Clarissa J. Maroon-Lango

Clarissa J. Maroon-Lango

CLARISSA J. MAROON-LANGO

10900 Dresden Drive

Beltsville, Maryland 20705

Tel. No. (H) 301-937-6486; (W) 301-504-9424

E-mail: (W) ; (H)

EDUCATION

Ph.D. inPlant Biology (Molecular Virology), University of Maryland, CollegePark,MD

August, 1997. (55 semester credit hours)

Dissertation: Molecular studies on the replication and epidemiology of the Potato spindle tuber viroid. 1)Demonstration of promoter function of the potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) RNA; 2) Identification of promoter sequence(s)/structure in the PSTVd RNA; 3) Phylogenetic analysis of the Mexican papita viroid, a pospoviroid, isolated from Solanum. cardiophyllum in Mexico.

M.S. in Plant Pathology (Virology), Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. August, 1989. (41quarter credithours)

Thesis: Serological relationships of the capsid proteins of maize chlorotic dwarf virus-mild isolate (MCDVM).

B.S. in Agriculture (Plant Pathology),Cum laude. University of the Philippinesat Los Baños,

College, Laguna, Philippines. December, 1983. (156 semester credit hours)

Thesis: Utilization of crude plant extracts as fungicides for the control of Cercospora leafspot of mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilzeck).

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

January, 2006Plant Pathologist

to date USDA, APHIS, PPQ, PHP, PSPI

Plant Germplasm Quarantine Program, BARC-East, Bldg. 580, Powder Mill Road, Beltsville, MD 20705

Manage the quarantine and indexing programs for sugarcane, rice and grasses

Coordinate and manage the molecular diagnostics program of PGQP which covers

majority of the prohibited crops.

January, 2002Research Molecular Biologist (Plants)

toUSDA, U.S. NATIONAL ARBORETUM,

December, 2006 Floral and Nursery Plant Research Unit, BARC-West, Beltsville, MD 20705

Characterizedcertain members of the actin gene family in Ornithogalum spp. Demonstrated promoter activity of ORACT1 and ORACT2 genes with constructs consisting of GUS introduced into either protoplasts or calli of homologous and heterologous plant systems. Determined steady-state levels of expressedORACT1 by Northern Blot analysis and 5’RACE.

Developed sensitive tobacco and gladiolus protoplast systems for quantitative GUS assays; an Ornithogalum and lily callus system for qualitative and quantitative GUS assays via particle bombardment.

Cloned, sequenced and characterizedentire genome or regions of a number of plant virusesincluding: Pepino mosaic virus, Lolium latent virus, different strains of Alternanthera mosaic virus, Tobacco mosaic virus from petunia, a carlavirus from phlox, an ilarvirus from Bacopa, and a carmovirus from Angelonia.

Trained technicians in various molecular biology techniques and mentored student interns with their science projects. Established collaborative work with other scientists.

September,1999Senior Molecular Biologist

to June,2001AGDIA, INCORPORATED

Elkhart, IN 46514

Spearheaded the development of the molecular diagnostics program of Agdia by developing and/or bringing in molecular tests, enhancing the molecular diagnostic capabilities of the company, and interacting with customers and research laboratories for the acceptance of various molecular tests as standard tests for detection and diagnosis.

Developed and/oradapted and applied nucleic acid-based tests for various pathogens. These included group-specific RT-PCR tests for detecting classified and uncharacterized carlaviruses, luteoviruses, nepoviruses, potexviruses, potyviruses, and tobamoviruses; and species-specific PCR or RT-PCR tests for the detection of Arabis mosaic virus, Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus, Plum pox virus, Potato spindle tuber viroid, Tobacco rattle virus, Xanthomonas campestris pv. pelargonii, and Xylella fastidiosa; nucleic hybridization tests for begomoviruses, Beet curly top virus, and Chrysanthemum chlorotic mottle viroid in addition to Agdia’s two hybridization tests already available in the market.

Successfully obtained a commercial license for PCR testing of certain GMO traits in cotton by demonstrating Agdia’s competence and capabilities through participation in a series of ring tests launched by Monsanto, Corp. Was instrumental in obtaining a commercial license for the PCR testing of GMO traits in potato.

Trained personnel to performmoleculardiagnostic tests, thus expanding the services offered byAgdia.

Successfully marketed molecular testing services to Agdia customers.

Established collaborations and agreements with other industry labs as well as university and federal labs pertaining to projects on diagnostics.

July, 1997Research Plant Pathologist

to August, 1999U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, U.S. NATIONAL ARBORETUM,

Floral and Nursery Plant Research Unit, Beltsville, MD 20705

Cloned and expressed single-chain antibodies (scFv) derived from the commercially important POTY-1 which detects majority of known potyviruses and Poty-35 which specifically detects Bean yellow mosaic virusvia recombinant phage display.

