Kelli Hoover, Ph.D.

Current Graduate Students:

• Samita Limbu
• Asher Jones
• Alex Campbell

Postdoctoral Scholars

• Charlie Mason
• Ikkei Shikano

Technicians:

• David Long
• Francine McCullough

Department Focus Area:

Disease Ecology and Biology, Ecological Applications

Research Interests :

Ecological Applications: Invasive species of forest insects: semiochemical communication in the Asian longhorned beetle, plant-insect-microbial symbiont interactions of the Asian longhorned beetle, methods development for exclusion of invasive species in wood used in international trade.

Disease Biology and Ecology: Plant-insect-entomopathogen interactions.

Biocontrol and Insect Pathology: Impacts of plants on pathogenesis; biological control of hemlock woolly adelgid

Teaching:

The Insect Connection (classroom and online through World Campus)

Research Activities & Interests:

My laboratory has 4 major thrust areas:

1) Impacts of induced plant defenses on the efficacy of baculovirus in lepidopoteran hosts.

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 broadly interested in the hypothesis that microbial symbionts in cerambycids drive host range. Currently we are investigating mechanisms of resistance against this beetle to determine if plant secondary metabolites act directly against the gut symbionts or indirectly through negative impacts on the beetle itself. 

3) Semiochemical communication in the Asian longhorned beetle, including a long-range male-produced pheromone and a sex specific, female produced trail pheromone.

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 on research with industrial engineers and wood products scientists to drive adoption of dielectric heating technology as an alternative phytosanitary treatment to methyl bromide fumigation. This method was recently approved as a new treatment under ISPM-15. We are also involved in providing input to the technical panels on development of appropriate treatment schedules and guidance manuals.

Recent Publications:

Shikano, I., E. McCarthy, B. D. Elderd and K. Hoover. 2017. Plant genotype and induced defenses affect the productivity of an insect-killing obligate viral pathogen. J Invertebr. Pathol., in review.

Shikano, I., K.L. Shumaker, M. Peiffer, G.W. Felton and K. Hoover. 2017. Compatibility of baculoviruses with plant defence against insect pests depends on intraspecific genetic variation in plant defence traits. Oecologia, accepted with minor revision.

Wang, J., M. Peiffer, K. Hoover, C. Rosa, R. Zeng, G. W. Felton. 2017. Helicoverpa zea gut-associated bacteria indirectly induce defenses in tomato through mediating salivary elicitor(s). New Phytologist, in press.

Mason, C.J., D. Long, E.M. McCarthy, C. Rosa, E.D. Scully and K. Hoover. 2017. Influence of population source and gut physiological conditions on fungal and bacterial communities in a tree-killing, xylophagous insect. Applied Environmental Microbiology, accepted with revision.

Chung, S.H., E.D. Scully, M. Peiffer, S.M. Geib, C. Rosa, K. Hoover and G.W. Felton. 2017. Host plant species determines symbiotic bacterial community mediating suppression of plant defenses. Scientific Reports 7:39690 DOI: 10.1038/srep39690. (pdf)

McKenna, D., E.D. Scully, Y. Pauchet, K. Hoover et al. (74 authors). 2016. Genome of the Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), a globally significant invasive species, reveals key functional and evolutionary innovations at the beetle–plant interface. Genome Biology 17(1):227. (pdf)

Mason, C., Scully, E., Rosa, C.R., Long, D., McCarthy, E. and K. Hoover. 2016. Contrasting diets reveal metabolic plasticity in the tree-killing beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae). Scientific Reports 6:33813 DOI: 10.1038/srep33813. (pdf)

Acevedo, F.E., M. Peiffer, C.W. Tan, B.A. Stanley, A. Stanley, K. Hoover, C. Rosa, D. Luthe, A. Jones and G.W. Felton. 2016. Fall armyworm-associated gut bacteria modulate plant defense responses. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interactions DOI: 10.1094/MPMI-11-16-0240-R. (pdf)

Graves, F., T. Baker, A. Zhang, M.A. Keena, and K. Hoover. 2016. Sensory aspects of trail-following behaviors in the Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis. J Insect Behavior, 29(6), 615-628. (pdf)

Mason, C., Scully, E., Rosa, C.R., Long, D., McCarthy, E. and K. Hoover. 2016. Contrasting diets reveal metabolic plasticity in the tree-killing beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae). Scientific Reports 6:33813 | DOI: 10.1038/srep33813. (pdf)

Wang, J., et al. 2016. Herbivore oral secreted bacteria trigger distinct defense responses in preferred and non-preferred host plants. Journal of Chemical Ecology 42(6): 463-474. (pdf)

Joshua R. Herr, Erin D. Scully, Scott M. Geib, Kelli Hoover, John E. Carlson, David M. Geiserf. 2016. Genome Sequence of Fusarium Isolate MYA-4552 from the Midgut of “Anoplophora glabripennis,” an Invasive, Wood-Boring Beetle. Genome Announcements 4(4) e00544-16. (pdf)

Dubey, M.K., J. Janowiak, R. Mack, P. Alder, and K. Hoover. 2016. Comparative study of radiofrequency and microwave heating for phytosanitary treatment of wood. European J Wood Sci. 74: 491–500. (pdf)

