W. T. Evert Ting, Ph.D.

Office: Gyte 295
Telephone: (219) 989-2490
Email: ting@calumet.purdue.edu

Education

Ph.D. Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, Microbiology - 1986

Research Interests

      Escherichia coli is a common fecal indicator used to monitor food and water quality. High E. coli counts in water signifying fecal contamination often leads to beach closure. We have used DNA fingerprinting techniques such as randomly amplified polymorpohic DNA (RAPD) and automated ribotyping techniques for tracing sources of E. coli in recreational waters and studying the diversity of E. coli persisted in beach sand. We have built a database consists of hundreds of RAPD fingerprints and Riboprints of E. coli from both human and nonhuman sources for E. coli source tracking.

     Bacterial phages have been found useful to treat infectious diseases. Recent studies indicated that phages could be used as bio-preservatives to control foodborne pathogens. We have isolated several phages from raw sewage samples that can cause lyses of E. coli O157:H7 and
Salmonella. We continuously isolate and select such phages and test various combinations of phages to control the target bacteria in spiked food samples.

     Hydrogen is considered as a clean energy source, which can be used for generating electricity without causing air pollution. There are increased interests of using microbes to convert organic wastes to hydrogen. We are in the process of isolating and selecting microbes from environment samples that can efficiently produce hydrogen from organic wastes. The condition for hydrogen production will be optimized. The microbes selected will eventually be used in a bioreactor for generation of electricity.

Professional Society Memberships

Selected Publications:

M. N. Byappanahalli, R. L. Whitman, D. A. Shively, W. T. Evert Ting, C. C. Tseng, and M. B. Nevers.  2006 Seasonal persistence and population characteristics of Escherichia coli and enterococci in deep backshore sand of two freshwater beaches. Journal of Water and Health (in print)

Ting, W.T.E., D. S. Johnson, M. N. Byappanahalli, R. L. Whitman, C. C. Tseng. 2005.  Genetic Diversity of Escherichia coli isolated from backshore sand of two freshwater beaches of southern Lake Michigan. Abst.Q326.  In Abstracts of the 105th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology, Washington D.C.

Ting, W.T.E., D.S. Johnson, and C. C. Tseng. 2004.  A comparison of riboprint patterns of Escherichia coli isolated from cows, deer, horses, and sewage in two different geographic areas. Abst.Q247.  In Abstracts of the 104th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology, Washington D.C.

Ting, W.T.E., D.S. Johnson, A.M. Holler, K.T. Tran, and C.C. Tseng. 2003.  A Study of the sources of E. coli contamination at Marquette Park Beach by random amplified polymorphic DNA typing. abstr.Q414, p.589 In Abstracts of the 103th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology, Washington D.C.

Ting, W.T.E., D.S. Johnson, G.A. Thomas, A.M. Holler, and C.C. Tseng. 2002.  Discriminant analysis of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns of Escherichia coli isolated from different human and nonhumean sources. abstr.Q108 , p.396 In Abstracts of the 102th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology, Washington D.C.

Tseng, C.C., D. Johnson, and W.T. E. Ting. 2002.  Comparison of ribotypes of Escherichia coli from sewage, humans, and animals. abstr.Q-59, p.388. In Abstracts of the 102th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology, Washington D.C.

Tseng, C.C, D.J. Johnson, and W.T.E. Ting.  2002.  Differentiation of E coli isolated from human and nonhuman sources using automated ribotyping method. In Proceeding of 2002 Great Lakes Beach Conference, Chicago.

Ting, W.T.E., J. Vander Hoogt and R. Whitman. 2001. Growth and survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and a lake water Escherichia coli isolate in wet beach sand and water from Lake Michigan.  abstr. Q364, p.658. In Abstracts of the 101th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology 2001, American Society for Microbiology, Washington D.C. 

Tseng, C, E. Ting, D. Johnson, M. Saluta, and R. Dunst.  2001. RAPD fingerprinting as a potential means for differentiating human and animal E. coli.  Life Sci. News 7:10-11.

Tseng, C. C. D. Johnson, and W. T. E. Ting.  2001.  Automated ribotyping of Escherichia coli isolates from human and animals. abstr. Q-330, p.650. In Abstracts of the 101th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology 2001, American Society for Microbiology, Washington D.C.

Ting, W.T.E., C. C. Tseng, D. S. Johnson, L. Dominguez, J. Vander Hoogt, M. Saluta, R. L. Whitman. 2000. Genetic Diversity of Escherichia coli Isolated from Lake Michigan Water, Beach Sand, and Seagull Droppings as Revealed by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Fingerprints. abstr. Q-305, p.610-611. In Abstracts of the 100th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology 2000, American Society for Microbiology, Washington D.C.

Tseng, C. C., W. T. E. Ting, D. Johnson, L. D.Dominguez, J. Vandor Hoodgt, K. Davis-Fleisher, and M. Saluta. 2000. Efficacy of RAPD analysis for differentiating human from animal E. coli isolates. abstr. Q-304, p.610. In Abstracts of the 100th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology 2000, American Society for Microbiology, Washington D.C.

Tseng, C. C., W. T. E. Ting, Y. Cheng, D. Johnson, and M. Saluta. 1999.  A comparative study of RAPD fingerprints of Escherichia coli isolates from humans and animals. . abstr. Q-69, p.546. In Abstracts of the 99th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology 1999, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.

