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Jessica K Leet, PhD

Dr. Jessica Leet is a Research Toxicologist at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.

Her current research is on effects of environmental contaminants on fish, with an emphasis on endocrine disruption during fish development and reproduction. Typically her research involves evaluation of multiple levels of biological organization, including analysis of gene and protein expression, plasma hormones, histology, growth, and reproduction.

Professional Experience

  • 2015-present Research Toxicologist, US Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia MO

  • 2014-2015 Adjunct Faculty, University of South Carolina Aiken, Aiken SC

  • 2013-2015 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of South Carolina, Columbia SC

  • 2013 Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. Ecotoxicology, Purdue University 2012

  • M.S. Toxicology and Risk Assessment, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 2008

  • B.S. Environmental Studies, University of Central Florida 2006

Science and Products

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Figure 1. Largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides.

Prior Exposure to Estrogen Enabled Bass to Better Survive A Bacterial Infection, but With an Energetic Price Tag

Summary of the published study: Exposure to 17α-ethinylestradiol results in differential susceptibility of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) to bacterial infection (Leet et al. in review)
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Columbia Environmental Research Center
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Prior Exposure to Estrogen Enabled Bass to Better Survive A Bacterial Infection, but With an Energetic Price Tag

Summary of the published study: Exposure to 17α-ethinylestradiol results in differential susceptibility of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) to bacterial infection (Leet et al. in review)
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CERC flow-through diluter fish system

Effects of Early Life Stage Exposure of Largemouth Bass to Atrazine or a Model Estrogen (17α-Ethinylestradiol)

Early development is a sensitive window for estrogenic endocrine disruption in largemouth bass. Atrazine treatments caused changes to gene expression patterns that were both similar to estrogen and distinct from estrogen.
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Columbia Environmental Research Center
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Effects of Early Life Stage Exposure of Largemouth Bass to Atrazine or a Model Estrogen (17α-Ethinylestradiol)

Early development is a sensitive window for estrogenic endocrine disruption in largemouth bass. Atrazine treatments caused changes to gene expression patterns that were both similar to estrogen and distinct from estrogen.
Learn More
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Lead shot as it appears when removed from a shotgun shell and as it appears once ingested, ground and eroded

Contaminant-related Activities in Support of Client Agencies in the Department of the Interior

We undertake many research activities in support of the mission of the Department of the Interior. One such activity is to evaluate the potential hazard and risk of environmental contaminants to natural resources.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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Contaminant-related Activities in Support of Client Agencies in the Department of the Interior

We undertake many research activities in support of the mission of the Department of the Interior. One such activity is to evaluate the potential hazard and risk of environmental contaminants to natural resources.
Learn More
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Molecular Devices ImageXpress† High-Content Imaging System

High-Content Screening Alternative Toxicity Testing— Columbia, Missouri

About the ResearchThe Environmental Health Program works with toxicologists at the High-Content Screening Laboratory develop alternative toxicity testing to efficiently provide specific toxicity data to managers and regulators and prioritize compounds for further testing. Our high-content imaging capability provides a highly adaptable platform for early life stage fish toxicity testing at stages...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center
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High-Content Screening Alternative Toxicity Testing— Columbia, Missouri

About the ResearchThe Environmental Health Program works with toxicologists at the High-Content Screening Laboratory develop alternative toxicity testing to efficiently provide specific toxicity data to managers and regulators and prioritize compounds for further testing. Our high-content imaging capability provides a highly adaptable platform for early life stage fish toxicity testing at stages...
Learn More
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Figure 1. Largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides.

Computer-Assisted Sperm Motion Analysis in Measuring Reproductive Effects in Bass

The objective of this research is to assess the sensitivity of female and male LMB reproductive capabilities at the time of year when they are physiologically preparing for spawning season (also known as gonad recrudescence).
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
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Computer-Assisted Sperm Motion Analysis in Measuring Reproductive Effects in Bass

The objective of this research is to assess the sensitivity of female and male LMB reproductive capabilities at the time of year when they are physiologically preparing for spawning season (also known as gonad recrudescence).
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Alternative complement pathway assay data for adult largemouth bass exposed in outdoor ponds to 17alpha-ethinylestradiol or an estrone-atrazine mixture

