The APS Virology Committee

The Virology Committee of the American Phytopathological Society met during the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Society. Here is what they did and talked about. The Minutes will be approved at the 2007 Annual Meeting.

Intro | Sessions | Nominations | Student Travel | Web | Collections/NPDN

Minutes of the APS Virology Committee Meeting

APS Virology Committee Meeting
Saturday, July 29, 2006, 5:30 -7:-0 PM
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Current Committee Chair: Alex Karasev (alexander.karasev@jefferson.edu)
Immediate Past Chair: Scott Adkins (sadkins@ushrl.ars.usda.gov)
Current Vice-Chair: Rosemarie Hammond (rose.hammond@ars.usda.gov)

Current Committee Members

Appointed

Serves until
Roy French 08/05/2004 08/01/2007
Rosemarie Hammond 08/05/2004 08/01/2007
Steve Hanson 08/05/2004 08/01/2007
Andrea Harness 08/05/2004 08/01/2007
Ali Idris 08/05/2004 08/01/2007
Dominique Robertson 08/05/2004 08/01/2007
William Schneider 08/05/2004 08/01/2007
Anthony Cole 08/04/2005 07/30/2008
Francisco Assis Filho 08/04/2005 07/30/2008
Lev Nemchinov 08/04/2005 07/30/2008
Nancy Robertson 08/04/2005 07/30/2008
Hanumantha Pappu 08/04/2005 07/30/2008
Rayapati Naidu 08/04/2005 07/30/2008
Kai-shu Ling 08/04/2005 07/30/2008
Marie Langham 08/04/2005 07/30/2008
Ruth Welliver 08/04/2005 07/30/2008
Gurgopal Roy 08/04/2005 07/30/2008
Dennis Lewandowski 08/04/2005 07/30/2008
Ulrich Melcher 08/04/2005 07/30/2008
Robert Lartey 08/04/2005 07/30/2008
Mary Burrows 08/04/2005 07/30/2008
Jorge A. Abad 08/04/2005 07/30/2008

Acknowledgement of members rotating off the committee in 2005:

The committee meeting was officially called to order by Chair Alex Karasev at 5:35 pm..

Old Business

Discussion and approval of the minutes from 2005 meeting held in Austin, TX.

New Business

1. What's happened since Austin: changes in membership policy - Alex Karasev

“Changes in the committee process last year, designed to make it easier for APS members to be involved, established new timing for committee nominations. Interested members should now contact a committee chair prior to the annual meeting to indicate their interest. Committee chairs will compile their committee nominations based on the interest they receive prior to the meeting, as well as from those attending the meeting. Member names submitted on the nomination form, which will be turned in at the annual meeting, will become members of the committee. There is no longer a limit on the number of members on a committee. Committee member term limits are eliminated; all committee members are appointed to 3-year terms, renewable at the committee's discretion. “

2. Centennial meeting in 2008- Rose Hammond

From the organizing meeting attended by the committee chair and co-chair, there was a proposal to reduce or eliminate technical sessions at the APS meeting in 2008 and to replace special sessions with plenary sessions related to the Centennial celebration. There was significant discussion from the members on the proposed process.

3. I.E. Melhus graduate student symposium - Rose Hammond

The Virology committee submitted a proposal for the 7th I.E. Melhus Graduate Student Symposium to be held at the 2007 meeting in San Diego. The title of the proposal was:
“Emerging and changing viral pathogens - biology and molecular mechanisms”
The proposal submitted by the Virology committee was chosen . Volunteers were sought to be members of the selection committee; They were: Alex Karasev, Scott Adkins, Bill Schneider, Naidu Rayapati, Carlose Angel, and Ramon Jordan.

4. Microbial sequencing.

Scott Gold gave an update of the microbial sequencing project. It was suggested that a statement “All known plant viruses should be sequenced.” There was a discussion about the sequencing of insect or other vectors of plant viruses - perhaps to be included on the microbial sequencing list. Rose Gergerich suggested that APS could join ESA (Entomological Society of America) on their insect list and on endosymbionts.

5. Special sessions occurring at the Quebec meeting - please support with your attendance!

Support for Virology Committee Sessions in 2006

6. Ideas for virology special sessions at the 2007 meeting in San Diego, CA, July 28-August 1

7. Nomination and election of Vice-Chair to serve immediately following Quebec meeting (Chair after San Diego meeting in August 2007)

Dennis Lewandowski was nominated for Vice-Chair and elected by a unanimous vote

8. Nomination of new committee members

New committee members were nominated from the floor. They were: Baozhong Meng, Anna Whitfield, Clarissa Maroon-Lango, Carlos Angel, Ramon Jordan, Michael Watson

9. Virology Committee Web Page - U. Melcher.

Thanks to Ulrich for continuing to maintain this website! The address is: http://viraps.okstate.edu/

10. Virology Student Travel Award -

Congratulations to Sushma Jossey, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and Charles Hagen, University of California, Davis

11. Status of Virus Collections and the Plant Disease Network - Gail Wisler

Gail Wisler gave an update on the status of virus collections and the Virus Diagnostics and Plant Disease Network (PDN) . The University of Florida is the hub for the Southern network). There is a problem with diagnostics of viruses, especially geminiviruses, tospoviruses and criniviruses, especially in ornamentals. There may be an opportunity for funds and training of technicians. There was also a discussion of collections of viruses and antisera. Kitty Cardwell at CSREES is the entry point to the network, Jim Stack has the Great Plains network. There is a National PDN web site. There was discussion of creating a national network of virologist on the NPDN with members who would be willing to serve as experts. List serve through yahoo-moderator on Melcher webpage. NPDN could contact them to see if Virology Committee members would be willing to serve (Wintermantel proposal)

12. After the agenda was completed, meeting adjourned at 6:55 pm.

Minutes from 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001