We recently asked our majors to tell us about their summer research or internship experiences, and we quickly learned that our pre-dentistry students are busy gaining valuable experience in preparation for their lives after graduation.

Robbie Oliver ’11 tells us “I am at the RAMpS (Reaching Academic Success through Participation and Service) at Virginia Commonwealth University, which is strictly for Pre-Dental students. We are taking classes in Biochemistry as well as Microbiology. We have been also been receiving dental instruction, such as learning the numbering of teeth, the instruments, and even how to carve a tooth out of a block of wax. We are also doing some clinical observations as well as DAT review and admission’s instruction sessions.”

Meanwhile, Kirk Rohle ’12 sends along that… “This summer I am helping out at Marks Family Dentistry.  I help out Dr. Norman Marks and Aaron Marks who are Hampden-Sydney alums.  I get to assist and learn many different and new techniques that are being used today in the field of dentistry.  I hope to get into a school of dentistry and become a dentist and open my own practice.”

We encourage our other majors to update us on their summer adventures!

Dr. Shear has learned that “Harvestmen,” a cover article he published in the November-December 2009 issue of American Scientist, will be translated and published in two European science magazines, Spektrum der Wissenschaft in Germany, and Pour la Science in France.  Both magazines are popular science publications like our Scientific American.

Several years ago, Pour la Science also translated and published an article by Dr. Shear on the origins of terrestrial ecosystems.

An electronic copy of the original article is available on request from Dr. Shear.

This week 13 H-SC students are wrapping up their May Term Biology of Cancer course.  Taught by Dr. Kristian Hargadon, this course is designed for non-biology majors (though Bio majors are certainly encouraged to enroll as well) and covers a wide array of topics that include the fundamental genetic basis of cancer, the cell cycle, the progression of a single tumor cell into a malignant cancer, the causes of cancer, immunity to cancer, cancer screening and treatments, and cancer prevention strategies.  Emphasis is placed not only on the “science” of these topics but also on the social and economic aspects of this disease that must be considered by cancer patients and their families.  Additionally, current and emerging cancer research approaches were highlighted by Dr. Hargadon, who specializes in tumor immunology research, as well as by guest lecturer Rebecca Obeng, a former colleague of Dr. Hargadon’s who is currently in the MD/PhD program at the University of Virginia.  Finally, during the last two class periods of this May Term course, students gave oral presentations on particular cancer types they had chosen to research.  While Dr. Hargadon covered many cancer types in class, this project gave students the opportunity to explore additional cancer types that were not covered but that were of particular interest to them (see pictures below).  The presentations were a huge success, as was the class as a whole, and Dr. Hargadon looks forward to teaching this course again next summer!

Patrick Kearney presenting on Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

Robert Chambers presenting on Thyroid Cancer

By Jonathan Park ’12

HANOVER, NH–I am currently a summer research fellow in the Biochemistry Department at Dartmouth Medical School. I am trying to better understand the cell cycle by using the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the same yeast used to make beer and bread, as a model system. Since the yeast genome is evolutionarily similar to the human genome, we can better understand the mammalian cell cycle as it pertains to human disease and cancer by studying how it works in yeast. This is my first time undertaking extensive research and will be working alongside Dr. Mike Wolyniak while utilizing many molecular biology research techniques including genetic engineering, GFP labeling of nuclear membrane proteins, florescence microscopy, and PCR reactions. Though it is my intent to go on to the medical field I feel as though my time here will serve me well, gaining valuable experience which will help me in any and all future medical endeavors.

preparing an experiment

on the college green in front of the library

at the entrance to the med school

Dr. Kristian Hargadon and rising junior Osric Forrest, funded by a Student/Faculty Summer Research Grant and a Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges Undergraduate Science Research Fellowship, are evaluating the utility of two different dendritic cell lines (JAWSII and DC2.4) as potential models for studying the maturation, activation, and functionality of dendritic cells.  Dendritic cells are central players in immunity to a variety of pathogens and tumors, yet they are present in relatively low numbers and are therefore difficult to isolate from model organisms for study.  An in vitro model system for the study of these cells could be applied to several research areas, including an evaluation of the influence of tumor cells and viral infection on the behavior of these cells (two areas of particular interest to Dr. Hargadon). 

