CDU Research


For Postgraduate Places

Research Degrees Administration Officer
08 8946 7065
research.degrees@cdu.edu.au

For Research Projects

Director - Office of Research & Innovation
08 8946 6708
ORI@cdu.edu.au

For Research Scholarships

Senior Research Administration Officer
08 8946 6548
research.scholarships@cdu.edu.au

For Research Ethics

Ethics Administrator Officer, CDU Human Research Ethics Committee & Animal Ethics Committee
08 8946 6923
cdu-ethics@cdu.edu.au

Research

CDU Researcher Profile

Find a researcher by: Last name | Research area
Name: Dr Karen Gibb
Qualifications: BAgSc. PhD
Main role: Molecular Biologist
Phone: +61 8 8946 6705
Fax: +61 8 8946 6847
Email: karen.gibb@cdu.edu.au
Address: Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, 0909
School of Science and Primary Industries, Faculty of Education, Health and Science

Research Interests

Plant-pathogen interactions at the cellular and molecular levels with particular emphasis on plant pathogenic viruses and phytoplasmas.

Principal research areas include:

  • molecular detection, strain differentiation and genomic characterisation of phytoplasmas
  • plant resistance to virus infection
  • insect vector transmission of viruses and phytoplasmas

Recent Publications

  1. Firrao, G, Andersen, M., Bertaccini, Boudon, A., Bove, J.M., Daire, X., Davis R.E., Fletcher, J., Garnier, M., Gibb, K.S., Gundersen-Rindal, D.E., Harrison, N., Hiruki, C., Kirkpatrick, B.C., Jones, P., Kuske, C.R., Lee, I.M., Liefting, L., Marcone, C., N (2004) 'Candidatus Phytoplasma', a taxon for the wall-less, non-helical prokaryotes that colonize plant phloem and insects.  International Journal of systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 54 (4), pp1243-1255
  2. Constable, F.E., Jones, J., Gibb, K.S., Chalmers, Y.M., and Symons, R.H. (2004) The incidence, distribution and expression of Australian grapevine yellows, restricted growth and late season leaf curl disease in selected Australian vineyards.  Annals of Applied Biology, 144, pp205-218
  3. Blanche, K.R., Tran-Nguyen, L.T.T. and Gibb, K.S. (2003). Detection, identification and significance of phytoplasmas in grasses in northern Australia. Plant Pathology, 52, 505-512.
  4. De La Rue, S.J., Hopkinson, R., Foster, S. and Gibb, K.S. (2003). Phytoplasma host range and symptom expression in the pasture legume Stylosanthes. Field Crops Research, 84, 327-334.
  5. Tran-Nguyen, L.T.T., Persley, D.M. and Gibb, K.S. (2003). First report of phytoplasma disease in capsicum, celery and chicory in Queensland, Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology, 32, 559-560.
  6. Streten, C. and Gibb, K.S. (2003). Identification of genes in the tomato big bud phytoplasma and comparison to those in sweet potato little leaf-V4 phytoplasma. Microbiology, 149, 1797-1805.
  7. Constable, F.E., Gibb, K.S. and Symons, R.H. (2003). Seasonal distribution of phytoplasmas in Australian grapevines. Plant Pathology, 52, 267-276.
  8. Gibb,K.S., Pilkington, L.J., Gurr, Fletcher, M.J., Nikandrow, A., Elliott, E., van de Ven, R. and Read, D.M.Y. (2003). Detection and Identification of a phytoplasma from Lucerne with Australian Lucerne yellows disease. Plant Pathology, 52, 754-762.
  9. Blanche, K.R., Tran-Nguyen, L., and Gibb, K.S. (2003). Tests of transmission of cynodon white leaf phytoplasma to sugarcane and maize in northern Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural research, 54, 423-427.
  10. Gibb, K.S., Tran-Nguyen, L.T.T. and Randles, J.W. (2003). A new phytoplasma detected in the South Australian native perennial shrub, Allocasuarina muelleriana. Annals of Applied Biology, 142, 357-364.
  11. Constable, F.E., Whiting, J.R., Jones, J., Gibb, K.S. and Symons, R.H. (2003). The distribution of grapevine yellows disease associated with the Buckland Valley Grapevine Yellows phytoplasma. Journal of Phytopathology, 151, 65-73
  12. Peng, R., Christian, K. and Gibb, K. S. (2002). Biological Control of Amblypelta spp (Hemiptera: Coreidae) using Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) - progress, prospects and challenges. International Symposium on Tropical and Sub Tropical Fruits, Cairns, Australia.
  13. Constable, F. E., Whiting, J. R., Gibb, K. S. and Symons, R. H. (2002). A new grapevine yellows phytoplasma from the Buckland Valley of Victoria, Australia. Vitis, 41 (3), pp 147-154.
  14. De La Rue, S.J., Hopkinson, R. and Gibb, K. S. (2002). Assessment of Stylosanthes seed yield reduction caused by phytoplasma-associated diseases. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 42, pp 1053-1056.
