Svetlana V. Oard - Research
Area of Interest
I use tools from molecular biology and molecular dynamics simulations to study biomolecules controlling disease resistance in plants. Understanding mechanisms of disease resistance in plants has both practical and fundamental importance. My goal is to help Louisiana farmers by developing valuable products, expanding markets for agricultural products, and promoting biotechnology in Louisiana. My areas of research include controlling bacterial and fungal diseases in crops by means of molecular breeding through expression of antimicrobial peptides.Other interests include the development of new biobased products and the design of biologically functional proteins based on molecular dynamics simulations. My research takes advantage of the state-of-the-art AgCenter Biotechnology Laboratory facility, the LSU computational resources, and close collaborations with colleagues to study problems of great fundamental and practical interest. I base and interpret experiments on the use of simple models and accurate calculations to produce reliable results. Combining experimental and computations tools, we have made considerable progress in designing new antimicrobial peptides with improved resistance to metal ions and developing crops with increased resistance to microbial diseases.
Selected publications
Oard, S., Karki, B., and Enright, F. (2007) Is there a difference in metal ion-based inhibition between members of thionin family: molecular dynamics simulation study. Biophysical Chemistry 130: 65-75.
Oard, S. and Enright, F. (2006) Expression of the antimicrobial peptides in plants to control phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi. Plant Cell Reports 25: 561-572.
Oard, S. and Karki, B.B. (2006) Mechanism of ß-purothionin antimicrobial peptide inhibition by metal ions: molecular dynamics simulation study. Biophysical Chemistry 121: 30-43.
Oard, S., Rush, M.C. and Oard, J.H. (2004) Characterization of antimicrobial peptides against a US strain of the rice pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. Journal of Applied Microbiology 97: 169-180.
Oard, S. (2003) Biotech lab opens for business. Louisiana Agriculture, Fall, 46.
Liu, D., Oard, S. V. and Oard, J. H. (2003) High transgene expression levels in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) driven by the rice ubiquitin promoter RUBQ2. Plant Science 165: 743-750.
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