Teaching Duties

My primary teaching responsibilities include Microbiology, Immunology, and Principles of Biology.  I have also taught Advanced Topics in Microbiology, Human Biology, and Biology Internships. 

For all of these courses, my goal is to engage students in the world of science and allow them to experience it.  I strive to present major concepts in an organized, enthusiastic, and interactive style that invites individual and group participation from students of all backgrounds.  Lectures and laboratories are designed to not only introduce major concepts, but allow students to connect and apply what they are learning to the real world.  I promote investigative laboratories and reading of primary scientific literature to help students appreciate the dynamic nature of science and allow them to participate in it.  Ultimately, the goal is for students to develop the knowledge, self-confidence, interest, and motivation to learn about the biological world on their own!

Personal Information

I have been thoroughly enjoying my teaching and research career since I arrived at Luther College in the fall of 2000.  My family, the other major consumption and enjoyment in my life, includes my husband John, my daughter Josephine (10), and my sons Jackson (8), and Justin (4).  Together we operate a small farm outside of Decorah where we are caretakers of adopted cats and a dog, Jerry (age unknown), an ever-expanding chicken population, naturally-raised pigs which we direct market, and a small but personable population of dairy heifers.  We also spend a fair amount of time growing, harvesting, and freezing vegetables from our garden, baling hay, and trying to split enough wood to keep us warm during the winter.  When we are not working, farming, or settling squabbles between children, we can be found hiking, canoeing, swimming, cross-country skiing, trying to hit the jump ramp on Decorah’s best sledding hills, roller skating, actively and vocally supporting Luther athletics (our main winter social activity), and settling squabbles between children.  Highlighting our evenings are card games, puzzles, playing farm equipment, building gunships with legos, and the after-dinner read-out-loud jam session.  We love hearing from former Luther students and babysitters!

Education

B.S. in Microbiology (Chemistry minor), 1992
University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, Urbana/Champaign, IL

Ph.D. in Bacteriology, 1998
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI

Academic Employment History

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Bacteriology, 1998-1999
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Microbiology, 1999-2000
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

Associate Professor, 2006-present, Assistant Professor, 2000-2006
Luther College, Decorah, IA

Research Activities

I am a microbiologist with particular interests and training in bacterial genetics and physiology.  At Luther, research is performed not only to advance our understanding of the natural world but also to provide research training opportunities for undergraduate students.  Performing research and directing independent student research projects is a significant and rewarding part of my work at Luther.  My goal is to help students experience all aspects of the scientific process, including developing the skills to design, perform, and analyze experiments independently, writing grant proposals to obtain funding for their work, and presenting their work at regional and national meetings and in publication form.  I am an advocate of designing projects that allow individual ownership.  In any given semester or summer, I typically supervise 1-4 research students in my laboratory.  For a chronological list of former research projects and students, see Undergraduate Student Research Projects. Almost all of the students who have performed research with me have continued their education in either graduate school (e.g., programs in microbiology, public health, cell/molecular biology, philosophy/bioethics, and microbial engineering) or professional school (e.g., medical and dental school).

Current Research Interests

Investigating surface colonization by bacteria: I am interested in how bacteria colonize surfaces and use the marine bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus as a model system. V. parahaemolyticus actively colonizes and spreads over solid surfaces and forms tremendous biofilms. I am interested in the mechanisms this organism uses to attach to surfaces and develop into complex, surface-attached communities. In particular I am interested in the gene products that are involved in these processes and their regulation. Current work involves the use of genetic, molecular, and microscopy techniques.

Investigating the effect of calcium levels on bacterial physiology: Very little information is known about the role of calcium in bacteria. Observations of the bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus suggest that calcium levels affect various aspects of bacterial physiology. I am interested in determining the bacterial processes that are affected by altered calcium levels and how bacteria sense and respond to changes in calcium concentration. Genetic and molecular approaches are being used to address these questions.

Selected Research Presentations and Publications (underline indicates undergraduate co-author):

Marquardt, M., and J. L. Enos-Berlage.  2008.  The effects of calcium on Vibrio parahaemolyticus secreted proteins.  22nd National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Md.

Blackmore, J., and J. L. Enos-Berlage.  2008.  Identification of Genes Involved in the Regulation of a Type III Secretion System in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.  Luther College Senior Honors Convocation, Luther College, Decorah, IA

Lambrecht, J. A. and J. L. Enos-Berlage.  2007.  Identification of Genes Involved in Calcium Regulation in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.  Abstracts of the American Society for Microbiology General Meeting.  Toronto, Canada

Marquardt, M. and J. L. Enos-Berlage.  2007.  Colonial Cell Organization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Under Varying Calcium Conditions in Wild Type and Mutant Strains.  Kenneth B. Raper Symposium on Microbial Research.  Madison, WI.
Pontasch, H. and J. L. Enos-Berlage.  2006.  Examination of the Effect of Calcium on Biofilm Development and Protein Expression in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.  Abstracts of the National Council on Undergraduate Research General Meeting.

