Education

• B.S., University of Rochester
• Ph.D., Cornell University

Research Interests

Overall the focus of my laboratory is molecular genetic analyses of shellfish species and their pathogens. Recently, the emphasis has been on molecular phylogenetics, population genetics, shellfish genomics and the development of molecular diagnostics for detection of human and animal pathogens in the aquatic environment and in marine host tissues.

Current Projects

• Oyster and Clam Genetics.  The goal of these projects is to develop and utilize molecular genetic markers for aquaculture species including the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, the hard clam, Mercinaria mercenaria and the Asian oyster Crassostrea ariakensis, which is being considered for introduction into the Chesapeake Bay.  The molecular markers are being used for population genetic analyses, genetic tracking of oyster restoration efforts with hatchery reared stocks and examination of the genetic interactions between hatchery stocks and wild populations. In addition, these markers provide molecular markers for genetic maps and information to facilitate breeding programs allowing for rapid development of a wide variety of strains and breeds with the long term goal of genetically improved strains for aquaculture and fishery replenishment.
•  Analysis of genetic variation in strains of Perkinsus marinus: Molecular markers have been developed which allow identification of Perkinsus marinus strains and examination of the population genetic structure of this oyster parasite. This research resulted in demonstration of strain variation within the species and a difference in distribution of strains geographically.
• Phylogentic analysis of protozoan parasites: These projects examines the molecular phylogeny of protozoan parasites of marine and freshwater invertebrates including Perkinsus species and members of the phylum Haplosporidia, which are found around the world and many are very harmful pathogens of commercially important mollusks.
• Development of molecular diagnostics for harmful algal bloom organisms and human pathogens: The objective of these projects it to develop molecular diagnostics to detect HAB and pathogen species in finfish, shellfish and environmental water and sediment samples.
• Toxicity studies of HAB species:  These studies examine toxic effects of various HAB organisms including Alexandrium monilatum, Karlodinium veneficum and Cochlodinium polykrikoides, on aquatic organisms through laboratory and field experiments.

