DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY
McMaster University
THURSDAY ! DECEMBER 4 ! 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS!
Event Sponsors!
Event Coordination!
Photography!
Website!
Budget Administration!
Display Poster!
1!
1!
1!
1!
1!
1!
1!
MESSAGE!
2!
COMMITTEES!
Event Committee!
Abstract Selection Committee!
Judges!
Session Chairs!
3!
3!
3!
3!
3!
INVITED KEYNOTE SPEAKER!
4!
ITINERARY!
5!
ORAL PRESENTATION SCHEDULE!
5!
LIST OF PRESENTERS!
Oral Sessions!
Session I (Chair: Angus Ho)!
Session II (Chair: Qanber Raza )!
Session III (Chair: Lana Shaya)!
Poster Sessions!
Session I: Even numbers!
Session II: Odd numbers!
6!
6!
6!
6!
6!
7!
7!
8!
ABSTRACTS!
9!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Event Sponsors
We sincerely thank the following sponsors for their generous support.
We also thank the following individuals who helped make the event a success.
Event
Coordination
Barb Reuter
Budget
Administration
Website
Stan Zolinski
Photography
Ayush Ranawade
Angus Ho
Marvin Gunderman
Stan Zolinski
Display Poster
Daniel Hsieh (Biological
Illustration Suite)
Marge Geroux
This booklet was designed by Bhagwati Gupta using Mac OS X version of Microsoft® Word
software. The front cover shows the event logo created by Stan Zolinski and pictures of the
2013 GRD event.
Page 1
MESSAGE
On behalf of the Department of Biology we welcome you to the second annual Biology
Graduate Research Day (BGRD). BGRD is a unique event that showcases the research of
our graduate students and celebrates their accomplishments.
Last year’s event was a tremendous success. Participation of students, faculty and staff
provided ample opportunities for discussions, exchange of ideas and networking. The
keynote speaker Dr. Carole Yauk (Health Canada) gave an inspiring and insightful
presentation. The event also helped build a sense of community in our large and diverse
graduate program, and generated fruitful post-graduation career possibilities.
Building on last year’s success, this year’s event will host Dr. John Howe (Merck USA), a
McMaster Biology alumnus who has forged a successful career outside of academia. Dr.
Howe will present a keynote address to guide and inspire our students. The response from
the University community and private sector sponsors has been extremely positive.
We thank all graduate students for their participation and enthusiastic support, and wish
everyone an amazing experience.
Bhagwati Gupta
Chair, 2014 BGRD Event Committee
Page 2
COMMITTEES
In alphabetical order
Event Committee
!
George BIJELIC
Juliet DANIEL
Rosa DA SILVA
Marie ELLIOT
Ben EVANS
Benjamin FURMAN
Bhagwati GUPTA (Chair)
Roger JACOBS
Barb REUTER
Joanna WILSON
Xu-Dong ZHU
Abstract Selection Committee
!
Natalie D’SILVA
Benjamin FURMAN (Co-Chair)
Marten KAAS
Chantel MARKLE
Danielle SEXTON
Nastashya WALL
Joanna WILSON (Co-Chair)
Rachel YOUNG
Judges
Ryan BELOWITZ
George BIJELIC
Alison COWIE
Neal DAWSON
Ben EVANS
Mihaela GEORGESCU
Angela SCOTT
Emma SHERWOOD
Kevin TATE
Alastair TRACEY
Jessica VANDERPLOEG
Xu-Dong ZHU
Session Chairs
Angus HO
Qanber RAZA
Lana SHAYA
Page 3
INVITED KEYNOTE SPEAKER
John Howe completed his PhD work in the laboratory of Dr.
Stanley Bayley, where he used adenoviruses to study gene
transcription and cellular transformation. His work was published
in well-respected journals including PNAS and J Virology.
He then moved to UC-San Diego to pursue post-doctoral
research on the regulation of the transition between the
embryonic and somatic cell cycles. This work was supported by a
CIHR (then MRC) fellowship.
Dr. Howe has extensive experience of working in the industry environment. Currently he is
the Principal Scientist at Merck Research Laboratories (New Jersey USA), where he leads
projects on antibiotic production, anti-viral inhibitors, and other related topics. His seminar
will explore his current research and the non-academic career path.
The title of his talk is: “From McMaster to Merck: Adenoviruses, Antivirals and Antibiotics”.
