Overview
My research focus is the physiology and cell biology of microorganisms and how they interact with their environment. Microorganisms can live in conditions we find extremely inhospitable—places with no oxygen, extremely high temperatures, high concentrations of salt, and even toxic chemicals and acid. Studying how microbial cells overcome harsh conditions teaches us how to use them to clean up toxic waste from mining, fossil fuels extraction, industry, and other human activities. Microorganisms are also critical to soil health and agriculture. We are collaborating with other researchers at NMHU to study how sustainable agriculture methods such as the use of biochar affect the activities of the myriad of underground organisms that help keep New Mexico’s desert soils healthy and productive.
Most microbes are harmless to us, but a few pathogenic or opportunistic microbes cause dangerous infections. During the 20th Century we lived in the Golden Age of Antibiotics, however, in the 21st Century, we find many of our drugs are losing their efficacy. Antibiotic-resistant infections, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are on the rise; it is a worldwide problem with enormous human and economic costs. New treatments must be developed. Organisms from microbes to mammals use antimicrobial proteins to fight infection without the development of resistance. We are studying how organisms use these molecules, and will use these discoveries in the design of new antibiotics.
I am developing programs to include long-term research projects involving students (both undergraduate and graduate) in laboratory and field experimentation in conjunction with other researchers at NMHU and other institutions, including the University of New Mexico. I am looking for motivated students who are interested in research to join my laboratory.
Education:
B.S. (Biology & Philosophy); Ph.D. (Microbiology) - The University of New Mexico, USA
Postdoctoral Fellowship (Microbiology & Immunology) - Simon Fraser University, Canada
Publications
- R.M. Plunkett. Antibacterial activity of AC(1-26)-HC(24-38), a novel cecropin-like hybrid antimicrobial peptide. International Journal of Microbiology. IN REVIEW.
- R.M. Plunkett, S.I. Murray and C.A. Lowenberger. Generation and characterization of the antibacterial activity of a novel hybrid antimicrobial peptide comprising functional domains from different insect cecropins. The Canadian Journal of Microbiology. 55(5):520-528. 2009.
- L.L. Barton, F. Goulhen, M. Bruschi, N.A. Woodards, R.M. Plunkett and F.J.M. Rietmeijer. The bacterial metallome: composition and stability with specific reference to the anaerobic bacterium Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. Biometals 20:291-302. 2007.
- R.M. Plunkett. Oxidative Stress Response of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria. Doctoral dissertation, The University of New Mexico. 2006.
- M. Bruschi, L.L. Barton, F. Goulhen and R.M. Plunkett. Enzymatic and genomic studies on the reduction of mercury and selected metallic oxy-anions by sulphate-reducing bacteria. In Sulphate-Reducing Bacteria: Environmental and Engineered Systems, Barton and Hamilton (Eds.), Cambridge University Press. London. 2006.
- L.L. Barton, R.M. Plunkett and B.M. Thomson. Reduction of metals and non-essential elements by anaerobes. In Biochemistry and Physiology of Anaerobic Bacteria, Ljungdahl, et al. (Eds.) pp. 220-234, Springer-Verlag, New York, NY. 2003.
- L.L. Barton and R.M. Plunkett. Sulfate-reducing bacteria: environmental and technological aspects. In The Encyclopedia of Environmental Microbiology, G. Bitton (Ed.) pp. 3087-3096, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ. 2002.
Presentations
- D.P. Delgado and R.M. Plunkett. Copper resistance in bacteria isolated from the abandoned Nacimiento Copper Mine, New Mexico. Poster presented at the American Society for Microbiology’s 111th General Meeting, New Orleans, LA. 2011.
- R. Ortega, B. Nelson, J. Rivas, R.M. Plunkett. Antimicrobial Resistance Levels in Escherichia coli Isolated from Northern New Mexico Wild Elk, Domestic Cattle, and Humans. Poster presented at the 9th Annual New Mexico Highlands University Research Day, Las Vegas, NM. 2011.
- R.V. Montaño, O. Ayala, R.M. Plunkett and C.F. Conley. Promoting Drought Tolerance In Native Corn Using Low Cost Soil Amendments. Poster presented at the 9th Annual New Mexico Highlands University Research Day, Las Vegas, NM. 2011.
