Message from the DEDE Officers

Jim Adelman, Chair (chair.dede@sicb.org); Lauren Fuess, Chair-Elect; Daniel Becker, Program Officer (dpo.dede@sicb.org); Robin Warne, Program Officer Elect; Sarah Knutie, Secretary (secretary.dede@sicb.org); Emily Le Sage, Secretary-Elect

SICB 2024 in Seattle, WA

We are excited to announce that SICB have received over 1900 abstracts, of which 764 are contributed posters and 1216 are contributed talks. DEDE had 134 abstracts and 96 of those were from student presenters! 

Congrats to the six talks that were selected for the DEDE Best Student Talk Competition. The session will take place on Friday, January 5 from 10:30am-12:00pm in room 608.

• Eaqan Chaudhry, SUNY ESF, “Density-dependent impacts on physiology of North American elk (Cervus elaphus)”
• David Clark, University of Pittsburgh, “Experimental epidemics reveal that host sex and sociality impact transmission within host groups”
• Rachael Kramp, University of Pittsburgh, “The microbiome: an underappreciated factor in parasite transmission and heterogeneity”
• Savanah Leidholt, Oregon State University, “Metatranscriptomics Reveals Virus Community Shift and Tumorigenesis Response in Scombrid Disease”
• Ria Mirchandani, Vanderbilt University, “Lymphocyte Inhibition by Cell Wall Components of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd)”
• Maria Valadez Ingersoll, Boston University, “A multiomic approach to understand tradeoffs between symbiosis and immunity in a reef-building coral”

An additional congrats to the 18 poster presentations that were selected for the Best Student Poster Competition. DEDE poster sessions will be held on Wednesday (part 1) and Thursday (part 2) from 3:30-5:30pm in the Exhibit Hall.  The poster and talk presentation competitions depend on volunteer judges, so please sign up as a judge for the Best Student Presentations when you register for the meeting, or email chair.dede@sicb.org to volunteer. 

DEDE’s Members Meeting will be held from 5:45–6:45pm on Wednesday, January 3 in the Arch Building, Room 617 (6th floor). All members (including students!!) are encouraged to attend.

DEDE will be co-sponsoring two symposia, with complementary oral and poster sessions, at the 2024 Annual Meeting:

Immunity in the ‘omics age: what can ‘omics approaches tell us about immunity in natural systems? (S2)
Organized by Lauren Fuess and Nikki Traylor-Knowles
Wednesday January 3, 8:00am-3:00pm in room 619/620 (6th floor)

Complementary Oral Session 1 (S2)
Thursday, January 4, 8:00am-10:00am in room 611

Complementary Oral Session 2 (S2)
Thursday, January 4, 11:00am-12:00pm in room 612

The scale of resilience: mechanisms of recovery across biological systems (S5)
Organized by Emily Le Sage (DEDE Secretary-Elect) and Corinne Richards-Zawacki
Thursday, January 4, 7:45am-4:00pm in room 619/620 (6th floor)

Complementary Oral Session (S5):
Friday, January 5, 10:15am-12:00pm in room 613/614 

Featured DEDE-Sponsored Symposium Speaker

Symposium Title: “Immunity in the ‘omics age: what can ‘omics approaches tell us about immunity in natural systems?”
Dr. Joel Slade
Assistant Professor, California State University Fresno

Talk title: MHC and the genome: selection and population genetics vary between migratory and resident songbirds
Wednesday, January 3, 10:30-11:00 am in room 619/620 (6th floor)

Please describe your research for our SICB members.

The research I will present at SICB is from a combination of my postdoctoral research and my MS student (co-author), Esther Fernandez. This research adds to our understanding of the migratory exposure hypothesis since we found differences in haemosporidian lineages between migratory and resident dark-eyed juncos. Given migratory birds are hypothesized to have greater exposure to pathogens as they occupy more habitats than resident birds, there should be differences in the evolution and differentiation of certain immune genes like the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II. We also analyzed over 10,000 SNPs using ddRAD-seq to corroborate our results on the dark-eyed junco migratory and resident subspecies. Beyond this project, my research program at CSU-Fresno mainly focuses on analyzing the effect of urbanization on the evolution of immune genes and the genomes in cardueline finches. 

