Jim Slavicek
Title: Project Leader / Research Biologist
Unit: Genetics, Biological Control, and Management of Invasive Species
Previous Unit: Genetics and management of invasive forest insect pests, diseases, and beneficial fungi
Address: Northern Research Station
359 Main Road
Delaware, OH 43015
Phone: 740-368-0033
E-mail: Contact Jim Slavicek
Jump to Publications
Education
- Ph.D. in Genetics, University of Connecticut
- B.A. in Biology. Kalamazoo College
Civic & Professional Affiliations
American Association for Virology, 1990 to present
Society for Invertebrate Pathology, 1992 to present
Current Research
My primary research and development efforts are focused on development, improvement, and production of baculoviruses that can be used to control invasive forest inset pests. In addition, I am leading an effort to restore the American elm to forested landscapes. Current efforts include:
- Development of improved strains of the Lymantria dispar nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV)
- Studies to understand a host’s initial defenses to viral infection
- Development of cell culture bioreactor production methods for LdMNPV
- Generation of clonal L. dispar cell line that produce high levels of LdMNPV polyhedra
- Determine if the browntail moth baculovirus, Euproctis chrysorrhoea, can be used in browntail moth infested areas to control this pest
- Restoration of the American elm in forested landscapes
Why is This Important
Invasive insects, plants, and microbes have had and continue to have a significant deleterious impact on U.S. forests. It?s estimated that approximately 50,000 species of plants, microbes and animals have been introduced into the U.S. Most of the invertebrate animal (e.g., gypsy moth, zebra mussel) and microbe (e.g., Ophiostoma novo-ulmi, Nectria coccinea) introductions were accidental, whereas vertebrate animal (e.g., cattle, poultry) and plant introductions (e.g., corn, wheat) were mostly intentional. The economic impact of 79 nonindigenous species over the period from 1906-1991 was estimated by the Office of Technology Assessment to be $97 billion in damages. More recently, it?s estimated that economic damages caused by nonindigenous species and costs for control and management of these species exceed $137 billion per year. Native forest insect pests and diseases also cause losses of approximately 18% of forest products (e.g., lumber, pulp) valued at approximately $9.8 billion annually. Due to the negative impact of invasive insects and diseases on the nation?s forests and urban trees efforts are needed to develop means of ameliorating the negative impacts of invasives.
Future Research
Future work will include efforts to identify microbial pathogens that infect the emerald ash borer and to develop methods of using the microbial agents to address the emerald ash borer problem.
Featured Publications
- D'Amico, Vincent; Slavicek, James; Podgwaite, John; Fuester, Roger; Peiffer, Randy; Webb, Ralph. 2009. The effect of a mutation on field transmission of LdMNPV
- D'Amico, Vincent D.; Slavicek, James; Podgwaite, John; Thorpe, Kevin; Webb, Ralph; Fuester, Roger; Peiffer, Randy. 2008. An indepth look at new viral strains for use in Gypchek
- Slavicek, James M. 2008. Production of Gypchek in the Wave® cell bioreactor: comparison to production stirred tank bioreactor
- Slavicek, James M. 2007. Expansion of the American elm restoration effort to the upper Midwest
- Slavicek, James M.; Gabler, J. Matt. 2007. Production of LDMNPV in the Wave® cell culture bioreactor
Additional
Online Publications
- Slavicek, James; Elkinton, Joseph; Podgwaite, John. 2005. Control of the Browntail Moth in Maine with a Baculovirus
- Slavicek, James M.; Gabler, J. Matt. 2005. Production of LdNPV on Cell Culture Bioreactors
- Slavicek, James M.; Boose, Andrew; Balser, Dan; Cavender, Nicole. 2005. Restoration of the American Elm in Forested Landscapes
- Slavicek, James M.; Popham, Holly J.R. 2005. The Lymantria dispar nucleopolyhedrovirus enhancins are components of occlusion-derived virus
- Choi, One; Tomiya, Noboru; Kim, Jung H.; Slavicek, James M.; Betenbaugh, Michael J.; Lee, Yuan C. 2003. N-glycan structures of human transferrin produced by Lymantria dispar (gypsy moth)cells using the LdMNPV expression system
- Slavicek, James M.; Hayes-Plazolles, Nancy. 2003. The Lymantria dispar nucleopolyhedrovirus contains the capsid-associated p24 protein gene
- Haissig, Bruce E.; Kent, Kirk T.; Olsen, William L.; Raffa, Kenneth F.; Slavicek, James M.; [Editors]. 1991. Abstracts of papers presented at the international symposium on applications of biotechnology to tree culture, protection, and utilization.
- Slavicek, James M.; Hayes-Plazolles, Nancy. 1991. Identification, cloning, and expression analysis of three putative Lymantria dispar nuclear polyhedrosis virus immediate early genes
- Slavicek, James M.; Lanner-Herrera, Carita; Hayes-Plazolles, Nancy; Kelly, Mary Ellen; Fikes, Martha. 1991. Replication and inclusion body characteristics of two Lymantria dispar nuclear polyhedrosis virus plaque variants
- Slavicek, James M.; Hayes-Plazolles, Nancy. 1991. Temporal analysis and spatial mapping of Lymantria dispar nuclear polyhedrosis virus transcripts and in-vitro translation products
Last Modified:
11/19/2008