BALTIMORE, MD (May 23, 2014)

Professor Vikram Vakharia, Professor of Marine Biotechnology at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET) in Baltimore, received a $100,000 grant from the Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII). Vakhria will use the funds to develop a vaccine against viral infections in fish populations. Such viruses can be devastating to fish populations world-wide. A vaccine could have tremendous implications for hatcheries and rearing ponds that provide high-protein fish to tens millions of people.

Many viral diseases in fish have been reported worldwide. Of particular concern is infections caused by nervous necrosis virus (NNV). This virus is of concern because it impacts both warm- and cold-water fish in marine environments. The virus has resulted in severe economic losses in many Asian and European countries, Australia and North America. It is estimated that 5% of loss in the finfish aquaculture industry is due to disease and translates into over $1 billion global annual loses. The disease is associated with high mortality (up to 100 %) particularly in larvae and juvenile fish species. Therefore, technologies are needed to immunize large populations of fish with vaccines that are efficient and economical.

“The health of fish is critical to the aquaculture industry and the countless number of people who consume fish in every corner of the world,” said Vakharia, a global leader in viral diseases of aquaculture. “Nervous necrosis virus (NNV) infects more than 40 fish species and currently, there are no commercial vaccines available to prevent this disease,” Vakharia added.

The goal of Vakharia’s research is to develop and evaluate the efficacy of a recombinant NNV vaccine.

“Dr. Vakharia’s research is critically important from both an environmental and economic perspective,” noted Russell Hill, Director of the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET). “The development of a new vaccine will support the aquaculture industry and help provide food for millions of people. We greatly appreciate TEDCO’s support and foresight in addressing this important work through the Maryland Innovation Initiative.”

MARYLAND INNOVATION INITIATIVE (MII)
The Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII) was created as a partnership between the State of Maryland and five Maryland academic research institutions (Johns Hopkins University, Morgan State University, University of Maryland College Park, University of Maryland Baltimore and University of Maryland Baltimore County). The program is designed to promote commercialization of research conducted among the partnership universities and to leverage each institution’s unique strengths.

TEDCO
The Maryland State Legislature created TEDCO in 1998 to facilitate the transfer and commercialization of technology from Maryland’s research universities and federal labs into the marketplace and to assist in the creation and growth of technology-based businesses in all regions of the State. TEDCO is an independent organization that strives to be Maryland’s lead source for entrepreneurial business assistance and seed funding for the development of startup companies in Maryland’s innovation economy.

INSTITUTE OF MARINE AND ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
Located in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology is a strategic alliance involving scientists at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, the University of Maryland Baltimore and the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Scientists are engaged in cutting-edge research in microbiology, molecular genetic analysis and biotechnology, using marine resources to develop new drug therapies, alternative energy and other innovations to improve public health and economic opportunities. IMET also contributes to sustainable marine aquaculture and fisheries in the Chesapeake Bay and other marine ecosystems.

FRIDAY 23 May 2014 at 10am

***Please note this seminar will be on a FRIDAY and begin at 10am and will end at noon. A reception to celebrate the life of Prof. Pancer will immediately follow at noon.***

Title: “A Memorial Seminar to Celebrate the Life and Scientific Accomplishments of Professor Zeev Pancer”

Speakers:
Max D. Cooper, M.D., Emory University School of Medicine
and
Roy Mariuzza, Ph.D., University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research

The seminar will be opened by Russell Hill, IMET Director and speakers introduced with short remarks in memory of Zeev by Yoni Zohar, IMET Professor and Chair of the UMBC Department of Marine Biotechnology and Martin Flajnik, Professor, Microbiology and Immunology, UMB.

Please see our Tribute to Prof. Pancer for more information his work and life.

Please RSVP to Suzann Langrall at slangrall@umces.edu if you plan to attend.

This event is co-sponsored by IMET and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, UMB.

THURSDAY 15 May 2014 at 1:00pm

*** Please note this seminar will be on a THURSDAY at 1:00pm in the 2nd floor auditorium. ***

Ph.D. Dissertation Defense Seminar Title: “Assessing the Exposure to and Impacts of Oil Constituents and Chemical Dispersants in Marine Invertebrates”

