Mark Alan Schell

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University of Georgia
College of Arts and Sciences
Microbiology
ProfessorAppointed: 1995
Professional Headshot of Mark Alan Schell

Mailing Address

Biological Sciences Building or Plant Sciences Building
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia 30602
United States

Contact Information

Phone: (706) 542-2815
Fax: (404) 542-2674
schell@arches.uga.edu

Qualifications

Ph.D., Cornell University, Biochemistry, 1979.
B.A., Johns Hopkins University, Biology, 1973.

Expertise and Research Interests

Genomic sequences of >500 microbes are now available, but the detailed, validated functions of many individual genes and the roles they play in microbial physiology and ecology is unknown. We focus on uncharacterized niche colonization genes in plant and animal pathogens of the Burkholderia group and in the lactic acid bacteria inhabiting the human digestive tract. Using bioinformatics, microarrays, and shot-gun proteomics we mine genomes for novel genes that play critical roles in the ability of these bacteria to colonize specialized ecological niches inside their hosts. Microbes under study are Ralstonia solanacearum (a plant pathogen), Burkholderia. pseudomallei & mallei (human pathogens and potential bioterrorism threats), Bifidobacterium sp. and Lactobacillus sp. (probiotic intestinal bacteria of commercial and health importance). Candidate genes are analyzed by constructing knockout mutants which are then studied for alterations in interactions with plant or animal hosts. We hope to discover new genes that are relevant to development of theraputics, vaccines, and health-promoting foods. We also expect to gain basic information about the physiology and evolution of these important bacteria.

Other Expertise

I developed proprietary bioinformatic technologies for mining genomes of bacteria and proteomic approaches to identify extracellular factors important in host-microbe interactions

Future Research

Furntional microbial genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics

Industrial Relevance

Probiotic, prebiotic, and functional food industries. Nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals

Keywords

COS Keywords:

Agricultural Biotechnology, Bacteriology, Biochemistry, Biochemistry, Nucleic Acids, Bioinformatics, Gene Regulation, Genetics, Genomics, Metabolism, Microbial Degradation, Microbial Ecology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Plant Diseases Or Pathology, Proteomics, Vaccine.

Additional Terms:

Aromatic Hydrocarbon Metabolism, Biochemistry, Biodefense, Bioinformatics, Environmental Biotechnology, Gene Regulation, Genetics, Genomics, Metabolism, Microbial Ecology, Microbial Genomics, Microbiology, Plant Disease, Plant Pathology, Proteomics, Vaccines.

Languages

(Reading, Writing, Speaking)

German: (Basic, None, Basic)
Spanish: (Basic, None, Basic)

Previous Positions

1990-1995, Associate Professor, University of Georgia, Microbiology
1985-1990, University of Georgia, Assistant Professor
1983-1985, University of Georgia, Assistant Research Scientist
1981-1983, Genex Corporation, Research Manager
1980-1981, Genex Corporation, Senior Research Scientist
1978-1980, Cornell University, Postdoctoral Associate