Alternative complement pathway assay data observed in adult largemouth bass plasma in response to an EE2 (17alpha-ethinylestradiol) or mixture of estrone and atrazine exposure under laboratory pond conditions, with associated fish identification information.
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Columbia Environmental Research Center

Water chemistry and fish metrics data for adult largemouth bass exposed in outdoor ponds to 17alpha-ethinylestradiol or an estrone-atrazine mixture

Physiological endpoints observed in adult largemouth bass in response to an EE2 (17 alpha-ethinylestradiol) or mixture of estrone and atrazine exposure under laboratory pond conditions. Also included are water quality and chemical concentration data. Adult LMB were exposed in outdoor pond mesocosms from post-spawning to early gonad recrudescence to either EE2 (2.4 nanograms per liter), or a mixtur
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Columbia Environmental Research Center

Physiological and molecular endpoints observed in juvenile largemouth bass in response to an estrogen (17α-ethinylestradiol) and subsequently a bacterial challenge (Edwardsiella piscicida) exposure under laboratory conditions.

Physiological and molecular endpoints observed in juvenile largemouth bass in response to an estrogen (17α-ethinylestradiol) and subsequently a bacterial challenge (Edwardsiella piscicida) exposure under laboratory conditions. Also included are water quality and chemical concentration data.
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Columbia Environmental Research Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP)

Effects of early life stage exposure of largemouth bass to atrazine or a model estrogen (17a-ethinylestradiol)

Largemouth base histological development and transcriptomic changes in gonad tissue after early life stage exposure to Atrazine (1-Chloro-3-ethylamino-5-isopropylamino-2,4,6-triazine) or the model estrogen 17a-ethinylestradiol.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Columbia Environmental Research Center
Using the 384-well plate format, a single zebrafish embryo is tested in each well
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Using the 384-well plate format, a single zebrafish embryo is tested
Molecular Devices ImageXpress† High-Content Imaging System
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Molecular Devices ImageXpress† High-Content Imaging System
Molecular Devices ImageXpress† High-Content Imaging System
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Molecular Devices ImageXpress† High-Content Imaging System
This is an example of a 72 hour post fertilization fli1:egfp zebrafish (3 millimeters long) imaged under transmitted light
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This is an example of a 72 hour post fertilization
Molecular Devices ImageXpress† High-Content Imaging System
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Molecular Devices ImageXpress† High-Content Imaging System
The zebrafish developmental cardiovascular toxicity high-content screening assay uses a 384-well plate format
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TZebrafish developmental cardiovascular toxicity high-content screen

Declines in reproductive condition of male largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) following seasonal exposure to estrogenic endocrine-disrupting compounds

Reproductive abnormalities, that could lead to possible effects at the population level, have been observed in wild fish throughout the United States, with high prevalence in largemouth bass (LMB; Micropterus salmoides) and smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu). Estrone (E1) and atrazine (ATR) are common environmental contaminants often associated with agricultural land use. 17alpha-ethinylestrad
Authors
Jessica Kristin Leet, Catherine A. Richter, Robert Gale, Donald E. Tillitt, Jill Jenkins
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Exposure to 17α-ethinylestradiol results in differential susceptibility of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) to bacterial infection

Disease outbreaks, skin lesions, mortality events, and reproductive abnormalities have been observed in wild populations of centrarchids. The presence of estrogenic endocrine disrupting compounds (EEDCs) has been implicated as a potential causal factor for these effects. The effects of prior EEDC exposure on immune response were examined in juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) exposed
Authors
Jessica Kristin Leet, Justin Greer, Catherine A. Richter, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Edward Spinard, Jacquelyn McDonald, Carla M. Conway, Robert W. Gale, Donald E. Tillitt, John Hansen
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP)

Effects of early life stage exposure of largemouth bass to atrazine or a model estrogen (17α-ethinylestradiol)

