ALARC seminar: Plant-produced butyrylcholinesterase variants as versatile bioscavengers

Date/Time
Date(s) - 28 Oct 2013
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Location
U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center (ALARC)


Plant-produced butyrylcholinesterase variants as versatile bioscavengers

Presented by 

Dr. Tsafrur Mor, Arizona State University

Monday, October 28, 2013

1 PM – 2 PM

U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center (ALARC)  

21881 North Cardon Lane, Maricopa, AZ


Dr. Tsafrir Mor, an Associate Professor at the School of Life Sciences,has more than 20 years experience in plant molecular biology and biochemistry. After receiving a B.Sc. at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Jerusalem, Israel), Dr. Mor’s PhD studies were at the Department of Biological Chemistry at the Hebrew University where he wrote his dissertation on structure-function dynamics of photosynthetic protein complexes and the roles that some of those proteins play in protection of the photosynthetic apparatus and its recovery from light stress. Following his graduation in 1997, Dr. Mor pursued postdoctoral training with Dr. Charles Arntzen at Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research on the Cornell University campus, working on plant-derived vaccines. In the fall of 2000, Dr. Mor moved to Arizona State University, initially at the Department of Plant Biology, later at the newly founded School of Life Sciences and Biodesign Institute. Dr. Mor’s research interests and efforts focus on the development of plants as platforms for the production of proteins and enzymes for use in medicine. Currently, the major thrust areas in Dr. Mor’s laboratory are 1) the evaluation of transgenic plants as a source for recombinant human cholinesterases as bioscavengers to provide prophylactic protection and therapy from a variety of toxicants such as non-conventional warfare agents (i.e. “nerve gasses”), pesticides and street drugs (e.g. cocaine); and 2) development plant-derived vaccines against sexually-transmitted diseases with a special focus on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Dr. Mor enjoys extensive collaborations at home and abroad with colleagues who are at the top of their respective fields, publishes his work regularly in excellent peer-reviewed journals and is an inventor on several issued patents in his field.

2013-2014 ALARC SEMINAR SERIES – Back in Full Swing!

Beginning September 9, 2013 ALARC seminars will be held every 2 weeks and are coordinated by the following Seminar Committee members:
Dr. Dale Spurgeon (dale.spurgeon@ars.usda.gov), Pest Management Unit
Dr. Jarai Mon (jarai.mon@ars.usda.gov), Water Management Unit
Dr. Olga Yurchenko (olga.yurchenko@ars.usda.gov), Plant Physiology Unit
Other committee members: Diaa El-Shikha, Deborah Roll, Sungjung Park, and Erica Tassone

ALARC offers presentations spanning interests for all three of their research units (Pest Management & Biocontrol, Plant Physiology & Genetics, and Water Management & Conservation).

Seminars are scheduled on Monday’s from 1:00pm-2:00 (Special seminars may be scheduled a different day).