Pat Fidopiastis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Email: pfidopia@calpoly.edu
B.S. CSU, Fullerton
M.A. CSU, Fullerton
Ph.D. University of Hawai'i, Manoa
Microbial Diversity Summer Course (MBL, Woods Hole, MA)
Professional Experience:
Post-Doc & Visiting Assistant Professor, Skidmore College
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Courses:
General Biology
Food Microbiology
General Microbiology
Molecular Biology
Virology
Bacterial Pathogenesis
Microbial Physiology
Orientation to Biotechnology
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Research Interests:
Pat Fidopiastis is a microbiologist specializing in symbiotic and pathogenic associations of marine
Vibrio spp. with their animal hosts. In particular, Dr. Fidopiastis studies the mechanisms by which the luminous bacterium
V. fischeri both establishes and maintains a symbiotic association with the Hawaiian sepiolid squid Euprymna scolopes.
This association is emerging as a model for better understanding how Gram negative bacteria in general establish and
maintain symbiotic and pathogenic associations with humans. The Fidopiastis lab also studies the mechanisms by which the
cold-water fish pathogen V. salmonicida establishes a pathogenic relationship with salmon and trout. This lab uses the
latest tools in molecular biology to identify, isolate, and characterize Vibrio genes whose products might be involved in
their symbiotic or pathogenic niches.
The Fidopiastis lab has begun an in-depth analysis of the phylogeny, physiology, and distribution of
resident gut microbes within herbivorous marine fishes indigenous to the California coast.
Advising Interests:
- Pathogenic and mutualistic interactions between bacteria and marine animals
- Luminescence regulation in marine vibrios
Selected Publications:
Nelson, E. J., Tunsjø, H.S., Fidopiastis, P.M., Sørum, H., and, E.G. Ruby. 2007. A novel lux
operon in the cryptically bioluminescent fish pathogen Vibrio salmonicida is associated with virulence. Appl. Environ. Micro.
73: 1825-1833.
Fidopiastis, P.M., Bezdek, D.J., Kandel, J.S., and M.H. Horn. 2006. Characterizing the resident, fermentative microbial
consortium in the hindgut of the temperate-zone herbivorous fish, Hermosilla azurea (Teleostei: Kyphosidae). Mar. Biol.
148: 631-642.
Fidopiastis, P.M., Miyamato, C.M., Jobling, M.G., Meighen, E.A., and E.G. Ruby. 2002. LitR, a new transcriptional activator in
Vibrio fischeri, regulates luminescence and symbiotic light organ colonization. Mol. Microbiol. 45: 131-143.
Fidopiastis, P.M. Ph.D. Dissertation. 2001. Benign infection of sepiolid squids by luminous Vibrio species: model systems
for understanding environmental and genetic factors that regulate bacteria-host interaction. Univ. of Hawaii, Manoa.
Fidopiastis, P.M., H. Sorum, and E.G. Ruby. 1999. Cryptic luminescence in the cold-water fish pathogen Vibrio salmonicida. Arch. Microbiol. 171: 205-209.
Fidopiastis, P.M., S. von Boletzky, and E.G. Ruby. 1998. A new niche for Vibrio logei, the predominant light organ
symbiont of the Mediterranean sepiolid squids Sepiola affinis and S. robusta. J. Bacteriol. 180: 59-64.
Fidopiastis, P.M., and S. von Boletzky. 1998. Identification and physiological characterization of light organ symbionts of
Mediterranean sepiolod squids. Pacific Science vol. 52.
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