Ayayee, P., T. Larsen, C. Rosa, G.W. Felton, J.G. Ferry and K. Hoover. 2016. Essential amino acid supplementation by gut microbes of a wood-feeding cerambycid. Environ Entomol 45: 66-73. (pdf)

Limbu, S., K. Cassidy, P. Tobin, M. Keena, and K. Hoover. 2016. Host specificity of Scymnus camptodromus for biological control of hemlock woolly adelgid. Environ. Entomol. 1–7 doi: 10.1093/ee/nvv174. (pdf)

Meng, P., K. Hoover and M.A. Keena. 2015. Asian longhorned beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an introduced pest of maple and other hardwood trees in North America and Europe. J Integrated Pest Management 6(1): 4; DOI: 10.1093/jipm/pmv003. (pdf)

Kung, W., K. Hoover and R.T. Trotter. 2015. Long term effects of imidacloprid on canopy arthropod biodiversity on eastern hemlock in New England. Northeastern Naturalist 22(1):NENHC-40-NENHC-55. (pdf)

Meng, P., R.T. Trotter, M.A. Keena, T. Baker, S. Yan, E. Schwartzberg, and K. Hoover. 2014.  Effects of pheromone and plant volatile release rates and ratios on trapping Anoplophora glabripennis in China. Environ. Entomol., 43(5): 1379-1388. (pdf)

Ayayee, P., C. Rosa, J.G. Ferry, G.W. Felton, M. Saunders and K. Hoover. 2014. Gut microbes contribute to nitrogen provisioning in a wood-feeding cerambycid. Environ. Entomol. 43(4): 903-912. (pdf)

Limbu, S., M.A. Keena, D. Long, N. Ostiguy and K. Hoover. 2014. Scymnus camptodromus larval development and predation of hemlock woolly adelgid (Hemiptera: Adelgidae). Environ. Entomol.  doi: 10.1093/ee/nvu006. (pdf)

Nehme, M.A., R.T. Trotter, M.A. Keena, C. McFarland, J. Coop., H.M. Hull-Sanders, P. Meng, C.M. DeMoraes, M. Mescher, and K. Hoover. 2014. Development and evaluation of a trapping system for Anoplophora glabripennis in the United States. Environ. Entomol., 43(3): 1034-1044. (pdf)

Scully, ED, Geib, SM, Carlson, JE, Tien, M, and Hoover, K. 2014. Functional genomics and microbiome profiling of the Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) reveal new insights into the digestive physiology and nutritional ecology of wood feeding beetles.  BMC Genomics, 15:1096, DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-1096.

Hoover, K., A. Zhang, S. Wang, M. Nehme, P. Meng, and M. Keena. 2014. Sex-specific trail pheromone of Anoplophora glabripennis mediates complex-mate-finding behavior. Journal of Chemical Ecology DOI 10.1007/s10886-014-0385-5. (pdf)

Chung, S.H., Rosa, C., Scully, E.D., Peiffer, M., Tooker, J.F., Hoover, K., Luthe, D.S., Felton, G.W., 2013. Herbivore exploits orally secreted bacteria to suppress plant defenses. PNAS 110, 15728-15733 (reviewed by Faculty of 1000). (PDF)

Chung SH, Rosa C, Hoover K, Luthe D & Felton G. 2013. Colorado potato beetle manipulates plant defenses in local and systemic leaves. Plant Signal Behav. 8: 10.4161/psb.27592. (pdf)

Scully, E.D., S.M. Geib, K. Hoover, M. Tien, S.G. Tringe, K.W. Berry, T.G. del Rio, M. Chovitia, J.R. Herr, J.E. Carlson. 2013. Metagenomic profiling reveals lignocellulose degrading system in a microbial community associated with a wood-feeding beetle. PLoS ONE 8(9): e73827. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0073827. (PDF)

Scully, E.D., K. Hoover, J.E. Carlson, M. Tien, and S.M. Geib. 2013. Midgut transcriptome profiling of Anoplophora glabripennis, a lignocellulose degrading cerambycid beetle. BMC Genomics. (Link)

von Dohlen,  C., U. Spaulding, K. Shields, N. P. Havill, C. Rosa, K. Hoover.  2013. Diversity of proteobacterial endosymbionts in hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) from its native and introduced range. 2012. Environmental Microbiology Reports 15(7), 2043–2062. (PDF)

Uzunovic, A., A. Dale, B. Gething, R. Mack, J. Janowiak and K. Hoover. 2013. Lethal temperature for pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, in infested wood using radio frequency energy. J. Wood Science DOI 10.1007/s10086-012-1306-2. (PDF)

Levitt, A.L., R. Singh, D. L. Cox-Foster, E. Rajotte, N. Ostiguy, K. Hoover, E. C. Holmes.  2013. Evidence for cross-species transmission and active replication of honey bee viruses in associated arthropods. Virus Research 176: 232-240. (Link)

van Houte S, Ros VID, Mastenbroek TG, Vendrig NJ, Hoover K, Spitzen J & van Oers MM. 2012. Protein tyrosine phosphatase-induced hyperactivity is a conserved strategy of a subset of baculoviruses to manipulate lepidopteran host behavior. PloS One 7. doi:e4693310.1371/journal.pone.0046933

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. (pdf)

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, 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 38: 686-699.

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. Microbial Ecology 58: 199-211. (SpringerLink to publication)

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)