Osric Forrest is collaborating with Dr. Hargadon to investigate the expression of both genes and proteins in the two dendritic cells lines exposed to a variety of maturation stimuli.  Osric has applied a number of cutting edge molecular biology and immunologic techniques for studying these processes, including real time RT-PCR and ELISA. 

Below is a picture of Osric at Hampden-Sydney College culturing the dendritic cell lines under sterile conditions in a laminar flow hood.

This project has also enabled Osric to conduct research and utilize advanced technology at the University of Virginia, where Dr. Hargadon completed his Ph.D. and postdoctoral fellowship and continues to collaborate with other laboratories.  Below is a picture of Osric setting up a real time PCR experiment at University of Virginia’s PCR Core Facility.

Lastly, in addition to the exciting research he is conducting (and as a reward for his hard work!), Osric has been introduced to the wonders of classic 1980s video games on Dr. Hargadon’s arcade machine at his house.  Below is a picture of Osric playing Frogger.  To quote Osric, “I’m just gonna play one more time.”  It should be noted that he said this for about an hour, at which point he was still nowhere close to Dr. Hargadon’s high score!!!

Collaborating with Dr. Tappey Jones in the Chemistry Department at VMI, Dr. Shear has been working on the chemical defenses of soil arthropods.  Interesting results have included the discovery of compounds new to arthropods, and at least two molecules that have not been found previously in nature.

Two groups of soil and litter-dwelling arthropods that use chemical weapons for defense are opiliones (harvestmen or daddy-long-legs) and millipedes (thousand-leggers).  Harvestmen produce their chemicals from a pair of glands near the front of the body, while millipedes have paired glands on most of their many segments.  The secretions range from the merely unpleasant (aromatic long-chain alcohols and ketones) through the corrosive (hydroquinones and phenolic compounds) to the lethal (hydrogen cyanide).  In both groups of animals it appears that the nature of the secretions correlates with evolutionary relationships.  For example, all millipedes of the orders Julida, Spirobolida and Spirostreptida use quinones for defense.  Harvestmen in the family Sclerosomatidae (our familiar daddy-long-legs) produce alcohols and ketones.

However, some groups get pretty exotic.  We have recently identified a complex mixture of compounds from the tiny harvestman Erebomaster acanthina, which occurs mostly in caves and crevices in the midwest.  Components of the secretion include alkaloids like nicotine, but also  benzothiazoles, salicyl alcohol and a coumarin!  The major component is an alkaloid related to nicotine, anabaseine.  Anabaseine is being investigated as possible drug for use in treating Alzheimer’s disease; it is also found in the venoms of ants and of ribbon worms.

One of our local centipedes (Hemiscolopendra marginata) has also been investigated.  We found a recently discovered molecule called jineol, which has highly cytotoxic effects and may be used by the animals to protect their eggs and young against bacterial and fungal infections.  Dr. Jones and one of his students have developed a new synthetic procedure for jineol and our results will be published later in the Journal of Natural Products.  It is exciting that we have also found a totally unknown compound accompanying jineol, and Dr. Jones is working with students to elucidate its structure.

Drs. Shear and Jones will participate in a grant proposal from a colleague at the University of San Diego to continue this work and investigate ways in which it might provide evidence for the evolution of the animals involved.  While Dr. Jones has already involved students, Dr. Shear is still looking for candidates at Hampden-Sydney to participate in the research.  Any takers?

Chonaphe armata, a millipede from Idaho, produces lethal hydrogen cyanide from glands on either side of most of its body segments. The bright yellow and black coloration warns potential enemies of the danger.

The Department of Biology congratulates its graduates and wishes them well in all of their future endeavors!  We will sincerely miss their enthusiasm and contributions to the department.

