Margaret J. McFall-Ngai

PhD UCLA (Biology), 1983

Associate Researcher, Kewalo Marine Laboratory

Kewalo Marine Laboratory
University of Hawaii
41 Ahui Street
Honolulu HI 96813
mcfallng@hawaii.edu

Establishment and maintenance of animal/bacterial symbioses

[publications] [graduate students]
My research focuses on the biology of symbiotic associations, specifically the interactions of squids and fishes with luminous bacteria. Presently, four main aspects of the symbiosis between the Hawaiian squid Euprymna scolopes and its luminous bacterial partner Vibrio fischeri are under investigation in my laboratory:
  1. the influence of the bacterial symbiont on the development of the host tissues with which it associates;
  2. the molecular mechanisms by which recognition and specificity are achieved during the establishment and maintenance of the symbiotic state;
  3. the biochemical 'design' of the squid tissues that modify bacterial bioluminescence; and
  4. the characterization of the biochemical environment within the epithelial crypts of the squid light organ.

Representative publications

McFall-Ngai, MJ. 2000. Negotiations between animals and bacteria: The 'diplomacy' of the squid-vibrio symbiosis. Comp Biochem Physiol 126:471-480

Nyholm SV, Stabb EV, Ruby EG, McFall-Ngai MJ. 2000. Establishment of an animal-bacterial association: Recruiting symbiotic vibrios from the environment. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97:10231-10235

Foster JS, Apicella MA, McFall-Ngai MJ. 2000. Vibrio fischeri lipopolysaccharide induces developmental apoptosis, but not complete morphogenesis, of its host's ciliated epithelium. Dev Biol 226:242-254

Lemus JD, McFall-Ngai MJ. 2000. Bacterial induction of changes in the host proteome in the squid-vibrio symbiosis. Appl Env Microbiol 66:4091-4097

Visick KL, Foster JF, Doino J, McFall-Ngai M, Ruby EG. 2000. Vibrio fischeri lux genes play an important role in colonization and development of the host light organ. J Bact 182:4578-4586

Visick K, McFall-Ngai MJ. 2000. An exclusive contract: Specificity in the Vibrio fischeri-Euprymna scolopes partnership. J Bact 182:1779-1787.

McFall-Ngai MJ. 1999. Consequences of evolving with bacterial symbionts: Insights from the squid-vibrio associations. Ann Rev Ecol Syst 30:235-256.

Small AL, McFall-Ngai MJ. 1999. Halide peroxidase in tissues that interact with bacteria in the host squid Euprymna scolopes. J Cell Biochem 72:445-457.

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Current students

Spencer Nyholm (PhD)
Initiation and maintenance of stable animal/bacterial symbioses
Jennifer Kimbell (MS)
Bacteria-induced gene expression in host tissues
Tanya Koropatnick (MS)
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Last update: 5 December 2000
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The University of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution.