News from Scientists at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Monday, October 1, 2007
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West Nile Virus Caldwell Hahn gave an invited lecture on "Evolution of Immunity to West Nile Virus: Insights from the Avian Immune System" at a Jacques Monod Conference, sponsored by the French National Science Foundation on 'Evolutionary Genetics of Host-Parasite Relationships' in Brittany, France, Sept. 22-26. The conference participants discussed a range of viral, bacterial, and protozoan zoonoses and presented results on genetic basis of disease resistance, mechanisms of increasing parasite virulence, and characteristics of the evolution of host defenses against infection. Hahn presented work supported by NIH and carried out in collaboration with W.K. Reisen, UC Davis School Veterinary Medicine, in which they demonstrated particularly effective and unusual immune defenses against WNV in a model organism, the brown-headed cowbird, a songbird which is the principal North American brood parasite. Patuxent Wildlife Festival The Annual Patuxent Wildlife Festival will be on October 13, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM at the National Wildlife Visitor Center, located off of Powder Mill Road between Baltimore Washington Parkway & Router 197, south of Laurel. You will see live animals, research displays, go on a behind-the scenes bus tour on the Research Center, take a Conservation Tram Tour at the Visitor Center and many activities for children. This is the only time of the year that the Research Center is open to the public with tour guides to highlight our unique wildlife history. All are welcome and admission is free except for the Tram Tours and hot dogs and soda at the Crane Café. (more info) Contact M. Whitehead , 301-497-5503, Laurel, MD |
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