Kelli Hoover Ph.D.

Kelli Hoover Lab Website

Postdoctoral Scholars:

• Dr. Cristina Rosa

 Current Graduate Students:

• Erin Scully
  
• Paul Ayayee
• Abby Levitt
  
• Wingyi Kung
  
• Peter Meng
• Samita Limbu
  

Technicians:

• David Long
• Liz McCarthy
  

Department Focus Area:

Disease Ecology and Biology, Ecological Applications

Research Interests :

Ecological Applications: Invasive species research: development of trapping techniques for the Asian longhorned beetle; gut microbial symbionts of the Asian longhorned beetle; methods development for exclusion of invasive species

Disease Biology and Ecology: Insect-plant-entomopathogen interactions of the gypsy moth

Biocontrol and Insect Pathology: Physiological mechanisms of resistance in gypsy moth to its host specific baculovirus; functions of key viral genes in pathogenesis and transmission of the gypsy moth baculovirus; biological control of hemlock woolly adelgid

Teaching:

The Insect Connection, Management of Pests of Ornamentals, Frontiers in Insect Science

Research Activities & Interests:

My laboratory has 3 major thrust areas:

1) We study mechanisms of resistance in insects to viruses. Some of these mechanisms involve interactions with the host plant at the level of the insect midgut, whereas others involve innate immune responses to viral infection as the virus attempts to spread infection throughout the host. We also study the role of viral genes in pathogenesis of baculovirus in the gypsy moth. This project is a collaboration with the USDA, Forest Service.

2) The Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), an introduced insect from China, harbors a rich diversity of gut microbes, which include both bacteria and fungi. We are studying gut microbial community structure and gene expression of this community when the beetle feeds in different host tree species. It is our goal to determine if host plant resistance acts through impacts on gut microbial symbionts or by impacts on the beetle directly. In addition, we are bioprospecting for novel enzymes with potential for biofuels applications in the beetle gut.

3) In collaboration with USDA scientists, we are working on development of a monitoring system for the Asian longhorned beetle using a male-produced pheromone in combination with host plant volatiles.

4) To prevent invasive, exotic species (insects, nematodes, and fungi) from moving around the world in wood packing materials and wood products, international regulations require these materials to be properly treated before they can be shipped out of the country of origin. As a member of the International Forestry Quarantine Research Group, an advisory body to the technical panels of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) of the United Nations, I collaborate with another faculty member at PSU on the development of dielectric heating methods as an alternative phytosanitary treatment to methyl bromide fumigation for infested wood materials used in international shipping. We are also involved in providing input to the technical panels on development of appropriate treatment schedules.

Recent Publications:

Scully ED, Hoover K, Carlson J, Tien M, Geib SM (2012) Proteomic Analysis of Fusarium solani Isolated from the Asian Longhorned Beetle, Anoplophora
glabripennis.  PLoS ONE 7(4): e32990. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0032990 (PDF)

Geib, S., Erin D. Scully, Maria del Mar Jimenez-Gasco, John E. Carlson, Ming Tien, and Kelli Hoover. 2012. Phylogenetic analysis of Fusarium solani associated with the Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis.  Insects 3(1): 141-160 (open access)

Harrison, R. and K. Hoover. 2012. Baculoviruses. In: Insect Pathology, 2nd edition, E. F. Vega and H.K. Kaya (eds). Elsevier: New York, pp.73-131.

Hoover, K., M. Grove, M. Gardner, D.P. Hughes, J. McNeil and J. Slavicek. 2011. A gene for an extended phenotype. Science 333: 1401. This paper has been designated a Faculty of 1000 Must Read Factor 8. (PDF)

Schortemeyer, M., K. Thomas, R. A. Haack, A. Uzunovic, K. Hoover, J. A. Simpson, and C. A. Grgurinovic. 2011. Appropriateness of Probit-9 in the development of quarantine treatments for timber and timber commodities. 2011. J Econ Entomol. 104: 717-731. (PDF)

Haack, R.A., A. Uzunovic, K. Hoover and J.A. Cook. 2011. Seeking alternatives to probit 9 when developing treatments for wood packaging materials under ISPM No. 15. OEPP/EPPO Bulletin 41: 39-45. (PDF)

Hoover, K., A. Uzunovic, B. Gething, A. Dale, K. Leung, N. Ostiguy, and J. J. Janowiak. 2010. Lethal temperature for pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, in infested wood using microwave energy. Journal of Nematology 42(2): 101-110.

Nehme, M. E., M. A. Keena, A. Zhang, T. C. Baker, Z. Xu, and K. Hoover.  2010.  Evaluating the use of male-produced pheromone components and plant volatiles in two trap designs to monitor Anoplophora glabripennis.  Environ. Entomol. 39: 169-176.

Georgievska, L., N. Joosten, K. Hoover, J. S. Cory, J.M. Vlak and W. van der Werf. 2010. Effects of single and mixed infections with wildtype and genetically modified Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus on movement behaviour of cotton bollworm larvae. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 135: 56-67.

Geib, S.M., M.Tien, and K. Hoover.  2010.  Biochemical analysis of secreted gut proteins from larval Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, with potential application to the biofuels industry.  Insect Science 17: 253-264. Special issue on insects and lignocellulose degradation.

Georgievska, L., J. S. Cory, D. Muñoz, P. Caballero, W. van der Werf, J.M. Vlak and K. Hoover.  2010. Dose dependency of time to death in single and mixed infections with a wildtype and egt deletion strain of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus.  J. Invertebr. Pathol. 104: 44-50.

