Donald Tillitt, PhD
Dr. Don Tillitt is a Research Toxicologist at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
Don has been at the Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC) since 1989, then part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He leads research on the effects of chemicals on fish and wildlife, with an emphasis on reproduction and development in fish. His research interests focus on developmental effects of persistent chemicals in fish. Multiple levels of biological organization are generally evaluated in his research efforts, with endpoints consisting of molecular, biochemical, histology, and behavioral-level effects. Recent research projects in his laboratory include: 1) effects of PCBs and dioxins on development in sturgeon species; 2) causes and effects of thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiencies on Great Lakes salmonines; 3) effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on sexual differentiation and gonad development in fish; and 4) transgenerational epigenetic effects on endocrine disrupting chemicals across vertebrate taxa. Don has served in a variety of capacities for the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, currently serves as an Editor for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Don has adjunct professor appointments in the Biological Sciences and the School of Natural Resources at the University of Missouri. He serves on graduate student advisory committees, offers guest lectures, and has taught Environmental Toxicology since 1992.
Professional Experience
2013-present Senior Scientist, USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO
1989-2012 Research Chemist, USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO
1983-1989 Graduate Assistant, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Environmental Toxicology, Michigan State University, 1989
M.S. Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 1986
B.S. Ag. Biochemistry, Michigan State University, 1981
B.S. Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 1981
Affiliations and Memberships*
2010-present Adjunct Professor, Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
1991-present Adjunct Professor, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
1991-2010 Adjunct Professor, Biochemistry Department, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
1983-present Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
American Fisheries Society (lifetime member)
International Association of Great Lakes Research (lifetime member)
Science and Products
Productivity, embryo and eggshell characteristics, and contaminants in bald eagles from the Great Lakes, USA, 1986 to 2000
Variation in Lake Michigan alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) thiaminase and fatty acids composition
Atrazine reduces reproduction in fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)
Influence of thiamine deficiency on Lake Trout larval growth, foraging, and predator avoidance
Environmental contaminants in freshwater fish and their risk to piscivorous wildlife based on a national monitoring program
Widespread occurrence of intersex in black basses (Micropterus spp.) from U.S. rivers, 1995-2004
The genomic transcriptional response of female fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to an acute exposure to the androgen, 17β-trenbolone
Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for a bacterial thiaminase I gene and the thiaminase-producing bacterium Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus.
Behavioral response and kinetics of terrestrial atrazine exposure in American toads (bufo americanus)
Dreissenid mussels from the Great Lakes contain elevated thiaminase activity
Egg fatty acid composition from lake trout fed two Lake Michigan prey fish species.
Variations of thiaminase I activity pH dependencies among typical Great Lakes forage fish and Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus.
Science and Products
- Science
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Filter Total Items: 193
Productivity, embryo and eggshell characteristics, and contaminants in bald eagles from the Great Lakes, USA, 1986 to 2000
Chlorinated hydrocarbon concentrations in eggs of fish-eating birds from contaminated environments such as the Great Lakes of North America tend to be highly intercorrelated, making it difficult to elucidate mechanisms causing reproductive impairment, and to ascribe cause to specific chemicals. An information- theoretic approach was used on data from 197 salvaged bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalAuthorsDavid A. Best, Kyle Elliott, William Bowerman, Mark C. Shieldcastle, Sergej Postupalsky, Timothy J. Kubiak, Donald E. Tillitt, John E. ElliottVariation in Lake Michigan alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) thiaminase and fatty acids composition
Thiaminase activity of alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) is variable across Lake Michigan, yet factors that contribute to the variability in alewife thiaminase activity are unknown. The fatty acid content of Lake Michigan alewife has not been previously reported. Analysis of 53 Lake Michigan alewives found a positive correlation between thiaminase activity and the following fatty acid: C22:ln9, sum oAuthorsDale C. Honeyfield, Donald E. Tillitt, John D. Fitzsimons, Scott B. BrownAtrazine reduces reproduction in fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)
Atrazine, the widely used herbicide, has shown to affect the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonad axis in certain vertebrate species, but few studies have examined reproductive effects of this chemical on fish. Our study was designed to evaluate a population endpoint (egg production) in conjunction with histological (e.g., gonad development) and biochemical (e.g., hormone production) phenotypes associatedAuthorsDonald E. Tillitt, Diana M. Papoulias, Jeffrey J. Whyte, Catherine A. RichterInfluence of thiamine deficiency on Lake Trout larval growth, foraging, and predator avoidance
