Scientific Research focusing on fungal control, air quality, and microbial symbiosis

Update: The Crow Laboratory has Retired

As of July, 2016, Dr. Crow and his laboratory has retired. However, much of the research conducted there has been continued by Drs. Christopher Cornelison and Kyle Gabriel in the BioInnovation Laboratory at Kennesaw State University. Click here to visit the new lab and see what we’ve been up to.

Featured Videos


Developing disease management strategies for bat white-nose syndrome, funded by Williams/Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company.


Help Save Bats was produced in 2016 by Open Shade Media and The Nature Conservancy to bring attention to white-nose syndrome.


Special Bacteria Helps Heal Sick Bats was produced in 2015 by National Geographic. It documents the first successful treatment of white-nose syndrome, by our research group and collaborators, and the release of those treated bats back into the wild. Read More »

 

Current Research

White-Nose Syndrome Read More »
Pseudogymnoascus destructans (previously Geomyces destructans) is a newly-discovered fungal pathogen responsible for white-nose syndrome in bats. Since its discovery in North America in 2006, it has spread throughout the eastern United States and Canada.
Chalkbrood Disease/Colony Collapse Disorder Read More »
Ascosphera apis is a fungal pathogen that causes chalkbrood disease in honeybees and has been implicated in causing colony collapse disorder.
Snake Fungal Disease Read More »
Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola is a fungal pathogen responsible for a deadly dermatitis in snakes, known as snake fungal disease.
Antifungal Biocontrol Read More »
Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain DAP 96253 is a a ubiquitous, soil-dwelling bacterium that displays both delayed fruit-ripening activity and broad anti-fungal activity when grown on induction media.
Indoor Air Quality Read More »
Fungal colonization of buildings can have numerous detrimental effects, by causing infections, allergic reactions, mycotoxin insults, and other health problems. These symptoms have commonly been associated with the catch-all Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). However, by studying fungal colonization in newly-constructed and established buildings, more definitive explanations may be elucidated.
Acanthamoeba Symbiosis
Acanthamoeba castellanii is a ubiquitous, soil-dwelling protozoa responsible for Acanthamoebic keratitis of the eye, predominantly caused by improper contact lens disinfection. Current research focuses on characterizing the symbiotic relationships between Acanthamoeba castellanii and Fusarium spp. as well as investigating methods for accurately counting Acanthamoeba trophozoites and cysts using flow cytometry.

 

Recent Publications

Cornelison, Christopher T., Blake Cherney, Kyle T. Gabriel, Courtney K. Barlament, and Sidney A. Crow Jr. 2016. Contact-Independent Antagonism of Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, the Causative Agent of Snake Fungal Disease by Rhodococcus rhodochrous DAP 96253 and Select Volatile Organic Compounds. Journal of Veterinary Science & Technology 7.

Cornelison, Christopher T., Kevin M. Keel, Kyle T. Gabriel, Courtney K. Barlament, Trudy A. Tucker, Georgie E. Pierce, and Sidney A. Crow Jr. 2014. A preliminary report on the contact-independent antagonism of Pseudogymnoascus destructans by Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain DAP96253. BMC Microbiology. 14:246.

Cornelison, Christopher T., Kyle T. Gabriel, Courtney K. Barlament, and Sidney A. Crow Jr. 2013. Inhibition of Pseudogymnoascus destructans growth from conidia and mycelial extension by bacterially produced volatile organic compounds. Mycopathologia. 177(1-2):1-10.

Cornelison, Christopher T. The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend, A new hope in the battle against WNS? Bats Magazine. Summer, 2013. (32)1:2-4. Print. PDF. Text.

Cornelison, Christopher T., Brian Stubblefield, Eric Gilbert, and Sidney A. Crow Jr. 2012. Recurrent Aspergillus contamination in a biomedical research facility: a case study. J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol. (39)2:329-335.