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Michael Sparks
Invasive Insect Biocontrol & Behavior Laboratory
Computational Biologist

Phone: (301) 504-5443
Fax: (301) 504-5104
Room 005

10300 BALTIMORE AVE
BLDG 007 BARC-WEST
BELTSVILLE, MD 20705
Projects
Urban Small Farms and Gardens Pest Management
In-House Appropriated (D)
  Accession Number: 429893
Urban Landscape Integrated Pest Management
In-House Appropriated (D)
  Accession Number: 430038
Transcriptome Analyses of Rice Stink Bugs to Facilitate Identification of Pheromone Biosynthetic Pathways and RNAi-Based Biopesticide Development
Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement (N)
  Accession Number: 431985

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon Reprint Icon will take you to the publication reprint.)
Chromobacterium paludis sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from a Chesapeake Bay marsh - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), genome: underpinnings of polyphagy, insecticide resistance potential and biology of a top worldwide pest Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sparks, M., Gundersen, D.E., Bansal, R., Oppert, B.S., Poelchau, M.F., Childers, C., Rhoades, J.H., Velamuri, A.S., Benoit, J.B., Chao, H., Blackburn, M.B., Johnston, J. 2020. Brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), genome: underpinnings of polyphagy, insecticide resistance potential and biology of a top worldwide pest. BMC Genomics. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-020-6510-7.
Expansion of LINEs and species-specific DNA repeats drives genome expansion in Asian gypsy moths - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hebert, F.O., Freschi, L., Blackburn, G., Beliveau, C., Dewar, K., Boyle, B., Gundersen, D.E., Sparks, M., Cusson, M., Hamelin, R.C., Levesque, R.C. 2019. Expansion of LINEs and species-specific DNA repeats drives genome expansion in Asian gypsy moths. Scientific Reports. 9:16413.
Chromobacterium phragmitis sp. nov., an insecticidal bacterium isolated from estuarine marshes Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Blackburn, M.B., Farrar, R.R., Sparks, M., Kuhar, D.J., Mowery, J.D., Mitchell, A.D., Gundersen, D.E. 2019. Chromobacterium phragmitis sp. nov., an insecticidal bacterium isolated from estuarine marshes. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.003508.
Differential gene expression in Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) larval and pupal stages Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Allen, M.L., Rhoades, J.H., Sparks, M., Grodowitz, M.J. 2018. Differential gene expression in Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) larval and pupal stages. Insects. 9(4):185.
De novo formation of an aggregation pheromone precursor by an isoprenyl diphosphate synthase-related terpene synthase in the harlequin bug Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Lancaster, J., Khrimian, A., Young, S., Lehner, B., Luck, K., Wallingford, A., Ghosh, S.B., Zerbe, P., Marek, P., Sparks, M., Tittiger, C., Kollner, T.G., Weber, D.C., Gundersen, D.E., Kuhar, T., Tholl, D. 2018. De novo formation of an aggregation pheromone precursor by an isoprenyl diphosphate synthase-related terpene synthase in the harlequin bug. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1800008115.
Draft genome sequence of the New Jersey aster yellows strain of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sparks, M., Bottner-Parker, K.D., Gundersen, D.E., Lee, I. 2018. Draft genome sequence of the New Jersey aster yellows strain of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’. PLoS One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0192379.
Arthropod genomics research in the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service: Applications of RNA interference and CRISPR gene editing technologies in pest control ()
Gundersen, D.E., Adrianos, S.L., Allen, M.L., Becnel, J.J., Chen, Y., Choi, M.Y., Estep, A., Evans, J.D., Garczynski, S.F., Geib, S.M., Ghosh, S.B., Handler, A.M., Hasegawa, D.K., Heerman, M.C., Hull, J.J., Hunter, W.B., Kaur, N., Li, J., Li, W., Ling, K., Nayduch, D., Oppert, B.S., Perera, O.P., Perkin, L.C., Sanscrainte, N.D., Sim, S.B., Sparks, M., Temeyer, K.B., Vander Meer, R.K., Wintermantel, W.M., James, R.R., Hackett, K.J., Coates, B.S. 2017. Arthropod genomics research in the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service: Applications of RNA interference and CRISPR gene editing technologies in pest control. Trends in Entomology. 13:109-137.
Comparative analysis of mitochondrial genomes of geographic variants of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, reveals a previously undescribed genotypic entity Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Djoumad, A., Nisole, A., Zahiri, R., Freschi, L., Picq, S., Gundersen, D.E., Sparks, M., Dewar, K., Stewart, D., Maaroufi, H., Levesque, R.C., Hamelin, R.C., Cusson, M. 2017. Comparative analysis of mitochondrial genomes of geographic variants of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, reveals a previously undescribed genotypic entity. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-14530-6.
Chromobacterium sphagni sp. nov., an insecticidal bacterium isolated from Sphagnum bogs - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Blackburn, M.B., Farrar, R.R., Sparks, M., Kuhar, D.J., Mitchell, A.D., Gundersen, D.E. 2017. Chromobacterium muskegensis sp. nov., an insecticidal bacterium isolated from Sphagnum bogs. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 67(9):3417-3422.
A transcriptome survey spanning life stages and sexes of the Harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sparks, M., Rhoades, J.H., Nelson, D.R., Kuhar, D.J., Lancaster, J., Lehner, B., Tholl, D., Weber, D.C., Gundersen, D.E. 2017. A transcriptome survey spanning life stages and sexes of the Harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica. Insects. doi: 10.3390/insects8020055.
