Mullins, Donald E, PhD

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Donald E Mullins, PhD

Title	Professor
Phone	(540) 231-5978
E-Mail	mullinsd@vt.edu
Address	319 Price Hall Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061

Primary responsibilities are research (40%) and teaching (60%). Conducts research in several areas, teaches courses in the life sciences, serves as graduate student coordinator and has responsibilities in maintaining the German Cockroach Genetic Stock Center. Research: Research programs in two general areas: insect physiology and biochemistry, pesticide disposal technology and biopesticide formulations. Program goals are to: (1) conduct basic research on insect physiology and biochemistry. (2) develop new approaches to formulation of insecticidal baits and biopesticides, and, (3) develop pesticide waste disposal and bioremediation systems that are safe, inexpensive, effective, and practical. Teaching: Course involvement includes: Life Sciences in the 21st Century, Pesticide Usage, Research and Information Systems in the Life Sciences , Insect Physiology and an on-line course Information Systems and Research in the Life Sciences. Advises undergraduate Entomology Concentration students. Serves as graduate student major advisor, committee member, and as the Entomology Department Graduate Student Coordinator. Priorities associated with instructional activities include meeting and administering courses in a professionally competent manner, and efforts in providing students with up-to-date information associated with appropriate topical areas and the development of new and novel instructional tools designed to enhance the learning process. Service: Time and effort is directed towards professional service. This includes participation in, and providing leadership in Departmental, College, University committees and professional organizations. International service includes assisting in developing a quality assurance program (pesticide safety and mentoring a pesticide residue laboratory) in Mali, West Africa, and participating in various IPM research activities in West Africa.

Blurb last modified at 2007-07-31 21:44:07.0.

Professional Memberships

American Association for the Advancement of Science
Entomological Society of America
Gamma Sigma Delta
National Pesticide Stewardship Alliance
Phi Kappa Phi
Sigma Xi - The Research Society

