Employment

· Professor, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, 1994-present.

· Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Florida Gainesville,1989-1994.

· Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 1984-85.

· Associate Professor Department of Zoology University of Florida, 1981-89.

· Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology University of Florida, 1976-81.

Honor Society

Phi Beta Kappa, 1991.

Selected Honors and Awards

· University of Florida Foundation Recognition Award, 2003.

University of Florida Professorial Accomplishment Award, 2001.
Pioneer Lecturer Honoree, Florida Entomological Society, 1999.
Distinguished Faculty Award, University of Florida/Florida Blue Key, 1998.
Outstanding Leadership Award, University of Florida Athletic Association Board of Directors, Spring 1997.
Research Achievement Award. University of Florida sponsored Programs, 1993.
Career Advancement Award for Women, National Science Foundation, 1988.
Excellence in Teaching Award (Teacher of the Year Finalist), College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, 1987-88.

Editorial Boards

Journal of Insect Science, 2000-present.
Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, 1997-present.

Research Interests

The molecular and endocrine bases of multitrophic level interactions among parasitic insects, their symbiotic viruses and pathogens, and their hosts.

Physiological ecology and coevolution of endosymbionts and their hosts.

Endocrine regulation of and parasitism effects on invertebrate behavior; e.g. sex reversal, courtship, reproduction and metamorphosis.
Intercellular communication among insect hemocytes and insect immune responses.

Accomplishments

Symbiotic viruses of parasitic wasps disrupt the immune responses of their pest hosts and facilitate the successful development of the immature wasp. Thus, it is hypothesized that viral symbionts influence the host range of parasitic wasps and increase their effectiveness as biological control agents.

Our laboratory discovered the Diachasmimorpha longicaudata entomopoxvirus (DlEPV) and rhabdovirus (DlRhV) in females of the parasitic wasp D. longicaudata. (Braconidae). The wasp attacks tephritid fruit flies (e.g. the Mediterrenean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa, and others) worldwide. (Our major focus is on DlEPV, but studies on DlRhV are also ongoing).

We have:

· Purified and characterized DlEPV and sequenced >30% of its 250-300 kb DNA genome. The DlEPV genome is highly A + T rich and many of the putative proteins encoded by its genes have 30-60% amino acid identity to homologs of the Chordopoxvirinae (vertebrate poxviruses) and Entomopoxvirinae (insect poxviruses).

· Developed the first Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa cell

line for the in vitro culture of DlEPV to study its morphogenesis and gene expression.

· Artificially infected other cyclorraphous dipterans (e.g. houseflies, and filth flies) in addition to tephritids with DlEPV and discovered that the virus induces the expression of a 24 kD highly glycosylated protein. The cDNA sequence of PSP24 has some homology with a defensin of Drosophila melanogaster and as such, may play a role in the host’s defense response to viral infection.

· Obtained approval of DlEPV to be included in the Entomopxvirinae by the International Commission on the Taxonomy of Viruses (ICVT). Thus, DlEPV is the first symbiotic entomopoxvirus reported from a parasitic wasp.

Implications

· Study of DlEPV gene expression could help elucidate the mechanism of virus induction of host immune responses during infection. This may be important in the design of control strategies to disrupt the immune responses of cyclorrraphous dipterans of agricultural and medical/veterinary importance.

· DlEPV could be engineered as a vector for gene expression and production of pharmaceutical or other substances in cell culture.

· Comparative analyses of DlEPV genome and gene expression with those of other EPVs could elucidate the mechanism of DlEPV co-evolution with the wasp in which it is asymptomatic but is pathogenic in the dipteran pest host.

Funding

Florida Department of Citrus, National Science Foundation (through 2005), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Competitive Grants Program.

Selected Relevant Publications

Rocha, Kathy L., Mangine, Thomas, Harris, E.J., and Lawrence, P.O., 2004. Immature stages of Fopius arisanuas (Hymenoptera Braconidae) in Bactrocera dorsalis. Florida Entomologist 87: 164-168.

Mwaengo DM and P.O. Lawrence. 2003. A putative DNA helicase and novel oligoribonuclease in the Diachasmimorpha longicaudata entomopoxvirus (DlEPV).Arch Virol. 148:1431-44.

Lawrence, P. O. 2002. Purification and partial characterization of an entomopoxvirus from a parasitic wasp of tephritid fruit flies. 12pp. Journal of Insect Science 2:10. Available online: www.insectscience.org.

Khoo, C. C. and P. O. Lawrence. 2002. Hagen’s glands of the parasitic wasp Diachasmimorph longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): Ultrastructure and the detection of an entomopoxvirus and a parasitism-specific protein. Arthropod Structure and Development 31:121-130.

Shi, X. and P. O. Lawrence. 1999. An embryonic cell line from the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Diptera: Tephritidae). In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. -Animal 35: 12-14.

Shi, X., S. Gomez, and P. O. Lawrence. 1999. A 24 kD parasitism-specific protein from the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa: cDNA and deduced amino acid sequence. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: 29:749-755.

Lawrence, P.O. and D. B. Akin. 1990. Virus-like particles from the poison glands of the parasitic wasp Biosteres longicaudatus (Hymenoptera:Braconidae). Canadian Journal of Zoology 68, 539-546.

Teaching

Dr. Lawrence has taught a variety of courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels, including Animal Parasitology, Cells, Organisms, and Genetics, Host Selection in Parasitic Arthropods, and Invertebrate Physiology. She currently teaches a graduate course in Insect Physiology and an undergraduate honors course in Parasitic Diseases.

Laboratory Personnel

Y. Hashimoto, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Associate

O. Hernandez, M.S., Senior Biological Scientist

L. Matos, M.S., Doctoral student and University of Florida Alumni Fellow

K. L. Rocha, B.S. Research Assistant