Science | Curriculum Vitae

2020
Professor Emeritus, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba

1982-2019
Professor (formally Zoology, now Department of Biological Sciences), University of Manitoba

2012
Acting Associate Dean Research: Faculty of Science, University of Manitoba        

2008
Acting Head, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba

1997-2007
Head, Department of Zoology, University of Manitoba

1976-1982
Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Manitoba

1973-1976
Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Manitoba

Post-doctoral Fellow McGill University (1970 - 1972)
McGill University, Institute of Parasitology
with Dr. K. G. Davey, Director (Currently Retired Emeritus VP Research York University)

PhD (1965 – 1970)
Zoology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
PhD supervisor - Dr. Everett Anderson, Department of Zoology, University of Massachusetts
Current - James Stillman, Emeritus Professor of Comparative Anatomy, Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School

Thesis
Cytology of the female reproductive system of Rhodnius prolixus: A normal and an experimental analysis.              

Other research during PhD
Marine developmental biology of invertebrates at the Marine Biological Laboratories, Woods Hole, Massachusetts. In depth study of oogenesis and early development of the polychaetous annelid Diopatra cuprea, and other species.

Undergraduate Training (1961 – 1965)

BSc (Hon)
Zoology, University of Alberta, Edmonton
Research project: Laboratory and field study of the life cycle of the acanthocephalan Polymorphus.

Summer research research (1963 and 1964) at the University of Alberta Biological Station, Gorge Creek, Sheep River Turner Valley, Alberta as an undergraduate research assistant for Dr. J. C. Holmes (Currently retired).

2020
Awarded Professor Emeritus, University of Manitoba

2008
Career Achievement Award from the Canadian Council of Biology Chairs

My research falls within the broad areas of cell and developmental biology. It is focused on germ cell determination, development and eggs and sperm. The research encompasses study of the origin, and fate of female germ cells and how growth and differentiation of the egg cell (oocyte) is accomplished. Segregation of germ cells from somatic cells and differentiation of the oocyte is crucial to the life cycle of most metazoan organisms. Once the oocyte is activated (usually by fertilization) a complex choreography of a myriad of intricate cascades of developmental processes ensues at the molecular and cellular levels. These culminate in the development of the structure and pattern of the individual organisms. The developmental foundation of  the developmental blueprint is established during the process of oogenesis, when the oocytes differentiate in the ovary.

Particularly laboratory animal models I use to investigate the events of oogenesis are various  insects and polychaetes worms. The germ tissue is organized in a compartmental syncytium where a major portion (the nurse cell compartments) are specialized for enhanced synthesis of components like maternal in mRNA's, ribosomes, regulatory proteins and organelles (like mitochondria). These NC products are then transported via intercellular bridges to the other specialized compartments (the oocytes) which receive these components and grow eventually becoming mature oocytes. Thus these systems provide an excellent opportunity to investigate the mechanisms that facilitate and regulate cytoplasmic transport and how developmental polarity is established.

Significant cell biological factors that are involved include the cytoskeletal elements, the polarized electrophysiological ionic fluxes and segregation of germ cell determinants, among others. The primary research tools/approaches have involved biochemistry, molecular biology, various types of microscopy and electrophysiology.

I have also researched the cellular structure of the water flea, Daphnia magna. This organism is widely used as a model in aquatic toxicology and surprisingly, details of its cellular structure at light microscope and electron microscope levels is poorly understood. We have done extensive work describing in detail the cytoarchitecture of all the tissues in this species and have presented the findings at more than three international conferences. In collaboration with researchers at the University of Winnipeg I have also been involved in research studies on the response of the Daphnia tissues to environmental perturbations and toxicological agents.

Other areas of research have focused on functional morphology using a variety of invertebrate and vertebrate systems. Currently  I am exploring acute development in Lake Sturgeon examining  the early stages of acute development in larval and juvenile sturgeon using bone and cartilage staining techniques. This is in keeping with a long standing interest I have had in skin and bone development evolutionary and in histology generally.

Model animal systems used include the following:

The invertebrate systems used are ideal for lab culture and experimental analysis. The primary ones have been the hemipteran insect Rhodnius prolixus, the polychaete Ophryotrocha labronica and Daphnia magna.

