Markus Beck

	My Personal History:
	2006-present: Research Scientist, University of Georgia, Department of Entomology, Athens, Georgia, USA 2002-2005: Research Professional, University of Georgia, Department of Entomology, Athens, Georgia, USA 2000-2001: Research Associate, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Entomology, Madison, Wisconsin, USA 1999- 2000: Research Associate, University of Adelaide, Department of Applied and Molecular Ecology, Adelaide, Australia 1995-1998: Ph.D. University of Adelaide, Department of Crop Protection, South Australia, Australia. Thesis title: "Molecular Genetics of Host Manipulation and Competition in an Insect Parasitoid System" 1993: Graduation as "Diplom Biologist" at The University of Freiburg , Germany 1992-1993: Diploma thesis at The University of Freiburg, Institute for Biology II, Plant Biochemistry, Germany. Thesis title: "Regulation of a Heatshock-Protein (HSP90-Class) in Catharanthus roseus " 1985-1992: Undergraduate studies at The University of Freiburg, Germany. Final examinations in Genetics, Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Organic Chemistry

	My Research:
	I am interested in the study of parasitoid/host interactions with emphasis on elucidating the molecular mechanisms employed by endoparasitoid wasps to evade or suppress the immune system of their habitual hosts. In our laboratory, the braconid wasp Microplitis demolitor in combination with its lepidopteran host Pseudoplusia includens serves as a model system to study such interactions. M. demolitor carries a bracovirus, designated MdBV, which is essential for successful parasitization. Upon ovipostion, the female wasp deposits a quantity of virus into to the host leading to the expression of viral genes and suppression of cellular defense reactions. My research primarily focuses on the molecular and biochemical characterization of immunosuppressive genes encoded by MdBV.

	My Publications:
	Webb, B.A., Strand, M.R., Dickey, S.D., Beck, M., Hilgarth, R.S., Kadash, K., Kroemer, J.A., Lindstrom, K.G., Rattanadechakul, W., Shelby, K.S., Thoetkiattikul, L., Turnbull, M.W., Barney, W.E., and Witherell, R.A. (2006): Polydnavirus genomes reflect their dual roles as mutualists and pathogens. Virology, in press Strand, M.R., Beck, M.H., Lavine, M.D., and Clark , K.D. (2006): Microplitis demolitor bracovirus inhibits phagocytosis by hemocytes from Pseudoplusia includens . Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology 61, 134-145 Thoetkiattikul, L., Beck, M.H., and Strand , M.R. (2005): Inhibitor k B-like proteins from a polydnavirus inhibit NF- k B activation and suppress the insect immune response. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 102, 11426-11431 Beck, M. and Strand , M. (2005): Glc1.8 from Microplitis demolitor bracovirus induces a loss of adhesion and phagocytosis in insect High-Five and S2 cells. Journal of Virology 79, 1861-1870 Schmidt, O., Li, D., Beck, M., Kinuthia, W., Bellati, J., and Roberts, H.L.S. (2005): Phenol-oxidase-like activities and the function of virus-like particles in ovaries of the parthenogenetic parasitoid Venturia canescens . Journal of Insect Physiology 51, 117-125 Beck, M. and Strand, M. (2003): RNA interference silences Microplitis demolitor bracovirus genes and implicates glc1.8 in disruption of adhesion in infected host cells. Virology 314, 521-535 Asgari, S., Reineke, A., Beck, M., and Schmidt, O. (2002): Isolation and characterization of a nephrilysin-like protein from Venturia canescens virus-like particles. Insect Molecular Biology 11, 477-485 Reineke, A., Asgari, S., Ma, G., Beck, M., and Schmidt, O. (2002): Sequence analysis and expression of a virus-like particle protein, VLP2, from the parasitic wasp Venturia canescens. Insect Molecular Biology 11, 233-239 Beck, M., Reineke, A., Lorenz, H., Theopold, U., and Schmidt, O. (2001): Two distinct re-productive strategies are correlated with an ovarian phenotype in coexisting parthenogenetic strains of a parasitic wasp. Journal of Insect Physiology 47, 1189-1195 Schmidt, O., Asgari, S., Beck, M., and Theopold, U. (2000): Host defence manipulation by parasitoid wasps and the problem of assessing host specificity. In: The Hymenoptera: Evolution, Biodiversity & Biological Control (Edited by A.D. Austin & M. Dowton), pp. 29-37. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne Beck, M., Theopold, U., and Schmidt, O. (2000): Two genetically distinct Venturia canescens strains display different reproductive strategies. In: The Hymenoptera: Evolution, Biodiversity & Biological Control. (Edited by A.D. Austin & M. Dowton), pp. 38-45. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne Beck, M., Theopold, U., and Schmidt, O. (2000): Evidence for serine protease inhibitor activity in the ovarian calyx fluid of the endoparasitoid Venturia canescens . Journal of Insect Physiology 46, 1275-1283 Beck, M., Siekmann, G., Li, D., Theopold, U., and Schmidt, O. (1999): A maternal gene mutation correlates with an ovary phenotype in a parthenogenetic wasp population. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 29, 453-460 Hellers, M., Beck, M., Theopold, U., Kamei, M., and Schmidt, O.(1996): Multiple alleles encoding a virus-like particle protein in the ichneumonid endoparasitoid Venturia canescens . Insect Molecular Biology 5, 239-249 Schroeder, G., Beck, M., Eichel, J., Vetter, H-P., and Schroeder, J. (1993): HSP90 homologue from Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus): cDNA sequence, regulation of protein expression and location in the endoplasmic reticulum. Plant Molecular Biology 23, 583-594