Bricker’s Current Research

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Research Emphasis:

The foc
us of my research is the search (better known as "bioprospecting") for biologically active endophytes (definition: an organism, such as a fungus, that grows within the tissues or cells of another plant).  My primary goal is to identify organisms that produce novel compounds that exhibit biological activity, hopefully against human diseases.

Endophytes hold significant potential as sources of new drug therapies.  Even though nearly every plant species on the planet harbors one to thirty novel endophytes, very few higher plants have been screened for presence of these organisms.  This situation is particularly interesting in light of the fact that 60-80% of the antibiotics currently used in medicine are derived from the prokaryotic genus Streptomycetes and that Streptomycetes are fairly common endophytes.  Thus, a screening program searching for endophytes in local environments should turn up antibiotic sources and new species of Streptomycetes.

Not all endophytes produce antibiotics.  Thus, it is logical to assume that other active, but non-bacterial, compounds will be identified that are effective against human pathogens or diseases.  Bacteria, viruses, protozoa, helminths, malaria, and cancer (to name a few) are all threats to human health.  Each of these conditions requires a novel pharmaceutical compound to fight it.  As a result, anyone interested in endophytes quickly understands the potential benefit to human and global health.  New sources of antimicrobials must be discovered.  Endophytes hold the promise of providing a compound (as anticancer/chemotherapy agents, antivirals, or antibiotics) that is beneficial to human health.

My research is supported by the Nebraska INBRE Program of the National Center for Research Resources (NIH grant number P20 RR016469)

Other areas of research activity:

  1. 1.) A cladistic analysis of the Elaeocarpaceae: Morphological evidence, 2.) DNA analysis of Pyrrocoma insecticruris using the ITS-1 (nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer) and ITS-2 loci, and, 3.) an ITS analysis of the genus Oönopsis (Asteraceae).

Examples of recent undergraduate research projects:

  1. 1.) Brock Sutton (∆-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) in Lancaster County, Nebraska), 2.) Becky Nelson (THC content in urban wastewater and streams), 3.) Matthew Anderson (Efficiency of recreational water purifiers on arsenic, cyanotoxin, and coliform bacteria removal from drinking water), 4.) Heather Bearnes and Amy Gerdes (Collection, isolation, and identification of Ecuadorian bromeliad endophytes), and, 5.) Whitney Fuller and Lindsey Jones (endophyte lab researchers)

Selected Publications:

  1. ■Bricker, J. S. and J. C. Stutz.  2005.  Host range and distribution of the phytoplasma causing Arizona ash decline.  Journal of Arboriculture 31(5): 257-262.

  2. ■Bricker, J. S. and J. C. Stutz.  2004.  Phytoplasmas associated with as decline.  Journal of Arboriculture 30(3): 193-199.

  3. ■Bricker, J. S.  2004.  Elaeocarpaceae (Elaeocarp Family).  Pp. 136-138 in Flowering Plant Families of Tropical America, ed. N. Smith, S. A. Mori, A. Henderson, D. Wm. Stevenson, and S. V. Heald.  Princeton, New Jersey: The New York Botanical Garden, Princeton University Press.  ISBN: 0-691-11694-6.

  4. ■Bricker, J. S., G. K. Brown, and T. L. Lewis.  2000.  Status of Descurainia torulosa (Brassicaceae).  Western North American Naturalist 60(4): 426-432.

  5. ■Bricker, J. S. and G. K. Brown. 1998.  A molecular phylogeny for Oönopsis (Asteraceae). American Journal of Botany 85(6): 170-171.  Supplement-Abstracts.

  6. ■Bricker, J. S., G. K. Brown, and T. L. Lewis.  1998.  Status of Descurainia torulosa (Brassicaceae): Molecular evidence.  American Journal of Botany 85(6): 171.  Supplement-Abstracts.

  7. ■Bricker, J. S. and H. Derr.  1998.  Using an electronic mail (e-mail) listserver to support course-related communications with students.  American Journal of Botany 85(6): 176-177.  Supplement-Abstracts.

  8. ■Bricker, J. S. and J. C. Stutz.  1993.  Detection of mycoplasmalike organisms in Fraxinus varied within Arizona.  Phytopathology 83: 690.  Abstract.

  9. ■Bricker, J. S. and J. C. Stutz.  1992.  Etiology of Arizona Ash decline.  Phytopathology 82: 1170.  Abstract.

  10. ■Bricker, J. S.  1992.  Pollination biology of the genus Crinodendron (Elaeocarpaceae).  Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Sciences 24-25:51-54.

  11. ■Bricker, J. S.  1991.  A revision of the genus Crinodendron (Elaeocarpaceae).  Systematic Botany 16(1): 77-88.

  12. ■Bricker, J. S. and L. R. Landrum.  1989.  A revision of the genus Crinodendron (Elaeocarpaceae).  Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Sciences 24: 12.  Abstract.