Hello, Below is a brief description of the Organization for Tropical Studies Microbial Ecology of Amphibian Decline, an upcoming graduate-level specialty course which will be taught in Costa Rica from July 29 August 12, 2013. The course is worth 2 graduate academic credits transferable to all institutions within the Organization for Tropical Studies consortium, which includes over 50 universities in the USA, Latin America, South Africa and Australia. This course may be of interest to students in the fields of microbial ecology, amphibian ecology, vertebrate survey techniques, disease ecology and amphibian decline, emphasizing on modern approaches: genomics, proteomics and metabolomics.
http://ots.ac.cr/images/downloads/education/graduate/specialty- courses/amphibiandecline.pdf Your circulation of this material among graduate students in different departments and programs would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks! -- Microbial Ecology of amphibian decline Microbes are essential components of the environment because they provide key services that support ecosystem functioning. Our ability to understand these microbes has advanced substantially due to the recent development of rapid, low-cost, high-throughput sequencing. Entire microbiomes can now be characterized to understand both the identity and function of microbes within these communities. As a result, we are now gaining insights into microbial communities that are associated with animals. These recent developments in technology poise the field of microbial ecology to make important discoveries and advances regarding their relationship to amphibian decline. This course will present students with a variety of topics relevant to the microbial ecology of amphibian decline, emphasizing on modern OMICS approaches (genomics, proteomics and metabolomics). During the first part of the course at La Selva Biological Station, students will learn to identify and sample amphibians in the field, detect by culture dependent and molecular techniques of both symbiotic and pathogenic microbes including Batrachotrychium dendrobatidis (Bd) and ranavirus, as well as build phylogenetic trees and analyze complete genomes of these microbes. At the end of this period, students will be able to design their own hypotheses and test them the following week at the University of Costa Rica, employing a combination of genetic, proteomic and metabolomics approach. Course Content Through fieldwork, computer-based and laboratory analyses, this course will help students gain basic knowledge and hands-on experience in the following diverse fields: amphibian ecology, vertebrate survey techniques, disease ecology, isolation and laboratory culture of amphibian pathogens, microbial ecology and diversity, host-microbe symbioses, molecular biology, phylogenetics, next generation sequencing technologies, comparative genomics, proteomics and metabolomics. Participants The course will be held in Costa Rica and is limited to 20 students. We anticipate that half of the students will come from Latin American institutions and about half from U.S. institutions. All participants should be fluent in English. A working knowledge of Spanish would be useful. The course is intended for graduate students with an interest in amphibian conservation, microbial ecology or global change biology. Course Instructors: Adrian Pinto Director, Microscopic Structures Research Center. Course Coordinator. Ibrahim Zuñiga Microscopic Structures Research Center. Microbiology research. Invited Faculty Bruno Lomonte Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Proteomic research. Godofredo Solano Centro de Investigaciones en Productos Naturales. Metabolomics research. Gilbert Alvarado, DVM Microscopic Structures Research Center. Pathology research. Gabriel Vargas, Microscopic Structures Research Center. Bioinformatics research. Juan Abarca Microscopic Structures Research Center. Field research. Course dates: July 29 August 12, 2013 (arrive July 28, depart 13 August) Application Deadline: June 14, 2013. For priority consideration, followed by open enrollment until filled. Tuition: OTS consortium applicants $2300; non-member applicants $2900 Tuition includes: all lodging (hotel and biological research stations), all meals, all transportation within Costa Rica, all course materials (sample equipment and lab). Does not cover personal expenses or airfare. Partial need-based scholarships are available; priority given to OTS consortium and Latin American applicants. For more information please consult the OTS website www.ots.ac.cr or write to Andrés Santana [email protected] or Barbara Lewis [email protected] for application information