McNeil, J., J. Slavicek, S. Thiem, M. Gardner, D. Cox-Foster, and K. Hoover.  2010. Pathogenesis of Lymantria dispar multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV) in L. dispar and mechanisms of developmental resistance. J Gen. Virol. 91: 1590-1600.

Hoover, K., M. A. Humphries, A. R. Gendron, and J. M. Slavicek.  2010.  Impact of viral enhancin genes on potency of Lymantria dispar multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus in L. dispar following disruption of the peritrophic matrix.  J. Invertebr. Pathol. 104: 150-152.

McNeil, J., D. Cox-Foster, J. Slavicek, and K. Hoover. 2010. Contributions of immune responses to developmental resistance in Lymantria dispar challenged with baculovirus. J. Insect Physiol. 56: 1167-1177.

Hoover, K. and M. J. Grove.  2009.  Specificity of developmental resistance in gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) larvae to two DNA-insect viruses. Virol. Sin. 24: 493-500 (Invited paper for special issue on Insect Viruses)

Geib, S. M., M. Jimenez-Gasco, J. E. Carlson, M. Tien, and K. Hoover.  2009.  Microbial community profiling to investigate transmission of bacteria between life stages of the wood-boring beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis. Micro. Ecol. 58: 199-211.
 
Geib, S. M., M. Jimenez-Gasco, M. Tien, J. Carlson and K. Hoover.  2009.  Effect of host tree species on cellulase activity and bacterial community composition in the Anoplophora glabripennis gut. Environ. Entomol. 38: 686-699.

Geib, S.M, M. Jimenez-Gasco, J.E. Carlson, M. Tien, and K. Hoover. 2009. Effect of host tree species on cellulase activity and bacterial community composition in the Anoplophora glabripennis gut. Microbial Ecology. (SpringerLink to publication)

Hoover, K. and M.J. Grove. 2009. Specificity of developmental resistance in gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) larvae to two DNA-insect viruses. Virologica Sinica, Special issue on Insect Viruses, DOI 10.1007/s12250-009-3053-0.

Geib, S.M., M. Jimenez-Gasco, M. Tien, J. Carlson and K. Hoover. 2009. Effect of host tree species on cellulase activity and bacterial community composition in the Anoplophora glabripennis gut.  Environmental Entomology (in press).

Geib, S. M., T. R. Filley, P. G. Hatcher, K. Hoover, J. E. Carlson, M. d. M. Jimenez-Gasco, A. Nakagawa-Izumi, R. L. Sleighter, and M. Tien. 2008. Lignin degradation in wood-feeding insects. PNAS USA 105: 12932-12937. (PDF)

Plymale, R., M. J. Grove, D. Cox-Foster, N. Ostiguy, and K. Hoover. 2008. Plant-mediated alteration of the peritrophic matrix and baculovirus infection in lepidopteran larvae. J. Insect Physiol. 54: 737-749.

Plymale, R., G.W. Felton, K. Hoover. 2007. Induction of systemic acquired resistance in cotton foliage does not adversely affect the performance of an entomopathogen. J Chem. Ecol. 33(8): 1570-1581.

Grove, MJ and K Hoover. 2007. Intrastadial developmental resistance of third instar gypsy moths (Lymantria dispar L.) to L. dispar nucleopolyhedrovirus. Biol. Control 40: 355–361.

Cory, J. and K. Hoover. 2006. Plant mediated effects in insect-pathogen interactions. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 21(5): 278-286.

Boughton, A.J., K. Hoover and G.W. Felton. 2006. Impact of chemical elicitor applications on greenhouse tomato plants and population growth of green peach aphids. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 120: 175-188.

Boughton, A., K. Hoover, and G.W. Felton. 2005. Methyl jasmonate application induces increased densities of glandular trichomes on tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum. J Chem. Ecol. 31: 2211-2216.

Fleming, M.R., J. J. Janowiak, J. M. Halbrendt, L. S. Bauer, D. L. Miller, and K. Hoover. 2005. Feasibility of eradicating cerambycid larvae and pinewood nematodes infesting lumber with commercial 2.45 GHz microwave equipment. Forest Products Journal 55(12):227-232.

Fleming, M. R., M. C. Bhardwaj, J. J. Janowiak, J. E. Shield, R. Roy, D. K. Agrawal, L. S. Bauer, D. L. Miller, and K. Hoover. 2005. Non-contact ultrasound detection of exotic insects in wooden packing materials. Forest Products Journal 55: 33-37.

Fleming, M. R., J. J. Janowiak, J. Kearns, J. E. Shield, R. Roy, D. K. Agrawal, L. S. Bauer, D. L. Miller, and K. Hoover. 2004. Parameters for scale-up of microwave treatment to eradicate cerambycid larvae infesting solid wood packing materials. Forest Products Journal 54 (7/8): 80-84.

Morewood, W. D., J. C. Sellmer, P. Neiner, J. McNeil, and K. Hoover. 2004. Behavior of adult Anoplophora glabripennis on a variety of trees under greenhouse conditions. Journal of Insect Behavior 17(2): 215-226.

Morewood, W. D., K. Hoover, and J .C. Sellmer. 2004. Predation by Achaearanea tepidariorum (Araneae: Theridiidae) on Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Great Lakes Entomologist 36: 33-36.

Morewood, W. D., K. Hoover, P. Neiner, J. McNeil, and J. C. Sellmer. 2004. Host tree resistance against the polyphagous wood-boring beetle Anoplophora glabripennis. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 110: 79-86.