Volume 5 Issue 3 Fall 2019 acbs.cals.arizona.edu/news School of Animal & Comparative Biomedical Sciences Feature Big Move for Equine Programming ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS at the

Research The summer of 2019 brought great The Aquaculture changes and new opportunities to the Pathology Laboratory equine programming at the University of at the University Arizona. The Equine Center – formally of Arizona, led by located at the Campus Agricultural Center Dr. Arun K. Dhar, on Campbell Avenue – moved to its new has been busy with home at the Al-Marah Arabians property speaking engagements, on Bear Canyon Road in northeast Tucson. workshops, and visiting Now known as the University of Arizona scholars. Al-Marah Equine Center, the name pays - Page 9 tribute to the farm’s great tradition of breeding and raising champion Arabian horses. More than 80 horses along with all the Teaching equine program equipment, educational resources and library, made the move A two course series in Denise Pharris Photo: primate behavior and across town over the summer break The horses are enjoying their new pastures after captive management and were back up and running in time the move to the University of Arizona Al-Marah Equine Center. gives students the to welcome students for the first day of opportunity to learn the fall semester classes. The 80+ acre primate behavior property features a number of different barns and pastures, both an indoor principles and promote and covered arena, as well as an educational building that houses classrooms, captive primate offices and a small historical museum featuring the Al-Marah Arabian horses. welfare. - Page 3 A reception for the neighbors who live around the farm was standing room only with the most heard comment being, “We love to see horses back here again.” Donated to the University by Extension Mrs. Bazy Tankersley, this fully- equipped equine operation Youth from all over opens a world of opportunity for Arizona had the the growth of both student and opportunity to extension-related programming. participate and learn Additionally, the Ruth McCormick about STEM research Tankersley Charitable Trust is in several 4-H summer funding ongoing renovations to camp programs. the property.

- Page 4 and 6 Denise Pharris Photo: Neighbors of the University of Arizona Al-Marah Equine Center gather to learn more about planned programming and meet the faculty and staff that will be working on the property. From the Director Photo Credit: Patricia Stock Patricia Credit: Photo

Greetings, As we commence a new academic year, I want to extend a hearty welcome to all students, faculty, and staff, both returning and new. In addition to welcoming you back to campus, I want to share some updates. This year promises to be another exciting one, especially now that the renovation of the ACBS building is complete and work is underway on the landscape and beautification of the main entrance. We will be holding an open house celebration later this semester, so please stay tuned. We had a very busy summer planning and completing the move of our equine program to the Al Marah Equine Center. With renovated stables, barns, and classrooms, we are excited for students to begin utilizing these beautiful facilities. This amazing center will also offer faculty the ability to expand their research and extension programs. I want to thank in particular, the Tankersley Trust, for their generous donation that made all the renovations at the equine center possible. We are also planning to have a picnic day at the Al Marah Center in early November, so watch for an invitation in the mail. We have been working on curricular updates of our undergraduate programs, beginning with the Animal Sciences Program. Our goal, with these updates, is to develop an undergraduate curriculum that will provide students with the courses and hands-on experiences necessary to build the knowledge and skills they will need to be competitive in their future employment. This summer, I began my tour around the state with the goal of meeting stakeholders from the government, private, and public sectors. I enjoyed visiting with them on-site and learning about their needs and concerns. I also appreciated their candid input which I consider extremely valuable for setting the research, teaching, and extension priorities of our school. I am excited for what the future holds and the ability to positively impact our community. I would like to close by saying that as always, ACBS is focused on providing a quality educational experience to students, resources for innovative researchers, and opportunities for everyone to pursue their academic passions.

I wish all of you a fulfilling and productive year, Patricia Stock

ACBS Director and Professor Weiler Endowed Chair for Excellence in Agriculture and Life Sciences

2 ACBS - V5:3 Fall 2019 Alumni Spotlight ACBS Animal Sciences Alum Promotes Ranchers and Beef in Arizona

University of Arizona, ACBS alum, Tiffany Selchow, née obsessed with horses Hayes, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Animal and was able to work Science in 2011. We asked her to tell us a little bit about in trade for riding her background, career and anything she would like to lessons at a local pass on to our current students. facility. Tiffany has been working for the Arizona Beef Council Through this work, sharing facts about Arizona beef in our state for the past she met Trish Nelson 8 years. As Director of Social Marketing and Consumer of Nelson Farms who Outreach, her job is to execute the marketing plan set gave her incredible Photo: Tiffany Selchow Tiffany Photo: by their 9-member producer board with an overall goal opportunities to not just (l-r) Jordan, Hayes, and Tiffany Selchow. Tiffany and her family of educating and promoting Arizona beef. This work work and obtain riding live on the Quarter Circle U Ranch in the Superstition Mountains lessons, but to show which is owned by the Backus family and managed by her includes, but is not limited to, ranch tours, social media husband, Jordan. The Backus family raises angus cattle in a content development and management, influencer national caliber horses tough, desert environment which end up producing high-quality beef, often grading out as prime. outreach, educational opportunities with high school at the local, state, and teachers and students, development of blog content to national level. tell Arizona beef stories, and so much more. At the University of Arizona, in addition to her course work, Tiffany was also able to intern with the Arizona Cattle Growers’ Association twice at their annual convention, which provided her with a better understanding of what she wanted to do with her career and lots of great connections. She originally entered college with the goal of becoming a large animal veterinarian, however, through her internships and working with the Collegiate Cattle Growers’ Go to arizonabeef.org to learn about ranching in Arizona and find Association (now the Collegiate Livestock Growers’ Association), some great recipes to help you eat more beef! she found that agriculture communication, sharing with others what farmers and ranchers are doing to raise our food, was her true When asked what she loves about her job Tiffany says, passion. “Telling the stories of ranchers and farmers who work so For current students, Tiffany recommends meeting as many people hard to raise healthy, delicious food and who are always as you can and being involved. She says, “Studying and doing looking for ways to continuously improve their practices.” well in your classes says a lot but knowing someone and making Tiffany was born on Davis-Monthan Airforce Base and a personal connection really does say so much more. Without the was fortunate to remain in Tucson for the entirety of her internships, connections and farm experience I had, there is a real childhood. Being a Tucson native, she was indoctrinated chance I wouldn’t be doing what I love today!” into the Wildcat family at a young age. She also became

