Pamela J. Morris

Research Associate Professor
Cell Biology and Anatomy Department
Medical University of South Carolina

Ph.D., Michigan State University

morrisp@musc.edu

Research:
(1) The influence of microorganisms on organic and inorganic contaminants,including, as examples, the pH-dependent toxicity of divalent cations (e.g., nickel) to microorganisms and microbial crude oil degradation

(2) Culture-dependent and culture-independent (molecular) approaches to assessing microbial diversity in diverse marine environments (e.g., coral reefs, dolphins, marine biofilms).

(3) Understanding linkages between microbial diversity and function/chemical ecology in marine environments, using functional genomic, proteomic, and metagenomic approaches.

(4) Genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic profiling of the temperature-dependent coral pathogen, Vibrio coralliilyticus.

“Members of my HML research group (Dr. Wes Johnson), HML Bioinformaticist Matt Cook, and members of Clemson's Cyberinfrastructure group (Dr. Jill Gemmill, Stephen Ficklin, Meg Staton) are jointly developing CoralMicrobes.org.  This website will be a a public database for both culture-dependent and culture-independent information on coral-associated microorganisms.”

PUBLICATIONS:

Van Nostrand, J., J.M. Arthur, L.E. Kilpatrick, B. Neely, P.M. Bertsch and P.J. Morris.  2008.  Changes in protein expression in Burkholderia vietnamiensis PR1₃₀₁ at pH 5 and 7 with and without nickel.  Microbiology (In press).

Van Nostrand, J., T. Khijniak, B. Neely, M. Abdus Satter, A. Sowder, G. Mills, P. Bertsch and P.J. Morris.  2007.  The use of hydroxyapatite to reduce the toxicity of nickel and uranium to Burkholderia vietnamiensis PR1₃₀₁. Environmental Science & Technology 41:1877-1882.

Van Nostrand, J., T.V. Khijniak, T.J. Gentry, M.T. Novak, A.G. Sowder, J.Z. Zhou, P.M. Bertsch and P.J. Morris.  2007.  Isolation and characterization of four gram-positive nickel-tolerant microorganisms from contaminated riparian sediments.  Microbial Ecology 53:670-682.

Van Nostrand, J., T. Khijniak, A. Sowder, P. Bertsch and P.J. Morris.  2005.  The effect of pH on the toxicity of nickel and other divalent metals to Burkholderia cepacia PR1₃₀₁.  Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 24(11): 2742-2750.

Smithwick, A., A. Smith, J. Quensen, A. Smith, D. Kurtz,, L. London, and P.J. Morris.  2004.  The inhibition of LPS-induced splenocyte proliferation by ortho-substituted and microbially dechlorinated polychlorinated biphenyls is associated with a decreased expression of cyclin D2.  Toxicology 204:61-74.

Norman, R.S., P. Moeller, T.J. McDonald, and P.J. Morris.  2004.  Effect of pyocyanin on a crude oil-degrading microbial community.  Applied and Environmental Microbiology 70:4004-4011.

Russell, M.A., L.E. Murphy, D.L. Johnson, T.J. Foecke, P.J. Morris, and R. Mitchell.  2004.  Science for Stewardship:  Multidisciplinary Research on USS Arizona.  Marine Technology Society Journal 38:35-44.

Smithwick, A., A. Smith, J. Quensen, A. Stack, L. London, and P.J. Morris.  2003.  Inhibition of LPS-induced splenocyte proliferation by ortho-substituted polychlorinated biphenyl congeners.  Toxicology 188/2-3:319-333.

Sowder, A., P. Bertsch, and P.J. Morris.  2003.  Uranium and nickel speciation and bioavailability in riparian sediments:  Impact of aging, source term, and geochemical controls.  Journal of Environmental Quality 32:885-898.

Frontera-Suau, R., F.D. Bost, T.J. McDonald, and P.J. Morris.  2002.  Aerobic microbial degradation of hopanes and other biomarkers by crude oil-degrading cultures.  Environmental Science & Technology 36:4578-4584.