2012 World Congress Scientific Program

Program is subject to change

Wednesday, June 6

8:00 am– 10:00 am

Omics Technologies in the Dissection of Biological Processes

Plenary Symposium

Conveners: Patrick McNutt, USAMRICD, and Andy Pereira, University of Arkansas

Plant and animal biology is reaching new vistas with the advancement of “-omics” technologies and subsequent exponential generation of high-throughput data. The -omics information especially in genomics and transcriptomics is being driven by novel and inexpensive methods of next generation sequencing, where methods developed for personalized human medicine are contributing to sequence based analysis of specific genotypes and gene expression atlases of tissue and cell types. DNA sequencing methods differ in the sequence length and accuracy, competing for cost-reduction and more information. This symposium will provide a view of developments in omics technologies and how they are providing new strategies to compare plant and animal genomes and map genotypes, as well as chart gene expression patterns in developmental and environmental response.

Speakers:
Plant Transcriptomics Using RNA-Seq
Robin Buell, Michigan State University
Omics Technologies for SNPs, Oligo Arrays and Analysis, for the Mapping of
Genetic Variation in Rice
Jan Leach, Colorado State University

 

10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Carcinogenesis: The Need for Advanced Mechanistic In Vitro Systems

Animal Symposium

Conveners: Brad L. Upham, Michigan State University, Michael Dame, University of Michigan, and Addy Alt-Holland, Tufts University

Cancer encompasses more than 200 different diseases, and because of its complexity, progress against certain cancers has been difficult. Nevertheless, cancer research has made major strides in identifying the underlying mechanisms of this disease. The accumulated knowledge is enabling our understanding of cancer at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels, and is leading to new diagnostic and treatment strategies that hold promise for increased clinical efficacy and survival. In vitro culture systems have proved invaluable in these efforts and are extensively used for uncovering the mysteries of cancer initiation and progression. Previously, the study of tumorigenesis has been significantly impaired by limitations inherent in two-dimensional cell culture systems that sharply reduce complexity. In contrast, heterogonous three-dimensional (3D) co-cultures more realistically model the cellular and structural architecture, the tumor microenvironment and the differentiated function of human cancers. Due to their enormous potential, 3D tissues provide reliable and credible tumor models for therapeutically oriented studies. This symposium will highlight some of the significant advances in 3D tissue culture techniques, and the development of increasingly more complex in vitro 3D co-culture tumor model systems for cancer research and drug development.

Speakers:

Tubeless Microfluidic Systems for Testing Cells and Tissues
Albert Folch, University of Washington
Telomerase Tales from the 3rd Dimension
Shibani Mukherjee, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
3D Matrices for Cancer Research
Miqin Zhang, University of Washington

 

In Vitro Methods for Crop Improvement

Plant Symposium

Convener: Joseph F. Petolino, Dow Agrosciences

The culture of plant cells and tissues in vitro has become a foundational capability for crop improvement.  The rather remarkable ability of the smallest fragment of plant tissue to recapitulate an entire organism – manifested in the concept of cellular totipotency – is at the heart of plant biotechnology. For virtually every crop species currently amenable to modern biotechnological manipulation, advances in plant cell and tissue culture were prerequisite.  Being able to reduce complex, multicellular organisms, such as higher plants, down to the cellular level, manipulate them genetically and then regenerate back whole plants, has opened up several intriguing possibilities for crop improvement.  This session will focus on the development and application of various in vitro methods aimed at improving major crop species.

Speakers:
Maize Protoplast-Based Transient Assay System for Analysis of Gene Functionality and Controlling Sequences
Paul Miller, Dow AgroSciences
The Use of Protoplasts for Citrus Improvement
Manjul Dutt, University of Florida
In Vitro Chemical Mutagenesis for Improvement of Turf Quality of Bahiagrass
Fredy Altpeter, University of Florida
Oil Modification via Transcriptional Activation of Canola KASII Using an Engineered Zinc Finger Transcription Factor
Joseph F. Petolino, Dow AgroSciences

 

Teaching Concepts in Transgenic Crops Workshop

Plant Workshop

Convener: Kevin M. Folta, University of Florida

 

