Education:

• AB, Molecular Biology, Princeton University, 1999 (Advisor: Joe Tsien)
• PhD, Neuroscience, Yale University, 2005 (Advisor: Charles Greer)
• Postdoc, Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, 2005-2007 (Advisor: Thomas Biederer)
• Postdoc, Neuroscience, Brown University (Advisor: Justin Fallon)

Research Interests:

My laboratory studies the neural mechanisms underlying how organisms interact with the environment. Arising from this are parallel interests in circuit formation, particularly of sensory circuits, and neural diseases including autism and Fragile X syndrome (FXS). FXS, which arises from mutations in the RNA-binding protein FMRP, is the leading form of inherited intellectual disability and autism; its study, therefore, provides insights into diseases that afflict large segments of the population. FMRP is expressed in the somatodendritic domain of essentially every neuron. FMRP additionally localizes to axonal ribonucleoprotein particles termed FXGs (Fragile X granules) in a subset of neural circuits, including sensory, motor, and hippocampal circuits. The discovery of FXGs points to a heretofore unknown role for axonal protein synthesis in the vertebrate central nervous system. We are following up on these observations to elucidate how local protein synthesis in the axonal and presynaptic compartments contributes to neural circuit formation and function, and how disruption of this process contributes to the symptoms of diseases including FXS and autism.

Bio:

Specialization:

Selected Publications:

• Akins MR, LeBlanc HF, Stackpole EE, Chyung E, and Fallon JR. 2012. Systematic mapping of Fragile X granules in the mouse brain reveals a potential role for presynaptic FMRP in sensorimotor functions. J Comp Neurol. 520:3687-706. Pubmed
• Bath KG, Akins MR, and Lee FS. 2012. BDNF control of adult SVZ neurogenesis. Dev Psychobiol. 54:578-89. Pubmed
• Akins MR*, Berk-Rauch HE*, Fallon JR. 2009. Presynaptic translation: stepping out of the postsynaptic shadow. Front Neural Circuits. 3:17. Article
• Christie SB*, Akins MR*, Schwob JE, and Fallon JR. 2009 The FXG: A presynaptic Fragile X granule expressed in a subset of developing brain circuits. J Neurosci. 29:1514-24. Article Highlighted in "This Week in the Journal"
• Thomas LA*, Akins MR*, and Biederer T. 2008 Expression and Adhesion Profiles of SynCAM Adhesion Molecules Indicate Distinct Neuronal Functions. J Comp Neurol. 510:47-67. Article
• Fogel AI, Akins MR*, Krupp AJ*, Stagi M*, Stein V, Biederer T. 2007 SynCAMs organize synapses through heterophilic adhesion. J Neurosci. 27:12516-30. Article
• Akins MR, Benson DL, and Greer CA. 2007 Cadherin Expression in the Developing Mouse Olfactory System. J Comp Neurol. 501:483-497. Pubmed
• Akins MR and Greer CA. 2006 Axon behavior in the olfactory nerve reflects the involvement of catenin-cadherin mediated adhesion. J Comp Neurol. 499:979-89. Pubmed
• Akins MR and Biederer T. 2006 Cell-cell interactions in synaptogenesis. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 16:83-9. Pubmed
• Akins MR and Greer CA. 2006 Cytoskeletal organization of the developing mouse olfactory nerve. J Comp Neurol. 494:358-67. Pubmed

Education:

• BS, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. (in Botany)
• PhD, University of California at Los Angeles

Curriculum Vitae:

Research Interests:

I am interested in how photosynthetic organisms perceive and respond to environmental signals, particularly light. In addition, we are interested in how cell adhesion molecules and events result in the formation of filaments in filamentous cyanobacteria. Current projects in the lab are:

• Elucidating the psbDII high-light signal transduction pathway in Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942.
• Deciphering the function of putative eukaryotic-type extra-cellular matrix protein genes in cyanobacteria.
• Using cyanobacteria in the design of in-home hydroponic systems.

Specialization:

Selected Publications:

• S. Anandan, M. Nalty, D. Cogdell and S.S. Golden (1996). Identification of two classes of transcriptional activator genes in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942. Archives of Microbiology 166: 58-63.
• S. Anandan and S.S. Golden (1997). Cis-acting sequences required for light-responsive expression of the psbDII gene in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942. J. Bacteriol. 179: 6865-6870.
• Kimberly D. Magrini, Amit Basu, James R. Spotila, Harold W. Avery, Lawrence W. Bergman, Rachel Hammond, and Shivanthi Anandan. (2008) DNA microarrays detect effects of soil contamination on Arabidopsis thaliana gene expression. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.28: 2476-2387.
• S. Anandan (2008) Sample Portfolios from Across Disciplines: Bioscience and Biotechnology. In The Academic Portfolio: A Practical Guide to Documenting Teaching, Research, and Service by Peter Seldin and Elizabeth Miller 1st edition : Jossey-Bass Publishing Company Inc.
• Simara Price and Shivanthi Anandan (2013). Characterization of a novel collagen-like protein TrpA in Trichodesmium erythraeum. J. Phycol. 49: 758-764.
• Jacob Russell, Yi Hu, Linh Chau*, Margarita Pauliushchyk*, Ioannis Anastopoulos*, Shivanthi Anandan and Michael S. Waring (2014). Indoor biofilter growth and exposure to airborne chemicals similarly alter bacterial communities from plant roots. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 80: 4805-4813.
• Simara Price, Siobhan Toal and Shivanthi Anandan (2014). The TrpA protein in Trichodesmium erythraeum IMS101 is a non-fibril forming collagen and a component of the outer sheath. Microbiology. 160: 2148-2156.
• The novel design research lab experience: teaching and trans-disciplinary mentorship for 21st-century science, engineering and design students. Diana Nicholas and Shivanthi Anandan. Proceedings of International Technology, Education and Development conference; pp. 9467-9473. 2017, Valencia, Spain.
• Mind as a Thing: REDO-ing the iterative in design education. 2017. Diana Nicholas, Elise Krespan and Shivanthi Anandan. Proceedings of the REDO Cumulus conference: pp. 97-106. Kolding, Denmark.
• Urban biophilic environments-a novel lexicon for trans-disciplinary practice. D.S. Nicholas, Rita Truongcao, William Char* and Shivanthi Anandan. 2017. In Architectural Research Addressing Societal Challenges. Manuel Couceiro da Costa, Filipa Roseta, Joana Pestana Lages and Susana Couceiro da Costa, editors. Vol. 1. p495-500. CRC Press.

  *undergraduate author

Education:

• BS, Chemistry, Reed College
• PhD, Biophysical Sciences, SUNY at Buffalo

Research Interests:

Mass action kinetic modeling of membrane transport networks:
Our primary project is the study of Multidrug resistance transporters.  We have long-standing collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline to develop a quantitative kinetic model of transcellular transport mediated by the multidrug resistance protein P-gp.  This transporter is found in many human tissues, where it is responsible for inhibiting uptake of foreign molecules, e.g. the colon, the kidney, the liver, gonads a nd the b picks up amphiphilic compounds from the inner apical membrane, which faces the “outside” world, and uses the energy of ATP hydrolysis to eject the compound back to the “outside” world.  However, many cancer cells have acquired or amplified the gene for this transporter since it will also inhibit their uptake of chemotherapeutic agents. It is thought that this acquired resistance is responsible for much of the failure of cancer chemotherapy. P-gp has 12 transmembrane domains and a very large range of substrates, which has complicated the elucidation of its binding and active sites.  Our approach is to create a rigorous analysis of its transport kinetics, which will allow a clear focus on the how compound structure and transporter mutations affect elementary rate constants of transport for this protein. This can guide more precise structure-function relationships for P-gp and hopefully effective inhibitors.

Bio:

Academic and Professional Positions

• 1981-82 Cancer Research Scientist II - Department of Experimental Pathology, Ro tute, Buffalo, New York
• 1982-88 Assistant Professor in Residence
• 1988-89 Associate Professor in Residence - Departments of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, California
• 1989-95 Associate Professor
• 1992-95 Assistant Department Head
• 1995-98 Departmennt Professor - Department of Biology, College Of Arts & Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Specialization:

Selected Publications:

• Kinetic identification of membrane transporters that assist transcellular transport of many P-gp substrates through a confluent monolayer of cells expressing hMDR1. AA Lumen, L Li, J Li, AD Owen, IJ Hidalgo, H Ellens & J Bentz. Drug Metab. Disp. submitted (2011).
• Fitt ing the of P-gp mediated transport across the hMDR1-MDCK confluent cell monolayer using a Particle Swarm algorithm and establishing the functional properties of other substrate-specific transporters. D Agnani, P Acharya, E Martinez, T Tran, F Abraham, F Tobin, H Ellens & J Bentz. Submitted (2011)
• If the KI is defined by the free energy of binding to P-gp, what kinetic parameters define the IC50 for the MDCKII-hMDR1 confluent cell monolayer? AA Lumen, P Acharya, JW Polli, A Ayrton, H Ellens & J Bentz. Drug Met Disp, 38:260-9 (2010).

Education:

• BS, Biology, Florida International University, 1985
• PhD, Neuroscience, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1991
• Post Doc, Neuroscience, Case Western Reserve University, 1994
• Post Doc, Immunology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 1996

Selected Publications:

• Johnstone JT, Morton PD, Jayakumar AR, Johnstone AL, Bracchi-Ricard V, Runko E, Patel S, Pearse DD, Liebl DJ, Norenberg MD, Bethea JR Astrocyte-meidtaed NADPH-oxidase activation in oligodendrocytes induces cell death following trauma (In Press J of Neuroscience Research)
• Morton PD, Theus MH, Bethea JR Activation of NF- kB in Schwann cells is dispensable for myelination. (In Press J of Neuroscience)
• Jopek Ashbaugh J., Brambilla R., Karmally S., Cabello C., Malek T., Bethea JR. Interleukin-7 receptor alpha contributes to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis through non-hematopoietic cell lineages and altered T cell responses. (In Press, Journal of Immunology).
• Brambilla R, Dvoriantchikova G, Barakat D, Ivanov D, Bethea JR* and Shestopalov VI* Transgenic inhibition of astroglial-NF-kB protects from optic nerve damage and retinal ganglion cell loss in experimental optic neuritis J Neuroinflammation 2012 (9) 213-. *co-corresponding authors
• Bigford G, Bracchi-Ricard V, Nash MS, Bethea JR Chronic thoracic spinal cord injury inhibits leptin signaling in the hypothalamus. PLoS One 7(7) e41703 2012
• Morton PD, Johnstone JT, Ramos AY, Liebl DJ, Bethea JR Nuclear Factor-κB Activation in Schwann Cells Regulates Regeneration and Re-myelination. GLIA. 60:639-650 2012.
• Zhang Y, Liu J, Yao S, Li F, Xin L, Lai M, Bracchi-Richard V, Xu H, Yen W, Meng W, Liu S, Yang L, Karmally S, Liu J, Zhu H, Gordon J, Khalili K, Srinivasan S, Bethea JR, Mo X, Hu W. NFĸB Signaling Initiates Early Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells. Stem Cells. 2011.
• Brambilla R, Ashbaugh JJ, Magliozzi R, Dellarole A, Karmally S, Szymkowski DE, Bethea JR. Inhibition of soluble tumour necrosis factor is therapeutic in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and promotes axon preservation and remyelination. Brain. 134(Pt 9):2736-54 2011.
• Candiotti KA, Yang Z, Morris R, Yang J, Crescimone NA, Sanchez GC, Bird V, Leveillee R, Rodriguez Y, Liu H, Zhang YD, Bethea JR, Gitlin MC. Polymorphism in the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene is associated with serum interleukin-1 receptor antagonist concentrations and postoperative opioid consumption. Anesthesiology. 114(5):1162-8 PubMed 2011.
• Zhang YP, Fu ES, Sagen J, Levitt RC, Candiotti KA, Bethea JR, Brambilla R. Glial NF-kappa B inhibition alters neuropeptide expression after sciatic nerve injury in mice. Brain Res. 1385:38-46

Education:

• MS, Cellular and Molecular Biology, University Joseph Fourier, France
• PhD, Biology, University Joseph Fourier, France
• Postdoc, Molecular Parasitology, University of Central Florida
• Postdoc, Neuroscience, University of Miami, Florida

Research Interests:

The role of TNF in neuroinflammation following spinal cord injury. Two forms of TNF exist, a soluble form and a transmembrane form which bind preferentially TNFR1 and TNFR2, respectively. Soluble TNF is believed to be proinflammatory causing demyelination and neurodegeneration while transmembrane TNF signaling is neuroprotective and promote remyelination. We are using both in vitro and in vivo approaches to understand how TNFR2 signaling in glial cells promotes remyelination.

We are also interested in the peripheral consequences of spinal cord injury on the immune system and metabolism.

