THE HC-MAMBD The HC-MAMBD Newsletter SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:

• Creation of the HC VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 JANUARY 2009 -MAMBD

• ASTF Meeting in Creation of The High-Council of Moroccan American Fez, Medical & Biology Doctors (HC-MAMBD) • Plant & Animal Genome Confer- The High Council of Moroccan Fellow, North Carolina State Uni‐ and networking between Moroc‐ ence American Medical and Biology versity, NC was elected Treasurer can‐ in the US, (2) help Doctors (HC‐MAMBD) was cre‐ of the Council. The council’s Board Moroccan Researchers and insti‐ • Tau Immunother- ated and incorporated as non‐ of Directors is also composed of tutions of higher education to tie apy Prevents Cog- profit organization in North Dr. Khalid Meksem, an Associate collaborations with US institu‐ Carolina Since June 6th, 2008 by Professor at the Department of tions, (3), help Moroccan Stu‐ nitive Decline... a group of imminent Moroccan‐ Plant, Soil, and Agricultural Sys‐ dents to find internships and • Dr. Allal Bouta- American researchers and tems, Southern Illinois University, scholarships in the US, and (4) scholars. IL; Dr. Nadia Rachdaoui, a Re‐ help Morocco in the process of jangout & the search Assistant Professor at the strengthening Scientific and HC—MAMBD in The council elected Dr. Allal Department of Medicine, Case Medical Research. The council the Moroccan Boutajangout, a Research Assis‐ Western Reserve University, OH; will also publish a newsletter and Press tant Professor at the Depart‐ Dr. Amina El Ayadi, a Postdoctoral a scientific journal that publishes ment of Psychiatry and Neurol‐ Fellow at the Department of Neu‐ articles in all fields of Medical, ogy, Langone Medical center, roscience and Cell Biology, the Pharmaceutical, and Biological University, NY as University of Medical Sciences. For more information INSIDE THIS President. Dr. My Abdelmajid Branch, TX; and Dr. Abdelhafid about the council, please visit: ISSUE: Kassem, an Associate Professor Bendahmane, a Research Director http://www.hc‐mambd.org. at the Department of Natural at the URGV, INRA, France as a Creation of HC- 1 Sciences, Fayetteville State Uni‐ honorary member. Abdelmajid Kassem MAMBD versity, NC was elected as Vice‐ HC­MAMBD Publications Team

ASTF Meeting... 2 President. Dr. Noureddine The Council’s goals are to (1) Hamamouch, a Postdoctoral strengthen research collaboration

Tau Immunother- 3 Board of Directors: Dr. Noureddine Hama­ mouch; Dr. Nadia Rachdaoui apy Prevents... Treasurer Member at Large Dr. Allal Boutajangout Plant & Animal 4-5 President & Founder

Genome Meet- ing... Dr. Khalid Meksem

Member at Large Dr. Boutajangout 6-7

& HC—MAMBD

Dr. Abdelmajid Kassem in the Moroccan... Dr. Amina El Ayadi Vice­President & Foun­ Dr. Abdelhafid Bendah­ Secretary der Dr. Meksem Pub- 8 mane lished three books... Honorary Member

Comics Section! 9

PAGE 2 Arab Science & Technology Foundation ‘s 2008 5th International Congress—Fez, Morocco October 26—30th, 2008

Overview “The 5th Congress of “Scientific Research Outlook in the Arab World: Scientific Innova­ tion and Sustained Development” is comprised of specialized conferences: These are 16 satellite conferences that includes 50 invited sessions, 20 workshops/tutorials, and over 1000 scientific papers/ posters. Such conferences will address specific scientific themes, from one up to three days duration. They were held in two periods: 25th – 28th , and 28th – 30th of October 2008. The Satellite Conferences have keynote sessions, workshops (invited speakers), and sci­ entific papers presented orally and in posters. A main scientific day on 28/10/2008 during which the participants discussed issues of common concern. This day was like a festival for all scientific and technological specializations. The activities of this day in­ cluded the opening ceremony of the conference, presenting awards and launching ini­ tiatives to support the Arab Scientific Performance. It also highlighted the programs and activities of the Arab Science and Technology Foundation.” ASTF Website. HC—MAMBD Publications Team ASTF 5th Annual Congress; Fez, Morocco October 26—30th, 2008