How do ‘omic help us understand immunity in wild animals?:

There are many useful aspects of using ‘omics to understand immunity in wild animals. Transcriptomics has allowed us to analyze the upregulation and downregulation of certain immune genes when exposed to pathogens. At the whole genome level, evolutionary biologists and ecoimmunologists better understand the evolution of gene copy numbers of the highly duplicated major histocompatibility complex in wild, jawed vertebrates – this is exciting for my research program. Finally, we cannot forget the pathogens and parasites, as affordable whole genome sequencing allows researchers to assess the evolution of virulence genes and antimicrobial resistance, which can help us mitigate disease outbreaks in wildlife and prevent zoonoses. 

Why is ecoimmunology an exciting field to research right now?

The relationship between the microbiome and disease susceptibility in wild animals. For birds, a captive environment causes individuals to lose unique microbial community assemblages, and instead, most individuals end up with similar microbiomes. This effect of captivity makes it difficult to detect a relationship between microbiomes and environmental factors. We need better approaches to understanding these relationships in the wild, including microbiome metagenomics. Beyond direct relationships between disease and the microbiome, we also need to incorporate background genetics from the host animal in uncovering these relationships. I look forward to the growth of this field. 

How did you get your start in studying ‘omics of immunity in wild animals? 

I started when we realized we could afford population genomics using ddRAD-seq. Reducing the genomic data in a species and comparing that to immunological parameters and disease susceptibility allows us to potentially target new candidate loci if a reference genome is available. 

What is your favorite thing about attending the annual SICB meeting? 

The collegiality, the student presentations, and the vast diversity of research topics presented.

What advice would you give to students attending the SICB meeting for the first time?

Do not be afraid to approach a PI and introduce yourself – we are human and are interested in your future career goals. Also, get to know people outside your university or lab – you can make amazing connections and even friends at SICB conferences. 

What are you looking forward to the most at SICB2024?

I am excited to see old friends and meet new people. 

Anything else you would like to tell us?

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
www.sladelab.com
joelslade@csufresno.edu
@EvoEcoJoel on X (Twitter) and Bluesky

Seeking Student/Postdoc Representative

DEDE is looking for a new representative for the student/postdoc affairs committee. Terms are flexible, but are not to exceed three years. Chief duties are working with this society-wide committee to shape the resources for and experiences of students and postdocs within SICB; organizing DEDE’s Meet an Ecoimmunologist/Disease Ecologist Mentor Meetup program at the annual meeting: and maintaining DEDE’s social media presence. If interested, please send a CV and brief cover letter to dpo.dede@sicb.org outlining your current position (must be a student or postdoc) and your interest in serving as rep. No prior experience in leadership roles needed!

Meet an Ecoimmunologist/Disease Ecologist

We will run the “Meet an Ecoimmunologist/Disease Ecologist” event in person during the annual meeting. This event will be organized by our student/postdoc representative, and it provides students and postdocs with an opportunity to network with established professionals and meet other students/postdocs in our field. 

Mentors and mentees: Please fill out this form by December 1 if interested so we can match everyone before the meeting.

Please e-mail Sarah Knutie (secretary.dede@sicb.org) with questions until the next student/postdoc representative is appointed by the SICB President.

Building Community in DEDE SICB 2024

DEDE will be co-hosting a social with DBE, DAB, AND DNNSB on Thursday, January 4, directly following the Bern Lecture. Specific time and place: TBD

DEDE Welcomes New Officers – Q&A!

DEDE welcomes two new members of leadership as officers-elect!

Robin Warne

Professor of Biology at Southern Illinois University
DEDE Program Officer-Elect (2024-2025)
SICB member since 2005
First meeting: 2005

Please describe your research program for our SICB members:

My lab explores how animals physiologically mediate changing environmental conditions, and how these processes shape disease dynamics and ecological interactions. A recent focus of my research is the role gut microbiota play in host physiology, development, and susceptibility to disease. In amphibians, we explore how development, physiological performance, and disease are determined by gut microbiome interactions with host neuroendocrine function. We are also exploring the microbiomes and ecoimmunology of hibernating snakes. I also conduct field research aimed at linking animal physiology and homeostatic function to larger scale ecological dynamics. Most of this work is focused on desert rodent communities where we aim to test links between physiological function, gut microbiota, and immunity to environmental and nutrient dynamics across the ecological community.

