Individual Listing

Entomology
University of California
Riverside, CA 92521

Beckage, Nancy E

Professor of Entomology, Cell Biology & Neuroscience

College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Entomology


Biography

Biographical Information - My undergraduate career began at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, followed by University of Wisconsin-Madison where I received my B.S. degree in Zoology. I received the Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Washington in Seattle. During my graduate work I became fascinated with the subject of host-parasite interactions and became immersed in their biology. I focused on hormonal interactions between parasites and hosts, particularly the interactions between insect parasitoids (parasitic wasps that parasitize other insects and ultimately kill their hosts) and lepidopteran hosts, using the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, and the braconid endoparasitoid wasp Cotesia congregata, as a model system. Many parasitoids are used in biological control of many important agricultural insect pests, and as problems with evolution of pesticide resistance in pest populations are becoming increasingly severe, a refocusing of attention on biologically-based methods of pest control has recently emerged in entomology.

Following my Ph.D., I moved to the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute (SBRI), a human parasitology research institute, where I developed deep appreciation of the amazing tricks parasites such as malaria, trypanosomes, and leishmania play in interacting with insect vectors and human hosts to cause disease. At SBRI I undertook studies of parasitism-induced host hemolymph proteins, and identified the parasitoid’s polydnavirus as the genome encoding some of these proteins.

The amazing complexities involved in suppressing host immunity to facilitate successful parasitism would later become a second focus of my research career when I moved back to the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a faculty member in the Department of Entomology and USDA Research Entomologist. In 1990 I moved to the University of California-Riverside where I currently hold a joint appointment as Professor in the Departments of Entomology & Cell Biology and Neuroscience. I am continuing to study host-parasitoid interactions, but also I have recently moved into the mosquito world to study interactions between fungal pathogens and various mosquitoes (Culex species that are vectors of West Nile Virus, and Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever and dengue vector). Our mosquito research also includes designing new biologically-based strategies for mosquito vector control using new insect growth regulators and other environmentally friendly alternative methods that have minimal detrimental impact on human and animal health as well as the environment.

I enjoy writing and even once considered a career in science journalism. My edited books include “Parasites and Pathogens of Insects. Vol. 1: Parasites. Vol. II. Pathogens” (with co-editors B.A. Federici and S.N. Thompson, Academic Press) in 1993, “Parasites and Pathogens: Effects on Hormones and Behavior” (Chapman and Hall, 1997) , and “Insect Immunology” (Academic Press/Elsevier, 2008). I have also published general interest articles focusing on the fascinating biology of polydnaviruses in Scientific American and Bioscience. Our work on parasitoids has been featured in the popular press book Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer (2000), Chronicle of Higher Education, National Geographic, several textbooks, the BBC film series “Alien Empire” and several television features.

In 2008 I received an honorary Ph.D. from ETH Zurich in Switzerland, a renowned science and technology university in Europe, in recognition of lifetime contributions in insect endocrinology, immunology, and the field of host-parasitoid interactions. Other honors include election as an ESA Fellow in 2003, receipt of the University of California-Riverside Chancellor’s Faculty Award in Excellence of Mentorship of Undergraduate Research in 2005, and election in 2009 to Who’s Who in America and in 2010 to Who’s Who in the World.

Student mentorship is a major ongoing effort in my lab. A USDA/CSREES funded Higher Education Challenge Grant program carried out in collaboration with Professor Florence Dunkel of Montana State University and three other universities sponsors student training projects to implement some of these new methodologies in Mali West Africa. Students based at UC-Riverside and university partners conduct projects to produce disease free seed potatoes and control malaria and other disease vectors in the developing world, and pursue agricultural and engineering projects with Malian scientists, engineers and village members in Sanambele and other villages in Mali. Sidy Ba, a Malian engineer, is now a Ph.D. student at UC-Riverside in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering and will assist in mentoring students in this program.

POLYDNAVIRUS RESEARCH

Society Memberships: American Association for the Advancement of Science, Entomological Society of America, American Society of Parasitologists, Sigma Xi, American Women in Science Society for Invertebrate Pathology.

Former Institution

 University of Wisconsin-Madison

Degrees

BS Zoology 1972

University of Wisconsin

PhD Zoology 1980

University of Washington

Awards

2010 Who's Who in the World
2009 Who's Who in America
2008 Honorary Ph.D. from ETH Zurich, Switzerland, for research contributions to the fields of insect endocrinology and immunology
2005 Chancellor's Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentorship of Undergraduate Research
2003 Elected Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
1996 UC Riverside "Women Who Make a Difference Award"
1996 Miller Visiting Research Professor, University of California-Berkeley
1992 Distinguished Lectureship in Molecular Biology, Montana State University
1975-79 National Institutes of Health Developmental Biology Predoctoral Fellowship


Research Area

Physiological and molecular host-parasite, host-pathogen, host-parasitoid relationships. Insect immunity, pathology, virology, endocrinology, and behavior. Parasitoid polydnaviruses and their roles during parasitism. Mosquito vector biology, physiology, and vector-parasite interactions.