Class Series Promotes Captive Primate Welfare A two course series in primate behavior sites in AZ provided in previous classes and captive management, taught by Dieter by a University of Arizona Student-Faculty and Netzin Steklis, gives undergraduate Interaction Grant. Additionally, students students the opportunity to learn primate are able to meet with experts from all over behavior principles, put them into action, the world who are working with captive and meet professionals currently working primates via Zoom. For example, students in the field. In part one (ACBS 483), were able to interact with the coordinator students learn basic primate behavior of a gorilla sanctuary in West Africa, a and biology, learn about different captive renowned research scientist who studies

settings and challenges, and principles the social brain in laboratory monkeys, the Steklis Netzin Photo: of captive management to promote editor of the journal “Animal Sentience”, Students watch the response of marmosets as a welfare. No background in primatology is and one of the most prominent figures primate keeper introduces an enrichment object during a visit to Out of Africa, a wildlife park in necessary for this course offered during in animal behavior and welfare in zoos. Camp Verde, Arizona. the Fall semester. For this Spring semester course, students In part two (ACBS 484), the class visits need to have attended ACBS 483 or have locations in Arizona with captive primates, prior bio-behavior background that is with transportation to 4 captive primate approved by the professors.

The University of Arizona 3 ACBS Welcomes New Veterinary Science Advisor

ACBS is excited to introduce Jose Miguel Rodas, our new Sciences at the University of academic advisor for veterinary science. Jose began his Arizona. position in May and has been spending the summer getting Prior to working with ACBS, ready to welcome back students and assist them with their Jose gained experience with advising needs. In his new position, Jose is looking forward to undergraduate students teaching being able to assist students and seeing their progress from courses within the social an incoming freshman to a graduating senior. As an academic sciences, such as Life-Span advisor, his main focus will be making sure each student within Human Development and Human the veterinary science major is progressing through their Sexuality. As a teaching assistant, academic journey by guiding them in their course selection he also taught Social Gerontology, and helping with any academic resources they may need to Adolescent Development, and propel them forward in the pursuit of their degree and beyond. Family Theories. Jose Miguel Rodas, Academic Advisor I - Veterinary Science Jose was born in Long Branch, New Jersey where he lived Outside of the office Jose loves two blocks from the Atlantic Ocean, which he loved. He also reading books. If he is not reading Russian literature or Agatha spent quite a bit of time in El Salvador, where his parents are Christie novels, he will delve into history and sociology books. originally from. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Family His other hobbies include traveling and binge-watching British and Child Studies with a concentration in Family Services tv-shows. at Montclair State University. He then moved to Tucson to pursue his Master of Science in Family Studies and Human His office is located in the ACBS Building Room 220C. Contact Development in the Norton School of Family and Consumer him at [email protected] or (520)-621-2658.

SaferFoodCats Arizona high school students learn about food safety and gain valuable laboratory experience. This past June, 13 high school students participated in the well as simultaneously inaugural SaferFoodCats summer program at the University running two other 4-H of Arizona to learn all about Food Safety. Participants in the programs for youth (see two-week program included students from all around Arizona: page 6 referencing their six students from the Yuma/El Centro area, five students from 4-H camps).

the Navajo Nation, one student from Bagdad and one student ACBS Photo: If you would like SaferFoodCats students practice their pipetting from Tucson. The SaferFoodCats learned about Food Safety to be part of the techniques. from farm to fork and engaged in laboratory techniques and SaferFoodCats 2020 designed their own collaborative laboratory project. Activities team, apply to be an intern for spring 2020 by contacting included Food Safety-related field trips and guest speakers who Margarethe Cooper at [email protected]. As a shared their career stories. SaferFoodCats concluded with a SaferFoodCats intern, you will design and implement a food poster ceremony where students showcased their collaborative safety lesson and qualify to be a mentor for SaferFoodCats project findings and received a certificate of completion. 4-H students, while learning about career options and making Extension team members Jerry Lopez and Daniela Cabrera valuable connections with experts and professionals in Food helped in the planning and realization of SaferFoodCats, as Safety. Thank you to our generous sponsors for making the SaferFoodCats program possible! Photo: ACBS Photo: SaferFoodCats students “paint” with microbes that once grown appear as different colors to reveal their designs.

