Biological Sciences Faculty at SUNY Plattsburgh

Biological Sciences Faculty - Dr. Jose de Ondarza

Associate Professor
Medical Technology/Cytotechnology Program Coordinator

I have always been facinated by the way cells communicate with each other, as well as how organisms adapt to their environment in their search for food. My current research and teaching interests intersect accordingly: I teach Microbiology (Bio 203) each semester, and (periodically) Medical Microbiology (Bio 406). My research interests focus on signal transduction cascades in eukaryotic microorganisms, particularly in Paramecium tetraurelia, and on the role of G-proteins in chemoresponse and swimming behavior of Paramecium. In a related project, I have investigated the effects of pyrethroid insecticides in the Paramecium model system. A third line of research concerns evaluating soil microbes in the Lake Champlain Basin for enzymes used in breaking down cellulose, xylan, and lignin.

Education

Ph.D. Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing Michigan, 1996
Certification in Secondary Education (Biology), Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 1989
M.S. Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 1988
B.S. Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 1986

Teaching Areas

Research Areas

Signal transduction cascades in eukaryotic microorganisms
Role of G-proteins in chemoresponse and swimming behavior of Paramecium
Effects of pyrethroid insecticides in the Paramecium model system
Evaluation of soil microbes in the Lake Champlain Basin for enzymes used in breaking down cellulose, xylan, and lignin
Analysis of bacterial pigments

Recent Publications

Signal transduction mechanisms in protozoa. Renaud, F.L., J. de Ondarza, P. Luporini, M.J. Marino and J. Van Houten. In: Cell signalling in prokaryotes and lower metazoa, Ian Fairweather, Editor, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004.
G-Protein Modulators Alter the Swimming Behavior and Calcium Influx of Paramecium tetraurelia. de Ondarza, J., Symington, S., Van Houten, J. and J.M. Clark. J. Euk. Microbiol. 50: 349-355, 2003.
A matter of taste: Investigating sensory modalities in the protozoan Paramecium. de Ondarza, J. and Elwess, N. The Science Teacher 69: 36-40, 2002.
Sodium, potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase activity is impaired in the guinea pig pancreatic duct system in streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Hootman, S.R., J. Jones, R. Kapoor, K.-L. Nguyen, and J. de Ondarza. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 243: 869-873, 1998.
Confocal microscopic analysis of intracellular pH regulation in guinea pig pancreatic ducts. de Ondarza, J. and S.R. Hootman. American Journal of Physiology 272: G124-G134, 1997.

Faculty Website

http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/jose.deondarza/

Contact Jose de Ondarza

Office: Beaumont Hall 318
Phone: (518) 564-5156
E-mail: jose.deondarza@plattsburgh.edu

Biological Sciences Faculty at SUNY Plattsburgh - Dr. Jose de Ondarza

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