Dr. Gary Howard - Curriculum Vitae
Home Address:
107 Elm Court
Hammond, LA 70403
(985) 542-5984
Work Address:
Dept. of Biological Sciences
Southeastern Louisiana University
SLU10736
Hammond, LA 70402
Office: (985) 549-3501
Lab: (985) 549-2170
ghoward@selu.edu
Education:
B.S. Biology Western Kentucky University, 1985
M.S. Biology Western Kentucky University, 1987
Ph.D. Microbiology University of Illinois, 1992
Post-Doc Biochemistry Meharry Medical College, 1994
Experience:
1999- Present Assoc. Professor of Biology, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA
1994 -1999 Assist. Professor of Biology, Southeastern Louisiana
University, Hammond, LA
1993 -1994 Adjunct Part-Time Faculty, Cumberland University,
Lebanon, TN
1992 -1994 Post-Doctoral Position, Dept. of Biochemistry,
Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN
1987 -1992 Research Assistant, Dept. of Animal Sciences,
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
1985 -1987 Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Biology, Western
Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
Honors and Awards:
2002 International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation
Most downloaded articles April - December 2002
1. Gary T. Howard. Biodegradation of polyurethane: a review.
International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 49 (2002)
245-252
2002 Who's Who Among America's Teachers
1999 Reviewer for International Biodeterioration &
Biodegradation
1997 NSF (ROA) Visiting Research Professor at Clemson University
1987 1st Place Sigma Xi Graduate Research Award, Western
Kentucky University
1985 1st Place Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research Award, Western
Kentucky University
1985 Frank G. Brooks Award for Best Undergraduate Research in
Southeastern Conference
Invited Talks:
Departmental Seminar, University of Illinois, Department of
Animal Sciences, 1999
Departmental Seminar, Western Kentucky University, Department of
Biology, 1999
NSF Sponsored Workshop on Biodeterioration of Construction
Materials (Biological Deterioration of Plastics), University of
Houston Department of Civil And Environmental Engineering, 1999
Key-Note Speaker at the Sigma Xi/ACS Annual Meeting in New Orleans,
1999
Departmental Seminar, Tulane University, Department of
Biochemistry, 2000
Departmental Seminar, Louisiana State University, Department of
Biology, 2001
Membership and Activities:
American Society for Microbiology
Associate Member, Sigma Xi
Gamma Sigma Delta
Tri Beta/Advisor
Council for Undergraduate Research
Grants Awarded:
Faculty Development Grants ($1,679) Genetic Characterization of
Polyurethanase Genes from Pseudomonas fluorescens (1995)
Faculty Development Grants ($1,993) Effect of Surface Area to
Volume Ratios on the Growth Rate Limiting First Order Saturation
Kinetic Constants (1995)
LEQSF ($86,458) Molecular Characterization of Polyurethanase genes
and Proteins from Pseudomonas fluorescens (1996-1997)
Faculty Develement Grant ($1,908) Biochemistry and Molecular
Characterization of Sulfur Oxygenase from Thiobacillus neapolitanus
(1996)
DOD ($508,804) Molecular Characterization of Polyurethanase Genes
and Proteins from Pseudomonas (1996-1999)
LEQSF ($94,964) Characterization of the Enzymes Responsible for the
Oxidation of Reduced Sulfur Compounds in Thiobacillus neapolitanus
(1998-2000)
Faculty Development Grants ($2,000) Effect of Nitrogen Source on
the Degradation of Louisiana Sweet Crude Oil by a Pseudomonas sp.
