Title : Advanced Microbiologist, Flow Cytometry; Drinking Water Quality Program Coordinator

Phone number : (608) 224-6260

E-mail : beckyh@mail.slh.wisc.edu

Education

• BS, Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin - Madison
• MS, Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Research Interests

Flow cytometry, environmental pathogen detection and viability determination, development and improvement of pathogen detection methods, pathogen inactivation studies, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, microsporidia, enteropathogenic E. coli, and mycobacteria.

Publications and Presentations

Hoffman, RM, Marshall , MM, Polchert, DM and B. Helen Jost. 2003. Identification and Characterization of Two Subpopulations of Encephalitozoon intestinalis Applied and Environmental Microbiology 69(8)4966-4970.

M. J. Collins, R.M. Hoffman, B. Argue, and J. H. Standridge. 2003. Development of a Rapid Detection Method for Waterborne Escherichia coli O157:H7. 103^rd General meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Washington , DC .

Hoffman, R. Marshall, M., Polchert, D., Spencer, S. Moffet, J. and M. Borchardt. 2002. Concentration and Detection of Microsporidia Using a Newly-modified Continuous Flow Centrifuge and Flow Cytometry. Proceedings of the 2002 Water Quality Technology Conference, Seattle WA .

Marshall , M., Hoffman, R., Moffett, J. Jost, BH, Ware, M., Sturbaum, G. and D. Battigelli. 2002. Identification and Characterization of Infectious and Non Infectious Sub Populations of Encephalitozoon intestinalis Spores Purified from in vitro Cell Culture. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Waterborne Pathogens. Cascais/Lisbon, Portugal 2002.

Marshall , M., Moffett, J., Hoffman, R., Sturbaum, G., Sterling , C. and B.H. Jost. 2002 Encephalitozoon spp. Detection and Viability Determined by RT-PCR Cell Culture Assays Using Primer Pairs from 3 Distinct Genes. Proceedings of the 2002 Water Quality Technology Conference, Seattle WA .

Hoffman, R.M. Chauret, C., Standridge, J.H., and L. Peterson. (1999) Evaluation of four commercial antibodies. Jour. Amer. Water Works Assoc., 91(9):69-78.

Hoffman R.M., Standridge, J.H., Prieve, A.F., Cucunato, J.C., and M. Bernhardt. (1997) Using flow cytometry to detect protozoa. Jour. Amer. Water Works Assoc. 89(9):104-111.

Van Boxtel R.M., Lambrecht, R.S., and M.T. Collins. (1990) Effects of colonial morphology and Tween 80 on antimicrobial susceptibility on Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 34(12):12-17.

Van Boxtel R.M., Lambrecht, R.S., and M.T. Collins. (1990) The effects of polyoxyethylene sorbate compounds on growth rate, colony morphology, and cell surface structure of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. APMIS. 98(10):10-15.

SUMMARY

My research focuses on the development and improvement of pathogen detection methods using flow cytometry, cell culture, and molecular biology. Most recently, research conducted in the laboratory led to development of a rapid and sensitive detection method for E. coli O157:H7 in water samples. In addition, the laboratory is under contract by the EPA to prepare standards and slides in support of the EPA Protozoon PE Program.