4 ACBS - V5:3 Fall 2019 Recent ACBS Graduates Summer 2018 Spring 2019 Andrew Eric Moore, BS Microbiology Animal & Biomedical Industries Marisa Obregon, BS Kevin Philip Ackman, BS Brandon Aki-Jackson, MS Neftali Ortega Alarcon Jr, BS Rose Marie Cronin, BS Sawyer Hannah Butterfield, MS Angelica Nicole Padilla, BS Tristan Paige Eddy, BS Michelle Marie Felix I, MS Jinette Sun Park, BS Stephanie Gomez, BS Rochele Nicole Landymore, MS Shikha P Patel, BS Brianna Mckenzie Leija, BS Riley Sierra Nash, MS Nisha Sharma Puri, BS Brandon Michael McDowell, BS Stephanie Park, MS Jorge Juan Ramos, BS Jaimin Patel, BS Makenzee Maria Perez, MS Dalaena Emily Rivera, BS Marisol Valdivia-Mier, BS Miranda Rose Rivera, MS Zoe Gabrielle Rosenthal, BS Veterinary Science Matthew Jonathon Vander Poel, MS Nicole Alexandra Sandoval, BS Sean B Anderson, BS Animal Sciences Kendra Allyson Thomas, BS Alexandra Rane Barber-Verdick, BS Jasmine Acosta, BS Michael David Trial, BS Jaclyn Alexandria Cubillas, BS Marin Gabrielle Barros, BS Anusha V Vishnubhotla, BS Courtney Lee Durfee, BS Ashlyn Celeste Charley, BS Brandon Connor White, BS Ariana Leah Free, BS Hugh Drexler, BS Evelyn R, Wicklund BS Alexandra Garay, BS Kietzecume Theodore Garcia, BS Ryan Kazu, Yamauchi BS Jennalea Grace Lane, BS Megan Isabelle Hanson, BS Jaeseok Yoon, BS Victoria Nicole LaPoint, BS Chandler Hareld, BS Veterinary Science Ji-Hyun Lee, BS Shauni Lynne Jarvis, BS Taylor Kenzi Barnes, BS Garrett Robert Notte, BS Breeze Alexis Kelley, BS Kaitlyn Ashley Benally, BS Franklin James Sharples, BS Emma Irene Koprowski, BS Annie Elizabeth Benscoter, BS Robin Anne Smith, BS Lindsey Nicole Lang, BS Kiana Fawn Carroll, BS Linhui Ye, BS Danielle Rene Lawrence, BS Talaya Del-Rae Chavez, BS Meredythe Durckel, BS Fall 2018 Joshua Matthew Lin, BS Megan Michael McCauley, BS Samantha Marie Ellsworth, BS Animal Sciences Kennedi Anese McCormick, BS Cassandra Lee Flores, BS Montana Lyn Arnold, BS Clarissa Ann Pacheco, BS Felicity Victoria Gesina, BS Delaney Dru Dougherty, BS Casey Arizona Parker, BS Amanda Sue Gilliland, BS Jade Alexandra Eisenzimmer, BS Daniella Peinovich, BS Ariella Rachel Gonzales, BS Amy Elizabeth Euler, BS Leticia Cunha Ottero Ribeiro, BS Gabriella Gonzalez, BS Karin Victoria Floyd, BS Jacqueline Burton Schumacher, BS Luna Flor Gonzalez, BS Fallyn Breann Markosian, BS Kelsey Taylor Stearns, BS Hannah Marie Grumbling, BS Shayse Marie Riera, BS Jacob Scott Tyer, BS Joshua Adam Petronilo Henkel, BS Aaron Arnoldo Valdez, BS Nicole Marie Van Eerd, BS Yazmin Anahi Herrera, BS Stevi Nicole Zozaya, BS Bryanne Elizabeth Waller, BS Myles Manuel W Colon Holloway, BS Microbiology Hayley Alexa Waronker, BS Elisha Ashly Hostetler, BS Elisa Burdett, BS Norielle Elizabeth Ziemann, BS Jordyn Makaye Johnson, BS Michelle Han Do, BS Microbiology Shelby Klijian, BS Perla Alexis Gonzalez, BS Alessandro Damiano Ali, BS Alexandra Catherine Kochanowsky, BS Adam Jason Karsten, BS Lauren Elizabeth Batchelor, BS Jasmin Marie Kondori, BS Fallyn Breann Markosian, BS Justin Timothy Clark, BS Claudia Dora LaBianca, BS Alicia Maria Rodriguez, BS Gregory Hunter Cole, BS Klarissa Federico Mercado, BS David Joseph Rowlands, BS Emily Meredith Day, BS Sarah Gabriela Morales, BS Veterinary Science Mackenzie Leigh Derrick, BS Darian Najafpour, BS Megan Anna Bowman, BS Meredythe Durckel, BS Emily Napoles, BS Michael Alan Ciminski, BS Jesseca Emery, BS Karen Yesenia Nevarez, BS Rachel Marie Clark, BS Molly Jo Fleury, BS Rochelle Elizabeth Olstad, BS Janae L Conde, BS Jayme Corinne Jackson, BS Caroline Lynn Parot, BS Pablo Cesar Grijalva, BS Shobitha Jillella, BS Yash Parvesh Patel, BS Nicholas Vincent Heckman, BS Cristina Maria Johnson, BS Raven Taryn Rodrick, BS Hameed Zackaria Mayahi, BS Celia Marie LaCross, BS Matthew Christopher Salerno, BS Halle Janet Murray, BS Jacqueline Alexandra Larremore, BS Marshall Scoppettone, BS Janay Lissette Powell, BS Victoria Noelle Latorre, BS Jessica Juleen Shinkle, BS Kelsey Nicole Purdy, BS Brycen Matthew Lauer, BS Danielle Dawn Souder, BS Jasmin Arlene Siordia, BS Celisa Renae Martinez, BS Larissa Yazmin Suarez, BS Nicole Marie Stenerson, BS Dieter Mohammad Mohty, BS Courtney Renee Wahlgren, BS Tressa Lynne Teetsel, BS Niels Mohty, BS Sienna Marie Willis, BS Katia Larissa Valenzuela, BS Joanna Wu, BS

The University of Arizona 5 4-H STEM YOUniveristy Summer Camps Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) is a career area that holds great demand and promise for our youth in Arizona and across the country. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension 4-H program is collaborating statewide in preparing the next generation of STEM innovators, led by Kim Christman Associate Area 4-H Agent, Daniela Cabrera, Monique Torres, Dr. Jerry Lopez 4-H Photo: Jerry Lopez Photo: STEM Specialist and several other 4-H staff. By leveraging funding Ag Discovery Program and resources eleven counties from across Arizona were able to collaborate to offer three YOUniversity residential summer camps that Each year, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection impacted fifty-five, 6th to 12th grade youth from diverse backgrounds. Service (APHIS) partners with the University of SaferFoodCats was a two-week program for high school youth lead Arizona College of Agricultural and Life Sciences by Dr. Margarethe Cooper (see full article page 4), Biofuels led by (CALS), to deliver the AgDiscovery program. This Jasmine Lopez an AmeriCorp member, Gloria Villa Barbosa, and Shaira year 16 high school students from around the Perez, and Robotics Camp lead by Tim Lonchar and Eric Thoutt, were country and Arizona participated in the 2-week both one-week camps for middle school youth. The camps were program co-sponsored by APHIS’ Plant Protection held on the UA main campus and participants had the opportunity to and Quarantine and Veterinary Services. The first experience what it is like to be a college student by staying in campus week was held at UA-Yuma and the second week dorms, eating at the Bear Down Kitchen and conducting hands-on was held at the UA-Main campus. Daniela Cabrera, STEM activities. The main objective of all three camps was to engage research specialist/4-H program coordinator, and youth in hands-on STEM activities to spark an interest in STEM related other lab members in Dr. Jerry Lopez’s environmental careers. Additionally, and more importantly, was helping youth gain microbiology and food safety laboratory, engaged confidence in themselves and their ability to pursue STEM careers. students in Gram staining activities and learning about the network of agencies and careers involved in addressing foodborne outbreak investigations.

