Highlights

Project and researcher highlights are listed by date, along with other relevant announcements from the MPB and associated community. Return to this page frequently for updates! To bring a notable event to our attention, please contact us.

Genome sequence of blue-stain fungal associate published (09-2009)

Pine forests in Western Canada and US are being damaged on a large scale by a mountain pine beetle (MPB) fungal symbiotic-association that kills trees. Despite the seriousness of the epidemic, little information is available at the individual and population molecular and mechanistic levels of this interacting biological system. 

Researchers at the BC Cancer Agency’s Genome Sciences Centre and UBC have resolved one piece of the MPB puzzle with funding from Genome BC, NSERC, the BC Ministry of Forests, the Natural Resources Canada Genomics Program, and the BC Cancer Foundation. Using a mixture of classical and new sequencing technologies, and advanced assembly software, they sequenced the genome of the filamentous fungus Grosmannia clavigera. G. clavigera is an MPB symbiont and an important pine pathogen in the epidemic. The genome sequence is the foundation for work to understand how G. clavigera can bypass the terpenoid and phenolic host tree defense metabolites. 

Genome Biology publication: Diguistini et al. 2009. Genome Biology

Commentaries: Nature news and Science Daily

Database submissions: DiGuistini, S., Liao, N.Y., Platt, D., Robertson, G., Seidel, M., Chan, S.K., Docking, R., Birol, I., Holt, R.A., Hirst, M., Mardis, E., Marra, M.A., Hamelin, R.C., Bohlmann, J., Breuil, C. and Jones, S.J.M.: Title: The Grosmannia clavigera genome project. PID: 39847, Submitted and available in NCBI GenBank. Assemblies: De novo genome sequence assembly of a filamentous fungus using Sanger, 454, and Illumina sequence data; Accession ACXQ00000000 and ACYC00000000 at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/. Trace Archive/Sanger PE Fosmid reads: De novo genome sequence assembly of a filamentous fungus using Sanger, 454, and Illumina sequence data Accession: 2238353787 to 2243356701at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Traces/. SRA (Short Read Archive) / 454 data: Grosmannia clavigera whole genome sequencing project Accessions: SRR023517 to SRR023533 and SRR023307 at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/. SRA (Short Read Archive) / Illumina data: De novo genome sequence assembly of a filamentous fungus using Sanger, 454, and Illumina sequence data . Accession: SRR018008 to SRR018012 at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

Canadian Forest Health Genomics strategy paper released, co-authored by Tria researchers (07-2009)

Building on the large-scale, multidisciplinary foundation in mountain pine beetle research established through the BC-Alberta collaboration of Tria, Project Co-investigators were invited to participate in a Canadian Forest Health Genomics Initiative workshop in Toronto, ON, in March 2009. Academic, provincial and federal scientists, policy- and decision-makers, industry and community groups gathered from across the country to explore the national issue of native and invasive species and determine Canada’s capacity for employing genomics in mitigation strategies to address forest health threats. From Workshop deliberations, it is clear that substantial research capacity and expertise does exist within Canada and between the provinces to engage genomics in developing mitigation strategies for current and future threats to the health of the nation’s forests. This activity resulted in the publication in July 2009 of the “Canadian Forest Health Genomics Strategy Paper – Canadian Strengths Address Forestry Challenges”. A Workshop Summary and full proceedings can be found here.

Mountain pine beetle system research : NEW FUNDING AWARDED! (06-2009)

We are pleased that our application for Genome Canada funding of mountain pine beetle system research was recently approved! The application submitted by our Co-investigator team was one of only 12 projects selected for funding, securing $7.8M for three years of continued research to inform economic models aiming to assess the use of pine as bioenery feedstock in areas at risk for mountain pine beetle outbreak. More information on competition results can be found here on the Genome Canada website. As well as principal funding from Genome Canada, the research will be co-funded by Genome BC, Genome Alberta, the University of Alberta, and the DOE Joint Genome Institute. Check the Employment and Training page for opportunities associated with our upcoming research.

International Scientific Workshop (09-2008)

In September of 2008, the Tria Project held its inaugural, invitation-only International Scientific Workshop in Vancouver, BC. The purpose of the workshop was to present and discuss research on the mountain pine beetle as is ongoing in the Tria Project and in related work by the international community. Please contact us if you would like to be included on the mailing list for our next meeting, currently planned for November 2009.