Studied guinea pig’s immune response which produces a very robust T cell response, like humans, against intracellular pathogens. My duties were to develop guinea pig reagents, which are lacking, to do molecular immunological studies in the guinea pig animal model in pre-clinical vaccine development. Performed early development work on vaccines to Haemophilus influenza, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Staphylococcus aureus to elicit an authentic antigenic response.
Designed gene-specific PCR primers and PCR amplified the genes; next, performed sequence analysis on all the PCR amplicons and in vitro ranslated the encoded proteins; and then, purified and re- folded them to ensure proper immune recognition. Achievements: Determined the nucleotide sequence of guinea pig gamma interferon, previously not known, and seven additional unexpected guinea pig genes. • Oversaw 85+ recombinant proteins that were processed in the bacterial vaccine study.
Supervised and mentored 1 report in the in vitro translation of the 85+ recombinant proteins generated from the bacterial vaccine study. This work required cell line development for each recombinant protein. Model Institute of Excellence Scholar Sept 1996 to May 1998 Spelman Teacher College-Atlanta, GA Training position to prepare for teaching and research responsibilities at undergraduate institutions. Instructor for the General Biology lecture and laboratory courses for majors. Co- chair on program and abstracts committee for Science Day activities.
I carried out research that investigated the verotoxin receptor’s role in the virulence of Escherichia coli. Developed and implemented a critical thinking problem solving course. Conceived and supervised research for two undergraduates and supervised another in science literature review. Designed and eveloped a workshop for students going to graduate school. Classes ranged in size from 20-75 students. Major Achievements: • My student, who was a junior, won second place (oral presentation) in the highly competitive science day competition.
Presentations at American Society of Microbiology Research Fellow Sept 1993 to Sept 1996 St Jude Children’s Research Hospital- Memphis, TN Using state-of-the-art virology/molecular biology methods and techniques, such as reverse genetics, cloning, PCR, mutagenesis, in studies to further our understanding of how pandemic influenza strains are derived and cause pathobiology. Since the nfluenza A virus HA has a major role in the virulence, its receptor specificity and host range restriction changes were studied. Used bioinformatics to study nucleotide sequence changes in influenza viruses.
Routinely communicated research findings in departmental workshops (usually more than 15 attendees). Achievements: • Evaluated 2 critical mutation sites previously shown in human virus HA important for virus replication in duck intestine. • Cell line development for expression of the 24 HA constructs and then used them to systematically evaluate all possible mutations for receptor specificity changes by using a novel emadsorption assay and for host range restriction by using reverse genetics including engineered viruses made-up of the different mutated HAs. • Three-peer reviewed publications in high impact virology journals.
Publications Padmalayam, I. , Hamm, R. Reddy, S. , Bhuniya, D. , Vines, A. , Seenu, S. , Chakrabarti, R. , Saxena, U. , Pillarisetti, S. (2012). Identification of a Pharmacological Inducer of Lipoic Acid Synthase that Impacts Mitochondrial Function: Metabolic benefits and Body Weight Loss without Changes in Caloric Intake. J Diabetes Metab 2012, S:11. Vines A, Cahoon S, Goldberg I, Saxena U, Pillarisetti S. Novel Anti-inflammatory Role for Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 beta in the Inhibition of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha-and Interleukin-1beta-induced Inflammatory Gene Expression.
Journal of Biological Chemistry. Vol. 281: 16985-16900, 2006. “Methods and Compositions for the Treatment of Inflammatory Disease. ” US Patent 6,900,041 B2-Granted May 31, 2005. Ito T, Kawaoka Y, Vines A, Ishikawa H, Asai T, Kida H. “Continued circulation of reassortant H1N2 influenza viruses in pigs in Japan. ” Arch. Virology 143:1773-1782, 1998. Vines A, Well K, Matrosovich M, Castrucci MR, Ito T, Kawaoka Y. The role of influenza A virus hemagglutinin residues 226 and 228 in receptor specificity and host range restriction. ” J. Virol. 72:7626-7631, 1998. Vines A, Swaminathan B. Identification and characterization of nucleotide sequence differences in three virulence-associated genes of L. monocytogenes strains representing clinically important serotypes. ” Curr. Microbiol. 36:309-318, 1998.