Koonce, M. and W. T. E. Ting. 1998.  Effect of Oxyraseâ on the recovery of bifidobacteria in untreated waste water. abstr. Q-132, p.443. In Abstracts of the 98th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology 1998, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.

Saluta, M, W. T. E. Ting, M. Koonce and C. C. Tseng. 1998. Cluster analysis of RAPD fingerprints of Escherichia coli isolates from human stool, urine, and blood.  abstr. H-124, p.297. In Abstracts of the 98th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology 1998, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.

Tseng, C. C., M. Koonce, W. T. E. Ting, and M. Saluta. 1998.  Comparison of RAPD fingerprints of Escherichia coli isolates from human and Canadian geese.  abstr. R-2, p.480. In Abstracts of the 98th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology 1998, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.

Ting, W.T. E., E. M. Nielson, and C.C. Tseng. 1997. The use of Viraffinity matrix to concentrate waterborne polioviruses for RT-PCR detection. abstr. Q-169. p.484. In Abstracts of the 97th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology 1997, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.

Tseng, C. C., W. T. E. Ting and M. Sunata. 1997.  Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of dynamic human Escherichia coli genome. abstr. H-220. p.321. In Abstracts of the 97th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology 1997, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.

Ting, W. T. E., M. Saluta, and C. C. Tseng. 1997. Tracking sources of Escherichia coli in water. p.66-73. In Proceedings of A National Healthy Beaches Symposium, Research, Monitoring and Cooperative Efforts. Illinois-Indiana Seagrant Collage Program.

Ting, W. T. E., D. Johnson, D. George, and D. Warner. 1996.  Comparing three selective media for enumeration of bifidobacteria in untreated waste water. abstr., Q-451 p.464. In Abstracts of the 96th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology 1996, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.

Ting, W. T. E., E. Nielson, K. M. Zmuda, K. Hedges, and C. C. Tseng. 1996.  RT-PCR detection of poliovirus from water.  abstr. p. 74-75. In The 112th Annual Meeting of Indiana Academy of Science.

Ting, W. T. E. 1993.  Effect of food grade phosphate on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes.  abstr.656 p.166 In 1993 IFT Annual Meeting Technical Program: Book of Abstract. Institute of Food Technologists, Chicago, IL.

Ting, W. T. E. and K. E. Deibel.  1992. Sensitivity of Listeria monocytogenes to spices at two temperatures.  Journal of Food Safety 12:129-137.

Ting, W. T. E. and J. G. Alb, Jr.  1991. Combined effect of spices and lactic acid on the growth and survival of Listeria monocytogenes.  abstr. 523, p.216. In 1991 IFT Annual Meeting Program and Food Expo Exhibit Director, Institute of Food Technologists, Chicago, IL.

Alb, J. G. Jr., D. L. Cansler, and W. T. E. Ting. 1990.  Effect of sage on the growth and survival of Listeria monocytogenes.  Abstracts of the Annual Meeting of the Indiana Branch of American Society for Microbiology.  p. 16.

Alb, J. G. Jr. and W. T. E. Ting. 1990.  Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes by food grade phosphates. Abstracts of the Annual Meeting of the Indiana Branch of American Society for Microbiology. p. 16.

Ting, W. T. E. and G. J. Banwart. 1989.  The growth and survival of freeze-thaw-injured Salmonella in various pre-enrichment broths.  abstr. P-49, p.327. In Abstracts of the 89th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology 1989, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.

Ting, W. T. E. and K.E. Deibel. 1989. Sensitivity of Listeria monocytogenes to spices at two temperatures. abstr. 474, p.209. In 1989 IFT Annual Meeting Program & Abstracts, Institute of Food Technologists, Chicago IL.

Ting, W. T. E. and G. J. Banwart. 1986.  Effect of pre-enrichment and enrichment of frozen meat on the growth of Salmonella and other organisms. abstr., P-49, p.327. In Abstracts of the 89th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology 1989, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.

Ting, W. T. and G. J. Banwart.  1985. Detection of Bacillus cereus diarrheagenic toxin using a rat intestinal loop assay.  Journal of Food Safety 7:57-63.

Ting, W. T. and G. J. Banwart.  1985. Enumeration of enterococci and mesophilic aerobic plate count in dried soup using three reconstitution methods.  Journal of Food Protection 48:770-771.

Deibel, K. E., W. T. Ting, and G. J. Banwart. 1985.  Survival of Campylobacter jejuni in bovine feces.  abstr., Q-100, p.274. In Abstracts of the 85th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology 1985, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.

Ting, W. T. and G. J. Banwart. 1984.  Effect of three reconstitution methods on the enumeration of enterococci and the aerobic plate count in dried soup.  abstr. 30, p.95. In IFT 84 Program & Abstracts, Institute of Food Technologists, Chicago IL.

Ting, W. T., K. E. Deibel, and G. J. Banwart. 1984.  Removal of inoculated Campylobacter jejuni from milk with hydrogen peroxide. abstr. 138, p.119. In IFT 84 Program & Abstracts, Institute of Food Technologists, Chicago IL.

Courses

Biol 221 - Introductory Microbiology

Biol 316 - Basic Microbiology

Biol 533 - Medical Microbiology

Biol 534 - Medical Microbiology Lab

Biol 595 - Food Microbiology

Biol 495 and 595 - Microbiology Research

Biol 595 - Microbiology Readings

Biol 595 - Environmental Microbiology