Justin McCormick
Lito P, Mets BD, Kleff S, O'Reilly S, Maher VM, McCormick JJ. Evidence That Sprouty 2 Is Necessary for Sarcoma Formation by H-Ras Oncogene-transformed Human Fibroblasts. J Biol Chem. 2008 Jan 25;283(4):2002-9.

Laura McCabe
McCabe LR. Understanding the pathology and mechanisms of type I diabetic bone loss. J Cell Biochem. 2007 Dec 15;102(6):1343-57.

Victoria McGuffin
Hupp AM, Marshall LJ, Campbell DI, Smith RW, McGuffin VL. Chemometric analysis of diesel fuel for forensic and environmental applications. Anal Chim Acta. 2008 Jan 14;606(2):159-71.

Li X, Hupp AM, McGuffin VL. The thermodynamic and kinetic basis of liquid chromatography.Adv Chromatogr. 2007;45:1-88.

N. Edward Robinson
Dacre KJ, McGorum BC, Marlin DJ, Bartner LR, Brown JK, Shaw DJ, Robinson NE, Deaton C, Pemberton AD. Organic dust exposure increases mast cell tryptase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and airway epithelium of heaves horses. Clin Exp Allergy. 2007 Dec;37(12):1809-18.

Kenneth Rosenman
Stanbury M, Chester D, Hanna EA, Rosenman KD. How many deaths will it take? A death from asthma associated with work-related environmental tobacco smoke. Am J Ind Med. 2008 Feb;51(2):111-6.

Mazurek JM, Filios M, Willis R, Rosenman KD, Reilly MJ, McGreevy K, Schill DP, Valiante D, Pechter E, Davis L, Flattery J, Harrison R. Work-related asthma in the educational services industry: California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Jersey, 1993-2000. Am J Ind Med. 2008 Jan;51(1):47-59.

Greg Swain
Park J, Quaiserová-Mocko V, Patel BA, Novotný M, Liu A, Bian X, Galligan JJ, Swain GM. Diamond microelectrodes for in vitro electroanalytical measurements: current status and remaining challenges. Analyst. 2008 Jan;133(1):17-24.

James Tiedje
Rodrigues DF, Tiedje JM. Coping With Our Cold Planet. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2008 Jan 18; [Epub ahead of print]

Timothy Zacharewski
Kiyosawa N, Kwekel JC, Burgoon LD, Williams KJ, Tashiro C, Chittim B, Zacharewski TR. o,p'-DDT Elicits PXR/CAR-, Not ER-, Mediated Responses in the Immature Ovariectomized Rat Liver. Toxicol Sci. 2008 Feb;101(2):350-63.

Boverhof DR, Burgoon LD, Williams KJ, Zacharewski TR. nhibition of estrogen-mediated uterine gene expression responses by dioxin. Mol Pharmacol. 2008 Jan;73(1):82-93.

Recent Grants

The following grants were accepted at the December MSU Board of Trustees meeting as newly funded grants. In addition to the grants listed here, other grants from affiliated faculty were accepted in renewals, continuations, or supplemental funding for existing research projects.

Steven Bursian and Matthew Zwiernik received $60,400 from Entix Inc. for “Relative Potency of Select Dibenzo-Furans in a Mammalian Model.”

Hui Li, Brian Teppen, and James Tiedje received $367,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for “Geochemical Controls on the Expression of Bacterial Antibiotic Resistance in Soil Minerals.”

John Kaneene and Whitney Mauer received $51,664 from the Michigan Department of Community Health for “Michigan Stride System to Report Integrated Disease Events: 2007.”

Thomas Mullaney received $18,636 from the United States Department of Agriculture for “Classical Swine Fever Surveillance.”

Nigel Paneth, Naomi Breslau, Claudia Holzman, and Stephen Lovejoy received $1,700,479 from the National Institutes of Health for “Michigan Alliance for National Children’s Study.” Nigel Paneth and Ali Artaman received $20,000 from the Children’s Leukemia Research Association for “Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Perinatal Exposure to Oxygen and Phototherapy.”