Specialization:

Selected Publications:

• Bernardes D, Brambilla R, Bracchi-Ricard V. Karmally S, Dellarole A, Carvalho-Tavares J, Bethea JR. (2015) "Prior regular exercise improves clinical outcome and reduces demyelination and axonal injury in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis ." J Neuroinflammation
• Novrup HG, Bracchi-Ricard V*. Ellman DG, Ricard J, Jain A, Runko E, Lyck L, Ylu-Karjanmaa M, Szymkowski DE, Pearse DD, Lambertsen KL, Bethea JR. (2014) "Central but not systemic administration of XPro1595 is therapeutic following moderate spinal cord injury in mice ." J Neuroinflammation 11(1): 159 *co-first author
• Zha J., Smith A., Andreansky S., Bracchi-Ricard V*. Bethea JR. (2014) "Chronic thoracic spinal cord injury impairs CD8+T-cell function by up-regulating programmed cell death-1 expression ." J Neuroinflammation 11: 65 *co-senior corresponding author
• Johnstone JT, Morton PD, Jayakumar AR, Johnstone AL, Gao H, Bracchi-Ricard V, Pearse DD, Norenberg MD and Bethea JR. (2013) "Inhibition of NADPH oxidase activation in oligodendrocytes reduces cytotoxicity following trauma" PLoS One 8(11): e80975.
• Bigford, G. E., V. C. Bracchi-Ricard, et al. (2013). "Neuroendocrine and cardiac metabolic dysfunction and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in adipose tissue and pancreas following chronic spinal cord injury in the mouse." ASN Neuro 5(4).
• Bracchi-Ricard, V., Lambertsen K. L., et al. (2013). "Inhibition of astroglial NF-kappaB enhances oligodendrogenesis following spinal cord injury." J Neuroinflammation 10(1): 92.
• Johnstone, J. T., Morton P. D., Jayakumar AR, Bracchi-Ricard V et al. (2013). "Reduced extracellular zinc levels facilitate glutamate-mediated oligodendrocyte death after trauma." J Neurosci Res 91(6): 828-37.
• Bigford, G. E., V. C. Bracchi-Ricard, et al. (2012). "Alterations in mouse hypothalamic adipokine gene expression and leptin signaling following chronic spinal cord injury and with advanced age." PLoS One 7(7): e41073.
• Zhang, Y., Liu J., Yao S, Li F, Xin L, Lai M, Bracchi-Ricard V et al. (2012). "Nuclear factor kappa B signaling initiates early differentiation of neural stem cells." Stem Cells 30(3): 510-24. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16320244

Education:

• BS, Biology, University of Cincinnati, 1986
• PhD, Biology, University of Cincinnati, 1996

Research Interests:

Immunology & Microbiology

Specialization:

Education:

• BS, George Washington University
• PhD, Temple University
• Postdoc, Epigenetics, University of Pennsylvania, Departments of Genetics and Medicine, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Research Interests:

My research program is focused on understanding epigenetic mechanisms that govern higher order brain function via chromatin packaging in neurons. Epigenetic gene control in the brain is a fundamental mechanism for orchestrating dynamic gene expression profiles critical for cognitive function. One of the best characterized epigenetic mark crucial for learning and memory is histone acetylation that regulates cognitive gene expression by controlling chromatin packaging in neurons. Appropriate histone acetylation homeostasis is maintained by the antagonistic activity of histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and histone deacetylases (HDAC). Numerous studies, including our own research, have shown that disruption of this finely tuned epigenetic balance in the brain involving reduced histone acetylation levels causes an epigenetic blockade of transcription with concomitant cognitive impairment that is a key step in neurodegenerative disease etiology including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Nevertheless, the specific HATs that generate these neuroepigenetic marks and their mechanisms of action in neural epigenetic gene control in the brain remain largely unknown. My laboratory is focused on understanding the role(s) of specific HATs in higher order brain function and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Understanding such processes will likely provide safer and selective ways to promote histone acetylation mediated cognitive enhancement benefits in clinical settings.

Bio:

Biosketch (PDF)

Specialization:

My research program is focused on understanding epigenetic mechanisms that govern higher order brain function via chromatin packaging in neurons.

Selected Publications:

• Panikker, P.+, Xu, S.+, Beaver, M.+, Ahktar, S#, Elefant, F*. 2018. Restoring Tip60 HAT/HDAC2 balance in the neurodegenerative brain relieves epigenetic transcriptional repression and reinstates cognition, Journal of Neuroscience, 2018 Apr 13. pii: 2840-17. Featured in Newsweek, Drexel NOW, US Against Alzheimer’s, News Medical Life Sciences, Tech & Science, Science Daily.
• Gulchina, Y.+, Xu, S.+, Snyder, MA+, Elefant F*., Gao, W*. 2017. Epigenetic mechanisms of synaptic NMDA receptor hypofunction during development of the prefrontal cortex of the MAM model for schizophrenia. J Neurochemistry. Jun 19. doi: 10.1111/jnc.14101. * Co-corresponding authors. Selected as focus article for Editorial Highlight
• Xu, S.+, Panikker, P.+, Iqbal, S.#, Elefant, F*. 2016. Tip60 HAT action mediates environmental enrichment induced cognitive restoration. PloS ONE, 11(7);e0159623.
• Xu S+, Wilf R+, Menon T.#, Panikker P+, Sarthi J.+, Elefant F*. 2014. Epigenetic control of learning and memory in Drosophila by Tip60 HAT action. Genetics 198(4):1571-86. Editorially featured on cover as Issue Highlight
• Johnson, A., Sarthi, J., Pirooznia, S., Ruebe, B., and Elefant, F*. 2013. Increasing Tip60 HAT levels rescues axonal defects and associated behavioral defects in a Drosophila Alzheimer’s disease model. Journal of Neuroscience. Apr 24;33(17):7535-47. PMCID: 3711104 Featured as a ‘Key Research Article’ in “Psychology Progress”.
• Pirooznia, S. and Elefant, F*. 2013. Targeting Specific HATs for Neurodegenerative Disease Treatment: Translating Basic Biology to Therapeutic Possibilities. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience.;7:30. PMCID: 23543406
• Pirooznia, K.., J., Chieu, K., Chan, M., Zimmerman, J and Elefant, F*. 2012 Tip60 and APP mediate axonal growth and PDF levels in Drosophila clock neurons to regulate sleep. GENETICS 192(4):1327-45. PMCID: 3512142 Editorially featured on cover and selected as Issue Highlight.
• Pirooznia, S., Sarthi, J., Zervos, A., Lorbeck, M., Chieu, K., Koduri, S, and Elefant, F*. 2012. Tip60 HAT activity mediates APP induced lethality and apoptotic cell death in the CNS of a Drosophila Alzheimer’s disease model. PLoS ONE 7(7):e41776. PMCID: 3406101
• Sarthi, J.and Elefant, F*. 2011. Tip60 HAT activity controls synaptic bouton growth at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. PLoS ONE 27;6(10):e26202. PMCID: 3203119
• Lorbeck, M.T., Pirooznia, K., Sarthi,J. , Zhu, X, and Elefant, F*. 2011. Microarray analysis uncovers a role for Tip60 in nervous system function and general metabolism. PLoS ONE 11;6(4):e18412. PMCID: 3073973
• Singh, N., Lorbeck, M.T., Zervos,A., Zimmerman, J, and Elefant, F*. 2010. The histone acetyltransferase Elp3 plays an active role in the control of synaptic bouton expansion and sleep in Drosophila. J. of Neurochemistry 115, 493-504. PMCID: In progress (NIHMS: 222944)
• Zhu, X., Singh, N., Donnelly, C., Boimel, P. & Elefant, F*. 2007. The cloning and characterization of the histone acetyltransferase human homolog Dmel\TIP60 in Drosophila melanogaster: Dmel\TIP60 is essential for multicellular development. Genetics 175, 1229-40. PMCID: 1840084 Editorially Featured as Issue Highlight.

Education:

• Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Stuttgart, Germany, 2011-2014
• PhD, Cell Biology, University of Stuttgart, Germany, 2007-2011
• MS, Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany 2002-2007

Research Interests:

• Protein engineering
• Immunology
• Neuroimmunology
• Neurology

Specialization:

Protein engineering, immunology, neuroimmunology, neurology

Selected Publications:

• Fischer R, Kontermann RE, Maier O “Targeting sTNF/TNFR1 Signaling as a New Therapeutic Strategy” Antibodies 2015 4(1), 48-70; doi:10.3390/antib4010048
• Fischer R, Maier O “Interrelation of oxidative stress and inflammation in neurodegenerative disease: role of TNF” Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2015 doi: 10.1155/2015/610813. Epub 2015 Mar 5.
• Fischer R, Wajant H, Kontermann RE, Pfizenmaier K, Maier O. „Astrocyte-specific activation of TNFR2 promotes oligodendrocyte maturation by secretion of leukemia inhibitory factor.” Glia. 2014 Feb;62(2):272-83.
• Lopez-Ramirez MA, Fischer R, Torres-Badillo CC, Davies HA, Logan K, Pfizenmaier K, Male DK, Sharrack B, Romero IA. "Role of caspases in cytokine-induced barrier breakdown in human brain endothelial cells.“ J Immunol. 2012 Sep 15;189(6):3130-9.
• Fischer R, Maier O, Siegemund M, Wajant H, Scheurich P, Pfizenmaier K. „A TNF Receptor 2 Selective Agonist Rescues Human Neurons from Oxidative Stress-Induced Cell Death.“ PLoS One. 2011;6(11):e27621. Epub 2011 Nov 14.
• Fischer R, Maier O, Naumer M, Krippner-Heidenreich A, Scheurich P, Pfizenmaier K. „Ligand-induced internalization of TNF receptor 2 mediated by a di-leucin motif is dispensable for activation of the NFκB pathway.“ Cell Signal. 2011 Jan;23(1):161-70. Epub 2010 Aug 31.

Education:

• BS, Biology, Specialization in Neuroscience, UC Irvine, 1998
• PhD, Neurobiology, UCLA, 2005
• Postdoc, Developmental Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 2006 - 2010
• Postdoc, Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology, UC Santa Cruz, 2010 – 2013

Research Interests:

A fundamental goal in neuroscience is to understand how neural circuits are formed, maintained, and reorganized during development and throughout the life of the organism. Our lab is interested in the cellular interactions that facilitate the establishment of neural circuits, as well as the structural plasticity and reorganization of the CNS in the healthy and injured or diseased states. In particular, we focus on the role of astrocytes, part of the larger family of astroglia in the CNS with diverse morphological and functional properties. Though historically thought to serve primarily as support cells for neurons, astrocytes are now known to play critical roles in a number of neurological processes including the formation, maintenance and plasticity of synaptic connections, and neural repair mechanisms after injury. Moreover, a subset of astroglial cells serve as the predominant neural stem cells in the adult forebrain, generating new neurons throughout life. Our lab is interested in the cellular and molecular mechanisms that define and regulate the diversity of astrocyte function in the intact and injured or diseased CNS. We use mouse genetics to manipulate astrocyte function in vivo, and examine the subsequent effects on both neuronal and astrocyte function. Our lab utilizes conventional and confocal microscopy of fixed tissues, as well as chronic, in vivo imaging by 2 photon laser scanning microscopy to address two primary questions: (1) How do astrocytes contribute to synapse formation and reorganization in vivo? (2) What are the molecular signals that regulate astrocyte function in the intact CNS and following injury? Our research aims to bring novel insight into astrocyte biology, with the ultimate goal of providing a deeper understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating neural circuitry.

Specialization:

Selected Publications:

• Garcia A.D.R., Petrova, R., Eng L., Joyner A.L. (2010) Sonic hedgehog regulates discrete populations of astrocytes in the adult mouse forebrain. J. Neurosci., 30(41):13597-608.
• Nieman B.J., Shyu J.Y., Rodriguez J.J., Garcia A.D., Joyner A.L., Turnbull D.H. (2010) In vivo MRI of neural cell migration dynamics in the mouse brain. Neuroimage 50(2):456-64.
• Gregorian, C., Nakashima, J., Le Belle, J., Ohab, J., Kim, R., Liu, A., Smith, K. B., Groszer, M., Garcia, A.D.R., Sofroniew, M. V., Carmichael, S. T., Kornblum, H. I., Liu, X., Wu, H. (2009) Pten deletion in adult neural stem/progenitor cells enhances constitutive neurogensis. J. Neurosci 29(6):1874-86.
• Saxe M.D., Malleret G, Vronskaya S, Mendez I, Garcia A.D.R., Sofroniew MV, Kandel ER, Hen R. (2007) Paradoxical influence of hippocampal neurogenesis on working memory. PNAS 104(11):4642-4646.
• Saxe M.D., Battaglia, F., Wang, J.-W., Malleret, G., David, D.J., Monckton, J.E., Garcia A.D.R., Sofroniew, M.V., Kandel, E.R., Santarelli, L., Hen, R., and Drew, M.R. (2006) Ablation of hippocampal neurogenesis impairs contextual fear conditioning and synaptic plasticity in the dentate gyrus. PNAS 103(46):17501-506.
• Dougherty, J., Garcia, A.D.R., Nakano, I., Livingstone, M., Norris, B., Polakiewicz, R., Sofroniew, M.V., Kornblum, H., and Geschwind, D. (2005) PBK/TOPK, a proliferating neural progenitor-specific mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase. J. Neurosci. 25(46):10773-85.
• Garcia, A.D.R., Doan, N.B., Imura, T., Bush, T.G., and Sofroniew, M.V. (2004) GFAP expressing progenitors are the principle source of constitutive neurogenesis in adult mouse forebrain. Nat. Neurosci. 7(11):1233-41.
• Morshead, C.M., Garcia, A.D.R., Sofroniew, M.V. and Van Der Kooy, D. (2003) The ablation of glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive cells from the adult central nervous system results in the loss of forebrain neural stem cells but not retinal stem cells. Eur. J. Neurosci. 18:76-84.
• Rodriguez, J.J., Garcia, D.R., Nakabeppu, Y., Pickel, V.M. (2001) Enhancement of laminar FosB expression in frontal cortex of rats receiving long chronic clozapine administration. Experimental Neurology 168(2):392-401.
• Rodriguez, J.J., Garcia, D.R., Nakabeppu, Y., Pickel, V.M. (2001) FosB in rat striatum: Normal regional distribution and enhanced expression after 6-month haloperidol administration. Synapse 39:122-132.
• Rodriguez, J.J., Garcia, D.R., Nakabeppu, Y., Pickel, V.M. (1999) Subcellular distribution of 5-hydroxytryptamine 2a and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors within single neurons in rat motor and limbic striatum. Journal of Comparative Neurology 413(2):219-31.

