Charles Opperman
Bio
Charles H. Opperman was born in New York City in 1957. After an urban upbringing, including Chicago and Ft. Lauderdale, he received a B.S. in Agronomy (1981) and a Ph.D. in Nematology (1985) from the University of Florida. In 1985, Opperman went to Union Carbide Agricultural Products Co. as Senior Research Nematologist where he had responsibility for basic research on nematode neurobiology and behavior, primary and secondary screening of candidate nematicides, and field evaluations of advanced experimental compounds. Opperman moved to the Department of Plant Pathology at North Carolina State University in 1987, where he is currently Professor of Plant Pathology and Genetics, From 1998-2010, Opperman was a Lawes Trust Senior Fellow at the Institute for Arable Crop Research-Rothamsted, UK.
Research:
I utilize genomics tools to identify and characterize genes important in parasitism and development to understand relationships between parasitic and free-living nematodes, factors involved in host range and aggressiveness, genome organization as it relates to lateral gene transfer, evolution of specialization and niche selection, and interaction with nematode-parasitic bacteria. Though the primary focus of my research program has been on the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) and soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines), my interests have recently shifted to include the migratory endoparasitic lesion (Pratylenchus spp.) and burrowing (Radopholus similis) nematodes. These nematodes are pathogens of a diverse array of crops, including maize, soybean, citrus, banana, and the bioenergy crops Miscanthus and switchgrass. With collaborators David Bird (NCSU Plant Pathology) and Dan Rokhsar (JGI-DOE), I led the Meloidogyne hapla (root-knot nematode) genome sequencing project, which was completed in mid-2008. Meloidogyne hapla is the most robustly developed parasitic nematode model system; its sequence has enabled merging of the genetic and physical maps, which provides a unique platform for analysis of genes involved in parasitism and basic nematode biology. I will continue to exploit the M. hapla genome to investigate genome modifications to the parasitic lifestyle.
More recently, I have been involved in the acquisition of genome sequence from P. coffeae and R. similis. The genomes from these migratory endoparasitic nematodes are likely to shed light on the evolution of parasitic ability in nematodes, as well as provide clues to the evolution of specialization in the root-knot and cyst nematodes. A key finding from all of these genome sequencing projects is the relatively small gene numbers found in the migratory forms compared to the sedentary root-knot nematodes, which suggest that gene duplication and neofunctionalization may play a key role in evolution of the root-knot nematode. Combined with strong evidence for lateral gene transfer as a driving force in evolution, the nematode genome platforms provide key tools in the discovery of genes with novel functions in parasites.
Genome analysis of the obligate bacterial hyperparasite (Pasteuria penetrans) of root-knot nematode has revealed that P. penetrans carries a suite of collagen-like genes similar to parasitic Bacilli (Bacillus cereus, B. anthracis, B. thuringiensis) virulence factors. In collaboration with Keith Davies (University of Hertfordshire, UK), we have developed a model for attachment of the bacterial spores to the root-knot nematode cuticle prior to germination and infection. In this model, the P. penetrans collagen genes control both attachment and specificity and act as a type of molecular ‘velcro’. Further work has demonstrated that attachment can be blocked by treatment with collagen binding or denaturing molecules.
Publications
- Banana-paper seed wrap increases yam crop yield and quality in Africa , NATURE FOOD (2023)
- Cellulose Acetate-Stabilized Pickering Emulsions: Preparation, Rheology, and Incorporation of Agricultural Active Ingredients , ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING (2023)
- Editorial: Genetics of plant-nematode interactions , FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE (2023)
- Creating hierarchically porous banana paper-metal organic framework (MOF) composites with multifunctionality , APPLIED MATERIALS TODAY (2022)
- Recent advances in seed coating technologies: transitioning toward sustainable agriculture , GREEN CHEMISTRY (2022)
- Wrap-and-plant technology to manage sustainably potato cyst nematodes in East Africa , NATURE SUSTAINABILITY (2022)
- Toward Sustainable Crop Protection: Aqueous Dispersions of Biodegradable Particles with Tunable Release and Rainfastness , ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS (2021)
- Current Insights into Migratory Endoparasitism: Deciphering the Biology, Parasitism Mechanisms, and Management Strategies of Key Migratory Endoparasitic Phytonematodes , PLANTS-BASEL (2020)
- Cyst nematode bio-communication with plants: implications for novel management approaches , PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (2020)
- The genome of the migratory nematode, Radopholus similis, reveals signatures of close association to the sedentary cyst nematodes , PLOS ONE (2019)