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Randall
G. Worth,
PhD.,
Assistant
Professor
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Cellular
and Organ Transplantation
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Faculty:
Randall G. Worth, PhD.
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Summary: My
laboratory is interested in FcgR biology.
FcgRs are responsible for recognizing
and processing IgG complexes in the form
of IgG coated pathogens or IgG containing
immune complexes. FcgRs are well known
to be a trigger for initiating inflammation
involved in clearing pathogenic organisms
and tissue destruction in such inflammatory
diseases as Rheumatoid Arthritis and
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. In particular,
we are interested in how immune complexes
and IgG coated pathogens interact with
Fc receptors and initiate effector activities.
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Figure 1
My
laboratory is interested in how FcgR’s recognize
IgG complexes (Figure 1) and IgG coated targets and trigger
internalization. Using fluorescence microscopy and flow
cytometry, we are evaluating the role of membrane microdomains
(lipid rafts) in various processes of binding, internalizing
and degrading IgG coated targets.
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Investigation
of pathways involving Fc gammaR's and pattern
recognition receptors in their capacity to
mediate pathogen destruction
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Role of calcium waves in phagolysosome
biogenesis
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Mechanisms of pathogen avoidance
of phagolysosome fusion
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Dr.
Worth is interested in signaling complexes involved in
host destruction of pathogens. Many pathogens have acquired
the ability to survive within such host cells as epithelial
cells, macrophages and neutrophils by altering the signaling
dynamics of these cells to inhibit degradation in phagolysosomes.
These responses could be mediated by receptor specific
targeting or alteration of intracellular signaling pathways.
In either event, an interesting field of study has emerged
to understand the complexities of intracellular communication
and trafficking between host cells and pathogens.
Dr. Worth received his Ph.D. in Biology from noted Biophysicist/Neutrophil
biologist Dr. Howard R. Petty at Wayne State University.
He then went on to the University of Pennsylvania for
post-doctoral training in molecular biology under Dr.
Alan Schreiber. Dr. Worth joined the faculty at the University
of Toledo College of Medicine in 2005.
Current
Grant Funding:
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Arthritis
Foundation - Role of FcgRllA LTL motif
in degradation of lgG complexes
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