E-mail: John.Jones@hutton.ac.uk

Visiting professor at UGent faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology)

John Jones is a research scientist based at JHI in Scotland. John is also a Guest Professor at Ghent university. John teaches Plant Nematology at the University of Dundee and also contributes to the "molecular aspects of plant-nematode relationships" module that is part of the PINC and EUMAINE MSc courses. John has over 20 years experience in working with plant parasitic nematodes. His main research interests are in effectors of Globodera pallida (potato cyst nematode). John also has an interest in genomics of G. pallida and horizontal gene transfer in nematodes.  John and his colleagues are part of the Dundee Effector Consortium.

Further details can be found at http://www.hutton.ac.uk/staff/john-jones

Prof. Dr. Vivian Blok

e-mail: Vivian.Blok@scri.ac.uk

Current Research

• Understanding genetic diversity (biological/functional, molecular genetic and phylogenetic) of Globodera pallida using comparative sequencing, expression analyses, pyrosequencing and functional analyses (RNAi and host response to expressed proteins) to investigate the effect of selection on candidate genes.
• Utilising mass spectrometry to investigate changes in the metabolome and proteome involved in compatible and incompatible interactions between plant parasitic nematodes and their hosts.
• Developing molecular diagnostics for plant parasitic nematodes. Currently developing a quantitative TaqMan assay for Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida for use with soil samples and to examine competition between these species.
• Investigating the molecular bases of host-plant parasitic nematode interactions using genomics with the aim of sustainable management of host resistance.
• Investigating the evolution of the multipartite mitochondrial genome of Globodera pallida and related species.

Research History

Joined SCRI in 1989 as a Post-doctoral Researcher first with Dr Mike Mayo investigating the molecular structure of Raspberry Ringspot Virus and then with Drs Tony Murant and David Robinson in the Division of Virology working on the development of molecular probes for the satellite of Groundnut Rosette Virus.

In 1992 joined the Nematology group to investigate the molecular basis of biological variation in relation to virulence of Globodera pallida and Meloidogyne spp., the host response to these nematodes and the development of diagnostics to PCN, RKN and virus vector nematodes.  All of these approaches relate to the development of novel methods to improve the management of plant parasitic nematodes in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner.

Recent Publications

• Armstrong, M.R., Husmeier, D., Phillips, M.S. and Blok V.C. 2007. Segregation and recombination of a multipartite mitochondrial DNA in populations of the potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida. Journal of Molecular Evolution (in press).
• Adam, M.A.M., Phillips, M.S. and Blok V.C. 2007. Molecular diagnostic key for identification of single juveniles of seven common and economically-important species of root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.). Plant Pathology 56, 190-197.
• Holeva, R., Phillips, M.S., Neilson, R., Brown, D.J.F., Young, V., Boutsika, K., and Blok V.C. 2006. Real-time PCR detection and quantification of vector trichodorid nematodes and Tobacco rattle virus. Cellular and Molecular Probes 20, 203-211.
• Phillips, M.S., and Blok V.C. 2006. Selection for virulence in Globodera pallida populations in relation to quantitative resistance from Solanum vernei and S. tuberosum ssp. andigena CPC2802. Plant Pathology (submitted).
• Gibson, T., Blok V.C., Phillips, M.S., Hong, G., Kumarasinghe, D., Riley, I.T. and Dowton, M. 2006. The mitochondrial genomes of the nematode Globodera pallida are mosaics evidence of recombination in the uniparentally inherited mitochondrial genome. Journal of Molecular Evolution (conditionally accepted).
• Armstrong, M.R., Husmeier, D., Phillips, M.S. and Blok V.C. 2006. Segregation and recombination of a multipartite mitochondrial DNA in populations of the potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida . Journal of Molecular Evolution (conditionally accepted).
• MacMillan, K., Blok V.C., Young, I., Crawford, J. and Wilson M.J. 2006. Quantification of the slug parasitic nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita from soil samples using real time qPCR. International Journal of Parasitology (in press).
• Castelli, L., Bryan, G., Blok V.C., Ramsay, G. and Phillips, M.S. 2005. Life stage response observed amongst fifteen wild Solanum species resistant to Globodera pallida. Nematology 7, 701-711.
• Castelli, L., Bryan, G., Blok V.C., Ramsay, G. and Phillips, M. S. 2005. Investigation of resistance specificity amongst fifteen wild Solanum species to a range of Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis populations. Nematology 7, 689-699.
• Pylypenko, L.A., Uehara, T., Phillips, M.S., Sigareva, D.D. and Blok V.C. 2005. Identification of Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida in the Ukraine by PCR. European Journal of Plant Pathology 111, 39-46.
• Valentine, T., Shaw, J., Blok V.C., Phillips, M.S., Oparka, K.J. and Lacomme, C. 2004. Efficient virus-induced gene silencing in roots using a modified tobacco rattle virus vector. Plant Physiology 136, 3999-4009.