University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
Plant PathologyMorrison 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.
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 |
| 1969 - 1974 |
Associate Professor, Plant Pathology |
| 1966 - 1969 |
Assistant Professor, Plant Pathology |
| 1965 - 1966 |
NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Genetics |
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 |