Assembled clones into constructs expressing target virus-specific antibodies into viral-based vectors for infectingNicotiana benthamiana.

Screened and evaluated previously developed transgenic plants for the presence and single expression of heavy and light chain antibodies specific to plant viruses or viral components by PCR and ELISA.

Trained interns in laboratory procedures, and served as mentor for science projects.

September,1991Graduate Research Assistant

to August, 1997UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

Center for Agriculture and Biotechnology, College Park, MD

Evaluated the processability of in vitro transcribed PSTVd under conditions known to promote processing of certain ribozymes and the Hepatitis delta virus RNA .

Attempted to develop a tomato protoplast system to study the replication of PSTVd by electroporation with PSTVd cDNAs and RNAs.

Developed an in planta bioassay for identifying promoter(s) in PSTVd using constructs with the satellite RNA (satRNA) of Tobacco ringspot virus as the reporter RNA. Plants inoculated with constructs-derived transcripts were analyzed for satRNA, indicative of promoter activity, by Northern blot analysis and by PCR coupled with diagnostic restriction digestion analysis.

Cloned and characterized the Mexican papita viroid (MPVd)in a wild potato species, Solanum cardiophyllum. To establish the evolutionary relationships of MPVd, GCG package and other programs (e.g., clustal method of alignment) were used to facilitate phylogenetic analysis using parsimony (PAUP).

PUBLICATIONS

Li, R., Maroon-Lango, C.J., Mock, R., Hammond, J. 2006. Lolium latent virus. In Characterization, Diagnosis and Management of Plant Viruses (G. Rao, C. Bragard, & B.S.M. Lebas, eds). Vol. 4: Grain Crops and Ornamentals. Studium Press, Texas. (in press).

Maroon-Lango, C.J., Hammond, J., Warnke, S. 2006. First Report of Lolium Latent Virus in Ryegrass in the United States. Plant Disease. 90:528.

Adkins, S.T., Hammond, J., Gera, A., Maroon Lango, C.J., Sobolev, I., Harness, A., Zeidan, M., Spiegel, S. 2006. Biological and molecular characterization of a novel carmovirus isolated from angelonia. Phytopathology. 96:460-467.

Hammond, J., Reinsel, M.D., Maroon-Lango, C.J. 2006. Identification and full sequence of an isolate of Alternanthera mosaic potexvirus infecting Phlox stolonifera. Arch. Virol. 151:477-493.

Hammond, J., Reinsel, M.D., Maroon-Lango, C.J. 2005. Identification of potexvirus isolates from creeping phlox and trailing portulaca as strains of Alternanthera mosaic virus, and comparison of the 3-terminal portion of the viral genomes. Acta Hort. (in press)

Maroon-Lango, C.J., Guaragna, M.A., Jordan, R.L., Hammond, J., Bandla, M., Marquardt, S. 2005. Two unique US isolates of Pepino mosaic virus from a limited source of pooled tomato tissue are distinct from a third (European-like) US isolate. Arch. Virol. 150:1187-1201.

Maroon-Lango, C J. 2004. Virus assays: Detection and Diagnosis. In: Encyclopedia of Plant and Crop Science (R. M. Goodman, ed.) Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York. pp. 1273-1275.

Hsu, H.-T.,Maroon-Lango, C. 2003. Management of viral diseases in floral and nursery crops In: Advances in Plant Disease Management (H.-C. Huang, & S. N. Acharya, eds). Res. Signpost., Kerala, India. pp. 413-429.

Maroon, C.J.M., Zavriev, S. 2001. PCR-based group tests for the detection of tobamoviruses and carlaviruses. Acta Hort. 568:117-119.

Lee, I.-M., Lukaesko, L.A., Maroon, C.J.M. 2001. Comparison of dig-labeled PCR, nested PCR, and ELISA for the detection of Clavibactermichiganensis subsp. sepedonicus in field-grown potatoes. Plant Dis. 85:261266.

Martinez-Soriano, J.P., Galindo-Alonso, J., Maroon, C.J.M., Yucel, I., Smith, D.R., Diener, T.O. 1996. Mexican papita viroid: Putative ancestor of crop viroids. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 93:9397-9401.

Maroon, C.J.M., Opina, O.S., Molina, A.B. 1984. Evaluation of crude plant extracts as fungicides for the control of Cercospora leaf spot of mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilzeck). Philipp. Phytopathol. 20:27-38.

ABSTRACTS

Vaira, A. M., Maroon-Lango, C.J., Li, R. & Hammond, J. 2007. Molecular characterization and taxonomy of Lolium latent virus, a novel member of the family Flexiviridae. Phytopathology 97:S__.

Maroon-Lango, C.J., Aebig, J., Hammond, J., Hsu, H.T. 2006. Molecular and biological characterization of a novel ilarvirus in Bacopa. Phytopathology. 96:S73.