Education:

• BS, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• PhD, University of Chicago
• Post-Doc, Northwestern University

Research Interests:

Protein misfolding diseases, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases, ALS, or certain types of diabetes are becoming increasingly prevalent in the aging human population. Protein misfolding is often implicated in these disorders, but the mechanisms remain unclear. We have shown that misfolding and aggregation of disease-related proteins (e.g. polyglutamine expansions in Huntington's disease, or mutant SOD1 in ALS) can trigger misfolding of other metastable 'bystander' proteins, causing their loss of function and thus disrupting cellular functions. On the other hand, these metastable proteins, encoded by genetic polymorphisms, strongly modulate the disease phenotypes. We proposed that competition for the folding resources underlies this toxic behavior. It is currently thought that understanding such failure of protein homeostasis (proteostasis) is key to understanding and combating aging and neurodegeneration. My lab focuses on mechanisms that control proteostasis, using genetic, biochemical, and live imaging approaches in a metazoan C. elegans and mammalian neurons. We currently have three main research directions:

1. The mechanism of differential neuronal susceptibility to protein misfolding. A. Why only some neurons are affected in disease, when the toxic protein is often expressed in all or many neurons? We are using C. elegans to ask whether dysfunction of the susceptible neuron can be explained by misfolding of a 'bystander' protein that is not present in other neurons, and what makes a particular 'bystander' protein a risk factor for a given neuron. B. An exciting new direction that sprung from the above work is the finding that a folding stress in the ER of neurons derails the correct targeting of neurotrophic secreted molecules to axons or dendrites. We are examining the novel function of an ER stress sensor, PERK, in regulating the axonal/dendritic targeting, and whether it explains why mutations in PERK are a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and tauopathy.

2. The role of natural genetic variation and physiological stress in proteostasis. A. We are using wild strains of C. elegans to understand 1) what is the nature of polymorphisms and genetic networks that control susceptibility of cells to protein aggregation and toxicity, and 2) how natural variation controls resistance to vs. tolerance of aggregation. B. We are harnessing the natural, evolutionarily selected mechanisms that protect proteostasis. For example, we have identified a small heat-shock protein HSP-12.6 as a major defender of proteostasis in the stress-resistant dauer larva, and are testing its mechanism of action.

3. Maintaining the ER proteostasis under physiological stress. A. We are studying how cells match which ER chaperones are induced during differentiation to their future protein folding needs, since different secreted proteins will need different chaperones for their efficient folding. B. In collaboration with Dr. Argon's lab (CHOP) we are studying the regulation of an ER stress sensor IRE1 in adaptation to changes in ER proteostasis, and in collaboration with both Dr. Argon's and Dr. Behtea's labs – the possibility of manipulating the IRE1 activity to improve re-myelination in a Multiple Sclerosis model.

Specialization:

My lab aims to understand the mechanisms that maintain healthy protein folding environment in the cell, and how they fail in neurodegenerative diseases and aging. We use genetic and live imaging approaches in a genetically tractable organism, C. elegans, as discovery tools, and apply the findings to mammalian systems.

Selected Publications:

• Zha J, Alexander-Floyd J, Gidalevitz T*. (2018) HSP-4/BiP expression in secretory cells is regulated by a lineage-dependent differentiation program and not by the unfolded protein response. bioRxiv 388272; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/388272
• Haroon S, Li A, Weinert JL, Fritsch C, Ericson N, Alexander-Floyd J, Braeckman BP, Haynes C, Bielas J, Gidalevitz T, Vermulst M. (2018) Multiple molecular mechanisms rescue mtDNA disease in C. elegans. Cell Reports 22(12):3115-3125, PMID: 29562168
• Klabonski L, Zha J, Senthilkumar L, Gidalevitz T*. (2016) A bystander mechanism explains the specific phenotype of a broadly expressed misfolded protein. PLoS Genetics 12, e1006450, PMID: 27926939

  Commentary on this article:

  -Ruvinsky I: F1000Prime Recommendation. F1000Prime, 02 Feb 2017

• Eletto D, Eletto D, Dersh D, Gidalevitz T*, Argon Y*. (2014) Protein Disulfide Isomerase A6 controls the decay of IRE1α signaling via disulfide-dependent association. Molecular Cell 53, 562-76, PMID: 24508390
• Gidalevitz T*, Wang N, Deravaj T, Alexander-Floyd J, Morimoto RI (2013) Natural genetic variation determines susceptibility to aggregation or toxicity in a C. elegans model for polyglutamine disease. BMC Biology 11: 100, PMID: 24079614

  Commentary on this article:

  -Matt Kaeberlein. (2013) Deciphering the role of natural variation in age-related protein homeostasis. BMC Biology 11:102

• Gidalevitz T, Stevens F, Argon Y. (2013) Orchestration of secretory protein folding by ER chaperones. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1833, 2410-24. PMID: 23507200
• Gidalevitz T, Krupinski T, Garcia S, Morimoto RI. (2009) Destabilizing protein polymorphisms in the genetic background direct phenotypic expression of mutant SOD1 toxicity. PLOS Genetics. 5(3):e1000399 PMID: 19266020
• Gidalevitz T#, Ben-Zvi A#, Ho KH, Brignull HR, Morimoto RI. (2006) Progressive disruption of cellular protein folding in models of polyglutamine diseases. Science 311(5766):1471 – 1474 PMID: 16469881

  # - equal contribution

  Commentary on this article:

  -Faculty of 1000 evaluation: Must Read

  -Alzforum: Protein Aggregation In Disease - A New Theory Joins the Fold

  -Bates GP. (2006) One Misfolded Protein Allows Others to Sneak By. Science. 311(5766):1385-6

  -Williams R. (2006) Neurodegenerative diseases: Folding failure. Research Highlight. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 7, 252

Education:

• BA, Magna Cum Laude, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• PhD, Graduate School of the City University of New York
• Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship, National Institutes of Health
• Post-Doctoral Research Associate, University of Maryland

Research Interests:

The rainforests of the Gulf of Guinea and Congo Basin are located in western equatorial Africa. These rainforests are among the most important centers of biological diversity in the world, harboring roughly 20% of all known species of plants and animals. Research in Gonder’s group is focused on examining the history of this biologically-rich region with the specific goals of: (i) deciphering spatial patterns of biodiversity across the region; (ii) inferring the underlying evolutionary and ecological processes that generate the region’s rich biodiversity; and (iii) using this knowledge to help inform conservation strategies in western equatorial Africa which recognize and integrate evolutionary patterns and the natural processes that produced them.

Members of Gonder’s group are currently pursing research in a range of tropical organisms, with the explicit aim of improving biodiversity prediction and conservation in central Africa. The research also includes both laboratory analysis in the U.S. and fieldwork in western equatorial Africa, primarily in Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Nigeria. The research program also incorporates data from diverse fields, including population genetics, genomics, phylogeography, geospatial modeling, virology and conservation science. Research in her group is highly collaborative, and occurs within a diverse, international network that includes academic researchers, conservation professionals and decision-makers.

An additional focus area is to promote multi-institutional capacity building activities that will boost biodiversity research and conservation efforts in western equatorial Africa, a region undergoing rapid climatic change and socioeconomic transformation. Laboratory members have contributed to several activities ranging from primary research, educational outreach and conservation action planning. Notably, Gonder is a principal investigator on a bold research and educational program unites more than 150 researchers and students from the U.S., Africa and Europe around an innovative research project that seeks to identify meaningful conservation measures to mitigate the effects of habitat loss and climate change in western equatorial Africa.

Specialization:

Selected Publications:

• Long-term urban market dynamics reveal increased bushmeat carcass volume despite economic growth and proactive environmental legislation on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. D.T. Cronin, S. Woloszynek; W.A. Morra; S. Honarvar; J.M. Linder; M.K. Gonder; M.P. O'Connor; G.W. Hearn PLoS ONE 10(7): e0134464.
• The population genetics of wild chimpanzees in Cameroon and Nigeria suggests a positive role for selection in the evolution of chimpanzee subspecies. M.W. Mitchell, S. Locatelli, L. Ghobrial, A.A. Pokempner, P.R. Sesink Clee, E.E. Abwe, A. Nicolas, L. Nkembi, N.M. Anthony, B.J. Morgan, R. Fotso, M. Peeters, B.H. Hahn and M.K. Gonder, BMC Evolutionary Biology 15:3. (DOI 10.1186/s12862-014-0276-y).
• Chimpanzee population genetic structure in Cameroon and Nigeria is associated with habitat variation that may be lost under climate change. P.R. Sesink Clee, E.E. Abwe, R.D. Ambahe, N.M. Anthony, R. Fotso, S. Locatelli, F. Maisels, M.W. Mitchell, B.J. Morgan, A.A. Pokempner and M.K. Gonder, BMC Evolutionary Biology 15:2. (DOI 10.1186/s12862-014-0275-z)
• Environmental variation and rivers govern the structure of chimpanzee genetic diversity in a biodiversity hotspot. M.W. Mitchell, S. Locatelli, P.R. Sesink Clee, H.A. Thomassen and M.K. Gonder, BMC Evolutionary Biology 15:2. (DOI 10.1186/s12862-014-0274-0)
• Great ape genome diversity. J. Prado-Martinez, P.H. Sudmant, J.M. Kid, H. Li, J.L. Kelley, B. Lorente-Galdos, K. Veeramah, A. Woerner, T.D. O'Connor, G. Santpere, A. Cagan, C.Theunert, F. Casals, H. Laayouni, K.Munch, A. Hobolth, A.E. Halager, M. Malig, J. Hernandez, I. Hernando-Herraez, K. Prüfer, M. Pybus, L. Johnstone, M. Lachmann, C. Alkan, D. Twigg, N. Petit, C. Baker, F. Hormozdiari, M.Fernandez-Callejo, M. Dabad, M.L. Wilson, L. Stevison, C.Camprubí, T. Carvalho, A. Ruiz- Herrera, L. Vives, M. Mele, T.Abello14, I. Kondova, R.E. Bontrop, A. Pusey, F. Lankester, J.A. Kiyang, R.A. Bergl, E. Lonsdorf, S. Myers21, M. Ventura, P. Gagneux, D. Comas, H. Siegismund, J. Blanc, L. Agueda-Calpena, M. Gut, L. Fulton, S.A. Tishkoff, J.C. Mullikin, R.K. Wilson, I.G. Gut, M.K. Gonder, O.A. Ryder, B.H. Hahn, A. Navarro, J.M. Akey, J. Bertranpetit, D.Reich, T. Mailund, M.H. Schierup, C. Hvilsom, A.M. Andrés, J.Wall, C.D. Bustamante, M. Hammer, E.E. Eichler, and T. Marques-Bonet. Nature. 2013, 499, 471-475 (DOI: 10.1038/nature12228).
• Biodiversity and conservation genetics research in central Africa: New approaches and avenues for international collaboration. N. M. Anthony, P. Mickala, K.A. Abernethy, C. Atteke, P. Bissiengou, M.W. Bruford, F. Dallmeier, T. Decaëns, A. Dudu, A. Freedman, M. K. Gonder, O. Hardy, J. Hart, K. Jeffery, M. Johnson, F. K. Pambo, A. Ley, L. Korte, S. A. Lahm, M. Lee, J. Lowenstein, J.-F. Mboumba, D. N. Bourobou, A. Ngomanda, S. Ntie, D. Sebag, J. Sullivan, H. Vanthomme, V. Vergnes, E. Verheyen, and B. Zimkus. Conservation Genetics Resources, 2012 4(2): pp 523-525. (DOI: 10.1007/s12686-011-9554-9)
• Evidence from Cameroon reveals differences in the genetic structure and history of chimpanzee populations. M.K. Gonder, S. Locatelli, L. Ghobrial, M. W. Mitchell, J. T. Kujawski, F. Lankester C.-B. Stewart and S. A. Tishkoff, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2011, 108, 4766-4771. Featured cover article. (DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1015422108).
• Regional Action Plan for the Conservation of the Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti). B. Morgan, A. Adeleke, T. Bassey, R. Bergl, A. Dunn, R. Fotso, E. Gadsby, K. Gonder, E. Greengrass, D. Koulagna, G. Mbah, A. Nicholas, J. Oates, F. Omeni, Y. Saidu, V. Sommer, J. Sunderland-Groves, J. Tiebou, and L. Williamson. 2011, IUCN--The World Conservation Union. Denotes primary authors. (http://www.primate-sg.org/storage/pdf/NCCAP.pdf)
• Origin of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum in western gorillas (Gorilla gorilla). W. Liu, Y. Li, G. H. Learn, R.S. Rudicell, J.D. Robertson, J-B. N. Ndjango, C.M. Sanz, D.B. Morgan, S. Locatelli, M.K. Gonder, P.J. Kranzusch, P.D. Walsh, E. Delaporte, E. Mpoudi-Ngolle, A.V. Georgiev, M.N. Muller, G.M. Shaw, M. Peeters, P.M. Sharp, J.C. Rayner, and B.H. Hahn. Nature, 2010, 467, 420-425. Featured cover article. (DOI:10.1038/467404a).
• Tracing the origins of rescued chimpanzees reveals widespread chimpanzee hunting in Cameroon. L. Ghobrial, F. Lankester, J.A. Kiyang, A.E. Akih, S. deVries, R. Fotso, E.L. Gadsby, P.D. Jenkins, Jr. and M.K. Gonder, BMC Ecology, 2010 (2). Received ‘highly accessed’ label. (DOI:10.1186/1472-6785-10-2).
• Whole mtDNA genome sequence analysis of ancient African lineages. M.K. Gonder, H.M. Mortensen, F.A. Reed, A. de Sousa, and S.A. Tishkoff, Molecular Biology and Evolution, vol. 24, 2007, 757-768 (DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msl209).
• A new west African chimpanzee subspecies? M.K. Gonder, J.F. Oates, T.R. Disotell, M. Forstner, J.C. Morales and D.J. Melnick. Nature, vol. 388, 1997, p.337 (DOI:10.1038/41005).

