Abstract Detail

Emerging infectious diseases by zoosporic parasites

Natvig, Don [1].

The Cantino and Emerson Legacies in Experimental Mycology.

Ralph Emerson and Edward Cantino (Emerson’s first graduate student) both began their mycological careers as doctoral students studying uniflagellate fungi.  Emerson’s work with Allomyces led to species in the genus becoming important experimental organisms for biochemical and genetic studies, as well as popular subjects for botany and mycology textbooks.  Cantino’s Ph.D. work focused on Blastocladia pringsheimii, but he soon turned his attention to Blastocladiella, which he and his students studied for several decades.  From the beginning, the Emerson-Cantino partnership had a strong focus on physiology, especially with respect to nutrition and the role of oxygen.  Their early publications were densely packed with elegantly conceived and carefully executed experiments, and for the remainder of both careers there would be an emphasis on the experimental side of fungal biology.  Cantino and his students went on to study the connections between physiology, cell biology and development.  Cantino eventually created and served as first editor for the journal Experimental Mycology, now Fungal Genetics and Biology.  The roots of experimental mycology in the Emerson and Cantino laboratories dated from Emerson’s years as a graduate student at Harvard under the mentorship of William “Cap” Weston.  Weston trained a large number of students, who along with their academic descendants constitute a Who’s Who of mycological research.

1 - University of New Mexico, Department of Biology, Castetter Hall, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131, United States

Keywords:
History of Experimental Mycology
Ralph Emerson
Edward Cantino
Allomyces
Blastocladia
Blastocladiella.

Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation
Session: SY7
Location: Auditorium/Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center
Date: Wednesday, June 11th, 2014
Time: 1:00 PM
Number: SY7001
Abstract ID:145
Candidate for Awards:None