Education

• University of Arizona 1974-1980 Ph.D. Genetics Molecular Biology
• University of Arizona 1972-1974 M.S. Genetics
• University of Minnesota, 1968-1972 B.S. Biology Chemistry (Morris branch)

Teaching Interests

Microbial Molecular genetics, Molecular Biology, Recombinant DNA techniques

Research Interests

My research is divided into three separate but complimentary areas:

1. Genetics of the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum (Gibberella zeae). This organism is the causative agent of scab (head blight) of wheat in the United States and other countries. I have been developing genetic maps using Amplified Fragment Length polymorphism analysis to generate mendelianly inherited genetic markers. My genetic maps have been used to align the Genomic sequence recently produced by the Broad institute.

2. I am also studying the population genetics of more than 20 species of native plants of the tall grass prairie. This effort is designed to assess the genetic diversity of native species in existing remnants of the prairie that exist in Iowa.

3. I am also interested in the ability of plants to resist infection by microorganisms. We are isolating disease resistant gene analogues from the genomes of native plant species. It is expected that these could be used in agronomic crops as genetic protection to disease organism such as Fusarium graminearum.

Professional Accomplishments

Patterns of Trichothecene Production, Genetic Variability, and Virulence to Wheat of Fusarium graminearum from Smallholder Farms in Nepal. Desjardins, A. E.; Jarosz, A. M.; Plattner, R. D.; Alexander, N. J.; Brown, D. W.; Jurgenson, J. E.; J. Agric. Food Chem.; (Article); 2004; 52(20); 6341-6346.

Genetic Mapping of Pathogenicity and Aggressiveness of Gibberella zeae (Fusarium graminearum) Toward Wheat. C. J. R. Cumagun, R. L. Bowden, J. E. Jurgenson, J. F. Leslie, and T. Miedaner. 2004. Phytopathology 94(5) 520-526.

Nancy J. Alexander , Susan P. McCormick, Troy M. Larson and James E.Jurgenson. 2004.Expression of Tri15 in Fusarium sporotrichioides. Current genetics 46,157-162

Hilker, C. A. and J. E. Jurgenson 2003.Genetic variation within and among two prairie plant species:A comparison of remnant populations and progeny. Proceedings of the 20th North American Prairie Conference. Held Truman State 182-188.

Jurgenson, J. E., R. L. Bowden, K. A. Zeller, J. F. Leslie, N.J. Alexander, and R. D. Plattner 2002. A Genetic Map of Gibberella zeae (Fusarium graminearum) Genetics 160:1451-1460

Jurgenson, J. E., K. A. Zeller, and J. F. Leslie. 2002. An Expanded Genetic Map of Gibberella moniliformis (Fusarium verticilliodes) AEM 68:1972-1979

Kitchen, Duane J., Daryl D. Smith, James E. Jurgenson and Stephen L. OKane 2000. Genetic variation among Remnant Iowa Populations of Rough Blazing Star (Liatris Aspera MichX.) in Proceedings of the 17th North American Prairie Conference. Held in Mason City July 16-20

Zeller, Kurt A., James E. Jurgenson, Elhamy M. El-Assiuty, and John F. Leslie 2000. Isozyme and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) from Cephalosporium maydis in Egypt. Phytoparasitica. 28:121-130

Beltz, Lisa, Robert Moran, Osama Elsawy, Jeffery Sadler, and James Jurgenson. 1999. The effects of Telomerasse Inhibitors on Lymphocyte Function. Anti Cancer Research 19:3205-3212

Abbas, Jason, B.A.D. Hetrick, and J.E. Jurgenson. 1996. Isolate Specific Detection of Mycorrhizal Fungi using genome specific primer pairs. 88(6):939-946.

Chang, J.C., K.L. Mikkelson, I.M. Simet, J. Dundee, M.R. Steenblock, and J.E. Jurgenson. 1995. Synthesis, Characterization, and Antimicrobial Studies of Some 2-Substituted Benzaldehyde-2 Furanthiocarboxyhydrazones and Their Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) Complexes. Synthesis and Reactivity in Inorganic and Metal-Organic Chemistry 25 (10): 1653-1664.

