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Additional Contact Information: Department of Biomedical Sciences |
EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, University of South Alabama
Ph.D. in Basic Medical Sciences/Pharmacology, University of South Alabama
Dr. Duffourc joined the faculty at Quillen College of Medicine in 1998 and is currently an Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Course Director for Medical Pharmacology and Director of the Molecular Biology Core Facility. She holds Professional Certifications in Targeted RNA Expression with MiSeq as well as Nextera XT preparation for next generation sequencing. Dr. Duffourc has been honored with several awards, including the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) Pharmacology Educator’s Award, Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program Professor of the Year, Caduceus Club (medical students) Professor of the Year, the Dean's Distinguished Teaching Award in Basic Medical Sciences as well as the Dean’s Distinguished Service Award.
RESEARCH/TEACHING INTERESTS
• Control of gene expression in the CNS
• Molecular contributors to neurodegenerative disease
My principle research interest is transcriptional control of neurotrophic factor expression
in the central nervous system. Neurotrophic factors are essential regulators of CNS
development, with roles in the early patterning of the CNS, determination of neural
cell fate, and differentiation of astrocyte lineage cells. In particular, we examine
the molecular mechanisms controlling the expression of bone morphogenetic protein
7 (BMP7). BMP7 is a member of the TGF- beta superfamily originally identified for
its ability to induce ectopic bone formation. More recently, numerous reports have
indicated that BMP7 has neuroprotective activities and promotes functional recovery
in animal models of stroke, traumatic injury and Parkinson’s disease. Further, we
have we have found reduced expression of BMP7 in brain astrocytes of human subjects
with major depressive disorder (MDD). Since MDD is associated with glial cell loss
and BMP7 is gliatrophic, reduced BMP7 gene expression may also play role in the brain
pathogenesis seen in MDD. Taken together, these studies demonstrate robust biological
effects of BMP7 on the mature brain, with potential therapeutic roles in brain injury,
neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Hence, one goal of our research is to
characterize the BMP7 promoter region in order to ultimately understand how BMP7 mediates
repair and regeneration in the adult CNS
LABORATORY PERSONNEL
Rhesa DykesACTIVE RESEARCH FUNDING
Consultant: NIH R01 AI095637 01, “Characterization of a novel host pathway that regulates chlamydial development”, 8/17/11- 7/31/2015, $1,123,754 direct, $826,425 indirect total costs. As needed effort. PI: Robert Schoborg, Ph.D.
Co-PI: TWRA – “Characterization of the microbial and benthic invertebrate communities in selected high elevation brook trout streams”. Award amount: $30,000. Project period: March 2015-March 2018. Karl Joplin, PI
Co-I: RDC Interdisciplinary Grant. “The influence of genetic variation and age on the blood levels and side effects of Stribild”, $50,000 total direct costs. Co-investigator with Sam Harirforoosh (PI) and Jon Moorman. Project period July 2015 to June 2016
Role: Collaborator. ETSU RDC Major Grant: “How Does Chlamydial Genital Tract Infection Protect from Subsequent Herpes Virus Challenge?” Robert Schoborg, PI; project period July 2015 to June 2016; $10,000 direct for entire budget period.
Role: Collaborator. ETSU RDC Major Grant: “Identifying Differential Gene Expression during Developmental Diapause by RNA-Seq using the ETSU Molecular Core Facility Illumina MySeq” Karl Joplin, PI; project period July 2015 to June 2016; $10,000 direct for entire budget period.
PUBMED
RELATED LINKS
Molecular Biology Core Facility
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Ordway GA, Szebeni A, Chandley MJ, Stockmeier CA, Xiang L, Newton SS, Turecki G, Duffourc M, Zhu MY, Zhu H, and Szebeni K. (2012). Low gene expression of bone morphogenetic protein 7 in brainstem astrocytes in major depression. Int J of Neuropsychopharmacol 15(7):855-68; epub 2011 Sep6:1-14. PMID: 21896235
Watkins C, Litchfield J, Song EK, Jaishankar GB, Misra N, Holla N, Duffourc M and Krishnaswamy G.(2011). Chronic Granulomatous Disease, the McLeod Phenotype and the Contiguous Gene Deletion Syndrome – A Review. Clin Mol Allergy. 2011 Nov 23;9:13.
Fan Y, Huang J, Duffourc M, Kao R, Ordway G, Huang R, and Zhu M-Y. (2011). Transcription factor Phox2 upregulates expression of norepinephrine transporter and dopamine β-hydroxylase in adult rat brains. Neuroscience 192:37-53. Epub 2011 Jul 16. PMID: 21763404.
Brown RW, Noel DM, Smith JJ, Smith ML, Huggins KN, Szebeni K, Szebeni A, Duffourc M, Chandley M, and Ordway GA. (2011) Eszopiclone facilitation of the antidepressant efficacy of fluoxetine using a social defeat stress model. Pharmacol Biochem Behav epub 2011 Jun 15. PMID: 21699914
Campbell SE, Rudder B, Phillips RB, Whaley SG, Stimmel JB, Leesnitzer LM, Lightner J, Dessus-Babus S, Duffourc M, Stone Wl, Newman RA, Yang P, Aggarwal BB, and Krishnan K. (2011) Gamma tocotrienol induces growth arrest through a novel pathway involving TGFb2 in prostate cancer. Free Radic Biol Med 50(10):1344-54. Epub 2011 Feb 16. PMID: 21335085
Stuart CA, Howell ME, Baker JD, Dykes RJ, Duffourc MM, Ramsey MW, Stone MH. (2010) Cycle Training Increased GLUT4 and Activation of mTOR in Fast Twitch Muscle Fibers. Med Sci Sports Exerc 42(1):96-106.
Campbell SE, Musich PR, Whaley SG, Stimmel JB, Leesnitzer LM, Dessus-Babus S, Duffourc M, Stone W, Newman RA, Yang P, Krishnan K. (2009) Gamma Tocopherol Up regulates the Expression of 15-S-HETE and Induces Growth Arrest Through a PPAR γ-Dependent Mechanism in PC-3 Human Prostate Cancer Cells. Nutr Cancer 61(5):649-62.
Ordway, G.A., Szebeni, A., Duffourc, M.M., Dessus-Babus, S. and Szebeni, K. (2009) Gene Expression Analyses of Neurons, Astrocytes and Oligodendrocytes Isolated by Laser Capture Microdissection from Human Brain: Detrimental Effects of Laboratory Humidity. J. Neuroscience Research. 87(11):2430-8.
Vanover, J., Sun, J., Deka, S., Kintner, J., Duffourc, M. and R.V. Schoborg.(2008) Herpes Simplex Virus Co-infection Induced Chlamydia trachomatis Persistence is not Mediated by any Known Persistence Inducer or Anti-chlamydial Pathway. Microbiology 154:971-978.
Mabe, Abigail M., Hoard, Jennifer L., Duffourc, Michelle M., and Hoover, Donald B. (2006) Localization of cholinergic innervation and neurturin receptors in adult mouse heart and expression of the neurturin gene. Cell & Tissue Research 326(1):57-67