Brenda T. Beerntsen, PhD

Professor

  • B.S., University of Wisconsin
  • M.S., University of Wisconsin
  • Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of California-Irvine
Brenda T. Beerntsen

Building Address: 213 Connaway Hall
Phone Number: 573-882-5033
Email: BeerntsenB@missouri.edu

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Dr. Beerntsen’s research focus is on mosquito-parasite interactions, vector-pathogen interactions and mosquito immunity, particularly recognition and signal transduction mechanisms involved in the innate immunity of mosquitoes against pathogens.

TEACHING

Veterinary Parasitology (Course director); Research Ethics (Guest lecturer)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  1. Fischer C, Ibiricu Urriza I, Bulman CA, Lim KC, Gut J, Lachau-Durand S, Engelen M, Quirynen L, Tekle F, Baeten B, Beerntsen B, Lustigman S, Sakanari J. 2019. Efficacy of subcutaneous doses and a new oral amorphous solid dispersion formulation of flubendazole on male jirds (Meriones unguiculatus) infected with the filarial nematode Brugia pahangi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2019 Jan 16;13(1):e0006787. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006787. eCollection 2019 Jan.
  2. Yuan S, Huang W, Geng L, Beerntsen BT, Song H, Ling E. 2017. Differentiation of lepidoptera scale cells from epidermal stem cells followed by ecdysone-regulated DNA duplication and scale secreting. Cell Cycle. 16(21):2156-2167.PMID 28933984.
  3. Zhang H, Dong S, Chen x, Stanley D, Beerntsen B, Feng Q, Song Q. 2017. Relish2 mediates bursicon homodimer-induced prophylactic immunity in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Sci Rep. 22;7:43163. doi: 10.1038/srep43163.
  4. Han F, Lu A, Yuan Y, Huang W, Beerntsen BT, Huang, J, Ling E. 2017. Characterization of an entomopathogenic fungi target integument protein, Bombyx mori single domain von Willebrand factor type C, in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Insect Mol Biol. 2017 Feb 7. doi: 10.1111/imb.12293. [Epub ahead of print].
  5. Yang B, Huang W, Zhang J, Xu Q, Zhu S, Zhang Q, Beerntsen BT, Song H, Ling E. 2016. Analysis of gene expression in the midgut of Bombyx mori during the larval molting stage. BMC Genomics. 2016 Nov 3;17(1):866.
  6. Huang W, Zhang J, Yang B, Beerntsen BT, Song H, Ling E. 2016. DNA duplication is essential for the repair of gastrointestinal perforation in the insect midgut. Sci Rep. 2016 Jan 12;6:19142.
  7. Wang S, Beerntsen BT. 2015. Functional implications of the peptidoglycan recognition proteins in the immunity of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Insect Mol Biol. 2015 Jan 14. doi: 10.1111/imb.12159. [Epub ahead of print].
  8. Shi XZ, Kang CJ, Wang SJ, Zhong X, Beerntsen BT, Yu XQ.2014. Functions of Armigeres subalbatus C-type lectins in innate immunity. Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2014 Jul 8;52C:102-114. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2014.06.010. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID:25014898.
  9. Lu A, Li X, Hillyer JF, Beerntsen BT, Söderhäll K, Ling E. 2014. Recombinant Drosophila prophenoloxidase 1 is sequentially cleaved by α-chymotrypsin during in vitro activation. Biochimie. 2014 Jul;102:154-65. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2014.03.007. Epub 2014 Mar 19.PMID: 24657220.
  10. Wang S, Beerntsen BT. 2014. Identification and functional analysis of the Peptidoglycan Recognition Protein LD gene in the mosquito, Armigeres subalbatus.Dev Comp Immunol. 2013 Sep 7. doi:pii: S0145-305X(13)00252-8. 10.1016/j.dci.2013.08.025. [Epub ahead of print] PMID:24016699.
