Photography

Wailua

Submitted by Winston Weigand, Washington State Unviersity

Student Abstract

Cryptosporidium phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase as a molecular target for novel potent antiparasitic drugs

Rachael Y. Lahar, Shahbaz M. Khan, and William H. Witola

Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL

Cryptosporidium parvum is a zoonotic parasite that causes a diarrheal syndrome in neonatal and immunocompromised animals and humans worldwide. Currently, there is no fully effective drug nor vaccine against C. parvum. Moreover, parasite oocysts contaminate the environment and are resistant to most chemical disinfectants. Thus, it is urgent to identify strategies for developing efficacious drugs against C. parvum. The C. parvum genome lacks the tricarboxylic acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation steps, suggesting that the parasite depends solely on glycolysis for metabolic energy. C. parvum glycolytic enzymes differ from mammalian orthologs, making them ideal targets for anti-cryptosporidial drug development. In previous work, our laboratory identified inhibitors for C. parvum glycolytic enzymes lactate dehydrogenase and pyruvate kinase that prevented parasite growth and disease in mice. The focus of the present study was another glycolytic enzyme, C. parvum phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (CpPEPc), which contributes to synthesis of pyruvate that is utilized for generation of metabolic energy. We will develop and validate an in vitro coupled-enzymatic assay involving the sequential catalytic activities of CpPEPc and C. parvum malate dehydrogenase, leading to the synthesis of pyruvate. The assay will be used to screen compound libraries for inhibitors of CpPEPc that will then be analyzed for anti-cryptosporidial activity both in vitro and in vivo. Ultimately, our goal is to unveil validated lead compounds for developing new effective drugs for treating C. parvum infection.

Research Grant: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (completed), USDA (pending)

Student Support: Office of the Director, NIH, T35 OD011145

VMX 2022 Highlights

VMX 2022 HIGHLIGHTS: WHAT’S NEW IN ANIMAL HEALTHCARE IN 2022?

DOGS, CATS AND EVEN REPTILES ARE LIVING LONGER WITH A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE THANKS TO ADVANCES IN ONCOLOGY, NEW APPLICATIONS FOR ACUPUNCTURE, EMERGENCY CARE AND SENIOR WELLNESS

ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 20, 2022 The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) wrapped up its 39th annual Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) Wednesday evening, January 19, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Veterinary professionals from around the world attended, in person and virtually, learning breakthrough advances in animal medicine from their peers.

VMX is the world’s largest and most comprehensive annual veterinary conference and expo. More than 500 exhibitors showcased the latest in diagnostic, pharmaceutical, nutrition, products  and solutions to help veterinary practices best meet the needs of their animal patients and human clients. 

“VMX is where veterinarians and veterinary nurses and technicians learn the latest in veterinary medicine, diagnostics and treatments, so they can take this knowledge home to provide the best care possible for all animals. It is also the launchpad for major research and product introductions from the world’s leading global veterinary companies and organizations,” said NAVC CEO Gene O’Neill. “We are thankful for the more than 15,000 participants and attendees from our global veterinary community who helped make this another successful year.”

Tortoise getting a checkup in a CT Scanner, courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo.

Helping animals live longer, comfortable, better quality lives was an important area of focus at VMX 2022. Presenters shared the latest technology and medicine for keeping animals of all species healthy as they age. VMX 2022 offered nearly a thousand education sessions covering hundreds of topics as far reaching as:

• Equine wound management
• Decoding your cat
• Evidence-based use of probiotics
• Surgical procedures in zoo animals
• Canine mitral valve disease
• Anesthesia and surgery on fish

Click here to see B-roll of VMX 2022 with highlights from select presenters who spoke about breakthroughs in cancer treatment, emergency care, new perspectives in reptile oncology and more at this year’s event.

VMX 2022 offered extracurricular fun and wellness breaks including the Puppy Playground, Cat Nap Café and pilates with puppies.  Radio and television personality Bobby Bones entertained attendees at the Opening Ceremony on Saturday, January 15 while country music artist Gabby Barrett got them dancing at a concert on Monday, January 17.

For event photos, speaker bios and more information about this year’s conference, visit the VMX Virtual Press Center.