Personnel

Staff
- Gabbert, Sandra
Student
- Adamson, Nancy

Projects

Cockroach Reproductive Physiology
Traditionally, cockroaches have been considered pests on the basis of their presence in human dwellings, odors, their ability to acquire, harbor and transmit human pathogenic organisms. More recently, it has been shown that the presence of cockroaches in urban habitations can promote serious asthma reactions in humans, particularly in children. A variety of methods have been developed for cockroach control, but many have become less effective due to the development of pesticide resistance. As a result, there is a need for continued basic studies on cockroach biology to develop new pest control strategies for controlling these insects. Research in our laboratory is focused on cockroach reproduction physiology designed to examine the relationship of developing German cockroach embryos enclosed in an egg case that remains attached to the female until hatch.
Development of Biopesticides for Grasshopper and Locust Control in Sub-Saharan Africa
A major problem encountered in development of biopesticides is protection of the agents from desiccation and ultraviolet light. Collaborative work among several VA Tech faculty has focused on development of efficient production and formulation of microbial biopesticides for use in locust control in Africa. We have been successful in coating spores of an entomopathogenic fungi which improves their viability during exposure to UV-B radiation and dry heat conditions characteristic of the African climate. This technology may be developed for protection of a variety of entomopathogenic organisms which might be utilized in insect pest control.
Discovery-based Undergrad Opportunities: Collaborative Research Support Program
An Undergraduate Special Studies course offered by the Entomology Department was designed to introduce students to issues associated with international agricultural research, providing them with an opportunity to observe agricultural research practices by participation in some research activities and to learn about Malian culture. It was offered as a two semester course totaling 4 credits and featured a two-week trip to Mali, West Africa during the winter break.
Discovery-based Undergrad Opportunities: Facilitating Farmer to Farmer Teaching/Learning
Faculty in the Department of Entomology offered an Undergraduate Special Studies course designed to introduce students to issues associated with international agricultural research. It provided them with an opportunity to observe agricultural research practices by participating in some research activities and allowed them to learn about Malian culture as well. It was offered as a two semester course totaling 4 credits and featured a two-week trip to Mali, West Africa during the winter break.
Ecological Adaptations of Malaria Mosquitoes
The mosquito’s ability to adapt ecologically can significantly increase malaria transmission because it allows mosquitoes to occupy larger geographic regions and even human dwellings.
Fructans: inclusive of inulins, levans, and related fructofuranosides as subterranean termite feeding attractants in termite baiting systems.
Currently, there are no attractants or consumption enhancement compounds available for use in subterranean termite baiting systems. Therefore, it takes weeks and often months for termites to begin feeding at the bait stations in significant numbers. The addition of these fructofuranoside polymers to the termites bait matrix would be a significant enhancement to these termite bait systems. The addition of compounds like inulin would cause termites to feed preferentially on the bait matrix rather than other local food resources, and influence those termite workers to recruit additional termites to the bait stations.
Improvements in Baiting Technology for Household Pest Management
Over the last decade gel bait bait formulations have become the preferred method of German cockroach control. The single greatest advantage of using gel baits is that they have been highly attractive to German cockroaches so that bait consumption and subsequent mortality result in superior control. However, within the last decade there have been documented cases of "bait aversion" among field populations of German cockroaches. Bait aversion is manifested by cockroaches avoiding a bait formulation that they would previously consume. This avoidance develops as the result of selection for aversion to the food ingredients within the bait matrix rather than to the active ingredients. Most of these populations were from locations where poor sanitation was a problem and baits had been used for extended periods to keep chronic cockroach infestations to a minimum. As the bait aversion behavior becomes more widespread there is an urgent need for new baits to be formulated that provide all of the advantages of the older formulations, but do not elicit aversion response. Bait manufacturers have been re-formulating their bait matrices to replace ingredients that cause the averse behavior. Our laboratory has been evaluating these new formulations and their sugar attractants to determine how "bait averse cockroaches" respond to them.
New Paradigm for Discovery-Based Learning: Implementing Bottom-Up Development With Participatory Process And Whole System (Holistic) Thinking
An Undergraduate Special Studies course offered by the Entomology Department is designed to introduce students to issues associated with international agricultural research. It will provide them with an opportunity to observe agricultural research practices by participating in some research activities and to learn about Malian culture. It will be offered as a two semester course totaling 4 credits and featured a two-week trip to Mali, West Africa during the winter break.
Pesticide Waste Disposal
Pesticide disposal research has focused on development of a biologically-based system for cleanup and detoxification of pesticide wastes. Equipment has been developed and is being used to cleanup pesticide rinsewater wastes. The treatment system consists of batch sorption of pesticides onto an organic sorbent (e.g. peat), followed by separation (filtration) and finally degradation of sorbed pesticide in bioreactors during solid state fermentation (SSF). Field experiments are being conducted at three Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Centers (AREC's) to evaluate the effectiveness of the process with regard to human effort, safety and economics and environmental safety. A second area which is being addressed is the bioremediation of soils contaminated with pesticides resulting from accidental spills. Investigations deal with the use of organic sorbents and other amendments such as used vegetable oil soil in an effort to first retard pesticide movement and subsequently to facilitate biodegradation.
Project Planning Proposal: West African Regional Consortium of IPM Excellence
Faculty from Virginia Tech, University of California-Davis, Purdue University and Fort Valley State University developed a proposal designed for collaboration with research and extension units from five West African countries in a project featuring Integrated Pest Management (IPM) research on a variety of commodities.
Strengthening the Environmental Quality Laboratory of the Central Veterinary Laboratory, Bamako, Mali
Virginia Tech has committed to an Integrated Pest Management Collaborative Research Support Program (IPM CRSP) 5-year project to provide assistance in developing the capabilities of the Environmental Quality Laboratory (EQL) as a leader in pesticide analytical techniques in Mali and West Africa. Another component of the project is pesticide safety education. Pesticide safety will promote personal and environmental safety. Delivery of pesticide safety lessons will be coordinated with demonstrations of IPM practices developed for horticultural crops in Mali. Proper pesticide use will allow the laboratory to function in a quality assurance role. Several Virginia Tech Personnel are providing technical and educational assistance to this laboratory.
West African Regional Consortium of IPM Excellence
This project is part of a USAID funded Integrated Pest Management CRSP that seeks to develop regional IPM programs in West Africa. It involves five African countries including: Burkina Faso, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Senegal and multiple institutions in these countries and the US.