Endocrine disrupting contaminants are of continuing concern for potentially contributing to reproductive dysfunction in largemouth and smallmouth bass in the Chesapeake Bay watershed (CBW) and elsewhere. Exposures to atrazine (ATR) have been hypothesized to have estrogenic effects on vertebrate endocrine systems. The incidence of intersex in male smallmouth bass from some regions of CBW has been c
Authors
Jessica Kristin Leet, Catherine A. Richter, Robert S. Cornman, Jason P. Berninger, Ramji K. Bhandari, Diane K. Nicks, James L. Zajicek, Vicki S. Blazer, Donald E. Tillitt
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Factors affecting sampling strategies for design of an effects‐directed analysis for endocrine‐active chemicals

Effects‐directed analysis (EDA) is an important tool for identifying unknown bioactive components in a complex mixture. Such an analysis of endocrine‐active chemicals (EACs) from water sources has promising regulatory implications but also unique logistical challenges. We propose a conceptual EDA (framework) based on a critical review of EDA literature and concentrations of common EACs in waste an
Authors
Jennifer Brennan, Robert W. Gale, David Alvarez, Jason P. Berninger, Jessica Kristin Leet, Yan Li, Tyler Wagner, Donald E. Tillitt
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Leet, J.K., Gall, H.E., and Sepúlveda, M.S., 2011, A review of studies on androgen and estrogen exposure in fish early life stages: effects on gene and hormonal control of sexual differentiation: Journal of Applied Toxicology, v. 31, no. 5, p. 379-398
Leet, J.K., Lee, L.S., Gall, H.E., Goforth, R.R., Sassman, S., Gordon, D.A., Lazorchak, J.M., Smith, M.E., Jafvert, C.T., and Sepúlveda, M.S., 2012, Assessing impacts of land-applied manure from concentrated animal feeding operations on fish populations and communities: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 46, no. 24, p. 13440-13447
Leet, J.K., Lindberg, C.D., Bassett, L.A., Isales, G.M., Yozzo, K.L., Raftery, T.D., and Volz, D.C., 2014, High-content screening in zebrafish embryos identifies butafenacil as a potent inducer of anemia: PLOS ONE, v. 9, no. 8, p. e104190
Zenobio, J.E., Sanchez, B.C., Leet, J.K., Archuleta, L.C., and Sepúlveda, M.S., 2015, Presence and effects of pharmaceutical and personal care products on the Baca National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado: Chemosphere, v. 120, p. 750-755
Leet, J.K., Sassman, S., Amberg, J.J., Olmstead, A.W., Lee, L.S., Ankley, G.T., and Sepúlveda, M.S., 2015, Environmental hormones and their impacts on sex differentiation in fathead minnows: Aquatic Toxicology, v. 158, p. 98-107
Leet, J.K., Lesteberg, K.E., Schoenfuss, H.L., Olmstead, A.W., Amberg, J.J., Ankley, G.T., and Sepúlveda, M.S., 2013, Sex-specific gonadal and gene expression changes throughout development in fathead minnow: Sexual Development, v. 7, no. 6, p. 303-307
Volz, D.C., Leet, J.K., Chen, A., Stapleton, H.M., Katiyar, N., Kaundal, R., Yu, Y., and Wang, Y., 2016, Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate Induces Genome-Wide Hypomethylation within Early Zebrafish Embryos: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 50, no. 18, p. 10255-10263
Leet, J.K., and Volz, D.C., 2013, Improving waste management strategies for small livestock farms: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 47, no. 21, p. 11940-11941
Meyer, J.L., Rogers-Burch, S., Leet, J.K., Villeneuve, D.L., Ankley, G.T., and Sepúlveda, M.S., 2013, Reproductive physiology in Eastern snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) exposed to runoff from a concentrated animal feeding operation: Journal of Wildlife Diseases, v. 49, no. 4, p. 996-999
Leet, J.K., Hipszer, R.A., and Volz, D.C., 2015, Butafenacil: A positive control for identifying anemia- and variegate porphyria-inducing chemicals: Toxicology Reports, v. 2, p. 976-983
Volz, D.C., Hipszer, R.A., Leet, J.K., and Raftery, T.D., 2015, Leveraging embryonic zebrafish to prioritize ToxCast testing: Environmental Science & Technology Letters, v. 2, no. 7, p. 171-176
Leet, J.K., 2012, Impacts of hormone loads associated with concentrated animal feeding operations on fish communities and fish sex differentiation, Purdue University.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Science and Products