Research topics: Physiological, molecular, and field studies of fungal pathogens of plants and animals
Research program: My research focuses on fungi that are pathogens of plants or animals, particularly insects. Research projects in my laboratory examine the genetic diversity, physiology and molecular biology of various fungal pathogens and applied aspects of control of fungal plant pathogens. One of the major areas of research is fungal pathogens of lowbush blueberry, particularly the fungus that causes mummy berry disease. I am interested in determining what are the important factors for fungal pathogenicity and the resistance mechanisms in plants. Two of the strategies that fungi are proposed to use to attack plants are the production of enzymes which attack plant tissues, such as enzymes that degrade plant cell walls, and the production of toxins which damage or kill plant cells. Research in my laboratory is determining which of these or other fungal strategies are effective in particular plant-pathogen interactions. Plants also use a variety of mechanisms to defend themselves or avoid fungal attack and I am interested in determining which of these methods are the most important for plant resistance. Research in my lab is also comparing the genetic diversity within a fungal pathogen species (using molecular techniques) to its variation in virulence to its host. I am interested in looking at the population genetics and physiology of fungi that are animal pathogens. I am currently collaborating with Dr. Ellie Groden and other colleagues on a project examining the genetic diversity of a soil-borne fungus, Beauveria bassiana, that is used as a biocontrol agents of insect pests. This study is examining the effects of application of commercial strains of the fungus on indigenous populations of the same fungus. With Dr. Joyce Longcore and colleagues, my lab has examined the physiology and has developed a PCR assay for detection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a chytrid pathogen of amphibians. Research in my lab has also studied the population structure of this fungus in North American amphibians.
Selected Publications
Penman, L. N. and Annis, S. L. 2005. Variation of mummy berry blight in clones of lowbush blueberry: effects on yield and relationship to bud phenology. Accepted in Phytopathology
Piotrowski, J.S., S.L. Annis, and J.E. Longcore. 2004. Physiology of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a chytrid pathogen of amphibians. Mycologia, 96:9-15.
Annis, S.L. and C.S. Stubbs. 2004. Stem and leaf diseases and their effects on yield in Maine lowbush blueberry fields. Small Fruits Review, 3(1/2):159-167.
Annis, S.L., Dastoor, F., Ziel, H., Daszak, P., Longcore, J.E. 2004. A DNA-based assay to identify Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibians. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 40(3): 420-428.
H. Xu, S. Annis, J. Linz, and F. Trail. 2000. Infection and colonization of peanut pods by Aspergillus parasiticus and the expression of aflatoxin biosynthetic genes in infection hyphae. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 56:185-196.
S. Annis, L. Velasquez, H. Xu, R. Hammerschmidt, J. Linz, and F. Trail. 2000. Novel procedure for identification of compounds inhibitory to transcription of genes involved in mycotoxin biosynthesis. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 48:4656-4660.
Annis, S.L. and D.G. Panaccione. 1998. Accumulation of peptide synthetase gene transcripts and ergopeptines in cultures of ergopeptine-producing fungi. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 44:80-86.
Annis, S.L. and P.H. Goodwin. 1997. Inhibition of polygalacturonase activity produced by Leptosphaeria maculans with stem extracts of canola, and the relationship of inhibition to resistance. Journal of Phytopathology 145:217-223.
Annis, S.L. and P.H. Goodwin. 1997. Recent advances in the molecular genetics of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes produced by plant pathogenic fungi. European Journal of Plant Pathology 103:1-14.
Annis, S.L. and P.H. Goodwin. 1997. Production and regulation of polygalacturonase isozymes in virulence types of Leptosphaeria maculans. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 19:358-365.
Other publications from this laboratory