- Ph.D., Protein Biochemistry, Kansas State University
- M.S., Biology, Kansas State University
- B.S., Biology, Kansas State University
Recently, Dr. Oppert began working on genomic resources for the development of insects as food to meet the global protein sustainability crisis. Working with All Things Bugs LLC, she collaborated on a Department of Defense DARPA SBIR project to develop genetic resources for T. molitor, Gryllodes sigillatus, and Acheta domesticus. The research will improve the protein and vitamin content in insects for animal feed, and solve problems associated with disease in crickets and other species.
Park, Y. J. Aikins, L.J. Wang, R. W. Beeman, B. Oppert, J. C. Lord, S. J. Brown, M. D. Lorenzen, S. Richards, G M. Weinstock, and R A. Gibbs. 2008. Analysis of transcriptome data in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular biology 38: 380-386
Tribolium Genome Sequencing Consortium 2008. The genome of the model beetle and pest Tribolium castaneum. Nature 452:949-955.
Prabhakar, S., M-S. Chen, E.N. Elpidina, K.S. Vinokurov, C. M. Smith, J. L. Marshall, and B. Oppert. Sequence analysis and molecular characterization of larval midgut cDNA transcripts encoding peptidases from the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L. Insect Molecular Biology, 16: 455-468Li, H., L.L. Buschman, K.Y. Zhu, F. Huang, and B. Oppert. 2007. Resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxins in the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis). Biopesticides International 3: 96-107.
Maddur, A.A., X. Liu, Y.C. Zhu, J.P. Fellers, B. Oppert, Y. Park, J. Bai, G.E. Wilde and M.S. Chen. 2006. Cloning and characterization of protease inhibitor-like cDNAs from the Hessian fly Mayetiola destructor (SAY). Insect Molecular Biology 15: 485-496.
Zhu, Y.C., X. Liu, A.A. Maddur, B. Oppert, and M.S. Chen. 2005. Cloning and characterization of chymotrypsin- and trypsin-like cDNAs from the gut of the Hessian fly [Mayetiola destructor (say)]. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 35: 23-32.
Oppert, B., T.D. Morgan, K. Hartzer, and K.J. Kramer. 2005. Compensatory proteolytic responses to dietary proteinase inhibitors in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology C-Toxicology & Pharmacology 140: 53-58
Li, H., B. Oppert, R. A. Higgins, F. Huang, L. L. Buschman, J-R Gao, and K. Y. Zhu. 2005. Characterization of cDNAs encoding three trypsin-like proteinases and mRNA quantitative analysis in Bt-resistant and -susceptible strains of Ostrinia nubilalis. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 35: 847-860.
Li, H. R., B. Oppert, F. Huang, R. A. Higgins, L. L. Buschman, and K. Y. Zhu. 2005. Susceptibility of Dipel-resistant and -susceptible European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) to individual Bacillus thuringiensis protoxins. Journal of Economic Entomology 98(4): 1333-1340.
Li, H. R., J. Gonzalez-Cabrera, B. Oppert, J. Ferre, R. A. Higgins, L. L. Buschman, G. A. Radke, K. Y. Zhu, and F. Huang. 2004. Binding analyses of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac with membrane vesicles from Bacillus thuringiensis-resistant and -susceptible Ostrinia nubilalis. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 323: 52-57.
Li, H. R., B. Oppert, R. A. Higgins, F. Huang, K. Y. Zhu, and L. L. Buschman. 2004. Comparative analysis of proteinase activities of Bacillus thuringiensis-resistant and -susceptible Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera : Crambidae). Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 34 (8): 753-762.
Li, H., Oppert, B., Zhu, K. Y., Higgins, R. A., Huang, F. and Buschman, L. L. 2003. Transgenic plants expressing Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxins. Entomologica Sinica 10: 155-166.
Oppert, B., T.D. Morgan, K. Hartzer, B. Lenarcic, K. Galesa, J. Brzin, V. Turk, K. Yoza, K. Ohtsubo and K.J. Kramer. 2003. Effects of proteinase inhibitors on digestive proteinases and growth of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae). comparative Biochemistry and Physiology C- Tosicology & Pharmacology 134: 481-490
Oppert, B., K. Hartzer and M. Zuercher. 2002. Digestive proteinases in Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 92: 331-336
Oppert, B., K. Hartzer and C.M. Smith. 2000. Digestive proteinases of alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica, (Byllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 103: 99-110.
Huang, F., K. Y. Zhu, L. L. Buschman, R. A. Higgins, and B. Oppert. 1999. Comparison of midgut proteinases in Bacillus thuringiensis-susceptible and -resistant European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology 65: 132-139.