Selected Publications

• Gauthier, D.T., Reece, K.S., Xiao, J., Rhodes, M.W., Kator, H.I., Latour, R.J., Bonzek, C.F., Hoenig, J.M. and W.K. Vogelbein (2010) PCR assay for Mycobacterium pseudoshottsii and Mycobacterium shottsii and application to environmental samples and fishes from Chesapeake Bay. Appl. Environ. Micro. 76:6171-6179.
• Li, C., Shields, J.D. Miller, T.L., Small, H.J., Pagenkopp, K.M. and K.S. Reece (2010) Detection and quantification of the free-living stage of the parasitic dinoflagellate Hematodinium sp. in laboratory and environmental samples.  Harmful Algae 9:515-521.
• Stentiford, G.D., Bateman, K.S., Small, H.J., Moss, J., Shields, J.D., Reece, K.S. and I. Tuck (2010) Myospora metanephrops (n. gn., n. sp.) from marine lobsters and a proposal for erection of a new Order and Family (Crustaceacida; Myosporidae) in the Class Marinosporidia (Phylum Microspora). Int. J. Parasitol. 40:1433-1446.
• Krugner-Higby, L., Haak, D., Johnson, P.T.J., Shields, J.D., Jones III, W.M., Reece, K.S., Meinke, T., Gendron, A. and J.A. Rusak. (2010) Spatial and temporal patterns of an outbreak of ulcerative disease 1 in crayfish (Orconectes propinquus) linked to Saprolegnia australis in Big Muskellunge Lake, Wisconsin. Dis. Aquat. Org. 91:57-66.
• Costa de Melo, A.G., Varela, E.S., Beasley, C.R., Schneider, H., Sampaio, I., Gaffney, P.M., Reece, K.S., and C.H. Tagliaro. (2010) Molecular identification, phylogeny and geographic distribution of Brazilian mangrove oysters (Crassostrea).  Gen. Mol. Biol. 33:564-572.
• Xiao, J. Cordes, J.F., Wang, H., Guo, X., and K.S. Reece. (2010) Population genetics of Crassostrea ariakensis in Asia inferred from microsatellite markers.  Mar. Biol. 157:1767-1781.
• Small, H.J., Shields, J.D., Haas, L.W., Vogelbein, W.K., Moss, J.A. and K.S Reece. (2009) Genetic variation among strains of Pseudopfiesteria shumwayae and Pfiesteria piscicida (Dinophyceae). J. Phycol.
• Reece, K.S., Burreson, E.M. and C.F. Dungan. (2008) Molecular epidemiology of Perkinsus marinus and P. chesapeaki infections in wild oysters and clams of the Chesapeake Bay region. Dis. Aquat. Org., 82:237-248.
• Cordes, J.F., Xiao J. and K.S. Reece. (2008) Discrimination of oyster species (Crassostrea: Mollusca) based on restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA markers. J. Shellfish Res. 27:1155-1161.
• Carlsson, J., Carnegie, R.B., Cordes, J.F., Hare, M.P., Leggett, A.T. and K.S. Reece. (2008) Evaluating recruitment contribution of a selectively bred Crassostrea virginica oyster aquaculture line used in restoration efforts. J. Shellfish Res. 27:1117-1124.
• Johnston, L.D., Brown, G., Gauthier, D., Reece, K., Kator, H. and P. Van Veld. (2008) Apolipoprotein A-I from striped bass (Morone saxatilis) demonstrates antibacterial activity in vitro. Compar. Biochem. Physiol. 151:167-175.
• Gast, R.J., Moran, D.M., Audemard, C., Lyon, M.M., Uhlinger, K., Reece, K.S., Leavitt, D. and R. Smolowitz. (2008) Environmental distribution and persistence of Quahog Parasite Unknown (QPX). Dis. Aquat. Org. 81:219-229.
• Gauthier, D.T., Vogelbein, W.K., Rhodes, M.W. and K.S. Reece. (2008) Nested polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of Mycobacterium shottsii and M. pseudoshottsii in striped bass. J. Aquat. Animal Health. 20:192-201.
• Casas, S.M., Reece, K.S., Li, Y., Moss, J.A., Villalba, A. and J.F. La Peyre. (2008) Continuous culture of Perkinsus mediterraneus, a parasite of the European flat oyster Ostrea edulis and characterization of its morphology, propagation, and extracellular proteins in vitro. J. Eukaryot. Microbiol. 55:34-43.
• Xiao, J., Cordes, J.F., Jones, K.C., Allen, S.K., Jr. and K.S. Reece. (2008) Characterization and inheritance of microsatellite loci in the Suminoe oyster Crassostrea ariakensis. Mol. Ecol. Notes 8:843-845.
• Moss, J.A., Xiao, J., Dungan, C.F. and K.S. Reece. (2008) A novel Perkinsus sp. parasite of oysters in Southern China; Description of Perkinsus beihaiensis n. sp. J. Eukaryot. Microbiol. 55:117-130.