“The Arab Science and Specialized Scientific Satellite Conference eLearning and eResearch in the Arab World 1st Arab Conference for Science Journalism Technology Foundation is an Energy and Renewable Energy Resources Incubation and Technology Parks for Eco‐ independent, Information and Communication Technologies nomic Growth Biotechnology History of Science and Epistemology nongovernmental, non-profit New Materials and Nanotechnology Capacity Building in Effective Communica‐ regional and international Medicine and Pharmacology tions Topics in Electrical Circuits and Systems organization. Scientists and Water and Agriculture For more information, visit: researchers from inside and Environment and Marine Science http://www.astf.net/site/index.asp Mathematics and Mathematical Physics From the ASTF Website outside the Arab world as well The Economics of Scientific Research as representatives of Arab Arab Scientific Community HC—MAMBD Publications Team and international science Dr. Noureddine Hamamouch, a HC-MAMBD Member, Presents at the ASTF’s 5th Congress centers and organizations in Fez, Morocco have contributed to its Dr. Noureddine Hamamouch, the HC‐MAMBD Treasurer, attended the ASTF’s 5th Congress establishment. It is based in that was held in the Moroccan Capital of knowledge Fez from October 26—30, 2008. Dr. Sarah, UAE, and is seeking to Hamamouch’s oral presentation was entitled: “Functional Analysis of selected soybean cyst set up branches and links in nematode parasitism genes”. His work was done at the North Carolina State University, Ra‐ leigh, NC where he is working as a postdoctoral fellow. His work is mainly focused on the: those Arab and world capitals

that have scientific entities 1. Use of biotechnology tools to functionally characterize soybean cyst nematode parasit‐ ism genes willing to participate in its 2. Use of RNA interference strategy as a mean to control nema‐ activities.” tode by blocking the expression on parasitism genes inside the nematode.

By Abdelmajid Kassem HC—MAMBD Publications Team

Dr. Noureddine Hamamouch THE HC-MAMBD NEWSLETTER VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 3 Tau Immunotherapy Prevents Cognitive Decline and Clears Pathological Tau in a Tangle Mouse Model Genetic Mutation Linked to a More that we used in previous study published Abundant Form of Alzheimer’s in 2007 has a lot of Tau aggregates in the Immunotherapies for various Protein spinal cord, brain stem and the hippocam‐ neurodegenerative diseases pus that causes motor impairment, which have recently emerged as a is not something you see in Alzheimer's promising approach for clear‐ Dr. Allal Boutajangout, HC‐MAMBD’s disease. ing pathological protein con‐ President, found that a specific gene formers in these disorders. mutation previously associated with Dr. Boutajangout generated new ideal Tg NYU Langone Medical Center an increase in production of an Alz‐ model that better resemble Alzheimer´s researchers have long been heimer’s disease‐causing protein, tau pathology in its brain distribution. This making important contribu‐ amyloid beta, also promotes the en‐ model would be very useful for studying tions to the understanding of tanglement of another protein, tau, the onset and progression of AD as well as Alzheimer’s disease. They were which also is associated with the for testing therapeutic approaches. This among the first to characterize neurodegenerative disease. Mice model was presented in the International amyloid, the plaque‐forming that produced human types of tau congress of Alzheimer’s disease, July 2008, protein implicated in Alz‐ while expressing the gene mutation . Furthermore, Dr. Boutajangout heimer’s, and the first to de‐ showed a significant increase in the immunized these Tg model with a Phos‐ scribe a genetic mutation in a harmful form of the tau protein in pho‐Tau peptide that stimulated an familial form of the disease. the brain. The initial model P301L IgG/IgG response and reduced tau aggre‐ gates by 56% in the piriform therapy protocol in older animals by References: cortex in immunized mice. The starting injections at eight months cognitive benefits were ob‐ to see if the treatment can reverse http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/artic served in three different cogni‐ tau pathology and cognitive deficits. les/116285.php tive tests which correlate with The findings support the possibility a reduction of tau aggregates. of an immunotherapy that treats http://www.alzforum.org/new/detail.asp Preliminary data generated Alzheimer’s disease by directly tar‐ ?id=1902 with new vaccine that against geting toxic forms of the tau protein. tau pathology were presented also in ICAD July 2008, Chi‐ Dr. Allal Boutajangout received an cago, showing a remarkable award for his Pilot study from Alz‐ improvement in learning and heimer Disease Center sponsored by Abdelmajid Kassem memory. Dr. Boutajangout has NIH for 2008‐2009. HC—MAMBD Publications Team begun testing their immuno‐

Left: Dr. Allal Bouta- jangout with the Ex- Minister of Interior, Dr. Haddou Shiger in a recent visit to Morocco.