BLAISER Program

Olga V. Munoz and Laura Zelis, Photo: Jerry Lopez Photo: participated in the University of The Robotics Camp introduced youth to engineering and The Biofuels camp introduced youth to careers in Arizona Health Sciences (UAHS); computer-programming to design, build, and program biofuels and environmental sustainability, while small-scale Lego robots. Border Latino & American Indian also conducting biofuel related experiments in a laboratory. Summer Exposure to Research (BLAISER) program, where Dr. Gerardo Olga V. Munoz (Jerry) Lopez was a faculty research ACBS Hosts Project Puente Student mentor. This program is designed to empower undergraduates majoring in Dr. Jerry Lopez’s environmental the biomedical fields to participate in microbiology and food safety cutting-edge research while preparing laboratory hosted Celestina for a translational career in medicine Marinez, a recent Pueblo or biomedical research. Both students Laura Zelis High School graduate, who worked with Daniela Cabrera, participated in Project Puente research specialist senior/4-H program coordinator, a USDA-NIFA grant through and Monique Torres, research specialist, on their the Central Arizona College. projects. Munoz’s project was entitled “Occurrence Marinez worked for eight weeks this summer with Daniela Jerry Lopez Photo: of Cyclospora cayetanensis in Southwestern irrigation Project Puente student, Celestina Marinez (r), waters” and Zelis’, “Occurrence of E. coli 0157:H7, Cabrera, research specialist/4-H demonstrates an experiment to Biofuels summer camp L. monocytogenes and Salmonella in Southern program coordinator, Monique participants. U.S. Surface Waters”. After the completion of their Torres, research specialist, and summer long research experience, the students Shaira Perez, an undergraduate student in molecular and cellular biology presented their posters at the Undergraduate on hosting the SBAR 4-H Biofuels summer camp and learning about Research Opportunities Consortium (UROC) Research molecular techniques in detecting the foodborne parasitic pathogen Conference. Cyclospora cayetanensis.

6 ACBS - V5:3 Fall 2019 SCRUB Kit Provides Tools for Teaching Biosecurity Arizona Equine Extension The SCRUB (Science Creates Featured in Horse Magazine Real Understanding of Biosecurity) Kit is a hands- Results of a study on on curriculum in the final shade use by horses in stages of development, a desert environment, and designed for use in presented by Dr. agriculture classrooms or Betsy Greene at the with youth groups such Equine Science Society as 4-H. The laboratory Symposium in Asheville, activities are designed to North Carolina, June be very adaptable to any 3-6, were featured in a environment, whether in a recent Horse Magazine Dr Betsy Greene (l) uses a ultraviolet light to expose classroom, at a livestock article. The study found surfaces that have not been completely disinfected to workshop participants. facility, or somewhere in that horses in hot, sunny between. conditions that had access The kits cover important concepts and aspects of biosecurity to a shade structure were education that emphasize and reinforce: not as dependent on the shelter as horse owners would think. For the full article and more information on horses • principles of disease transfer and routes of transmission. and their use of shade, go to https://thehorse.com/178038/ • proper methods of cleaning and disinfecting. dont-restrict-horses-to-shelters-in-hot-conditions/. • the importance of vaccine handling. In addition to her shade research, Horse Magazine also • how to design biosecure farms. interviewed Dr. Greene for their article “The Scary Thing This summer, Agricultural teachers from all over New England got About Rabies” published April 25, 2019. To learn more a chance to “play student”, and try out several of the activities at about rabies in horses go to https://thehorse.com/170420/ the 2019 New England Agricultural Teachers Conference (NEAT) the-scary-thing-about-rabies/. in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Additionally, Agriculture Teachers and Future Farmers of America advisors in Oklahoma got 3 days of professional improvement time with the activities while their youth competed in the Big 3 Field Days in Stillwater, Oklahoma. In one activity, the teachers were given small samples of facility surfaces (tile, floor matting, rough wood, and smooth wood) that were “contaminated” with pseudo-manure from a diseased animal. An imaginary truck broke a main waterline for their facility, so they had limited resources with which to work, and had to use them wisely to clean and disinfect each surface. Ultraviolet light exposed any disease on the surfaces that had not been completely removed. Dejolie Stephine Photo: For more information listen to the podcast at: Workshops for Native American https://youtu.be/oJyWb2Vd8TU Horse Owners Dr. Betsy Greene provided talks for horse owners and enthusiasts on Safety Guidelines, Equine Health Evaluation, and Podcasts and Podcast Workshops Estimating your Horse’s Weight Using a Hiney, K. E.A. Greene, and B. Kirkland. 2019. Measuring Tape in Tuba City, Arizona on June 7-9 at the Song of the Horse Camp. “Tools for Teaching about Biosecurity: SCRUB (Above) Youth participate in the Equine Kits (Science Creates Real Understanding of Health Evaluation workshop. Biosecurity) https://youtu.be/oJyWb2Vd8TU She also presented talks on Knowing What’s Greene, E.A. and R. Hendrix. 2019. “The Normal: Hands on lessons for evaluating horse vital signs and Horse/Cattle Body Informed Arizona Equestrian: Equine Herpes Condition Scoring in San Carlos, Arizona Virus and Biosecurity Tips Podcast”. https:// on June 20th. These talks were part of the www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovMDRw9ayCQ&fe Indian Outreach Resources Project: Making ature=youtu.be Resources Available for Livestock/Equine