Education:

• BS, University of Michigan
• PhD, Harvard University

Research Interests:

• Development of simple behaviors after birth in relation to known developmental events in the mouse brain
  
  

Bio:

Trained as a systems physiologist, I am most interested in regulatory mechanisms, and particularly regulation involving the neurotransmitter serotonin (5HT) during postnatal maturation. Currently I study maturation of motor systems in infant mice. To date I have collected extensive baseline information on the maturational patterns of some 15 motor activities and simple reflexes. Some of these, such as righting reflexes and simple withdrawal reflexes, are essentially mature at birth, while others mature at various ages during the first postnatal week through weaning at 21 days postpartum. Over the same time span, locomotion matures from primitive swimming movements restricted to the forelimbs, culminating in adult gait, grooming and escape activity. The maturation of the cerebellum is almost entirely postnatal in mice. The architecture of the cerebellar cortex is perhaps one of the best-described for a complex region of the brain, including phylogenetic studies from lamprey through primates, and maturational descriptions for mice. This elegant system of circuits matures over the same postnatal time span when new motor behaviors are appearing. I am applying digital video to reveal details of the movements and possible relationships with cerebellar maturation.

Specialization:

Selected Publications:

• Goodrich, Cecilie, Roseanna Lechner and Wendy Slone, 1989. Central versus peripheral thermoregu latory effects following alteration of 5-HT in maturing mice Physiol. Behav. 46:203-209.
• Petty, Joann, and Cecilie Goodrich, 1987. “The maturational onset of the 5-HTmediated head twitch in mice” Physiol. Behav. 41:47-51.
• Dobrea, George M., and Cecilie Goodrich, 1987. “Pirenperone effects on temperaturepreference and body temperature in maturing mice” Physiol. Behav. 39:327-331.
• Goodrich, Cecilie and Michael Dillehay, 1987. “Maturational age affects pirenperone dose-response pattern” Gen. Pharmac. 18:225-227.
• Goodrich, Cecilie, and Jana Lange, 1986 “A differential sex effect of amphetamine on exploratory behavior in maturing mice” Physiol. Behav. 38:663-666.
• Goodrich, Cecilie A., Peter C. Baker and Gregory P. Bauman, 1986. “Biochemical and functional effects of fenfluramine in maturing mice” Gen. Pharmac. 17:457-460.
• Goodrich, Cecilie, 1983. “Thermoregulatory effects of the specific uptake inhibitor citalopram in maturing mice” Gen. Pharmacol. 14:525-527.
• Mroczka, D. L., K. M. Hoff, C. A. Goodrich and P. C. Baker, 1983. “Effects of lithium on reproduction and postnatal growth of mice” Biol. Neonate 43:298-296.
• Goodrich, Cecilie, 1982. “Reserpine effects on body temperature in maturing mice” Gen. Pharmac. 13:63-66.
• Baker, P. C., and C. A. Goodrich, 1982. “The effects of the specific uptake inhibitor Lu 10-171 (Citalopram) upon brain indoleamine stores in the maturing mouse” Gen. Pharmac. 13:59-61.

Education:

• BSc (Hons), Cell Biology and Pathology, University of St Andrews (UK)
• MSc, Forensic Science, Anglia Ruskin University (UK)
• MSc, Stem Cell Biology, University of Cambridge (UK)
• PhD, Genetics, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Germany)

Research Interests:

• Evolutionary genetics (humans and equids)
• Bacteriophage biology and genetics (SEA-PHAGES program)
• Forensic science
• Stem cell biology

Specialization:

Evolutionary genetics (humans and equids), stem cell biology, forensic science

Selected Publications:

• Pradhan P, Nako S, Tran T, Aluri L, Anandarajan D, Betini N, Bhatt S, Chengalvala S, Cox N, Delvadia B, Desai A, Devaney A, Doyle B, Edgerton A, Erlich M, Fitzpatrick K, Gajjar E, Ganguly A, Gill R, Good P, Gupta N, Haddad L, Han E, Jain S, Jiang A, Jurgielewicz A, Kainth D, Karam J, Kodavatiganti M, Kriete S, MacDonald C, Maret J, Mathew A, Natrajan M, Nishu N, Patel N, Patel P, Patel S, Patra K, Rai K, Sarkar A, Shah P, Tata R, Tawfik A, Thuremella B, Toma J, Veera S, Vemulapalli V, Vidas T, Vieira K, Vijayakumar G, Walor T, White C, Wong B, Zhao S, Bollivar D, McDonald M, Dalia R, Smith K, Little J, Gurney SMR. (2018) Complete Genome Sequence of Cluster J Mycobacteriophage Superphikiman, Genome Announcements, 6:5 e01538-17
• Hanauer DI, Graham MJ, SEA-PHAGES, Betancur L, Bobrownicki A, Cresawn SG, Garlena RA, Jacobs-Sera D, Kaufmann N, Pope WH, Russell DA, Jacobs Jr.WR, Sivanathang V, Asai DJ, Hatfull GF. An inclusive Research Education Community (iREC):Impact of the SEA-PHAGES program on research outcomes and student learning. PNAS (2017) 114: 13531-13536.
• Butela K, Gurney SMR, Hendrickson H, LeBlanc-Straceski J, Zimmerman A, Conant S, Freed N, Silander O, Thomson J, Berkes C, Bertolez C, Davies C, Elinksy A, Hanlon A, Nersesyan J, Patel P, Sherwood J, Tieu Ngo T, Wisniewski K, Yacoo K, Arendse P, Bowlen N, Cunmulaj J, Downs J, Ferrenberg C, Gassman A, Gilligan C, Gorkiewicz E, Harness C, Huffman A, Jones C, Julien A, Kupic A, Latu S, Manning T, Maxwell D, Merrimack College SEA PHAGES Annotators 2016, Meyer C, Reardon M, Slaughter M, Swasey R, Tennent R, Torres V, Waller T, Worcester R, Yost B, Cresawn S, Garlena R, Jacobs-Sera D, Pope W, Russell D, Hatfull G, Kagey J. Complete Genome Sequences of Cluster A Mycobacteriophages BobSwaget, Fred313, KADY, Lokk, MyraDee, Stagni, and StepMih, Genome Announcements (2017) 5:43 e01182-17
• Presley BC, Gurney SMR, Scott KS, Kacinko SL, Logan BK,. Metabolism and toxicological analysis of synthetic cannabinoids in biological fluids and tissues. Forensic Science Review (2016) 28:103-169
• Gurney SMR, Scott KS, Kacinko SL, Presley BC, Logan BK. Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Adverse Effects of Synthetic Cannabinoid Drugs. Forensic Science Review (2014) 26:53
• Gurney SMR, Forster P, Just U, Schwanbeck R. Suppression of the PI3K subunit p85α delays embryoid body development and inhibits cell adhesion. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (2011) 112:3573-3581
• Gurney SMR. Revisiting ancient mtDNA equid sequences from Pompeii. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (2010) 111:1080-1.
• Gurney SMR, Schneider S, Pflugradt R, Barrett E, Forster AC, Brinkmann B, Jansen T, Forster P. Developing equine mtDNA profiling for forensic application. International Journal of Legal Medicine (2010) 124:617-22.
• Forster L, Forster P, Gurney SMR, Spencer M, Röhl A, Brinkmann B. Evaluating length heteroplasmy in human mitochondrial DNA. International Journal of Legal Medicine (2010) 124:133-42.

Education:

• BS, Zoology, University of the West Indies, Jamaica
• PhD, Ecology, Drexel University

Research Interests:

I am broadly interested in food web and ecosystem ecology. I have used stable isotopes as a tool for understanding aspects of food webs and ecosystem ecology like community structure and dynamics ecology, with a view to develop better understanding of solutions to problems such as predicting biological concentrations of contaminants. I am also interested in Science Education.

Bio:

Mesha Hunte-Brown is a Jamaican National. She completed her undergraduate and Master of Philosophy degree in Jamaica before moving to the US and ultimately becoming a PhD student at Drexel. As a student at Drexel, she worked with Sue Kilham on Stream Foodwebs in Panama using Stable Isotopes. Brown has always seen herself as a teacher and spent much of her academic career as a student narrowing down the level that education that she wanted  to contribute to.  Brown currently teaches large introductory level non-major courses in as well as open enrollment Environmental Science courses and enjoys engaging the minds of the student who has had limited exposure to the field of Biology.

Specialization:

Selected Publications:

• Kilham, S.S., Hunte-Brown, M.E., P. Verburg, C.M. Pringle, M.R. Whiles, K.R. Lips and E. Zandonà. 2009. Challenges for interpreting stable isotope fractionation of carbon and nitrogen in tropical aquatic ecosystems. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 30:749-753
• Hunte-Brown, M.E. 2006. The effects of extirpation of frogs on the trophic structure in tropical montane streams in Panama. Drexel University
• Whiles, M., Lips, K., Pringle, C., Kilham, S.S., Bixby, R.J., Brenes, R., Connelly, S., Colon Gaud, J.C., Hunte-Brown, M., Huryn, A. D., Montgomery, C., Peterson, S. 2006.The Consequences of Amphibian Population Declines to the Structure and Function of Neotropical Stream Ecosystems. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 4: 27–34.

Education:

• MS, MD, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, P.R. China
• PhD, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai, P.R. China
• Post-Doc, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Research Interests:

Aging is associated with decreased expansion of T cells upon stimulation. By using influenza virus, LCMV and TCR transgenic mice, I am working on the mechanisms of impairment of specific CD8 T cell response in aged mice, which may have an important implication for understanding the alteration of immune response in aged individuals.

Specialization:

Aging and the mechanisms of impairment of specific CD8 T cell response in aged mice, the alteration of immune response in aged individuals.

Selected Publications:

• Jiang J, Fisher E, and Murasko DM. 2011. CD8 T Cell Responses to Influenza Virus Infection in Aged Mice. Ageing Res Rev 10(4):422-427.
• Williams-Bey Y, Jiang J, and Murasko DM. 2011. Expansion of Regulatory T cells in Aged Mice following Influenza Infection. Mech Ageing Dev 132 (4):163-170.
• He S, Kato K, Jiang J, Wahl DR, Mineishi S, Fisher EM, Murasko DM, Glick GD, Zhang Y. 2011. Characterization of the Metabolic Phenotype of Rapamycin-Treated CD8+ T Cells with Augmented Ability to o Generate Long-Lasting Memory Cells. PlosOne 6 (5): e20107.
• Fisher E, and Jiang J. 2012. Adjuvanted vaccines against influenza in the elderly. Frontiers Biol  221-226.
• Jiang ZL, Fisher E, Jiang J. 2012. Neonatal vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus infection. Frontiers Biol  227-232.
• Jiang J, Fisher E, and Murasko DM. 2013. Intrinsic Defects in CD8 T cells with Aging Contribute to Impaired Primary Antiviral Responses. Exp Gerontol 48 (6): 579-586.
• Jiang J, Fisher E, and Murasko DM. 2013. Impaired specific CD8 T cell response with aging is not due to decreased expression of CD90 on TCR transgenic T cells. Immunity & Ageing 10:36 DOI: 10.1186/1742-4933-10-36.
• Jiang J, Fisher FM, Hensley SE, Lustigman S, Murasko DM, and Shen H. 2014. Antigen Sparing and Enhanced Protection Using A Novel rOv-ASP-1 Adjuvant in Aqueous Formulation with Influenza Vaccines. Vaccine 32(23):2696-2702.
• Concannon MA, Jiang J. 2014. The Effect of Adjuvant on Vaccine-Induced Antibody Response Against Influenza in Aged Mice. Frontiers Biol 9(2):89-94.
• Jiang J, Fisher FM, Concannon M, Shen H, and Murasko DM. 2015. Enhanced IgG Response to Influenza Vaccine in Aged Mice with A Novel Adjuvant, rOv-ASP-1. Vaccine (Submitted).

Education:

• ScB, Brown University
• PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Curriculum Vitae:

Research Interests:

I have developed a laboratory-based research course for undergraduates who are interested in an authentic research experience. I have initiated undergraduate research projects that study cellular, metabolic and developmental functions in Dictyostelium discoideum. Dictyostelium displays a unique life cycle comprised of unicellular amoeba that aggregate and develop into multicellular structures that harbor environment-stable spores under adverse conditions. These undergraduate research projects progress from term to term so students are welcome to continue in subsequent terms to further progress their projects or switch to other ongoing projects.

My goal is to introduce students to authentic laboratory research with the intent to encourage independent thinking and problem solving that can be applied in any context. I hope to study what key STEM skills students can learn by performing independent, but supervised and guided research projects. I hope they will gain confidence in knowing they will learn from their mistakes, become expert at time management and organization of efforts, learn to solve problems, and develop essential critical thinking skills.

Selected Publications:

• Moy, MK and Kabnick, KS. Developing a Tiered Mentoring Model for Teaching Assistants Instructing Course-Based Research Experiences. Journal of College Science Teaching. In the press.
• Simon J Read, Andrew A Parsons, David C Harrison, Karen Philpott, Karen Kabnick, Shawn O'Brien, Steven Clark, Mary Brawner, Stewart Bates, Israel Gloger, Jeffrey J Legos and Frank C Barone. 2001. Stroke Genomics: Approaches to Identify, Validate, and Understand Ischemic Stroke Gene Expression. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism. 21, 755-778.
• Kabnick KS and Peattie DA. 1991. Giardia: A Missing Link Between Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. American Scientist. 79. 34-43.
• Kabnick KS and Peattie DA. 1990. In situ Analyses Reveal that the Two Nuclei of Giardia lamblia are Equivalent. Jour. of Cell Sci. 95. 353-360.
• Kabnick KS and Housman DE. 1988. Determinants That Contribute to Cytoplasmic Stability of Human c-fos and ß-Globin mRNAs Are Located at Several Sites in Each mRNA. Molec. and Cell. Biol. 8. 3244-3250.
• Fain JN, Kabnick KS and Li S-Y. 1981. Effects of Mellitin on Adipocyte Metabolism Unrelated to Lysophospholipid Accumulation. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 677. 274-279.

