Biography
Dr. Kaufman is a longtime Spartan, professor and founding chair of the Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology, and Assistant Vice President for Clinical Affairs with the Office of Health Sciences at MSU. He has served as a practicing neuro-ophthalmologist at Michigan State University for over three decades, helping train 70 fellows in neuro-ophthalmology and earning more than 25 MSU teaching awards. During the fall, you can find him on the sidelines as a neurologist for MSU Football.
News (2)
Michigan hit with mosquito ‘double whammy’
The Ogemaw County Herald online
2018-06-19
Michigan State University Associate Professor of Entomology Michael Kaufman said there is definitely increased mosquito activity so far this summer. “The cool opening to spring and flooding did two things (for mosquitoes),” Kaufman said. “It gave them a lot of habitat, and it slowed them down at their start. But as it warms up we are getting hit with both the spring and early summer series. We call it a double whammy where we’re hit with two populations at once.”
Zika virus concerns for Michigan residents
Michigan State Extension online
2016-02-10
News of another mosquito-borne disease, Zika virus, reaching the Americas and spreading rapidly has caused concern in the United States and prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue precautionary warnings to travelers. Because the virus is associated with birth defects (microcephaly) in infants born to infected mothers, some governments in affected areas have made the radical announcements that all women should avoid getting pregnant for two years.
Journal Articles (5)
How Diverse Detrital Environments Influence Nutrient Stoichiometry between Males and Females of the Co-Occurring Container Mosquitoes Aedes albopictus, Ae. aegypti, and Culex quinquefasciatus
PLOS OneDonald A. Yee , Michael G. Kaufman, Nnaemeka F. Ezeakacha
2015 Allocation patterns of carbon and nitrogen in animals are influenced by food quality and quantity, as well as by inherent metabolic and physiological constraints within organisms. Whole body stoichiometry also may vary between the sexes who differ in development rates and reproductive allocation patterns.
Ingestibility, Digestibility, and Engineered Biological Control Potential of Flavobacterium hibernum, Isolated from Larval Mosquito Habitats
PMCShicheng Chen, Michael G. Kaufman, Michelle L. Korir, and Edward D. Walker,
2014 Flavobacterium hibernum, isolated from larval habitats of the eastern tree hole mosquito, A. triseriatus, remained suspended in the larval feeding zone much longer (8 days) than other bacteria. Autofluorescent protein markers were developed for the labeling of F. hibernum with a strong flavobacterial expression system.
Invasion biology of Aedes japonicus japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae).
Annual Review of EntomologyKaufman MG1, Fonseca DM.
2014 Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald) (Diptera: Culicidae) has recently expanded beyond its native range of Japan and Korea into large parts of North America and Central Europe. Population genetic studies begun immediately after the species was detected in North America revealed genetically distinct introductions that subsequently merged, likely contributing to the successful expansion.
Bacterial Communities Associated with Culex Mosquito Larvae and Two Emergent Aquatic Plants of Bioremediation Importance
PLOS OneDagne Duguma , Paul Rugman-Jones, Michael G. Kaufman, Michael W. Hall, Josh D. Neufeld, Richard Stouthamer, William E. Walton
2013 Microbes are important for mosquito nutrition, growth, reproduction and control. In this study, we examined bacterial communities associated with larval mosquitoes and their habitats. Specifically, we characterized bacterial communities associated with late larval instars of the western encephalitis mosquito (Culex tarsalis), the submerged portions of two emergent macrophytes (California bulrush, Schoenoplectus californicus and alkali bulrush, Schoenoplectus maritimus), and the associated water columns to investigate potential differential use of resources by mosquitoes in different wetland habitats.
Molecular characterization of a cold-active recombinant xylanase from Flavobacterium johnsoniae and its applicability in xylan hydrolysis.
Bioresource TechnologyChen S, Kaufman MG, Miazgowicz KL, Bagdasarian M, Walker ED
2012 A novel xylanase gene, xyn10A, was cloned from Flavobacterium johsoniae, overexpressed in a flavobacterial expression system, the recombinant enzyme purified by Ni-affinity chromatography, and enzyme structure and activity analyzed.