Karen Gomez

Post Doc, Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, 2010
Area of Study: Plant-Microbe Interactions

PhD, University of Arkansas, 2005
Area of Study: Cell and Molecular Biology

MS, University of Arkansas, 2002
Area of Study: Crop, Soil , and Environmental Sciences

BS, Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno, 1999
Area of Study: Agronomy

Areas of Interest

The general focus of my research involves tripartite interactions between insects, plants, and beneficial plant-associated soil microbes. I am particularly interested in the changes that occur in plants as a result of these interactions and how plants allocate their resources toward defense or growth. Students in my lab have worked on systems involving potato and the model legume Medicago truncatula, commonly used species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and insect herbivores such as potato aphids, pea aphids, and cabbage loopers. Current work in my lab focuses on different aspects of plant physiology including plant gene expression, plant transcriptome and phytohormone analysis. I am also interested in microbial diversity in the rhizosphere.

• Gomez, S.K., A.K. Maurya, L. Irvin, M.P. Kelly, A.P. Schoenherr, J.C. Huguel-Tapia, A. Bombarely. (2023). A snapshot of the transcriptome of Medicago truncatula (Fabales: Fabaceae) shoots and roots in response to an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Environmental Entomology, nvad070. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvad070
• Mercado, J.E., R.T. Walker, S. Franklin, A.L. Kay, B. Ortiz-Santana, S.K. Gomez. (2023). Xylem traumatic resin duct formation in response to stem fungal inoculation in Douglas-fir and Lodgepole pine. Forests, 14(3): 502. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14030502
• Olson, D., H. Berry, J. Riggs, C. Argueso, S.K. Gomez. (2022). Phytohormone profile of Medicago in response to mycorrhizal fungi, aphids, and gibberellic acid. Plants, 11(6): 720. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11060720
• Mercado, J.E., R.T. Walker, S.K. Gomez, S. Franklin, S.L. Kay, R. Hubbard. (2021). Changes in transpiration and leaf water potential in Douglas-fir trees following Douglas-fir beetle attack and mechanical girdling. Forests, 12(1722): 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3390/f12121722
• Rizzo, E., T. Sherman, P. Manosalva, S.K. Gomez. (2020). Assessment of local and systemic changes in plant gene expression and aphid responses during potato interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and potato aphids. Plants, 9(82): 25. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9010082
• Schoenherr, A., E. Rizzo, N. Jackson, P. Manosalva, S.K. Gomez. (2019). Mycorrhiza-induced resistance in potato involves priming of defense responses against cabbage looper (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera). Environmental Entomology, 48(2): 370-381. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvy195
• Maurya, A. K., M.P. Kelly, S.M. Mahaney, S.K. Gomez. (2018). Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis alters plant gene expression and aphid weight in a tripartite interaction. Journal of Plant Interactions, 13(1): 294-305. https://doi.org/10.1080/17429145.2018.1475020
• Garzo, E., E. Rizzo, A. Fereres, S.K. Gomez. (2018). High levels of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus colonization on Medicago truncatula reduces plant suitability as a host for pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum). Insect Science. https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7917.12631
• Floss, D.S., S.K. Gomez, H.J. Park, S.M. MacLean, L.M. Müller, K.K. Bhattarai, V. Lévesque-Tremblay, I.E. Maldonado-Mendoza, M.J. Harrison. (2017). A transcriptional program for arbuscule degeneration during AM symbiosis is regulated by MYB1. Current Biology, 27(8): 1206-1212.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2017.03.003