  15. Pilkington, L., Gibb, K. S., Gurr, G., Fletcher, M., Nikandrow, A., Elliott, E., Van de Ven, R. and Read, D. (2002). First report of a phytoplasma associated with Australian lucerne yellows disease. Plant Pathology, 51 (3), pp 390.
  16. Gibb, K. S., Blanche Ros, and Wilson, D. (2001). Phytoplasmas and disease symptoms of crops and weeds in semi-arid tropics of the Northern Territory, Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology, 30, pp 159-163.
  17. Gibb, K. S., Jacobson, S., Davis, R., Waldeck, G. and De La Rue, S. (2001). A witches' broom of cocky apple (Planchonia careya) in north Queensland. Australasian Plant Pathology 30, pp 179.
  18. De La Rue, S., Gibb, K. S. and Padovan, A. (2001). Stylosanthes is a Host for Several Phytoplasmas, One of which Shows Unique 16S-23S Intergenic Spacer Region Heterogeneity. Journal of Phytopathology, 149, pp 613-619.
  19. Gibb, K. S., Blanche, K., Egan B. and Tran-Nguyen, L. (2000). Diversity of Phytoplasmas in northern Australia sugarcane and other grasses. Plant Pathology, 49, pp 666-679.
  20. Padovan, A., Gibb, K. S., Schneider Bernd, Firrdo Gui. (2000). Chromosome Mapping of the Sweet Potato Little Leaf Phytoplasma Reveals Genome Heterogeneity within the Phytoplasmas. Microbiology, 146, pp 893-902.
  21. Padovan, A., Gibb, K. S. and Persley, D. (2000). Association of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma australiense' with green petal and lethal yellows diseases in strawberry. Plant Pathology, 49 (3), pp 362-369.
  22. Peng, R., Christian, K. and Gibb, K. S. (1999). The effect of colony isolation of the predacious green ant, Oecophylla smaragdina, (F) (Hymentoptera: Formicidae), on protection of cashew plantations from insect pests. International Journal of Pest Management, 45, pp 189-194.
  23. Padovan, A., Schneider, B., Gibb, K. S. and Spoodee, R. (1999). Detection and Genetic Relatedness of Phytoplasmas Associated with Plant Diseases in Thailand. Journal of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology with Biophysics, 3, 133-140.
  24. Padovan, A., De La Rue, S., Schneider, B. and Gibb, K. S. (1999). Detection and differentiation of phytoplasmas in Australia: an update. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 50, pp 333-342.
  25. Padovan, A., De La Rue, S., Schneider, B. and Gibb, K. S. (1999). Comparison and Characterization of Tomato Big Bud and Sweet Potato Little Leaf-Group Phytoplasmas. Journal of Phytopathology, 147, pp 31-40.
  26. Gibb, K. S., Moran, J., Constable, F. and Padovan, A. (1999). Phytoplasmas in Australian grapevines - detection, differentiation and associated diseases. Vitis, 38 (3), pp 107-114.
  27. Gibb, K. S., Christian, K. and Peng, R. (1998). The effect of non-crop vegetation on the insect pests and their natural enemies in cashew (Anacarium occientale L.) plantations. Plant Protection Quarterly, 13 (1), pp 16-20.
  28. Gibb, K. S., Ogle, H. and Gowanlock, D. (1998). Phytoplasma associated with virescence in an epiphytic orchid in Australia. Australian Plant Pathology, 27, pp 265-268.
  29. Gibb, K. S., Padovan, A. and Persley, D. (1998). Phytoplasmas associated with diseases in strawberry. Australasian Plant Pathology, 27, pp 280-280.
  30. Gibb, K. S., Peng, R. and Christian, K. (1998). How many queens are there in nature colonies of the green ant, Ocephylla smaragdina (Fabricius)?. Australian Journal of Entomology, 37, pp 249-253.
  31. Christian, K., Peng, R., Gibb, K. S. (1998). Locating queen ant nests in the green ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera, formicidae). Insectes Sociaux 45, pp 477-480.
  32. Gibb, K. S., Schneider, B. and Padovan, A. (1998). Differential detection and genetic relatedness of phytoplasmas in papaya. Plant Pathology, 47, pp 325-332.

Current Projects

  • Engineering and expression of recombinant atibodies that interact with plant pthogenic phytoplasma membrane proteines - a model for phytoplasma disease management. Australian Research Council (ARC) $290000 Completion Date:31/12/2005
  • New approach to phytoplasma detection in plants and insects through the development of serology tests. CRC for Tropical Plant Protection and Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers (QFVG) $257536 Completion Date:30/06/2005
  • Better Berries Program Phase 2 - towards a minimum input strawberry management system Queensland Department of Primary Industries $ 20625 01-Sep-01 to 31-Aug-04

Recent Completions Supervised

PhD

  • Anna Padovan : Molecular characterisation of Phytoplasmas in Australia Lodged: 22/04/98.

Go to top of page