Mitch Elmore

Mitch Elmore is a USDA-ARS Research Molecular Geneticist and Adjunct Assistant Professor affiliated with the USDA-ARS Cereal Disease Lab in St. Paul, MN. His research focuses on understanding molecular plant-microbe interactions, particularly Fusarium Head Blight in cereal crops and the mechanisms governing fungal pathogen virulence and host resistance in barley. His work integrates molecular profiling, functional genomics, and network biology approaches to combat agricultural losses from pathogens.

Education: PhD in Plant Biology with a Biotechnology emphasis from University of California-Davis (2014); BS in Biology from St. Louis University (2005).

Research emphasizes Fusarium graminearum-host interactions, including effector protein targets and signaling networks. Methodologies include yeast two-hybrid screening, super-resolution ribosome profiling, and multi-omics integration. Recent work explores ABC transporter roles in fungal virulence and trichothecene production.

His articles highlight advancements in pathogen diagnostics (e.g., HRM assays for chemotype differentiation), protein interaction networks, and plant immune signaling mechanisms. Current efforts aim to develop novel strategies for crop disease management through molecular and systems biology approaches.