(1998)
Faculty Development Grants ($2,000) Development and Evaluation of a
Fluorescence Technique for Detection of Fecal Indicator Bacteria
(1998)
LEQSF ($89,445) NMR for Enhancement of Undergraduate Education in
Chemistry. (1998)
LEQSF ($96,712) Light Scattering Characterization of Enzymatic
Degradation of Polyurethane (1999-2001)
Faculty Development Grants ($2,000) Evaluation of River Stage
Height of the Tangipahoa River as an Early Warning Signal for
Dangerous levels of Fecal Pollution (1999)
Faculty Development Grants ($2,000) Use of DGGE and PCR to Enhance
Detection of Bacterial Fecal Pollution Using Species-Specific in
situ Hybridization Probes (1999)
OSCAR Undergraduate Student Research Award ($1500) Molecular
Characterization of
Polyurethanase genes from Anaerovibrio lipolytica
Faculty Development Grants ($2,000) Genetic analysis of the
Polyurethanase Operon in Pseudomonas chlororaphis (2000)
Faculty Development Grants ($2,000) Analysis of Polyurethane
Degrading Organisms in Soil Using Classical Methods and Denaturing
Gradient Gel (2001)
Faculty Development Grants ($2,000) In situ Hybridization probes to
detect Anaerobic bacteria (2001)
Faculty Technology Enhancement Award ($61,000) MIDI GC Sherlock
System for Identification of Bacteria using FAME Analyses (2002)
LPBF-NOAA ($254,800) Assessment of Domestic and Agricultural Runoff
in the Northern Boundaries of the Lake Pontchartrain Drainage
Basin: A Survey of the Fecal Pollution Indicator Levels in the
Tributaries and Lake Water and the Impact of Storm Water Runoff on
the Naturally Occurring Microbial Communities Responsible for
Nutrient Recycling (2002-2003)
Jefferson Parish Department of Environmental Affairs ($50,000)
Assessment of microbial source tracking in Jefferson Parish coastal
waters (2003)
USGS ($393,353) Development of a Bacterial Source Tracking System
and Establishment of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) of Nutrients
in the Northern Boundaries of the Lake Pontchartrain Drainage Basin
(2003-2006)
Jefferson Parish Department of Environmental Affairs ($60,000)
Assessment of microbial source tracking in Jefferson Parish coastal
waters (2004)
LPBF-NOAA ($144,000) Baseline monitoring for
environmental/ecological health indicators in the Joyce wildlife
Management Area (JWMA): Preconstruction of the Wetland Assimilation
Project, City of Hammond, LA. (2004- 2005)
Graduate Students/Post-Doctoral Students:
Rodney Vega
M.S. Dec. 1998
Outstanding Research Award. 1998 (Student Conference University of
Houston at Clearlake)
Presentation at Annual Meeting of the American Society for
Microbiology, Atlanta, GA, 1998
Research Assistant at Gensia-Sicor, Irvine , CA
Carmen Ruiz
B.S. May 1999
Undergraduate Research 1996-1999
Presentation at Student Conference University of Houston at
Clearlake, 1998
Presentation at National Conference for Undergraduate Research,
Rochester, NY, 1999
Presentation at Annual Meeting of the American Society for
Microbiology, Miami, FL, 1997
Presentation at Annual Meeting of the American Society for
Microbiology, Atlanta, GA, 1998
Presentation at Annual Meeting of the American Society for
Microbiology, Chicago, IL, 1999
Research Assistant, Department of Biochemistry, LSU
Robert Stern
Ph.D. Biochemistry Florida State University
Post-Doc (1997-1999)
April Allen
M.S. Dec. 1999
Outstanding Research Award. 1998 (Student Conference University of
Houston at Clearlake)
Presentation at Annual Meeting of the American Society for
Microbiology, Atlanta, GA, 1998
Presentation at National Conference for Undergraduate Research,
Rochester, NY, 1999
Research Assistant USDA, New Orleans
Tina Main Stricker
M.S. Dec. 1999
Presentation at Student Conference University of Houston at
Clearlake, 1998
Presentation at Annual Meeting of the American Society for
Microbiology, Atlanta, GA, 1998
Presentation at Annual Meeting of the American Society for
Microbiology, Chicago, IL, 1999
Medical Science Officer Louisiana National Guard Unit
Jared Vicknair
M.S. Dec. 2000
Presentation at Student Conference University of Houston at
Clearlake, 1998
Presentation at Annual Meeting of the American Society for
Microbiology, Chicago, IL, 1999
Research Assistant, LSU Vet. Med. School
Phoebe Langlois
M.S. Dec. 2001
Presentation at Student Conference University of Houston at
Clearlake, 2001
Ph.D. Student, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Lori Rowe
M.S. Dec. 2001
Presentation at Student Conference University of Houston at
Clearlake, 2001
Research Assistant, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Laura Peak
M.S. Dec. 2001
Presentation at Student Conference University of Houston at
Clearlake, 2001
Research Assistant, Department of Microbiology LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
Virgil Tiller
M.S. Dec. 2003
Ph.D. Student, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Melanie Mask
M.S. Dec. 2002
Research Assistant USDA, Oxford, MS
Bronwyn Duos
M.S. Dec 2002
Research Assistant, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA
Research Assistant, Pennington Institute, Baton Rouge, LA
Karam Aboudeh
M.S. May 2005
Ph.D. Student, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Publications:
Howard, G.T. 1986. Germination of the seeds of Euonymus
americanus L. with the use of rumen fluid of cows. Bios 57: 14-18.
