Ernest Hiebert - CV

Professor (100% Research)

Education:

University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, B.S.A. (Hon.), Plant Science, 1964;
Purdue University, M.S., Plant Pathology; Ph.D. 1969, Plant Virology

Employment:

1969-1974 Assistant Professor, University of Florida
1977-1978 Visiting Scientist, Agriculture Canada, Vancouver, B.C.
1974-1981 Associate Professor, University of Florida
1986 Visiting Scientists, Institute de Biologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire, Stransbourg, France
1981-Present Professor, University of Florida

Responsibilities:

Teaching: Plant Virology 6223C/4222C Fall 1993; Fall 1995, Seminar (PLP 6932) and Colloquim (PLP 6921), "Special Problems in Plant Pathology" (advanced virology techniques). Participate in the team teaching of MCB (Virology) 4503C (annually since 1990). Supervise graduate students in M.S. and Ph.D. programs. Career Graduate Committee Activities - served on 46 Graduate Committee Activities, 8 as chair or co-chair for Ph.D. programs, and 3 as chair for M.S. programs. Currently serving on 6 graduate committees.

Research: Molecular biology of plant viruses, particularly those of the geminiviridae and potyviridae families. Development of new control strategies for plant viruses. Major Research Accomplishments: Identified a unique set of mutations in the tomato mottle virus (TMoV) movement protein (BC1) of a geminivirus generated during Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The geminivirus resistance expressed by the mutated BC1 gene was the basis for filing a Provisional Patent Application UF#-1381 entitled "A mutated viral gene protecting plants against tomato mottle virus (TMoV), and cabbage leaf curl virus as new geminiviruses. In 1993 identified a new geminivirus (new to Florida's bean production) infecting beans in the Homestead area as a bean golden mosaic virus isolate. A project with Dr. Morales, CIAT, Cali, Colombia, generated monoclonal antibodies for geminivirus detection and BGMV strain identification. Collaborated with Dr. D. Gray, CFREC, Leesburg, FL in the production of transgenic cucurbits expressing potyviral coat protein genes in order to develop engineered virus resistance. Generated information about the genetic makeup of potyviruses through in vitro translation, cloning and sequencing of various cucurbit potyviruses. Developed of purification techniques for various plant viruses. Developed techniques and probes for the detection and identification of nonstructural proteins of potyviruses.

Current Projects and Grants:

  • Gray, D.J., (Co-PI), Hiebert, E., Webb, S.E. and Purcifull, D.E. Potyviral resistant seedless watermelon and muskmelon for the Caribbean region. USDA CBAG, 8/95-7/98. $169K.
  • Purcifull, D.E., Beaver, J.S., Hiebert, E Polston, J., and Rivera-Vargas, L. "Development of rapid and sensitive serological techniques for the detection of geminiviruses in the Caribbean area. USDA CBAG. 7/95-6/98. $75K.
  • Polston, J.E., Scott, J.W., and Hiebert, E. (Co-PI). Development of tomatoes resistant to tomato mottle and tomato yellow leaf curl viruses. Florida Tomato Committee 9/959/96, $25K.
  • Project PLP-03394 entitled "Identification, biological characterization and management of geminiviruses and other plant viruses in Florida and the Caribbean." Polston, Chellemi, Hiebert, McGovern, and Webb. 1995-2000.
  • Patents: Career Grant funds generated $1,400,000 A Provisional Patent Application entitled "Amutated viral gene protecting plants against viral infection (UF#-1381) has been filed (August 11, 1995). Modified version "Methods for producing pathogen-resistant plants was filed March 25, 1996.