- J. Jauregí, R.V. Montaño, O. Ayala, R.M. Plunkett and C.F. Conley. Increasing Microbe Activity and Promoting Drought Tolerance in Native Corn by Using Low Cost Soil Amendments. Poster presented at the 9th Annual New Mexico Highlands University Research Day, Las Vegas, NM. 2011.
- A. Gonzales, D.P. Delgado and R.M. Plunkett. Identification of Copper-Resistant Bacteria. Talk delivered at the 9th Annual New Mexico Highlands University Research Day, Las Vegas, NM. 2011.
- D.P. Delgado and R.M. Plunkett. Copper resistance in bacteria isolated from the abandoned Nacimiento Copper Mine, New Mexico. Poster presented at the 9th Annual New Mexico Highlands University Research Day, Las Vegas, NM. 2011.
- R.M. Plunkett. AC-HC: a Novel Hybrid Antimicrobial Peptide Comprising Insect Cecropin Motifs. Talk delivered at New Mexico INBRE Symposium 2011: Celebrating 10 Years of BRIN/INBRE, Santa Fe, NM. 2011
- D.P. Delgado and R.M. Plunkett. Copper resistance in bacteria isolated from the abandoned Nacimiento Copper Mine, New Mexico. Poster presented at the Rio Grande Chapter of the American Society for Microbiology’s Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM. 2011.
- D.P. Delgado and R.M. Plunkett. Copper-Resistant Bacteria Isolated From a Contaminated Mining Site in New Mexico. Poster presented at the American Society for Microbiology’s 110th General Meeting, San Diego, CA. 2010.
- D.P. Delgado and R.M. Plunkett. Copper-Resistant Bacteria Isolated From a Contaminated Mining Site in New Mexico. Poster presented at the 8th Annual New Mexico Highlands University Research Day, Las Vegas, NM. 2010.
- R.V. Montaño and R.M. Plunkett. The Effects of Biochar Amendments on Microbial Activity and Geochemistry in Desert Soil. Poster presented at the 8th Annual New Mexico Highlands University Research Day, Las Vegas, NM. 2010.
- K.N. Sufor and R. M. Plunkett. AC-HC: A Novel Hybrid Antimicrobial Peptide With Activity Against Staphylococcus aureus. Talk delivered at the 8th Annual New Mexico Highlands University Research Day, Las Vegas, NM. 2010.
- R.M. Plunkett. There’s More Than One Way to Skin a Cat: Finding Your Path to a Professorship. Talk delivered as invited speaker at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology, Park City, UT. 2009.
- R.M. Plunkett. Microbiology in the Plunkett Laboratory: from cleaning up infections to cleaning up the environment. Talk delivered at the 7th Annual New Mexico Highlands University Research Day, Las Vegas, NM. 2009.
- K.N. Sufor and R.M. Plunkett. Design and Characterization of Hybrid Antimicrobial Peptides (hAMPs). Talk delivered at the 7th Annual New Mexico Highlands University Research Day, Las Vegas, NM. 2009.
- D.P. Delgado and R.M. Plunkett. Copper Resistant Bacteria (I): Possible Bioremediators for the Nacimiento Copper Mine Pit Lake. Poster presented at the 7th Annual New Mexico Highlands University Research Day, Las Vegas, NM. 2009.
- D.M. Martinez and R.M. Plunkett. Copper Resistant Bacteria (II): Identifying Unknown Organisms from the Nacimiento Copper Mine Pit Lake. Poster presented at the 7th Annual New Mexico Highlands University Research Day, Las Vegas, NM. 2009.
- S.J. Nealy and R.M. Plunkett. Copper Resistant Bacteria (III): Identifying Unknown Organisms from the Nacimiento Copper Mine Pit Lake. Poster presented at 7th Annual New Mexico Highlands University Research Day, Las Vegas, NM. 2009.
- J.D. Ericsson, A.F. Janmaat, R.M. Plunkett, J.H. Myers and C.A. Lowenberger. Distinct changes in immune system are associated with Bt exposure in Bt-resistant and Bt-susceptible Trichoplusia ni colonies. Talk delivered at the 41st Annual Meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology and 9th International Conference on Bacillus thuringiensis, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. 2008.