Howard, G.T. and L.P. Elliott. 1988. Effects of cellulolytic
ruminal bacteria and of cell extracts on germination of Euonymus
americanus L. seeds Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 54: 218-224.
Howard, G.T. and B. A White. 1988. Molecular cloning and expression
of cellulase genes from Ruminococcus albus 8 in Escherichia coli
bacteriophage ?. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 54: 1752-1755.
Howard, G.T. and B. A White. 1990. Cloning in Escherichia coli of a
bifunctional cellulase/xylanase enzyme from Ruminococcus
flavefaciens FD-1. Animal Biotechnology. 1: 95-106.
White, B.A., J.H. Clarke, K.C. Doerner, V.K. Gupta, C.T. Helaszek,
G.T. Howard, M. Morrison, A.A. Odenyo, S. Rosenzweig, and R.I.
Mackie. 1990. Improving cellulase activity in Ruminococcus through
genetic modification, p. 389-400. In D.E. Akin, L.G. Ljungdahl,
J.R. Wilson, and P.J. Harris (ed), Microbial and Plant
Opportunities to Improve Lignocellulose Utilization by Ruminants.
Elsevier Science Publishing Co., New York.
Doerner, K.C., G.T. Howard, R.I. Mackie, and B.A. White 1992.
ß-Glucanase expression by Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1. FEMS
Microbiol. Lett. 93: 147-154.
Blake, R.C., G.T. Howard, and S. McGinness. 1994. Enhanced yields
of iron-oxidizing bacteria by in situ electrochemical reduction of
soluble iron in the growth medium. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 60:
2704-2710.
Blake, R.C., E.A. Shute, and G.T. Howard. 1994. Electrophoretic
mobility of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans in the presence of iron,
pyrite, and sulfur. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 60: 3349-3357.
W. Norton and G. Howard. 1995. Ultrastructural analysis of the
physical interactions that occur between Bacillus sp and
polyurethane during biodegradation. Proceeding of the Microscopy
Society of America. 53: 345-346.
Blake, R.C. and G.T. Howard. 1998. Adhesion and growth of a
Bacillus sp. on a polyesterurethane. International Biodeterioration
and Biodegradation. 42: 63-73.
Baker, S.H., S. Jin, H.C. Aldrich, G.T. Howard, and J.M. Shively.
1998. Insertion Mutation of the form I cbbL of RuBisCO in
Thiobacillus neapolitanus results in the expression of form II
RubisCO, the loss of carboxysomes, and an increased CO2 requirement
for growth. J. Bacteriol. 180: 4133-4139.
Howard, G.T. and R.C. Blake. 1999. Growth of Pseudomonas
fluorescens on a polyester-polyurethane and the purification and
characterization of a polyurethanase-protease enzyme. International
Biodeterioration and Biodegradation. 42: 213-220.
Ruiz, C., N. Hilliard, and G.T. Howard. 1999. Growth of Pseudomonas
chlororaphis on a polyester-polyurethane and the purification and
characterization of a polyurethanse-esterase enzyme. International
Biodeterioration and Biodegradation. 43: 7-12.
Howard, G.T. and N.P. Hilliard. 1999. Use of coomassie
blue-polyurethane interaction in detection of polyurethanease
proteins and polyurethanolytic bacteria. Int. Bioterioration
Biodegradation 43:23-30
Allen, A., N. Hilliard, and G.T. Howard. 1999. Purification and
characterization of a soluble polyurethane degrading enzyme from
Comamonos acidovorans. International Biodeterioration and
Biodegradation. 43: 37-41.
Ruiz, C.,T. Main, N. Hilliard, and G.T. Howard. 1999. Purification
and characterization of two polyurethanse enzymes from Pseudomonas
chlororaphis.. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation.
43: 43-47.
Vega, R., T. Main, and G.T. Howard. 1999. Cloning and expression in
Escherichia coli of a polyurethane-degrading enzyme from
Pseudomonas fluorescens. International Biodeterioration and
Biodegradation. 43: 49-55.
Ruiz, C. and G.T. Howard. 1999. Nucleotide sequencing of a
polyurethanase gene (pulA) from Pseudomonas fluorescens.
International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation. 44: 127-131.
Stern, R.S. and G.T. Howard. 2000. The polyester polyurethane gene
(pueA) from Pseudomonas chlororaphis encodes a lipase. FEMS
Microbiological Letters. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 185: 163-168.
Howard, G.T., B. Crother, and J. Vicknair. 2001. Cloning,
nucleotide sequencing and characterization of a polyurethanase gene
(pueB) from Pseudomonas chlororaphis. International
Biodeterioration and Biodegradation. 47:17-25.
