Dr. Billie L. Johnson

 
 
Corporate Food Safety Coordinator for Menu Foods.

EDUCATION:

  • University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma. Ph.D., Microbiology/Immunology, May 1995. Major Professor: Dr. George C. Cozad.
  • East Texas State University, Commerce, Texas. M.S., Animal Science/Biology, August 1989. Major Professor: Dr. David Crenshaw
  • East Texas State University, Commerce, Texas. B.S., Animal Science/Biology, May 1988. Graduated with HIGHEST HONORS.

    • PRIMARY TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES:

    general microbiology, immunology, pathogenic microbiology, virology, hematology, and cancer biology.

    UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROJECTS:

  • Incidence of Salmonella species and Escherichia coli in grocery meat products including chicken and hamburger.
  • Contaminating coliform bacteria found in nearby lakes, water reservoirs, and lagoon systems which seep into ground water reserves.
  • Species typing for Salmonella bacteria: insight into the numerous species of Salmonella.

    •  

    GRADUATE RESEARCH PROJECTS:

  • Isolation of the NIa Protease in Wheat Infected with Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus.
  • Acquistion of Listeria monocytogenes from powdered cheese products utilizing ELISA and DNA gene probe assays prior to and following freezing of the samples at -70øC.
  • Inhibition of Vaccina virus DNA replication through the production of Nitric Oxide and Interleukin-1 within activated macrophages.
  • Determination as to whether or not fungal species can be stored at room temperature in sterile distilled water without threat of contamination.
  • Storm-water runoff and nonpoint source coliform contamination in Lyon County, Kansas.

    • PUBLICATIONS:

  • The Efficacy of Various Anthelminitic Administration Methods on Internal Parasites in the Equine-Honors Thesis, May 1988.
  • The Incidence and Effects of Microbial Salmonella Species Afflicting Regionally Confined Young Calves and Lactating Cows as Compared to Nonconfined Dry Cows- Masters Thesis, August 1989.
  • Induction of the P388D1 Mouse Macrophage Cell Line by Blastomyces dermatitidis for Enhanced Phagocytic Activity and Cytokine Production-Doctoral Dissertation, May 1995.
  • Scanning Electron Microscopy of the P388D1 Mouse Macrophage Phagocytic Activities. Oklahoma Academy of Science. Abstracts of papers presented November 12, 1994.
  • Increased Cytokine Production as seen in the P388D1 Mouse Macrophage Cell Line when subjected to Blastomyces dermatitidis. American Society of Microbiology- Abstracts of papers presented April 1, 1995.
  • Pathogenic Microbiology Lab Manual- text completed in August 1995. Submitted for publication with William C. Brown Publishers, November, 1995.
  • Phagocytic Activity and Cytokine Production from the P388D1 Macrophage cell line when stimulated by Blastomyces dermatitidis. Kansas Academy of Science. Abstracts of papers presented at the 128th annual meeting. Volume 15. March 21-22, 1996.
    • In addition to teaching and research activities, Dr. Johnson is a faculty sponsor of the Caduceus Society, a society designed for the pre-professional students on campus, as well as a member of the American Society of Microbiology, Kansas Academy of Science, Kansas Association of Biology Teachers, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Medical Mycological Society of the Americas.

     
     

    Contact Dr. Johnson at

    (620) 342-1323 (voice)
    bjohnson@menufoods.com (email)

    Provide comments to Billie Johnson at bjohnson@menufoods.com.