VMX returns to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando January 14-18, 2023.

NAVC Announces VETTY Award Winners

THE NORTH AMERICAN VETERINARY COMMUNITY

 ANNOUNCES THE VETTYs^® AWARD WINNERS

Animal health’s creative marketing award winners were 

revealed at the 39th Annual Veterinary Meeting & Expo, VMX 2022

 ORLANDO, FL — January 19, 2022 — The winners of The VETTY Awards, the creative marketing competition dedicated to animal health advertising, design, digital, experiential and social marketing, were revealed this week at VMX 2022, presented by the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC).

The competition is open to marketing campaigns for products and services that support the animal health community, including pharmaceuticals, pet foods, diagnostic equipment, professional associations, pet advocate organizations and more.

This year’s competition included entries from 2020 and 2021 after the 2020 VETTYs Award was put on hold due to COVID-19.

“There were so many wonderfully creative and inventive entries this year,” said NAVC CEO Gene O’Neill. “It’s inspiring to know that not even lockdowns or working remotely could dampen the community’s creative spark. Instead, these companies and agencies rose to the challenge, and deserve tremendous accolades for achieving all they did.”

The competition featured several new categories dedicated to some of the marketing evolution that took place during the initial pandemic lockdown, including awards for virtual events.

The top prizes, including Best In Show (For-Profit), Best In Show (Non-Profit), Judges Awards, Large Animal Award, and the NAVC Spotlight winner were announced live on-stage prior to the start of VMX’s traditional Monday concert presented by Merck Animal Health.

The Grand Prize Winners were:

• BEST IN SHOW (FOR-PROFIT) AWARD: Situations, Stressors & Suggestions Mental Wellness (video) Series from Royal Canin and their agency partner LIBRIX
• BEST IN SHOW (NON-PROFIT) AWARD: Penn Vet New Bolton Center Holiday Message 2020 Public Service Video from The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
• NAVC SPOTLIGHT AWARD: Good Vibes Concert Series from P3 Veterinary Partners and Starshot Studios
• LARGE ANIMAL AWARD: Cattle Animated Videos from Merck Animal Health/SAFE-GUARD & RALGRO and Signal Theory
• JUDGES AWARDS: 

• • ‘More Than Medicine’ integrated campaign from Boehringer Ingelheim and Wunderman Thompson
  • Curby’s Curbside Games app by CareCredit and Stephens & Associates
  • “Your Pet Does A Lot for You Too” video from Nationwide and Veteos

The competition’s Gold, Silver and Bronze awards were revealed to expo attendees via a large display in VMX’s exhibit hall.

The NAVC, the world’s leading not-for-profit association dedicated to supporting the global veterinary health community, introduced THE VETTYs in 2017 to recognize and reward the marketing excellence that helps fuel the rapidly growing animal health industry, which generates over $10 billion in revenue in the US alone each year.

Chats with the Chatfields- EPM

Feeling a bit EPM-ish? No? Perhaps your horse is...

Equine protozoal myelitis (EPM) is a mystery to many in the horse industry - but not to Dr. Rob Franklin!  Dr. Franklin is a board-certified equine internal medicine specialist and has worked with the world's foremost experts on EPM.  Thank goodness he joins Dr. Jen the vet and Dr. Jason Chatfield in the Chat Room to talk all about EPM: the cause, what it looks like in your horse, and what you can do to prevent it!  
Don't worry companion animal friends - Dr. Jen brings in how this is similar to Toxoplasma gondii  (the causative agent of Toxoplasmosis), so there is something in it for everyone!
There's also a bit of V's View from Vet School tucked into this episode at the 12:35 mark! Should you take a break?!  V's got a view on that!

EPM in horses podcast link:

Audio only: https://podcast.chatfieldshow.com/1651318/9859062-feeling-a-bit-epm-ish-no-perhaps-your-horse-is

Video: https://youtu.be/fsIzS-mp75g

Want more EPM?  Dr. Franklin suggests checking this out: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jvim.13834
Want to know more about Dr. Franklin?  Check him out here: https://www.fredequine.com/dr-franklin 
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