• Reece, K.S., Cordes, J.F., Stubbs, J.B., Francis, E., and K. Hudson. (2008) Molecular phylogenies help resolve taxonomic confusion with Asian Crassostrea oyster species. Marine Biology 153:709-721.
• Grauvogel, C., Reece, K.S., Brinkmann, H. and J. Peterson. (2007) Plastid isoprenoid metabolism in the oyster parasite Perkinsus marinus connects dinoflagellates and malaria pathogens - new impetus for studying alveolates. J. Mol. Evol. 65:725-729.
• Moss, J.A., Burreson, E.M., Cordes, J.F., Dungan, C.F., Brown, G.D., Wang, A., Wu, X. and K.S. Reece. (2007) Pathogens in Crassostrea ariakensis and other Asian oyster species: implications for non-native oyster introduction to Chesapeake Bay. Dis. Aquat. Org. 77: 207-223.
• Mason, P.L., Litaker, R.W., Jeong, H.J., Ha, J.H., Reece, K.S., Stokes, N.A., and J.Y. Park. (2007) Description of a new genus of Pfiesteria-like dinoflagellates, Luciella gen. nov. (Dinophyceae), including two new species: Luciella masanensis sp. nov. and Luciella atlantis sp. nov. J. Phycol. 43:799-810.
• Dungan, C.F., Hamilton, R.M., Burreson, E.M., Reece, K.S. and N.A. Stokes. (2007) Experimental cross-infections by Perkinsus marinus and P. chesapeaki in three sympatric species Chesapeake Bay oysters and clams. Dis. Aquat. Org. 76(1):67-75.
• Nunan L.M., Lightner D.V., Pantoja C.R., Stokes N.A. and K.S. Reece. (2007) Characterization of a rediscovered haplosporidian parasite from cultured Penaeus vannamei. Dis. Aquat. Org. 74:67-75.
• Dungan, C.F., Reece, K.S., Moss, J.A., Hamilton, R.M. and B.K. Diggles. (2007) Perkinsus olseni in vitro isolates from the New Zealand clam Austrovenus stutchburyi. J. Eukary. Microbiol. 54(3):263-270.
• Small, H.J., Shields, J.D., Moss, J.A. and K.S. Reece. (2007) Conservation in the first internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1) in Hematodinium species infecting crustacean hosts found in the UK and Newfoundland. Dis. Aquat. Org. 75:251-258.
• Small, H.J., Shields, J.D., Hudson, K.L. and K.S. Reece. (2007) Molecular detection of Hematodinium sp. infecting the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. J. Shellfish Res. 26:131-139.
• Carlsson, J. and K.S. Reece. (2007) Eight PCR primers to amplify EST-linked microsatellites in the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica genome. Mol. Ecol. Notes 7:257-259.
• Litaker, R.W., Vandersea, M.W., Reece, K.S., Stokes, N.A., Yonish, B.A., Kibler, S.R., Black, M.N.D., Steidinger, K.A., Lutzoni, F.M. and P.A. Tester. (2007) Recognizing dinoflagellate species using ITS rDNA sequences. J. Phycol. 43(2):344-355.
• Boettcher, K.J., Smolowitz, R., Lewis, E.J., Allam, B., Dickerson, H., Ford, S., Huq, A., Reece, K.S., Rivara, G., Maloy, A.P. and C.M. Woodley. (2006) Juvenile oyster disease (JOD) in Crassostrea virginica: synthesis of knowledge and recommendations. J. Shellfish Res. 25:683-686.
• Li, C., Shields, J.D., Small, H.J., Reece, K.S., Hartwig, C.L., Cooper, R.A. and R.E. Ratzlaff. (2006) Detection of Panulirus argus virus 1 (Pav1) in the Caribbean spiny lobster using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Dis. Aquat. Org. 72:185-192.
• Carlsson, J., Morrison, C. and K.S. Reece. (2006) Wild and aquaculture populations of the Eastern oyster compared using microsatellites. J. Hered. 97:595-598.
• Dungan, C.F. and K.S. Reece. (2006) In vitro propagation of two Perkinsus spp. parasites from Japanese Manila clams Venerupis philippinarum, and description of Perkinsus honshuensis n. sp. J. Eukary. Microbiol. 53(5):316-326.
• Burreson, E.M. and K.S. Reece. (2006) Spore ornamentation of Haplosporidium nelsoni and Haplosporidium costale (Haplosporidia) and incongruence of molecular phylogeny and spore ornamentation in the Haplosporidia. J. Parasitology. 92(6):1295-1301.
