Jill Jenkins, Ph.D.
Jill Jenkins is a Research Microbiologist at the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center.
Jill Jenkins’ efforts emphasize the study of potential impacts of environmental stressors at the cellular and molecular levels. Her major areas of focus include biomarker development, endocrine disruption, genetics, and comparative immunology. Key laboratory biotechnologies she uses are photomicroscopy and flow cytometry. Primary cell types studied are blood and spermatozoa, and assays are tailored to the particular species requirements and hypotheses being addressed.
Jenkins specializes in the development and application of biomarkers; these are measures of variables that respond in quantifiable ways to changes in the environment. The choice of particular biomarkers at specific biological levels of organization (such as genetic, cellular, tissue, hormonal, and organismal levels) depends on the study at hand. Because molecular and biochemical responses of cells are preceded by chemical changes in nuclei, cytoplasm, membranes, and extracellular fluids, these responses can be diagnostic and contribute to an assessment of ecosystem health.
BACKGROUND
1991-1992: Postdoctoral Res.; Reproductive Genetics Labs, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Univ. of TN, with Stephen Wachtel
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Microbiology, Memphis State University, 1991
M.S., Microbiology and Biochemistry, Idaho State University, 1985
B.S., Biology, Rochester Institute of Technology, 1981
Science and Products
Verification of ploidy and reproductive potential in triploid black carp and grass carp
Male germplasm in relation to environmental conditions: Synoptic focus on DNA
Regulatory considerations for global transfer of cryopreserved fish gametes
Infectious disease and quality assurance considerations for the transfer of cryopreserved fish gametes
Effect of cryopreservation and in vitro culture of bovine fibroblasts on histone acetylation levels and in vitro development of hand-made cloned embryos
Derivation of cat embryonic stem-like cells from in vitro-produced blastocysts on homologous and heterologous feeder cells
Effects of wastewater discharges on endocrine and reproductive function of Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia spp.) and implications for the threatened Santa Ana Sucker (Catostomus santaanae)
Production of bovine cloned embryos with donor cells frozen at a slow cooling rate in a conventional freezer (20 C)
Viability and fertilizing capacity of cryopreserved sperm from three North American acipenseriform species: A retrospective study
Davis Pond freshwater prediversion biomonitoring study: freshwater fisheries and eagles
Cloned embryos from semen. Part 2: Intergeneric nuclear transfer of semen-derived eland (Taurotragus oryx) epithelial cells into bovine oocytes
Sperm cryopreservation in fish and shellfish
Non-USGS Publications**
**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
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Filter Total Items: 69
Verification of ploidy and reproductive potential in triploid black carp and grass carp
No abstract availableAuthorsDiana M. Papoulias, James S. Candrl, Jill A. Jenkins, Donald E. TillittMale germplasm in relation to environmental conditions: Synoptic focus on DNA
No abstract available.AuthorsJill A. JenkinsRegulatory considerations for global transfer of cryopreserved fish gametes
No abstract available.AuthorsJill A. JenkinsInfectious disease and quality assurance considerations for the transfer of cryopreserved fish gametes
No abstract available.AuthorsJill A. JenkinsEffect of cryopreservation and in vitro culture of bovine fibroblasts on histone acetylation levels and in vitro development of hand-made cloned embryos
In this study, the relative acetylation levels of histone 3 in lysine 9 (H3K9ac) in cultured and cryopreserved bovine fibroblasts was measured and we determined the influence of the epigenetic status of three cultured (C1, C2 and C3) donor cell lines on the in vitro development of reconstructed bovine embryos. Results showed that cryopreservation did not alter the overall acetylation levels of H3KAuthorsL. Chacon, M.C. Gomez, J.A. Jenkins, S.P. Leibo, G. Wirtu, B.L. Dresser, C.E. PopeDerivation of cat embryonic stem-like cells from in vitro-produced blastocysts on homologous and heterologous feeder cells