What is your favorite thing about being a scientist?

I enjoy exploring knowledge and delving into the literature to bridge concepts and to develop innovative experiments. I also enjoy teaching and discussing these ideas with students and collaborators.

If early career researchers are thinking about a career in academia, what advice would you give them?

There are diverse pathways to working in science and if being a researcher and teacher is exciting to you then go for it. However, do your research (!?) into life as an academic so that you can be informed and realistic about the challenges and trade-offs you will likely encounter in your career pursuits.

What is your favorite thing about attending the annual SICB meeting?

All of the exciting integrative science!

What advice would you give to students attending the SICB meeting for the first time?

Have fun, and don’t worry if you find yourself overwhelmed because I often do as well!

 

Emily Le Sage

Assistant Professor of Biology at Skidmore College
DEDE Secretary-Elect (2024-2025)
SICB member since 2015
First meeting: 2015

Please describe your research program for our SICB members:

I study how organisms respond physiologically to ecological change and how these responses shape infection and disease dynamics. My research program investigates the strong interdependencies of the neuroendocrine and immune systems of vertebrates to better understand disease ecology and evolution in a rapidly changing world. I address fundamental questions such as how are annual seasonal disease dynamics regulated by biological rhythms, and what are the causes and consequences of host heterogeneity? In two disease systems of interest, recent evidence suggests that some host populations are currently shifting from severe epizootic declines to enzootic recoveries. Thus, my lab capitalizes on this exceptional opportunity to understand underlying eco-evolutionary mechanisms of biological resilience to emerging infectious diseases.

What is your favorite thing about being a scientist?

Being a scientist shares some of the qualities of being a detective, in that I gather the pieces of a puzzle to tell a story. I love that feeling of clicking pieces together that create a picture of our natural world; and I love thinking about what’s missing and designing experiments that can click together enough puzzle pieces to offer us a glimpse into the mechanisms behind the magic surrounding us.

If early career researchers are thinking about a career in academia, what advice would you give them?

Don’t listen to those who portray academic life as their whole existence, that they have no other identity besides their publications, or that they’re a good scientist because they took a traditional route and never tried to deviate from that path. There’s no set path to being an academic, so don’t measure your worth using someone else’s ruler. It may take some time to get into a rhythm, but see that your work doesn’t eclipse your identity.

What is your favorite thing about attending the annual SICB meeting?

Seeing familiar faces and meeting new people, and of course learning new things

What advice would you give to students attending the SICB meeting for the first time?

You can’t see all of the talks, and that’s okay! It’s all about making connections and having new ideas or interests sparked by conversations.

What are you looking forward to the most at SICB2024?

I’ll be hosting my first symposium! I look forward to our round table discussions on biological resilience.

Featured Early Career Members – Q&A!

The following early career members will be presenting their work at SICB 2024. Please stop by their talk or poster and say hello!

Brooke Weiss

SICB member since 2023, First Time Attendee
Undergraduate student, Lafayette College
Lab of Dr. Mike Butler
SICB 2024 Wednesday’s Poster Session: P1-62,  3:30-5:30pm
Part of the DEE Best Student Poster Huey Award Competition

Describe the research that you are presenting at SICB 2024:

I will be presenting on how the materials in a house sparrow nest impact the condition and survival of the nestlings inhabiting it. My focus is on the influence of anthropogenic materials on nestlings, but through a holistic approach of examining everything else in the nest as well (e.g., grasses, feathers, etc.). 

What is your favorite parasite, pathogen, or immune molecule and why?

Biliverdin because my thesis advisor has done a lot of research with it and gets REALLY excited any time it comes up. 

What are you most looking forward to at SICB 2024?

I’m looking forward to seeing all of the current research happening and meeting people with similar curiosities as me!

