Nelson S. Thompson
Professor of Entomology
- BS Biology 1968
- Simon Fraser University, B.C. Canada
- MS Biology/Chemistry 1970
- Simon Fraser University, B.C., Canada
- PhD Biology/Chemistry 1972
- Simon Fraser University, B.C. Canada
Research Areas
Biochemistry and nutrition of parasites. Interactions of parasites with their hosts.
Research Specialization - Parasites and their hosts are the subjects of investigation in this laboratory. Studies are aimed at understanding the metabolic, physiological and nutritional interactions occurring during the parasite-host relationship. Emphasis is on insect parasites (parasitoids). Knowledge of the adaptive significance of alterations occurring during the host associations of these parasites will lead to successful development of in vitro culture techniques that allow the rearing of parasites on artificial media in the absence of the living host. Comparative studies with other parasites including cestodes, nematodes and trematodes that utilize invertebrates as definitive or intermediate hosts are also subjects of current investigations.
Awards Received
2002 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Publications
Abd Allah, A.T., M.Q.A Wanas, and S. N. Thompson. 2003. Disssolved heavy metals, lead, cadmium and mercury, accumulate in the body of the schistosome vector, Biophalaria glabrata (Gastropoda: Pulmonata). Journal of Molluscan Studies 69:35-41.
Thompson, S. N., D. B. Borchardt, L.-W. Wang. 2003. Dietary nutrient levels regulate protein and carbohydrate intake, gluconeogenic/glycolytic flux and blood trehalose level in the insect Manduca sexta L. Journal of Comparative Physiology B 173: 149-163.
Thompson, S. N., R. A. Redak, D. B. Borchardt. 2002. The glucogenic response of a parasitized insect Manduca sexta L. is partially mediated by differential nutrient intake. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1571: 138-150.
Thompson, S. N., R. A. Redak, and L.-W. Wang. 2001. Altered dietary nutrient intake maintains metabolic homeostasis in parasitized larvae of the insect Manduca sexta L. Journal of Experimental Biology. 204: 4065-4080.
Thompson, S. N. and R. A. Redak. 2000. Interactions of dietary protein and carbohydrate determine blood sugar level and regulate nutrient selection in the insect Manduca sextaL. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1523: 91-102.
Thompson, S. N. 2000 Pyruvate cycling and implications for regulation of gluconeogenesis in an insect Manduca sexta L. Accepted by Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 274: 787-793.
Platzer, E. G., W.Wang, S. N. Thompson, and D. B. Borchardt. 1999. Arginine kinase and phosphoarginine, a functional phosphagen, in the rhabditoid nematode Steinernema carpocapsae. Journal of Parasitology 85: 603-607.
Thompson, S. N. 1999. Blood sugar formation from dietary carbohydrate is facilitated by the pentose phosphate pathway in an insect Manduca sexta Linneaus. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1472: 565-575.
Abd Allah, A. T., S. N. Thompson, D. B. Borchardt, and M.Q.A. Wanas. 1999. Biomphalaria glabrata: a laboratory model illustrating the potential of pulmonate gastropods as freshwater biomonitors of heavy metal pollutants. Malacologia 41: 345-353.
Thompson, S. N. and D. L. Dahlman. 1999. Blood sugar formation due to abnormally elevated gluconeogenesis: aberrant regulation in a parasitized insect Manduca sexta Linnaeus. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 1454: 133-142.
Wanas, M.Q.A., S. N. Thompson, and A.T. Abd Allah. 1998. Effects of lead, mercury and cadmium on the extramolluscan larval stages of Schistosoma mansoni (Sambon). Egyptian Journal of Parasitology 28: 583-594.
Thompson, S. N. 1998. Long-term regulation of glucogenesis by dietary carbohydrate and relevance to blood sugar level in an insect Manduca sexta L. The International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology 30: 987-999.
Thompson, S. N. and D. L. Dahlman. 1998. Aberrant nutritional regulation of carbohydrate synthesis by parasitized Manduca sexta L. Journal of Insect Physiology 44: 745-753.
