Monique van Hoek / en AV professors sequence the Komodo dragon genome /news/2019-09/george-mason-university-professors-sequence-komodo-dragon-genome <span>AV professors sequence the Komodo dragon genome</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/231" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Colleen Rich</span></span> <span>Thu, 09/05/2019 - 05:00</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><figure role="group" class="align-left"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/medium/public/2022-10/Barney_Bishop_Monique_van_Hoek_01%282%29.jpg?itok=knEDGcYE" width="560" height="408" alt="Researchers who sequenced Komodo Dragon blood in an effort to develop new therapies for resistant infections such as MRSA" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Mason researchers Barney Bishop and Monique van Hoek in the bacteriology laboratory at Mason's Science and Technology Campus. Photo by Lathan Gourmas.</figcaption></figure><p>AV researchers <a href="https://cos.gmu.edu/ncbid/people/monique-van-hoek/#.XW_oi5NKhm8">Monique van Hoek</a> and <a href="https://cos.gmu.edu/chemistry/faculty-profile-barney-bishop/">Barney Bishop</a> and their collaborators have released their findings on sequencing the Komodo dragon genome, revealing multiple clusters of antimicrobial peptide genes that could prove instrumental in the fight against multi-drug resistant bacteria.  </p> <p>Their work, which was published in the latest issue of <a href="https://bmcgenomics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12864-019-6029-y">BMC Genomics</a>, identified key clusters of Komodo dragon antimicrobial peptide genes, which are protein-like molecules that contribute to the front line defense of its immune system.</p> <p>Komodo dragons are resilient reptiles with robust immune systems that regularly dine on dead and decaying flesh and whose saliva is known to be rich in bacteria.</p> <p>“They appear to be unaffected, suggesting that dragons have robust defenses against infection,” the two scientists wrote in the paper. </p> <p>Major classes of the antibacterial peptides found in Komodos and other vertebrates include cathelicidins and beta-defensins. Their analyses revealed novel Komodo dragon defensin genes that appear to be unique to these animals. These cathelicidin and defensin antimicrobial peptides may contribute to the Komodo dragon’s robust immunity and apparent resistance to infection and could provide critical clues to aid in the human fight against multi-drug resistant bacteria, which is an emerging medical crisis in health care, and spur faster wound healing.</p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/medium/public/2022-10/Figure_1-Komodo%20dragon.jpg?itok=Z04nOGb6" width="560" height="373" alt="Komodo dragon lounges in the sun giving the camera a sideways glance" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Tujah, a large male Komodo dragon residing at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, and the source of the DNA used in the present study. Photograph courtesy of the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park in St. Augustine, Florida.</figcaption></figure><p>“The hope is that this could lead to something that could be developed into medicine to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria,” said van Hoek, a professor in the <a href="https://cos.gmu.edu/ssb/">School of Systems Biology</a> in Mason’s <a href="https://cos.gmu.edu/">College of Science</a>.</p> <p>She and Bishop, an associate professor in the <a href="https://cos.gmu.edu/chemistry/">Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry</a> in the College of Science, reported the sequencing, assembly and analysis of the Komodo dragon genome, with a focus on innate immunity genes and biomolecules that contribute in defending against infection, particularly antimicrobial peptide genes.</p> <p>The two scientists had previously identified unique antimicrobial peptides in the plasma of Komodo dragons and alligators, and have now added to their earlier research by identifying antimicrobial peptide genes in the Komodo’s genome.</p> <p>Van Hoek and Bishop have been collaborating since 2009 to study antimicrobial peptides and their activity against important bacterial pathogens. More information about their collaborative work can be found at <a href="https://cos.gmu.edu/adr/?utm_medium=redirect&utm_source=college+of+science&utm_campaign=su18+adr">adr.gmu.edu</a>.</p> <p>Mason has a long history with Komodo dragons. In 1992, on the Fairfax Campus, Mason biology professor Geoffrey Birchard watched over the first Komodo dragon eggs to be hatched in captivity in the United States.</p> <p>Growing to lengths of up to 10 feet, Komodo dragons are the largest living lizards on the planet and are believed to have evolved in Australia. They are the sole survivor of the mega fauna that once populated Australia and south Pacific Islands, including those of Indonesia. Komodo dragons are endangered and actively conserved, with Komodo National Park in Indonesia being a UNESCO World Heritage site.</p> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4816" hreflang="en">Komodo dragons</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/291" hreflang="en">College of Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4811" hreflang="en">Monique van Hoek</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4806" hreflang="en">Barney Bishop</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1046" hreflang="en">Institute for Biohealth Innovation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="810082d7-ed88-45a5-b781-7409e1199df0"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="/admissions-aid"> <h4 class="cta__title">Apply to Mason <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:basic" data-inline-block-uuid="61916525-2ee4-416f-bf08-0cf9a6385c0d" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blockbasic"> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 05 Sep 2019 09:00:16 +0000 Colleen Rich 22371 at U.S. Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton visits Mason’s Science and Technology Campus /news/2019-04/us-congresswoman-jennifer-wexton-visits-masons-science-and-technology-campus <span> U.S. Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton visits Mason’s Science and Technology Campus</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/236" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Melanie Balog</span></span> <span>Tue, 04/16/2019 - 05:44</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2411" hreflang="en">Size</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1331" hreflang="en">Impact</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1371" hreflang="en">Quality</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2161" hreflang="en">Science & Technology Campus</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1046" hreflang="en">Institute for Biohealth Innovation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6326" hreflang="en">Virginia Serious Game Institute</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6316" hreflang="en">chemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6321" hreflang="en">biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6236" hreflang="en">Dr. S. David Wu</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6311" hreflang="en">Kenneth Ball</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1126" hreflang="en">Bill Hazel</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4806" hreflang="en">Barney Bishop</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4811" hreflang="en">Monique van Hoek</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6306" hreflang="en">federal funding</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/941" hreflang="en">workforce training</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/726" hreflang="en">innovation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4816" hreflang="en">Komodo dragons</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6301" hreflang="en">Virginia's 10th District</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/116" hreflang="en">Campus News</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 16 Apr 2019 09:44:13 +0000 Melanie Balog 38351 at Komodo dragon blood leads to new wound-healing discovery for Mason researchers /news/2017-04/komodo-dragon-blood-leads-new-wound-healing-discovery-mason-researchers <span>Komodo dragon blood leads to new wound-healing discovery for Mason researchers </span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/236" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Melanie Balog</span></span> <span>Tue, 04/11/2017 - 11:01</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1331" hreflang="en">Impact</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/291" hreflang="en">College of Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5541" hreflang="en">Antimicrobial Discovery Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4811" hreflang="en">Monique van Hoek</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5526" hreflang="en">Kent Vilet</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4806" hreflang="en">Barney Bishop</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5536" hreflang="en">Joel Schnur</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4816" hreflang="en">Komodo dragons</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5531" hreflang="en">NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5521" hreflang="en">Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5516" hreflang="en">St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 11 Apr 2017 15:01:02 +0000 Melanie Balog 32816 at