James Van Etten, PhD

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Plant Pathology
Morrison Center
Lincoln, NE 68583-0900
(402)-472-3168

Please visit our Lab Webpage

William Allington Distinguished Professor

Research in the Van Etten laboratory focuses on the isolation and characterization of large icosahedral, dsDNA-containing, plaque-forming viruses that infect certain unicellular, eukaryotic chlorella-like green algae. These viruses are ubiquitous in freshwater from all over the world. The chlorella viruses have genomes as large as 370 kb that contain as many as 400 protein-encoding and 16 tRNA encoding genes. Besides their large genomes, the chlorella viruses have other unexpected features:

They encode multiple DNA methyltransferases and DNA restriction endonucleases.
Unlike other glycoprotein-containing viruses, chlorella viruses encode most, if not all, of the components required to glycosylate their proteins.
Many chlorella virus-encoded proteins are either the smallest or among the smallest proteins of their class.

Consequently, these proteins serve as models for mechanistic and structural studies. Infection by the chlorella viruses resembles bacterial infection by tailed bacteriophages in many respects.

Education
Professional Experience
Professional Affiliations
Research Publication
Honors

Education

1965-66	Postdoc, Molecular Biology - University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
1965	PhD, Plant Pathology - University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
1963	MS, Plant Pathology - University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
1960	BA, Biology - Carleton College, Minnesota

Professsional Experience

2000 - present	Co-Director of the Nebraska Center for Virology
1993 - present	William Allington Distinguished Professor of Plant Pathology
1986 - 1993	William Allington Professor of Plant Pathology
1974 - 1986	Professor, Plant Pathology University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
1969 - 1974	Associate Professor, Plant Pathology University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
1966 - 1969	Assistant Professor, Plant Pathology Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
1965 - 1966	NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Genetics University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

Professional Affiliations

1999-2003	Editorial Board, Molecular Plant Pathology
2001	Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology
1997 - 1999	Coordinator of the UNL Plant Science Initiative
1993	Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
1991, 1992	Committee member of the USDA Grants (Plant Pathology/Weeds) Panel
1989-present	Associate Editor, Virology
August 1989	Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society
1984	Co-chairman of Gordon Conference on Fungal Metabolism
1978, 1981, 1984-87	Committee member of NIH study section on Microbial Physiology
1980-85	Editorial Board, Journal of Bacteriology
1976-96	Associate Editor, Experimental Mycology
1974 - 1977	Membership on Editorial Boards and Government Panels: Editorial Board, Phytopathology

Research Publication

PubMed

Google Scholar

Honors

2021	Gamma Sigma Delta Award of Merit
2016	Award of Distinction from American Phytopathological Society
2013-2015	Sigma Xi distinguished lecturer
2013	Elected fellow of the National Academy of Inventors
2010	Carleton College Alumni Achievement Awardr
2009	Fellow of the UNL College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resourcer
2004	Omtvedt Innovation Award from University of Nebraska
2003	Elected member of the National Academy of Sciences
2001	Fellow of American Academy of Microbiology
1999	Recipient of the Nebraska Sigma Xi outstanding scientist award
1993	Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science
1992	Recipient of the University of Nebraska Outstanding Research and Creative Activity Award