2:30 pm – 3:45 pm

Regulatory Acceptance of Alternative Carcinogenicity Tests

Animal Symposium

Convener: Dr. Hajime Kojima, Japanese Society for Alternatives to Animal Testing

In the OECD working plan four cell transformation assays (SHE pH 6.7, SHE pH 7, Balb/c 3T3 and Bhas assays) are being evaluated to establish test guidelines for screening carcinogens. To date pre-validation studies on three cell transformation assays (SHE pH 6.7, SHE pH 7, and Balb/c 3T3) were completed by ECVAM (European Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods) and reviewed by ESAC (ECVAM Scientific Advisory Committee). The validation of the Bhas assay was completed by JaCVAM (Japanese Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods). In this session updates of these assays will be presented by two speakers, and future directions will be discussed.

Speakers:
Pre-validation Studies and Peer Reviews on Three Cell Transformation Assays (SHE pH 6.7, SHE pH 7, and Balb/c 3T3) by ECVAM      
Raffaella Corv, European Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods, Italy
Validation Study of the Bhas Assay   
Ayako Sakai, Hatano Research Institute, Japan
OECD Activities on the Cell Transformation Assays
Hajime Kojima, JaCVAM , NIHS, Japan

 

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Applications of RNAi and MicroRNA in Agriculture

Plant Symposium

Convener:  Harold N. Trick, Kansas State University, and John McMillan, BASF Plant Science

Speakers:
Next Generation Gene Silencing Vectors in Soybean
Thomas Jacobs, University of Georgia
Fredy Altpeter, University of Florida
John McMillan, BASF Plant Science
Overexpression of miR156 for Switchgrass Improvement
Zeng-yu Wang, The Samuel Noble Roberts Foundation

 

Inducible and Tissue-specific Plant Gene Expression Systems

Plant Symposium

Conveners: Mary Welter, Dow AgroSciences   and Roger Thilmony, USDA-ARS

Until recently, the expression of recombinant proteins has typically been controlled by strong constitutive promoters.  As it became apparent that constitutive expression can be unstable or deleterious to the host organism, the priority in promoter development has shifted to those that drive transgene expression in a temporal, spatial or developmentally-specific manner. This session will present several options in plant transgene expression systems.

Speakers:
An Inducible Three-Component Gene Expression System
Hisashi Koiwa, Texas A&M University
Genetic and epigenetic beauty, ugliness and complexity of flower-specific promoters and enhancers
Zongrang Liu, USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station
Evolution of the tetracycline repressor into a sulfonylurea herbicide responsive gene switch for crop plants
Kevin McBride, Pioneer Hi-Bred International
Leaf-, root- and pollen-specific promoters from rice, useful new tools for improved crop biotechnology
Roger Thilmony, USDA-ARS Western Regional Research Center

 

3:45 pm – 5:00 pm

New Therapeutic Approaches to Cancer from In Vitro Studies

Animal Symposium

Conveners: Miho Furue, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, and Ken Kataoka, Okayama University

Cancer cells, like normal cells, are not free from environmental stresses including inflammatory, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and oxidative stresses. It is known that inflammation contributes to tumor growth, progression, and metastasis. During tumorigenesis, high proliferation rates of cancer cells require increased activities of ER protein folding, assembly, and transport, a condition that can induce ER stress. Conditions of oxidative stress play an important role in both the initiation and the progression of cancer. Cancer cells must balance these stresses to survive. In this session the JTCA speakers will report on new therapeutic approaches to cancer based on the controlling these stresses from in vitro studies.

Speakers:
Introduction: New Therapeutic Approaches to Cancer from In Vitro Studies
Ken Kataoka, Okayama University
Selective Cancer Cell Killing by Ashwagandha Leaf Extract Involves Activation of p53 and Oxidative Stress Signaling: Evidence from Cell-based Loss of Function  Screenings
Renu Wadwa, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology
Primary Spheroid Culture of Cancer Cells as a Functional Unit of Cancer 
Masahiro Inoue, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases
A Novel Tumor Suppressor, REIC/Dkk-3 Gene Identified by Our In Vitro Transformation Model of Normal Human Fibroblasts Works as a Potent Therapeutic Anti-tumor Agent
Masakiyo Sakaguchi, Okayama University