Page 4
ITINERARY
TIME
EVENT
LOCATION
8:30 - 9:00 AM
Breakfast and registration
LSB-213 Lounge
9:00 - 9:10 AM
Opening remarks by Assoc. Dean of Science
HSC-1A6
9:10 - 10:00 AM
Keynote speaker - Dr. John Howe (Talk
title: From McMaster to Merck:
Adenoviruses, Antivirals and Antibiotics)
HSC-1A6
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Platform presentations - Session I
HSC-1A6
11:00 - 11:15 AM
Coffee break
-
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Platform presentations - Session II
HSC-1A6
12:15 - 2:30 PM
Lunch
-
12:30 - 1:30 PM
Poster Session I - Even numbers
HSC Ewart Angus Hall
1:30 - 2:30 PM
Poster Session II - Odd numbers
HSC Ewart Angus Hall
2:45 - 3:45 PM
Platform presentations - Session III
HSC-1A6
4:00 - 5:00 PM
Awards ceremony and refreshments
Phoenix
• Oral presentation awards
• Poster presentation awards
• 2013-14 Biology Graduate Student
Achievement Awards
ORAL PRESENTATION SCHEDULE
Session I
(Chair: Angus Ho)
10 – 10:15 AM
10:15 – 10:30 AM
10:30 – 10:45 AM
10:45 – 11 AM
Blessing I. Bassey
Nicole L. Batenburg
Tamzin Blewett
Philip Carella
Session II
(Chair: Qanber Raza )
11:15 – 11:30 AM
11:30 – 11:45 AM
11:45 AM – 12 PM
12 – 12:15 PM
Cody J. Dey
George C. diCenzo
Catherine Ivy
Lindsay Keegan
Session III
(Chair: Lana Shaya)
2:45 – 3 PM
3 – 3:15 PM
3:15 – 3:30 PM
3:30 – 3:45 PM
Qanber Raza
Renée St-Onge
Nastashya Wall
Nicholas V.L. Yap
Page 5
LIST OF PRESENTERS
Abstract numbers are indicated in brackets and speakers/presenters are listed in alphabetical order
Oral Sessions
Session I (Chair: Angus Ho)
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
[5] Blessing I. Bassey, Ph.D. candidate (Daniel lab): Kaiso promotes the proliferation,
migration and invasion of triple negative breast cancer cells
[6] Nicole L. Batenburg, Ph.D. candidate (Zhu lab): Cockayne syndrome group B protein
regulates DNA double strand break repair pathway choice and checkpoint activation
[7] Tamzin Blewett, Ph.D. candidate (Wood lab): What’s up DOC? : protective effects of
dissolved organic carbon on nickel toxicity to sea urchin early life-stages
[8] Philip Carella, Ph.D. candidate (Cameron lab): PLASMODESMATA-LOCATED
PROTEIN overexpression negatively impacts the manifestation of systemic acquired
resistance and the long-distance movement of DEFECTIVE IN INDUCED
RESISTANCE1 in Arabidopsis
Session II (Chair: Qanber Raza )
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
[9] Cody J. Dey, Ph.D. candidate (Quinn lab): The structure of dominance networks in a
highly social bird
[10] George C. diCenzo, Ph.D. candidate (Finan lab): Genetic redundancy is prevalent in the
6.7 Mb genome of Sinorhizobium meliloti
[16] Catherine Ivy, M.Sc. candidate (Scott lab): Control of breathing and adaptation to highaltitude hypoxia in deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus)
[17] Lindsay Keegan, Ph.D. candidate (Dushoff lab): Analytic Calculation of FinitePopulation Reproductive Numbers
Session III (Chair: Lana Shaya)
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
[24] Qanber Raza, Ph.D. candidate (Jacobs lab): Mobility of cardioblast leading edge requires
Slit and Netrin activity in Drosophila
[29] Renée St-Onge, Ph.D. candidate (Elliot lab): Multi-level regulation of a resuscitationpromoting factor in Streptomyces coelicolor
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[34] Nastashya Wall, M.Sc. candidate (McClelland lab): Life in the extreme: Deer mouse
thermogenesis at high altitude
[36] Nicholas VL Yap, M.Sc. candidate (Golding lab): Verifying bioinformatic predictions of
functional sites within the scavenger receptor MARCO
Poster Sessions
Session I: Even numbers
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
[2] Scott Amon, Ph.D. candidate (Gupta lab): Regulation and Function of the LIM-Hox
Gene lin-11 in C. elegans Development
[4] Sheridan Baker, M.Sc. candidate (McClelland lab): The effects of aquatic copper exposure
on the acute ventilatory drive in freshwater acclimated killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus)
[12] Shamaila Fraz, Ph.D. candidate (Wilson lab): Toxicity of Carbamazepine and
Gemfibrozil in Zebrafish across Multiple Generations
[14] Amanda Garvin, M.Sc. candidate and Caitlin Simopoulos, Ph.D. candidate (Weretilnyk
lab): Do Yukon Eutrema salsugineum plants require elevated sulfur and, if so, why?
