References:
- IL-6 Mediates 11βHSD Type 2 to Effect Progression of the Mycobacterial Cord Factor Trehalose 6,6'-Dimycolate-Induced Granulomatous Response. Abbott AN, Welsh KJ, Hwang SA, Płoszaj P, Choudhury T, Boyd S, Blackburn MR, Hunter RL Jr, Actor JK. Neuroimmunomodulation. 2011 Mar 8;18(4):212-225.
- Lactoferrin modulation of mycobacterial cord factor trehalose 6-6'-dimycolate induced granulomatous response. Welsh KJ, Hwang SA, Hunter RL, Kruzel ML, Actor JK. Transl Res (Edinb). 2010 Oct;156(4):207-15.
- Immunopathology of postprimary tuberculosis: increased T-regulatory cells and DEC-205-positive foamy macrophages in cavitary lesions. Welsh KJ, Risin SA, Actor JK, Hunter RL. Clin Dev Immunol. 2011;2011:307631. Epub 2010 Dec 21.
- TB research at UT-Houston—a review of cord factor: new approaches to drugs, vaccines and the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. Hunter RL, Armitige L, Jagannath C, Actor JK. Tuberculosis (Edinb). 2009 Dec;89 Suppl 1:S18-25.
- A summary of the Texas Tuberculosis Research Symposium 2009: emerging directions in TB research and clinical affairs.
Actor JK. Tuberculosis (Edinb). 2009 Dec;89 Suppl 1:S1-2. - Lactoferrin modulation of BCG-infected dendritic cell functions. Hwang SA, Actor JK. Int Immunol. 2009 Oct;21(10):1185-97.
- Lactoferrin as a natural immune modulator.
Actor JK, Hwang SA, Kruzel ML. Curr Pharm Des. 2009;15(17):1956-73. Review. - A novel recombinant human lactoferrin augments the BCG vaccine and protects alveolar integrity upon infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mice.
Hwang SA, Wilk K, Kruzel ML, Actor JK.
Vaccine. 2009 May 18;27(23):3026-34. - 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases are regulated during the pulmonary granulomatous response to the mycobacterial glycolipid trehalose-6,6'-dimycolate.Abbott AN, Guidry TV, Welsh KJ, Thomas AM, Kling MA, Hunter RL, Actor JK.
Neuroimmunomodulation. 2009;16(3):147-54. - A role for tumour necrosis factor-alpha, complement C5 and interleukin-6 in the initiation and development of the mycobacterial cord factor trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate induced granulomatous response. Welsh KJ, Abbott AN, Hwang SA, Indrigo J, Armitige LY, Blackburn MR, Hunter RL Jr, Actor JK.Microbiology. 2008 Jun;154(Pt 6):1813-24.
- Influence of bovine lactoferrin on expression of presentation molecules on BCG-infected bone marrow derived macrophages. Hwang SA, Kruzel ML, Actor JK. Biochimie. 2009 Jan;91(1):76-85.
- Recombinant human lactoferrin expressed in glycoengineered Pichia pastoris: effect of terminal N-acetylneuraminic acid on in vitro secondary humoral immune response.
Choi BK, Actor JK, Rios S, d'Anjou M, Stadheim TA, Warburton S, Giaccone E, Cukan M, Li H, Kull A, Sharkey N, Gollnick P, Kocieba M, Artym J, Zimecki M, Kruzel ML, Wildt S. Glycoconj J. 2008 Aug;25(6):581-93. - Mycobacterial glycolipid trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate-induced hypersensitive granulomas: contribution of CD4+ lymphocytes. Guidry TV, Hunter RL Jr, Actor JK. Microbiology. 2007 Oct;153(Pt 10):3360-9.
Jeffrey Actor, PhD
Professor
Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
(713) 500 - 5344
Jeffrey.K.Actor@uth.tmc.edu
Research
Links:
Research Interests: Examination of host immune responses during parasitic disease; understanding proinflammatory and regulatory cytokines during mycobacterial infections; quantitative bioluminescent RT-PCR; vaccine development.
Research Summary: Our research interests are directed at understanding the host immune regulation of cytokines and proinflammatory response during parasitic infections. We developed and characterized models of tuberculosis in susceptible and resistant mice using modified MTB organisms. It is our hope that understanding the host response to infectious agents will allow development of effective vaccines and therapeutics to combat these diseases. We have a strong collaboration with investigators in the Department of Pathology.
The laboratory goals also include development of bovine and human Lactoferrin as a vaccine adjuvnat to augment cell mediated immunity. Specifically, Lactoferrin as an adjuvant with BCG protects alveolar integrity upon infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying Lactoferrin effects are of great interest, including its use as an immunomodulatory agent to control inflammatory processes.
To assist our goals, we have also developed a bioluminescent quantitative RT-PCR assay to reliably measure message for cytokines in small tissue samples. We utilized the great sensitivity of aequorin, a flash-type bioluminescent tag, to develop highly accurate, rapid and sensitive (attomols) quantitative PCR and RT-PCR assay to be used in a 96-well plate format. This procedure has enable us to examine in vivo events during pathogenesis.
Additional research involves the use of novel non-ionic blockcopolymers (poloxamers) as adjuvants to direct immune responses following vaccination. These adjuvants specifically influence the development of T helper, CTL and B cell responses when administered.