Transcriptome of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, halyomorpha halys (stål) (heteroptera: pentatomidae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sparks, M., Shelby, K., Kuhar, D.J., Gundersen, D.E. 2014. Transcriptome of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, halyomorpha halys (stål) (heteroptera: pentatomidae). PLoS One. 9(11_:e111646. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111646.
A single vertebrate DNA virus protein disarms invertebrate immunity to RNA virus infection - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Gammon, D.B., Duraffour, S., Hehnly, H., Rozelle, D.K., Sharma, R., Sparks, M., West, C.C., Andrei, G., Connor, J.H., Conte, J., Doxsey, S., Gundersen, D.E., Marshall, W.L., Silverman, N., Mello, C.C. 2014. A single vertebrate DNA virus protein disarms invertebrate immunity to RNA virus infection. Cell Host and Microbe. eLife 25:3. doi: 10.7554/eLife.02910.
Complete genome sequence of a novel iflavirus from the transcriptome of Halyomorpha halys, the brown marmorated stink bug. Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sparks, M., Gundersen, D.E., Harrison, R.L. 2013. Complete genome sequence of a novel iflavirus from the transcriptome of Halyomorpha halys, the brown marmorated stink bug.. Genome Announcements. 1(6):e00910-13.
Sequence of a novel iflavirus identified in the transcriptome of the brown marmorated stink bug - (Abstract Only)
Sparks, M., Gundersen, D.E., Harrison, R.L. 2013. Sequence of a novel iflavirus identified in the transcriptome of the brown marmorated stink bug. Society for Invertebrate Pathology Annual Meeting. p.101.
Midgut transcriptomic response of the gypsy moth, lymantria dispar, to infection with l. dispar and Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedroviruses - (Abstract Only)
Harrison, R.L., Gundersen, D.E., Sparks, M. 2013. Midgut transcriptomic response of the gypsy moth, lymantria dispar, to infection with l. dispar and Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedroviruses. Society for Invertebrate Pathology Annual Meeting. p.72.
Transcriptome of the lymantria dispar (gypsy moth) larval midgut and its response to infection by bacillus thuringiensis - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sparks, M., Blackburn, M.B., Kuhar, D.J., Gundersen, D.E. 2013. Transcriptome of the lymantria dispar (gypsy moth) larval midgut and its response to infection by bacillus thuringiensis. PLoS One. 8(5):e61190.
Transcriptome of the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) larval midgut in response to infection by Bacillus thuringiensis - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sparks, M., Blackburn, M.B., Kuhar, D.J., Gundersen, D.E. 2013. Transcriptome of the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) larval midgut in response to infection by Bacillus thuringiensis. PLoS One. 8(5):e61190.
Determination and analysis of the genome sequence of Spodoptera littoralis multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Breitenbach, J.E., El-Sheikh, E.A., Harrison, R.L., Rowley, D.L., Sparks, M., Gundersen, D.E., Popham, H.J. 2013. Determination and analysis of the genome sequence of Spodoptera littoralis multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus. Virus Research. 171(1):194-208.
The Lymantria dispar IPLB-Ld652Y cell line transcriptome comprises numerous virus-associated transcripts. - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sparks, M., Gundersen, D.E. 2011. The Lymantria dispar IPLB-Ld652Y cell line transcriptome comprises numerous virus-associated transcripts.. Viruses. doi: 10.3390/v3112339.
The Lymantria dispar IPLB-Ld652Y cell line transcriptome comprises diverse virus-associated transcripts. - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sparks, M., Gundersen, D.E. 2011. The Lymantria dispar IPLB-Ld652Y cell line transcriptome comprises diverse virus-associated transcripts. Viruses. 3(11): 2339-2350.
Characterization of the rumen microbiota in pre-ruminant calves using metagenomic tools - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Li, R.W., Connor, E.E., Li, C., Baldwin, R.L., Sparks, M. 2011. Characterization of the rumen microbiota in pre-ruminant calves using metagenomic tools. Environmental Microbiology. 14(1):129-139.
Metagenomics detects functional shifts in the bovine rumen microbiota in response to propionate intake ()
Sparks, M., Huang, Y., Baldwin, R.L., Connor, E.E., Li, C., Sonstegard, T.S., Schroeder, S.G., Li, R.W. 2011. Metagenomics detects functional shifts in the bovine rumen microbiota in response to propionate intake. In: Li, R.W. editor. Metagenomics and its Applications in Agriculture. New York, NY: Nova Science Publishers. p. 165-183.
Dynamics of the rumen microbiota ()
Li, R.W., Sparks, M., Connor, E.E. 2011. Dynamics of the rumen microbiota. In: Li, R.W., editor. Metagenomics and its Applications in Agriculture. New York, NY: Nova Science Publishers. p. 135-164.
Towards a more complete metagenomics toolkit ()
Sparks, M., Li, R.W. 2011. Towards a more complete metagenomics toolkit. In: Li, R.W. editor. Metagenomics and its Applications in Agriculture. New York, NY: Nova Science Publishers. p. 33-45.
MaizeGDB Becomes Sequence-centric - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sen, T.Z., Andorf, C.M., Schaeffer, M.L., Harper, E.C., Sparks, M., Duvick, J., Brendel, V., Cannon, E., Campbell, D.A., Lawrence, C.J. 2009. MaizeGDB Becomes Sequence-centric. Database: The Journal of Biological Databases and Curation. doi: 10.1093/database/bap020. p. 1.
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