Seminar by Dr. Gruninger on June 4^th from 10-11 am at  MCM258.

Application of culturomics and metagenomics to characterize the microbial pathogens associated with liver abscesses in feedlot cattle.

Gruninger RJ¹, Zaheer R¹, Chomistek N¹, King M¹, O’Hara EO¹, Ribeiro GO², Guan LL³, Zovoilis A⁴, McAllister TA¹

¹ Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada

² College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

³ Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

⁴ Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada

Feedlot-finishing diets in North America consist of high-concentrate rations that are formulated to provide ≤ 10% dry matter as roughage. Diets low in forage increase the incidence of metabolic and digestive disorders, and approximately 23-30% of cattle in feedlots develop liver abscesses. Severe liver abscesses are linked to reduced intake and decreased feed efficiency. In Canada, liver abscesses cost the industry approximately $61.2 million annually. The biological processes involved in the development of liver abscesses are not well understood. Metataxonomic studies have shown that while Fusobacterium necrophorum is ubiquitous among these infections, close to 50% also have high levels of unknown Bacteroidota. We present our recent efforts employing metagenomics and culturomics to examine the microbiology of liver abscesses in feedlot cattle. We obtained four high-quality MAGs, including two bacteria not previously known to be associated with liver abscess. Using a culturomics approach, pure cultures of isolates corresponding to the unknown MAGs were obtained and genomically characterized. This work provides important information on the microbial pathogens that cause the development of liver abscesses in cattle, data that will be valuable in efforts to reduce antibiotic use in livestock production and identify alternative therapeutics to in-feed antibiotics for the prevention of liver abscesses.

The Applied Biology Program will be interviewing 3 candidates for an Assistant Professor in Plant Science position (see Ad). We would like to invite all graduate students to lunch with the candidates. The first lunch will be with Dr. Uriel Menalled on May 30, 12:15pm to 1:15pm, McM 350.

Please RSVP to Harini Aiyer (harini.aiyer@ubc.ca) and include any dietary restrictions by 12pm on Tuesday, May 28.

We’d also welcome your feedback following the lunch, using the Feedback Form: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b1KYO6cFGThU3oq

You are also invited to attend his research and teaching seminars, as below.

Dr. Uriel Menalled, Candidate for Assistant Professor in Plant Science (May 29-30)

Dr. Uriel Menalled completed a PhD in Soil and Crop Sciences from Cornell University in 2023, and is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Soil and Crop Sciences Section of Cornell University’s School of Integrative Plant Science. His research uses ecological principles to evaluate weed-crop competition, weed community assembly, and the management, productivity, and economics of organic no-till crop systems. Through collaboration with scientists, farmers, and educators, he has contributed to proposals and fellowships that have resulted in research funding, various peer-reviewed and extension publications, and presentations for academic and farmer audiences.

Research Seminar: Can We Use Ecological Practices to Redesign Agricultural Systems?

May 29, 10:00am, MacMillan 160

Registration Link: https://ubc.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5IkduqopjwpGNI82owTFvluA7HQ2TZJutke

Teaching Seminar: Weed Community Assembly: Theory and Application

May 30, 11:00am, MacMillan 160

Registration Link: https://ubc.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5cqdOqtrzMsHdZo-a_PN7KxSGAiCPdnuSd3

Thank you and best regards,

Melanie

Melanie Train

Human Resources Manager (Faculty) | Faculty of Land and Food Systems

The University of British Columbia | Vancouver Campus

248-2357 Main Mall | Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z4

Phone 604-822-3105 | Fax 604-822-6394

Email:  melanie.train@ubc.ca

Office: M/W/F: Remote: T/Th

 

We are seeking grad students to attend the student lunches for Assistant Professor in Plant Science/Sustainable Agriculture hire.
Lunches for the first two candidates are on May 30th & June 6th 12:15-1:15 in MCML 350.

Please email the grad rep, Harini – harini.aiyer@ubc.ca  to confirm your attendance and also indicate dietary preferences.

The research seminars are helpful to attend too – May 29th at 10 and June 5th at 9:30, both in MCML 160.

Thank you for your engagement in the search!

Applications are Open for the 2024/2025 Solutions Scholar Program!

The Solutions Scholars program sponsors existing UBC Masters and PhD students to apply their scholarly research skills to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and/or education. This includes students beginning their program by September 2024.  In 2024/25, successful Solutions Scholars will work on one of four collaborative projects which were recently selected through an open call to the UBC research community.

The objective of the program is to bring together researchers with diverse disciplinary expertise and lived experience to contribute to climate solutions-oriented research on campus.  Each Scholar will have the chance to conduct research with an interdisciplinary group of faculty, senior researchers, and other Solutions Scholars, and participate in related professional development activities.

Working over a ten-month period (September 2024 through June 2025), awarded Solutions Scholars will receive a $10,000 stipend as they work towards the objectives of one of the projects.  Applications accepted up until June 14 at 11:59pm.

Information on applying for the program can be found here: https://climatesolutions.ubc.ca/solutions-scholars-program/apply-program

Learn about this program by attending one of two Question and Answer sessions. 

First Session: May 30 @ 12:00 pm
Registration Link: https://ubc.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5UodOGpqzooE9C1btYx7s7AURTJUkFQUE6s#/registration

Second Session: June 4 @ 5:00 pm
Registration Link:
https://ubc.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5crf-2rqD0vE9wtwK4wGDJ4QfJ7Pq68-uVI#/registration

 The Climate Solutions Research Collective is a new pan-university initiative to build connections across UBC’s existing climate research initiatives and encourage new collaborative research on climate change solutions. Find out more at www.climatesolutions.ubc.ca   

LinkedIn Post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7199472812028289024

Instagram post:  https://www.instagram.com/p/C7UgX4OP23s/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Facebook Post: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122143020674101370&set=a.122114022410101370

 

The Climate Solutions Research Collective Team
UBC Climate Solutions Research Collective
climate.collective@ubc.ca

The University of British Columbia | Vancouver Campus | Musqueam Traditional Territory
Room 431 AERL | 2202 Main Mall | Vancouver BC | V6T 1Z4 Canada

The Climate Solutions Research Collective is a new UBC pan-university initiative designed to build connections across UBC climate researchers, groups and initiatives, and to encourage new collaborative research on climate change solutions. It aims to foster engagement across departments and faculties, and to support graduate students and faculty in applying their research and expertise to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and/or education.