Insects & Plant Pathogens

Jan. 10, 2018

Robert Sites

Educational background Ph.D., Washington State University M.S., Southern Illinois University B.S., Southern Illinois University…
James Schoelz posing.

Jan. 10, 2018

James Schoelz

The Jim Schoelz lab is working to understand the environmental and genetic factors that influence the pathogenicity and host range of plant viruses. They have identified a gene in cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) that triggers a hypersensitive defence response in solanaceous species. The hypersensitive response (HR) to plant pathogens, including plant viruses, is defined as a resistance response in which the plant pathogen remains localized in necrotic lesions on the inoculated leaf. In general, necrosis and resistance are closely associated, and considered physiologically and genetically linked phenomena. Schoelz has found that the HR of Nicotiana edwardsonii to CaMV can be…
Andrew Scaboo

Jan. 10, 2018

Andrew Scaboo

Educational background Ph.D., University of Arkansas, 2010…
Portrait of Walter Gassmann

Jan. 9, 2018

Walter Gassmann

Gassmann received his Ph.D. from UC San Diego in 1996 researching plant membrane transporters in the lab of Dr. Julian Schroeder. As a post-doctoral researcher in the lab of Dr. Brian Staskawicz, UC Berkeley, he cloned and characterized RPS4, one of the founding members of the Toll/Interleukin-1 Receptor – Nucleotide Binding Site – Leucine-Rich Repeat (TNL) class of plant innate immune receptors, that recognizes the presence of the bacterial effector protein AvrRps4. His lab at MU, which he started as an assistant professor in the Department of Plant Microbiology & Pathology in 2000, cloned the second antibacterial receptor of the…
Debbie Finke

Jan. 9, 2018

Deborah Finke

Educational background Ph.D., University of Maryland M.S., University of Maryland B.S., Centre College Courses taught PLNT SCI 3710: Introductory Entomology PLNT SCI 4940: Internship in Plant Science PLNT SCI 4950: Undergraduate Research in Plant Science PLNT SCI 9810: Insect Ecology PLNT SCI 7970: Readings in Plant-Insect Interactions AFNR 2191: Italy Study Abroad: Re-thinking Food Security…