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CURRICULUM VITAE

Charles T. Spencer, Ph.D.Assistant Professor - Department of Biological Sciences

University of Texas at El PasoEl Paso, TX 79968

Office: 915-747-8776Email: [email protected]

EDUCATION2008-2012 Postdoctoral Training: Pathology, Microbiology and

Immunology, Mentor: Sebastian Joyce, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

2008 Ph.D. Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Mentor: Daniel F. Hoft, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MODissertation title: Characterization of γδ T cells relevant for protective tuberculosis immunity: T cell specificity, antigen identification and mechanisms of inhibition.

2000 B.A. Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2012—present Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas. Numerous projects focused on inflammation and innate immunity to Francisella tularensis infection.

2008—2012 Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Dr. Sebastian Joyce, Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. Numerous projects focused on mass spectrometric analysis of host and viral infections.

2002—2008 Graduate Student, Laboratory of Dr. Daniel F. Hoft, Division of Immunobiology, St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri. My project focused on the immune response of 92 T cells against mycobacteria.

2001—2002 Research Assistant, Laboratory of Dr. Andrey Shaw, Department of Pathology, Division of Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. Working with Dr. Richard Burack, we studied the translocation of the transcription factor ERK1/2 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in response to stimulation.

2000—2001 Research Assistant, Laboratory of Dr. Michael Dustin, Department of Pathology, Division of Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. Continuation of my undergraduate research project.

1998—2000 Student Research Associate, Laboratory of Dr. Michael Dustin, Department of Pathology, Division of Immunology, Washington

University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. In collaboration with Dr. Matthew L. Thomas, we investigated the role of SHP-1 in neutrophil adhesion and activation using the motheaten mouse which is functionally deficient in SHP-1.

1998 Student Researcher, Laboratory of Dr. Michael Dustin, Department of Pathology, Division of Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri

1997 Student Researcher, Laboratory of Dr. James Crowe, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee. We attempted to identify the receptor for Respiratory Syncytial Virus using mutational screens.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2017 Served on NSF BIO advisory panel2017 BBRC Symposium organizing committee2016—present Departmental Graduate Student Advisor2016—2017 College of Science Teamwork Assessment Fellow2016—2017 Provost's Community Engaged Scholar2016 ASM Rio Grande Branch Annual Meeting Organizing Committee

Chair2016 Lead Guest editor for Advances in Emerging and Neglected

Infectious Diseases Special Issue of BioMed Research International

2016 Ad hoc reviewer for Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) Biomedical Research Commission (ABRC)

2016 Ad hoc reviewer for Proteomes2015 Metabolic Disease section chair for BBRC Symposium2015 ABRCMS Abstract Reviewer2015 SciMed Central Reviewer2015—present SRL Proteomics and Bioinformatics Editorial Board2015—present SRL Immunology and Immunotherapy Editorial Board2015—2017 American Society for Microbiology Rio Grande Branch

President2014 ABRCMS Abstract Reviewer2013—2014 Educational Compliance Committee2014— present Departmental Website committee chair 2014—present Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee2013 SACNAS Undergraduate Poster Judge2013 ABRCMS Presentation Judge2012—present Graduate Faculty, Department of Biological Science; UTEP2010—2011 Reviewer for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Chemical

and Biological Technologies Directorate program 2009—2012 Departmental representative to the local branch of the National

Postdoctoral Association

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Association of ImmunologistsAmerican Society for Cell BiologyAmerican Association for the Advancement of ScienceAmerican Society for MicrobiologyShock Society

HONORS

2016 AAI Travel Award for presentation at Immunology 20162016 ASCB Faculty Research and Educational Development

Travel award2015 AAI Travel Award for presentation at Immunology 20152015-2016 ASCB Faculty Research and Educational Development

program2013 ASCB Minority Affairs Committee Professional

Development Symposium 20132012 Travel Award for presentation at Immunology 20122010-2012 NIH T32 Immunobiology of Blood Vascular Systems

Training grant recipient2007 American Society of Microbiology Kadner Institute for

professional development participant1998 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Travel Award,

Washington University in St. Louis1998 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Summer Fellow,