• Camara, M.D., Allen, S.K., Jr., Carnegie, R.B. and K.S. Reece. (2006) Out-crossing among commercial strains of the Northern Quahog, Mercenaria mercenaria: Survival, growth, and implications for selective breeding. J. Shellfish Res. 25(2):403-416.
• Audemard, C., Ragone Calvo, L.M., Paynter, K.T., Reece, K.S. and E.M. Burreson. (2006) Real-time PCR investigation of parasite ecology: In situ determination of oyster parasite Perkinsus marinus transmission dynamics in lower Chesapeake Bay. Parasitol. 132:827-842.
• Hare, M., Allen, S.K., Jr., Bloomer, P., Camara, M.D., Carnegie, R.B., Murfree, J., Luckenbach, M., Meritt, D., Morrison, C., Paynter, K.T., Reece, K.S. and C. Rose. (2006) A genetic test for recruitment enhancement in Chesapeake Bay oysters, Crassostrea virginica, after population supplementation with a disease tolerant strain. Cons. Genetics. 7:717-734.
• Moss, J.A., Burreson, E.M. and K.S. Reece. (2006) Advanced Perkinsus marinus infections in Crassostrea ariakensis maintained under laboratory conditions. J. Shellfish. Res. 25(1):65-72.
• Litaker, R.W., Steidinger, K.A., Mason, P.L., Lansberg, J.H., Shields, J.D., Reece, K.S., Haas, L.W., Vogelbein, W.K., Vandersea, M.W., Kibler, S.R., and P.A. Tester. (2005) The reclassification of Pfiesteria shumwayae (Dinophyceae): Pseudopfiesteria, gen. nov. J. Phycol. 41(3):643-651.
• Zhang, Q., Allen, S.K., Jr. and K.S. Reece. (2005) Genetic variation in wild and hatchery stocks of Suminoe oyster (Crassostrea ariakensis) assessed by PCR-RFLP and microsatellite markers. Mar. Biotechnol. 7(6):588-599.
• Brown, G.D., Kaattari, S.L. and K.S. Reece. (2005) Effect of homogenate from different oyster species on Perkinsus marinus proliferation and subtilisin gene expression. J. Shellfish Res. 24(4):1027-1033.
• Burreson, E.M., Dungan, C.F. and K.S. Reece. (2005) Molecular, morphological, and experimental evidence support the synonymy of Perkinsus chesapeaki and Perkinsus andrewsi. J. Eukary. Micro. 52(3):258-270.
• Hedgecock, D., Gaffney, P.M., Goulletquer, P., Guo, X., Reece, K. and G.W. Warr. (2005) The case for sequencing the Pacific oyster genome. J. Shellfish Res. 24:429-441.
• Rhodes, M.W., Kator, H., McNabb, A., Reyrat, J-M., Deshayes, C., Brown-Elliott, B.A., Wallace, R., Jr., Trott, K.A., Parker, J.M., Osterhout, G., Kaattari, I., Reece, K.S., Vogelbein, W. and C.A. Ottinger. (2005) Mycobacterium pseudoshottsii sp. nov., a slowly growing chromogenic species isolated from Chesapeake Bay striped bass (Morone saxatilis). Int. J. System. Evol. Microbiol. 55:1139-1147.
• Friedman, C.S., Estes, R.M., Stokes, N.A., Burge, C.A., Hargove, J.S., Barber, B.J., Elston, R.A., Burreson, E.M. and K.S. Reece. (2005) Herpes virus in juvenile Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas from Tomales Bay, California, coincides with summer mortality epidsodes. Dis. Aquat. Org. 63:33-41.
• Villalba, A., Reece, K.S., Ordás, M.C., Casas, S.M. and A. Figueras. (2004) Perkinsosis in molluscs – a review. Aquatic Living Resources. 17(4):411-432.
• Reece, K.S., Siddall, M.E., Stokes, N.A. and E.M. Burreson. (2004) Molecular phylogeny of the Haplosporidia based on two independent gene sequences. J. Parasitol. 90(5):1111-1122.
• Audemard, C., Reece, K.S. and E.M. Burreson. (2004) Real-time PCR for the detection and quantification of the protistan parasite Perkinsus marinus in environmental waters. Appl. Environ. Micro. 70:6611-6618.
• Reece, K.S., Ribeiro, W.L., Gaffney, P.M., Carnegie, R.B. and S.K. Allen, Jr. (2004) Microsatellite marker development and analysis in the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica: Confirmation of null alleles and non-Mendelian segregation ratios. J. Heredity 95:346-352.
• Brown, G., Hudson, K.L. and K.S. Reece. (2004) Multiple polymorphic sites at the ITS and ATAN loci in cultured isolates of Perkinsus marinus. J. Eukary Micro. 51:312-320.
