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Dr Simon Foster

As Laboratory manager for The Sainsbury Laboratory I am responsible for providing the research environment in which TSL scientists conduct their research. My responsibilities include management of the service teams which support the laboratory, maintenance of cutting-edge scientific equipment, implementation of new technologies, negotiation with suppliers and compliance with Health and Safety, radioactivity and hazardous chemicals regulations.

I have a background in laboratory research, specifically in the field of plant-pathogen interactions. Most recently my research concerned the cloning of resistance genes against Phytophthora infestans (late blight of potato). During 2010-2012 I was responsible for overseeing the running of a field trial of GM potatoes, the purpose of which was to test the efficacy of one such cloned gene.

I have also worked on various molecular aspects of important host/pathogen systems, including work on fungal pathogens of oilseed rape (Pyrenopeziza brassicae, Leptosphaeria maculans), barley (Rhynchosporium secalis) and perennial ryegrass (Epichloë festucae).

simon.foster@tsl.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1603 450431
Research ID: G-3588-2014

Publications

Jones JD, Witek K, Verweij W, Jupe F, Cooke D, Dorling S, Tomlinson L, Smoker M, Perkins S, Foster S (2014)

Elevating crop disease resistance with cloned genes. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 369 20130087

Fleetwood DJ, Khan AK, Johnson RD, Young CA, Mittal S, Wrenn RE, Hesse U, Foster SJ, Schardl CL, Scott B (2011)

Abundant degenerate miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements in genomes of Epichloid fungal endophytes of grasses. Genome Biology & Evolution 3:1253-1264.

Foster SJ, Monahan BJ (2010)

Amplification of fungal genomes using multiple displacement amplification. Methods in Molecular Biology 638:175-185.

Pel MA, Foster SJ, Park TH, Rietman H, van Arkel G, Jones JDG, van Eck HJ, Jacobsen E, Visser RGF, van der Vossen EAG (2009)

Mapping and cloning of late blight resistance genes from Solanum venturii using an interspecific candidate gene approach. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 22:601-615.

Foster SJ, Park TH, Pel M, Brigneti G, Sliwka J, Jagger L, can der Vossen E, Jones JDG (2009)

Rpi-vnt1.1, a TM-22 homology from Solanum venturii, confers resistance to potato late blight. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 22:589-600.

Park TH, Foster S, Brigneti G, Jones JDG (2009)

Two distinct potato late blight resistance genes from Solanum berthaultii are located on chromosome 10. Euphytica 165:269-278.

Dong XB, Ji RQ, Guo XL, Foster SJ, Chen H, Dong CH, Liu YY, Hu Q, Liu SY (2008)

Expressing a gene encoding wheat oxalate oxidase enhances resistance to Sclerotinia slerorotiorum in oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Planta 2:331-340.

Eaton CJ, Jourdain I, Foster SJ, Hyams JS, Scott B (2008)

Functional analysis of a fungal endophyte stress-activated MAP kinase. Current Genetics 53:163-174.

Liu SY, Liu RH, Latunde-Dada AO, Cools HJ, Foster SJ, Huang YJ, Fitt BDL (2007)

Comparison of Leptosphaeria biglobosa-induced and chemically induced systemic resistance to L. maculans in Brassica napus. Chinese Science Bulletin 52:1053-1062.

Pignocchi C, Kiddle G, Hernandez I, Foster SJ, Asensi A, Taybi T, Barnes J, Foyer CH (2006)

Ascorbate oxidase-dependent changes in the redox state of the apoplast modulate gene transcript accumulation leading to modified hormone signaling and orchestration of defense processes in tobacco. Plant Physiology 141:423-435.

Bradshaw RE, Foster SJ, Monahan BJ (2006)

Molecular diagnostic tools for detection of plant pathogenic fungi. In: Rao JR, Flening CC, Moore JE (eds) Molecular Diagnostics: Current Technology and Applications. Horizon Scientific Press, Norwich, UK.

Karolewski Z, Fitt BDL, Latunde-Dada AO, Foster SJ, Todd AD, Downes K, Evans N (2006)

Visual and PCR assessment of light leaf spot (Pyrenopeziza brassicae) on winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus) cultivars. Plant Pathology 55:387-400.

Liu SY, Liu Z, Fitt BDL, Evans N, Foster SJ, Huang, YJ, Latunde-Dada AO, Lucas JA (2006)

Resistance to Leptosphaeria maculans (phoma stem canker) in Brassica napus (oilseed rape) induced by L. biglobosa and chemical defence activators in field and controlled environments. Plant Pathology 55:401-412.

Foster SJ, Monahan BJ, Bradshaw RE (2006)

Genomics of the filamentous fungi – moving from the shadow of the bakers yeast. Mycologist 20: 10-14

Eckert M, Maguire K, Urban M, Foster S, Fitt B, Lucas L,Hammond-Kosack K (2005)

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of Leptosphaeria spp. and Oculimacula spp. with the reef coral gene DsRed and the jellyfish gene gfp. FEMS Microbiology Letters 253: 67-74.

Foster SJ, Monahan BJ (2005)

Whole genome amplification from filamentous fungi using Phi29-mediated multiple displacement amplification (MDA). Fungal Genetics and Biology 42: 367-375.

Ward E, Foster SJ, Fraaije BA, McCartney HA (2004)

Plant pathogen diagnostics: immunological and nucleic acid-based approaches. Annals of Applied Biology 145: 1-16.

Karolewski Z, Evans N, Fitt BDL, Baierl A, Todd AD, Foster SJ (2004)

Comparative epidemiology of Pyrenopeziza brassicae (light leaf spot) ascospores and conidia from Polish and UK populations. Plant Pathology 53: 29-37.

Foster SJ, Fitt BDL (2003)

Isolation and characterisation of the mating type (MAT) locus from Rhynchosporium secalis. Current Genetics 44: 277-286.

McCartney HA, Foster SJ, Fraaije BA & Ward E (2003)

Molecular diagnostics for fungal plant pathogens. Pest Management Science 59: 129-142.

Foster SJ, Ashby AM & Fitt BDL (2002)

Improved PCR-based assays for pre-symptomatic diagnosis of light leaf spot and determination of mating type of Pyrenopeziza brassicae on winter oilseed rape. European Journal of Plant Pathology 108: 379-383.

Calderon C, Ward E, Freeman J, Foster SJ & McCartney HA (2002)

Detection of airborne inoculum of Leptosphaeria maculans and Pyrenopeziza brassicae in oilseed rape crops by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Plant Pathology 51: 303-310.

Davies K, de Lorono, IM, Foster SJ, Li D, Johnstone K & Ashby AM (2000)

Evidence for a role of cutinase in pathogenicity of Pyrenopeziza brassicae on brassicas. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 57: 63-75.

Foster SJ, Singh G, Fitt BDL & Ashby AM (1999)

Development of PCR based diagnostic techniques for the two mating types of Pyrenopeziza brassicae (light leaf spot) on winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus subsp. oleifera). Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 55: 111-119.

Job History

2007 – present Laboratory Manager, The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, UK.

2005 – 2007 Postdoctoral Scientist, The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, UK.

2003 – 2005 Research Fellow, Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Massey University, New Zealand.

1999 – 2003 Postdoctoral Scientist, Rothamsted Research, UK.

1996 – 2000 PhD Student, University of Cambridge & Rothamsted Research, UK.

1992 – 1996 Undergraduate Degree (Biology), University of Nottingham, UK.