Washington University in St. Louis

RESEARCH INTERESTS

We have demonstrated that NKT cells reduce F. tularensis-mediated death by suppressing the cytokine storm. We now seek funding to continue this line of investigation in other grant applications to determine precisely how NKT cells suppress the cytokine storm, whether this has therapeutic applicability, and ultimately whether this mechanism is efficacious as a treatment for other infectious diseases that elicit a cytokine storm. We have developed and optimized an in vitro co-culture assay in order to dissect the mechanism by which NKT cells suppress inflammation in response to F. tularensis infection. This project has not yet been published as we have not yet completed in vivo confirmatory studies of the mechanism. This study was delayed due to problems in the vivarium with breeding and construction hamper studies and contamination of in vitro cell lines. Meanwhile, we have developed a second line of investigation into the cause of a sexual dimorphism in susceptibility to F. tularensis; this project is slated for publication fall 2016. In addition, we discovered for the first time that peripheral infection of mice with F. tularensis results in trafficking of the bacterium to the brain. Studies are underway to identify the cellular target of infection in the brain, describe the inflammation and neuroimmune responses, and identify the mechanism of neural invasion (fund by a pilot grant from the UT System BRAIN initiative). Finally, studies indicated that the increased inflammatory status of obese mice made them more susceptible to F. tularensis-mediated disease.

PUBLICATIONS (*=GRADUATE STUDENT; **=UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT)

MANUSCRIPTS CURRENTLY IN PREPARATION:

Muniz MGR*, Pon A**, Jones D**, Nunez G**, Mishra P, Khan AM, Cardona AE and Spencer CT. (2017) A novel neuroinvasive infection modality for Francisella tularensis elicits neuroinflammation resulting in cellular damage. Submission to Journal of Neuroinflammation

Martinez DY*, Sanchez M**, Portillo P**, Olsen D** and Spencer CT. (2017) Increased M1 macrophage activity makes females more sensitive to primary Francisella tularensis infection. Submission to PLoS Pathogens

Duarte TT, Bratton M, Wiese T, Spencer CT and Kulkarni A. (2017) Novel inflammasome inhibitor suppresses severe inflammation triggered by Francisella tularensis. Submission to Bioorganic Medicinal Chemistry Letters

Muniz MGR*, Palfreeman M**, Sanchez M**, Garza K, Gosselink KL and Spencer CT. (2017) The pre-existing inflammation of obesity exacerbates the cytokine storm caused by Francisella tularensis infection promoting disease. Submission to International Journal of Obesity

PUBLISHED MANUSCRIPTS:

1. Duarte TT and Spencer CT (2016) Personalized Proteomics: The Future of Precision Medicine. Proteomes 4(4):29, doi:10.3390/proteomes4040029. PMC5117667 (Since arrival at UTEP)

2. K.C. Nune*, M.C. Somani*, C.T. Spencer & R.D.K. Misra (2016): Cellular response of Staphylococcus aureus to nanostructured metallic biomedical devices: surface binding and mechanism of disruption of colonization. Materials Technology, 1-10. doi: 10.1080/10667857.2015.1112572 (Since arrival at UTEP)

3. M. Xia, D. Hesser**, P. De, I. Sakala, C.T. Spencer, J. Kirkwood, G. Abate, D. Chatterjee, K. Dobos and D.F. Hoft (2016) A Subset of Protective γ9δ2 T cells is Activated by Novel Mycobacterial Lipid Components. Infection and Immunity, 84(9): 2449-2462. (Since arrival at UTEP)

4. Spencer CT, Bezbradica JS, Ramos MG*, Arico CD*, Gilchuk P, Conant SB, Gray JJ**, Zheng M, Niu X, Hildebrand W, Link AJ and Joyce S. (2015) Viral infection causes a shift in the self peptide repertoire presented by human MHC class I molecules. Proteomics: Clinical Applications. 9(11-12):1035-1052. (Invited) PMID: 26768311 (Since arrival at UTEP)

5. Abate G, Spencer CT, Hamzabegovic F, Blazevic A, Xia M and Hoft DF. (2015) Mycobacteria-specific γ9δ2 T cells mediate both pathogen inhibitory and CD40L-dependent antigen presentation effects important for TB immunity. Infection and Immunity. Infection and Immunity. 84(2):580-589. PMID: 26644385 (Since arrival at UTEP)

6. Spencer CT+, Abate G+, Sakala I+, Xia M, Truscott SM, Eickhoff CS, Linn R**, Blazevic A, Metkar SS, Peng G, Froelich CJ and Hoft DF. (2013) Granzyme A produced by γ9δ2 T cells induces human macrophages to inhibit growth of an intracellular pathogen. PLoS Pathogens 9(1): e1003119. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003119 (Since arrival at UTEP)