I: Parasitoid-Host Interactions

Host-Parasitoid Interactions Parasites and pathogens induce dramatic alterations in the physiology and behavior of insect hosts. Our laboratory uses two lepidopteran host:wasp parasitoid systems to study physiological, biochemical, and molecular host-parasite interactions: the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, and the braconid parasitoid Cotesia congregata; and the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis, and Cotesia flavipes as model systems. Manduca sexta is refractory to Cotesia flavipes and the parasitoid’s eggs are encapsulated by host blood cells, and this interaction is being explored as an immunity model. The roles of the parasitoid’s polydnavirus in suppressing host growth, development, and immunity in susceptible hosts are under study. Parasitoid polydnavirus genes that can be exploited in development of recombinant biopesticides with enhanced virulence for lepidopteran larvae and are also under study. Endocrine host-parasite interactions involving juvenile hormone and ecdysteroid coordinate the development of parasite and host, and we are studying the endocrine mechanisms responsible for induction of host developmental arrest with the goal of using this information in formulation of biopesticides to kill target insect pests. In addition, neural regulation of the host’s behavior during parasitism and the mechanisms responsible for cessation of host food consumption prior to emergence of the wasps from the host are being analyzed. The induction of host anorexia is adaptive for the emerging wasps, which otherwise would be consumed by a feeding host during parasitoid egression from the host. The Manduca sexta-Cotesia congregata system is being utilized as our model because of the wealth of available information that describes Manduca neurobiology and behavior.

II: Biology of Mosquitoes and Biologically-based Control Strategies

Our laboratory is developing biologically-based control strategies to control mosquito populations and reduce transmission of vector-borne diseases both in California (West Nile Virus) and globally. Ecdysone agonists are a new class of biopesticide that induces precocious lethal molting in larval stage mosquitoes (Beckage et al., 2004). Our research on these insect growth regulators will facilitate development of new biopesticides to control vectors of West Nile virus, malaria, and other pathogens and parasites. Our laboratory has studied effects of ecdysone agonists on the mosquito species, Anopheles gambiae, Aedes aegypti, and Culex quinquefasciatus, all of which vector disease on a global scale. Biological control of mosquitoes using pathogens (fungi) is also being studied in the Beckage laboratory.

III. International Research and Training Projects

Recent grant funding awarded to our laboratory will facilitate participation of both undergraduate and graduate students in research and training projects in Mali, West Africa. Malaria transmission is the single most important factor affecting human health and agricultural productivity in Africa. Our goal is to conduct translational research and develop new paradigms for controlling mosquito-borne disease transmission and crop pests. The interface between agriculture and human health is being emphasized in this research. Faculty and students from University of California-Riverside, Montana State University, University of California-Davis, Virginia Tech, University of St. Thomas, and Chief Dull Knife College are partners in this collaborative effort. More information about the Mali-based undergraduate and graduate student training project can be found at: http://www.insideucr.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/display.cgi?id=765

Publications

Edited Books

Beckage, N.E. 2008. “Insect Immunology” Academic Press/Elsevier. San Diego, CA. Also available at eBook.

Beckage, N.E. 1997. "Parasites and Pathogens: Effects on Host Hormones and Behavior" Chapman and Hall. N.Y.

Beckage, N.E., Thompson, S.N., and Federici, B.A. 1993. "Parasites and Pathogens of Insects", Vol. 1: Parasites, Vol. 2: Pathogens. Academic Press. San Diego.

Edited Journal Special Issues

Beckage, N.E. and Stanley, D.W. 2008. Guest editor, special issue of Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology “Parasitoid Polydnaviruses: Genomes and Physiological Functions" 67:155-209.

Palli, S.R., Webb, B.A. and Beckage, N.E. 2007. Guest editors, special issue of Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology “In Honour of Lynn M. Riddiford” 37: 739-890.

Beckage, N.E. and Reynolds, S.E. 2007. Guest editor, special issue of Journal of Insect Physiology “Physiology of Vector Arthropods” 53: 205-284.

Beckage, N.E. 2005. Guest editor, special issue of Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology “Physiological and Behavioral Host-Parasitoid Interactions: Future Visions.” 60: 151-235.

Beckage, N.E. 2003. Guest editor, special issue of Journal of Insect Physiology "Insect Polydnaviruses: Evolution and Physiological Functions." 49:395-543.

Articles for General Interest Audiences

Beckage, N.E. 1997. Parasitoids and polydnaviruses. BioScience 48: 305-311.

Beckage, N.E. 1997. The parasitic wasp's secret weapon. Scientific American 77: 32-37.

Selected Publications

Beckage, N.E. 2009. Immunology. In: "Encyclopedia of Insects" (edited by V. Resh and R. Carde) Academic Press/Elsevier.

Butler, C.D., Beckage, N., Trumble, J.T. 2009. Effects of terrestrial pollutants on insect parasitoids. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 28: 1111–1119.

Gordillo, A.R. and Beckage, N.E. 2008. Fungi as biological controls of insect disease vectors. Microbiology Today 35: 104.

