Headshot of Antonio Izzo

Antonio Izzo

Associate Professor of Biology

Department: Biology

Office and address: McMichael Science Building, Office 224-H 2625 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244

Phone number: (336) 278-6025

Professional Expertise

Molecular Microbial Ecology

Links

News & Notes

Education

Ph.D. University of California at Berkeley, CA, May 2004, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

M.A. Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, 1995

B.A. Zoology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 1990

 

Employment History

Associate Professor, Elon University Department of Biology, 2013- present

Assistant Professor, Elon University Department of Biology, 2007-2013

Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS, Tree Fruit Laboratory, Wenatchee, WA, 2004-2007

Graduate Research Assistant, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 1998-2004

Research Technician, University of Arizona, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, 1996-1998

DNA Technician, Macromolecular Resources, Colorado State University, Ft Collins, CO, 1995-1996

Graduate Research Assistant, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, 1993-1995

Courses Taught

Bio101 Topics in General Biology (nonmajors)

Bio111 Introductory Cell and Molecular Biology

Bio113 Introductory Cell Biology Lab 

Bio253 Microbiology for Allied Health Professions

Bio321 Microbiology (lecture and lab)

Bio371 Mycology

Bio376 Microbial Ecology

Bio422 Molecular and Cellular Biology (lecture and lab)

Bio462 Senior Seminar

Leadership Positions

Chair, Biology Department 2015-2019

Faculty Fellow for Technology, 2013-2015

co-Chair, Faculty Research and Development Committee, 2012-2013 academic year

Grants Awarded

“Improvement of Biotechnology Resources for Biology Research and Teaching of Undergraduate Students at Elon University”, $84,000, Principal Director

Publications

Weerakoon, DMN., Reardon, CL, Paulitz, TC, Izzo, AD, and M. Mazzola. 2012. Long-term suppression of Pythium abappressorium induced by Brassica juncea seed meal amendment is biologically mediated. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 51:44-52

Izzo, A.D., and M. Mazzola  2009. Hybridization of an ITS-based macroarray with ITS community probes for characterization of complex communities of fungi and fungal-like protists. Mycological Research 113(6-7): 802-812

Cavender-Bares, J., Izzo, A.D., Robinson, R., and C.E. Lovelock. 2009. Changes in ectomycorrhizal community structure on two containerized oak hosts across an experimental hydrologic gradient. Mycorrhiza. 19(3): 133-142

Robinson, C.H., Szaro, TM, Izzo, AD, Anderson, IC, Parkin, PI, and TD Bruns. 2009. Spatial distribution of fungal communities in a coastal grassland soil. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 41(2):414-416

Mazzola, M., Brown, J., Zhao, X., Izzo, A., and Fazio, G. 2009. Interaction of brassicaceous seed meal and apple rootstock on recovery of Pythium spp. and Pratylenchus penetrans from roots grown in replant soils. Plant Disease 93 (1):51-57

Mazzola, M., Brown, J., Izzo, A.D., and M. Cohen. 2007. Mechanism of action and efficacy of seed meal-induced pathogen suppression differ in a Brassicaceae species and time-dependent manner. Phytopathology. 97:454-460

Izzo, A.D., Nguyen, D.T., and T.D. Bruns. 2006. Spatial structure and richness of the resistant propagule community of ectomycorrhizal fungi colonizating hosts with differing seedling establishment patterns. Mycologia 98(3) 

Izzo, A.D., Canright, M. and T.D. Bruns. 2006. The effects of heat treatments on ectomycorrhizal resistant propagules and their ability to colonize bioassay seedlings. Mycological Research 110(2):196-202 

Izzo, A.D., Agbowo, J., and T.D. Bruns. 2005. Detection of plot-level changes in ectomycorrhizal communities across years in an old-growth mixed-conifer forest. New Phytologist 166:619-630 

Izzo, A.D., Meyer, M., North, M., Trappe, J.M., and T.D. Bruns. 2005. Ectomycorrhizal hypogeous fungi on roots and in the small mammal diet in a mixed-conifer forest. Forest Science 51(3):243-254

Kennedy, P., Izzo, A.D., and T.D. Bruns. 2003. There is high potential for the formation of common mycorrhizal networks between understorey and canopy trees in a mixed evergreen forest. Journal of Ecology 91:1071-1080

North, M, Oakley, B, Chen, J., Erickson, H, Gray, A., Izzo, A, Johnson, D., Ma, S., Marra, H., Meyer, M., Purcell, K., Roath, B., Rambo, R., Rizzo, D., and T. Schowalter 2002. Vegetation and ecological characteristics of mixed-conifer and red fir forests at the Teakettle Experimental Forest. PSW Gen Tech Rep 186

Presentations

Conference Abstracts/Presentations 

Izzo, A.D. “Engaging students beyond the classroom using Flipbard magazines”, 12thAnnual Teaching and Learning Conference, Elon University, 2015

Izzo, A.D., Miyamoto, Y., Palmer, R. Elon’s Biology Cabinet: An IT/Faculty Partnership in Online Resource Development, EDUCAUSE Southeast Regional Conference, Charlotte, NC, Jun 2011.