Career Publications:

Book Chapters: 11
Refereed Research Publications: 55
Abstracts: 80

Recent Publications:

  • Gray, D.J., Hiebert, E., Lin, Chia-Min, Comptom, M.E., and Gaba, V.P. 1996. Construction and use of a simple gene gun for particle bombardment in "Plant Tissue Culture Concepts and Laboratory Exercises" edited by R.N. Trigiano and D.J. Gray. Chap. 32, pp. 23-290. CRC Press.
  • Hiebert, E., Abouzid, A.M., and Polston, J.E. 1996. Whitefly-Transmitted Geminiviruses. Pp. 277-288, Chap. 26, in Bemisia 1995: Taxonomy, Biology, Control and Management. Intercept Ltd., Andover, Hants, England.
  • Hunter, W.B., Hiebert, E. Webb, S., Polston, J.E, and Tsai, J. 1996. Precibarial and cibarial hemosensilla in the whitefly, Bemisia Tabaci (Gennadus), (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). J. Insect Morphology and Embryology, in press.
  • Wu, Z.C., Hu, J.S., Polston, .E., Ullman, D.E., and Hiebert, E. 1996. Complete nucleotide sequence of a nonvector-transmissible strain of abutilon mosaic geminivirus in Hawaii. Phytopathology 86: 608-613.
  • Wisler, G.C., Purcifull, D.E., and Hiebert, E. 1995. Characterization of the P1 protein and coding region of the zucchini yellow mosaic virus. Journal of General Virology 76:37-45.
  • Blair, M.W., Basset, M.J., Abouzid, A.M., Hiebert, E., Polston, J.E., McMillan Jr., R.T., Graves, W., and Lamberts, M. 1995. Occurrences of bean golden mosaic virus in Florida. Plant Disease, 79, 529-533.
  • Cancino, M., Abouzid, A.M., Morales, F.J., Purcifull, D.E., Polston, J.E., and Hiebert, E. 1995. Generation and characterization of three monoclonal antibodies which are useful in detecting and distinguishing bean golden mosaic viruses. Phytopathology 85, 484-490.
  • Cicero, J.M., Hiebert, E., and Webb, S.E. 1995. The alimentary canal of Bemisia tabaci and Tialeurodes abutilonea (homoptera, Sternorrhynchi): histology, ultrastructure and correlations to function. Zoomorphology, 115, 31-39.
  • McGovern, R.J., Polston, J.E., Danyluk, G.M., Hiebert, E., and Stansly, P.A. 1994. Identification of a natural weed host of tomato mottle geminivirus in Florida. Plant Disease 78:1102-1106.
  • Polston, J.E., Hiebert, E., McGovern, R.J., Stansly, P.A., and Schuster, D.J. 1993. Host range of tomato mottle virus, a new geminivirus infecting tomato in Florida. Plant Disease 77: 1181-1184.
  • Abouzid, A.M., Polston, J.E., and Hiebert, E. 1992. The nucleotide sequence of tomato mottle virus, a new geminivirus isolated from tomatoes from Florida. J. Gen. Virol. 73:3225-3229.

Honors and Awards:

Graduated with Honors from University of Manitoba, 1964, Recipient of a visiting Scientist Fellowship from the Canadian Government, 1977-78. Selected as vice chairperson 1976-77 and chairperson 1977-78 for Plant Virology Committee of the American Phytopathological Society. Co-recipient of the Ruth Allen Award from the American Phytopathological Society at the 1992 annual meeting in Portland, Oregon, August 8-12. Elected as a Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society in 1994.

Service:

Served on numerous Departmental Committees, Member ATTC Plant Virus Advisory Committee (Potyviruses). Member Geminiviridae Classification Study Group (Plant Virus Subcommittee of the ICTV).

International Activities:

Collaborated with Israeli scientists through 3 US-BARD funded projects (1985-1994). Through a US-AID project collaborated with Dr. Franscico Morales, CIAT, Cali, Colombia in the development of monoclonal antibodies for identification and detection of BGMV and other geminiviruses. Attended and participated in a workshops and scientific meetings in Latin America. Hosted visiting scientists from Latin American, Morocco, France, Egypt, Israel, and China.

Current Memberships and Activities in the Profession:

American Society for Virology, The American Phytopathology Society, The Canadian Phytopathology Society, International Society for Plant Pathology, Caribbean Division of American Phytopathology Society, Society for General Microbiology, International Society for Plant Molecular Biology, Member ATTC Plant Virus Advisory Committee (Potyviruses), Member Geminiviridae Classification Study Group (Plant Virus Subcommittee of the ICTV).