Diet‐related thiamine deficiency increases the acute mortality, known as early mortality syndrome, of salmonines from some of the Great Lakes. The consequences of thiamine deficiency as measured at the egg stage for other important early life stage processes like growth, foraging efficiency, and predator avoidance that may also result in mortality, are unknown. Accordingly, we investigated the impAuthorsJ.D. Fitzsimons, Scott B. Brown, B. Williston, G. Williston, Lisa R. Brown, K. Moore, Dale C. Honeyfield, Donald E. TillittEnvironmental contaminants in freshwater fish and their risk to piscivorous wildlife based on a national monitoring program
Organochlorine chemical residues and elemental concentrations were measured in piscivorous and benthivorous fish at 111 sites from large U.S. river basins. Potential contaminant sources such as urban and agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, mine drainage, and irrigation varied among the sampling sites. Our objectives were to provide summary statistics for chemical contaminants and to determAuthorsJ.E. Hinck, C. J. Schmitt, K.A. Chojnacki, D. E. TillittWidespread occurrence of intersex in black basses (Micropterus spp.) from U.S. rivers, 1995-2004
Intersex occurrence in freshwater fishes was evaluated for nine river basins in the United States. Testicular oocytes (predominantly male testes containing female germ cells) were the most pervasive form of intersex observed, even though similar numbers of male (n = 1477) and female (n = 1633) fish were examined. Intersex was found in 3% of the fish collected. The intersex condition was observed iAuthorsJ.E. Hinck, V. S. Blazer, C. J. Schmitt, D. M. Papoulias, D. E. TillittThe genomic transcriptional response of female fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to an acute exposure to the androgen, 17β-trenbolone
We investigated the genomic transcriptional response of female fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to an acute (4 days) exposure to 0.1 or 1.0 ??g/L of 17??-trenbolone (TB), the active metabolite of an anabolic androgenic steroid used as a growth promoter in cattle and a contaminant of concern in aquatic systems. Our objectives were to investigate the gene expression profile induced by TB, definAuthorsJennifer Dorts, Catherine A. Richter, Maureen K. Wright-Osment, Mark R. Ellersieck, Barbara J. Carter, Donald E. TillittQuantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for a bacterial thiaminase I gene and the thiaminase-producing bacterium Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus.
The thiaminase I enzyme produced by the gram-positive bacterium Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus isolated from the viscera of Lake Michigan alewives Alosa pseudoharengus is currently the only defined source of the thiaminase activity linked to thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency in early mortality syndrome (EMS) in the larvae of Great Lakes salmonines. Diets of alewife or isolated strains of P. thiaminoAuthorsC.A. Richter, Maureen K. Wright-Osment, J.L. Zajicek, D. C. Honeyfield, D. E. TillittBehavioral response and kinetics of terrestrial atrazine exposure in American toads (bufo americanus)
Amphibians in terrestrial environments obtain water through a highly vascularized pelvic patch of skin. Chemicals can also be exchanged across this patch. Atrazine (ATZ), a widespread herbicide, continues to be a concern among amphibian ecologists based on potential exposure and toxicity. Few studies have examined its impact on the terrestrial juvenile or adult stages of toads. In the current studAuthorsMendez S.I. Storrs, D. E. Tillitt, T.A.G. Rittenhouse, R. D. SemlitschDreissenid mussels from the Great Lakes contain elevated thiaminase activity
We examined thiaminase activity in dreissenid mussels collected at different depths and seasons, and from various locations in Lakes Michigan, Ontario, and Huron. Here we present evidence that two dreissenid mussel species (Dreissena bugensis and D. polymorpha) contain thiaminase activity that is 5-100 fold greater than observed in Great Lakes fishes. Thiaminase activity in zebra mussels ranged frAuthorsD. E. Tillitt, S.C. Riley, A.N. Evans, S. J. Nichols, J.L. Zajicek, J. Rinchard, C.A. Richter, C.C. KruegerEgg fatty acid composition from lake trout fed two Lake Michigan prey fish species.
We previously demonstrated that there were significant differences in the egg thiamine content in lake trout Salvelinus namaycush fed two Lake Michigan prey fish (alewife Alosa pseudoharengus and bloater Coregonus hoyi). Lake trout fed alewives produced eggs low in thiamine, but it was unknown whether the consumption of alewives affected other nutritionally important components. In this study we iAuthorsD. C. Honeyfield, J.D. Fitzsimons, D. E. Tillitt, S.B. BrownVariations of thiaminase I activity pH dependencies among typical Great Lakes forage fish and Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus.
The source of thiaminase in the Great Lakes food web remains unknown. Biochemical characterization of the thiaminase I activities observed in forage fish was undertaken to provide insights into potential thiaminase sources and to optimize catalytic assay conditions. We measured the thiaminase I activities of crude extracts from five forage fish species and one strain of Paenibacillus thiaminolyticAuthorsJ.L. Zajicek, L. Brown, S.B. Brown, D. C. Honeyfield, J.D. Fitzsimons, D. E. Tillitt - News
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