Enos-Berlage, J. L., Z. T. Guvener, C. E. Keenan, and L. L. McCarter. 2005. Genetic determinants of biofilm development of opaque and translucent Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Mol Microbiol.  55:1160-1182.

A.P. Roos, J. R. Allen and J. L. Enos-Berlage.  2004.  Identification of Calcium-Regulated Genes in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.  American Society for Microbiology Regional Meeting-North Central Branch, Madison, WI.

Kelley, N. and J. L. Enos-Berlage.  2004. Investigating Vibrio parahaemolyticus Capsular Polysaccharide Levels in Response to Calcium.  PEW Midstates Science and Mathematics Consortia Undergraduate Symposium, Chicago, IL.

Allen, J. R. and J. L. Enos-Berlage.  2004.  Isolation and Characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Mutants Defective in Calcium-Regulated Genes.  American Society for Microbiology General Meeting, New Orleans, LA

Larson, J. M. and J. L. Enos-Berlage.  2004. Using Transmission Electron Microscopy to Investigate the Effect of Calcium on Vibrio parahaemolyticus.  Howard Hughes Medical Institute Symposium for Undergraduate Research in Biology and Chemistry, Grinnel College, Grinnel, IA

Keenan, C. E., Christopherson, M. R., and J. L. Enos-Berlage.  2003.  Initial characterization of a calcium-regulated gene in V. parahaemolyticus and isolation of mutants displaying altered regulation at this locus.  American Society for Microbiology General Meeting, Washington, DC

Christopherson, M. R., Keenan, C. E., and J. L. Enos-Berlage.  2003.  Investigation of Calcium-dependent regulation of gene expression in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.  American Society for Microbiology General Meeting, Washington, DC

Enos-Berlage, J. L.  2003.  Using primary literature to enhance learning in undergraduate microbiology courses.  American Society for Microbiology General Meeting, Washington, DC

Keenan, C. Christopherson, M., and J. L. Enos-Berlage.  2002.  Examination of opaque and translucent biofilms of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.  American Society for Microbiology Regional Meeting—North Central Branch.  Minneapolis, MN.

Jaeger, M. and J. L. Enos-Berlage.  2002.  Investigation of the morphology of opaque and translucent phenotypes of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.  PEW Undergraduate Science Research Symposium.  Chicago, IL.

Howe, B. and J.L. Enos-Berlage. 2002. Investigating the effects of calcium on colony morphology in the marine bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus using electron microscopy. R.J. McElroy Student/Faculty Research Symposium. Wartburg College, Waverly, IA.

Keenan, C., Christopherson, M., and J.L. Enos-Berlage. 2002. Isolation and characterization of mutants having altered calcium regulation in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Howard Hughes Medical Institute Symposium. Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA.

Sime, J. and J.L. Enos-Berlage. 2001. Investigating the role of calcium in bacterial physiology using Salmonella typhimurium as a model system. Undergraduate Research Symposium. St. Mary's University, Winona, MN.

Enos-Berlage, J. L. and L. L. McCarter. 2000. Relation of capsular polysaccharide synthesis and colonial cell organization to colony morphology in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. J. Bacteriol. 182:5513-5520.

Research Fellowships and Grants

To support my research laboratory, I have actively sought external research funding from a variety of agencies.  Major research and equipment funding awards have been obtained from  the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).  Smaller awards, often co-authored by undergraduate students, have been obtained from the American Society for Microbiology and the Iowa College Foundation/McElroy Student Research Awards.  For a more detailed listing of awards, see Fellowships and Grants.

Faculty/Student Collaborative Research Projects

Spring 2009

Julie Hanson: Characterization of cosmids that alter calcium regulation in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Fall 2008

Julie Hanson: Isolation of cosmids that alter calcium regulation in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Spring 2008

Julia Blackmore:  Characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants displaying altered calcium regulation
Ashley Holland:  Characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants displaying altered calcium regulation
Jennifer Lambrecht:  Isolation of cosmids that alter calcium regulation in Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Michael Marquardt:  Examination of secreted proteins in Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Megan Petersen:  Characterization of cosmids that alter calcium regulation in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Fall 2007

Julia Blackmore:  Characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants displaying altered calcium regulation
Ashley Holland:  Characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants displaying altered calcium regulation
Jennifer Lambrecht:  Isolation of cosmids that alter calcium regulation in Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Michael Marquardt:  Examination of secreted proteins in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Summer 2007