Thomas Pinnavia received $30,000 from Dupont De Nemours E I for general research,

Kenneth Rosenman received $28,087 from the Michigan Department of Community Health for “Sudden Cardiac Death Review” and $1,150 from the Association of Occupation and Environmental Clinics for “Clinical Data Base.”

James Tiedje and Terence Marsh received $493,905 from the U.S. Department of Energy for “Metagenomics-Enabled Understanding of the Functions and Activities of Microbial Communities at ERSP Field Research."

Positions

Senior Scientist - Veterinary Pathologist
Working with other dedicated staff, this position will report to the Toxicology/Target Animal Safety Group Leader in R&D/Lab Sciences/Metabolism & Safety (M&S) to serve R&D needs for expertise in pathology, toxicology, drug development and regulatory submissions.   The primary focus of this position is to bring pathology and toxicology experience to the R&D Development and Discovery teams.  As such, this person will spend much of their time attending drug discovery and development team meetings to assure that pathology and toxicology input to the drug development process in R&D meets all business and regulatory needs.  This position will also serve to review draft safety study protocols to be conducted by R&D staff, participate in pathology peer review of studies conducted by R&D at company or CRO facilities, potentially monitor safety studies conducted at CROs for M&S, and potentially serve as a GLP study director for safety studies conducted by M&S.   The position will serve as a peer review pathologist, as needed, and will participate actively in the formation of regulatory submissions of compounds for for marketing status approval worldwide.   This person will likely travel to regulatory bodies to support drug development plans, as well as the conclusions of the studies conducted to support the safety of the drugs developed for R&D.    REQUIREMENTS At minimum, a DVM, DACVP,  3 years working as a pathologist for GLP safety studies. Preferably, DVM DACVP, PhD in pathology.  Ten plus years in the human or animal health pharmaceutical business with experience serving on Drug Development teams.  Excellent organizational skills and communication skills (ie, proactive communication, scientific dialogue and discussion) are required. To confidentially learn more about these exciting opportunities, please e-mail your resume in confidence to resumes@thevetrecruiter.com. Contact: Stacy Pursell, President, The Pursell Group LLC dba the VET Recruiter ®, "The Animal Health Search and Recruitment Firm", Moving careers forward and helping companies find top talent. Office: 918-298-7025. Email: stacy@thevetrecruiter.com. Web: www.thevetrecruiter.com.

In-Vivo & In-Vitro Toxicologists
Seeking toxicologists for multiple positions, both in-vivo and in-vitro. The in-vivo position will perform as Study Director and must be able to design, interpret, and communicate findings. This person must have experience with small animal studies and a Ph.D. is a requirement.  The in-vitro position will be responsible for identifying, developing, and validating in vitro tox assays for assessment. A cellular and molecular bent and a Ph.D. are required.  Contact Stephanie Lawrence, Associate, at Charles Aris at 336-378-1818 x9115; stephanie.lawrence@charlesaris.com.

Toxicologist
Seeking a toxicologist experienced in evaluating complex mixtures using chemistry, in vitro, and biological systems. Qualifications inclue: Ph.D. in toxicology or related field experience with chemicals and chemical mixtures, use of chemical, in vitro, in vivo, epidemiological clinical data., and dose-response assessment thechniques, including derivation of chemical specific adjustment factors (CSAFs) and benchmark dose modeling (BMD). Contact Carolie Wilson, Associate, at Charles Aris at 336-378-181 x 9120; caroline.wilson@charlesaris.com.

This newsletter is produced and distributed weekly by the Center for IntegrativeToxicology. We appreciate suggestions regarding information that might be included in this publication. To be added to the e-mail list, send your name and e-mail address to: Lois Furry, Editor, Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, 165C Food Safety and Toxicology Building, East Lansing, MI 48824; furry@msu.edu; 517/353-6469(phone), 517/355-4603(fax).