The domestic cat is a focal mammalian species that is used as a model for developing assisted reproductive technologies for preserving endangered cats and for studying human diseases. The generation of stable characterized cat embryonic stem cells (ESC) lines to use as donor nuclei may help to improve the efficiency of interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer for preserving endangered cats and aAuthorsM.C. Gomez, M.A. Serrano, C. Earle Pope, Jill A. Jenkins, M.N. Biancardi, M. Lopez, C. Dumas, J. Galiguis, B.L. DresserEffects of wastewater discharges on endocrine and reproductive function of Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia spp.) and implications for the threatened Santa Ana Sucker (Catostomus santaanae)
The Santa Ana River (SAR) in southern California is impacted by effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), which are sources of organic wastewater compounds (OWCs) and urban runoff. The Santa Ana River is one of only three river basins supporting native populations of the federally listed Santa Ana sucker (Catostomus santaanae) at the time the fish was included on the list 2000. In 2004 anAuthorsJill A. Jenkins, Steven L. Goodbred, Heather M. Olivier, Rassa O. Draugelis-Dale, David A. AlvarezProduction of bovine cloned embryos with donor cells frozen at a slow cooling rate in a conventional freezer (20 C)
Usually, fibroblasts are frozen in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO, 10% v/v) at a cooling rate of 1 °C/min in a low-temperature (−80 °C) freezer (LTF) before storage in liquid nitrogen (LN2); however, a LTF is not always available. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate apoptosis and viability of bovine fibroblasts frozen in a LTF or conventional freezer (CF; −20 °C) and their subsequent abiliAuthorsL. Chacon, M.C. Gomez, J.A. Jenkins, S.P. Leibo, G. Wirtu, B.L. Dresser, C.E. PopeViability and fertilizing capacity of cryopreserved sperm from three North American acipenseriform species: A retrospective study
Populations of sturgeon across the globe are threatened due to unregulated harvest and habitat loss, and the status varies among species across North America. Ready access to viable and functional sperm would contribute to recovery programmes for these species. In this study, we examined the motility, viability (cell membrane integrity) of cryopreserved sperm from three North American acipenserifoAuthorsA. Horvath, W.R. Wayman, J.C. Dean, B. Urbanyi, T.R. Tiersch, S.D. Mims, D. Johnson, J.A. JenkinsDavis Pond freshwater prediversion biomonitoring study: freshwater fisheries and eagles
In January 2001, the construction of the Davis Pond freshwater diversion structure was completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The diversion of freshwater from the Mississippi River is intended to mitigate saltwater intrusion from the Gulf of Mexico and to lessen the concomitant loss of wetland areas. In addition to the freshwater inflow, Barataria Bay basin would receive nutrients, increasAuthorsJill A. Jenkins, E. Beth Bourgeois, Clint W. JeskeCloned embryos from semen. Part 2: Intergeneric nuclear transfer of semen-derived eland (Taurotragus oryx) epithelial cells into bovine oocytes
The production of cloned offspring by nuclear transfer (NT) of semen-derived somatic cells holds considerable potential for the incorporation of novel genes into endangered species populations. Because oocytes from endangered species are scarce, domestic species oocytes are often used as cytoplasts for interspecies NT. In the present study, epithelial cells isolated from eland semen were used forAuthorsL. Nel-Themaat, M.C. Gomez, C.E. Pope, M. Lopez, G. Wirtu, J.A. Jenkins, A. Cole, B.L. Dresser, K.R. Bondioli, R.A. GodkeSperm cryopreservation in fish and shellfish
Initial success in sperm cryopreservation came at about the same time for aquatic species and livestock. However, in the 50-plus years since then cryopreserved sperm of livestock has grown into a billion-dollar global industry, while despite work in some 200 species with well over 200 published reports, cryopreservation of aquatic species sperm remains essentially a research activity with little cAuthorsTerrence R. Tiersch, Huiping Yang, Jill A. Jenkins, Qiaoxiang DongNon-USGS Publications**
Jenkins, J.A. and D.D. Ourth. 1990. Membrane damage to Escherichia coli and bactericidal kinetics by the alternative complement pathway of channel catfish. Comparative Biochemisty and Physiology, 97B:477-481. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2286064**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.