Publications

  • Kang Y, Liu H, Genin S, Schell MA, Denny TP, Ralstonia solanacearum requires type 4 pili to adhere to multiple surfaces and for natural transformation and virulence, Molecular Microbiology, 46(2), 427-37, October 2002 Abstract
  • Schell MA, Karmirantzou M, Snel B, Vilanova D, Berger B, Pessi G, Zwahlen MC, Desiere F, Bork P, Delley M, Pridmore RD, Arigoni F, The genome sequence of Bifidobacterium longum reflects its adaptation to the human gastrointestinal tract, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America., 99(22), 14422-7, October 2002 Abstract
  • Liu H, Kang Y, Genin S, Schell MA, Denny TP, Twitching motility of Ralstonia solanacearum requires a type IV pilus system, Microbiology (reading, England), 147(Pt 12), 3215-29, December 2001 Abstract
  • Garg RP, Huang J, Yindeeyoungyeon W, Denny TP, Schell MA, Multicomponent transcriptional regulation at the complex promoter of the exopolysaccharide I biosynthetic operon of Ralstonia solanacearum, Journal of Bacteriology, 182(23), 6659-66, December 2000 Abstract
  • Yindeeyoungyeon W, Schell MA, Footprinting with an automated capillary DNA sequencer, Biotechniques, 29(5), 1034-6, 1038, 1040-1, November 2000 Abstract
  • Garg RP, Yindeeyoungyeon W, Gilis A, Denny TP, Van Der Lelie D, Schell MA, Evidence that Ralstonia eutropha (Alcaligenes eutrophus) contains a functional homologue of the Ralstonia solanacearum Phc cell density sensing system, Molecular Microbiology, 38(2), 359-67, October 2000 Abstract
  • Kang Y, Saile E, Schell MA, Denny TP, Quantitative immunofluorescence of regulated eps gene expression in single cells of Ralstonia solanacearum., Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 65(6), 2356-62, June 1999 Abstract
  • Kang Y, Carlson R, Tharpe W, Schell MA, Characterization of genes involved in biosynthesis of a novel antibiotic from Burkholderia cepacia BC11 and their role in biological control of Rhizoctonia solani., Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 64(10), 3939-47, October 1998 Abstract
  • Flavier A B, Schell M A, Denny T P, An RpoS (sigmaS) homologue regulates acylhomoserine lactone-dependent autoinduction in Ralstonia solanacearum., Molecular Microbiology, 28(3), 475-86, May 1998 Abstract
  • Huang J, Yindeeyoungyeon W, Garg R P, Denny T P, Schell M A, Joint transcriptional control of xpsR, the unusual signal integrator of the Ralstonia solanacearum virulence gene regulatory network, by a response regulator and a LysR-type transcriptional activator., Journal of Bacteriology, 180(10), 2736-43, May 1998 Abstract
  • Flavier A B, Ganova-Raeva L M, Schell M A, Denny T P, Hierarchical autoinduction in Ralstonia solanacearum: control of acyl-homoserine lactone production by a novel autoregulatory system responsive to 3-hydroxypalmitic acid methyl ester., Journal of Bacteriology, 179(22), 7089-97, November 1997 Abstract
  • Flavier A B, Clough S J, Schell M A, Denny T P, Identification of 3-hydroxypalmitic acid methyl ester as a novel autoregulator controlling virulence in Ralstonia solanacearum., Molecular Microbiology, 26(2), 251-9, October 1997 Abstract
  • Clough S J, Lee K E, Schell M A, Denny T P, A two-component system in Ralstonia (Pseudomonas) solanacearum modulates production of PhcA-regulated virulence factors in response to 3-hydroxypalmitic acid methyl ester., Journal of Bacteriology, 179(11), 3639-48, June 1997 Abstract
  • Denny T P, Ganova-Raeva L M, Huang J, Schell M A, Cloning and characterization of tek, the gene encoding the major extracellular protein of Pseudomonas solanacearum., Molecular Plant-microbe Interactions, 9(4), 272-81, May 1996 Abstract
  • Romero-Arroyo C E, Schell M A, Gaines G L 3rd, Neidle E L, catM encodes a LysR-type transcriptional activator regulating catechol degradation in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus., Journal of Bacteriology, 177(20), 5891-8, October 1995 Abstract
  • Huang J, Schell M, Molecular characterization of the eps gene cluster of Pseudomonas solanacearum and its transcriptional regulation at a single promoter., Molecular Microbiology, 16(5), 977-89, June 1995 Abstract
  • Huang J, Carney B F, Denny T P, Weissinger A K, Schell M A, A complex network regulates expression of eps and other virulence genes of Pseudomonas solanacearum., Journal of Bacteriology, 177(5), 1259-67, March 1995 Abstract
  • Schell M A, Denny T P, Huang J, VsrA, a second two-component sensor regulating virulence genes of Pseudomonas solanacearum., Molecular Microbiology, 11(3), 489-500, February 1994 Abstract
  • Huang J, Denny T P, Schell M A, vsrB, a regulator of virulence genes of Pseudomonas solanacearum, is homologous to sensors of the two-component regulator family., Journal of Bacteriology, 175(19), 6169-78, October 1993 Abstract
  • Schell M A, Molecular biology of the LysR family of transcriptional regulators., Annual Review of Microbiology, 47, 597-626, 1993 Abstract
  • Sobecky P A, Schell M A, Moran M A, Hodson R E, Adaptation of model genetically engineered microorganisms to lake water: growth rate enhancements and plasmid loss., Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 58(11), 3630-7, November 1992 Abstract
  • Huang J Z, Schell M A, Role of the two-component leader sequence and mature amino acid sequences in extracellular export of endoglucanase EGL from Pseudomonas solanacearum., Journal of Bacteriology, 174(4), 1314-23, February 1992 Abstract
  • Huang J Z, Schell M A, In vivo interactions of the NahR transcriptional activator with its target sequences. Inducer-mediated changes resulting in transcription activation., Journal of Biological Chemistry, 266(17), 10830-8, 15 Jun 1991 Abstract
  • Huang J Z, Schell M A, Evidence that extracellular export of the endoglucanase encoded by egl of Pseudomonas solanacearum occurs by a two-step process involving a lipoprotein intermediate., Journal of Biological Chemistry, 265(20), 11628-32, 15 Jul 1990 Abstract
  • Huang J H, Schell M A, DNA sequence analysis of pglA and mechanism of export of its polygalacturonase product from Pseudomonas solanacearum., Journal of Bacteriology, 172(7), 3879-87, July 1990 Abstract
  • Schell M A, Brown P H, Raju S, Use of saturation mutagenesis to localize probable functional domains in the NahR protein, a LysR-type transcription activator., Journal of Biological Chemistry, 265(7), 3844-50, 5 Mar 1990 Abstract
  • Yeung K H, Schell M A, Hartel P G, Growth of genetically engineered Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas putida in soil and rhizosphere., Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 55(12), 3243-6, December 1989 Abstract
  • Hartel, P.G., J.W. Williamson and M.A. Schell. 1990. Growth of genetically-altered Pseudomonas solanacearum in soil and rhizosphere. J. Soil Sci. Soc. of Am. 548:1021-1025
  • J. Huang and M.A. Schell. 1990. Evidence that extracellular export of endoglucanase encoded by egl of Pseudomonas solanacearum occurs by a two-step process involving a lipoprotein intermediate. J. Biol. Chem. 265: 11628-11632
  • M.A. Schell, D.P. Roberts and T.P. Denny. 1989. Analysis of the Pseudomonas solanacearum polygalacturonase encoded by ph2A and its involvement in phytopathogenicity. J. Bacteriol. 170: 4501-4508

Profile Details

Last Updated: 12/30/2003

COS Expertise ID #231768
Reference this profile directly: http://myprofile.cos.com/schellm68