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Carol L. Bender
Oklahoma State University
Regents Professor, Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology
Address: 127 Noble Research Center, OSU, Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-9945 Fax: 405-744-7373
Email: carol.bender@okstate.edu
URL: http://myprofile.cos.com/benderc60
http://www.ento.okstate.edu/profiles/bender.htm
Ph.D., Plant Pathology, 1986, University of California Riverside Lab Photo
Postdoctoral:
Research Emphasis: Plant pathogenic bacteria and their interaction with plant hosts
Virulence factors in Pseudomonas syringae
Related Activities: Treasurer, International Society of Molecular-Plant Microbe Interactions
Scientific Advisory Board, Byotix, Inc.
 
Research Description:

Research in my lab focuses on the plant pathogenic bacterium, Pseudomonas syringae, and the interaction of this bacterium with various plant hosts. More specifically, we study two virulence factors that are produced by P. syringae, the phytotoxin coronatine and the exopolysaccharide alginate. On the pathogen side of the interaction, we are interested in the biosynthesis and regulation of these two virulence factors, which has resulted in numerous multidisciplinary collaborations with scientists in New Zealand, the United States, and Europe. From the plant viewpoint, we are interested in how coronatine and alginate contribute to pathogenesis. This has become an attractive area due to the advent of functional genomics and the availability of nucleotide sequence information for P. syringae and various plant hosts. We are also interested in commercial applications of our research activities, which has led to several patent and licensing agreements. We use a variety of approaches in our research including basic microbiology, biochemistry, molecular genetics, and functional genomics. From a personal perspective, I strive to provide a research environment in my laboratory that enables students and postdoctorals to realize their professional potential and the rewards of a career in science.
 
Recent Publications:

Uppalapati SR, Ayoubi P, Weng H, Palmer DA, Mitchell RE, Jones W, Bender CL (2005) The phytotoxin coronatine and methyl jasmonate impact multiple phytohormone pathways in tomato. Plant J: in press.

Cui J, Bahrami AK, Pringle EG, Hernandez-Guzman G, Bender CL, Pierce NE, Ausubel FM (2005) Pseudomonas syringae manipulates systemic plant defenses against pathogens and herbivores. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA: 102:1791-1796.

Peñaloza-Vázquez A., Fakhr MK, Bailey AM, Bender CL (2004) AlgR functions in algC expression and virulence in Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. Microbiology 150:2727–2737.

Bender C L (2004) Bacterial virulence factors: strategies for disrupting plant defense, p. 73-82. In J. Leach, S. Tsuyumu, T. Wolpert, and T. Shirashi (eds.), Genomic and Genetic Analysis of Plant Parasitism and Defense; APS Press, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Bjerkan T M, Bender CL, Ertesvåg H, Drabløs F, Fakhr MK, Preston LA, Skjåk-Bræk G, Valla S (2004) The Pseudomonas syringae genome encodes a combined mannuronan C5-epimerase and O-acetyl hydrolase, which strongly enhances the predicted gel-forming properties of alginates. J Biol Chem 279:28920-28929.

 
Selected Additional Publications:

Peñaloza-Vázquez A, Preston GM, Collmer A, Bender CL (2000) Regulatory interactions between the Hrp type III protein secretion system and coronatine biosynthesis in Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. Microbiology 146: 2447-2456.

Bender CL, Alarcón-Chaidez F, Gross DC (1999) Pseudomonas syringae phytotoxins: mode of action, regulation and biosynthesis by peptide and polyketide synthetases. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 63: 266-292.

Keith LMW, Bender CL (1999) AlgT (s22) controls alginate production and tolerance to environmental stress in Pseudomonas syringae. J Bacteriol 181: 7167-7184.

Yu J, Peñaloza-Vázquez A, Chakrabarty AM, Bender CL (1999) Involvement of the exopolysaccharide alginate in the virulence and epiphytic fitness of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. Mol Microbiol 33: 712-720.

Rangaswamy V, Jiralerspong S, Parry R, Bender CL (1998) Biosynthesis of the Pseudomonas polyketide coronafacic acid requires monofunctional and multifunctional polyketide synthase proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 95: 15469-15474.