Rodriguez-Perez, M.A. and Beckage, N.E. 2008. Comparison of three methods of parasitoid genomic DNA isolation to facilitate polydnavirus genomic sequencing. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology 67: 202-209.

Beckage, N.E. 2008. Parasitoid polydnaviruses and insect immunity. In: “Insect Immunology” (edited by N.E. Beckage) pp. 243-270. Academic Press/Elsevier.

Schmidt, O., Theopold, U., and Beckage, N.E. 2008. Insect and vertebrate immunity: Key similarities vs. differences. In: “Insect Immunology” (edited by N.E. Beckage) pp. 1-23. Academic Press/Elsevier.

Dorn, S., and Beckage, N.E. 2007. Superparasitism in gregarious hymenopteran parasitoids: ecological, behavioural and physiological perspectives. Physiological Entomology 32: 199-211.

Rodriguez-Perez, M.A., and Beckage, N.E. 2006. Co-evolucion de parasitoids y polydnavirus [Co-evolution of parasitoids and polydnaviruses] Revista Latinoamerica de Microbiologia 48: 31-43 [In Spanish with English abstract].

Webb B.A., N.E. Beckage, Y. Hayakawa, P.J. Krell, B. Lanzrein, M.R. Strand, D.B. Stoltz, M.D. Summers. 2005. Polydnaviridae. In: “Virus Taxonomy: VIII Report of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses” (C.M. Fauquet, M.A. Mayo, J. Maniloff, U. Desselberger, L.A. Ball, eds.) Elsevier, pp. 253-259.

Rodriguez, M.A., Dumpit, R., Lenz, J., Powell, E., Tam, S., and Beckage, N.E. 2005. Host refractoriness of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, to the braconid endoparasitoid Cotesia flavipes. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 60: 159-171.

Amaya, K.E., Asgari, S., Jung, R., Hongskula, M., and Beckage, N.E. 2005. Parasitization of Manduca sexta larvae by the parasitoid wasp Cotesia congregata induces an impaired host immune response. J. Insect Physiol. 51:505-512.

Beckage, N.E., Marion, F.M., and Tan, F.F. 2004. Comparative larvicidal toxicities of three ecdysone agonists on the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatis, and Anopheles gambiae. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 57:111-122.

Beckage, N.E. and Gelman, D.B. 2004. Wasp parasitoid disruption of host development: Implications for new biologically based strategies for insect control. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 49: 299-330.

Le, N.T., Asgari, S., Amaya, K., Tan, F.F. and Beckage, N.E. 2003. Persistence and expression of Cotesia congregata polydnavirus in host larvae of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. J. Insect Physiol. 49: 533-543.

Beckage, N.E., Hongskula, M., Vickerman, D. and Tan, F.F. 2003. Development of the solitary braconid endoparasitoid Cotesia marginiventris in the sphingid host, Manduca sexta. J. Invert. Pathol. 83: 253-256.

Beckage, N.E. 2003. Immunology. In: "Encyclopedia of Insects." (V. Resh and R. Carde). Pp. 555-560, Academic Press.

Beckage. N.E. and Tan, F.F. 2002. Development of the braconid wasp Cotesia congregata in a non-habitual noctuid host, Trichoplusia ni. J. Invert. Pathol. 81: 49-52.

Beckage, N.E. 2002. Parasite- and pathogen-mediated manipulation of host hormones and behavior. In: "Hormones, Brain, and Behavior" Vol. 3 (D. Pfaff, A. Arnold, A. Etgen, S. Fahrbach, and R. Rubin eds.) pp. 281-315. Academic Press.

Belle, E., Beckage, N.E., Rousselet, J., Poirie, M., Lemeunier, F. and Drezen, J.M. 2002. Visualization of polydnavirus sequences in a parasitoid wasp chromosome. J. Virol. 76: 5793-5796.

Beckage, N.E., Foreman, R.C., Palmatier, C.M., and Tan, F.F. 2002. Inhibition of the larval ecdysis and emergence behavior of the parasitoid of the parasitoid Cotesia congregata by juvenile hormone. J. Insect Physiol. 48: 725-732.

Cole, T.J., Beckage, N.E., Tan, F.F., Srinivasan, A., and Ramaswamy, S.B. 2002. Parasitoid-host endocrine relations: self-reliance or co-optation? Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol. 32: 1673-1679.

Beckage, N.E. and Gelman, D.B. 2001. Parasitism of Manduca sexta by Cotesia congregata: A multitude of disruptive endocrine effects. In "Endocrine Interactions of Insect Parasites and Pathogens" (J. Edwards. and R. Weaver, eds.) pp. 59-81. BIOS Scientific Publishers, Oxford.

Washburn, J.O., Haas-Stapelton, E.J., Tan, F.F., Beckage, N.E. and Volkman, L.E. 2000. Co-infection of Manduca sexta larvae with polydnavirus of Cotesia congregata increases susceptiblity to fatal infection by Autographa californica M nucleopolyhedrovirus. J. Insect Physiol. 46: 179-190.