Cell & Developmental Biology Links

Current Graduate Students

Dominic Ambrosi	PhD Rasmussen Laboratory	Genome-wide reprogramming in hybrids of somatic cells and embryonic stem cells My research focuses on stem cell fusion-mediated reprogramming which takes advantage of the pluripotent nature of stem cells in reprogramming somatic cells. The system can be used to better understand reprogramming processes without the use of somatic cell nuclear transfer. Fusion can be studied for the epigenetic changes that control reprogramming and may one day provide breakthroughs for cell therapies.
Lindsey Constantini	MS Knecht Laboratory
Bindi Doshi	PhD Lee Laboratory	The actin cytoskeleton plays an important role in cell motility. Many factors are involved in movement including forming proper substrate attachments via adhesion proteins. Substrate ridigity seems to play a role in the release of these protein attachments resulting in either an increase in cell movement or decrease. I am observing cell movement on rigid and flexible substratum. I will be observing adhesion differences as well as differences in calcium dependent and independent retraction mechanisms in fish epithelial keratocytes. I will also be observing the interaction of heat shock protein 27 with actin. Wound healing assays as well as live cell imaging with transient gfp-hsp27 expression will be used to study this interaction.
Chris Fiondella	PhD LoTurco Laboratory
Gaurav Joshi	PhD Knecht Laboratory
John Haserick	MS Lee Laboratory
Renee Gilberti	Ph.D - Knecht Laboratory	Molecular Mechanisms of Crystalline Silica-Induced Phagocytosis and Cell Death Silicosis is a chronic lung disease induced by the inhalation of crystalline silica. Some evidence suggests crystalline silica is phagocytosed via the scavenger receptor and that this uptake leads to macrophage cell death. However, it is unclear that crystalline silica is actually internalized by cells. Time-lapse imaging and fluorescence microscopy are being used to establish the molecular mechanisms by which crystalline silica is recognized and internalized by macrophages, and the relationship of uptake to cell death.
Ran-der Hwang	MS Knecht Laboratory	Regulation of actin cytoskeletal architecture by Fimbrin A. The fimbrins, also known as plastins, are members of the CH superfamily of actin-binding proteins. Fimbrin has two calcium-binding EF hand motifs at their N-terminus, followed by a tandem repeat of the F-actin-binding domain (ABD). Although fimbrin has been extensively characterized, little is known about what regulates fimbrins binding to actin filaments in the cell. In order to understand this question, we generated fluorescent fusion proteins, encoding either the entire protein or its various domains, and examined the localization of these fluorescent proteins in living cells. We have also used bacterially expressed fimbrin and its various domains to further investigate the function of the two actin-binding domains of fimbrin. This will allow us to understand fimbrin subcellular localization and what regulates its binding to F-actin filaments.
Yu-Hsien (Rex) Liao	PhD Chen Laboratory
Hung-cheih Lo	PhD Chen Laboratory
Julio Mendez	PhD Goldhamer Laboratory
John M. Ngunjiri	PhD Marcus/Sekellick Virus and Interferon Research Laboratory	Non-infectious Cell-killing-, and Defective-interfering Particles of Influenza Virus: Genetic Basis, Interaction with the Interferon System, Vaccine Potential, and Role in Pathogenesis Long range research goals are to control or eliminate the spread of influenza virus in chicken populations so as to reduce the probability of low-pathogenicity virus mutating into high-pathogenicity variants capable of decimating chickens populations and being transmitted as lethal viruses to humans. My research focuses on the biological and genetic elucidation of two types of particles in subpopulations of influenza viruses: (1) cell-killing particles that induce apoptosis/programmed cell death, and (2) defective-interfering particles that block the replication of influenza virus and may be used as a vaccine. These attributes of influenza virus are being quantified by clonogenic, and yield reduction assays, respectively, in both avian and mammalian cells. The viral genes involved and the role of neuraminidase in the expression of these viral attributes will be defined and ultimately their role in pathogenesis assessed.
Arun T. Pores-Fernando	PhD Zweifach Laboratory
Charito Romeo	PhD Knecht Laboratory
Jessica Starkey	Ph.D. Goldhamer laboratory	Investigating the Developmental Potential of Murine Adult Skeletal Muscle Satellite Cells My work in focuses on the population of stem cells found in adult skeletal muscle known as satellite cells. These cells are responsible for the incredible ability of skeletal muscle to regenerate after trauma. I am utilizing recently developed transgenic mouse lines to determine whether adult satellite cells are committed solely to becoming muscle or if they can adopt adipogenic or osteogenic fates. This work will have implications for the use of these adult stem cells in cell-based therapies for many diseases.
Mike Wosczyna	PhD Goldhamer Laboratory
Yang-Hui (Jimmy) Yeh	PhD Chen Laboratory

Former Graduate Students

Maria L. Lombardi	PhD Lee Laboratory	Biomechanics and Molecular Mechanisms of Amoeboid Cell Movement My research focuses on relating the molecular mechanisms to the biomechanical aspects of cell movement. The model system I use is Dictyostelium discoideum, a fast moving social amoeba, whose movement closely resembles leukocytes. I have investigated the roles of myosin II motor and actin cross-linking functions in cell motility using a gelatin based traction force assay with wild-type and myosin II mutant cell lines. My recent submission in the Journal of Cell Science showed that there are two distinct roles of myosin II in polarized Dictyostelium cell movement. Currently, I am completing an investigation into the role of mechano-chemical signaling in the regulation of randomly moving Dictyostelium. I have performed high resolution calcium imaging in Dictyostelium and found that transient increases in intracellular calcium result from the activation of stretch activated calcium (SAC) channels.
Darryn Unfricht	PhD Lynes Laboratory	Traditional and microarray-based measurements of metallothionein (MT) on immune function We have developed a protein and cell microarray platform (in collaboration with Ciencia Inc., East Hartford, CT) that employs the principles of Grating-Coupled Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging (GCSPRI). Protein and cell detection is based upon binding events with immobilized antibody on a gold sensor chip and corresponding changes in the resonance angle, the angle at which reflected light is at a minimum at the sensor chip surface. We have used this platform to measure secreted protein products from stimulated lymphocytes and detect different cell types in heterogeneous populations and tissues. We have also used this platform to study cytokine profiles from three mouse strains that express normal or genetically manipulated levels of the stress response protein, metallothionein. These studies relate to our interests in stress-mediated immunomodulation.