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Peters, Joseph E.
Cornell Faculty Member
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Positions
- Associate Professor, Microbiology (BIOMI), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)
Joe Peters earned a B.S. in Biology from Stony Brook University, a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Maryland at College Park and was a post-doctoral fellow at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Research Areas
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Affiliations
Research
research overview
- Our lab is interested in DNA replication, recombination and repair. While these processes are essential for maintaining the integrity of genetic information they also guide the development of new functions during evolution. In addition, the systems found in bacteria generally have homologous counterparts across all domains of life allowing work in bacteria to be relevant to our understanding of all types of organisms including humans. One major area of study in our group involves determining the molecular mechanisms that protect DNA during DNA replication. DNA is more vulnerable to damage when it is being replicated. This is especially true for one strand of the chromosome that is replicated in a discontinuous process involving repetitive initiation events. Interestingly, many types of mobile DNA elements like viruses and transposons also gain access to insert into a host chromosome when it is undergoing discontinuous DNA replication. Our work is revealing undiscovered systems that help protect the integrity of DNA during this vulnerable time and how mobile elements can subvert these host protection systems. In addition to allowing a better understand of broadly conserved mechanisms of DNA stability our work is also aimed at developing new techniques that will allow us to modify the genetic content of bacteria for basic science and genetic engineering.
research activities
area(s) of concentration/expertise
keywords
- Bacterial Genetics
- Biochemistry
- DNA Recombination
- DNA Repair
- DNA replication
- Genomics
- Molecular Evolution
- Molecular Genetics
- Transposition
submitted impact statement
Publications
individual publications
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academic article
- Identification and Characterization of Novel Salmonella Mobile Elements Involved in the Dissemination of Genes Linked to Virulence and Transmission. PLoS One. 7. 2012
- Tn7 elements: Engendering diversity from chromosomes to episomes. Plasmid. 61:1-14. 2009
- Tn917 targets the region where DNA replication terminates in B. subtilis highlighting a difference in chromosome processing in the Firmicutes. Journal of Bacteriology. 191:7623-7627. 2009
- Transposition into replication DNA occurs thought interaction with the processivity factor. Cell. 138:685-695. 2009
- DNA damage differentially activates regional chromosomal loci for Tn7 transposition. Genetics. 0179:1237-1250. 2008
- In vitro mutagenesis of Bacillus subtilis by using a modified Tn7 transposon with an outward-facing inducible promoter. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 74:3419-25. 2008
- In vitro mutagenesis of Bacillus subtilis by using a modified Tn7 transposon with an outward-facing inducible promoter. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 74:3419-25. 2008
- Tn7 Directs Transposition into the Genome of Filamentous Bacteriophage M13 Using the Element-Encoded TnsE Protein. Journal of Bacteriology. 189:9122-9125. 2007
- Transposon Tn7 is Widespread in Diverse Bacteria and Forms Genomic Islands. Journal of Bacteriology. 189:2170-2173. 2007
- Global Analysis of Candidate Genes Important for Fitness in a Competitive Biofilms Using DNA-Array-Based Transposon Mapping. Microbiology. 152:2233-2245. 2006
- Global Analysis of Candidate Genes Important for Fitness in a Competitive Biofilms Using DNA-Array-Based Transposon Mapping. Microbiology. 152:2233-2245. 2006
- Construction of an Enterococcus faecalis Tn917-mediated gene disruption library offers insight into Tn917 insertion patterns. Journal of Bacteriology. 186:7280-7289. 2004
- Definition of the E. coli MC4100 Genome Using a DNA Array. Journal of Bacteriology. 185:2017-2121. 2003
- Tn7 Recognizes Transposition Target Structures Associated with DNA Replication Using the DNA Binding Protein TnsE. Genes and Development. 15:737-747. 2001
- Tn7: Smarter than we thought. Nature Reviews: Molecular Cell Biology. 2:806-814. 2001
- Tn7 Transposes Proximal to DNA Double-Strand Breaks and into Regions where Chromosomal DNA Replication Terminates. Molecular Cell. 6:573-582. 2000
- Redundant Homosexual F Transfer Facilitates Selection Induced Reversion of Plasmid Mutations. Journal of Bacteriology. 178:3032-3043. 1996
- Characterization of a New rho Mutation That Relieves Polarity of Mu Insertions. Molecular Microbiology. 17:231-240. 1995
- Redundant Transfer of F' Plasmids Occurs Between Escherichia coli Cells During Non-Lethal Selections. Journal of Bacteriology. 177:847-850. 1995
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book
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chapter
- Transposon Tn7. Bacterial Integrative Mobile Genetic Elements (ISBN 978-1-58706-660-3). 1-32. 2012
- Transposons and Other Mobile Elements. Molecular Biology: Genes to Proteins (ISBN 978-1449600914). 504-551. 2011
- Gene transfer in gram-negative bacteria. Methods for General and Molecular Microbiology (ISBN 978-1-55581-223-2). 2007
- Transposons and Other Mobile Elements. Molecular Biology: Genes to Proteins (ISBN 978-0763709167). 504-551. 2007
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document part
featured in archived article
Teaching
teaching overview
- Bacterial Genetics (BioMI0485/BioGD0485/BioBM0485) - Students gain a detailed understanding of how bacteria maintain and pass on genetic information with a strong focus on the bacterium Escherichia coli. They discover the processes by which bacteria evolve through different mutations and the exchange of genetic information. The course explores how genes are regulated efficiently through negative and positive regulation and by global regulatory mechanisms. Upon completion of the course students should understand the tools used to manipulate bacterial genomes for the understanding of bacteria and other living organisms. For the second year I have also added an extra credit option for the course (10 people participated this year). The extra credit option involved an extra class meeting where we worked from primary literature to get more into the detail in some areas touched upon in the larger class. Independent study in Biology (Bio0499)
- Bacterial Genetics (BioMI4850/BioMG4850) - Students gain a detailed understanding of how bacteria maintain and pass on genetic information with a strong focus on the bacterium Escherichia coli. They discover the processes by which bacteria evolve through different mutations and the exchange of genetic information. The course explores how genes are regulated efficiently through negative and positive regulation and by global regulatory mechanisms. Upon completion of the course students should understand the tools used to manipulate bacterial genomes for the understanding of bacteria and other living organisms. For the third year I have also added an extra credit option for the course. The extra credit option involved an extra class meeting where we worked from primary literature to get more into the detail in some areas touched upon in the larger class.
- Independent Study (Bio499)
teaching activities
Service
service to the profession
- E. coli Genetic Stock Center Advisory Committee for NSF Chairperson 2011 -
- E. coli Genetic Stock Center Board of Advisors 2006 -
- American Society of Microbiology Member 2002 -
- American Society of Microbiology Press Board of Advisors 2012 - 2015
- American Society of Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Genetics (Division H) Chairperson 2012 - 2015
- American Association for the Advancement of Science Member 2002 - 2009
reviewer or editor for
Background
education and training
- Ph.D. in Microbiology, University of Maryland at College Park 1996
- B.S. in Biology, State University of New York at Stony Brook 1991
awards and honors
Other
college
- CALS
research keyword
- Bacterial Genetics
- Biochemistry
- DNA Recombination
- DNA Repair
- DNA replication
- Genomics
- Molecular Evolution
- Molecular Genetics
- Transposition
name prefix
- Dr.