25th aniversary of viroid discovery

[jpmtz at CCR.DSI.UANL.MX]

         The Mexican Phytopathological Society (MPS) 
           proudly announces the celebration of a

             Symposium in commemoration of the 
            25th anniversary of viroid discovery 
            August 11, 1995  Guadalajara, Mexico

to be held during the MPS Meeting (22nd annual) .August 9-11
Contact: Dr. Juan Pablo Martinez-Soriano, Lab. Patologia Molecular,
Apartado Postal 128-F Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolas de los Garza, N.L.,
Mexico. Voice and Fax (528) 376 6320 e-mail: jpmtz at ccr.dsi.uanl.mx

Keynote conference 

25 years of viroid research: facts, enigmas and hunches
Theodor O. Diener, University of Maryland, USA

Conferences:

Structural and mutational analysis of Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid pathogenicity
Robert A. Owens, ARS-USDA, USA

Ecology and evolution of Tomato Planta Macho Viroid
Jorge Galindo-Alonso, Mexico

Viroids: a hidden threat to the citrus industry of Mexico
Mario A. Rocha-Pena, INIFAP, Mexico

Mexico as putative center of viroid origin
Juan Pablo Martinez-Soriano, INIFAP, Mexico

----------------

Dr. Theodor O. Diener discovered and characterized the smallest pathogen 
known to date: the viroid. Viroids are free and small circular RNA molecules 
(less than 400 nucleotides), covalently closed with high secondary structure. 
Viroids do not contain open reading frames.

Dr. Diener is Distinguised University Professor and former Director of the 
Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, Biotechnology Institute, University of 
Maryland. He was inducted into the Science Hall of Fame (ARS-USDA) in 1989 
and has received many distinctions (e.g. E.C Stackman Award, National Medal 
of Science USA, Wolf Prize in Agriculture, elected fellow American Academy of 
Arts and Sciences, Ruth Allen Award, Alexander Von Humbolt Award and many 
others). 

Dr. Diener is cited in "Who's Who in America", "Who's Who in the World", 
"Dictionary of International Biography (Cambridge, England)", "Who's Who at 
the Frontiers of Science", "Guiness Book of World Records" (discoverer of 
world's smallest pathogen) 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Juan Pablo Martinez-Soriano
Unidad de Investigacion y Desarrollo en Biologia Celular y Molecular
Convenio INIFAP-UANL. Apartado postal 128-F Ciudad Universitaria
San Nicolas de los Garza, N.L. MEXICO  Voice and fax (528) 376-6320
E-mail: jpmtz at ccr.dsi.uanl.mx         smf at ccr.dsi.uanl.mx

---------------------------------------------------------------------------