Richard Bakita

Ben Brown

David Burley

Chris Collie

Glen Cross

Chris Fox

Chad Harte

Jojo Howard

Tyler Huband

Taylor Jones

Whit Kelley

Rhorie Kerr

Ben Kinney

Justin Odanga

Chad Pleasants

Curtis Read

Kyle Simmers

Shaun Swartz

David Taylor

Lee Warren

Jack Wrege

William Zackowski

The annual Final Convocation took place on April 22 which gave the biology department the opportunity to honor some of its students for their hard work over the past few years.  First, the College gave its annual John Peter Mettauer Award for Excellence in Research to department chair Dr. Alex Werth for his 18 years (and counting) of tireless work at HSC on the physiology of whales. Next, the James R.T. Hewett Award was given for excellence in and service to the department.  In recognition for their hard work both in the classroom and in independent research within the department, this year’s Hewett award was split between Curtis Read ’10 and Chad Pleasants ’10.

Biology Department chair Dr. Alex Werth and Curtis Read '10

Dr. Werth and Chad Pleasants '10

Both Read and Pleasants plan to pursue laboratory positions for the next academic year with the goal of beginning graduate study in 2011-12, Read in microbiology/tropical disease and Pleasants in cell biology.

The H.B. Overcash award was also given in recognition of the top pre-med student in the rising senior class.  This year’s award was won by Chris Pryor ’11.

Chris Pryor '11 and Dr. Werth

HSC Students Appear Tired of Endocrinology Labs

Actually, students are investigating (does not appear to be a very active investigation in the photo) the regulation and action of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol has a variety of effects on the body including carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism as well as modulation of immune system function. Many of its effects are designed to prepare the body for stress. Students performed several  labs that involved tracking cortisol levels or its effects. In one lab students demonstrated a change in the percentage of neutrophils and lymphocytes in mice with elevated plasma levels of cortisol resulting from confinement stress.

Another lab involved tracking the plasma levels of cortisol in students under control, stressed and relaxed conditions. It turns out that cortisol levels equilibrate rapidly between the plasma and saliva. Therefore salivary cortisol levels are an accurate indicator of blood cortisol concentration. Saliva samples were collected (drool collection) before and after a 20-minute guided relaxation. Then with the help of Dr. Hargadon and his plate-reader, ELISA was used to measure salivary cortisol levels.  Most of the students exhibited a significant drop in cortisol levels following the guided relaxation.

This was an interesting finding as the half-life of cortisol in the plasma is over 60 minutes. Who says biology labs cannot be relaxing….

Chi Beta Phi, installed at Hampden-Sydney in 1927, is a national scientific honor society that recognizes overall excellence in scientific endeavors. Congratulations to biologists Raj Clark ’12, Osric Forrest ’12, Barron Frazier ’12, Carter Mavromatis ’12, Stewart Neifert ’12, Arthur Oliphant ’12, Chad Pleasants ’10, AJ Prill ’11, Curtis Read ’10, Pranay Reddy ’11, Kirk Rohle ’12, Nate Thomas ’11, Arne Ulbrich ’11 on their recent induction to Chi Beta Phi!

Chi Beta Phi biologists present at the 2010 induction: (Front) Chris Pryor ’11, Osric Forrest ’12, Stewart Neifert ’12, Arne Ulbrich ’11, Pranay Reddy ’11 (Middle) Nate Thomas ’11, Ben Kinnie ’10, Barron Frazier ’12, Chad Pleasants ’10 (Back) Lee Warren ’10, Curtis Reed ’10, James Ward ’11, AJ Prill ’11, Raj Clark ’12, Ben Brown ’10

Chi Beta Phi also held its 1st annual year-end poster session in Gilmer in which science and mathematics students presented their independent research projects to the Hampden-Sydney community.  The session highlighted the variety of projects, from ecology and microbiology to molecular genetics and organic chemistry, that Hampden-Sydney students have undertaken in the labs of Gilmer this year!

Ben Brown '10

Curtis Read '10 and Justin Odanga '10

Brandon Newcomb '10

Chad Harte '10