Jurgenson, J.E. and S.P. Champe 1990. The Sexual and Asexual Spores of Aspergillus nidulans contain partially overlapping sets of mRNAs. Experimental Mycology 14:89-93

Jurgenson, J.E., and P. Biebel 1989. Taxonomy of a Mixed Cylindrocystis Assemblage from Vermont Soil. II Isozyme variations. Archiv für Protistenkunde. 137:299-307

Hildebrand, M., Jurgenson, J.E., Ramage, R.T., and D.P. Bourque 1985. Derivation of a physical map of Chloroplast DNA from Nicotiana tabacum by Two-Dimensional Gel and Computer-Aided Restriction Analysis. Plasmid 14:64-79

Miller, M.E., J.E. Jurgenson, E.M. Reardon, and C.A. Price. 1983. Plastid translation in organello and in vitro during light induced development in Euglena. Journal of Biological Chemistry 258:14478-14484.

Jurgenson, J.E. and D.P. Bourque. 1980. Mapping of rRNA genes in an inverted repeat in Nicotiana tabacum chloroplast DNA. Nucleic Acids Research 8: 3505-3516.

Jurgenson, J.E., S.I. Beale and R.F. Troxler. 1976. Biosynthesis of d-aminolevulinic acid in the unicellular rhodophyte. Cyanidium caldarium. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 69: 149-157.

Responsibilities

Courses Designed and Taught: Recombinant DNA techniques, Microbial Molecular Genetics, Molecular Biology of the Cell, Advanced Techniques in Biotechnology, Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology, General Microbiology

International Experience

INVITED TALKS

Symposium "Genetic mapping in Gibberella zeae (Fusarium graminearum)", James E. Jurgenson, 8TH International Congress of Plant Pathology 2-7 February 2003

"The use of AFLP for genetic mapping in Gibberella zeae", James E. Jurgenson, Ninth International Fusarium Workshop. January 27  30, 2003

Grants History

CURRENT FUNDING Engineering barley with antifungal gene gastrodianin to enhance resistance to scab disease. Tilahun Abebe1, James E. Jurgenson1, and Ronald W. Skadsen2 1Department of Biology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA 50614 2USDA/ARS, Cereal Crops Research Unit, 501 Walnut St., Madison WI 53726 Submitted to the USDA SCAB initiative fund. $43,000

Isolation of disease resistance genes (R genes) conferring resistance to Fusarium verticilliodides in corn  Battelle SPONSOR: Board of Regents, State of Iowa. $19,664. 7/1/06-7/1/08

RESEARCH GRANTS RECEIVED

Development of DNA Markers for the Identification of Midwestern Grape Varieties Dr. Jean Gerrath, and Dr. James Jurgenson, University of Northern Iowa, Department of Biology, from the Iowa Grape and Wine Development Commission $30,000. 7/1/05-7/1/07

Development of Microsatellite markers for efficient identification of Switch grass (Panicum virgatum) cultivars. 1/1/2005-1/1/2006 -LRTF, IA D.O.T $19,175.00

Analysis of Genetic Diversity of Iowa's Native Plant Species using the Beckman CEQ 8000 Genetic Analyzer. 10/2/2003-6/30/2005 -LRTF, IA D.O.T $9,000.00

Conservation of Genetic Variation Over Successive Generations of Native Seed increase. With Daryl Smith, Steve O'Kane, Laura Jackson, Dave Williams, Greg Houseal, 12/1/03-12/1/04 National Fish and Wild Life Fund $45,100.00

RRTTC -A travel grant for the Ninth International Fusarium Workshop. $1600.00.

