Undergraduates from the Novakofski & Mateus Collaborative Labs present at the annual meeting of the Wildlife Society

Our lab participated in the Annual Meeting of the Illinois Chapter of the Wildlife Society in April. Our undergraduate and technician lab members presented two poster presentations on work that we are currently doing in our lab. Lauren Frisbie, Gretchen Anchor and Noelle Thompson collaborated with senior members of our lab to present “Chronic wasting disease tissue sampling”. Adam Deeke and Megan Britton also collaborated with senior lab members to present “Genetic marker set variation and paternity assignment success in white-tailed deer”. Check out our Presentations page to see the rest of the research that we shared at TWS!

Small tissue biopsies are collected from the thin wing membrane of bats

Our lab recently published a study that indicates the usefulness of discarded tissues for genetic research. White-nose syndrome is sweeping through the North American bat population. The disease is caused by a fungus that is thought to prematurely wake bats from hibernation. Researchers enter bat hibernacula and collect swabs and tissue biopsies for white-nose syndrome testing. As you can imagine, researchers want to minimize their own disturbance to the bats so that they remain as strong and as healthy as possible. As a result, very few, very small tissue biospies are collected. The tissue samples are cultured in laboratories for a period of time, and typically discarded. We tested whether we could extract and amplify DNA after the culturing process. Our results indicate that it is possible! We are sharing this information with the community of scientists that collecting tissue samples so that we can work together to study white-nose syndrome and the genetics of bats.

Access the full publication here.

New publication for educators

Our lab recently published an innovative method to teach biosafety protocols to college students.  The article entitled “The scene of the crime: classroom integration of biosafety, microscopy, and forensics” was published in the Nov-Dec issue of The American Biology Teacher journal.  Our team developed and implemented a unique teaching module for our Animal Science 224 class.  The students have the opportunity to work with animals on farms and our crime scene style investigation helps students identify breaches in biosafety protocols.  The addition of this module to our course has helped students understand their role in maintaining the health of the animals at the University farms.

Click here to read the abstract!

New research from our lab used genetic assignment tests to determine likely source populations of animals infected with chronic wasting disease. Wildlife and disease managers are often concerned when infected animals are found far from the disease focus. In Illinois, the chronic wasting disease focus is located in the northern counties of Winnebago and Boone. Unfortunately, infected animals have been found in areas far from Winnebago and Boone. Genetic assignment tests were used to determine where the disease came from: did infected animals move out of the disease focus to inhabit new areas? The research indicates that white-tailed deer disperse long distances whether they are infected with chronic wasting disease or not. Although this is a sobering fact that can make disease management difficult, our previous investigation of prevalence rates in Illinois indicate that the current management strategy in the state has been effective.

Click here to read the whole story!

Photo by L. Brian Stauffer

WILL Illinois Public Radio invited Drs. Nohra Mateus-Pinilla and Jan Novakofski to their studio to discuss research in managing chronic wasting disease.  Jim Meadows, the host of Focus asked questions about the disease and the management program in Illinois to provide listeners with insight about the research.  Listeners called in with interesting questions leading to a hour long discussion about all things chronic wasting disease.

Take some time to listen to the full interview here.

Drs. Green and Manjerovic were invited to Northeastern Illinois University to share their research with the Biology department.  The department faculty and students gathered to hear a presentation entitled “Molecular applications in wildlife disease management” that focused on chronic wasting disease research and provided an overview of the various ongoing research projects in the Novakofski & Mateus laboratory.

Our thanks to Dr. Aaron Schirmer at Northeastern Illinois University for hosting our lab representatives for a great day of sharing ideas and meeting students.

The Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel just released an article reporting on research completed at the Novakofski-Mateus lab. The story highlights the differences in chronic wasting disease management strategies used in Wisconsin and Illinois. The research found differences in disease prevalence as a result of the differing strategies. The research was completed by Mary Beth Manjerovic, Michelle Green, Nohra Mateus-Pinilla and Jan Novakofski.

Check out the full article entitled “Illinois finds success controlling chronic wasting disease” here.

Check out the research publication entitled “The importance of localized culling in stabilizing chronic wasting disease prevalence in white-tailed deer populations” here.

Jan Novakofski co-authored a book entitled Growth of Farm Animals, 3^rd Ed. with Tony L. J. Lawrence and Vernon R. Fowler.

Reviews of the textbook have been favorable:

“This is not an ‘all vets should carry this book in their pocket for reference’ volume; rather it is a comprehensive, readable introduction to one of the great mysteries of life. I would recommend it to any veterinarian or scientist with an interest in animals and their lives.” D. Grove-White, Veterinary Record, 2012, 171:450. 

“Their interpretation of one of the basic manifestations of life, growth, is inspiring.” A. Holub, Agricultura Tropic et Subtropica, 2012, 45/4:217-218.

“The updated third edition of the textbook is a valuable introduction to the important area of growth of farm animals. The authors describe all steps from cells to tissues to entire animals and to food of animal origin. The book provides fundamental knowledge for animal production. This book is a valuable resource for undergraduate students in animal and veterinary sciences, but it is also an important aid for all those dealing with meat sciences and meat processing.”

and

“…it is a comprehensive, readable introduction to one of the great mysteries of life. I would recommend it to any veterinarian or scientist with an interest in animals and their lives.”

Don’t just take their word for it, check out the book here.

Photo by Ivan Petrov

A recent study completed by the Novakofski-Mateus Lab was featured in a story by the University of Illinois News Bureau.  The research revealed that river otters river otters in Illinois are exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides that were banned in the U.S. decades ago.

Read the full University of Illinois News Bureau story here.

Read the research article entitled “River otters as biomonitors for organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, and PBDEs in Illinois” published by Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety here.

Nohra Mateus-Pinilla, Jan Novakofski, Michelle Green Photo by L. Brian Stauffer

The University of Illinois News Bureau highlighted Novakofski-Mateus Lab research in a recent press release entitled “Targeted culling of deer controls disease with little effect on hunting.”  The story featured a recent publication investigating the management strategy used in Illinois to control chronic wasting disease in wild white-tailed deer.  The research was completed by Mary Beth Manjerovic, Michelle Green, Nohra Mateus-Pinilla and Jan Novakofski.

Read the University of Illinois News Bureau story here.