Courses Taught

• BIO100/107 - Applied Cells, Genetics & Physiology
• BIO108 - Cells, Genetics & Physiology Lab
• BIO116 - How Your Body Works--Or Not
• BIO122 - Cells and Genetics
• BIO141 - Essential Biology
• BIO212 - Biotechnology
• BIO223 - Parasitology
• BIO244 - Genetics I
• BIO218 - Principles of Molecular Biology
• BIO229 - Dictyostelium Research
• BIO480-061 - Exploring Parasites Laboratory
• UNIV 101 Fall
• UNIV 101 Winter

Education:

• PhD, Cell and Molecular Biology, Rowan University GSBS, 2013
• BS and Engineer degree, Standardization and Certification of Chemical-Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Products, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State Academy of Fine Chemical Technology, Russia, 2005

Curriculum Vitae:

Research Interests:

Bio:

Svetlana Khakhina, PhD, completed her undergraduate degree in Chemistry at the M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State Academy of Fine Chemical Technology, Russia. She moved to the United States in 2006 to pursue her PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology at Rowan University (formerly known as UMDNJ). During the tenure of her PhD, Svetlana studied the intricate mechanisms of mitochondria biogenesis and its role in the process of Apoptosis (cell death).

Since then Svetlana has continued her research endeavors in the field of Microbiology and Virology. She was involved in understanding the inner workings of Candida glabrata a pathogenic fungus, and more recently she was studying the possible mechanisms of resistance against HIV infection. Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in training several future student scientists. Being able to make them fall in love with science and research is where her passion for teaching stems from. She is always excited to be able to guide curious minds and mentor science enthusiasts.

Specialization:

Selected Publications:

• Khakhina S, Simonicova L, Moye-Rowley WS. Positive autoregulation and repression of transactivation are key regulatory features of the Candida glabrata Pdr1 transcription factor. Mol Microbiol. 2018 Jan 24. [Epub ahead of print]
• Sardo L, Lin A, Khakhina S, Beckman L, Ricon L, Elbezanti W, Jaison T, Vishwasrao H, Shroff H, Janetopoulos C, Klase ZA. Real-time visualization of chromatin modification in isolated nuclei. J Cell Sci. 2017 Sep 1;130(17):2926-2940.
• Klase ZA, Khakhina S, Schneider Ade B, Callahan MV, Glasspool-Malone J, Malone R. Zika Fetal Neuropathogenesis: Etiology of a Viral Syndrome. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016 Aug 25;10(8):e0004877.
• Svetlana Khakhina, Soraya S. Johnson, Raman Manoharlal, Sarah B. Russo, Corinne Blugeon, Sophie Lemoine, Anna B. Sunshine, Maitreya Dunham, L. Ashley Cowart, Frédéric Devaux and W. Scott Moye-Rowley. Control of plasma membrane permeability by ABC transporters. Eukaryot Cell. 2015 May;14(5):442-53.
• Svetlana Khakhina, Cooper K.F. and Randy Strich. Med13p prevents mitochondrial fission and programmed cell death in yeast through nuclear retention of cyclin C. Mol Bio of the Cell, 2014 Sep 15; 25(18):2807-16.
• Cooper KF, Khakhina S, Kim SK, Strich R. Stress-Induced Nuclear-to-Cytoplasmic Translocation of Cyclin C Promotes Mitochondrial Fission in Yeast. Dev Cell, 2014 Jan 27; 28(2):161-73.
• R. Strich, S. Khakhina, M.J. Mallory. Ume6p is required for germination and early colony development of yeast ascospores. FEMS yeast research, 2011 Feb; 11(1):104-13.

Education:

• BS, Ursinus College
• PhD, Princeton University
• Post-Doc, University of Pennsylvania

Research Interests:

Stem cells are critical for maintenance of adult tissues, with defects in stem cell behavior leading to cancer and tissue degeneration. Yet many aspects of stem cell regulation are still poorly understood. In particular, how the stem cell specialized environment, or niche, is capable of controlling and coordinating multiple different types of stem cells within the same tissue remains largely unknown. In my lab, we study the simplified, easily accessible stem cell system of the Drosophila fruit fly testis to better understand niche-stem cell and stem cell-stem cell interactions. We have identified a crucial cell biological process, cytokinesis (the physical separation of daughter cell membranes following cell division) as a means by which the testis niche controls stem cell behavior and production of daughter cells that will contribute to the tissue.  Control of germline stem cell (GSC) cytokinesis is regulated both by the niche and by the second population of stem cells in the testis, the somatic cyst stem cells (CySCs). This makes the fly testis an ideal system to study the coordination of stem cell behavior across multiple different populations within the niche.

Using a combination of genetic, molecular and live imaging approaches, my lab is focused on addressing four main questions:

1. How do CySCs control GSC cytokinesis?
• What are the signaling pathways involved in their communication?
• How do these signals influence GSC behavior?
2. What targets of the JAK/Stat pathway (a main niche signal) are activated in GSCs to control cytokinesis timing?
• How do these signals regulate the cytoskeleton of the stem cells?
3. How does niche and stem cell control of GSC cytokinesis become disrupted with age?
4. Is regulation of cytokinesis a conserved mechanism for niche control of stem cell behavior?
• Is modified cytokinesis a common feature of stem cells in other fly tissues?
• In stem cells in other organisms?

Studying each of these questions will provide critical insight into how the niche controls stem cell behavior which may have important implications for stem cell therapies, cancer treatments and ameliorating the effects of aging.

Selected Publications:

• Lenhart KF and DiNardo S. Somatic cell encystment promotes abscission in germline stem cells following a regulated block in cytokinesis. Developmental Cell. 2015.
• Lenhart KF, Capozzoli B and DiNardo S. Failure of stem cell cytokinesis with age due to diminished JAK/Stat activity. In preparation.

Education:

• BS, Microbiology, Pennsylvania State University, 1982
• PhD, Immunology, Thomas Jefferson University, 1997
• Post-doctoral training:
• Regulation of G protein-coupled receptor signaling by arrestins: development of arrestin antisense approaches to study arrestin function and receptor specificity. Laboratory of Dr. Jeffrey L. Benovic, Thomas Jefferson University (1997-98).
• Functional role of the tumor suppressor, PTEN. Laboratory of Dr. Jonathan Chernoff, Fox Chase Cancer Center (1998-99).
• Role of Rho GTPases in axonal guidance. Laboratory of Dr. Gianluca Gallo, Drexel University College of Medicine (2003-06)

Research Interests:

• Rho GTPases
• Regulation of actin cytoskeleton
• Regulation of G protein-coupled receptors by receptor kinases and arrestins

Bio:

While I have enjoyed many years of a varied and fulfilling career in biomedical research, it is teaching that is my true passion. I am incredibly lucky that this thing called my "job" is really being able to talk and think about science with my students. I can't imagine having a better professional life than this. Outside of the classroom, I love spending time with my wife and my daughter, traveling, gardening, and listening to music.

Specialization:

Rho GTPases, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, regulation of G protein-coupled receptors by receptor kinases and arrestins

Selected Publications:

• Loudon, R., Silver, L., Yee, H.F., and Gallo, G. 2006. RhoA-kinase and myosin II are Required for the Maintenance of Growth Cone Polarity and Guidance by Nerve Growth Factor. J. Neurobiol. 66:847-867.
• Silver, L.D., Qiang, L., Loudon, R. and Gallo, G. 2004. Bi-directional inhibitory interactions between metanephros and lumbosacral nerves in vitro. Dev Dyn. 231:190-198.
• Loudon, R.P., Pronin, A.N., and Benovic, J. 2000. Expression and Activity of G Protein-coupled Receptor Kinases. (In: Receptor Biochemistry and Methodology: Regulation of G Protein-coupled Receptor Function and Expression .J.L. Benovic, Ed., Wiley Press). Pages 135-155.
• Pronin, A.N., Loudon, R.P., and Benovic, J. 2002. Characterization of G Protein-coupled Receptor Kinases (GRKs). (In: G Protein Pathways, Part A: Receptors. R. Iyengar and J.D. Hildebrandt, Eds., Academic Press). Methods Enzymol. 343:547.
• Mundell, S.J., Loudon, R.P., and Benovic, J. 1999. Characterization of G protein-coupled receptor regulation in antisense mRNA-expressing cells with reduced arrestin levels. Biochemistry. 38:8723.
• Loudon, R.P. and Benovic, J. 1997. Regulation of the G Protein-coupled Receptor Kinase, GRK6: Altered Activity of Palmitoylation-deficient and Isoprenylation Forms of GRK6. J. Biol. Chem. 272:27422.

Education:

• BS, Loyola University Chicago
• PhD, Syracuse University
• Post-Doc, Emory University School of Medicine  

Research Interests:

Understanding how the nervous system and brain of higher animals function is one of the most fascinating and mysterious questions in biology. Understanding the complex organization of the neurons within the brain requires the proper understanding of which genes control the development, connectivity, and function of these neurons.  It also requires an understanding of which behaviors these neurons control in the organism.  In my laboratory, my students and I strive to understand the underlying mechanisms that govern these captivating questions. To do this, we utilize the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as an in vivo model organism.  We exploit the powerful genetic and behavioral techniques Drosophila possess to better understand how genes regulate neural development in the central nervous system, and how defects in these gene affect behavior of the organism. Many of the genes we study are associated with human disease, and our laboratory has created novel models for CHARGE syndrome, Pitt-Hopkins, and Alzheimer's disease in Drosophila. Through our research, we hope to achieve a better understanding of the basic processes involved in nervous system development and function, but we also hope that our findings could be translated into potential therapeutics for some of the diseases we study as well.

Research Focus

Specialization:

Selected Publications:

• Latcheva NK, Viveiros JM, Waddell EA, Nguyen PTT, Liebl FLW, Marenda DR. (2018) Epigenetic crosstalk: Pharmacological inhibition of HDACs can rescue defective synaptic morphology and neurotransmission phenotypes associated with loss of the chromatin reader Kismet. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, 87:77-85; PMID: 29249293
• D'Rozario M, Zhang T, Waddell EA, Zhang Y, Sahin C, Sharoni M, HuT, Nayal M, Kutty K, Liebl F, Hu W, and Marenda DR. (2016) Type I bHLH proteins Daughterless and TCF4 restrict neurite branching and synapse formation by repressing Neurexin in postmitotic neurons. Cell Reports, 15, 386–397. PMID: 27050508
• Leo L, Yu W, D'Rozario M, Waddell EA, Marenda DR, Baird MA, Davidson MW, Zhou B, Wu B, Baker L, Sharp DJ, and Baas PW. (2015) Vertebrate fidgetin restrains axonal growth by severing labile comains of microtubules. Cell Reports 22;12(11):1723-30. PMID: 26344772
• Ghosh R, Vegesna S, Safi R, Bao H, Zhang B, Marenda DR*, and Liebl FLW*. (2014) Kismet positively regulates glutamate receptor localization and synaptic transmission at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. PLoS ONE. 2014 Nov 20;9(11):e113494. PMID: 25412171 *Co-Corresponding Authors
• Vorobyeva AG, Lee R, Miller S, Longen C, Sharoni M, Kandelwal PJ, Kim FJ, Marenda DR, and Saunders AJ. (2014) Cyclopamine modulates gamma-secretase mediated cleavage of amyloid precursor protein by altering its subcellular trafficking and lysosomal degredation. Journal of Biological Chemistry 289(48):33258-74. PMID: 25281744
• Mhatre SD, Michelson SJ, Gomes J, Tabb LP, Saunders AJ, and Marenda DR. (2014) Development and characterization of an aged onset model of Alzheimer’s disease in Drosophila melanogaster. Experimental Neurology 261:772-781 PMID: 25173219
• *Baudier KM, Kaschock-Marenda SD, Patel N, Diangelus KL, O’Donnell S, and Marenda DR. (2014) Erythritol, a non-nutritive sugar alcohol sweetener and the main component of Truvia, is a palatable ingested insecticide. PLoS ONE. 2014 Jun 4;9(6):e98949. PMID: 24896294 - *This work was featured on AAAS Science Update, the Philadelphia Inquirer, NPR’s WHYY, Science Magazine’s “Scienceshot”, Chemical and Engineering News, CBS news, Yahoo News, Salon Magazine, IFLScience, Good Housekeeping, The Alternative Daily, and New York Magazine
• Mhatre SD, Satyasi V, Killen M, Paddock BE, Moir, RD, Saunders AJ, and Marenda DR. (2014) Altered synapses in a Drosophila model of Alzheimer’s disease. Disease Models and Mechanisms 7(3): 373-385 PMID: 24487408
• Solowska JM, D’Rozario MD, Jean DC, Marenda DR*, and Baas PW*. (2014) Pathogenic Mutation of Spastin has Gain-of-function Effects on Microtubule Dynamics. Journal of Neuroscience 34(5): 1856-67. *Co-Senior authors; ^Featured Article in the journal
• Reza MA, Mhatre SD, Utreha S, Morrison C, Saunders AJ, Breen DE, and Marenda DR. (2013) Automated analysis of courtship suppression learning and memory in Drosophila melanogaster. Fly 7(2):105-111
• Mhatre SD, Paddock B, Saunders AJ, and Marenda DR. (2013) Invertebrate models of Alzheimer’s Disease. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 33: 3-16
• DiStefano GM, Gangemi AJ, Khandelwal PJ, Saunders AJ, and Marenda DR. (2012) Drosophila lilliputian is required for proneural gene expression in retinal development. Developmental Dynamics 241: 553-562
• Curtis BJ, Zraly CB, Marenda DR, Dingwall AK. (2011). Histone lysine demethylases function as co-repressors of SWI/SNF remodeling activities during Drosophila wing development. Developmental Biology 350: 534-547
• Chakraborty R, Vepuri V, Mhatre SD, Paddock BE, Miller S, Michelson SJ, Delvadia R, Desai A, Vinokur M, Melicharek DJ, Utrega S, Khandelwal P, Ansaloni S, Goldstein LE, Moir RD, Lee JC, Tabb LP, Saunders AJ, and Marenda DR. (2011) Characterization of a Drosophila Alzheimer's Disease Model: Pharmacological Rescue of Cognitive Defects, PLoS ONE 6(6): e20799. PMID: 21673973
• Majumdar N, Paez GL, Inamdar SM, D'Rozario M, and Marenda DR. (2010) MAP Kinase phosphorylation is dispensable for cell division, but required for cell growth in Drosophila. Fly 4:3 204-212
• Melicharek D, Ramirez LC, Singh S, Thompson R, and Marenda DR. (2010) Kismet/CHD7 regulates axon morphology, memory, and locomotion in a Drosophila model of CHARGE Syndrome. Human Molecular Genetics 19(21): 4253-4264. ^Cover Article.

