Courses taught at GVSU:


BIO 104 Biology for the 21st Century
BIO 205 Genetics (Integrated Science Major)
SCI 495 Integrated Science Capstone

Research Interests:

Environmental Effects of the Biological Pesticide, Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis on Frog Communities.  Most chemical insecticides are neurotoxins that interfere with normal nervous system function.  While neurotoxins are marketed for the control of insect populations, any organism with a nervous system may be adversely affected.  As pervasive use of these chemicals continues and issues of pesticide runoff and ground water contamination are illuminated, there is mounting concern for the effects these chemicals are having on humans and natural communities.  One alternative to traditional insecticide application is the use of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti).  Bti is a toxin-producing bacterium naturally found in soil.  Upon ingestion, Bti toxin kills specific orders of insects by causing a disruption in the ion balance in the membranes of midgut cells.  While Bti has been deemed "nontoxic" for selected fish and mammalian wildlife, studies have not been performed on sensitive amphibian populations.  In addition, Bti toxicity studies have been limited to determining the direct effects of the toxin on an isolated population.  The effects of Bti on complex, natural communities have not yet been tested.  Using frogs as a sensitive indicator species, we are studying the direct and community effects of Bti toxin on larval development, behavior and survivorship. 

Publications:

Vigna, J., Shuster, M.,  (manuscript in progress)  Non-Major’s Biology Textbook.  Scientific American – W.H. Freeman.

Vigna, J.L.  (Manuscript in progress) Microbial Resistance to Antibacterial Hand Soap – A Relevant Research Project in Natural Selection.

Vigna, J.  2008. Biology of People Lab Manual.  Hayden-McNeil.

Vigna, J.  and Harleton, M.  2007.  The Effect of Bti, a Biological Pesticide, on Frog Larval Development.  Michigan Academician. (Abstract)

Vigna, J.  2006. Biology of People Lab Manual.  Hayden-McNeil.

Vigna, J. 2004.  Biology of People Lab Manual. Hayden-McNeil. 

Biology and Society:  An Issues Approach textbook by Colleen Belk and Virginia Borden.  2003. Supplements package (Instructor’s test questions, Instructor’s Lecture Activities, Student Review Questions, Media Animations) for chapters 2 and 12  authored by J. Vigna.

Vigna, J.L.  2001. Microbial Jeopardy Review and Assessment.  MicrobeLibrary.org:  Curriculum Resources.  April, 2002.

Vigna, J.L., K.D. Smith, and C.T. Lutz.  1996.  Invariant Chain Associates Preferentially with HLA Class I/beta-2 Microglobulin Heterodimers in an Allele-Specific Manner, and Association is Influenced by Peptide Binding Groove Residues.  Journal of Immunology.  157(10):4503-4510.

Smith, K.D., B.E. Mace, A. Valenzuela, J.L. Vigna, J.A. McCutcheon, J.A. Barbosa, E. Huczko, V.H. Engelhard, and C.T. Lutz.  1996.  Probing HLA-B7 Conformational Shifts Induced by Peptide-Binding Groove Mutations and Bound Peptide with Anti-HLA Monoclonal Antibodies.  Journal of Immunology.  157(6):2470-2478.

Vigna, J.L., K.D. Smith, and C.T. Lutz.  1995.  HLA Class I Molecules Associate with Calnexin and Invariant Chain During Assembly.  The 9th International Congress of Immunology.  (Abstr.)

Vigna, J.L., K.D. Smith, and C.T. Lutz.  1994.  Calnexin and Invariant Chain Participate in the Assembly and Transport of the MHC Class I Molecule, HLA-B7.  FASEB Journal.  8:A4495.  (Abstr.)

Molitor, J., W. Pace, L. Stunz, J. Vigna, S. Louie, and R. Ashman.  1994.  Induction of Ornithine Decarboxylase Activity in Mouse B Lymphocytes.  International Immunology.  6:1777-1784.

Smith, K.D., A. Valenzuela, J.L. Vigna, K. Aalbers, and C.T. Lutz.  1993.  Unwanted Mutations in PCR Mutagenesis:  Avoiding the Predictable.  PCR Methods and Applications.  2:253-257.

Other Areas of Interest:

Development of interdisciplinary curriculum
Teaching science to diverse learners