C-SPIRIT News: July 2025

Friday, August 1st, 2025

Aim 3 Feature: Blogpost Out Now!

Wondering how C-SPIRIT links gene activity to stress-fighting compounds in crops? Our latest blogpost, Decoding the Blueprint: How C-SPIRIT’s Aim 3 Maps the Genetics of Plant Chemistry, features Dr. Olivia Wilkins, Aim 3 lead and systems biologist at the University of Manitoba. Here's a preview:

"Dr. Olivia Wilkins, a systems biologist at the University of Manitoba, is the lead of Aim 3 and coordinator of the Canadian branch of C-SPIRIT. Her lab brings over 15 years of experience in stress assays and regulatory modeling, with a focus on how plants coordinate gene activity under environmental stress.

'That fits with what this Aim is trying to do: figure out who’s turning the knobs when a plant starts producing these compounds,' Wilkins says.

Her group’s deep expertise in transcriptional regulation made them a natural fit for Aim 3’s goals. However, linking gene activity to metabolite accumulation introduced a new layer of complexity. Addressing this challenge required learning how to integrate metabolomic data with gene expression models, which involves mapping when and where key compounds appear in response to stress."

Institutional Feature: South Dakota State University

Next in the C-SPIRIT Institutional Feature Series, we are highlighting South Dakota State University and the impactful work of Mazhar Sher. Mazhar is an Assistant Professor and Biosensors Engineer in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. He also serves as a C-SPIRIT Co-PI and leads Aim 5, where he plays a central role in translating scientific discoveries into real-world agricultural innovations.

Aim 5 is focused on lab and field testing of bioactive compounds and genetic tools developed through earlier stages of C-SPIRIT research. By evaluating these technologies in real environmental conditions, the Aim 5 research team ensures that promising solutions are both effective and scalable. Mazhar’s leadership helps bridge the gap between research and practice, supporting sustainable outcomes for agriculture and ecosystems.

Publication from C-SPIRIT Members at Sun Moon University!

Congratulations to C-SPIRIT members So-Ra Han, Tae-Jin Oh, and their colleagues on their recent publication in Environmental Microbiology Reports! Titled “Comparative genome analysis of three Halobacillus strains isolated from saline environments reveal potential salt tolerance and algicidal mechanisms”, the article examines how Halobacillus species adapt to high-salinity conditions and identifies genes associated with stress tolerance, algicidal activity, and xenobiotic degradation. The findings offer insight into microbial strategies for resilience and potential applications in managing harmful algal blooms.

Brassica 2025 – September 1-4, 2025

The Brassica 2025 meeting continues the longstanding tradition of the "Crucifer Genetics" and "Brassica" conference series, which for several decades have served as key international forums for the presentation of research on cruciferous crops. The conference brings together researchers and breeders working on the genetics, genomics, physiology, and improvement of Brassica species and related taxa. Presentations will span topics such as stress response, metabolic regulation, and crop enhancement, with a focus on integrating recent findings into applied breeding strategies.

Details:

• Dates: September 1-4, 2025
• Location: Giessen, Germany
• Registration Deadline: August 14, 2025

12th Conference of the Polish Society of Experimental Plant Biology – September 9-12, 2025

Organized biennially, the 12th Conference of the Polish Society of Experimental Plant Biology will convene national and international researchers to present advances in plant experimental biology. The meeting will feature sessions on cellular signaling, metabolic processes, plant-environment interactions, developmental regulation, and biotechnology. Designed to foster exchange among scientists at all career stages, the conference provides a platform for the dissemination of high-impact experimental research and the development of new collaborative initiatives.

Details:

• Dates: September 9-12, 2025
• Location: Warsaw, Poland
• Registration Deadline: August 10, 2025

First Great Lakes Plant Science Conference – September 12-14, 2025

The Great Lakes Plant Science Conference will bring together plant scientists and students to push the boundaries of plant science, promote collaborations, and empower the next-generation plant science leaders. This conference is organized by 10 universities in the states and provinces around the Great Lakes and open to anyone in the world.

C-SPIRIT member Andrea Glassmire from Michigan State University will be a speaker at this event, giving a presentation titled "Insect Scales, Water Stress, and Shoreline Takeover: The Metabolome Behind a Reed’s Invasion."

Details:

• Dates: September 12-14, 2025
• Location: Lansing, MI
• Registration Deadline: August 31, 2025

Let us know about your upcoming talks!

Want to see your presentation/talk listed here? Feel free to email us at C-SPIRIT.Admin@msu.edu if you would like us to advertise your talk!