Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
A meeting review article for Phyllosphere 2022 was just published in Phytobiomes. Megan’s research on the ability of the phytopathogen Xanthomonas gardneri to induce water soaking of the apoplast which leads to entry, survival, and proliferation of unwanted (from the human perspective) bacteria such as Salmonella enterica in the leaf apoplast. A model supported by Megan’s research is …
We’re proud to announce that in collaboration with the Data Science Institute, we’ve created an automated application to identify and enumerate the diseased area of tomato leaves, Leaf Lesion Detector. Our objective was to quantify changes to the host following infection. This app automates the identification and quantification of visible changes to the leaf as …
Megan is the 2023 recipient of the Schreiber Foods Graduate Student Scholarship. This scholarship is the result of a generous donation by Schreiber Foods to honor Dr. Vincent Zehren of Schreiber Foods and in memory of Dr. Edwin (Mike) Foster of the University of Wisconsin Food Research Institute. The scholarship is awarded annually by the …
Megan Dixon’s abstract, Salmonella enterica Access to the Leaf Apoplast Controlled by Plant Disease-Mediated Changes and Abiotic Factors, was chosen for a talk at ASM-Microbe 2023. Megan’s will give a talk in the Behind the Scenes: AEM journal spotlights from Lab to Pub and Beyond! session to describe the backstory and experimental workflow that led to her recent …
Hooray for Megan! The American Society for Microbiology’s Applied and Environmental Microbiology journal picked Megan’s latest paper as an Article of Significant Interest They report that Plant Disease Helps Hide Salmonella in Leaves. Included is another example of Megan’s art that fosters science communication by visualization of her methodology.
We are proud of Vicky’s contribution to help communicate science to non-science audiences. Checkout this chapter from her thesis, Characterizing insect feeding behaviors which influence epiphytic Salmonella enterica populations. Throughout Vicky’s graduate career she has been deliberate in her communication efforts (in person, in writing, and through social media) to reach the general public and raise …
The Barak Lab is hosting Friday@4! Come and join the discussion. Win prizes!! Plants get diarrhea too!?! Why: Science communication is important Where: Russell Labs, Rm 584 When: November 4, 4PM Food & Drink provided
Congratulations to Megan! Her paper, Xanthomonas Infection Transforms the Apoplast into an Accessible and Habitable Niche for Salmonella enterica, has been accepted in Applied Environmental Microbiology. This is the next step forward in our investigation of how infection alters a host. This study focused on the fate of epiphytic S. enterica following arrival on the surface of an infected …
The Wisconsin Agricultural and Life Sciences Alumni Association chose Dr. Barak as the 2022 Outstanding Advisor Award. Jeri was nominated by CALS undergraduates (See picture below). In their nomination, the students wrote, “Dr. Barak goes above and beyond her role as an instructor by providing education and formative opportunities to her students outside of the …
Congratulations to Vicky! Her paper, Give and Take: Salmonella enterica alters Macrosteles quadrilineatus feeding behaviors resulting in altered S. enterica populations and distribution on leaves, is headed for publication in Scientific Reports. This is the next chapter in our investigation of how phytophagous insects alter phyllosphere bacterial populations. This study focused on induced damage to the phyllosphere in response to intercellular …