Diversity at IBL
Introduction
The Insect Biocontrol Laboratory (IBL) has a strong program of interaction with 1890 and Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) organizations. Currently, IBL has working agreements with Delaware State University, the University of Maryland - Eastern Shore (UMES), and Howard University . Our joint programs are mutualistic, building better science programs at both institutions while taking an active role in training scientists for the future. A brief description of these programs are as follows:
1890 Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Delaware State University
For more than twenty years, scientists from the Insect Biocontrol Laboratory (previously the Insect Pathology Laboratory) have lectured on insect control, especially biocontrol, as well as provided information on careers in agricultural science. A joint research program on gypsy moth control in urban-suburban environments was initiated with Dr. Randy Pfeiffer in 1997. During the last 10 years the following abstracts, proceedings and manuscripts have been coauthored with Delaware State students and faculty and IBL has provided funding for students and supplies.
Drs. Ralph Webb and Kevin Thorpe have also assisted Dr. Pfeiffer in writing a capacity building grant on "improving parasite release technology for enhancing biological control." Dr. Peiffer was an invited guest and collaborator at the IBL Brief Review in 1997 and the IBL In-depth Review in 1999.
Publications (since 1995):
- Webb, R.E., Dill, N.H., McLaughlin, J.M., Kershaw, L.S., Podgwaite, J.D., Cook., S.P., Thorpe, K.W., Farrar, R.R., Jr., Ridgway, R.L., Fuester, R.W., Shapiro, M., Argauer, R.J., Venables, l., and White, G.B. 1996. Blankophor BBH as an enhancer of nuclear polyhedrosis virus in arborist treatments against the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 89: 957-962.
- Webb, R.E., Peiffer, R.A., Fuester, R.W., Thorpe, K.W., and McLaughlin, J.M. 1998. An evaluation of the residual activity of traditional, safer, and biological insecticides against the gypsy moth. J. Arboriculture 24: 245-251.
- Webb, R.E., Peiffer, R.A.., Fuester, R.W., Valenti, M.A., Thorpe, K.W., White, G.B., and Shapiro, M. 1999. Effects of Blankophor BBH, a virus-enhancing adjuvant, on mortality of gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) caged on baculovirus-treated foliage. J. Entomol. Sci. 34: 391-403.
- Thorpe, K.W., Podgwaite, J.D., Slavicek, J.M., Webb, R.E., Fuester, R.W., Peiffer, R.A., Valenti, A., and Taylor, P.B. 1999. Field-based estimates of dose responses of three gypsy moth virus strains with and without the virus enhancer, Blankophor BBH. Proc. 1999 U.S. Dept. Agric. Interagency Gypsy Moth Research Forum, Annapolis, MD, pp. 68-70.
- Webb, R.E., Shapiro, M., Peiffer, R.A., Fuester, R.W., Valenti, M.A., White, G.B., and Podgwaite, J.D. Potentiation by a granulosis virus of Gypchek, the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) nuclear polyhedrosis virus product: field confirmation.
University of Maryland - Eastern Shore (UMES)
The Insect Biocontrol Laboratory has had several linkages with UMES during the last 20 years. Dr. Edward M. Dougherty has lectured at UMES and worked with Dr. Carolyn Brooks on writing capacity building grants. Dr. Ashok Raina (now located at ARS Southern Regional Utilization Lab, New Orleans) has conducted joint research with Dr. Jagamond Joshi on the transmission of a novel virus of the reproductive tract of the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea, in the field. Today, Dr. Martin Shapiro and his support scientist, Dr. Robert Farrar, continue collaborative research with Dr. Joshi and Dr. I. Javaid investigating application of insect viruses against the corn earworm on lima beans. The main focus of this work is on formulation additives to improve and extend activity of the virus in the field. This new IBL-UMES team has written two capacity building grant proposals for a continuation of this research. Additionally, IBL scientists have agreed to conduct a seminar course on insect biocontrol; when the number of students interested in such a course meets the minimum required for a course at UMES. In the future, IBL scientists will serve as mentors for UMES students who will receive training at IBL.
Dr. Robert Farrar (IBL) has worked with UMES on their UMES Field Day. In 1998, he displayed a poster, insects, and insect virus and explained ongoing research to visitors. Similar participation is planned for future years.
Dr. Joshi and Dr. Javaid were invited guests and collaborators at the IBL Brief Review in 1997 and the IBL In-depth Review in 1999.
Dr. Phyllis Martin (IBL) has worked with Dr. Robert Dadson and Fawzy Hashen consulting on developing a CSREES grant to study the use of Bacillus thuringiensis on crop plants.
Howard University
The Insect Biocontrol Laboratory in conjunction with Dr. Raziel Hakim of Howard University, College of Medicine, has been studying the development and proliferation of Lepidopteran midgut stem cells. These cells are key to repairing and enlarging the midgut. Thus, midgut stem cells counteract the effects of many biopesticides that often function by destroying the midgut. Understanding how stem cells function and are controlled may improve the efficacy of existing biopesticides or lead to new strategies for controlling pest insects. Dr. Hakim was an invited guest and commentator/reviewer at the IBL Brief Review in 1997 and the IBL In-depth Review in 1999.