Clark, M., Izzo, A.D. Fungal population response to increased temperatures in soil. North Carolina Academy of Sciences Meeting, Elon, NC, Mar 2011

Izzo, A.D., Miyamoto, Y, and R. Palmer. The online biology cabinet: A new model for faculty creation of video resources in science lab instruction. Lily Conference of Teaching and Technology, Greensboro, NC, Feb 2011 

Weerakoon, M., Izzo, A., Mazzola, M. 2010. Brassica juncea seed meal amendment induces long-term suppressiveness to Pythium abappressorium under enclosed and open soil incubation conditions. Phytopathology. 100-S134 (abstract)

"An assessment of membrane-based macroarrays for use in monitoring fungal communities in soil systems" American Phytopathology Society, San Diego, CA 2007 

“Differential impact of Brassica spp. seed meal amendments on fungal populations associated with roots ofMalus domestica from a replant orchard site.” American Phytopathology Society, Quebec City, Canada, August 2006 

“Belowground response of fungal and plant ectomycorrhizal root communities in response to fire and fire surrogate treatments” Mycological Society of America, Quebece City, Canada, August 2006 

“Progress towards development of biologically-based strategies for the management of apple replant disease.” abstract (co-author), Conference for Biological and Pro-ecological Methods for Control of Diseases in Orchards and Small Fruit Plantations, Skierniewice, Poland, August 2005 

“New insights into Rhizopogon ecology by combining multiple community views” , oral presentation, West Coast Mycorrhizal Conference, Arcata, CA, October 2003 

“Contribution of hypogeous fruiting taxa to the ectomycorrhizal community in a mixed conifer forest” , oral presentation, Mycological Society of America, Asilomar, CA, July 2003, poster, International Conference on Mycorrhizae, Montreal, Canada, August 2003 

“Spatial composition of the spore bank across a mixed conifer forest” , oral presentation, Mycological Society of America, Asilomar, CA, July 2003 

“Plant composition of ectomycorrhizal fine roots relative to aboveground stand structure” , abstract, Blodgett Forest Research Symposium, Quintette, CA, February 2003 

“Mycorrhizal diversity across Blodgett Forest”, abstract, Blodgett Forest Research Symposium, Quintette, CA, February 2002 

“Ectomycorrhizal community of Abies concolor”, oral presentation, Mycological Society of America, Burlington, VT, August 2000 

“Identification of Btr-regulated genes of Bordetella pertussis in microtiter Plates” abstract (co-author), American Society of Microbiology, Chicago, Il., May 1999 

“Phylogeny of the Labyrinthulomycetes inferred from ribosomal DNA” poster, International Mycological Congress, Vancouver, BC, Canada, July 1995 

“Phylogeny of Labyrinthula inferred from ribosomal DNA” oral presentation, Mycological Sociey of America, Athens, GA, July 1994 

 

Invited talks 

“Benefitting from the whole fungus to study fungal ecology”, UNC Chapel Hill Environment and Ecology Seminar Series, March 2012

Elon Biology Club (Fall 2007, Spring 2008)

“Temporal dynamics and ecology of ectomycorrhizal fungi in a late-successional forest” (Finishing talk) UC Berkeley, Plant and Microbial Biology Departmental Seminar Series May 2004 

“Hypogeous fungi on ectomycorrhizal roots and in small mammal diet in a Sierra mixed-conifer forest” UC Davis Mycology Seminar Series, May 2003

Professional Activities

Service Activities

Service to the students

  • Advisor, Beta Beta Beta Biology Honors group
  • Advisor, Biology Club
  • Advisor, Men's Ultimate Frisbee club team
  • Advisor, Women's Ultimate Frisbeen club team

Service to the University

  • ATACC committee, member (2009, 2013-current)
  • Faculty Research and Development committee, member and co-chair (2011-2013)
  • Faculty Fellow for Technology (2013-2015)
  • Athletics Committee, member (2013-2016)