Photo: Betsy Greene Betsy Photo: Owners and Community Members which Waite, K., K. Hiney, and E.A. Greene. 2019. Dr. Betsy Greene (3rd from left) presented “The Cost of Not was made possible by an FRTEP grant. Maintaining Your Ranch Horse” at the Beginning Farmer/ “Hands On Podcasting for Equine Teaching and Rancher Workshop held at the Florida Canyon, Santa Rita Extension”. Workshop. 2019 Equine Science Range Sites in Green Valley, Arizona on August 9, 2019. Symposium. Ashville, NC. June 3-6, 2019.

The University of Arizona 7 Robert Collier PhD, Professor Emeritus, Receives Distinguished National Awards ASAS Fellow Award for Research from the Award of Excellence for their work American Society of Animal Science in training the next generation of dairy professionals. The U.S. Dairy Dr. Robert J. Collier is the recipient of the 2019 ASAS Fellow Education and Training Consortium, Award for Research, presented to him during the Opening created in 2008 in response to Ceremony at the 2019 ASAS-CSAS Annual Meeting held in declining academic resources in Austin, Texas. dairy, formed an alliance between Dr. Robert J. Collier is among the few animal scientists who has New Mexico State University, Texas impacted development of animal agriculture world-wide. He A&M University, and the University attended Eastern University (BS, MS), University Illinois of Arizona, with the objective of Dr. Robert J. Collier (PhD) and Michigan State University (NIH Post-Doc) and has training the next generation of dairy been employed by US Army (Medical Technician), Monsanto professionals. Students and nationally recognized faculty (Director of Research) and Universities of Florida and Arizona gather for the 6-week capstone program. The class lectures (Faculty). Collier’s research addressed two of the pressing are alternated with experiential learning at a modern dairy problems of human society – the increased demands for food operation. Key successes of the program include linking production caused by increases in global population and the research to application and utilizing area dairy producers and problems in meeting that demand caused by global climate allied industry representatives to train the next generation of change. Collier and coworkers characterized the cellular and dairy production. molecular changes in the mammary gland and the alterations Consortium team members include: in metabolic endocrinology caused by heat stress, devised • Robert Hagevoort PhD, Associate Professor, Clovis, NMSU Ag Science innovative systems to estimate the magnitude of heat stress Center effect on cattle, and identified management systems and • Michael Tomaszewski PhD, Visiting Professor and Professor Emeritus feeding strategies to reduce or mitigate the impact of heat Dairy Science, Texas A&M University stress. • Robert Collier PhD, Professor Emeritus, University of Arizona Western Extension Directors Association (WEDA) • Shelly Spears, Program Coordinator, NMSU Ag Science Center Award of Excellence • Armando Garcia Buitrago, Ag Research Scientist, NMSU Ag Science Center The U.S. Dairy Education and Training Consortium was • Jason White, Southwest Dairy Specialist, Ourina Animal Nutrition awarded the Western Extension Directors Association (WEDA)

Ravishankar Lab Outreach Activities Dr. Ravishankar and her team discussed and demonstrated Food safety members from Dr. Ravishankar’s lab exhibited the the use of natural antimicrobials as produce washes to around different antimicrobials and projects in the lab to around 15 25 academic and industry professionals as well as investors food science professionals at the Cactus-IFT Suppliers’ Night at the I-squared awards night. This event was sponsored by Food Safety Booth held in Phoenix on the 9th of April, 2019. Tech Launch Arizona and showcased the top 10 promising This event was organized by the Cactus Institute of Food technologies at the UA. An article titled “6th Annual I-Squared Technologists section, with a goal to represent all areas of the Awards Honor Researchers and Technology Champions” is food industry and to promote all aspects of food technology. available on the Tech Launch Arizona website at the following Dr. Ravishankar’s team members demonstrated their food link: https://techlaunch.arizona.edu/news/6th-annual-i-squared- safety work to a group of around 15 high school students awards-honor-researchers-and-technology-champions from local schools and their mentors when they toured Dr. Ravishankar’s lab as a part of the SaferFoodCats High School Students visit on June 12, 2019. This event was focused on helping students understand the importance of food safety. Members from Dr. Ravishankar’s lab demonstrated the food safety aspects of various projects to a group of 30 high school students and their mentors from various regions throughout the state of Arizona as a part of the USDA-Ag Discovery Camp on June 25, 2019. This event was organized by the USDA- APHIS and UA-Yuma Campus, mainly focused on agriculture

Photo: Tech Launch Arizona Tech Photo: related research and helping students understand the Visiting scholar Qi Wei, Research Technician Aishwarya Rao, Sadhana importance of agriculture and safe food production in our lives. Ravishankar, Ph.D., and UA President Robert C. Robbins at 6th Annual I-Squared Awards Honor Researchers and Technology Champions.

8 ACBS - V5:3 Fall 2019 Aquaculture Pathology Laboratory Updates

The APL hosted guest researchers from Brazil, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia to work on several collaborative projects upon Dr. Arun K. Dhar attended The Society of Invertebrate Pathologists’ Annual Meeting The 29th Summer Shrimp Pathology Short Course, June completion of the Shrimp Pathology Short Course in June. Mr. in Valencia, Spain July 29-August 1, 2019 10-15, 2019 Tucson, Arizona. This annual workshop Faris Mohammed S. Alghamdi and Mr. Saif Mayudh Algethami and presented a talk during the Diseases brought together 24 participants and six guest speakers from the Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture, Mr. of Beneficial Invertebrates session. In from eleven countries including the US, Mexico, Ecuador, Yousef Amer Alrehaili, and Mr. Anwer Abed Alazwari from Fish the photograph (Left to right) Dr. Patricia Chile, Brazil, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Vietnam, Health & Safety Laboratory (FHSL), Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Stock, Dr. Arun Dhar and Dr. Max Bergoin, India, and Australia attended the course. Arabia worked on a OIE-funded Collaborative Project between Aquaculture Pathology Laboratory and Jeddah Fisheries Research University of Montpellier, France. Dr. Institute, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Bergoin was awarded SIP Founder Lecturer for his contribution on invertebrate Virology. Dr. Dhar and Dr. Bergoin were the first to sequence the genome of a shrimp virus that laid the foundation of molecular virology research in shrimp.

