E-Board No. 96

January 7, 2011

Message from Val Smith, ISDCI President

May I wish you all a very happy, successful and productive 2011.

We are now half-way through our triennial International Congress cycle and I would to remind you all that the next big meeting will be in Fukuoka, Japan in 2012. For your diaries the dates are July Monday, 9th July to Friday 13th of July 2012. It will be held at the Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk Hotel. See: http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/FUKHIHI-Hilton-Fukuoka-Sea-Hawk/index.do

Updates will be supplied via the eboard and I will be happy to hear if anyone has any suggestions for plenary speakers. All names put forward will be considered, but the Scientific Organising Committee reserves the right to make the final decisions to ensure good balance of topics, reasonable representations of the regions and to ensure high calibre of the eventual invitees.

The Local Organisers and I are looking forward to seeing you in Fukuoka in 18 months time!


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Postdoc Position

The Laboratory of Fish Immunology within the Center of Research in Animal Health (CISA-INIA) at Valdeomos (Madrid, Spain) is seeking postdoctoral fellows to apply for competitive Spanish postdoctoral contracts to join this research team led by Dr. Carolina Tafalla.

The candidates should have interest in fish immunology and preferably a background on molecular biology and /or cellular immunology techniques in fish.

The research envisaged for these fellows, supported by different National and European grants, will be focused on studying diverse aspects of the fish antiviral immune response using the viral hemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) infection in rainbow trout as a model. Recombinant immune molecules will be produced to then establish their biological activity and their role in antiviral defence.

Depending on their CV and previous experience, candidates should apply for one of two contract variants. Candidates with less than 3 years of post-doctoral experience may apply for a 3-year postdoctoral contract (Juan de la Cierva contracts), whereas candidates with more experience may apply for 5-year postdoctoral contract (Ramon y Cajal contracts). Any nationality is welcomed.

For further information, please contact Carolina Tafalla (tafalla@inia.es).


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1st NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA FISH IMMUNOLOGY WORKSHOP 2011

Hosted by:

The Centre for Aquaculture and Biotechnology
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd.
Greta Point, Wellington
15th -18th March 2011

Organizers:
Dr. I. Salinas, NIWA, New Zealand
Dr. B. Nowak, The Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania

Duration: 4 days
Workshop fees: $ 750.00 NZ. Fees include workshop materials, lunch, morning and afternoon tea. Accommodation or travel expenses are not included.

Total number of students: 16

Description: The objective of the present workshop is to provide participants with advanced knowledge, both theoretical and practical, on the immune system of fish. The workshop will introduce basic and advance knowledge on fish welfare, immunoprophylaxis in aquaculture and the evolution of the immune system. It is directed to academic and company researchers as well as technicians and management staff in the aquaculture industry.

Program: full program to be announced. It will cover a combination of 1h lectures and lab practical sessions on fish innate and adaptive immune responses, immunopathology of relevant diseases in fish farming, assessment of vaccine effectiveness, fish immune cells and organs.

Master and PhD students may be eligible for a reduced fee (400 NZD). Send a short abstract by email explaining your background, career interests and how this workshop would help you in the future.

For further information contact: Dr. I. Salinas (i.salinas@niwa.co.nz)


FIRST NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTALIAN FISH IMMUNOLOGY WORKSHOP PROGRAM March 2011

Day 1 (Tuesday 15th)
Morning
9.00am-10.00am: Welcome to all participants, ice breaker and introduction fish immunology
Morning tea
10.15am-11.00am: Measuring fish welfare
11.00am-12.30am: Infectious diseases of fish
Lunch break
Afternoon
1.15pm-2.30pm: Use of fish histopathology in aquatic animal health
Afternoon tea
3.00pm-5.00pm: Practical 1. Observation of histopathology slides

Day 2 (Wednesday 16th)
Morning
8.30am-10.00am: Fish immune organs and cells
Morning tea
10.30am-1.30am: Practical 2. Fish bleeding, dissection, organ identification and isolation of head-kidney leucocytes
Lunch break
Afternoon
2.00pm-3.00pm: Inflammatory processes and innate immune responses
Afternoon tea
3.30pm-5.00pm: Practical 3. Choices:
A) Measuring cellular innate immune parameters (respiratory burst and peroxidase)
B) Measuring humoral innate immune parameters (peroxidase and lysozyme)

Day 3 (Thursday 17th)
Morning
8.30am-10.30am: Practical 4. Differential blood cell counts
Morning tea
11.00am -12.00am: Adaptive immune responses, fish immunoglobulins
12.00am -1.00pm: Diagnostic techniques part 1
Lunch break
Afternoon
2.00pm-3.00pm: Diagnostic techniques part 2
Afternoon tea
3.30pm-5.00pm: Practical 5. First part. IgM levels in serum by ELISA
Evening
5pm-7pm: Social event: wine and dinner

Day 4 (Friday 18th)
Morning
8.30am-10.00am: Continuation Practical 5.
10am-11am: Mucosal Immunology
Morning tea
11.30am-1.00am: Adaptive immune responses, fish immunoglobulins
Lunch break
Afternoon
1.30pm-2.30pm Developing/reading ELISA plates
2.30pm-3.30pm: Fish vaccination (DVD and lecture)
Afternoon tea
4.00pm-4.45pm: Discussion and workshop concluding remarks. Price giving to the most active participant.

Notes:
1 During lunch breaks and other spare time there will be two PCs with internet access for participants to use
2 Evening meals not included except for Thursday Evening social gathering
3 The most active participant of the workshop will receive an award the final day of the workshop
4 Attendance certificates will be handed out Friday 18th in the afternoon
5 Payment by bank transfer to NIWA account. For details contact Dr. I. Salinas.


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ITEMS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE E-BOARD SHOULD BE SENT TO COURTNEY SMITH (csmith@gwu.ed). REQUESTS ABOUT MEMBERSHIP MATTERS SHOULD BE SENT TO MARTIN BILEJ (mbilej@biomed.cas.cz) and ANY OTHER QUERIES ABOUT ISDCI SHOULD BE SENT TO VAL SMITH (vjs1@st-andrews.ac.uk). MANY THANKS. VS.

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