In addition to these primary ones I have also done research on a variety of other systems including the following:  

• Early development and cortical polarity in the molluscs Nassarius and Bithynia;

• Oogenesis in a viviparous Onychophoran;

• Oogenesis and viviparity in the Testse Fly Glossina austeni;

• Gap junctions and Nurse cell/Oocyte interaction with follicle cells during Cecropia moth oogenes;

• Ultrastructure of the complete digestive system to reveal adaptations for air breathing in the catfish Hoplosternum;

• Hemocytes and the evolution of the immune system in lobsters;

• Sex determination and HY antigen in selected invertebrates and fish;

• Colchicine resistance in the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica;

• Hepatocyte ultrastructure during inflammation in rats;

• The effects of biological solutions on medical vascular grafts fiber structure using the Vascular prostheses Vasugraft;  

• Mammalian cell responses to the anti-cancer drug dexrazoxane (CHO cells and rat fetal cardiac myocytes); algal fungal association in the development of lichens;

• The ultra-structure of the morphogenesis of the larval and juvenile skin in Lake Sturgeon.

I have continually held Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) research operating grants (now Discovery) from 1973 to 2014. I have held a number of NSERC equipment grants, an NSERC Strategic Grant in toxicology and a number of University of Manitoba research grants.

NSERC equipment grants over the years include grants for a Zeiss fluorescence microscope, Zeiss Inverted microscope, Zeiss Axio Imager fluorescence microscope, Hitachi H7000 STEM electron microscope and electrophysiology and imaging equipment.

Noteworthy, I initiated and wrote (with the help of colleagues in Brazil, Argentina, USA and Canada), the White Paper to sequence the genome of Rhodnius prolixus submission (Nov 2004) to the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, for consideration in their review of proposals for species that they would fund for total genome sequencing. This was in an era when genome projects cost $15-20 million. I recruited all the participants, focused our discussions and coordinated our efforts that culminated in the White Paper that I submitted to NIH. The input of Reduviid researchers in Canada, the USA and a number of Latin American countries was invaluable in this process. The NIH review panel selected our proposal as one of the 12 successful ones that would receive funding to do the total genome in 2005. The White Paper was entitled “The case for sequencing the genome of the blood-feeding hemipteran insect Rhodnius prolixus”. I subsequently chaired the Genome Steering Committee that had overseen the Genome project. The genome sequencing and its assembly was done by the large scale genome sequencing facility at Washington University, St. Louis Medical School and it was totally funded ($8-10 million) by NIH. Vector Base (also NIH funded) at Notre Dame University has been the location of the assembled genome and has done the automated curation of the assembled genome. Major annotation efforts, involving many scientists world-wide, have been underway within the research community in Brazil, Argentina, Europe, the USA and Canada, and the resultant keystone multi-authored publication was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) Oct. 2015.

Cell Biology Technologies

• Various types of EM (TEM, SEM, ESEM, Freeze-Fracture and limited STEM)

• Various types of light microscopy (basic, phase contrast, dark field) polarizing, Nomarski Interference contrast, Hoffman Modulation contrast, fluorescence, Apotome, deconvolution

• Video Microscopy and low light imaging

• Image Processing

• Fluorescence Ratioing

• Microinjection Methodologies, Microdissection

• Tissue preparative methods for LM, EM, Immunocytochem and Histochemistry.

• Electrophysiological Methods

• Intracellular recording

• Vibrating probe techniques (voltage and ion selective)

• Conventional protein and nucleic acid electrophoresis methods

• In situ hybridization - non-radioactive approaches

• Photomicrography and various graphic arts techniques

Research papers in refereed journals & book chapters:
81 papers and reviews published (1996-2017).

Conference Posters and Abstracts:
60 conference posters (1967-2018)

National and International Conferences
Invited Speaker

Symposium Presentations:
31 symposia talks (1971-2009)

National and International Invited Seminars Presented
36 seminars at academic institutions (1974-2015)

Additional information and specifics regarding research contributions available here.

MSc Advisor Committees (20)

PhD Committees (21)

MSc Thesis defences (37)

PhD qualifying exams (18)

PhD Candidacy Exams (17)

PhD Selection Committees (16)

Undergrad Honors Thesis Exams (9)

D. Lococco  (1992-1995)
PDF research on oogenesis in the insect Rhodnius, the polychaete Ophryotrocha and a viviparous onychophoran, Plicatoperipatus.

H. S. Injeyan (1976-1978)
PDF research on insect follicle cells, endocrine control, follicle cell junctions: research on cell motility, cytoskeleton, and colchicine resistance in Entomoeba histolytica.