Dr. Arun K. Dhar was invited as a resource speaker to give a talk on “Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease and Enterocytozoon Dr. Arun K. Dhar attended the Asia Pacific hepatopenaei - Threats to Sustainable Shrimp Aquaculture” in a Conference of the World Aquaculture Society to Workshop on the Promotion of Sustainable Aquaculture, Aquatic give a keynote address on “Diseases in Shrimp Animal Health and Resource Enhancement in Southeast Asia, June Aquaculture: Possible Remedial Pathways”, in a Dr. Arun K. Dhar was invited to give a talk on 25-27, 2019 in Iloilo City, Philippines. The workshop was organized by session organized by the Society of Aquaculture “Emerging diseases in shrimp aquaculture” The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), Iloilo, Professionals (SAP) in Chennai, India, June 19- at the School of Aquatic and Fisheries Philippines and attended by representatives of eleven southeast 21, 2019. In the conference, he also gave a talk Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Asian countries. on “Can white spot disease control be achieved WA on May 30, 2019. During his visit, he using CRISPR-Cas9 driven genome editing in also gave a talk to the graduate students live shrimp?” in the Disease Diagnosis and enrolled in the Sustainable Aquaculture Management session. Photo: Dr. Arun K. Dhar class. Dr. Dhar with Prof. Carolyn Freidman with Prof. S. Felix, President of Asian Pacific (left) and with Prof. Friedman and some of Chapter of World Aquaculture Society. the graduate students in the class (right).

Dr. Luis Fernando Aranguren conducted a workshop on field level diagnostics of shrimp diseases to shrimp farmers in Honduras in July 2019. The workshop was organized by Sea Technology.

In August, Dr. Luis Fernando Aranguren Caro visited the Central institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture CIBA in Chennai and gave a talk about a shrimp disease called AHPND (Left). He was also able to visit the National Quarantine in Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture RGCI which was inaugurated by Dr. Donald Lightner in 2013.

Dr. Arun K. Dhar was invited to give a talk in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR on May 14, 2019. During this trip Dr. Dhar also visited Hatfield Marine Science Center, OSU, Newport, Oregon and gave a talk entitled “The University of Arizona-Aquaculture Dr. Luis Fernando Aranguren Caro visited India in connection with a collaborative project Pathology Laboratory: A Worldwide Resource for Diagnostic Services with Society of Aquaculture Professionals, Chennai, India, to visit southern and western and Collaborative Research to Shrimp Aquaculture Industry”. (left to states in the country to collect shrimp samples affected by an emerging disease of right): Hatfield Marine Science Center, With Dr. Carla Schubiger and the unknown etiology called White Feces Disease (WFD) July 27 - August 8, 2019. APLis Biomedical Science Department. currently investigating the etiologic agent of WFD.

The University of Arizona 9 News from Patricia Stock’s Laboratory Members of the Stock lab had a very busy summer conducting complex structure and living research and presenting at national and international meetings. networks of insect pathogenic Isabel Forlastro, senior Vet Sciences and Microbiology majors, Steinernema nematodes and and Danny Duong, Junior Physiology and Molecular and Cellular their Xenorhabdus bacteria Biology, received the Honors College Spirit of Inquiry Award for symbionts. This three-year their thesis research. writing project was published Ayako Kusakabe, PhD student in by CSIRO Publishing, Australia the Entomology and Insect Science in August. The book is Graduate Interdisciplinary Program a collaboration between (GIDP), received the Nematode Gregory Crocetti and Bryoni Division Travel Award for her work on Barr from Scale Free Network, the “Isolation, characterization and who had started making a nematicidal activity of Photorhabdus series of picture books about symbiotic partnerships between Photo: Patricia Stock Patricia Photo: secondary metabolites “. The microbes and larger life forms (Small Friends Books). The book Ayako Kusakabe (SIP Travel Awardee) can be order online at: http://www.publish.csiro.au/book/7908/ and Raquel Campos Herrera (Chair award was presented at the joint SIP Nematode Division) at the Joint Society of Invertebrate Pathology We also welcome our newest members! Rebecca Howes, who Society of Invertebrate Pathology and International Organization and International Organization for is a MS candidate in the Entomology and Insect Science GIDP. for Biological Control Meeting in Biological Control meeting held Rebecca comes from Cornell University and will be conducting Valencia, Spain. in Valencia, Spain (July 28-August research on Arizona native entomopathogenic fungi in alfalfa. 1st, 2019). Ayako also presented Dr. Ratnasri Mallipedi who graduated from University of results of her research at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Tennessee, also joins the lab as a postdoctoral associate, she Nematologists in Raleigh, NC this past July. will be studying type 6 secretion systems in entomopathogenic “Nema and the Xenos,” is a beautifully illustrated children’s Xenorhabdus bacteria. book that provides a scientifically accurate glimpse into the ACBS Faculty Grants Summer Research PI: Frank Duca “The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acid Sensing in Regulating Hepatic Glucose Opportunity Production” (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) $1.85M. Patricia Stock (PI) and Gayatri Vedantam (coPI) Diabetes has reached epidemic levels in the United States, underscoring received a National Science Foundation Award the critical need for safe, effective treatment options. Prebiotics, non-viable to host a Research Experience for Undergraduate food components that modulate the microbiota, can improve glucose (REU) Site on Microbial Symbioses and Biodiversity. homeostasis, but the mechanism of action is unclear. The current work This REU-site will host a summer program from will unravel the mechanisms upon which prebiotics improve glucose the first week of June to the end of July and will homeostasis via increases in short chain fatty acid production in the distal recruit 12 undergraduates per year. The program intestine. The current grant aims to understand how short-chain fatty acids impact hepatic glucose production, directly, via epigenetic regulations, and will recruit undergraduate students from 2-year indirectly, via a neuronal gut-brain-liver axis. A better understanding of how colleges from across the nation to participate in prebiotics and SCFAs improve glucose homeostasis could lead to targeted active and cutting-edge research in a wide range therapies that reduce chronically elevated blood glucose levels during of disciplines, including microbial biodiversity, diabetes. plant/animal microbe interactions, environmental PI: VK Viswanathan microbiology, plant pathology, entomology, “Host-cell Mitochondrial Alterations Play a Central Role in EPEC microbial bioprospecting, microbial evolution, Pathogenesis” (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease) $1.83M. genetics, genomics and bioinformatics. How do microscopic bacteria cause disease and misery in humans, who Please visit our website for further details and are well over a million times their size? They do this by ‘understanding’ the upcoming application deadlines: https://acbs.cals. detailed workings of human cells and exploiting this ‘knowledge’ to facilitate arizona.edu/nsf bacterial survival and spread. Our cellular powerhouses, the mitochondria, are an attractive target for pathogens. Many bacteria produce proteins and toxins that alter our mitochondrial function and thereby facilitate bacterial growth and colonization. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) cause significant diarrheal disease and death, particularly in children in developing countries. EPEC produces multiple proteins to take control of host cells in the gut. The goal of this project is to uncover how two EPEC proteins take control of mitochondria in human cells, and how this contributes to disease. If we understand this, the hope is that we can devise drugs to block the effect of these bacterial proteins and, in effect, take back control of our mitochondria. This would be a novel strategy to prevent the disease caused by EPEC and related bacteria.

