Dr. Ronald Thune
Professor
Pathobiological Sciences (PBS)
(225) 578-9684

Biography:
Dr. Thune recently stepped down from his position as head of the Pathobiological Sciences in December, 2018, afteer 19 years.

Teaching Interests:
Dr. Thune teaches graduate courses in aquatic animal diseases and pathogenic bacteriology.

Research Interests:
Dr. Ron Thune conducts research and directs graduate student research on infectious diseases of aquatic animals, particularly Edwardsiella ictaluri in the channel catfish. This work uses modern molecular genetic approaches to study pathogen host interactions, with an emphasis on genomics, bacterial pathogenesis and protective vaccine development. Dr. Thune recently received a three year AFRI foundational grant to study E. ictaluri pathogenesis.

 Awards & Honors:
  • 2005 Best Paper Award
  • 2002 S. F. Sniezko Distinguished Service Award
  • 2001 Exemplary Service Award
  • 2001 Triad Nitrogen Inc.Award of Excellence for Outstanding Research
  • 1999 Best Paper Award
  • 1999 Pfizer Award for Research Excellence
  • 1992 Research Award of Merit Gamma Sigma Delta
  • 1990 Veterinary Medicine Distinguished Scholar Award
 Education:
  • PhD Auburn University
  • MS Western Illinois University
  • BS Colorado State University
 Grants:
  • Determination of the host-cell protein targets for the Edwardsiella ictaluri type three secretion system effectors. , LSU/SVM 1433, $16,923.50
  • Role of translocated effector proteins of the Type III secretion system of Edwardsiella ictaluri in pathogenesis, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, $499,551.00
  • Determination of the host-cell protein targets for the Edwardsiella ictaluri type three secretion system effectors. , LSU/SVM 1433, $18,458.00
 Publications:
Journal Article, Academic Journal:
  • Identification and Characterization of Putative Translocated Effector Proteins of the Edwardsiella ictaluri Type III Secretion System., Dubytska, L; Rogge, M; Thune, Ronald, 2016, mSphere , Volume: 1, Number: 3
  • Complete Genome Sequence of an Edwardsiella piscicida-Like Species Isolated from Diseased Grouper in Israel., Reichley, S; Waldbieser, G; Ucko, M; Colorni, A; Dubytska, L; Thune, Ronald; Lawrence, M; Griffin, M, 2015, Genome announcements , Volume: 3, Number: 4
  • Comparison of Vietnamese and US isolates of Edwardsiella ictaluri, Thune, Ronald; Rogge, Matthew; Dubytska, Lidiya ; Jung, Tae Sung; Wiles, Judy; Elkamel, Ahmad; Rennhoff, Amelia; Oanh, Di Thi Hoang, 2013, Diseases of Aquatic Organisms , Volume: 106, Number: 1, Pages: 17-29
  • Mortality and pathology of hybrid catfish, Clarius macrocephalus x Clarius gariepinus, associated with Edwardsiella ictaluri infection in southern Thailand., Thune, Ronald; Suanyuk, N; Rogge, M; Watthanaphiromsakul, M; Jampat, N; Wianagkum, W, 2013, Journal of Fish Diseases , Volume: DOI: 10.1111/jfd.12127, Pages: 11
  • Genome Sequence of Edwardsiella ictaluri 93-146, a Strain, Thune, Ronald; Williams, M.L; Gillaspy, A. F.; Dyer, D. W.; Waldbieser, G C.; Schuster, S. C.; Gipson, J.; Landry, C.; Zaitshik, J.; Banes, M. M.; Lawrence, M. L., 2012, Journal of Bacteriology , Volume: 2011, Number: 194(3), Pages: 740-741
  • The Edwardsiella ictaluri Type III secretion system is regulated by pH and phosphate concentration through EsrA, EsrB, and EsrC, Thune, Ronald; Rogge, Matt, 2011, Applied and Environmental Microbiology , Volume: 77, Number: 13, Pages: 4293-4302
  • Streptococcus iniae infection in cultured Asian sea bass and red tilapia in southern Thailand., Thune, Ronald; Suanyuk, N; Sukkasame, N; Tanmark, N; Yoshida, N; Tantikitti, C; Supamattaya, K, 2010, Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology , Volume: 32, Number: 4, Pages: 327-444
  • Interaction of Francisella asiatica with Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), Hawke, John; Soto, Esteban ; Thune, Ronald; Fernandez, Denise, 2010, Infection and Immunity/ASM , Volume: 78, Number: 5, Pages: 2070-2078
Scientific Abstract:
  • Protein-protein interactions of translocated effectors of the type III secretion system of Edwardsiella ictaluri, Dubytska, L; Thune, Ronald, 2015
  • Characterization of the translocated effector proteinsof the type III secretion system of Edwardsiella ictaluri, Dubytska, L.; Thune, Ronald, 2015
  • Putative target proteins of the translocated effector proteins of the type III secretion system of Edwardsiella ictaluri, Dubytska, L.; Thune, Ronald, 2015
  • Putative Edwardsiella ictaluri type III secretion system effectors are translocated to the cytoplasm of host cells, Thune, Ronald; Dubytska, Lidiya , 2013
  • Atypical strains of Edwardsiella ictaluri from Asia, Thune, Ronald; Rogge, M; Dubytska, L; Jung, T; Elkamel, A; Rennhoff, A; Suanyuk, N, 2012
  • Genotypic Characterization of Edwardsiella ictaluri Isolated from Asian Catfish, Thune, Ronald; Rogge, M; Jung, T; Elkamel, A; Rennhoff, A, 2012
  • Modulation of vacuolar pH is required for replication of Edwardsiella ictaluri in catfish macrophages, Thune, Ronald; Dubytska, L, 2012
  • Mutagenic Analysis of the Edwardsiella ictaluri Type VI Secretion System, Thune, Ronald; Rogge, M, 2012
  • Comparison of Vietnam and United States Isolates of Edwardsiella ictaluri, Thune, Ronald; Rogge, M; Elkamel, A; Jung, T; Rennhoff, A, 2012
  • Towards the Intelligent Design of a Vaccine Against Edwardsiella ictaluri, Thune, Ronald; Rogge, M; Booth, N; Baumgartner, W, 2012
  • A Developing Model for E. ictaluri Pathogenesis, Thune, Ronald; Rogge, M; Booth, N; Baumgartner, W; Beekman, J, 2012
  • Expression of an Edwardsiella ictaluri type III secretion system-regulated protein and its role in intracellular survival and pathogenesis. , Thune, Ronald; L, Rogge, 2011
  • Evaluation of the Edwardsiella ictaluri Type IV Secretion System Role in Virulence, Thune, Ronald; Graff, Allison; Rogge, Matt, 2010
  • Evaluation of the Role of Ammonia and Urea Transporters on the Pathogenesis of Edwardsiella ictaluri, Thune, Ronald; Beekman, Judith, 2010
  • Initial Evaluation of an Edwardsiella ictaluri Type III Secretion System Mutant as a Vaccine Candidate Against Enteric Septicemia of Catfish, Thune, Ronald; Rogge, Matt, 2010
  • The Edwardsiella ictaluri Type III and Type VI Secretion Systems Are Co-Regulated and Are Both Required for Virulence in the Channel Catfish, Thune, Ronald; Rogge, Matt , 2010
  • Analysis of the Complete Genome Sequence of the SMCA strain of Spiroplasma mirum. , Thune, Ronald; Landry , Christie; Bastian, Frank, 2010
  • Production of a Spiroplasma mirum SMCA adhesion protein, Thune, Ronald; Landry, Christie; Darnall, Chris, 2010