Maggie Wuerz (2014 – 2016)
Co-supervision of her as a University of Winnipeg MSc. student. She did much of her research in my lab.

John Brubacher (2010)
PhD - Germ cell determination in the polychaete annelid, Ophryotrocha labronica. (Currently Professor at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) Winnipeg)

Roxanne Graham (2001-2007)
MSc - Origin and development of Germ Cells in Rhodnius embryos. She completed all the research but unfortunately developed a serious medical condition that led her to withdraw from graduate school before she completed her thesis.

Karen Mei-Lan Yeow (1996)
MSc - Development and Dynamics of the F-actin in the germ tissue of the telotrophic ovariole of Rhodnius prolixus. (Former - Research Director at Major Biotech Company Sereno, Switzerland. Currently operates her own company.)

Chris Bjornsson (1996)
PhD - Ion currents, ion-selective vibrating probe analysis in oogenesis. (Former - Director Imaging Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY. Current - Zeiss USA, Boston)

Rene Harrison (1995)
MSc - Structural and Dynamic Aspects of Trophic Cord Microtubules in Rhodnius prolixus. (Professor, University of Toronto)

Qun Li (1993)
MSc - Oogenesis in Rhodnius prolixus: A search for Drosophila maternal gene homologies. (Dentist, London Ontario )

William L. W. Diehl-Jones (1991)
PhD - Bioelectric currents during oogenesis in Rhodnius prolixus. (Former - Professor Nursing, University of Manitoba. Current - Professor, Athabasca University, and Adjunct Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg)

Gregory M. Kelly (1989)
PhD - Embryogenesis of the insect, Rhodnius prolixus: cellular, biochemical and molecular aspects. (Professor Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario)

Sandra M. Graham-McPherson (1989)
MSc - Dynamics of the oocyte cortical cytoskeleton during oogenesis.(Senior Administrator PR and Funding, McGill University)

William L. W. Diehl-Jones (1986)
Experimental analysis of the cytoskeleton and cell motility in insect hemocytes.(Current - Professor, Athabasca University, Alberta)

Gunnar Valdimarsson (1987)
MSc - Microtubules during ovary development. (Former Professor Queens University and Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba)

Andrew Watson (1984)
MSc - The Dynamics of the Rhodnius prolixus follicle cell cytoskeleton: Ultrastructure and Immunocytochemistry. (Professor and Dean Graduate Studies, Western University Medical School London, Ontario)

Wade Sigurdson (1984)
MSc - Bioelectric aspects of the Rhodnius prolixus ovariole: extracellular current mapping during oogenesis. (Director of Imaging Facilities at SUNY, Buffalo, New York)

Doug Lutz (1979)
MSc - Structural and physiological aspects of the 5th instar ovarian development in Rhodnius prolixus. (Former Professor, University of Kentucky, now Microscopy Specialist with a major Israeli Scientific Equipment Supply Company)

Don Lococco (1979)
MSc - The Ultrastructure and Morphogenesis of the Female Accessory Gland in the Insect Rhodnius prolixus. (Former Professor in Rochestor NY at Catholic University, St. John Fisher College and subsequently at St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto and currently retired)

• Roxanne Graham (2000)
  Hon. BSc - Mitochondrial distribution and activity during oogenesis.

• Cory Bartley (1999)
  Hon. BSc - Comparative histology of fossilized dermal armour of four families of placoderm fishes. Co-supervised with K.W. Stewart.

• Eric Saltel (1997)
  Hon. BSc - Intracellular free calcium in the germ tissue of the telotrophic ovarioles of Rhodnius prolixus.

• Karen Yeow (1993)
  Hon. BSc - Vitellogenesis in the polychaete Ophryotrocha labronica.

• Jane Curtis (1993)
  Hon. BSc - Mitochondrial distribution and transport within the nurse cell-oocyte complex in the insect Rhodnius prolixus.

Summer undergraduate students and Undergrad Students doing programs in my lab
Supervised some 25 undergrad research students

External PhD and MSc Thesis Examiner at other Universities:
External examiner on Theses of seven students at other Canadian universities.