10 ACBS - V5:3 Fall 2019 Presentations and Symposia Camp. Tucson, AZ. June 2019. Alden EA, Moore GR, Farrell G, Arias JM, Alamban AP, Carlisle Rao A and Ravishankar S. (2019). “Determination of the A, Sekaquaptewa S, Dennison K, Teegerstrom T, Gardner-Smith Shelf-Life and Keeping Quality of Melons Grown in Different J, and Greene EA. (2019). “Arizona Federally Recognized Tribal Regions With Respect To Background Microflora, Prevalence Extension Program (FRTEP): Who, What, Where?” University of of Foodborne Pathogens and Variances in Netting Densities.” Arizona Extension Conference Poster Session. Tucson, AZ. Aug International Association for Food Protection Annual Meeting. 6, 2019. Louisville, KY. July 2019. Arias J and Greene EA. (2019). “Creating Educational Ravishankar S. (2019) “Cleaner and Greener Alternatives for Opportunities for San Carlos Apache Ranchers: An ESIP Project.” Safe Food - It’s Essential!” Sathyabama University, Chennai, University of Arizona Extension Conference Poster Session. India. June 27, 2019. Tucson, AZ. Aug 6, 2019. Park R and Ravishankar S. (2019) “Understanding Cross- Dev Kumar G and Ravishankar S. (2019). “Ozonized Water Contamination of Melons via Environmental Matrices Under with Plant Antimicrobials: An Effective Method to Inactivate Field Conditions.” International Association for Food Protection Salmonella enterica on Iceberg Lettuce in Produce Wash Water.” Annual Meeting. Louisville, KY. July 2019. International Association for Food Protection Annual Meeting. Wei Q and Ravishankar S. (2019) “Attachment Strength of Louisville, KY. July 2019. Foodborne Pathogens on Different Melon Varieties from Various Greene EA. (2019). “What is Normal in Your Horse: Refresher Regions in the United States” International Association for Food and Learning” Arizona Horseman’s Challenge and Expo. Queen Protection Annual Meeting. Louisville, KY. July 2019. Creek, AZ. April 20, 2019. Invited. Zhu L and Ravishankar S. (2019) “Incidence of Fecal Indicator Greene EA. (2019). “Hot Diseases in AZ Horses”. At Equine/ and Pathogenic Bacteria in Reclaimed and Return Flow Waters Livestock Resource Workshop. San Carlos, AZ. May 30, 2019. in Arizona, USA” International Association for Food Protection (100%) FRTEP Grant funded. Annual Meeting. Louisville, KY. July 2019. Greene, EA and Hendrix R. (2019). “Educational Horse Health Publications Presentation: Equine Herpes Virus” Green Valley, AZ. May 11, Dhar AK, Cruz-Flores RA, Aranguren Caro LF, Siewiora HM, Jory 2019. Invited. DL. (2019). Diversity of single-stranded DNA containing viruses in Greene EA and Hiney K. (2019). “Biosecurity in Agriculture”. 2019 shrimp. VirusDisease 30: 43-57. Annual New England Agriculture Teachers Summer Conference. Mai HN, Hung N, Hanggono, Bambang, Aranguren, Caro A, Stockbridge, MA. June 23-26, 2019. Invited. Fernando L, Komaruddin, Ujang, Nur’aini, Yani L, and Dhar, AK. Greene EA and Hiney K. (2019). “SCRUB: Science Creates Real (2019). Novel Infectious Myonecrosis Virus (IMNV) genotypes Understanding of Biosecurity (Hands on Lab)”. 2019 MAVA associated with disease outbreaks in Penaeus vannamei shrimp Connecting for Success Conference. Marlboro, MA June 26-27, farms in Indonesia. In Press. 2019. Invited. Oakey J, Smith C, Underwood D, Afsharnasab M, Alday-Sanz Greene EA, Peinovich D, and Martin H. (2019). “Sand V, Dhar AK, Hameed AS, Beattie K, and Crook A. (2019). Concentration in Fecal Matter of Horses from Different Housing Description of a novel genotyping method for White Spot Backgrounds.” Won 3rd Place in Undergraduate Poster Syndrome Virus (WSSV) and global distribution of WSSV Competition. Western Section American Association of Animal genotypes. Archives of Virology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705- Science Meeting. Boise, ID. June 2019. Also presented at 019-04265-2. University of Arizona Extension Conference Poster Session. Panthi S, Sapkota AR, Raspanti G, Allard SA, Bui A, Craddock Tucson, AZ. Aug 6, 2019. HA, Murray R, Zhu L, East C, Handy E, Callahan MT, Haymaker J, Greene EA, Todd M, Jeffers-Sample A, and Carstens R. (2019) Kulkarni P, Anderson B, Craig S, Gartley S, Vanore A, Betancourt “Changing Reins: Arizona 4-H Horse Programs Gallop Into the WQ, Duncan R, Foust D, Sharma M, Micallef SA, Gerba C, Future.” Won 2019 State Award. National Association of County Parveen S, Hashem F, May E, Kniel K, Pop M, Ravishankar S and Agricultural Agents (NACAA) Meeting. Fort Wayne, IN. Sep 8-12, Sapkota A. (2019). Pharmaceuticals, Herbicides and Disinfectants 2019. in Agricultural Water Sources. Environmental Research, 174: 1-8. Hall G, Ellsworth P, Abrell L, Diaz D, and Pier N. (2019). “Blister Provisional Patents Beetles in Arizona.” University of Arizona Extension Conference Dhar AK and Allnutt FCT. 2019. Antipathogen therapy using Poster Session. Tucson, AZ. Aug 6, 2019. genome editing. Provisional Patent Application Number: /837, Lopez, G. (2019). “Cyclospora: Potential reservoirs and 051, Date 04/22/2019. occurrence in irrigation waters.” Center for Produce Safety Awards Research Symposium. Austin, Texas. June 18-19, 2019. Dr. Arun K. Dhar received an award for his “Outstanding Lopez G, Christman K, Lonchar T, Mennetti J, Hanson H, Geel Contribution in Teaching” in the AQUAVET® Program, Cornell E, Gonzalez M, Duron C, Flores N, Verdugo M, Vasovski S, University, Ithaca, New York on June 08, 2019. Dr. Dhar has been Campbell J, Thoutt E, Carstens R, Flowers J, Cabrera D, Torres teaching in this summer program for the past 10 years. He taught M, Lopez J, Perez S, Villa Barbosa G, Cooper M, Emery J, Davis classes on infectious diseases of shrimp and the classes were S, and Lee C. (2019). “The University of Arizona Cooperative attended by graduate students from Europe, America, Asia and Extension 4-H Program Collaborating Statewide in Preparing the Australia. Next Generation of STEM Innovators.” Presented at: University of Dr. Betsy Greene was awarded the 2019 Western Section of Arizona Extension Conference Poster Session. Tucson, AZ. Aug 6, 2019. the American Society of Animal Science Extension Award. This award recognizes an individual in the western region institutions (2019). “Cleaner and Greener Alternatives for Safe Food Rao A. for outstanding achievements in animal science extension - It’s Essential!” Presentation for Environmental Health Inspectors at the Maricopa Environmental Health Services Department. programs. The award was presented at the Western Section Phoenix, AZ. April 2019. Also presented at USDA-Ag Discovery Meeting in Boise, Idaho June 11-13. The University of Arizona 11 Dr. Stock Out and About in Arizona Upcoming Events

