Assistant Professor
Department of Food Science and Technology
Virginia Institute of Technology and State University
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| Current Research |
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Office
205 Fralin Biotechnology Center
West Campus Dr, 0346
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Office: 540-231-5031
Fax: 540-231-9293
Laboratory
216 Fralin Biotechnology Center
| WELCOME to the Ponder lab! |
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Microorganisms have a vital and important role in food science. Microorganisms are responsible for digesting food that the body can't on its own, such as the complex sugars found in grains, fruits and vegetables. As part of the digestive process, the microbes break down nutrients to extract calories that can be stored as fat.
Microbial processes are responsible for the production of many foods that we enjoy on a daily basis including cheese, yogurt, beer, wine and even coffee.
Microbes can also cause spoilage of our food and even illness in ourselves and agricultural commodities.
The Ponder laboratory investigates microbial interactions of native microbes with its host and other microbes, especially human pathogens. We are interested in identifying reservoirs of human pathogens in the environment and working to limit illness by encouraging growth of native, beneficial bacteria that will compete against pathogens for resources.
Research interests
Reservoir Ecology
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Microbial Ecology of Agricultural Commodities
Current Projects
Microbial ecology and safety of fresh produce
Assessment of microbiological quality and safety of greenhouse produced crops using aquaculture wastewater
Characterization of the microbial ecology of spinach and lettuce
Competitive exclusion assays of native spinach epiphytes in presence of E.coli 0157:H7 and serovars of Salmonella enterica
Characterization of virulence factors expressed in different serotypes of Salmonella enterica and E.coli 0157:H7 on epiphytic surfaces
Effect of functional foods on gastrointestinal microbial diversity and function
Characterizing the fecal microbiome of horses and the impact of non-structural carbohydrate composition
Effect of prebiotics and probiotics on survival and attachment of Salmonella enterica to porcine gastrointestinal cells
Zoonotic transmission mechanisms of enteric pathogens
Transmission of shiga toxin producing E.coli through a cow-calf cohort
Impact of land use on transmission of zoonotic pathogens between humans and wildlife - in collaboration with Kathleen Alexander, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech
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Monica Ponder
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Education Ph.D. Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University July, 2005 B. A. Microbiology, Miami University, 1999 Work Experience ASM/NCID Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005-2007 |
