Science Seminar Series presents BU's Dr. Bernadette Ardelli

November 14, 2006

Source: Brandon University
http://www.brandonu.ca/news/article.asp?A_ID=1159

BRANDON, MB - On Tuesday, November 21 from 12:40 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Brandon University Science Seminar series will present a talk by Brandon University's Dr. Bernadette Ardelli, (Department of Zoology), titled Picking Sides in the Biological Arms Race: Parasites Are Winning the Battle but Who Will Win the War? Dr. Ardelli's talk will take place in room 3-42 of the Brodie Sciences Building and is free of charge. All are welcome!

Dr. Ardell's abstract for the talk is as follows:

Trypanosomiases, Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis are among the ten infectious diseases listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having a significant impact on the development of third world nations. The "Big Ten" listed by WHO contribute to 85% of the global disease burden however, research on these diseases receives only 10% of global health funding. In addition, there has been little interest by pharmaceutical and biomedical companies to develop new and improved therapies for diseases that afflict these poor and marginalized populations. As a result, scientists who study the "Big Ten" have increased their efforts to find ways to control or circumvent infection by these pathogens. This seminar will outline some of my research on control strategies against trypanosomiasis and related diseases. These include identification of resistance genes in host species, breeding host species for parasite resistance, development of a vaccine, development of alternative chemotherapy and identification of new drugs for therapy. There are presently no vaccines for use against human parasitic diseases and none have proceeded to clinical trials. Thus, control programs are reliant on drugs to alleviate infection. This has resulted in widespread drug resistance in the "Big Ten". This seminar will also discuss some of my research into drug resistance mechanisms in Onchocerca volvulus, the causative agent of onchocerciasis or "River Blindness". The discussion will include an overview on the development of diagnostic assays and the use of functional genomics and chemogenomics to identify drug targets.

All presentations in the Brandon University Science Seminar Series are free of charge and open to all.

See a list of upcoming Science Seminar Series talks at:http://www.brandonu.ca/Academic/Science/lectures.html

For more information, please contact:

Kelly StiforaCommunications OfficerBrandon UniversityPhone: (204) 727-9762Email: communications@brandonu.ca

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