• Breuillin-Sessoms, F., D.S. Floss, S.K. Gomez, N. Pumplin, Y. Ding, V. Levesque- Tremblay, R.D. Noar, D.A. Daniels, A. Bravo, J.B. Eaglesham, V.A. Benedito, M.K. Udvardi, M.J. Harrison. (2015). Suppression of arbuscule degeneration in Medicago truncatula phosphate transporter4 mutants is dependent on the ammonium transporter 2 family protein AMT2;3. The Plant Cell, 27(4): 1352-66. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.114.131144
• Tesfaye, M., K.A. Silverstein, S. Nallu, L. Wang, C.J. Botanga, S.K. Gomez, L.M. Costa, M.J. Harrison, D.A. Samac, J. Glazebrook, F. Katagiri, J.F. Gutierrez-Marcos, K.A. Vandenbosch, K. A. (2013). Spatio-temporal expression patterns of Arabidopsis thaliana and Medicago truncatula defensin-like genes. PloS One, 8(3): e58992. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0058992
• Tisserant E., A. Kohler, P. Dozolme-Seddas, R. Balestrini, K. Benabdellah, A. Colard, D. Croll, C. Da Silva, S.K. Gomez, R. Koul, N. Ferrol, V. Fiorilli, D. Formey, P. Franken, N. Helber, M. Hijri, L. Lanfranco, E. Lindquist, Y. Liu, M. Malbreil, E. Morin, J. Poulain, H. Shapiro, D. van Tuinen, A. Waschke, C. Azcón-Aguilar, G. Bécard, P. Bonfante, M.J. Harrison, H. Küster, P. Lammers, U. Paszkowski, N. Requena, S.A. Rensing, C. Roux, I.R. Sanders, Y. Shachar-Hill, G. Tuskan, J.P.W. Young, V. Gianinazzi-Pearson, and F. Martin. (2012). The transcriptome of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices (DAOM 197198) reveals functional tradeoffs in an obligate symbiont. New Phytologist, 193(3): 755-769.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03948.x
• González-Chávez M.C.A., M.P. Ortega-Larrocea, R. Carrillo-González, M. López-Meyer, B. Xoconostle-Cázares, S.K. Gomez, M.J. Harrison, A.M. Figueroa-López, and I.E. Maldonado-Mendoza. (2011). Arsenate induces the expression of fungal genes involved in As transport in arbuscular mycorrhiza. Fungal Biology, 115(12): 1197-1209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2011.08.005
• Javot H., R.V. Penmetsa, F. Breuillin, K. Bhattarai, R. Noar, S.K. Gomez, Q. Zhang, D. Cook, and M.J. Harrison. (2011). Medicago truncatula mtpt4 mutants reveal a role for nitrogen in the regulation of arbuscule degeneration in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. The Plant Journal. 68: 954-965. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-313X.2011.04746.x
• Benedito V.A., H. Li, X. Dai, M. Wandrey, J. He, R. Kaundal, I. Torres-Jerez, S.K. Gomez, M.J. Harrison, Y. Tang, P.X. Zhao, and M.K. Udvardi. (2010). Genomic inventory and transcriptional analysis of Medicago truncatula transporters. Plant Physiology. 152: 1716-1730. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.109.148684
• Navia-Giné W.G., S.K. Gomez, J. Yuan, F. Chen, and K.L. Korth. (2009). Insect-induced gene expression at the core of volatile terpene release in Medicago truncatula. Plant Signaling and Behavior. 4(7): 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2009.01.008
• Gomez S.K., H. Javot, P. Deewatthanawong, I. Torres-Jerez, Y. Tang, E. Blancaflor, M.K. Udvardi, and M.J. Harrison. (2009). Medicago truncatula and Glomus intraradices gene expression in cortical cells harboring arbuscules in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. BMC Plant Biology. 9:10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2229-9-10
• Gomez S.K. and M.J. Harrison. (2009). Laser microdissection and its application to analyze gene expression in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Pest Management Science. 65: 504-511. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.1715
• Liu J., W.K. Versaw, N. Pumplin, S.K. Gomez, L.A. Blaylock, and M.J. Harrison. (2008). Closely related members of the Medicago truncatula PHT1 phosphate transporter gene family encode phosphate transporters with distinct biochemical activities. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 283: 24673-24681. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M802695200
• Irvin, L., Han, J., Nalam, V., Gomez, S. K. Transcriptome changes in leaves and pea aphids after feeding on mycorrhizal plants. Insect Molecular Biology.
• Irvin, L., Han, J., Nalam, V., Tamborindeguy, C., Gomez, S. K. Gene expression of pea aphid salivary effectors changes based on feeding duration and plant species. Insect Molecular Biology