UVic penicillin research One part human, may lead to new drug treatments ten parts germs BY KIRSTEN RODENHIZER
tolerance — penicillin’s inability to
ple their activities are kept in check by
directly related to cell starvation. Keeping one step ahead of the microbes Research assistant Cheryl Galvani prepares a gel used in analyzing
work by targeting the cell wall of bacterial proteins as Dr. Ed Ishiguro looks on. Rodenhizer is a UVic writing grad. She wrote this story as a participant in the SPARK program (Students Promoting Awareness of
no one is at home,” says Ishiguro. Research Knowledge), funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
drugs that block its specific action.
not have come very far,” he says. “It
Teaching and research, a symbiotic relationship • UVic researchers recently received nearly $24 million in research and equipment grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and $1.7 million from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. • UVic has been allocated 29 new Canada Research Chairs in a federally funded program to help Canadian universities recruit research stars of today and tomorrow in the global intellectual marketplace. • UVic public lectures, performances, conferences,
ordinates the introductory courseon biochemistry and human health. exhibitions, and athletics events • Want to watch E. coli bacteria being destroyed by penicillin? attract a combined annual audience There’s a short video at http://www-micro.msb.le.ac.uk/Video/ of more than 300,000. Penicillin.html and at http://www.cellsalive.com/pen.htm • UVic operates the third-largest • A wealth of information on penicillin is available at the co-operative education program in Britannica.com site http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/9/ Canada, annually placing nearly 0,5716,60549+1,00.html 3,000 students in paid work-terms related to their field of study with • Who discovered penicillin and what did it have to do with World employers around the world. Wars I and II? See http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/ entries/bmflem.html • UVic generates $299 million in local economic activity each year. Art 2000 International Exhibition Operation Trackshoes Through May 31 June 10-11 Artwork from Australia, China, Canada and Northern Ireland by A sports festival for the citizens of B.C. with a mental disability. students from their kindergarten year of 1988 to their graduation in Opening ceremony, June 10, 8:30 p.m. Centennial Stadium. the class of 2000. Maltwood Art Museum & Gallery, University Competition, 9 a.m. to noon, Centennial Stadium. Wheelchair games, Centre. Info: 721-6562 June 11, 9 to 11:30 a.m., McKinnon Gym. Closing ceremonies, noon, Workshop: “Seafood Sustainability in a Changing Climate” Centennial Stadium. Info: 721-2233, www.trackshoes.bc.ca May 25-26 24-Hour Relay for the Kids, Fishing industry leaders, climate researchers, policy makers, and coastal community representatives will explore ways to mitigate Sponsored by the Lions Society of B.C. for children with disabilities. climate-related threats to B.C. fisheries. Agenda details and Proceeds go to sending children with disabilities to Camp Shawnigan. registration info: www.cics.uvic.ca/workshop Relay begins at 10 a.m. Centennial Stadium. Info: 386-0668 w w w. u v i c . c a
Jenni Sells Psychological Anthropology Professor Snodgrass September 21, 2009 Mental illness, for all intents and purposes, is a highly subjective category of disease that can change drastically depending upon who is viewing the illness, and through which lens they see the patient. It’s not a simple task to diagnose and treat any mood disorder or mental illness through a narrow frame with wh
UVic penicillin research