*****

Lorraine Pérez-Beauchamp

SICB member since 2023, First Time Attendee
Undergraduate student, University of Connecticut
Lab of Dr. Sarah Knutie
SICB 2024 Wednesday’s Poster Session: P1-88, 3:30-5:30pm
Part of the DEDE Best Student Poster Competition

Describe the research that you are presenting at SICB 2024:

I will be presenting the findings of my independent project during my Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) evaluating the effect of tobacco exposure on the health and survival of the invasive avian ectoparasite in the Galápagos Islands. 

What is your favorite parasite, pathogen, or immune molecule and why?

My favorite parasite has to be the avian vampire fly (Philornis downsi)! I am fascinated by how different hosts respond differently to the parasite, and how the parasite is currently altering endemic avian ecosystems in the Galápagos!

What are you most looking forward to at SICB 2024?

I am looking forward to learning about people’s research and to meeting biologists from all over the world!

*****

Sila Inanoglu

SICB member since 2023, First Time Attendee
Undergraduate student, University of Connecticut
Lab of Dr. Sarah Knutie
SICB 2024 Thursday’s Poster Session: P2-94, 3:30-5:30pm
Part of the DEDE Best Student Poster Competition

Describe the research that you are presenting at SICB 2024:

Many bird species incorporate volatile plant material, such as pine needles, into their nests, which can correlate with reduced nest ectoparasite survival. My research investigated whether alpha pinene, the volatile compound in pine needles, directly affects parasite survival or indirectly through the host’s immune system.

What is your favorite parasite, pathogen, or immune molecule and why?

I love the parasitic mites that are found in our bird nests (Dermanyssus spp. and Ornythonyssus spp.) because they have the most beautiful shape and pattern when placed under a microscope!

What are you most looking forward to at SICB 2024?

I am very excited to meet other scientists and researchers and learn about the amazing research they are doing.

*****

Eaqan Chaudhry

SICB member since 2023, First Time Attendee
PhD candidate, SUNY-ESF
Lab of Dr. Cynthia Downs
SICB 2024 talk presentation: Friday, January 5, 11:00-11:15am in room 608
Part of the DEDE Best Student Talk Competition

Describe the research that you are presenting at SICB 2024:

We experimentally manipulated population density of North American elk during the spring through autumn and examined whether density-dependent changes in hair cortisol concentration and fat reserves mediate immune defense at the beginning of the winter.

What is your favorite parasite, pathogen, or immune molecule and why?

My favorite pathogen is ranavirus because it was the first pathogen I learned about when I began field work in undergrad.

What are you most looking forward to at SICB 2024?

I am looking forward to networking opportunities with amazing scientists who do great work, and I am excited to see where current research is pushing the field of integrative and comparative biology.

*****

Rachel Verdi

SICB member since 2020
PhD student, University of Pittsburgh
Lab of Dr. Corinne Richards-Zawacki
SICB 2024 Talk presentation: Friday, January 5, 11:30-11:45am in room 613/614 

Describe the research that you are presenting at SICB 2024:

I will be presenting on the use of environmental DNA metabarcoding to detect and classify amphibian assemblages in tropical and temperate regions. We sought to compare the effectiveness of these molecular methods to traditional amphibian visual encounter surveys in characterizing amphibian communities. We intend to use these findings to better understand how amphibian communities respond to the chytridiomycosis panzootic.

What is your favorite parasite, pathogen, or immune molecule and why?

My favorite parasites are echinostomes, which are a type of trematode parasite. These parasites have complex multi-species, multi-host life cycles, and I worked with them in my undergraduate studies so they hold a special place in my heart. We would collect them from snails, their first intermediate host, and experimentally infect tadpoles, their second intermediate host. It is always interesting to see the echinostomes at various life stages, from the free-swimming cercariae stage after emerging from the snails, to encystments within the tadpoles kidneys that look like perfect circles.

What are you most looking forward to at SICB 2024?

I am most looking forward to experiencing the hustle and bustle that is characteristic of larger conferences! I have only ever attended in-person conferences that are smaller in scale, so I am excited to be surrounded by so many enthusiastic scientists from all different fields at SICB 2024. I look forward to presenting my own research at SICB in-person this time around too.

