Anthony J. A. Ouellette, Ph.D.

(Andy)

Associate Professor and Co Chair

Department of Biology and Marine Science

Phone: 904-256-7299

Research Interests

I am particularly interested in aquatic microbiology. Lately I have largely been mentoring undergraduate students in either their own microbiology related projects (their ideas and/or their experimental design—see presentation list below) or on projects dealing with toxic cyanobacteria, in particular Microcystis in the St. Johns River watershed. Microcystis is a cyanobacterial genus that includes toxic and non-toxic members. Toxic members synthesize microcystin a hepatotoxin that has many known structural variants. Toxic Microcystis are cosmopolitan and cause great health concern, particularly when they occur in drinking reservoirs or recreational areas. Furthermore, Microcystis can form large blooms, which can manifest as green scum floating on the water surface, which is unfortunately not uncommon in Florida, including the St. Johns River. Monitoring efforts largely focus on microscopic identification and toxin analysis. DNA detection methods are becoming quite popular for monitoring water bodies for harmful organisms due to their potential sensitivity, speed, and relative ease. I am interested in using molecular biology tools to investigate the distribution of Microcystis.

Education

2002 Ph.D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics

University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN

Advisor: Professor Bridgette Barry, Currently Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Georgia Institute of Technology

-Characterization of light harvesting components and modified amino acids of photosystem II

1994 B.S. Biology, Minor in Chemistry

University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

1992 University of Tampa, Tampa, FL

1992 A.A. General Studies

Valencia College, Orlando, FL

1987 High School Diploma

Rogers High School, Newport, RI

Academic Positions

2012-present Associate Professor, Department of Biology and Marine Science, Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, FL (Co-Department Chair Fall 2011 to present)

2008-2012 Assistant Professor, Department of Biology and Marine Science, Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, FL

2003-2008 Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY-Oswego, Oswego NY

2002-2003 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Microbiology and

Center for Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN

Advisor: Dr. Steven Wilhelm, Associate Professor of Microbiology

· Developed molecular probes for detection of toxic cyanobacteria

1995-2002 Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and

Biophysics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN

1994-1995 Research Assistant, Florida Solar Energy Center, University of Central Florida, Cocoa, FL

                          Advisor: Dr. Clovis Linkous, Senior Research Scientist
                                       ·Photochemical water oxidation by semiconductors: towards a dual bed photosystem
                                       ·Use of semiconductor / cement preparations for inhibition of biofilm growth

Peer-Reviewed Publications:

A.J.A. Ouellette, S.M. Handy, and S.W. Wilhelm (2006) "Toxic Microcystis is widespread in Lake Erie: PCR detection of toxin genes and molecular characterization of associated cyanobacterial communities" Microbial Ecology 51: 154-165.

J.M Rinta-Kanto, A.J.A. Ouellette, G.L. Boyer, M.R. Twiss, T.B. Bridgeman, and S.W. Wilhelm (2005)

"Quantification of toxic Microcystis spp. during the 2003 and 2004 blooms in Western Lake Erie using Quantitative Real-Time PCR"

Environmental Science & Technology 39: 4198-4205.

L.B. Anderson, A.J.A. Ouellette, J. Eaton-Rye, M. Maderia, M. J. MacCoss, J.R. Yates III, and B.A. Barry (2004)

"Evidence for a Post-Translational Modification, Aspartyl Aldehyde, in a Photosynthetic Membrane Protein"

Journal of the American Chemical Society 126: 8399-8405.

A.J.A. Ouellette and S.W. Wilhelm (2003)

"Toxic cyanobacteria: the evolving molecular toolbox"

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 1: 359-366.

L.B. Anderson, M. Maderia, A.J.A. Ouellette, C. Putnam-Evans, L. Higgins, T. Krick, M. MacCoss, H. Lim, J.R. Yates III, and B.A. Barry (2002)

"Posttranslational modifications in the CP43 subunit of photosystem II"

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 99: 14676-14681.

A.J.A. Ouellette and B.A. Barry (2002)

"Tandem mass spectrometric identification of spinach Photosystem II light-harvesting components"

Photosynthesis Research 72: 159-173.

C.A. Linkous, G.J. Carter, D.B. Locuson, A.J. Ouellette, D.K. Slattery, and L.A. Smitha (2000)

"Photocatalytic inhibition of algae growth using TiO₂, WO₃, and cocatalyst modifications"

Environmental Science and Technology 34: 4754-4758.

L.B. Anderson, A.J.A. Ouellette, and B.A. Barry (2000)

"Probing the structure of photosystem II with amines and phenylhydrazine"

Journal of Biological Chemistry 275: 4920-4927.

A.J.A. Ouellette, L.B. Anderson, and B.A. Barry (1998)

"Amine binding and oxidation at the catalytic site for photosynthetic water oxidation"

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U.S.A. 95: 2204-2209.

Other Publications:

S.W. Wilhelm, A.J.A. Ouellette, and J.M Rinta-Kanto (2007) “Development of Molecular Reporters for Microcystis Activity and Toxicity [Project #2818]” This is an AWWA Research Foundation Project Report

C.A. Linkous, D.K. Slattery, A.J.A. Ouellette, G.T. McKaige, and B.C.N. Austin (1996)

"Solar photocatalytic H₂ from water using a dual bed photosystem"

Hydrogen Energy Progress XI: Proceedings of the 11^th World Hydrogen Energy Conference: 2545-2550.

Funding

2012-2013 $2,500

JU Faculty Research Grant: Collaborative Research

2010-2011 $2,500

JU Faculty Research Grant: Cyanotoxin dynamics in the St. Johns River: a JU snapshot

December 2006 $53,530.00

Beckman Coulter Genomics Educational Research Matching Funds grant

A gene sequencer was purchased for use in teaching and research

P.I.: Amy B. Welsh

Co-P.I.: Anthony J.A. Ouellette

Fall 2006 $2,500

SUNY-Oswego Student/Faculty Collaborative Challenge Grant

“Elucidating microbial chemical interactions in aquatic environments”

P.I.: Anthony J.A. Ouellette

Co-P.I.: Anders Peterson (undergraduate student)

Summer & Fall 2005 $5,997.00

National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Supplemental.

This student worked on MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for identifying microorganisms.

P.I. Anthony J.A. Ouellette

August 1 2004 - July 31, 2007 $249,850.00

National Science Foundation, Major Research Instrumentation Program

"Acquisition of Proteomics Equipment and a MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometer for Establishment of a Proteomics/Mass Spectrometry Facility"

P.I.: Anthony J.A. Ouellette

Co-P.I.s: Kestutis Bendinskas, Martha Bruch, Webe Kadima, Casey C. Raymond

Senior Personnel: J. Alden Lackey

Summer & Fall 2004 $1005.60

Rice Creek Associates Ninth Annual Small Grants Program

"Rice Pond microorganisms: Genetic, metabolic, and morphological identification"

P.I.: Anthony J.A. Ouellette

Summer & Fall 2004 $2000.00

SUNY-Oswego New Faculty Enhancement Grant

"Molecular characterization of cyanobacterial communities and genetic detection of toxic Microcystis in Lake Ontario and Rice Creek"

P.I.: Anthony J.A. Ouellette

Oral Presentations by Research Students (Presenter in bold, undergraduate students are underlined)

Sandria Vernon and Anthony Ouellette

“Unto the death: HPLC analysis of bacterial inhibitory molecules”