  11. Wang S, Beerntsen BT. 2013. Insights into the different functions of multiple peptidoglycan recognition proteins in the immune response against bacteria in the mosquito, Armigeres subalbatus. Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 43(6):533-43. PMID:23541606.
  12. Roberts RN, Schlarman MS, Kariuki MM, LaCrue AN, Ou R, Beerntsen BT. 2013. Expression profile of the Plasmodium falciparum intra-erythrocytic stage protein, PF3D7_1363700. Malar J. 12(1):66. PMID:23418676; PMCID:PMC3637116.
  13. Xu Q, Lu A, Xiao G, Yang B, Zhang J, Li X, Guan J, Shao Q, Beerntsen BT, Zhang P, Wang C, Ling E. 2012. Transcriptional profiling of midgut immunity response and degeneration in the wandering silkworm, Bombyx mori. PLoS One. 7(8):e43769. Epub 2012 Aug 24.PMID:22937093.
  14. Diao Y, Lu A, Yang B, Hu W, Peng Q, Ling QZ, Beerntsen BT, Söderhäll K, Ling E. 2012. existence of prophenoloxidase in wing discs: A source of plasma prophenoloxidase in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. PLoS One. 7(7):e41416. Epub 2012 Jul 25. 36. PMID:22848488.
  15. Samson EB, Goldschmidt BS, Whiteside PJ, Sudduth AS, Custer JR, Beerntsen B, Viator JA. 2012. Photoacoustic spectroscopy of β-hematin J Opt. 14(6). pii: 065302. Epub 2012 May 30.PMID:22844576.
  16. Chen Y, Liu F, Yang B, Lu A, Wang S, Wang J, Ling QZ, Li X, Beerntsen BT, Ling E. 2012. Specific amino acids affecting Drosophila melanogaster prophenoloxidase activity in vitro. Dev Comp Immunol. 38:88-97. Epub 2012 May 8. PMID:22579944.
  17. Wang S, Ou R, and Beerntsen BT. 2012. Cloning and characterization of the peptidoglycan recognition protein genes in the mosquito, Armigeres subalbatus (Diptera: Culicidae). J. Med. Ent. 49:656-71.
  18. Schlarman MS, Roberts RN, Kariuki MM, LaCrue AN, Ou R, Beerntsen BT. 2012. PPFE0565w, a Plasmodium falciparum protein expressed in salivary gland sporozoites. Am J Trop Med Hyg.86:943-954.
  19. Schlarman MS, Roberts RN, Kariuki MM, LaCrue AN, Ou R, Beerntsen BT. 2012. Transcript and protein expression profile of PF11_0394, a Plasmodium falciparum protein expressed in salivary gland sporozoites.  Malar. J. 11:80.
  20. Liu F, Chen Y, Yang B, Wang J, Peng Q, Shao Q, Li X, Beerntsen BT, Xu Y, Li J, Yu XQ, Ling E. 2011. Drosophila melanogaster prophenoloxidases respond inconsistently to Cu(2+) and have different activity in vitro. Dev Comp Immunol. 36:619-628.
  21. Li X, Ma M, Liu F, Chen Y, Lu A, Ling QZ, Li J, Beerntsen BT, Yu XQ, Liu C, Ling E. 2011. Properties of Drosophila melanogaster prophenoloxidases expressed in Escherichia coli. Dev Comp Immunol. 36:648-656.
  22. Wang Z, Lu A, Li X, Shao Q, Beerntsen BT, Liu C, Ma Y, Huang Y, Zhu H, Ling E. 2011. A systematic study on hemocyte identification and plasma prophenoloxidase from Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus at different developmental stages. Exp Parasitol. 127:135-41. 2010 Jul 15. [Epub ahead of print].
  23. Kariuki M, Hearne LB, Beerntsen BT. 2010. Differential transcript expression between the microfilariae of the filarial nematodes, Brugia malayi and B. pahangi. BMC Genomics.11:225-238. PMC2874553.
  24. Chako CZ, Tyler JW, Chiguma L, Schultz LG, Beerntsen BT. 2010. Cryptosporidiosis in people: It’s not just about the cows. J. Vet Intern. Med. 24:37-43.
  25. Wu S, Zhang X, Chen X, Cao P, Beerntsen BT, Ling E. 2010.  BmToll9, an Arthropod conservative Toll, is likely involved in the local gut immune response in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Dev.  Comp.  Immunol. 34:93-6; 2009 Sept 6. [Epub ahead of print].