Assessment of Genetic Diversity of Iowas Native plant species11/15/02-11/15/03/ -LRTF, IA -D.O.T $14,850.00

The use of DNA fingerprinting for source comparison of prairie plant germplasm 11/15/01-11/15/02/ -LRTF, IA -D.O.T $18,314.64

The use of DNA fingerprinting for efficient management of prairie plant germplasm 10 /1/00  12/31/2001/ / -LRTF, IA -D.O.T $18,036.10

DNA Fingerprint analysis of genetic variation of prairie plant species: A proposal to continue the work in 1999-2000 -11/1/99  9/30/2000/ / -LRTF, IA -D.O.T $17,539.00

AFLP Genetic Analysis of Iowa Ecotype, 11/ 1/ 98  9/30/99, / -LRTF, IA -D.O.T $18, 271.53

Utilization of polyvinyl alcohols for the Production of Single Cell Protein by Microbial Fermentation in Enclosed Systems. James Jurgenson and Bart Bergquist. Iowa Recycling Center research fund. for 1995-1997. $45,000.

National Science Foundation ILI program award Teaching Undergraduates the Dynamics of Biology through Computer Assisted Image Analysis. $150,000. with Bart Bergquist, Jean Gerrath, and Darrell Wiens. May 1995- Oct. 1997

National Science Foundation ILI program award DUE-9451954 of $21,100 "PCR Based Undergraduate Molecular Biology Laboratory." May 1, 1994- October 31, 1996.

Carver Scientific Research Initiative Grant award of $15,000. Project entitled "DNA fingerprint characterization of mycorrhizal fungi to enhance agricultural sustainability." Award-Jan 1995 - Jan 1996.

Carver Scientific Research Initiative Grant award of $12,050. Project entitled "Utilization of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the Rapid Diagnosis of Economically Important Plant Pathogens of Corn." Award-August 1993-August 1994.

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH - ACADEMIC RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT AWARD. "ISOLATION OF DEVELOPMENTAL GENES OF ASPERGILLUS NIDULANS". Total amount of award $100, 503.00 for the period May 1, 1991 - May 1, 1994.

NSF , 88-90, Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement, "Integration of Specialized Light Microscopy into undergraduate education." March 15, 1990 - August 31, 1992. $22,211.

Instrumentation award co P.I. with John Henson, cell biologist. Funds which are matched by Dickinson College are to be used to introduce phase contrast and florescence microscopy into the biology curriculum, particularly cell biology, Intermediate biology, microbiology, and genetics.

13 other small grants for student research

Community Engagement

1. 1998-Present, scientific consultant and research collaborator with the Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, and the United States Department of Agriculture research unit in that department.

2. Member of the Iowa Foundation (Iowa Academy of Sciences) grant review committee 1994-1997

3. I have served as a professional consultant to such entities as Deere and company, Indonesian Second University Development Project, D.J.K. Enterprises Inc. to evaluate the population of microorganisms present in their composter product "Yardball"1993,

4. Chair of student paper competition at the 1994 Midwest Microbiology conference at the University of Iowa.

5. Chair of the Molecular and Cellular Biology section of the Iowa Academy of Sciences. Clarke college 1997.

6. Conducted a day long DNA Finger printing workshop for Tricounty Schools Biology class here at UNI on 17, May 2000 ( instructors name was Dawn M. Matthias )

7. Guest speaker at the Regional meeting of the Black Hawk Soil & Water Conservation District. Talk entitled: "The New Genetics - Promises and Problems" March 9, 1993.

8. Journal reviewer for numerous articles submitted to such journals as Applied and Environmental Microbiology , Oncogene, Genetics, Fungal Genetics and Biology

9. Advisor to high school student science fair projects on several occasions. One student, Leslie McNaught received second place in the state in 1995 for her DNA analysis project.

10. Out reach education in Molecular Biology - I planned, provided materials and equipment, and executed two day workshops for High School Biology students in molecular biology and gene cloning at Denver High on Dec. 14 and 15 1993. This workshop at Denver High School was done for 11 of the 14 years I have taught at UNI.

11. I helped to initiate, and was the advisor for both the UNI Biotechnology and Microbiology Clubs which are student run organizations in the Department of Biology.

12. I was a member of the Allen School of Nursing Certificate program advisory board.

13. Member - Biotechnology program advisory board for Hawkeye Community college. 1995-1998.

Skills and Competencies

• Curriculum Development
• Grant Preparation
• Interviewing
• Qualitative Research Methods
• State and Federal Regulation Compliance

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