Professor, Biology / Faculty Advisor, Health Professions

Office: Peelle 116A - jsalzwedel@adrian.edu

Degrees

Michigan State University, Ph.D.

Specialties

plant-microbe interactions

Biography

Janet L. Salzwedel, PhD, has advised health professions students for more than 15 years at Adrian College. Graduate dentists, physicians, pharmacists and many other health professionals have benefited from her guidance. Her classroom has provided the spark for many students who elected careers in life science research.

In addition to duties as a professor of microbiology, cell biology, plant biology and related subjects, Dr. Salzwedel is involved in research at the Center for Drug Design and Development (CD3) at the University of Toledo’s College of Pharmacy. Soy plants under stress from fungi or nematodes produce a metabolite called glyceollin in very small amounts. Collaborators working elsewhere have demonstrated that glyceollin inhibits breast cancer cells in vitro, as well as tumor growth in mice.

Dr. Salzwedel’s expertise as a plant biologist is being tapped to investigate and prompt conditions that will elevate natural production of glyceollin. Researchers hope the project will lead to development of nutriceutical based breast cancer preventative.

Publications, exhibits, presentations: Dazzo, F.B., Truchet, G.L., Hollingsworth, R.I., Hrabak, E.M., Pankratz, H.S., Philip-Hollingsworth, S., Salzwedel, J.L., Orgambide, G., 1993; Rhizobium lipopolysaccharide modulates infection thread development in white clover root hairs. J. Bacteriol. 173: 5371-5384