The rockefeller university

Event Details

Type

Friday Lecture Series

Speaker(s)

Michael Strand, Ph.D., Regents Professor, department of entomology, University of Georgia

Speaker bio(s)

Virus-host associations are usually viewed as parasitic, but several studies in recent years report examples of viruses that benefit host organisms. The Polydnaviridae is of interest because these viruses are all obligate mutualists of insects called parasitoid wasps. Polydnaviruses are also of interest because their genomes are organized and function in ways that differ from any other virus group. Each polydnavirus persists as an integrated provirus in the germline and somatic cells of every individual of a given wasp species. As such, polydnaviruses are endogenous virus elements that have become genetically fixed in different wasp lineages. Unlike other endogenous virus elements of ancient origin, however, polydnaviruses retain the ability to replicate and have evolved into gene delivery vectors that wasps use to genetically manipulate other insects. Dr. Strand will discuss the evolutionary origin and function of these fascinating viruses.
 
Dr. Strand earned his Ph.D. in entomology from Texas A&M University and completed postdoctoral work in biology at Imperial College at the University of London. He joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1987 and was professor there from 1995 to 2001. Dr. Strand joined the University of Georgia in 2002 as a professor and holds appointments with the departments of entomology and genetics, the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and the Faculty of Infectious Diseases. From 2006 to 2013, Dr. Strand was named a distinguished professor at the university, and in 2013 he became a Regents Professor. His honors include a Brooks Research Award from the University of Georgia and a Recognition Award in Physiology, Biochemistry and Toxicology from the Entomological Society Of America. Dr. Strand is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Entomological Society of America. He holds appointments on several journal editorial boards, grant evaluation panels and committees for national and international scientific agencies.

Open to

Public

Reception

Refreshments, 3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m., Abby Lounge

Contact

Alena Powell

Phone

(212) 327-7745

Sponsor

Alena Powell
(212) 327-7745
apowell@rockefeller.edu

Readings

http://librarynews.rockefeller.edu/?p=3372