• Casas, S.M., Grau, A., Reece, K.S., Apakupakul, K., Azevedo, C. and A. Villalba. (2004) Perkinsus mediterraneus n. sp. a protistan parasite of the European flat oyster Ostrea edulis (L.) from the coast of Balearic Islands, Mediterranean Sea. Dis. Aquat. Org. 58:231-244.
• Earnhart, C.G., Vogelbein, M.A., Brown, G.D., Reece, K.S. and S.L. Kaattari. (2004) Supplementation of Perkinsus marinus cultures with host plasma or tissue homogenate enhances their infectivity. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70: 421-432.
• Elston, R., Dungan, C., Meyers, T. and K.S. Reece. (2004) Perkinsus sp. infection risk for Manila clams, Venerupis philippinarum (Admas and Reeve, 1850) on the Pacific coast of North and Central America. J. Shellfish. Res. 23:101-105.
• Brown, G. and K.S. Reece. (2003) Isolation and characterization of serine protease gene(s) from Perkinsus marinus. Dis. Aquat. Org. 57:117-126.
• Litaker, R.W., Vandersea, M.W., Kibler, S.R., Reece, K.S., Stokes, N.A., Steidinger, K.A., Millie, D.F., Bendis, B.J., Pigg, R.J., and P.A. Tester. (2003) Identification of Pfiesteria piscicida (Dinophycae) and Pfiesteria-like organisms using internal transcribes spacer-specific PCR assays. J.Phycol. 39:754-761.
• Vogelbein, W.K., Lovko, V.J., Shields, J.D., Reece, K.S., Mason, P.L., Haas, L.W. and C.C. Walker. (2002) Pfiesteria shumwayae kills fish by micropredation not exotoxin secretion. Nature. 418:967-970.
• Berry, J.P., Reece, K.S., Rein, K.S., Baden, D.G., Haas, L.W., Ribeiro, W.L., Shields, J.D., Snyder, R.V., Vogelbein, W.K. and R.E. Gawley. (2002) Are Pfiesteria species toxicogenic? Evidence against production of ichthyotoxins by Pfiesteria shumwayae. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 99(17):10970-10975.
• Dungan, C.F., Hamilton, R.M., Hudson, K.L., McCollough, C.B. and K.S. Reece. (2002) Two epizootic infectious diseases in Chesapeake Bay commercial clams Mya arenaria and Tagelus plebius. Dis. Aquat. Org. 50:67-78.
• Reece, K.S., Bushek, D., Hudson, K.L. and J.E. Graves. (2001) Geographic distribution of Perkinsus marinus genetic strains along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the USA. Marine Biology. 139:1047-1055.
• Reece, K.S., Bushek, D. and J.E. Graves. (1997) Molecular markers for population genetic analysis of Perkinsus marinus. Mol. Mar. Biol. Biotechnol. 6(3):197-206.
• Reece, K.S., Siddall, M.E., Burreson, E.M. and J.E. Graves. (1997) Phylogenetic analysis of Perkinsus based upon actin gene sequences. Journal of Parasitology. 83(3):417-423.
• Siddall, M.E., Reece, K.S., Graves, J.E. and E.M. Burreson. (1997) “Total evidence” refutes the inclusion of Perkinsus species in the phylum Apicomplexa. Parasitology. 115:165-176.
• Reece, K.S. and G.J. Phillips. (1995) New plasmids carrying antibiotic resistance cassettes. Gene. 165:141-142.

Current Students

• Katrina Pagenkopp Lohan, Ph.D. program
• Wenda Ribeiro Quidort, Ph.D. program

Research Associates

• Jan Cordes, Associate Research Scientist
• Corinne Audemard, Assistant Research Scientist

Courses Taught / Teaching

• MS 673 Marine Molecular Genetics (lecture)
• MS 673 Marine Molecular Genetics (laboratory)
• MS 583 Bioinformatics: Molecular Genetic Data Analysis
• MS 558 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Marine Organisms

Research Staff

• Gail P. Scott, Laboratory Manager
• Alanna MacIntyre
• William M. Jones

Faculty Awards

• Class of 1964 Distinguished Associate Professor of Marine Science, 2004-2007

• Plumeri Award for Faculty Excellence 2008-2010

Professional Memberships

• American Society of Parasitology
• Society of Protozoologists
• National Shellfisheries Association

Collaborative / Interdisciplinary Efforts

• Harmful algal bloom species research with Drs. Vogelbein and Harris
• Hematodinium spp. studies with Drs. Shields and Al Place (UMBI)
• Perkinsus spp. descriptions with Christopher Dungan (MD DNR)
• Bivalve parasite research with Drs. Burreson and Carnegie
• Environmental microbiological studies with Dr. Kator