Adkins, S.T., Hammond, J., Maroon-Lango, C., Harness, A., Kulemeka, B., Geister, R., Bandla, M., Spiegel, S., Gera, A. 2005. Characterization of a carmovirus from angelonia. Phytopathology. 95:S2.

Hammond, J., Reinsel, M.D., Maroon-Lango, C J. 2004. Identification of potexvirus isolates from phlox and portulaca as strains of Alternanthera mosaic virus, and comparison of the genomic 3’ region. Phytopathology 94:S38.

Adkins, S.T., Hammond, J., Maroon-Lango, C., Harness, A., Kulemeka, B., Geister, R., Bandla, M., Spiegel, S., Gera, A. 2005. Characterization of a carmovirus from angelonia. Phytopathology. 95:S2.

Maroon-Lango, C., Guaragna, M.A., Jordan, R.L., Bandla, M., Marquardt, S. 2003. Detection and characterization of a US isolate of Pepino mosaic virus. Phytopathology 93:S57.

Hammond, J., Reinsel, M.D., Maroon-Lango, C.J.M. 2003. Partial characterization and full sequence of a potexvirus from creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera). Phytopathology 93:S32.

Maroon, C.J.M., Zavriev, S. 2000. PCR-based group tests for the detection of tobamo-, carla-, nepo- and potexviruses in plant samples. Phytopathology 90.

Schoedel, B.A., Maroon, C J.M. 2000. Evaluation of extraction methods for improved detection of Xanthomonas campestris pv. pelargonii by PCR. Phytopathology 90:S70.

Maroon, C.J.M., Palmer, L.M., Guaragna, M.A., Jordan, R. 1999. Challenge inoculation of Nicotiana benthamiana plants transformed with the recombinant monoclonal Fab antibody that binds bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) coat protein. Phytopathology 89:S48.

Maroon, C.J.M. and Jordan, R.L. 1998. Cloning of single-chain antibodies reactive against a wide range of potyviruses. Phytopathology 88:S58.

Maroon. C.J.M., Diener, T.O. 1996. Solanum rostratum, another natural host of the Mexican papita viroid. Abstract No. 871, Proceedings XXIII Congresa Nacional de la Sociedad Mexicana de Fitopatologia XXXVI Annual Meeting of the American Phytopathological Society - Carribean Division, Guadalajara, Mexico.

Martinez-Soriano, J.P., Galindo-Alonso, J., Maroon, C.J.M., Yucel, I., Smith, D., Diener, T.O. 1996. Epidemiology of the potato spindle tuber viroid. Abstracts of the 1996 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Human Virology. J. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirol.

Galindo, J.A., Martinez-Soriano, J.P., Yucel, I., Maroon, C.J.M., Diener, T.O. 1995. Sequence determination and phylogenetic analysis of viroid-like RNAs isolated from Solanum cardiophyllum in Mexico. Phytopathology 85:S222.

Maroon, C.J.M., Feldstein, P.A., Hammond, R.W., Diener, T.O. 1995. Constructs for identifying promoter activity in the potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) RNA. (Abstr.) 14th Annual Meeting, American Society for Virology. University of Texas at Austin. Austin, TX. July 8-12, 1995.

Maroon, C.J.M., Gordon, D.T., Gingery, R.E. 1989. Serological relationships of the capsid proteins of the type isolate of maize chlorotic dwarf virus (MCDV-T). Phytopathology 79:S1157.

PRESENTATIONS

Has given 33 oral and poster presentations in various professional meetings.

OTHER DUTIES

ParticipantPlant Inspection Station Strategic Plan, July 24-25, 2007.

USDA, APHIS Riverdale, MD.

FacilitatorNational Clean Plant Network, Diagnostic and Treatment Breakout Session, May 8-9, 2007.

USDA, APHIS, Riverdale, MD.

PanelistUSAID . Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program, September, 2006.

Washington, D.C.

Reviewer HortScience. 2002, 2003

Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, 2005

Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 2005

Plant Disease. 2002; 2005; 2006; 2007

Crop Protection, 2006

PanelistReview of the Molecular Biology Program of Agdia, Inc. Elkhart, IN. April 10-11, 2002.

U.S.A.I.D. Grant Review: Plant Management. College Park, MD. April 1, 1997.

Panel Assistant, Civilian Research and Development Foundation for the Independent States of the FSU (CRDF)

Biological and Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Study Group. Arlington, VA. April 24-25, 1996

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND HONOR SOCIETIES

American Society of Plant Biologists

American Phytopathological Society (Virology Committee Member, 2000-2003; 2006 - 2009)

Plant Molecular Biology, Eastern Division

Sugarcane Crop Germplasm Committee (Ex-Officio)

Rice Crop Germplasm Committee (Officer)

1