Vines A, Swaminathan B. “Nucleotide sequence analysis of two virulence-associated genes in Listeria monocytogenes serotype 1/2b and comparison with the same genes in other serotypes. ” Letters in Appl. Bact. 24:166-168, 1997. Ito T, Susuki Y, Mitnaul L, Vines A, Kida H, KawaokaY. “Receptor specificity of Influenza A viruses correlates with the agglutination of erythrocytes from different animal species. Virology 227:493-499, 1997. Vines A, Swaminathan B. “Nucleotide sequence analysis of two virulence-associated genes in Listeria monocytogenes serotype 1/2b and comparison with the same genes in other serotypes. ” Letters in Appl. Bact. 24:166-168, 1997. Ito T, Susuki Y, Mitnaul L, Vines A, Kida H, KawaokaY. “Receptor specificity of Influenza A viruses correlates with the agglutination of erythrocytes from different animal species.
Virology 227:493-499, 1997. Vines A, Reeves MW, Hunter S, Swaminathan B. “Restriction fragment length polymorphism in four virulence associated genes of Listeria monocytogenes. Res. Microbiol 143:281-294, 1992. Abstracts: Ricci A, Cahoon S, Vines A, Saxena U, Pillarisetti S. Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation by modulating AP-1 activity. Presented at the American Heart Association, Chicago, Illinois, June 17-20, 2002. Vines A, Cahoon S, Saxena U, Pillarisetti S. A novel anti- inflammatory role for GSK3 beta: Inhibition of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta induced inflammatory gene expression downstream of NF-kappa-B transactivation. Presented at the American Heart Association, Chicago, Illinois, June 17-20, 2002.
Pillarisetti S, Cahoon S, Vines A, Saxena U. Hyperinsulinemia markedly exacerbates glycated albumin and TNF-a induced expression of endothelial inflammatory molecules MCP-1 and VCAM1: A mechanism for accelerated atherosclerosis in insulin resistance Type Il diabetes. Presented at the American Diabetes Association, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 22-26, 2001. Cahoon S, Vines A, Saxena U, Pillarisetti S. Synergistic Induction f endothelial IL-6 by diabetic stimuli: An initiating event in diabetic nephropathy. Presented at the American Diabetes Association, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 22-26, 2001.
Reagans K, Maloney M, Vines A. Evaluation of B cell adhesion molecules for homotypic adhesion in Daudi (Gb3+) and Daudi- derived VT500 (Gb3-) cells. Presented at the MIE Science, Engineering and Mathematics Day at Spelman College, Atlanta, GA, March 1998. Vines A, Maloney M. Role for verotoxin receptor (Gb3) in B cell adhesion. Presented at the American Society of Microbiology Meeting, Miami, May 1997. Vines A, Swaminathan B, Schuchat A. Heterogeneity in the structural genes encoding listeriolysin O in three serotypes of Listeria monocytogenes that cause human disease.
Presented at the American Society of Microbiology Meeting, Dallas, Texas, May 1991. Vines A, Reeves MW, Hunter S, Swaminathan B. Restriction fragment length polymorphism in genes associated with virulence in Listeria monocytogenes. Presented at the International Conference Listeria and Food Safety, Laval, France, June 13-14, 1991. Vines A. Characterization of the phenotype of alkaline phosphates positive marginal zone lymphocytes in mouse spleen. Presented at the 4th Annual Nabrit Biomedical Symposium, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia, 1987.
Vines A. Simultaneous demonstration of alkaline phosphatase and antigen markers in frozen sections. Presented at the 6th Annual Immunology Conference, Toronto, Canada, 1986. Vines A. The production of monoclonal antibody against P815 tumor cells. Presented at BDSA Spring Symposium, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia, 1985. Vines A. The effect of microtubule disruptive drugs on macrophages: A transmission electron microscope study. Presented at the 8th Annual Minority Biomedical Research Support Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, 1980.