- R.M. Plunkett, S.I. Murray and C.A. Lowenberger. Exploiting Insect Immune Responses to Pathogens in the Search for Novel Antimicrobial Compounds. Talk delivered at the British Columbia Parasitology Society’s Annual Meeting, Burnaby, BC, Canada. 2008.
- R.M. Plunkett and L.L. Barton. Oxidative Stress in Four Species of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria. Poster presented at the American Society for Microbiology’s 107th General Meeting, Toronto, ON, Canada. 2007.
- N.A. Woodards, F. Goulhen, M. Bruschi, R.M. Plunkett and L.L. Barton. Identification of Heme Protein Associated with Outer Membrane of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. Poster presented at the American Society for Microbiology’s 107th General Meeting, Toronto, ON. 2007.
- N.A. Woodards, R.M. Plunkett and L.L. Barton. Characterization of the Outer Membrane and Capsule from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, an Anaerobic Bacterium. Poster presented at the American Society for Microbiology’s 106th General Meeting, Orlando, FL. 2006.
- R.M. Plunkett and L.L. Barton. A Mechanism for Oxidative Stress Defense in Desulfovibrio vulgaris. Poster presented at the American Society for Microbiology’s 104th General Meeting, New Orleans, LA. 2004.
- R.M. Plunkett and L.L. Barton. Oxygen-Stress Response in Sulfate Reducers. Talk delivered as invited speaker at the environmental microbiology colloquium, Life is Redox Chemistry: The Sulfate-Reducer Paradigm, at the American Society for Microbiology’s 103rd General Meeting, Washington, D.C. 2003.
- R.M. Plunkett and L.L. Barton. Redox Mechanisms for Oxidative Stress Defense in Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria. Talk presented at the Rio Grande Branch of the American Society for Microbiology Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM. 2003.
- R.M. Plunkett, R.Narang, G.S. Brown, B.M. Thomson and L.L. Barton. Chromium resistance and reduction by sulfate-reducing and iron-respiring bacteria. Poster presented at the American Society for Microbiology’s 102nd General Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT. 2002.
- L.L. Barton, R.M. Plunkett and R. Narang. Kinetics of uranyl reduction by hydrogenase systems. Poster Presented at the Biochemical Society’s 3rd Annual Biometals Symposium, London, UK. 2002.
- R.M. Plunkett, L.L. Barton and B.M. Thomson. Isolation and characterization of an alkyl hydroperoxide reductase gene from Desulfovibrio vulgaris ATCC 29579. Poster presented at the American Society for Microbiology’s 101st General Meeting, Orlando, FL. 2001.
- L.L. Barton, G.S. Brown, E.D. Gonzales, R.M. Plunkett and B.M. Thomson. Metabolism of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and their oxidation products by soil bacteria. Poster presented at the American Society for Microbiology’s 101st General Meeting, Orlando, FL. 2001.
- R.M. Plunkett and R.D. Miller. Isolation and characterization of the constant region genes for the alpha and beta chains of the T cell receptor from the opossum Monodelphis domestica. Talk delivered at the 1998 International Symposium on Marsupial Immunology, hosted by the Marsupial Cooperative Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 1998.
Appearances
Courses
New Mexico Highlands University
Fall 2011
- Biol 301 Microbiology
- Biol 301L Microbiology Laboratory
- Biol 212 General Biology II
- Biol 212L General Biology II Laboratory
Spring 2011
- Biol 405/505 Bacterial Physiology
- Biol 405/505L Bacterial Physiology Laboratory
Fall 2010
- Biol 301 Microbiology
- Biol 301L Microbiology Laboratory
- Biol 650 Advanced Microbiology
Spring 2010
- Biol 110L Perspectives in Biology Laboratory
- Biol 212 General Biology II
- Biol 212L General Biology Laboratory
- Biol 405/505 Bacterial Physiology
- Biol 405/505L Bacterial Physiology Laboratory
Fall 2009
- Biol 301 Microbiology
- Biol 301L Microbiology Laboratory
- Biol 423 Advanced Cell Biology
- Biol 423L Advanced Cell Biology Laboratory
Spring 2009
- Biol 212 General Biology II
- Biol 212L General Biology Laboratory
- LSCI 620 Advanced Topics in Biology—Aspects of Innate Immunity
Fall 2008
- Biol 212L General Biology Laboratory
- Biol 301 Microbiology
- Biol 301L Microbiology Laboratory
- Biol 476/576 Evolution