Education:

• PhD, Microbiology, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, 1975
• BA, Bacteriology, Douglass College of Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, NJ, 1972

Postdoctoral Training

• Postdoctoral Associate, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, 1976-77
• Postdoctoral Fellow, The Institute for Cancer Research, Philadelphia, PA, 1975-76

Academic Positions (Recent)

• 2002 - Present: Professor of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
• 2002 - Present: Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
• 2002 - Present: Professor of Medicine, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
• 1998 - 2002: Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, MCP Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA
• 1998 - 2002: Professor of Medicine, MCP Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA

Academic Administration (Recent)

• 2003 - 2018: Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
• 2002 - 2003: Interim Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
• 2002: Vice Provost, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
• 1996 - 2002: Chair, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA

Curriculum Vitae:

Download CV [PDF]
Download NIH Biosketch [PDF]

Research Interests:

Although my initial training was in tumor immunology, the focus of my research for more than 20 years has been the changes in immune response with increasing age. Utilizing both mouse models and human samples, we have focused on the immune response to viruses: control of primary virus infections in mice and protection from influenza disease after vaccination of humans. Due to the importance of CD8 T cell response in virus infections, most of our work includes CD8 T cells. We consistently demonstrate both an age-associated decrease and delay in response to virus using three different viruses, two strains of mice and humans. While previous studies focused on intrinsic changes in the CD8 T cells, more recently the role of extrinsic factors (eg. dendritic cells, T_reg, cytokine production) are being explored.

Honors and Awards (Recent)

• 2012: Association for Women in Science: Elizabeth W. Bingham Mentoring Award
• 2009: Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
• 2001: Member, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
• 2000: Research Award, Drexel University
• 2000 - 2001: ELAM Fellow

Research Activities (Recent)

Research Grants as Principal Investigator

Bio:

Papers (Recent)

• Jiang, J., Fisher, E.M., Murasko, D.M., 2013. Intrinsic defects in CD8 T cells with aging contribute to impaired primary antiviral responses. Exp Gerontol. June; 48(6):579-86.
• Nogusa, S., Murasko, D.M., Gardner, E.M., 2012. Differential effects of stimulatory factors on natural killer cell activities of young and aged mice. J. Gerontol. A. Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. Sept; 67(9):947-54.
• Jiang, J., Fisher, E.M., Murasko, D.M., 2011. CD8 T cell responses to influenza virus infection in aged mice. Ageing Res. Rev., Sept; 10(4):422-7.
• Williams-Bey, Y., Jiang, J., Murasko, D.M., 2011. Expansion of regulatory T cells in aged mice following influenza infection. Mech. Ageing. Dev., Apr; 132(4):163-70.
• He, S., Kato, K., Jiang, J., Wahl, D.R., Mineishi, S., Fisher, E.M., Murasko, D.M., Glick, G.D., Zhang, Y., 2011. Characterization of the metabolic phenotype of rapamycin-treated CD8+ T cells with augmented ability to generate long-lasting memory cells. PLoS One, 2011:6(5):e20107.
• Jiang, J., Fisher, E., Bennett, A.J., Murasko, D.M., 2010. Enhancement of virus-specific expansion of transgenic CD8 T Cells in aged mice by dendritic cells mechanisms of ageing and development. Mech. Ageing Develop., 131: 580-583.
• Jiang, J., Bennett, A.J., Fisher, E., Williams-Bey, Y., Shen, H. and Murasko, D.M., 2009. Limited expansion of virus-specific CD8 T cells in the aged envrionment. Mech. Ageing Develop., 130: 713-721.
• Uchida, T., Scumpia, P.O., Murasko, D.M., Seki, S., Woulfe, S., Clare-Salzler, M.J., and Moldawer, L.L., 2007. Variable Requirement of Dendritic Cells for Recruitment of NK and T Cells to Different TLR Agonists. J. Immunology, 178(6): 3886-92.
• Gallagher, Jr., M.J., Vaze, N., Gangoli, S., Vasilets, V.N., Gutsol, A.F., Milovanova, T.N., Anandan, S., Murasko, D.M., Friedman, A.A., 2007. Rapid Inactivation of Airborne Bacteria Using Atmospheric Pressure Dielectric Barrier Grating Discharge. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 35(5): 1501-1510.
• Jiang, J., Gross, D., Elbaum, P., and Murasko, D.M. 2007. Aging affects initiation and continuation of T cell proliferation. Mech. Ageing Develop., 128: 332-339.
• Gonzales, E., Gardner, E. and Murasko, D.M. 2007. Recruitment and retention of older adults in influenza immunization study. J. Cultural Diversity, 14: 81-87.

Books and Chapters (Recent)

• Committee for the Decadal Survey on Biological and Physical Sciences in Space; National Research Council. Recapturing a Future for Space Exploration: Life and Physical Sciences Research for a New Era. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2011.
• Gravenstein, S., Mody, L., Murasko, D.M., 2011. From Publication to Practice: An interdisciplinary look at the new developments in the prevention and treatment of influenza in older adults. The Gerontological Society of America, 1-16.
• Gardner, E. and Murasko, D.M., 2009. Age-Related Changes in Type 1 and Type 2 Cytokine Production in Humans. Handbook on Immunosenescence, Springer Science & Business Media B.V.
• Jiang, J. and Murasko, D.M., 2005. Response of Aged Mice to Primary Virus Infections. Immunol. Rev. 205, pp. 285-296.

Specialization:

Education:

• BA, LaSalle College, 1977
• PhD, Colorado State University, 1989. Advisor: C.R. Tracy
• Post-doc, Drexel University, 1988-1990. Advisor: J.R. Spotila
• MD, Johns Hopkins University, 1981
• Residency, Internal Medicine, Vanderbilt University, 1981-1984

Research Interests:

• Thermal, hydric, & energetic effects on the activity and distribution of reptiles and amphibians
• Physical constraints on heat and mass exchange by reptiles and amphbians
• Physiological and physical constraints on gas exchange in sea turtle nests - effects on metabolism and development

Specialization:

Physiological and biophysical ecology

Selected Publications:

• Paladino, F.V., M.P. O'Connor, and J.R. Spotila. 1990. Metabolism and heat exchange in the leatherback sea turtle: A warm turtle in a cool ocean. Nature 344:858-860.
• O'Connor, M.P. and C.R. Tracy. 1992. Thermoregulation by juvenile woodhouse toads (Bufo woodhousei) in the laboratory and the field. Copeia 1992:865-876.
• O'Connor. M.P. 1999. Physiological and ecological implications of a simple model of heating and cooling in reptiles. Journal of Thermal Biology 24:113-136.
• O'Connor, M.P., A.E. Sieg, and A.E. Dunham. 2006. Linking physiological effects on activity and resource use to population level phenomena. Integrative and Comparative Biology 46:1093–1109.
• Sieg, A.E., M.P. O'Connor, J.N. McNair, B.W. Grant, S.J. Agosta, and A.E. Dunham. 2009. Mammalian metabolic allometry: Do intraspecific variation, phylogeny, and regression models matter? American Naturalist 174: 720-733

Education:

• Postdoctoral Fellow, NSF (DEB-9303244) and University of California/NSF Animal Behavior Research Training Grant. University of California-Davis, 1993-1996
• PhD, Zoology and Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1990-1993
• MS, Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1989
• BS, Biology Cum Laude, Saint Joseph's University (Philadelphia PA), 1986

Research Interests:

• Brain plasticity and the evolution of brain structure
• Social behavior and division of labor, especially of eusocial Hymenoptera
• Thermal ecology and thermal physiology
• Network models of social group organization
• Behavior and ecology of bird-army ant interactions
• Human-safe insecticides

Specialization:

Animal behavior, neuroecology, social insects, tropical ecology, thermal physiology

Selected Publications:

• Gilkey P., D. Bolshakov, J. Kowala, L. Taylor, S. O’Donnell, D. Marenda, & L. Sirot. In press. Lethal effects of erythritol on the mosquito Aedes aegypti Linnaeus (Diptera: Culicidae). Journal of Applied Entomology.
• O'Donnell, S., S. Bulova, M. Barrett, & C. von Beeren. In press. Worker-caste differences in brain investment reflect soldier behavioral specialization (Eciton army ants, Formicidae: Dorylinae). BMC Zoology. 
• O’Donnell, S., K. Fiocca, M. Campbell, S. Bulova, P. Zelanko, & D. Velinsky. In press. Adult nutrition and reproductive physiology: a stable isotope analysis in a eusocial paper wasp (Mischocyttarus mastigophorus, Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.
• Baudier K.M., C.L. D’Amelio, R. Malhotra, M.P. O’Connor & S. O’Donnell. In press. Extreme insolation: climatic variation shapes the evolution of thermal tolerance at multiple scales. American Naturalist.
• O’Donnell, S. 2018. The neurobiology of climate change. Science of Nature - Naturwissenschaften 105: 11.
• O’Connor M.P. & S. O’Donnell. 2017. Implications of iterative communication for biological system performance. Journal of Theoretical Biology 436: 93-104.
• O’Donnell S., S.J. Bulova, S. DeLeon, P. Khodak, S. Miller, & E. Sulger. 2015. Distributed cognition and social brains: reductions in mushroom body investment accompanied the origins of sociality in wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Proceedings of the Royal Society B 282: 20150791.
• O’Donnell, S., K.M. Baudier & D.R. Marenda. 2017. Erythritol ingestion impairs adult reproduction and causes larval mortality in Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Journal of Applied Entomology. DOI: 10.1111/jen.12409
• O’Donnell, S. 2017. Evidence for facilitation among avian army-ant attendants: specialization and species associations across elevations. Biotropica. DOI: 10.1111/btp.12452

Current Funding

• PI on Stein Fellowship for collaborative research in Israel (Ben Gurion University), Thermal physiology of ants and the ecology of seed dispersal, July 2018-December 2019.
• Lead PI on Sponsored Research Agreement, Biologic Insecticides/Academic Venture Technologies, Developing erythritol as a novel human-safe insecticide (Daniel Marenda co-PI).
• Co-PI on Wistar-Morris fund grant (D. Velinsky PI): Using stable isotopes to test the role of nutrition in division of labor.

Education:

• BS, University of Victoria
• MS, University of Calgary (Adviser: Julie Deans)
• PhD, McGill University (Adviser: Nathalie Lamarche-Vane)
• Research Fellow, National Institutes of Health (Adviser: Ken Yamada)

Curriculum Vitae:

Research Interests:

Even when we are standing still, the cells in our bodies are going places. It is now clear that an individual cell can change how it moves in response to the material surrounding it. My lab is interested in understanding how the structure of the three-dimensional (3D) extracellular matrix dictates the molecular and physical mechanisms driving cell motility. For example, we discovered human fibroblasts moving through a cross-linked 3D matrix pull their nucleus forward like a piston to increase intracellular pressure and drive protrusion of the leading edge.

Using a variety of biochemical, biophysical, and live cell imaging approaches, the Petrie lab aims to understand how intracellular pressure is controlled by actomyosin contractility in migrating cells in response to matrix structure. Further, we seek to establish if the intracellular pressure generation machinery in metastatic cells is abnormal compared to primary fibroblasts and test the hypothesis that defective pressure regulation promotes cancer cell invasion into 3D extracellular matrix.

Bio:

Ryan Petrie, PhD, received a BS in biochemistry from the University of Victoria in 1997, a MS in immune cell signaling from the University of Calgary in 2002, and a PhD in cell biology from McGill University in 2008. Following a research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), he opened his lab at Drexel in 2015. At the NIH, Petrie used a combination of live cell imaging and biophysical measurements in single cells to discover a new pressure-based mechanism of cell movement. His lab continues to refine this nuclear-piston model of pressure-driven cell migration in the Department of Biology.

