Research Interests / Areas of Expertise:
Dr. Minion's research focuses on molecular mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis, pathogenomics, proteomics, gene expression profiling and molecular vaccines. Current projects include the role of biofilms of E. coli O157:H7 in persistence in ruminants; gene expression profiling of Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli 0157:H7, and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae; and the development of novel vaccines against Yersinia pestis.

Education & Certifications:
M.S.: University of Memphis, 1977.
Ph.D.: University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1983.

Teaching:
Mechanisms of Bacterial Pathogenesis - VMPM 625
Bacterial Genetics and Physiology - MICRO 552
Cell Biology - BMS 575

Seminar in Veterinary Microbiology - VMPM 604


Selected Publications:

Matic, J.N., J.L. Wilton, R.J. Towers, A.L. Scarman, F.C. Minion, M.J. Walker and S.P. Djordjevic. 2003. The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae contains a novel lipoyl domain arrangement. Gene 319:99-106.

Djordjevic, S. P., S. J. Cordwell, M. A. Djordjevic, J. Wilton, and F. C. Minion. 2004. Proteolytic processing of the Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae cilium adhesin. Infect. Immun. 72:2791-2802.

Zuerner, R. L., T. B. Stanton, F. C. Minion, C. Li, N. W. Charon, D. J. Trott, and D. J. Hampson. 2004. Genetic variation in Brachyspira: chromosomal rearrangements and sequence drift distinguish B. pilosicoli from B. hyodysenteriae. Anaerobe 10:229-237.

Waters, W.R., B.J. Nonnecke, M.V. Palmer, S. Robbe-Austermann, J.P. Bannantine, J.R. Stabel, D.L. Whipple, J.B. Payeur, D.M. Estes, J.E. Pitzer, and F.C. Minion. 2004. Use of recombinant ESAT-6:CFP-10 fusion protein for differentiation of infections of cattle by Mycobacterium bovis and by M. avium subsp. avium and M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Clin. Diagn. Lab. Immunol. 11:729-735.

Maue, A. C., R. W. Waters, M. V. Palmer, D. L. Whipple, F. C. Minion, W. C. Brown, and D. M. Estes. 2004. CD80 and CD86, but not CD154, augment DNA vaccine-induced protection in experimental bovine tuberculosis. Vaccine 23:769-779.

Minion, F. C., E. L. Lefkowitz, M. L. Madsen, B J. Cleary, S. M. Swartzell, and G. G. Mahairas. 2004. The genome sequence of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae strain 232, the agent of swine mycoplasmosis. J. Bacteriol. 186:7123-7133.

Stakenborg, T., Vicca, J., Butaye, P., Maes, D., Minion, C., Peeters, J., de Kruif, A, Haesebrouck, F. 2005. Characterization of in vivo acquired resistance of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae to macrolides and lincosamides. Microbial Drug Resistance 3:290-294.

Maue, A. C., W. C. Davis, M. V. Palmer, F. C. Minion, D. M. Estes, and W. R. Waters. 2005. Analysis of immune responses from Mycobacterium bovis-infected cattle directed toward a recombinant ESAT-6:CFP10 fusion protein. Infect. Immun. 73:6659-6667.

Adams, C., J. Pitzer, and F. C. Minion. 2005. In vivo expression analysis of the P97 and P102 paralog families of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Infect. Immun. 73:7784-7787.

Madsen, M. L., D. Nettleton, E. L. Thacker, R. Edwards, and F. C. Minion. 2006. Transcriptional profiling of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae during heat shock using microarrays. Infect. Immun. 74: 167-174.

Jenkins, C., J. L. Wilton, F. C. Minion, L. Falconer, M. J. Walker, and S. P. Djordjevic. 2006. Two domains within the Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae cilium adhesin bind heparin. Infect. Immun. 74:481-487.

Waters, W. R., M. V. Palmer, R E. Slaughter, S. L. Jones, J. E. Pitzer, F. C. Minion. 2006. Diagnostic implications of antigen-induced gamma interferon production by blood leukocytes from Mycobacterium bovis-infected reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). Clin. Vacc. Immunol. 13:37-44.

Burnett, T.A., K. Dinkla, M. Rohde, G.S. Chhatwal, M. Srivastava, S.J. Cordwell, S. Geary, F. C. Minion,. M. J. Walker, S. P. Djordjevic. 2006. P159 is a proteolytically processed, surface adhesin of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae: defined domains of P159 bind heparin and promote adherence to eukaryotic cells. Mol. Microbiol. 60:669-686.

Madsen, M. L., D. Nettleton, E. L. Thacker, and F. C. Minion. 2006. Transcriptional profiling of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae during iron depletion using microarrays. Microbiology 152:937-944.

Waters, W. R., Palmer, M. V., Thacker, T. C.. Minion, F. C., and Davis, W. C. 2006. Antigen-specific proliferation and activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Mycobacterium bovis-infected reindeer. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 111:263-277.

Waters, W. R., M. V. Palmer, T. C. Thacker, J. B. Payeur, N. B. Harris, F. C. Minion, R. Greenwald, J. Esfandiari, P. Andersen, J. McNair, J. M. Pollock, and K. P. Lyashchenko. 2006. Immune responses to defined antigens of Mycobacterium bovis in cattle experimentally infected with Mycobacterium kansasii: potential interference with diagnostic tests for bovine tuberculosis. Clin. Vacc. Immunol. 13:611-619.

Full CV
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Leadership:
Information Officer, International Organization for Mycoplasmology, 2002-present.

Chair, University Biohazards and Public Health Committee, 1999-2006.

Editorial Board for Infection and Immunity (2001-2009)

Editorial Board for Foodborne Pathogens and Disease (2004-present)

President, Iowa State University Graduate Council, 2001-2003.

Information Officer, International Organization for Mycoplasmology, 2002-present.

Chair, International Research Programme for Comparative Mycoplasmology, 1996-2000.

Councilor at Large, American Society for Microbiology, 1998-2000.

Chair, Division G, American Society for Microbiology, 1996-1997.

Chair, Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, 1992-1997.

Chair, Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Microbiology, 2006-2008.

Honors & Awards:
NIH Research Career Development Award, 1991-1996.
Louis Dienes Award in Mycoplasmology, 1992.
Smith-Kline-Beecham Award for Research Excellence, 1993.
Phi Zeta


Memberships:
American Society for Microbiology
International Organization for Mycoplasmology
Conference for Research Workers in Animal Diseases
Sigma Xi