*****

Thomas Tao

SICB member since 2023, First Time Attendee
Undergraduate student, Skidmore College
Lab of Dr. Corey Freeman-Gallant
SICB 2024 Talk presentation: Friday, January 5, 11:45-12:00pm in room 613/614 

Describe the research that you are presenting at SICB 2024:

The high prevalence, life-long persistence, and absence of major health consequences of Babesia microti infection characterize the potential role of the common yellowthroat as a reservoir for the tick-borne pathogen, Babesia microti.

What is your favorite parasite, pathogen, or immune molecule and why?

My favorite immune molecule is interferon. It’s an often overlooked cytokine that possesses not only antiviral functions but also plays a crucial role in mediating inflammation.

What are you most looking forward to at SICB 2024?

Conversations with folks in the field!

*****

Brandon Hoenig

SICB member since 2021
Post-doctoral researcher, University of Pittsburgh
Lab of Dr. Corinne Richards-Zawacki
SICB 2024 Talk presentation: Friday, January 5, 3:15-3:30pm in room 603

Describe the research that you are presenting at SICB 2024:

I will be presenting on a rapid, inexpensive, and field-deployable method for the molecular detection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis – the causative agent of amphibian chytridiomycosis. This CRISPR-based approach – termed FINDeM – uses non-technical tools and body-heat inducible reactions for species detection, thus providing individuals without formal molecular biology training an opportunity to harness the sensitivity of DNA-based techniques. Finally, this approach can be easily modified for the detection of other taxa, suggesting that FINDeM and other similar CRISPR-based systems may revolutionize how we detect organisms moving forward. 

What is your favorite parasite, pathogen, or immune molecule and why?

Bacteriophage. Their relationship with bacteria represents one of the longest evolutionary arms-races and has granted us not only a better understanding of host-pathogen interactions but also important tools for molecular biology research. 

What are you most looking forward to at SICB 2024?

Experiencing a SICB conference in person! 

*****

Joseph Labun

SICB member since 2023, First Time Attendee
Undergraduate student, University of the Fraser Valley
Lab of Dr. Dina Navon
SICB 2024 Talk presentation: Saturday, January 6, 10:30-10:45am in room 602 

Describe the research that you are presenting at SICB 2024:

I’ve looked into how the bone armor development of threespine stickleback changes from freshwater to saltwater environments. At SICB I’ll be answering the question: What happens to the bone density and shape of stickleback armor as these fish adapt to either high or low calcium environments?

What is your favorite parasite, pathogen, or immune molecule and why?

It’s got to be the tongue-eating louse (Cymothoa exigua)! This little arthropod infects it’s fish host and removes the fish’s tongue. It then attaches itself to where the tongue used to be and effectively becomes the fish’s new tongue! I always thought it was hilarious to see the little fish swimming around with a little guy in it’s mouth. 

What are you most looking forward to at SICB 2024?

I’m looking forward to connecting with new people, learning about what they are passionate about, and getting inspired!

Lochmiller Young Investigator Award

On December 1, 2023, applications will be due for the Robert Lochmiller Award, to be awarded to an early career investigator for distinguished contributions to the fields of ecological immunology and disease ecology. Eligible candidates are those who are members of SICB and who have completed their doctorate within the past ten years at the time of application. Candidates may apply directly or be nominated and both types of candidates will be evaluated equivalently. Candidates should use the following form  to submit: a one-page description of their work, two reprints of their strongest works, and a curriculum vitae. In their description of their work (<500 words), applicants should highlight how their work has contributed to the overall fields of ecoimmunology and/or disease ecology in recent years, as well as their potential for mentoring new and diverse scientists in these fields. Descriptions with more than 500 words will be disqualified. Candidates must also have two letters of recommendation forwarded to the Awards Committee Chair (chair.dede@sicb.org). The award recipient will be announced at the annual meeting. 

Looking beyond SICB 2024

Please send Sarah Knutie (secretary.dede@sicb.org) your SICB 2024 pictures, because we want to feature YOU in the Spring 2024 newsletter. We will remind you to send photos after the conference.