Right: Dr. Boutajangout PAGE 4 Heavy Presence of Moroccan Scientists at the Plant & Animal Genome XVII Conference, January 10—14, 2009, San Diego, CA, USA

The International Plant and Animal Genome Conference is one of the best con‐ ferences in plant and animal genomics fields. It was ranked among the top ten in‐ ternational conferences by Genome Technology, September 2007, page 31. The con‐ ference takes place always in mid‐January of each year at the Town and Country Convention Center in the beautiful San Diego, CA. Six Moroccan scientists partici‐ pated at this year’s conference: Dr. Abdelhafid Bendahmane, Research Director, URGV, INRA, France; Mr. Adnane Boualem, PhD Student and Research Engineer, URGV, INRA, France; Dr. Khalid Meksem, Associate Professor, Southern Illinois Uni‐ versity, IL, USA; Dr. Abdelmajid Kassem, Associate Professor, Fayetteville State Uni‐ versity, NC, USA; Dr. Abdelali Barakat, Research Associate, Penn State University, PA, USA; and Dr. Faouzi Bekkaoui, NRC‐Plant Biotech Institute, Saskatoon, Canada.

Mr. Adnane Boualem gave an oral presentation entitled and presented a poster as follow:

1. TILLING In Crop Species: Engineering Leader Alleles” at the “Genomics of Plant Development & Signal Networks Workshop 2. PAG‐XVII (W226) TILLING In Crops Species : INgeneering Leader Alleles

Dr. Khalid Meksem is a workshop organizer for the last 8 years. He organized the “Functional Genomics Workshop” from 2000‐2007 and now he organizes the “Genomics of Plant Development & Signal Networks Workshop”. His research team of two postdoctoral fellows and 4 grad students also presented 7 posters as follow:

1. The Development Of Two Additional Mutagenized Soybean Population For “The Plant and TILLING And Phenotype Analyses Animal Genome 2. Allele Diversity In The Gm‐MIPS 1 Gene Using EMS‐Mutagenized Glycine max Conference is the And Wild Type Plant Introductions 3. Functional Analysis Of The Soybean Candidate Genes For Resistance To SCN BEST International At The Rhg4 Locus Conference in our 4. The Development Of Two Additional Mutagenized Soybean Population For TILLING And Phenotype Analysis field and I enjoy it 5. Analysis Of Allelic Expression Dynamics Using A High‐Resolution DNA Melt‐ very much” Khalid ing Approach 6. Microarray Analysis Of Pathogenesis Response Of Arabidopsis thaliana To Meksem Deoxynivalenol 7. High‐Resolution DNA Melting Analysis of Allelic Expression

Dr. Abdelali Barakat presented five posters about his research at the Penn State University, University Park, PA as follow: 1. Genomic Resources For Black Cherry, Prunus Serotina 2. Pyrosequence Analysis Of The Quercus petraea Transcriptome 3. Genomic Tool Development For The Fagaceae VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 5

Heavy Presence of Moroccan Scientists at the Plant & Animal Genome XVII Conference, January 10—14, 2009, San Diego, CA, USA—Continued

4. Genome Organization And Expression Profiling Of The Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase Gene Family In Populus 5. Genomic Tool Development For The Fagaceae

Dr. Abdelhafid Bendahmane presented three posters and gave an oral presentation as follow: Posters:

1. An Allele‐Specific SNP Mutation In The eIF4E Gene Is Associated With The Zucchini Yellow Mo‐ saic Virus Resistance In Watermelon 2. TILLING In Crops Species : INgeneering Leader Alleles 3. A Conserved Mutation In An Ethylene Biosynthesis Enzyme Leads To Andromonoecy In Melons

Oral Presentation:

1. A conserved mutation in an ethylene biosynthesis enzyme leads to andromonoecy in melons

Dr. Faouzi Bekkaoui presented one poster as follow: 1. Beyond Brassica rapa: Facilitating Brassica Research Through Whole Genome Sequencing

Dr. Abdelmajid Kassem and his undergrad and grad students presented three posters as follow:

