The 1999 Conference on Mycotoxins and Phycotoxins will provide a forum for scientists of diverse disciplines to exchange current research dataand inspire discussion of the broad medical, agricultural, and societal implications of these toxins.

CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS

Presentations and discussions of the newest "cutting-edge" data and technologies provide an integrated conceptual framework for scientists and managers of diverse backgrounds to effectively promote interdisciplinary exchange. The Conference is comprised of a mix of scientists from academic, industrial, and governmental laboratories. Approximately half of the 1997 Conference participants were academic scientists and administrators and nearly 40% represented government and industry. The remaining 11% were students. Mycotoxin and phycotoxins span regional boundaries through international commerce and travel. Accordingly, the Conference is global in interest and composition. Last years' conference included participants from 6 continents and 23 countries.

CONFERENCE PHILOSOPHY

Gordon Research Conferences are expected to be on the frontiers of science in their field. Their purpose is to define and analyze important problems, recent advances, and opportunities for new research through both formal presentations and extensive discussions. The Gordon Conference format, with carefully selected presentations and ample time for discussion, has been proven to be effective for promoting the exchange of information and building strong relationships between scientists. Presentations and discussions are scheduled for the mornings and evenings. Discussions typically continue through each of the three daily meals. The afternoons have no formal schedule; however discussions amongst colleagues continue during hikes along White Mountain trails or during rounds of golf. Other "out of the lecture hall" exchanges of information often occur at the river's edge while trout fishing or rapids rafting, following the intensity of interconference basketball, or while simply relaxing on the Adirondack chairs scattered around the New England campus. Throughout the conference science intermingles with personal discussions and the nature of the language of communication becomes universal.

RE-EMERGING TOXICOSES AND UNUSUAL MORTALITY EVENTS

7:30 - 7:45 OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATIONS

CHAIRPERSON: W.F.O. Marasas, PROMEC, South Africa

DISCUSSION LEADER: Michael Holmes, National University of Singapore

7:45 - 8:10 Growth of aflatoxic strains of Aspergillus flavus on areca nuts
Hester Vismer, PROMEC, South Africa

8:10 - 8:35 Characteristics of Wellington Harbour toxins derived from the summer of 1998 toxic Gymnodinium outbreak
F. Hoe Chang, National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, New Zealand

8:35 - 9:00 Spirolides: novel toxic imines in plankton and shellfish from Nova Scotia
Allan Cembella, National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, New Zealand

9:00 - 9:25 Occurrences of PSP in Southeast Asia
Lourdes Cruz, University of the Philippines

9:25 - 9:45 California sea lion mortality event associated with trophic transfer of domoic acid
Frances Gulland, Marine Mammal Center, California

9:45- 10:00 Discussion

LARGE SCALE EPIDEMIOLOGY AND REGIONAL STUDIES

9:00 - 9:05 INTRODUCTION TO PLENARY LECTURE

CHAIRPERSON: Jeffrey Wright, National Research Council, CANADA

PLENARY LECTURE

9:05 - 10:00 Human Biomonitoring of Aflatoxin Exposures: Implications for Policy and Prevention
John Groopman, Johns Hopkins University

10:00 - 10:15 Discussion

10:15 - 10:30 Coffee Break

10:30 - 10:45 OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATIONS

CHAIRPERSON AND DISCUSSION LEADER: Jeffrey Wright, National Research Council, CANADA

10:45 - 11:15 Eutrophication and the Spread of Pseudo-nitzschia in the Gulf of Mexico
Quay Dortch, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium

11:15 - 11:45 Neuropsychologic testing of individuals in Pfiesteria-contaminated riverways
Lynn Grattan, University of Maryland

11:45 - 12:00 Discussion

MOLECULAR TARGETS FOR TOXINS

7:30 - 7:45 OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATIONS

CHAIRPERSON: Ronald T. Riley, U.S. Department of Agriculture

DISCUSSION LEADER: Vera Trainer, NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service

7:45 - 8:15 Molecular targets for thichothecenes
James Pestka, Michigan State University

8:15 - 8:45 Ceramide Synthase, a target enzyme for fumonisin inhibition: An enrichment scheme towards protein purification
Ronald Jenkins, U.S. Food and Drug Administration

8:45 - 9:15 Brevetoxin induction of neurotoxicity in cultured cerebellar granule cells
Thomas Murray, University of Georgia

9:15 - 9:45 Molecular targets for brevetoxins
Daniel Baden, University of North Carolina Wilmington

9:45- 10:00 Discussion

BIOLOGICAL AND GENETIC CONTROL MEASURES

9:00 - 9:20 OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATIONS

CHAIRPERSON: Thomas E. Cleveland, U.S. Department of Agriculture

DISCUSSION LEADER: Thomas Hohn, Novartis

9:20 - 9:50 Genetic degradation of fumonisin in corn
Jonathan Duvick, Pioneer Hi-Bred International