Specialization:

Selected Publications:

• Chengappa, P, Sao, K, Jones, TM, and Petrie, RJ. 2017. Intracellular pressure: a driver of cell morphology and movement. Int. Rev. Cell Mol. Biol. 337:185-211.
• Petrie, RJ, Harlin, HM, Korsak, LT, and Yamada, KM. 2017. Activating the nuclear piston mechanism to generate intracellular pressure during tumor cell 3D migration. J. Cell Biol. 216: 93-100.
• Petrie, RJ and Yamada, KM. 2016. Multiple mechanisms of 3D migration: the origins of plasticity. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 42: 7-12.
• Petrie, RJ, Koo, H, and Yamada, KM. 2014. Generation of compartmentalized pressure by a nuclear piston governs cell motility in a 3D matrix. Science 345:1062-1065.
• Petrie, RJ and Yamada, KM. 2012. At the leading edge of 3D cell migration. J. Cell Sci. 125:5917-5926.
• Petrie, RJ, Gavara, N, Chadwick, RS, and Yamada, KM. 2012. Nonpolarized signaling reveals two distinct modes of 3D cell migration. J. Cell Biol. 197:439-455.
• Petrie, RJ, Doyle, AD, and Yamada, KM. 2009. Random versus directionally persistent migration. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 10:538-549.

Education:

• BS, Molecular Genetics, University of Rochester, 1999 (advisors: John Jaenike & Wolfgang Stephan)
• PhD, Ecology and Evolution, University of Arizona, 2004 (advisor: Nancy Moran)
• NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University, 2005-2006 (advisor: Naomi Pierce)
• Green Memorial Fund Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University, 2006-2007 (advisor: Naomi Pierce)

Curriculum Vitae:

Research Interests:

• Roles of bacterial symbionts in ant evolution
• Function, stability, and dynamics of heritable symbiont communities in aphids
• Genomic mechanisms driving correlations between symbiosis and insect ecology
• Coevolutionary histories between insects and their microbes

Symbiosis is a defining feature of eukaryotic biology. Animals are no exception, exhibiting nearly ubiquitous relationships with bacterial symbionts that shape their nutrition, digestion, and defense. Many of these interactions are ancient and highly specialized, having enabled the colonization of previously inhospitable niches and the subsequent diversification of their animal hosts.

Through a combination of molecular, bioinformatic, phylogenetic, and experimental techniques, my lab’s research investigates the functional significance and evolutionary histories of symbioses between animals and bacteria. Our lab- and field-based studies focus on two research systems, aphids and ants, enabling explorations of symbiont-mediated adaptation across recent to ancient timescales. Our findings suggest the potential for defensive symbionts to drive rapid adaptation in aphid populations and the impacts of nutritional symbionts on the success of several diverse lineages of herbivorous ants.

Current Federal Funding

NSF, Integrative and Organismal Biology, Award #1754597. "Collaborative Research: Competition and cooperation in the defensive symbiont communities of aphids.” 2018-2022. (role: PI; with PI Kerry Oliver, Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Georgia)

NSF, Dimensions of Biodiversity, Award #1442144 “Dimensions: Identifying how the ecological and evolutionary interactions between host and symbiont shape holobiont biodiversity.” 2015-2020. (PI, along with: PI Corrie Moreau, Assistant Curator of Entomology, Field Museum of Natural History; PI John Wertz, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Calvin College; PI Scott Powell, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, George Washington University).

Specialization:

Selected Publications:

• Parfrey LW, Moreau CS, Russell JA. (2018) Introduction – The host-associated microbiome: Pattern, process, and function. Molecular Ecology 27: 1749–1765.
• Hu Y*, Sanders J*, Łukasik P, D’Amelio CL, Millar JS, Vann DR, Lan Y, Newton JA, Schotanus, Kronauer DJC, Pierce NE, Moreau CS, Wertz J, Engel P, Russell JA. (2018) Herbivorous turtle ants obtain essential nutrients from a conserved nitrogen-recycling gut microbiome. Nature Communications 9: 964. *These authors contributed equally to this work.
• Rock DI*, Smith AH*, Joffe J, Albertus A, Wong N, O’Connor M, Oliver K, Russell JA (2018) Context-dependent vertical transmission shapes strong symbiont community structure in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. Molecular Ecology 27: 2039-2056. *These authors contributed equally to this work.
• Łukasik P, Newton JA, Sanders JG, Hu Y, Moreau CS, Kronauer DJC, O’Donnell S, Koga R, Russell JA (2017) The structured diversity of specialized gut symbionts of the New World army ants. Molecular Ecology 26: 3808-3825.
• Russell JA, Oliver KM, Hansen AK (2017) Band-aids for Buchnera and B vitamins for all. Molecular Ecology 26: 2199-2203. (invited perspective article)
• Hu Y, Holway DA, Łukasik P, Chau L, Kay AD, LeBrun EG, Miller KA, Sanders JG, Suarez AV, Russell JA (2017) By their own devices: invasive Argentine ants have shifted diet without clear aid from symbiotic microbes. Molecular Ecology 26: 1608-1630.
• Russell JA, Sanders JG, Moreau CM (2017) Hotspots for symbiosis: Function, evolution, and specificity of ant-microbe associations from trunk to tips of the ant phylogeny (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 24: 43-69. (invited review)
• Oliver KM, Russell JA (2016) Introduction to symbiosis. In: Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Biology, vol. 4: 282-290. Edited by Kliman RM, Oxford Academic Press.
• Smith AH, Łukasik P, O’Connor MP, Lee A, Mayo G, Drott MT, Doll S, Tuttle R, DiSciullo RA, Messina A, Oliver KM, Russell JA (2015) Patterns, causes, and consequences of defensive microbiome dynamics across multiple scales. Molecular Ecology: accepted.
• Sullam KE, Rubin BER, Dalton CM, Kilham SS, Flecker AS, Russell JA (2015) Divergence across diet, time, and populations rules out parallel evolution in the gut microbiomes of Trinidadian guppies. ISME Journal doi:10.1038/ismej.2014.231.
• Russell JA, Hu Y, Chau L, Pauliushchyk M, Anastopoulos I, Anandan A, Waring MS. (2014) Indoor biofilter growth and exposure to airborne chemicals drive similar changes in the bacterial communities of plant roots. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 80: 4805-4813.
• Russell JA, Dubilier N, Rudgers JA (2014) Nature’s microbiome: introduction. Molecular Ecology 23: 1225-1237.
• Hu Y, Łukasik P, Moreau CS, Russell JA (2014) Correlates of gut community composition across an ant species (Cephalotes varians) elucidate causes and consequences of symbiotic variability. Molecular Ecology 23: 1284-1300.
• Oliver KM, Smith AH, Russell JA (2014) Defensive symbiosis in the real world—diversity and maintenance of protective bacteria across aphids and other insects. Functional Ecology 28: 341-355. (invited review) (cover image)
• Russell JA, Weldon S, Smith AH, Kim KL, Hu Y, Łukasik P, Doll S, Anastopoulos I, Novin M, Oliver KM (2013) Uncovering symbiont-driven genetic diversity across North American pea aphids. Molecular Ecology 22: 2045-2059.
• Russell JA, Funaro CF, Milton Y, Goldman-Huertas B, Suh D, Moreau CS, Kronauer D, Pierce NE (2012) A veritable menagerie of heritable bacteria across the ants, lepidopterans, and beyond. PLoS One 7(12): e51027. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0051027
• Sullam KE, Essinger S, Lozupone CA, O’Connor M, Rosen G, Knight R, Kilham SS, Russell JA. (2012) Environmental and ecological factors that shape the gut bacterial communities of fish: a meta-analysis. Molecular Ecology 21: 3363-3378.
• Anderson KE*, Russell JA*, Moreau CS, Katuz S, Sullam KE, Hu Y, Basinger U, Mott BM, Buch N, Wheeler D (2012) Highly similar microbial communities are shared among related and trophically similar ant species. Molecular Ecology 21: 2282-2296. (*co-first-authors)
• Russell JA (2012) The ants are unique and enigmatic hosts of prevalent Wolbachia symbionts. Myrmecological News 16: 7-23. (invited review)
• Funaro CF, Kronauer DJC, Moreau CS, Goldman-Huertas B, Pierce NE, Russell JA. (2011) Army ants harbor a host-specific clade of Entomoplasmatales bacteria. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 77: 346-350.
• Russell JA, Moreau C, Goldman-Huertas B, Fujiwara M, Lohman D, Pierce NE. (2009) Bacterial gut symbionts are tightly linked with the evolution of herbivory in ants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA: 106: 21236-21241.
• Russell JA, Goldman-Huertas B, Moreau CS, Baldo, L, Stahlhut JK, Werren JH, Pierce NE (2009) Specialization and geographic isolation among Wolbachia symbionts from ants and lycaenid butterflies. Evolution 63: 624-640.
• Oliver KM, Russell JA, Moran NA, Hunter MS (2003) Facultative bacterial symbionts in aphids confer resistance to parasitic wasps. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 100: 1803-1807.

Education:

• Bachelor of Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai Medical College, China, 1982-1988
• Master of Surgery (Residency), Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Medical College, China, 1988-1992
• PhD, Genetics, Thomas Jefferson University, Kimmel Cancer Center, 1992-1997
• Post-doctoral training, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Institute of Human Gene Therapy, 1997-1999
• Post-doctoral training, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Cardeza Foundation for Hematological Research, 2000-2003

Research Interests:

Research in Nianli Sang’s lab has been focusing on a better understanding of cells’ response to insufficiency of oxygen, glucose and glutamine supplies, a condition commonly occurring in solid tumors and ischemic lesions. Due to defective blood vessels, tumor microenvironment is characterized by lack of molecular oxygen, glucose and glutamine. In addition, a variety of cardiovascular disorders such as coronary artery insufficiency and stroke lead to tissue ischemia. Our working model is that tumor cells and normal cells alike have sensing mechanisms that monitor the supply status of these basic nutrients; and in response to nutrient insufficiency, the sensing mechanisms will trigger transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming, which eventually facilitates cell survival or leads to migration. These adaptive responses may contribute to cancer invasion and metastasis, but may be critical for normal cells to survive temporary ischemia. Sang’s lab has taken the genome-wide, unbiased mRNA profiling approach (microarray), to screen genes that are upregulated or down-regulated by lack of oxygen, glucose or glutamine. These screening will generate the dataset which can be used to dissect the global gene expression reprogramming, regulatory network, and signaling pathways. Following these screening and bioinformatics analyses, specific genes and pathways can be chosen for further investigation.

Specifically, one line of Sang’s research focuses on hypoxia-inducible factor 1, the major transcription factor mediates cells response to hypoxia. Nianli Sang’s group has revealed a ubiquitination-independent degradation pathway of HIF-1α, which is related to the disposal of misfolded HIF-1α caused by stresses associated with nutrient insufficiency and chemotherapy. Sang also has started to dissect the signaling pathways, transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming triggered by insufficient supply of glucose and glutamine. This line of research has revealed that the activation of ER stress pathway, which involves Grp78, ATF4 and STC2, is critical for cells to survival under stress conditions. Towards that direction, Nianli Sang’s group is going to address: 1) what are the cellular level sensing systems for glucose and glutamine? 2) How do oncogenic signaling pathways stimulate and coordinate the utilization of glucose and glutamine? 3) how will lack of glucose and glutamine together with hypoxia contributes to tumor migration and metastasis? and 4) does the ER stress responsive pathway play critical roles in tumor resistance to chemo-radiotherapy?

Current Research Funding:

R01-CA129494 
9/18/2008-7/31/2013
NIH/NCI
Total Award: $1,563,600
“Repressing HIF-1: targets and mechanisms”
Role: PI

Specialization:

Selected Publications:

• Meng, M., Chen, S., Lao, T., Liang, D., and *Sang, N. (2010) Nitrogen Anabolism underlies the glutaminolysis in proliferating cells. Cell Cycle, 9(19): 3921 - 3932.
• Stiehl, D.P, Fath, D.M., Liang, D.M., Jiang, Y.B., and *Sang, N. (2007) Histone deacetylase inhibitors synergize p300 autoacetylation that regulates its transactivation activity and complex formation. Cancer Res., 67(5): 2276-2286.
• Fath, D.M., Kong, X., Liang, D., Lin, Z., Chou, A., Jiang, Y., Fang, J., Caro, J. and *Sang, N. (2006) Histone deacetylase inhibitors repress the transactivation potential of hypoxia inducible factors independently of direct acetylation of HIF-??? J. Biol. Chem., 281:13612-13619.
• Kong, X., Lin, Z., Liang, D., Fath, D., *Sang, N., and *Caro, J. (2006) Histone-deacetylase inhibitors induce VHL and ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation of HIF-1?. Mol. Cell Biol., 26:2019-2028.
• *Sang, N., Stiehl, D.P. Bohensky, J., Leshchinsky, I., Srinivas, V., and *Caro, J. (2003) MAPK Signaling Up-regulates the activity of hypoxia-inducible factors by its effects on p300. J. Biol. Chem., 278: 14013-14019.
• Sang, N., Fang, J., Srinivas, V., Leshchinsky I., and *Caro, J. (2002) Carboxyl terminal transactivation activity of HIF-1? is governed by a VHL-independent, hydroxylation-regulated, association with p300/CBP. Mol. Cell. Biol., 22:2984-2992.

Education:

• BS, Pennsylvania State University
• PhD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• Post-doctoral Training, Harvard Medical School

Research Interests:

My laboratory focuses its research efforts on identifying and characterizing genes and pathways that are involved in pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We believe our efforts will lead to the identification of novel therapeutic strategies to delay or prevent onset of AD. To this end we have worked collaboratively to develop novel animal models of AD that we utilize to confirm and extend our observations from cellular models. The research in the lab is carried out by post-doctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students that work on individual and group projects and always in constant interaction with me. I am committed to creating an interactive, nurturing and exciting research experience for all of the members of my laboratory. Please feel free to contact myself or the members of my lab if you have any questions.