1. Genetic Analysis of Several Morphologic Traits In Soybean 2. Genetic Analysis of Nitrogen Fixation In Soybean 3. Genetic Analysis of Root Traits In Soybean Plants Grown In The Greenhouse And In The Field

By Abdelmajid Kassem HC­MAMBD Team

Moroccan Scientists Present at the PAG XVIII Conference. From Moroccan Scientists Present at the PAG XVIII Conference. From Left Left to right (Faouzi Bekkaoui, Khalid Meksem, Abdelhafid Bendah- to right: Faouzi Bekkaoui, Khalid Meksem, Abdelhafid Bendahmane, mane, Adnane Boualem, Abdelmajid Kassem, and Abdelali Barakat) Adnane Boualem, and Abdelali Barakat. Sitting: Abdelmajid Kassem. PAGE 6 Dr. Allal Boutajangout & The HC-MAMBD In the Moroccan Press: Al Jisr Aljadid Newspaper

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 7 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 8 Dr. Khalid Meksem, a Member of HC-MAMBD Board, Publishes Three High Quality Books in Plant Genomics

Dr. Khalid Meksem, an Associate Professor at the Department of Plant, Soil, and Agricultural Systems, Southern Illi‐ nois University, IL and a Member of the HC‐MAMBD Board of Directors published three high quality books with Wiley and Sons, Inc. The books’ titles are:

Book Title Price (USD) 1. “The Handbook of Plant Functional Genomics: Concepts and Protocols” By Gunter Kahl and $230 Khalid Meksem. ISBN: 978‐3‐527‐31885‐8; Hardcover; 576 pages; August 2008.

2. “The Handbook of Plant Genome Mapping” By Gunter Kahl and Khalid Meksem. ISBN: 978‐3 $245 ‐527‐31116‐3; Hardcover; 402 pages; May 2005.

Dr. Meksem’s third book entitled “Mutations Screening” is coming soon and will be published by Wiley and Sons, Inc as well. We do have 4 copies of his book “The Handbook of Plant Functional Genomics: Concepts and Protocols” for sale at a discounted price. If you want a copy, please contact me (Abdelmajid Kassem at [email protected] or (910) 584 1515) and I will ship the copy to the address of your choice. The price is $140 (40% discount!).

By Abdelmajid Kassem HC­MAMBD Team

Dr. Khalid Meksem

“In this incisive, concise overview of this “While the complete sequencing of the genomes of model organisms such as a multitude of bacteria and archaea, booming field, the editors—two of the lead­ the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the worm Caenorhabditis elegans, the fly Drosophila melanogaster, and the ing figures in the field with a proven track mouse and human genomes have received much public attention, the deciphering of plant genomeswas greatly record—combine their expertise to provide lagging behind. Up to now, only two plant genomes, one of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and one of the an invaluable reference on the topic. crop species rice (Oryza sativa) have been sequenced, though a series of other crop genome sequencing projects Following a treatment of transcriptome are underway. Notwithstanding this public bias towards genomics of animals and humans, it is nevertheless of analysis, the book goes on to discuss re­ great importance for basic and applied sciences and industries in such diverse fields as agriculture, breeding in placement and mutation analysis, gene particular, evolutionary genetics, biotechnology, and food science to know the composition of crop plant genomes silencing and computational analysis. The in detail. It is equally crucial for a deeper understanding of the molecular basis of biodiversity and synteny. whole is rounded off with a look at emerg­ The Handbook of Genome Mapping: Genetic and Physical Mapping is the first book on the market to cover these ing technologies. hot topics in considerable detail, and is set apart by its combination of genetic and physical mapping. Throughout, Each chapter is accompanied by a concise each chapter begins with an easy­to­read introduction, also making the book the first reference designed for non­ overview, helping readers to quickly iden­ specialists and newcomers, too. tify topics of interest, while important, In addition to being an outstanding bench work reference, the book is an excellent textbook for learning and carefully selected words and concepts are teaching genomics, in particular for courses on genome mapping. It also serves as an up­to­date guide for sea­ explained in a handy glossary. soned researchers involved in the genetic and physical mapping of genomes, especially plant genomes”. Equally accessible to both experienced Wiley’s Description of the Book. scientists and newcomers to the field”. Wiley’s Description of the Book. From Wiley’s website: http://www.wiley.com VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 9