International Committees:

2005-2007
Initiated, coordinated and chaired the International Rhodnius Genome Sequencing Project. 2007 served as Conference Chairman and member of the scientific organizing committee of the Conferences and International Workshops on Triatomine Genomics and Biology held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2005 and Salvador, Brazil in 2007

2004
External Reviewer for Research at the University of Siena, Italy

1995-1997
Served on the selection committee for the International Distinguished Entomologist Award in Insect Morphology and Development presented at the International Congress of Entomology

National Committees:

2007
NSERC Consultation Committee for Grant Selection Committee (GSC 32) Cell Biology restructuring

2003
Served on the University of Western Ontario Faculty of Science Review and External Decanal Selection Review Panel

2003
External reviewer for Michael Smith Foundation Career Research Awards (UBC)

2001
Chaired Expert Review Panels for Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)
Reviewed seven major CFI grants in Infectious diseases and blood research

2000
Chaired an Expert Review Panel for CFI to review 3 large CFI grants in biotechnology, biomedical and stem cell research

1999-2002
Served as a member of the Executive of the Canadian Council of Biology Chairs – served as Councillor (1999), Vice President (2000), President (2001), Secretary (2002)

1992-1995
Consultant to NSERC Cell Biology GSC for the preparation of the Reallocation Report that presented the state of the discipline, strengths and future directions

1990-1991
Chaired the new NSERC Cell Biology Grant Selection Committee (GSC 32)

1988-1991
NSERC Cell Biology and Genetics Committee Member

1986 – 2011
Served a number of times as external reviewer for research, special fellowships, special awards, academic promotions for Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, USA and Qatar

University of Manitoba and Manitoba Societies Committees:
Served on over 40 committees involved with many facets of administration:

Faculty of Science Committees and related administration:
Served on over 30 committees in many Science Admin roles.

Committees Prior to becoming Department Head:
As faculty member served on over 30 different committees on an array of departmental matters

Organized and chaired many of the discussions for the merger of the departments of Botany, Intro Biology and Zoology into a new Biological Sciences Department at the University of Manitoba

Activities initially focused on the rationale for a merger and the decision to take this bold step of merging two of the founding departments of the Faculty of Science.

As Acting Head for the new department I proposed that the new department be called the Department of Biological Sciences. With my Associate Heads, Tom Booth and Mike Sumner, we successfully made a case for the Department of Biological Sciences, obtaining the former Pharmacy Building to meet the increasing teaching and research space needs of the Department.

International

2004
Research Program of University of Siena, Italy

2003
Crocker Foundation, Hong Kong Senior Research Fellow Applications

1993
International Science Foundation (Washington)

1980, 1985, 1991, 1996
National Science Foundation U.S.

1978, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1997
U.S. - Israel Bi-National Science Foundation

1984, 1987
March of Dimes - Birth Defects USA

1986
NATO Scientific Affairs Division (Belgium) Grant

1985
MRC Centennial PDF fellowship application review for Stanford University

National

1973-2014
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)

1988-2015
Canada: Research Discovery Grants

1988
Killam Fellowship reviewer

1995
Stacie Awards

1995
Special Projects Grant

Various years
URF Grant review

2003
Canada Heart and Stroke

1985 and 1995
University of Western Ontario - Academic Development Fund

1996
University of Toronto - Connaught Transformative Research Grant

American Society of Cell Biology

Society of Developmental Biology

Canadian Microscopical Society

Royal Microscopical Society, England

Historical Microscope Society Canada

The Society for Experimental Biology (SEB)

Sigma Xi

Canadian Federation of Biological Sciences (CFBS)

Entomology Society of Manitoba

American Society of Zoologists

Canadian Society of Zoologists

1999 - 2008
North American Section Editor for Arthropod Structure and Function, Elsevier Science

1983 - 1999
Associate Editor of the International Journal of Insect Morphology and Embryology

1979 - 1982
Editorial board of Canadian Journal of Zoology (CJZ)

1996 - 2019
Associate editor of the Canadian Journal of Zoology

Developmental Biology
Developmental Biology International
Roux's Archives of Developmental Biology
Invertebrate Reproduction and Development
Differentiation
Acta Zoologica
Cell Motility and Cytoskeleton
Cell Biology International
Current Opinions in Insect Science
Cell and Tissue Research
Physiological Zoology
Canadian Journal of Zoology
Journal of Morphology
Arthropod Structure and Function
International Journal of Insect Morphology and Embryology
Journal of Insect Physiology
Insect Biochemical and Molecular Biology
PLOS ONE
Journal of Medical Entomology
The Canadian Entomologist
Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology
Bulletin Entomological Research
The Canadian Entomologist
Tissue and Cell
Tissue and Cell Research
Journal Zoology.

Additional information on Science CV can be found here