Michael Marquardt:  Conjugation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus strain RS720 using a cosmid pool, and examination of secreted proteins in V. parahaemolyticus

Spring 2007

Julia Blackmore:  Isolation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants displaying altered calcium regulation
Ashley Holland:  Isolation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants displaying altered calcium regulation
Jennifer Lambrecht:  Isolation of tetracycline-sensitive derivatives of Vibrio parahaemolyticus strain RS720 and corresponding complementation studies
Michael Marquardt:  Analysis of Vibrio parahaemolyticus colonial cell organization using confocal microscopy

Fall 2006

Julia Blackmore:  Isolation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants defective in calcium regulated genes
Ashley Holland:  Isolation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants defective in calcium regulated genes
Jennifer Lambrecht:  Characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants having alterations in calcium sensing and response mechanisms 
Michael Marquardt:  Analysis of Vibrio parahaemolyticus colonial cell organization using confocal microscopy

Summer 2006

Jennifer Lambrecht:  Characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants having alterations in calcium sensing and response mechanisms 

Spring 2006
           
Michael Marquardt:  Analysis of Vibrio parahaemolyticus colonial cell organization using confocal microscopy
Jennifer Lambrecht:  Characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants having alterations in calcium sensing and response mechanisms
Nicholas Kelley:  Quantitation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus capsular polysaccharide in response to  altered calcium conditions
Heather Pontasch:  Quantitation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus biofilm formation in response to altered calcium conditions

Fall 2005

Nicholas Kelley:  Quantitation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus capsular polysaccharide in response to  altered calcium conditions
Heather Pontasch:  Quantitation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus biofilm formation in response to altered calcium conditions

Spring 2005

Jacqueline Allen:  Phenotypic characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants defective in calcium-regulated genes
Adam Roos:  Phenotypic and molecular characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants defective in calcium-regulated genes
Nicholas Kelley:  Using electron microscopy to investigate Vibrio parahaemolyticus cell morphology in response to growth under varying calcium conditions
Heather Pontasch:  Investigating calcium-regulated gene expression in Vibrio parahaemolyticus by using 2-D gel electrophoresis to analyze total cellular proteins

January 2005

Adam Roos:  Using Southern blots to analyze Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants defective in calcium-regulated genes
Nicholas Kelley:  Using electron microscopy to investigate Vibrio parahaemolyticus cell morphology in response to growth under varying calcium conditions

Fall 2004

Jacqueline Allen:  Using Southern blots to analyze Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants defective in calcium-regulated genes
Adam Roos:  Phenotypic characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants defective in calcium-regulated genes
Nicholas Kelley:  Using electron microscopy to investigate Vibrio parahaemolyticus cell morphology in response to growth under varying calcium conditions
Heather Pontasch:  Site-directed mutagenesis of a calcium-regulated gene in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Summer 2004

Adam Roos:  Isolation and molecular characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants defective in calcium-regulated genes

Spring 2004

Melissa Christopherson:  Investigating colonial cell organization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants defective in cell surface components
Josh Larson:  Investigating the effect of calcium on Vibrio parahaemolyticus using transmission electron microscopy
Nicholas Kelley:   Phenotypic characterization of a Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutant defective in a calcium-regulated gene
Jacqueline Allen:  Genetic characterization of calcium-regulated genes in Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Leigh Wheaton:   Investigating colonial cell organization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants defective in cell surface components
Heather Pontasch:  Site-directed mutagenesis of a calcium-regulated gene in Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Jon Aanestad:  Isolation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus opaque colony variants

January 2004

Nicholas Kelley:  Analysis of expression patterns of a collection of calcium-regulated genes in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Fall 2003

Melissa Christopherson:  Phenotypic characterization of a Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutant defective in a calcium-regulated gene
Josh Larson:  Investigating the effect of calcium on Vibrio parahaemolyticus using transmission electron microscopy
Nicholas Kelley:  Analysis of expression patterns of a collection of calcium-regulated genes in Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Jacqueline Allen:  Isolation of calcium-regulated genes in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Summer 2003

Carrie Keenan:  Using confocal microscopy to characterize Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants defective in biofilm formation
Jaqueline Allen:  Identification of calcium-regulated mutants in Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Nicholas Kelley:  Characterization of defects in polysaccharide production

Spring 2003

Carrie Keenan:  Using confocal microscopy to characterize Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutants defective in biofilm formation
Jaqueline Allen:  Identification of calcium-regulated mutants in Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Michelle Jaeger:  Examination of surface-attached Vibrio parahaemolyticus using transmission electron microscopy
Melissa Christopherson:  Characterization of protein expression in a Vibrio parahaemolyticus mutant defective in a calcium-regulated gene

Fall Semester 2002 and January Term 2003

Carrie Keenan: Examining the effects of calcium on bacterial surface colonization using confocal microscopy.
Melissa Christopherson: Investigating changes in gene expression in response to altered calcium.
Michele Jaeger: Using scanning and transmission electron microscopy to examine cell morphology of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.
Jacqueline Allen:  Examining the effects of calcium on bacterial motility

Summer 2002

Melissa Christopherson: Investigating colony organization in Vibrio parahaemolyticus using confocal microscopy.
Carrie Keenan: Identification of a calcium-regulated gene in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

January Term 2002

Michele Jaeger: Investigating the effect of calcium on colony morphology using scanning electron microscopy.