[18] Jennifer Klunk, Ph.D. candidate (Poinar lab): Yersinia pestis and the Plague of Justinian
541-543 AD: a genomic analysis
[20] Katie Monster, M. Sc. candidate (Rollo lab): Effects of a complex dietary supplement
(CDS) on cognitive function, oxidative damage and stress signalling in the brains of gamma
irradiated mice
[22] Sindy Murali, M.Sc. candidate (Nurse lab): Purinergic signaling in the rat carotid body:
Cell-cell interactions at the tripartite sensory synapse
[26] Sangeena Salam, Ph.D. candidate (Gupta lab): Modulation of C. elegans electrotactic
swimming behavior by dopamine signaling
[28] Lana Shaya, Ph.D. candidate (Wilson lab): Gene regulation of cytochrome p450, family
3, in model organism Danio rerio (Zebrafish)
[30] Jonathan Tsou, M.Sc. candidate and Nadia Iftekharuddin, M.Sc. candidate (Campos
lab): SPG-targeted expression of the Toll pathway leads to behavioral and physiological
declines
[32] Vera Marjorie Velasco, Ph.D. candidate (Weretilnyk lab): Phenotypic and gene
expression responses of the extremophile Eutrema salsugineum to phosphate limitation
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Session II: Odd numbers
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
[1] Brian P. Alcock, M.Sc. candidate (Evans lab): Evolutionary consequences of wholegenome duplication in a tetraploid African clawed frog
[3] Eta Ebasi Ashu, Ph.D. candidate (Xu lab): Population Structure, Molecular Epidemiology
and Anti-Fungal Resistance Patterns of Aspergillus fumigatus: A Global Perspective
[11] Adrian Forsythe, M.Sc. candidate (Xu lab): Phenotypic Changes Accompany Clonal
Expansion of Pseudogymnoascus destructans Into Eastern Canada
[13] Ben Furman, Ph.D. candidate (Evans lab): Phylogenetic reconstruction of African
Clawed frog (Xenopus) relationships; implications for sex chromosome evolution
[15] Angus Ho, M.Sc. candidate (Zhu lab): ATM regulates phosphorylated (pT371)TRF1 to
facilitate the functional assembly of ALT-associated PML bodies
[19] Kyle Lindsay, M.Sc. candidate (Zhu lab): Characterization of phosphorylated
(pT371)TRF1 trafficking between subnuclear domain
[21] Nathalie Mouttham, M.Sc. candidate (Poinar lab): Surveying the repair of damaged
ancient DNA with high-throughput sequencing
[23] Ayush Ranawade, Ph.D. candidate (Gupta lab): Transcriptomics approach to
understanding the role of Wnt signaling in C. elegans aging
[25] Shaiya C. Robinson, Ph.D. candidate (Daniel lab): The transcription factor Kaiso
inhibits expression of the Notch target gene Hes1 in intestinal cells
[27] Devika Sharanya, Ph.D. candidate (Gupta lab): Identification of new genes in the
nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae that limit the response to EGF signaling during vulval
development
[31] Tarushika Vasanthan, Ph.D. candidate (Stone lab): Radiation tolerance and bystander
effects in the eutardigrade Hypsibius dujardini
[33] Aaron A. Vogan, Ph.D. candidate (Xu lab): The Effect of Hybridization on Drug
Resistance in the Human Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans
[35] Daniel Wilson, Ph.D. candidate (Cameron lab): Age-related resistance in Arabidopsis
thaliana
[37] Alex M. Zimmer, Ph.D. candidate (Wood lab): Assessing the Nature of Branchial and
Cutaneous Ammonia Excretion in Larval Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
!!
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