Kathleen Cusick

Title

Assistant Professor

Department

Biology

Institution

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

kcusick@umbc.edu

Education

PhD Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Center for Environmental Biotechnology
MS, Marine Biology, Florida Institute of Technology/Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

Research Interests

Harmful Algal Blooms Molecular Biology Bioluminescence

View all research interests

Biography

Cusick's research focuses on toxicity and bioluminescence in Harmful Algal Bloom species, with a focus on Pyrodinium bahamense, the species responsible for the bioluminescence in the bioluminescent bays of Puerto Rico and along the Florida coasts. Her lab studies the genetic and transcriptional mechanisms associated with these two phenoytypes, particularly as they relate to bloom development, in addition to other "quirks" that define dinoflagellate genomes. Through the use of single cell methods, her lab identified that P. bahamense populations in the Western Atlantic are comprised of both stxA4+ (sxtA4 = key gene in saxitoxin biosynthesis) and sxtA4- genotypes. While the overwhelming hypothesis for STX is that it functions as a grazing deterrent, her work showed a link with copper homeostasis, indicating a previously unexplored role for toxin production. Her lab also studies bacterial biofilm formation in coastal systems in response to copper; specifically, biofilm growth on ship hulls, which use copper as an anti-fouling agent.

Homepages

Contact Information

1000 Hilltop Circle, University of Maryland Baltimore County

Research

Not mentioned yet.

Cloud List

Harmful Algal Blooms Molecular Biology Bioluminescence Microbial Ecology Environmental Monitoring Marine Resources Research Microbiologist Coastal Environments Kennedy Space Center Marine Bacteria Dna Extraction Plos One South Carolina Western Atlantic Marine Environments, Marine Environment Driving Factors Ecological Functions Genetic Variability Harmful Algae American Society Molecular Mechanisms Ecological Impacts Economic Importance Geographical Distribution Foodborne Pathogens Photonics West Biomedical Optics Microbial Pathogens Optical Probes Naval Research Laboratory

List of Publications (10)

In 2023

Gautam, P. Erill, I., Cusick, K.D. Linking Copper-associated signal transduction systems with their environment in marine bacteria. Microorganisms 2023, 11,1012. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11041012.
Found on CV

Gautam, P., and Cusick, K.D. Development of a real-time quantitative PCR assay for detection and quantification of the marine bacterium Alteromonas macleodii from coastal environments. J. Microbiological Methods. 2023
Found on CV

In 2021

Cusick, K.D., Iturbide, A., Gautam, P., Price, A.*, Polson, S.W., MacDonald, M.L., Erill, I. Enhanced copper- resistance gene repertoire in Alteromonas macleodii strains isolated from copper-treated marine coatings. PLoS ONE, 2021, 16(9): e0257800. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257800.
Found on CV

Cusick, K. and Duran, G.* SxtA4+ and sxtA4- genotypes occur together within natural Pyrodinium bahamense sub- populations from the Western Atlantic. Microorganisms, 2021, 9, 1128. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorgansisms9061128.
Found on CV

In 2020

Cusick, K.D., and Widder, E.A. Bioluminescence and toxicity as driving factors in harmful algal blooms: Ecological functions and genetic variability. Harmful Algae, 2020, 98: 101850, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2020.101850.
Found on CV

Kathleen Cusick Curriculum Vitae Cusick K.D., Polson, S.W., Duran, G.*, Hill, R.T. Multiple megaplasmids confer extremely high levels of metal tolerance in Alteromonas strains. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 2020, 86: e01831-19. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.01831-19.
Found on CV

In 2013

Cusick, K.D. and Sayler, G.S. An overview of the ecophysiology, molecular biology, and ecological impacts of the toxic bioluminescent dinoflagellate Pyrodinium bahamense. In R.D. Tobias and V.M. Lariree [eds.], Dinoflagellates: Biology, Geographical Distribution and Economic Importance. Nova Publishers, New York, 2013.
Found on CV

In 2004

Ripp, S., Young, J., Ozen, A., Jegier, P., Johnson, C., Cusick (nee Daumer), K., Garland, J., and Sayler, G. Phage- amplified bioluminescent bioreporters for the detection of foodborne pathogens. Proceedings of SPIE, Photonics West 2004: Biomedical Optics (BiOS), Vol. 5329 (Genetically Engineered and Optical Probes for Biomedical Applications II).
Found on CV

In 2003

Proceedings of SPIE, Photonics East 2003, Vol. 5270: 58-68 (Environmental Monitoring and Remediation III).
Found on CV

Unspecified

Ozen, A., Montgomery, K., Jegier, P., Patterson, S., Cusick (nee Daumer), K., Ripp, S., Garland, J., and Sayler, G. Development of bacteriophage-based bioluminescent bioreporters for monitoring of microbial pathogens.
Found on CV

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Colleagues

Renee Lambert-Bretiere

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Henrique Barbosa

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Bruce Lyons

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

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