G.T. Howard, J. Vicknair and R.I. Mackie. 2001. Sensitive plate
assay for screening and detection of bacterial polyurethanase
activity. Letters in Applied Microbiology. 32:211-214.
Lori Rowe and G.T. Howard. 2002. Growth of Bacillus subtilis on
polyurethane and the purification and characterization of a
polyurethanase-lipase enzyme. International Biodeterioration and
Biodegradation. 50: 33-40.
Phoebe Langlois and G.T. Howard. 2002. A single glycine-rich repeat
of Pseudomonas chlororaphis Polyurethanase A mediates secretion of
a GST fusion protein in Escherichia coli. International
Biodeterioration and Biodegradation. 50:135-140
Howard, G.T. 2002. Biodegradation of Polyurethane: A Review.
International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation. 49:245-252
Abstracts:
Howard, G.T. 1985. Germination of the seeds of Euonymus
americanus L. from south central Kentucky with the use of bovine
rumen fluid. Abstr. 28th Assoc. Southeastern Biologists.
Hill, D.R., J.R. McCurry, L.P. Elliott, and G.T. Howard. 1985. SEM
observations on the germination of Euonymus americanus. Pro 43rd
Ann. Meet Electctron Microscopy Soc. Amer.
Howard, G.T. and L.P. Elliott. 1986. Germination of seeds of
Euonymus americanus with the use of Clostridium cellobioparum.
Trans KY Acad. Sci.
Howard, G.T. and L.P. Elliott. 1986. Germination of seeds of
Euonymus americanus with the cellulase from Clostridium
cellobioparum. Abstr. Ann. Amer Soc. Microbiol.
Howard, G.T. and B.A. White. 1987. Molecular cloning and expression
of cellulase genes from Ruminococcus albus 8 in Escherichia coli
bacteriophage ?. Pro 19th Biennial Conference on Rumen Function.
White, B.A and G.T. Howard. 1987. Molecular cloning and expression
of endoglucanase genes from Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1 in
Escherichia coli bacteriophage ?. Pro 19th Biennial Conference on
Rumen Function.
Howard, G.T. and B.A. White. 1988. Cloning of cellulase genes from
Ruminococcus albus and Ruminococcus flavefaciens. Abstr. Ann. Meet.
Amer. Soc. Microbiol.
White, B.A., G.T. Howard, S. Rosenzweig, and J.H. Clarke. 1989.
Cloning of an endoglucanase gene from Ruminococcus flavefaciens
FD-1. Proc. 20th Biennial Conference on Rumen Function.
Gupta, V.K., G.T. Howard, S. Rosenzweig, and B.A. White. 1989. More
cloning of endoglucanase genes from Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1.
Proc. 20th Biennial Conference on Rumen Function.
Blake, R.C. and G.T. Howard. 1994. Binding of Thiobacillus
ferrooxidans with its insoluble substrate. Abstr. Ann. Meet. Amer.
Soc. Microbiol.
Simpson, J.M. G.T. Howard, K. Bancroft, and G.W. Childers.1995.
Bioremediation for small scale oil spills in Louisiana marshes.
Abstr. Ann. Meet. Amer. Soc. Microbiol. South Central Branch
Howard, G.T. and R.C.Blake. 1996. Characterization of growth and a
polyurethanase protein from Pseudomonas fluorescens on a
polyesterurethane. Abstr. Ann. Meet. Amer. Soc. Microbiol.
Simpson, J.M. G.T. Howard, K. Bancroft, and G.W. Childers.1996.
Bioremediation for small scale oil spills in Louisiana marshes.
Abstr. Ann. Meet. Amer. Soc. Microbiol.
Howard, G.T., S.C. Lorbach, R.C. Blake. 1996. Isolation of a
polyurethane-degrading enzyme from Pseudomonas putida. Abstr. Ann.
Meet. Amer. Soc. Microbiol.
Ferachi, R.P., N. Hilliard, and G.T. Howard. 1996. Analysis of
urethane from microbial extracts. Abstr. Louisiana Academy of
Sciences
Ruiz, C. and G. T. Howard. 1997 Characterization of Growth and a
Polyurethanase protein from Pseudomonas chlororaphis. Abstr. Ann.
Meet. Amer. Soc. Microbiol.
Thurmond, J., W.N. Norton, and G.T. Howard.1997. Growth and
Adhesion on Airplane Waste by a Pseudomonas. Abstr. Ann. Meet.