October 17 Food Safety Conference Presented by the UA Food Safety Consortium 9:30am - 6:00pm Tucson, Arizona cals.arizona.edu/fsc

November 1 - 2 Homecoming The University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona arizonaalumni.com/homecoming

December 9 - 11 46th Annual Global Symposium on Racing The University of Arizona RTIP Tucson, Arizona ACBS Director, Patricia Stock, attended the 2019 Gila County Cattle Growers (GCCGA) Annual Meeting and Steak Fry, that was held at Little Green Valley, in ua-rtip.org/symposium/ Payson, AZ, on September 14, 2019. The meeting provided members with updates on current issues in the overall cattle industry as well as the Gila County ranching December 20 - 21 community. Dr. Stock met Vice President, Frank Dal Molin, and other officers December Commencement Ceremonies and members of the GCCGA, and provided a summary of current ACBS activities The University of Arizona including curriculum updates, faculty hires and other ongoing activities. Tucson, Arizona commencement.arizona.edu/ceremonies/fall

Connect With ACBS: FACEBOOK Get all the latest news facebook.com/ua.acbs TWITTER and information about the University of Arizona School twitter.com/uasacbs of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences. ACBS EMAIL NEWSLETTER acbs.cals.arizona.edu/news

ACBS Newsletter The ACBS Newsletter is published three times Permission to reprint excerpts from the ACBS Volume 5 : Issue 3 Fall 2019 a year for alumni and friends of the University Newsletter is granted provided that the intended meaning is not changed and that explicit credit The University of Arizona of Arizona School of Animal and Comparative is given to the author(s) and publication source. School of Animal and Biomedical Sciences. Product or service names are used only for the Comparative Biomedical Stories in this print edition have been edited Sciences sake of clarity and in no way imply endorsement for length. Visit the ACBS Newsletter online at PO Box 210090 over similar products or services which may be Tucson, Arizona 85721-0090 acbs.cals.arizona.edu/news for past issues. just as effective. [email protected] All contents © 2019 Arizona Board of Regents. The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University Editor-in-Chief: Debbie Reed All rights reserved. [email protected] prohibits discrimination in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, Copy Editor: Aurora Plascencia national origin, age, disability, veteran status, [email protected] sexual orientation or gender identity and is committed to maintaining an environment free from sexual harassment and retaliation.

12 ACBS - V5:3 Fall 2019