Jess Morgan

Work Address: Research Scientist (Molecular Parasitology) Emerging Technologies Delivery Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Animal Research Institute Locked Mail Bag No. 4 Moorooka, Qld 4105 Australia Phone 61 7 33629494 Fax 61 7 33629429 email: jessica.morgan@dpi.qld.gov.au

Jess joined the Taylor lab as a postdoctoral researcher in January 2003. Her interest is in applying molecular techniques to study host-parasite relationships. The chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, is believed to be responsible for amphibian declines worldwide. Throughout the Sierras here in California the mountain yellow-legged frog, Rana muscosa, is under threat. Jess is interested in determining if this pathogen has a recent or ancient association with the frogs.

Jess returned to Australia in September 2005 and is currently living in Brisbane.

Education

• James Cook University, Townsville, Aus. Ph.D. 1993-1997 Zoology
  Thesis title: Evaluation of DNA sequences for solving taxonomic problems in trematodes, specifically echinostomes. Passed with distinction in 1998.
  
  
• James Cook University, Townsville, Aus. M.Sc.-qual 1992 Zoology
  
  
• James Cook University, Townsville, Aus. B.Sc. 1989-1991 Science

Positions Held

• 2003-2005 - Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California – Berkeley. Chytrid fungus population genetics, full time.
  
  
• 2000-2002 - Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico.
  Schistosoma mansoni population genetics, full time.
  
  
• 1998-1999 - Research Officer, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Queensland, Australia, full time,.
  
  
• 1997 - Postgraduate Teaching Scholarship, James Cook University, Australia, full time.
  
  
• 1993-1996 - Associate Lecturer, Department of Zoology, James Cook University, Australia, part time.
  
  
• 1993 - Scientist, Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage, Australia.
  Generated a report on Humpback whale movements along the Great Barrier Reef, two-month full time contract.
  
  
• 1992 - ASO4, Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Australia.
  Generated a Cabinet Submission on Australia's options at the 1992 International Whaling Commissions AGM, six weeks full time.
  
  
• 1992 - Tutor, Department of Zoology, James Cook University, Australia, casual position.

Publications

• Morgan, J.A.T., Vredenburg,V.T., Rachowicz, L.J., Knapp, R.A., Stice, M.J., Tunstall, T., Bingham, R.E., Parker, J.M., Longcore, J.E., Moritz, C., Briggs, C.J., Taylor, J.W. 2007. Enigmatic amphibian declines and emerging infectious disease: population genetics of the frog killing fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. PNAS 104:13845-13850.
  
  
• Rachowicz, L. J., Hero, J.-M., Alford, R. A., Taylor, J. W., Morgan, J. A. T., Vredenberg, V. T., Collins, J. P. and C. J. Briggs. 2005. The novel and endemic pathogen hypotheses: Competing explanations for the origin of emerging infectious diseases of wildlife. Conservation Biology 19:1441-1447.
  
  
• Morgan, J. A. T., DeJong, R. J., Lwambo N. J. S., Mungai, B. N., Mkoji, G. M., and Loker, E. S. (2003). First Report of a Natural Hybrid Between Schistosoma mansoni and S. rodhaini.. Journal of Parasitology 89(2): 416-418.
  
  
• Morgan, J. A. T., DeJong, R. J., Jung, Y., Khallaayoune, K., Kock, S., Mkoji, G. M., and Loker, E. S. (2002). A phylogeny of planorbid snails, with implications for the evolution of Schistosoma parasites. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 25(3): 477-488.
  
  
• DeJong, R. J., Morgan, J. A. T., Paraense, L., Pointier, J.-P., Amarista, M., Ayeh-Kumi, P. F. K., Babiker, A., Barbosa, C. S., Brémond, P., Canese, A. P., de Souza, C. P., Dominguez, C., File, S., Gutierrez, A., Incani, R. N., Kawano, T., Kazibwe, F., Kpikpi, J., Lwambo, N. J. S., Mimpfoundi, R., Njiokou, F., Poda, J. N., Sene, M., Velasquez, L. E., Yong, M., Adema, C. M., Hofkin, B. V., Mkoji, G. M., and Loker, E. S. (2001). Evolutionary relationships and biogeography of Biomphalaria (Gastropoda: Planorbidae) with implications regarding its role as host of the human bloodfluke Schistosoma mansoni. Molecular Biology and Evolution 18(12): 2225-2239.
  
  
• Lo, C. M., Morgan, J. A. T., Galzin R. and Cribb, T. H. (2001). Identical digeneans of coral reef fishes from French Polynesia and the Great Barrier Reef (Australia) demonstrated by morphology and molecules. International Journal for Parasitology, 31, 1573-1578.
  
