Dr. Linda J. Harris

Research Scientist

Molecular pathologist studying Fusarium infection of cereals

Building #21, Central Experimental Farm, 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6

Current research and/or projects

I am applying genomics and molecular biology to understand how the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum interacts with and infects cereal crops, and to characterize the biosynthesis and regulation of secondary metabolites, especially mycotoxins, of Fusarium species.

Recent publications:

Kebede AZ, Reid LM, Voloaca C, De Schiffart R, Wu J, Woldemariam T, Jindal KK, Zhu X, Bosnich W, Johnston A, Schneiderman D, Harris LJ. 2020. CO476 corn inbred line. Can. J. Plant Sci. Published online: July 15, 2020; DOI: 10.1139/CJPS-2020-0065

Brauer EK, Subramaniam R, Harris LJ. 2020. Regulation and dynamics of gene expression during the life cycle of Fusarium graminearum. Phytopathology, Published online: June 3, 2020; DOI: 10.1094/PHYTO-03-20-0080-IA

Eranthodi A, Schneiderman D, Harris LJ, Witte T, Sproule A, Hermans A, Overy D, Chatterton S, Liu J, Li T, Fundora DGP, Zhao W, Foroud NA. 2020. Enniatin production influences Fusarium avenaceum virulence on potato tubers, but not on durum wheat or peas. Pathogens 9(2), 75; DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9020075

Demissie Z, Witte T, Robinson K, Sproule A, Foote S, Johnston A, Harris LJ, Overy D, Loewen M. 2020. Transcriptomic and exometabolomic profiling reveals antagonistic and defensive modes of Clonostachys rosea action against Fusarium graminearum. MPMI 33:842-858; DOI: 10.1094/MPMI-11-19-0310-R

Xue AG, Chen Y, Seifert K, Guo W, Blackwell BA, Harris LJ, Overy, DP. 2020. Prevalence of Fusarium species causing head blight of spring wheat, barley and oat in Ontario during 2001-2017. Can. J. Plant Pathology 41: 392-402, DOI: 10.1080/07060661.2019.1582560

Research and/or project statements

Durable Fusarium Resistance

Mycotoxin biosynthesis and regulation in Fusarium graminearum

Characterization of new phytotoxic cyclic peptides of Fusarium graminearum

Genomic diversity and mycotoxigenic potential of Fusarium species in Canada

Professional activities / interests

Peer review panelist for EU Horizon 2020, 7th Framework Programme, Austrian Science Fund, USDA/ARS program and the Pathogen Biology & Genetics Research Area Committee of the U.S. Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative (USWBSI).

Conference organization - Chairperson of the National and local organizing committees of the 2009 6th Canadian Workshop on Fusarium Head Blight (CWFHB), member of organizing committees of the 12th European Fusarium Seminar in 2013, 2011 7th CWFHB, and 2012 MycoRed North American Workshop.