Amer. Soc. Microbiol. South Central Branch
Howard,G.T. and N.P. Hilliard. 1998. Use of Coomassie
Blue-Polyurethane Interactions in Detection of Polyurethanase
proteins and Polyurethanolytic Bacteria. Louisiana Academy of
Sciences.
Hilliard, N.P. and G.T. Howard. 1998. Chromophore production during
the degradation of polyurethanes by Pseudomonas sp. Louisiana
Academy of Sciences
Main, T., N. Hilliard, G. Howard. 1998. Purification and
Characterization of a polyurethanse from Pseudomonas chlororaphis.
Abstr. Ann. Meet. Amer. Soc. Microbiol.
Allen, A.B., N.P. Hilliard, and G.T. Howard. 1998. Purification and
characterization of a polyurethane degrading enzyme from Comamonas
acidovorans. Abstr. Ann. Meet. Amer. Soc. Microbiol.
Stern, R.V. and G.T. Howard. 1998. Cloning and expression of a
polyurethane gene from Pseudomonas chlororaphis. Abstr. Ann. Meet.
Amer. Soc. Microbiol.
Ruiz, C.R., N.P. Hilliard, and G.T, Howard. 1998. Purification and
characterization of a polyurethanse from Pseudomonas chlororaphis.
Abstr. Ann. Meet. Amer. Soc. Microbiol.
Vega, R.E. and G.T. Howard. 1998. Cloning and expression of a
polyurethanse gene from Pseudomonas fluorescens. Abstr. Ann. Meet.
Amer. Soc. Microbiol.
Thurmond, J., W.N. Norton, and G.T. Howard. 1998. Utilization of
airplane paint waste as a nutrient source by Pseudomonas sp. VM1.
Abstr. Ann. Meet. Amer. Soc. Microbiol.
Vega, R.E. and G.T. Howard. 1998. Cloning and expression of a
polyurethanse gene from Pseudomonas fluorescens. Ann. Meet. Amer.
Soc. Microbiol. South Central Branch
Ruiz, C. and G.T. Howard. 1999. Nucleotide sequencing and
transcriptional analysis of a polyurethanase gene from Pseudomonas
fluorescens . Abstr. Ann. Meet. Amer. Soc. Microbiol.
Stern, R. and G.T. Howard. 1999. Nucleotide sequence analysis and
overexpression of the polyurethanase encoded by the gene (pueA)
from Pseudomonas chlororaphis. Abstr. Ann. Meet. Amer. Soc.
Microbiol.
Main, T. and G.T. Howard. 1999. Purification and characterization
of a polyurethanase from Pseudomonas fluoirescens. Abstr. Ann.
Meet. Amer. Soc. Microbiol.
Vicknair, J.S. and G.T. Howard. 1999. Cloning and expression of a
polyurethanase gene from Pseudomonas chlororaphis. Abstr. Ann.
Meet. Amer. Soc. Microbiol.
Jones, B.C., N. Hilliard, and G.T. Howard. 1999. Isolation and
characterization of a thiosulfate oxiding activity from
Thiobacillus neapolitanus. Abstr. Ann. Meet. Amer. Soc. Microbiol.
Himel,D., D. Norwood, and G. Howard. 2000. Light scattering study
of enzymatic degradation of polyurethane. Abstr. Ann. Meet. Amer.
Physics Soc. Southeastern Section.
Duos, B and G. T. Howard 2003. The Effects of multiple copies of
the pueA gene, and the molecular characterization of the pueB gene
in Pseudomonas chlororaphis. Abstr. Ann. Meet. Amer. Soc.
Microbiol.
S. Ohene-Adjei, R. Mackie, G. Howard, G. Childers, B. Duos, Mary
Miller, and I. Cann.2004. Diversity of Archaeal Communities in Lake
Ponchatrain Basin: Impact of Salt and Sulfate Gradients. Abstr.
Ann. Meet. Amer. Soc. Microbiol.
Duos, B and G. T. Howard 2004. Kinetic Exclusion Assays to Quantify
PueA Binding Interactions in PolyurethaneAbstr. Ann. Meet. Amer.
Soc. Microbiol.
C.J. Schulz, G.W. Childers, and G. T. Howard. 2004. PCR based
detection and survival studies of potential microbial source
tracking markers for species-specific fecal pollution indicators.
LPB
G.W. Childers, C.J. Schulz, and G. T. Howard.2004.. Preliminary
studies of E. coli sedimentation and re-growth in Tangipahoa River,
Louisiana, Waters. LPB.