Speaker: Hannah Pie
UMB Toxicology Program & UMCES-CBL

Abstract: While the impacts of oil spill events on marine ecosystems have been well studied over the past half-century, continued large scale oil leaks/spills like the Deepwater Horizon Incident serve to highlight how much we still do not fully understand regarding the impacts of oil exposure and the data gaps that exist in current damage assessments and remediation strategies. These events also emphasis how critical it is to have a thorough understanding of the native ecosystem where the oil spills occurs when deciding the best response options during the event, understanding the damages to organisms, and determining what strategies are needed to achieve and assess recovery. Therefore, this dissertation aimed to address observed data gaps in response options, damages assessments, and remediation strategies relevant to the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Firstly, it addresses the lack baseline data necessary to assess exposure to and impacts of oil during and recovery following an oil spill event for offshore pelagic and benthic zones by describing a novel resource for future offshore biomonitoring using oil rig fouling invertebrates. The low baseline accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the quick accumulation response following a contamination event observed in this study demonstrates the benefits of using oil rig fouling invertebrates as offshore biomonitoring resources. Secondly, it addresses the lack of data on the acute or sublethal toxicity of oil exposures on an important ecological and economic species in the Gulf of Mexico, the blue crab, Callinectus sapidus. The enclosed studies provide a crucial foundation for understanding the sensitivity of blue crabs at multiple early life stages to oil, chemically-dispersed oil, and chemical dispersants. The blue crab exposure studies highlight the benefit of fully characterizing exposure solutions beyond total petroleum hydrocarbons by using a suit of PAHs and distinguishing between dissolved and particulate fractions of exposure solutions to better understand observed toxicities and potential routes of uptake by organisms. Overall, the data gaps addressed by this research can aid future managers and responders as they decide on response and remediation options following an oil spill in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.

Adviser: Carys L. Mitchelmore, Ph.D.

Wednesday 14 May 2014 at 3:00pm

Title: “Evolving understanding of bivalve hemocytes enabled (at least partially) by flow-cytometry”

Speaker: Gary Wikfors, Ph.D.
NOAA Fisheries Service

Abstract:
One-hundred and thirty years after the first discovery of circulating defense cells in an invertebrate animal, origins and developmental sequences in invertebrate hemocytes retain elements of mystery. In the last decade, availability of bench-top flow cytometers and recognition that physiology and function of “white blood cells” (specifically neutrophils) in the human, innate immune system and in invertebrates are highly conserved have enabled morphological and physiological analysis of hemocytes in bivalve mollusks not practical or possible using microscopic observations. Clinical methods have been adapted to categorize and quantify hemocytes in oysters and other bivalves in terms of morphology, defense function, and intracellular physiology. These methods have revealed bivalve hemocytes to be extremely robust in the face of various environmental and biological challenges. Accordingly, stresses that do cause immunomodulation are thought to be relatively severe.

Beyond serving as a tool to evaluate resilience of bivalves to environmental challenges, flow cytometry has provided insights into fundamental developmental and functional relationships between sub-categories of hemocytes, chiefly agranular and granular cells. Combined with advanced imaging techniques and molecular methods, flow cytometry is providing growing evidence of a unified model of hemocyte development and regulation in oysters and other bivalves. Following ten years of primary research in the Milford Laboratory, and drawing heavily from some ground-breaking recent publications of others, I will present evidence for an evolving view of how hemocytes work in oysters and other bivalve mollusks.

Host: J. Sook Chung, Ph.D.

Wednesday 7 May 2014 at 3:00pm

Title: “Integrated Study of the Maryland Coastal Bays Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics: Influence of Environmental Factors on Zooplankton and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Abundance and Distribution”

Speaker: Paulinus Chigbu, Ph.D.
Professor, UMES
Director, LMRCSC & CREST Programs

Abstract:
Little is known about the factors influencing benthic macroinvertebrate and mesozooplankton densities in the Maryland Coastal Bays (MCBs). In 2010, a study of the MCBs was initiated using various types of sampling gear to assess patterns in the dynamics of the biota in relation to climatic factors and water quality conditions. Benthic macroinvertebrates were dominated by amphipods (75%), decapods (13%) and mysids (5%). Newport Bay, with degraded water quality, had one of the lowest densities and diversities of the macrobenthic fauna, whereas the less degraded Sinepuxent Bay had the highest diversity. Mysid density, dominated by Neomysis americana, was relatively high in winter/early spring and low in summer, perhaps due to fish predation. Densities of amphipods and mysids were higher in the northern than southern bays, and were positively associated with macroalgae density. Mesozooplankton densities varied temporarily, with the lowest densities in spring/early summer and highest from late summer to winter. This seasonal pattern may be due to the absence of spring phytoplankton bloom, coupled with predation by the ctenophore (Mnemiopsis sp.) in the system. Sinepuxent Bay had the highest densities of crab zoea, especially during the summer. Cladocerans were represented by two species – Pleopis polyphemoides and Evadne nordmanni. Their densities were relatively high in Sinepuxent and northern Bays, and were negatively correlated with temperature, especially in June and July. Sand shrimp (Crangon septemspinosa) was relatively high in abundance in spring, but scarce in summer. Their relative abundance was highest in Sinepuxent and Isle of Wight Bays at sites closest to the Ocean City inlet, especially in May and June prior to their disappearance from the system. There were significant negative relationships between CPUE of sand shrimp at the sites and mean temperature suggesting that the shrimp seek waters with lower temperatures.

Host: J. Sook Chung, Ph.D.