Abd Allah, A. T., D. B. Borchardt, M. Q. Wanas, and S. N. Thompson. 1998. A qualitative NMR investigation on the effects of exposure to lead, cadmium or mercury on the energetic status of the Pulmonate Gastropod, Biomphalaria glabrata (Say). The Veliger. 41:339-343.
Thompson, S.N. 1997. Glucogenesis in an insect, Manduca sexta L, estimated from the 13C isotopomer distribution in trehalose synthesized from [1,3 13C2] glycerol. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1336: 110-116.
Thompson, S.N. 1997. Absence of short term regulation of gluconeogenesis by glucose in the insect Manduca sexta L. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 237: 702-706.
Thompson, S.N. & D.B. Borchardt. 1996. An in vivo 13C NMR study on the effect of dietary sugar on pyruvate cycling during glucogensis from (2-13C) pyruvate in Manduca sexta L.Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 26: 1047-1054.
Thompson, S.N. 1995. Gluconeogenesis and effect of nutritional status on TCA cycle activity in the insect Manduca sexta. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1245: 376-384.
Thompson, S.N., V. Meija-Scales & D.B. Borchardt. 1995. Pentose cycling and the distribution of 13C in trehalose during glucogenesis from 13C-labeled substrates in an insect. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 212:813-819.
Thompson, S.N. & R.W.-K. Lee. 1994. Glucose metabolism in an insect Manduca sextaand effects of parasitism. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1200: 22-330.
Thompson, S.N. & R.W.-K Lee. 1993. Metabolic fate of alanine in an insect Manduca sexta: Effects of starvation and parasitism. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1157:259-269.
Thompson, S.N. , E.G. Platzer & R.W.-K Lee. 1992. Phosphoarginine-adenosine triphosphate exchange detected in vivo in a microscopic nematode parasite by flow 31P FT-NMR spectroscopy. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 28:311-317.
Thompson, S.N., E.G. Platzer & R.W.-K. Lee. 1991. Bioenergetics in a parasitic nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae, monitored in vivo by flow NMR spectroscopy. Zwitschrift fur Parasitenkunde 77:86-90.
Thompson, S.N., E.G. Platzer, and R.W.K. Lee. 1990. In vivo flow 31PFT-NMR spectroscopy of a nematode parasite. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 16:350-356.
Selected Invited Book Chapters and Review Articles
Thompson, S.N. 1990. Nutritional considerations in propagation of entomophagous species. In: New Directions in Biological Control: Alternatives for Suppressing Agricultural Pests and Diseases (R.R. Baker and P.E. Dunn, eds.), pp. 389-404.
Thompson, S.N. 1990. NMR spectroscopy: Its basis, biological application and use in studies of insect metabolism. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 20: 223-237.
Thompson, S.N. 1990. Physiological alternations during parasitism and their effects on host behavior. In: Parasitism and Host Behavior (C.J. Barnard and J. M. Behnke, eds) pp 64-94. Taylor and Francis, London.
Thompson, S.N. 1991. Applications of nuclear magnetic resonance in parasitology. Journal of Parasitology 77:1-20.
Thompson, S.N. 1993 Redirection of host metabolism and effects on parasite nutrition. In: Parasites ans Pathogens of Insects (N.E. Beckage, S.N. Thompson and B.A. Federici, eds), Vol 1. Academic Press, New York. pp.125-144.
Thompson, S.N. and M. Kavaliers. 1994. Physiological bases for parsite-induced alterations of host behavior. Parasitlogy 109:S119-S138.
Thompson, S.N. 1997. Physioloigy and biochemistry of snail-larval trematode relationships in Advances in Trematode Biology. pp. 149-195. B. Fried and T.K. Graczyk eds., CRC Press, Boca Raton.
Thompson, S.N. and K. S. Hagen. 1999. Nutrition of entomophagous insects and other arthopods. In: Handbook of Biological Control (T.S. Bellows and T. W. Fisher, eds). Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 594-652.
Thompson, S.N. 1999. Nutrition and culture of entomophagous insects. In Annual Review Entomology 44:561-92.
Thompson, S.N. 2003. Trehalose - The Insect "Blood" Sugar. In: Advances in Insect Physiology 31:205-284.
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