9:50 - 10:20 Modulation of lipid metabolism in Aspergillus/host plant interactions: a potential means to control aflatoxin contamination
Nancy Keller, Texas A&M University

10:20 - 10:30 Discussion

10:30 - 10:45 COFFEE BREAK

10:45 - 11:15 Algicidal bacteria as natural regulators of harmful algal bloom dynamics
Gregory Doucette, NOAA-National Ocean Service

11:15 - 11:45 Selecting the microbes with which we live
Peter J. Cotty, U.S. Department of Agriculture

11:45 - 12:00 Discussion

PHYSICIAL CONTROL MEASURES

7:30 - 7:50 OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATIONS

CHAIRPERSON: Wanda Haschek-Hock, University of Illinois

DISCUSSION LEADER: Richard Greene, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

7:50 - 8:20 Use of clay flocculants in physical control of mycotoxins
Tim Phillips, Texas A&M University

8:20 - 8:50 Use of clay flocculants in physical control of harmful algal blooms
Don Anderson, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

8:50 - 9:05 Discussion

INVITED STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

9:10 - 9:25 Student 1:

9:30 - 9:45 Student 2:

9:45 - 10:00 Student 3:

GENETICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF TOXIN PRODUCTION

9:00 - 9:20 OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATIONS

CHAIRPERSON: Gary Payne, North Carolina State University

DISCUSSION LEADER: Gaspar Taroncher, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

9:20 - 9:50 Molecular analysis of saxitoxin biosynthetic genes in a toxic bacterium, Pseudomonas stutzeri
F.G. Plumley, University of Alaska.

9:50 - 10:20 Genetics of fumonisin production
Robert Proctor , U.S. Department of Agriculture

10:20 - 10:30 Discussion

10:30 - 10:45 COFFEE BREAK

10:45 - 11:15 Microcystin synthetase: genes and enzymes
Thomas Boerner, Humboldt-Universitaet, Berlin

11:15 - 11:45 Molecular biology of aflatoxin biosynthesis in Aspergillus parasiticus
Deepak Bhatnagar; U.S. Department of Agriculture

11:45 - 12:00 Discussion

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN DETECTION OF ORGANISMS AND TOXINS

7:30 - 7:45 OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATIONS

CHAIRPERSON: David Oldach, University of Maryland

DISCUSSION LEADER: Bruce Jarvis, University of Maryland

7:45 - 8:15 Development of ribosomal gene probes for detection of Pfiesteria piscicida
Parke Rublee, University of North Carolina

8:15 - 8:45 Tracking Stachybotrys chartarum strains by PCR
Steve Vesper, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

8:45 - 9:00 Discussion

SPECIAL SESSION
Summary of the Satellite Meeting on Toxin Detection Methods. Advances in Detection Methods for Mycotoxins and Phycotoxins

9:00 - 10:00 Frances VanDolah NOAA-National Ocean Service, John Richard, Romer Laboratories

TOXIN CHEMISTRY AND ANALYSIS

9:00 - 9:20 Overview of Presentations

CHAIRPERSON: Steven Musser, U.S. Food and Drug Administration

DISCUSSION LEADER: Helen Shurtz-Rodgers, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

9:20 - 9:50 Novel compounds from marine cyanobacteria
William Gerwick, Oregon State University

9:50 - 10:20 MS analysis of mycotoxins
Gordon Shephard, PROMEC, South Africa

10:20 - 10:30 Discussion

10:30 - 10:45 COFFEE BREAK

10:45 - 11:15 HPLC/MS/MS detection of ciguatoxins
Richard Lewis, University of Queensland

11:15 - 11:45 Sensitive mass spectrometric methods for phycotoxin analysis
Peter Moeller, NOAA-National Ocean Service

11:45 - 12:00 Discussion

IN VIVO AND IN SITU TOXICOLOGY

7:30 - 7:45 Overview of Presentations

CHAIRPERSON: Johanna Fink-Gremmels, Utrecht University

DISCUSSION LEADER: Wayne Carmichael, Wright State University

7:45 - 8:15 Fumonisin B1 stabilizes cyclin D1: a posttranslational change during rat liver carcinogenesis.
Danica Ramljak, NIH-National Cancer Institute

8:15 - 8:45 Results of Two-Year Chronic Bioassay on Fumonisin B1
Paul C. Howard, U.S. Food and Drug Administration

8:45 - 9:15 Sodium-dependent actions of ciguatoxins and brevetoxins on myelinated axons and motor nerve terminals
Jordi Molgo, Laboratoire de Neurobiologie Cellulaire et Moleculaire, France

9:15 - 9:45 Chronic effects of brevetoxins on paradoxical temperature dysthesia.
Christopher Gordon, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

9:45 - 10:00 Discussion