Fall/Spring Semesters 2001-2002

Carrie Keenan and Melissa Christopherson: Isolation and characterization of mutants having altered calcium regulation in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.
Brian Howe: Using transmission electron microscopy to examine cell morphology of Vibrio parahaemolyticus under different growth conditions.

Fall/Spring Semesters 2000-2001

Jessica Sime: Investigating the effect of calcium on bacterial physiology using Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium
Steve Rippentrop and Brian Howe: Examining Vibrio parahaemolyticus biofilms using scanning electron microscopy.

Fellowships and Grants

External Grants:
           
Iowa College Foundation/McElroy Student Research Award.  (with student Jennifer Lambrecht).  2007-2008.  ($2,000).  Characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Genes Involved in Calcium Regulation

American Society for Microbiology Undergraduate Research Fellowship (submitted with student Jennifer Lambrecht). 2006. ($3,000):  Identification of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Genes Involved in Calcium Sensing and Response

Iowa College Foundation/McElroy Student Research Award.  (with student Michael Marquardt).  2006-2007.  ($1,500).  Characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Colony Biofilms Using Confocal Microscopy

National Institute of Health (NIH) AREA Grant. 2002-2007. ($135,543): Investigation of the role of calcium in bacteria.

Iowa College Foundation/McElroy Student Research Award.  (with student Jaqueline Allen).  2003-2004.  ($1,700).  Characterization of calcium-regulated genes in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

American Society for Microbiology Undergraduate Research Fellowship (submitted with student Jacqueline Allen). 2003. ($3,400):  Identification of calcium-regulated genes in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

NSF Starter Grant. 2001-2003. ($35,000): Investigating the role of calcium in bacterial cellular and metabolic processes using Vibrio parahaemolyticus as a model system.

NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award. 2001-2004. ($256,813): Acquisition of a scanning laser confocal microscope for research and education in biology and biochemistry at Luther College.

George I. Alden Trust. 2001. ($70,000): Acquisition of scientific equipment for education and research at Luther College.

Iowa College Foundation/McElroy Student Research Award (with student, Melissa Christopherson). 2002-2003. ($1,750). Investigation of the role of calcium in bacteria.

Iowa College Foundation/McElroy Student Research Award (with student, Brian Howe). 2001-2002. ($2,000). Investigating cell organization in bacteria using electron microscopy.

National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biosciences Related to the Environment .  1999-2000.  ($80,000)

Pfizer Fellowship in Bacterial Physiology (1996-1998)

National Science Foundation Pre-doctoral Fellowship (1993-1996)

Internal Grants:
           
Academic Administrative Assistantship.  2007-2008.  Michael Marquardt        
Summer Faculty/Student Collaborative Research Grant.  2007.  ($3,500) (with student Michael Marquardt):  Examination of secreted proteins in Vibrio parahaemolyticus                       
Academic Administrative Assistantship.  2006-2007.  Jennifer Lambrecht
Academic Administrative Assistantship.  2005-2006.  Heather Pontasch
Academic Administrative Assistantship.  2005-2006.  Nicholas Kelley
Academic Administrative Assistantship.  2004-2005.  Nicholas Kelley
Summer Faculty/Student Collaborative Research Grant.  2004.  ($3,500) (with student Adam Roos):  Identification of Vibrio parahaemolyticus genes whose expression is altered under varying calcium conditions.
Academic Administrative Assistantship.  2003-2004.  Melissa Christopherson.
Academic Administrative Assistantship.  2002-2003.  Melissa Christopherson.
Summer Faculty/Student Collaborative Research Grant.  2003.  ($3,500) (with student Nicholas Kelly):  Characterization of defects in polysaccharide production.
Summer Faculty/Student Collaborative Research Grant. 2002. ($3,500) (with student Carrie Keenan): Isolation and characterization of mutants having altered calcium regulation.
Academic Administrative Assistantship. 2001-2002. Carrie Keenan.
Academic Administrative Assistantship 2000-2001. Steve Rippentrop.
Student Research Grant. 2001. ($400) (Jessica Sime): Isolation of Salmonella typhimurium mutants that are sensitive to altered external calcium levels.