Courses

ALS 5204 Research and Information Systems in the Life Sciences → website
An orientation to the life sciences as a profession with emphasis on research technique and process. Topic emphases include: history of applied life sciences, the scientific method, researching the literature, scientific writing and presentation of research results, instructional techniques, and ethics. Information technology is emphasized throughout the course. Students learn to use digital technologies for communication, presentation, and publication.
ALS 5214 Information Systems and Research in the Life Sciences → website
This course is offered for graduate credit as a core requirement of a new online Masters of Science degree program (Professional Studies in Agricultural and Life Sciences) for those with interests or responsibilities in agriculture. The program is designed primarily to accommodate non-traditional students such as those with full-time jobs who are involved in agricultural production, in the development of agricultural policy, or in other agricultural support industries. Topics covered include: history of applied life sciences, current structure of the scientific enterprise, the scientific method and quality assurances, researching the literature, scientific writing and presentation of research results, instructional techniques, professionalism, and ethical considerations.
BIOL 1044 Life Sciences in the 21st Century → website
Objectives are to assist students in developing an awareness and appreciation of biology as part of human history, and how it will provide for our future environmental, technological, cultural, social and governmental needs and to assist students in selecting an area of career-oriented study in the biological sciences or closely related fields.
ENT 4264 [PPWS 4264] Pesticide Usage → website
An interdisciplinary study of pesticides used in urban and agricultural environments. Topics discussed include: classification, toxicology, formulation, application techniques, safety, legal considerations, environmental impact, and research and development of new pesticides. Prerequisites: CHEM 2514 or 2535, or consent of instructor.
ENT 6154 Insect Physiology → website
This course is a detailed study of the physiology and biochemistry of insect organ systems. Topics include: circulation, digestion, respiration, excretion, hormonal regulation, pheromones, intermediary metabolism, and nerve and muscle physiology. The laboratory exercises will provide exposure to instrumentation, techniques, and principles of insect physiological research. Prerequisite: ENT 5114 Insect Structure and Function, CHEM 2535, 2536 Organic Chemistry

Resources

Insecticide Storage Building
A storage building located adjacent to the Entomology Service Building on Glade Road serves as a facility of safe storage of large supplies of insecticides needed for field studies.
Master's of Agriculture and Life Sciences (on-line) → website
This curriculum offers a master's degree to place-bound learners. This is a multidisciplinary effort with courses in five areas of concentration. Several Entomology Department faculty teach courses here.
Photographic Darkroom
The Darkroom is available for use in preparing materials for research, teaching and extension activities. Because it is a shared facility, certain rules are necessary to protect the rights of persons using the darkroom. The set of rules posted in the darkroom are meant to form minimal guidelines for use of the darkroom.
Physiology Laboratories
These laboratories provide the opportunity for research using spectrophotometry, spectrofluorometry, respirometry, chromatography (HPTLC, HPLC, and GLC), centrifugation, radioisotopes, microscopy, and many other techniques. Environmental chambers are also available for use. Facilities also allow for the study of histology, fine structure and neurophysiology. These facilities include equipment for tissue sectioning, photomicroscopy and electrophysiology. Both scanning and transmission electron microscopes are also accessible on campus.
The Cyber Cockroach at Virginia Tech → website
This site has been developed to provide visual information on the anatomy and physiology of one of man's most ancient associates... the cockroach! One of its intended uses is as an instructional aid for students studying the biology of insects... entomology. Cockroaches represent a more or less primitive insect and is quite often used as a representative model for studies on insect anatomy.
The Genetic Stock Center for the German Cockroach → website
The Virginia Tech Department of Entomology established this Genetic Stock Center to organize and maintain the results of years of research on the genetics of the German cockroach, its biology, cytogenetics, behavior and insecticide resistance.

The center houses mutant stocks of the German cockroach and approximately 30 other cockroach species. It also contains equipment necessary to perform routine procedures such as sexing and phenotyping. A phase contrast photomicroscope and materials requisite to chromosome studies are also available.

The stocks are a resource unique to Virginia Tech. They constitute the only formal genetics for a hemimetabolous insect. Also, they are needed to detect, understand, and utilize genetic variation in order to devise optimum control strategies, as well as in research on the genetics of insecticide resistance and other traits important to cockroach pest management.
West Africa Pesticide Programs → website
This website allows pesticide residue chemists and pesticide safety educators who support agricultural activities in the West Africa region to network/communicate and share resources, including training materials.