Dr. Phyllis Martin is developing a Material Transfer Agreement with Dr. Broderwick Eribo of Howard University to look at a novel method of identifying and characterizing Bacillus thuringiensis strains.
Publications (since 1995):
- Loeb, M.J. and Hakim R.S. 1995 Insect midgut cells in culture: a typical stem cell system. In Vitro 31: 85A (Abstract).
- Sadrud-Din, S., Loeb M.J. and Hakim, R.S. 1996 In Vitro differentiation of isolated stem cells from the midgut of Manduca sexta larvae. J. exp. Biol. 199: 319-325.
- Baldwin K.M., Hakim R.S., Loeb M.J. and Sadrud-Din S.Y. 1996 Midgut Development. in Biology of The Insect Midgut, eds. M.J. Lehane and P.F. Billingsley, Chapman and Hall, London, pp 31-54.
- Loeb M.J., and Hakim R.S. 1996 Insect midgut epithelium in vitro: an insect stem cell system. J. Insect Physiol. 42: 1103-1111.
- Hakim R.S., Hakim F.T., and Loeb M.J. 1997 Growth of Manduca sexta midgut epithelial cells in the establishment of a primary culture. IN Invertebrate Cell Culture: Novel directions and biotechnology applications eds Maramorosch K. and Mitsuhashi J., Science Publishers Inc, New Hampshire pp 19-24.
- Loeb MJ and Hakim RS 1998 How sticky are developing insect midgut cells? Immunocytological studies with fibronectin and integrin b1 antibodies on developing Heliothis virescens midgut cells cultured in vitro. In Vitro Cell Devel Biol 34: 41A. (Abstract)
- Hakim RS, Loeb MJ, Hakim FT 1998 DNA content in Manduca midgut cells in vitro and in vivo. In Vitro Cell Devel Biol 34: 42A. (Abstract)
- Loeb M.J. and Hakim R.S. 1999 Cultured midgut cells of Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera): Fibronectin and Integrin b1 immunoreactivity during differentiation in vitro. Invertebr. Reprod. Develop. 35: 95-102.
- Loeb MJ, Jaffe H, Gelman DB, Hakim RS. 1999 Two Polypeptide factors that promote differentiation of insect midgut stem cells in vitro. Arch. Insect Biochem Physiol 40: 129-140.
- Loeb MJ, Jaffe H, Hakim RS 1999 Peptide factors that influence development of insect stem cells cultured in vitro. In Vitro Cell Devel Biol 35: 36-A (Abstract).
- Hakim RS, Hakim FT, Loeb MJ 1999 Stem cell proliferation in the midgut of larval M. sexta. In Vitro Cell Devel Biol 35: 36-A (Abstract).
Students from 1890 historically black colleges and universities, and other educational institutions who have worked at IBL (1995-present)
Kimberly Jones, graduate of Spelman College, Atlanta GA: student, 1993-1995; technician 1995-1998
| IBL Scientist | # Students | School | Length of Time | Project Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Shapiro | 2 | Eleanor Roosevelt H.S., Greenbelt, MD | 9/98-2/99 | Insect Viruses |
| Martin Shapiro | 1 | Oxon Hill H.S., Oxon Hill, MD | 7/98-1/99 | Insect Viruses |
| Martin Shapiro | 1 | Parkdale Sr. H.S., Riverdale, MD | 9/96-3/97 | Insect Viruses |
| Dale Gelman | 5 | Eleanor Roosevelt H.S., Greenbelt, MD | 1 year each | Studies on the Regulation of Molting Hormones and Metamorphosis |
| Phyllis Martin | 9 | Eleanor Roosevelt H.S., Greenbelt, MD | 1 year each | Studies on Bacillus thuringiensis |
| Phyllis Martin | 1 | Bowie H.S., Bowie, MD | 1 year | New microbes against Colorado potato beetle |
| Phyllis Martin | 1 | Eleanor Roosevelt H.S., Greenbelt, MD | 1 year | Inhibition of seed germination by watermelon |
MINORITIES IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (MIST) NETWORK
As part of the MIST program, Dr. Gelman has presented annual workshops for Washington metropolitan area students at Career Fairs since 1998 at the George Washington University Marvin Center. Students were informed about career opportunities at ARS in entomology and related fields and were able to view exhibitions and examine a variety of insects and their biological control agents.
IBL continues to seek talented minority students interested in agriculture - especially those with interest in biocontrol of insect pests of economic importance to American agriculture. For information contact:
USDA, ARS
Bldg.011A, Rm. 214, BARC-West
Beltsville, MD 20705-2350
Phone: (301) 504-5689
Fax: (301) 504-5104
e-mail: lynnd@ba.ars.usda.gov
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