Member of Editorial Board of the journal Genes & Genomics

Education and awards

B.Sc. Biochemistry (Chemistry), Simon Fraser University

Ph.D. Genetics, University of British Columbia

International experience and/or work

NSERC Postdoctoral fellow, lab of Dr. Vicki Chandler, University of Oregon

Key publications

Blackwell, B., Bahadoor, A., Bosnich, W., Schneiderman, D., Herweyer, D., Gräfenhan, T., Harris, L.J. Secondary metabolite profile of Canadian NX-2 Fusarium graminearum chemotypes. Proceedings of the 8th Can. Workshop on Fusarium Head Blight, Ottawa, ON Nov. 20-22, 2016. P. 66, Poster presentation.
2016 - View publication details
Harris, L.J.*, Bosnich, W., Johnston, A., Kwan, R., Schneiderman, D., Blackwell, B., Bahadoor, A., Gleddie, S. Examining Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium avenaceum interactions in durum wheat. Proceedings of the 8th Can. Workshop on Fusarium Head Blight, Ottawa, ON Nov. 20-22, 2016. P. 18, Invited talk.
2016 - View publication details
Kebede, A.Z., Johnston, A., Schneiderman, D., Bosnich, W., Reid, L.M., Harris, L.J. Combining QTL mapping with transcriptomics to identify candidate genes for Fusarium resistance in maize. Proceedings of the 8th Can. Workshop on Fusarium Head Blight, Ottawa, ON Nov. 20-22, 2016. P. 49, Poster presentation.
2016 - View publication details
Blackwell, B., Bahadoor, A., Bosnich, W., Schneiderman, D., Aubin, Y., Harris, L.J. NMR structural studies of Fusarium secondary metabolites. 29th Annual MOOT NMR Conference, Charlottetown, PEI, Sept 30 – Oct 2, 2016. Poster presentation.
2016 - View publication details
Demissie, Z., Harris, L., Ouellet, T., Subramaniam, G., Schernthaner, H., Singh, J., Gleddie, S., Vrinten, P. and Loewen, M. 2016. Linking ABC transporters to Fusarium graminearum resistance and susceptibility in wheat: a CWA focus group. Third Annual Science Meeting of the Canadian Wheat Alliance, Saskatoon, June 27-28, 2016.
2016 - View publication details
Kebede, A., Johnston, A., Schneiderman, D., Bosnich, W., Reid, L.M., Harris, L.J. Candidate gene identification for maize gibberella ear rot disease resistance using genomic and transcriptomic approaches. 5th International Conference on Quantitative Genetics, Madison, Wisconsin, June 12-17, 2016.
2016 - View publication details
Bahadoor, A., Bosnich, W., Schneiderman, D., Blackwell, B., Aubin, Y., Melanson, J., Gleddie, S., Harris, L.J. Discovery of Novel Fusarium Secondary Metabolites. Session 10, Book of Abstracts of Lectures and Posters, World Mycotoxin Forum, Winnipeg, MB, June 6-9, 2016, p. 69. Invited talk
2016 - View publication details
Gleddie, S., Hermans, A., Gunter, A., Bahadoor, A., Harris, L.J. Using yeasts to study mycotoxin toxicity and interactions. Book of Abstracts of Lectures and Posters, Session 10, World Mycotoxin Forum, Winnipeg, MB, June 6-9, 2016, p. 69.
2016 - View publication details
Harris, L.J., Bosnich, W., Johnston, A., Kwan, R., Schneiderman, D., Blackwell, B., Bahadoor, A., Gleddie, S. Fusarium interspecies interactions during infection of durum wheat. Invited talk, Session 10, Proceedings of the 9th Conference of the World Mycotoxin Forum, p. 70, Winnipeg, MB, June 6-9, 2016.
2016 - View publication details
Bahadoor, A., Schneiderman, D., Gemmill, L., Bosnich, W., Blackwell, B., Melanson, J.E., McRae, G., Harris, L.J. (2016). Hydroxylation of Longiborneol by a Clm2-Encoded CYP450 Monooxygenase to Produce Culmorin in Fusarium graminearum. Journal of Natural Products, [online] 79(1), 81-88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00676
2016 - View publication details
Kennedy, M.A., Moffat, T.C., Gable, K., Ganesan, S., Niewola-Staszkowska, K., Johnston, A., Nislow, C., Giaever, G., Harris, L.J., Loewith, R., Zaremberg, V., Harper, M.E., Dunn, T., Bennett, S.A.L., Baetz, K. (2016). A Signaling Lipid Associated with Alzheimer's Disease Promotes Mitochondrial Dysfunction. Scientific Reports, [online] 6 http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep19332
2016 - View publication details
Harris, L.J., Balcerzak, M., Johnston, A., Schneiderman, D., Ouellet, T. (2016). Host-preferential Fusarium graminearum gene expression during infection of wheat, barley, and maize. Fungal Biology, [online] 120(1), 111-123. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2015.10.010
2016 - View publication details
Kebede, A.Z., Woldemariam, T., Reid, L.M., Harris, L.J. (2016). Quantitative trait loci mapping for Gibberella ear rot resistance and associated agronomic traits using genotyping-by-sequencing in maize. Theoretical and Applied Genetics (TAG), [online] 129(1), 17-29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00122-015-2600-3
2016 - View publication details
Kebede, A.Z., Woldemariam, T., Reid, L.M., and Harris, L.J. (2015). "Molecular mapping of gibberella ear rot resistance and kernel drydown rate in maize.", 57th Annual Maize Genetics Conference, Charles, IL, USA, March 12-15, 2015. (Abstract)
2015 - View publication details
Harris, L.J., Bosnich, W., Johnston, A., Kwan, R., Schneiderman, D., Blackwell, B.A., and Bahadoor, A. (2015). "Interaction studies between Fusarium graminearum and F. avenaceum during durum wheat infection.", 28th Fungal Genetics Conference, Pacific Grove, CA, USA, March 17-22, 2015. (Abstract)
2015 - View publication details
Harris, L.J., Bosnich, W., Johnston, A., Kwan, R., Schneiderman, D., Blackwell, B.A., and Bahadoor, A. (2015). "A F. graminearum ABC transporter is induced during interactions with F. avenaceum and by enniatin B1.", 13th European Fusarium Seminar, Martina Franca, Italy, May 10-14, 2015, Poster, pp. 121. (Abstract)
2015 - View publication details
Kebede, A.Z., Woldemariam, T., Reid, L.M., and Harris, L.J. (2015). "Molecular mapping of Gibberella ear rot resistance and kernel drydown rate in maize.", 13th European Fusarium Seminar, Martina Franca, Italy, May 10-14, 2015, pp. 168. (Abstract)
2015 - View publication details
Kebede, A.Z., Johnston, A., Schneiderman, D., Bosnich, W., and Harris, L.J. (2015). "Whole genome gene expression profiles of two inbred lines with distinct resistance to gibberella ear rot disease of maize.", 3rd Plant Genomics Congress USA-Global Engage, St. Louis, MO, USA, September 14-15, 2015. (Abstract)
2015 - View publication details
Subramaniam, R., Narayanan, S., Walkowiak, S., Wang, L., Joshi, M., Rocheleau, H., Ouellet, T., Harris, L.J. (2015). Leucine metabolism regulates TRI6 expression and affects deoxynivalenol production and virulence in Fusarium graminearum. Molecular Microbiology, [online] 98(4), 760-769. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mmi.13155
2015 - View publication details
Ghobakhlou, A.F., Johnston, A., Harris, L., Antoun, H., Laberge, S. (2015). Microarray transcriptional profiling of Arctic Mesorhizobium strain N33 at low temperature provides insights into cold adaption strategies. BMC Genomics, [online] 16(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12864-015-1611-4
2015 - View publication details