Visit: http://www.promega.com/vladinthelab/comics.htm PAGE 10

“The Council has several goals among which (1) strengthen research collaboration and networking between Moroccan-Americans in the United States, Contact The HC-MAMBD (2) help Moroccan Researchers and institutions of

higher education to tie collaborations with US institu- Dr. Abdelmajid Kassem tions, (3), help Moroccan Students to find internships Associate Professor Department of Natural Sciences and scholarships in the US, and (4) help Morocco in Fayetteville State University the process of strengthening Scientific and Medical 1200 Murchison Road Research. The council will also publish a newsletter Fayetteville, NC 28301-4298 and a scientific journal that publishes articles in all Phone: 910-672-1114 Fax: 910-672-1159 fields of Medical and Biological Sciences.” E-mail: [email protected] Or Email: [email protected]

We’re on the Web! http://www.hc-mambd.org/

Several National & International Conferences in Medical & Biological Sciences March 2009 20 Michigan Academy of Science, Arts & Letters 21 Stem Cell Niche Interactions Whistler Can- Annual Meetings (conference) Detroit Michigan ada 22 Protozoan Parasites Breckenridge Colorado 22 PI 3-Kinase Signaling in Disease Olympic 01 Regulatory T Cells Keystone Colorado 22 Prevention of HIV/AIDS Keystone Colorado Valley California 01 Genome Instability and DNA Repair Taos 22 HIV Immunobiology: From Infection to Immune 22 Complex Lipids in Biology: signaling, Com- New Mexico Control Keystone Colorado partmentalization and Disease Olympic Valley 02 The Second International ICST Conference 22 Cell Death Pathways Whistler Canada California on Simulation Tools and Techniques Rome Italy 22 Mitochondrial Dynamics and Physiology Whis- 24 Darwin200: Bridging Disciplines/Breaking 03 Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age- tler Canada Boundaries Austin College 6th Annual Under- Related Diseases Puerto Vallarta Mexico 23 The 2nd International Conference on Bioinfor- graduate Conference Sherman Texas 06 Molecular Basis of Psychoses/The Molecular matics and Systems Biology (BSB 2009) Leipzig, 24 Chemical Biophysics Symposium 2009 To- Basis for Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Germany Germany ronto Canada Keystone Colorado 25 ICACCE 2009 - International Conference on 25 The Biology of RNA Silencing Victoria Can- 06 Epigenetic Basis of Neurodevelopmental Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering ada Disorders Keystone Colorado Buenos Aires Argentina 28 ICBB 2009 - International Conference on 06 The Sixth Annual Winter Lung Cancer Confer- 27 Antibodies as Drugs Whistler Canada Bioinformatics and Biotechnology Rome Other ence Sunny Isles Beach 27 Targeted Cancer Therapies Whistler Canada 07 2009 International conference on Digital Im- 29 Pattern Recognition Molecules and Immune May 2009 age Processing (ICDIP 2009) Bangkok Thailand Sensors of Pathogens Banff Canada 09 2009 International Conference on Biocontain- 29 Dendritic Cells Banff Canada ment Facilities Las Vegas NV 03 12th World Congress on Cancer of the Skin 09 17th Annual Meeting of the German Crystallo- April 2009 2009 Tel-Aviv Israel graphic Society Hannover Germany 13 EMBO Conference on Chromatin and Epige- 15 Chemical Senses: Receptors and Circuits netics Heidelberg Germany Tahoe City California 02 Common Mechanisms in Arrythmias and Heart 18 Fifth Annual Biomalpar Conference on the 15 Extrinsic Control of Tumor Genesis and Pro- Failure Keystone Colorado Biology and Pathology of the Malaria Parasite gression Vancouver Canada 17 2009 International Conference on Bioinformat- Heidelberg Germany 15 Cardiac Disease: Development, Regeneration ics and Biomedical Technology (ICBBT 2009) 27 ICBB 2009 - International Conference on and Repair Asheville North Carolina Singapore Singapore Bioinformatics and Bioengineering Tokyo Other 15 2009 Association of Environmental Profes- Submission Deadline: Dec. 24, 2008.Published by sionals State Conference San Francisco Califor- IEEE Computer Society, indexed byIEEE, Ei, nia ISTP, INSPEC, CSDL. HC-MAMBD Publications Team 20 Research Facilities 2009 San Antonio TX