  
• Maldonado, A., Loker, E.S., Morgan, J.A.T., Rey, L. and Lanfredi, R.M. (2001). Description of the adult worms of a new Brazilian isolate of Echinostoma paraensei, (Platyhelminthes: Digenea) from its natural vertebrate host Nectomys squamipes by light and scanning electron microscopy and molecular analysis. Parasitology Research 87(10): 840-848.
  
  
• Whittington, I. D., Corneillie, S., Talbot, C., Morgan, J. A. T. and Adlard, R. D. (2001). Infections of Seriola quinqueradiat a Temminck & Schlegel and S. dumerili (Risso) in Japan by Benedenia seriolae (Monogenea) confirmed by morphology and 28S ribosomal DNA analysis. Journal of Fish Diseases 24(7): 421-425.
  
  
• Chisholm, L. A., Whittington, I. D., Morgan, J. A. T. and Adlard, R. D. (2001). The Calicotyle conundrum: do molecules reveal more than morphology? Systematic Parasitology. 49, 81-87.
  
  
• Chisholm, L. A., Morgan, J. A. T., Adlard, R. D. and Whittington, I. D. (2001). Phylogenetic analysis of the Monocotylidae (Monogenea) inferred from 28S rDNA sequences. International Journal for Parasitology. 31, 1253-1263.
  
  
• Grutter A.S., Morgan, J. A. T. and Adlard R.D. (2000). Characterising parasitic gnathiid isopod species and matching life stages using ribosomal DNA ITS2 sequences. Marine Biology. 136, 201-205.
  
  
• Morgan, J. A. T. and Blair, D. (1998). Trematode and monogenean rRNA ITS2 secondary structures support a four domain model. Journal of Molecular Evolution. 47, 406-419.
  
  
• Morgan, J. A. T. and Blair, D. (1998). Relative merits of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers and mitochondrial CO1 and ND1 genes for distinguishing among Echinostoma species (Trematoda). Parasitology. 116, 289-297.
  
  
• Morgan, J. A. T. and Blair, D. (1998). Mitochondrial ND1 gene sequences used to identify echinostome isolates from Australia and New Zealand. International Journal for Parasitology. 28, 493-502.
  
  
• Morgan, J. A. T. and Blair, D. (1995). Nuclear rDNA ITS sequence variation in the Trematode genus Echinostoma: an aid to establishing relationships within the 37-collar-spine group. Parasitology. 111, 609-615.

Invited Manuscripts

• Morgan, J. A. T., DeJong R. J., Snyder S. D., Mkoji G. M. and Loker E. S. (2001). Schistosoma mansoni and Biomphalaria: past history and future trends. Parasitology. 123: Special supplement S211-S228.
  
  
• Morgan, J. A. T. and Blair, D. (2000). Molecular Biology of Echinostomes in: Echinostomes as Experimental Models for Biological Research. B. Fried and T.K. Graczyk (Eds). Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands. p245-266.

Primary Authored Conference Proceedings

• Morgan J. A. T., DeJong, R. J., Mkoji, G. M. and Loker, E. S. (2002). A global view of phylogeography and colonization by Schistosoma mansoni. The tenth International Congress of Parasitology ICOPA X. Vancouver, Canada August 4-9. Abstract 484.
  
  
• Morgan J. A. T., DeJong, R. J., Mkoji, G. M. and Loker, E. S. (2001). Resolution of relationships within the fresh water snail family Planorbidae including the major hosts of African Schistosoma. 50th Annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Atlanta, Georgia, USA November 11-15. Abstract 651, p371.
  
  
• Morgan J. A. T., DeJong, R. J., Mkoji, G. M. and Loker, E. S. (2001). Intermediate snail host switching by African Schistosoma involves a deep phylogenetic leap within the Planorbidae: evidence from ribosomal 28S and actin genes. American Society of Parasitologists 76th Annual Meeting. Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA June 29-July 3. p77.
  
  
• Morgan J. A. T. (2000). Characterising parasitic gnathiid isopod species and matching life stages using ribosomal DNA ITS2 sequences. 33rd annual meeting of the Southwestern Association of Parasitologists. The University of Oklahoma Biological Station Lake Texoma, Oklahoma, USA. April 13-15. p18.
  
  
• Morgan J. A. T. (1998). Ribosomal DNA ITS sequences help to resolve relationships among parasite species. 45th annual meeting of the Genetics Society of Australia at the University of Sydney. Sydney, Australia October 9-12. p 40.
  
  
• Morgan, J. A. T. and Blair, D. (1996). Genetic identification of cryptic species of Echinostoma. PASEAN: Parasites in South East Asia Now. The Australian Society for Parasitology and The Parasite Control Association of Indonesia. Bali, Indonesia, September 15-20. p 31.
  
  
• Morgan, J. A. T. and Blair, D. (1993). Ribosomal DNA sequence diversity among well characterised Echinostoma species. The Australian Society for Parasitology Annual Scientific and General Meeting, Heron Island, September 28-October 1st. p 23.

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