Specialization:

Selected Publications:

• Vorobyeva AG, Lee R, Miller S, Longen C, Sharoni M, Kandelwal PJ, Kim FJ, Marenda DR, Saunders AJ. Cyclopamine modulates γ-secretase-mediated cleavage of amyloid precursor protein by altering its subcellular trafficking and lysosomal degradation. J Biol Chem. 2014 Nov 28;289(48):33258-74. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M114.591792. Epub 2014 Oct 3. PubMed PMID: 25281744; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4246084.
• Mhatre SD, Michelson SJ, Gomes J, Tabb LP, Saunders AJ, Marenda DR. Development and characterization of an aged onset model of Alzheimer's disease in Drosophila melanogaster. Exp Neurol. 2014 Nov;261:772-81. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2014.08.021. Epub 2014 Aug 27. PubMed PMID: 25173219.
• Wang H, Saunders AJ. The role of ubiquitin-proteasome in the metabolism of amyloid precursor protein (APP): implications for novel therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease. Discov Med. 2014 Jul-Aug;18(97):41-50. PubMed PMID: 25091487.
• Mhatre SD, Satyasi V, Killen M, Paddock BE, Moir RD, Saunders AJ, Marenda DR. Synaptic abnormalities in a Drosophila model of Alzheimer's disease. Dis Model Mech. 2014 Mar;7(3):373-85. doi: 10.1242/dmm.012104. Epub 2014 Jan 30. PubMed PMID: 24487408; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3944497.
• Reza MA, Mhatre SD, Morrison JC, Utreja S, Saunders AJ, Breen DE, Marenda DR. Automated analysis of courtship suppression learning and memory in Drosophila melanogaster. Fly (Austin). 2013 Apr-Jun;7(2):105-11. doi: 10.4161/fly.24110. Epub 2013 Apr 1. PubMed PMID: 23644900; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3732329.
• Mhatre SD, Paddock BE, Saunders AJ, Marenda DR. Invertebrate models of Alzheimer's disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2013;33(1):3-16. doi: 10.3233/JAD-2012-121204. Review. PubMed PMID: 22886023.
• Hooli BV, Mohapatra G, Mattheisen M, Parrado AR, Roehr JT, Shen Y, Gusella JF, Moir R, Saunders AJ, Lange C, Tanzi RE, Bertram L. Role of common and rare APP DNA sequence variants in Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 2012 Apr 17;78(16):1250-7. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182515972. Epub 2012 Apr 4. PubMed PMID: 22491860; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3324321.
• Distefano GM, Gangemi AJ, Khandelwal PJ, Saunders AJ, Marenda DR. Drosophila lilliputian is required for proneural gene expression in retinal development. Dev Dyn. 2012 Mar;241(3):553-62. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.23738. Epub 2012 Jan 25. PubMed PMID: 22275119.
• Hiltunen M, Bertram L, Saunders AJ. Genetic risk factors: their function and comorbidities in Alzheimer's disease. Int J Alzheimers Dis. 2011;2011:925362. doi: 10.4061/2011/925362. Epub 2011 Aug 11. PubMed PMID: 21876830; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3160713.
• Chakraborty R, Vepuri V, Mhatre SD, Paddock BE, Miller S, Michelson SJ, Delvadia R, Desai A, Vinokur M, Melicharek DJ, Utreja S, Khandelwal P, Ansaloni S, Goldstein LE, Moir RD, Lee JC, Tabb LP, Saunders AJ, Marenda DR. Characterization of a Drosophila Alzheimer's disease model: pharmacological rescue of cognitive defects. PLoS One. 2011;6(6):e20799. doi:1371/journal.pone.0020799. Epub 2011 Jun 6. PubMed PMID: 21673973; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3108982.
• Ansaloni S, Leung BP, Sebastian NP, Samudralwar R, Gadaleta M, Saunders AJ. TrkB Isoforms Differentially Affect AICD Production through Their Intracellular Functional Domains. Int J Alzheimers Dis. 2011 Feb 24;2011:729382. doi:10.4061/2011/729382. PubMed PMID: 21423675; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3056454.

Education:

• BS, Biology/Photography, Loyola College in Maryland
• PhD, Environmental Science, Drexel University. Advisor: Walter. F. Bien, PhD
• Post-Doc, STEM Education, Drexel University. Advisor: Jennifer Stanford, PhD

Specialization:

Selected Publications:

• Smith, K.P.W., Parker M.R. and Bien, W.F. (2013) Anaxyrus fowleri interspecific nest use. Herpetological Review 44, 3: 492-493.
• Smith, K.P.W., Parker M.R. and Bien, W.F. (2015) Behavioral variation in prey odor responses in northern pine snake neonates and adults. Chemoecology. 04 March. 10.1007/s00049-015-0193-6.
• Stanford J.S., Rocheleau S.E., Smith K.P.W., and Mohan J. (2015) Early undergraduate research experiences lead to similar learning gains for STEM and Non-STEM undergraduates. Studies in Higher Education. 01 May. 10.1080/03075079.2015.1035248

Education:

• BS, Boston College (1992 - 1996)
• PhD, The Johns Hopkins University (1996 - 2001; Advisor: Michael Edidin)
• Post-doc, Stanford University (2002 - 2008; Advisor: W. James Nelson)

Research Interests:

The question of how cells achieve a high level of spatial organization marks a new frontier in cell biology. Most cells of the human body (e.g., epithelia, neurons) assume asymmetric shapes and develop specialized structures (e.g., cilia, axons, dendrites), which are asymmetrically positioned. Little is known about how cell shape and asymmetry arise from individual molecular interactions. My research lab is investigating the molecular mechanisms that affect spatial organization in epithelia and neurons. We focus on the cytoskeleton, a network of rigid and yet dynamic polymers that sculpt and support cell shape and provide a scaffold for the transport and positioning of the cell’s organelles and macromolecules. We are interested in understanding how cytoskeletal organization and cytoskeleton-dependent transport are spatially regulated. We have gained new insights into this problem by studying a family of GTP-binding proteins termed septins, which associate with the cytoskeleton and cell membranes. Unlike the monomeric small GTPases, septins polymerize into higher order filamentous structures that scaffold and restrict protein localization in the cytoplasm and cell membranes. We have discovered that septins demarcate spatially distinct regions of the cytoplasm, interacting with distinct subsets of microtubules and actin filaments. Importantly, we have found that septins are required for the generation of epithelial and neuronal cell asymmetry and the spatial organization of a variety of cell processes (e.g., cell division and motility) and structures (e.g., axon branches, primary cilia). We hypothesize that septins are key regulators of spatial organization and investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulatory functions of septins.

Currently, we are interested in understanding:

• How septins affect the spatial organization of the microtubule cytoskeleton and microtubule motor-dependent transport of membrane cargo;
• How septins affect the spatial organization of actin stress fibers and their mechanotransducing properties that drive cell migration;
• How septins regulate the spatiotemporal dynamics of the molecular machinery of abscission, the final step in cytokinesis that separates two daughter cells.

These projects bear significance for understanding and treating neurological disorders and cancers, in which septins are abnormally expressed.

Research Focus

Bio:

Elias Spiliotis received his Bachelor of Science from Boston College and Doctor Philosophy from The Johns Hopkins University. Subsequently, he moved to Stanford University, where he held a post-doctoral fellowship from The Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research. In the lab of cell biologist James Nelson, he focused on the regulation of the cytoskeleton and its functions by a novel family of GTP-binding proteins termed septins. Elias joined the Biology Department in the fall of 2008. He is a member of the American Society for Cell Biology and the American Association for Cancer Research; a recipient of the 2009 Drexel Career Development Award and was featured as the “Scientist to Watch” in the December 2010 issue of The Scientist magazine. Elias Spiliotis holds a joint appointment in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy (Drexel University College of Medicine), and serves as the Director of the Biology Cell Imaging Center. In his spare time, Elias has djed radio shows, written music reviews, and performed and recorded with an independent post-punk band.

Specialization:

Selected Publications:

• Karasmanis EP, Hwang D, Nakos K, Bowen JR, Angelis D and Spiliotis ET (2019) A septin double ring controls the spatiotemporal organization of the ESCRT machinery in cytokinetic abscission. Current Biology 29(13): 2174-2184.e7
• Nakos K, Rosenberg M and Spiliotis ET (2019) Regulation of microtubule dynamics by septin 9. Cytoskeleton 76(1):83-91
• Karasmanis EP, Phan CT, Angelis D, Kesisova IA, Hoogenraad CC, McKenney RJ and Spiliotis ET (2018). Polarity of neuronal membrane traffic requires sorting of kinesin motor cargo during entry into dendrites by a microtubule-associated septin. Developmental Cell 46(4):518-524.
• Spiliotis ET (2018) Spatial effects - site-specific regulation of actin and microtubule organization by septin GTPases. Journal Cell Science 131(1). pii: jcs207555
• Angelis D and Spiliotis ET (2016) Septin mutations in cancers. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 4:122
• Dolat L and Spiliotis ET (2016) Septins promote macropinosome maturation and traffic to the lysosome by facilitating membrane fusion. The Journal of Cell Biology 214(5):517-27
• Bai X, Karasmanis EP and Spiliotis ET (2016) Septin 9 interacts with kinesin KIF17 and interferes with the mechanisms of NMDA receptor cargo binding and transport. Molecular Biology of the Cell 27(6):897-906
• Dolat L., Hunyara J.L., Bowen J.R., Karasmanis E.P., Elgawly M., Galkin V.E. and Spiliotis, E.T.(2014) Septins promote stress fiber-mediated maturation of focal adhesions and renal epithelial motility. The Journal of Cell Biology 207(2): 225-35
• Bai X, Bowen JR, Knox TK, Zhou K, Pendziwiat M, Kuhlenbaumer G, Sindelar CV and Spiliotis ET(2013) Novel septin 9 repeat motifs altered in neuralgic amyotrophy bind and bundle microtubules. The Journal of Cell Biology 203(6): 895-905
• Hu J, Bai X, Bowen JR, Dolat L, Korobova F, Yu W, Baas PW, Svitkina T, Gallo G and Spiliotis ET(2012) Septin-driven coordination of actin and microtubule remodeling regulates the collateral branching of axons. Current Biology 22(12): 1109-1115.
• Hu Q, Milenkovic L, Jin H, Scott MP, Nachury MV, Spiliotis ET* and Nelson WJ* (2010). A septin diffusion barrier at the base of the primary cilium maintains ciliary membrane protein distribution. Science 329 (5990): 436-9.
• Spiliotis ET, Hunt SJ, Hu Q, Kinoshita M and Nelson WJ (2008). Epithelial polarity requires septin coupling of vesicle transport to polyglutamylated microtubules. The Journal of Cell Biology 180, 295-303.
• Spiliotis ET, Kinoshita M and Nelson WJ (2005). A mitotic septin scaffold required for mammalian chromosome congression and segregation. Science 307, 1781-5

Education:

• BS, Biology, Elizabethtown College
• PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology, Harvard University, Ruderman Lab
• Post-Doc, Cell Biology Education, Harvard Medical School

Research Interests:

My research interests focus on evaluating and improving approaches to teach STEM students in higher education environments to promote learning, engagement in STEM courses, student retention, and retention within the STEM pipeline. My current work centers on evaluating approaches to increase student access to STEM experiential learning experiences, incorporating evidence-based thinking into diverse learning environments, and developing practical training opportunities to support STEM students, faculty and future faculty in their professional development. Through my research activities and work with CASTLE (drexel.edu/castle), I am collaboratively working with colleagues to transform STEM teaching and modernize STEM learning across disciplines and educational levels.

Specialization:

Selected Publications:

• Stanford, JS, Rocheleau, SE, Smith, KPW, and Mohan, J. (2017) Early undergraduate research experiences lead to similar learning gains for STEM and Non-STEM undergraduates. Studies in Higher Education 42: 115-129.
• Stanford, JS, Carmichael, T, Zerr, R, Byrne, L, Riegelman, R. (2016) Actual and Potential Uses of STIRS Case Studies in Courses and Curricula. Peer Review 18 (4): 23-27.
• Stanford, JS, Byrne, L, and Hunting, K. (2016) Promoting Evidence-Based Thinking Through the STIRS Case Studies. Peer Review 18 (4): 14-18.
• Stanford, JS. (2015) Cell Phones and Cancer: Evaluating the Evidence to Assess Potential Association. Association of American Colleges & Universities. (aacu.org/stirs/casestudies)
• Stanford, JS and Duwel, LE. (2013) Engaging Biology Undergraduates in the Scientific Process through Writing a Theoretical Research Proposal. Bioscene: Journal of College Biology Teaching 38: 17-23.
• Bentley, A.M., Artavanis-Tsakonas, S., and J.S. Stanford. (2007) Nanocourses: a New Short Course Format as an Educational Tool in a Biological Sciences Graduate Curriculum. CBE Life Sci Educ 7: 175-83.

Education:

• BS, Biology, Chemistry minor, The College of New Jersey, 1991
• PhD, Environmental Science, Dept of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 1996

Research Interests:

Specialization:

Selected Publications:

• Togna, (2013) Individualized Learning in a Class of 500…a Multi-tiered Approach to Recitation Design, 12th General Meeting of the Biology Leadership Conference, Amelia Island, FL
• Togna, M., Kazumi, J., Apitz, S., Kirtay, V. and Young, L. (2001). Effect of sediment toxicity on anaerobic microbial metabolism. Env. Tox. & Chem. 20(11), 2406-2410
• Togna, M. and Kafkewitz, D.K. (2000) The methods of anaerobic microbiology with emphasis on environmental applications. The International Journal of Environmental Studies, 1375-1379
• Togna, M. and Kafkewitz, D.K. (1998) Microbes in the muck: a look into the anaerobic world. Biological Treatment of Hazardous Wastes. John Wiley and Sons Inc., NY, NY, January, 327-356. Chapter in chemical engineering textbook/handbook
• Togna, M., Kafkewitz, D.K. and Armentante, P. (1995) Rapid dehalogenation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol at alkaline pH by an anaerobic enrichment culture. Letters in Applied Microbiology, vol. 20, 113-116