+Equal contribution7. Spencer CT, Dragovic SM*, Conant SB, Gray JJ**, Zheng M, Samir P, Niu X,

Moutaftsi M, Van Kaer L, Sette A, Link AJ and Joyce S. (2013) Scuplting MHC class II-restricted self and non-self peptidome by the class I antigen-processing machinery and its consequences on TH cell responses. Eur J Immunol. 43:1162-1172. (Since arrival at UTEP)

8. Gilchuk P, Spencer CT, Conant SB, Hill T, Gray JJ**, Niu X, Zheng M, Erickson J*, Boyd K, McAfee J, Oseroff C, Hadrup S, Bennink J, Hildebrand W, Edwards K, Crowe JE, Jr., Williams J, Buus S, Sette A, Schumacher TN, Link AJ and Joyce S. (2013) Discovering protective T-cell responses by interrogating naturally processed antigenic determinants. J Clin Invest. 123:1976-1987. (Since arrival at UTEP)

9. Spencer CT and Joyce S. (2012) Know thyself: Variations in self peptidomes and their immunologic consequences. Amer Soc Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics Quart. 36 (3): 28-36.

10. Hoft DF, Babusis R, Worku S, Spencer CT, Lottenbach K, Truscott SM, Abate G, Sakala IG, Edwards KM, Creech CB, Gerber MA, Bernstein DI, Newman F, Graham I, Anderson EL and Belshe RB. (2011) Live and inactivated influenza vaccines induce similar humoral responses but diverse cellular immune responses in young children. Journal of Infectious Disease 204: 845-853.

11. Gordy LE, Bezbradica JS, Flyak AI, Spencer CT, Dunkle A, Sun J, Stanic AK, Boothby MR, He Y-W, Zhao Z, Van Kaer L and Joyce S. (2011) IL-15 regulates homeostasis and terminal maturation of NKT cells. The Journal of Immunology 187:6335-6345.

12. Lee K, Gudapati P, Dragovic S, Spencer C, Joyce S, Killeen N, Magnuson MA, and Boothby M. (2010) Mammalian target of rapamycin protein complex 2 regulates differentiation of Th1 and Th2 cell subsets via distinct signaling pathways. Immunity 32: 743-753.

13. Spencer CT, Gilchuk P, Dragovic SM and Joyce S. (2010) Minor histocompatibility antigens: presentation principles, recognition logic and the potential for a healing hand. Curr Opin Organ Transplant. 15: 512-525.

14. Spencer CT, Abate G, Blazevic A, and Hoft DF. (2008) Only a subset of phosphoantigen-responsive 92 T cells mediate protective TB immunity. The Journal of Immunology 181: 4471-4484.

BOOK CHAPTERS:

Ramos-Muniz MG† and Spencer CT. Microbial translocation of the blood-brain barrier in Blood-Brain Barrier – Methods and Protocols (ed Tatiana Barichello),

Springer Protocols – Humana Press, 2017. Submitted to editor. (Since arrival at UTEP)

ABSTRACTS SINCE ARRIVAL AT UTEP:

Cruz B*, Flores RJ, Martinez DY*, Lopez A, Espinoza E, Hinojosa CA, Spencer CT and O'Dell LE. "Prolonged alcohol and nicotine exposure suppresses inflammatory markers and stress hormone levels," Society for Neuroscience. (November 2017)

Del Valle P**, Duarte TT and Spencer CT. “Identification of Natural Killer T (NKT) cell activation by Francisella tularensis Lipid Extracts.” BBRC Symposium, El Paso, TX. (September 2017)

Kulkarni A, Meleveetil S, Hussein D, Spencer CT, Durate TT, Weise T, Bratton M and Phillip J. “Targeting the Cytokine Storm in Microbial Pathogensis.” BBRC Symposium, El Paso, TX. (September 2017)

Sanchez M**, Martinez DY*, Saenz Portillo P** and Spencer CT. “Intensity of female immune response correlates with disease severity in Francisella tularensis infection.” BBRC Symposium, El Paso, TX. (September 2017)

Muniz MGR*, Pon A**, Jones D**, Nunez G**, Mishra P, Khan AM, Cardona AE and Spencer CT. “A novel neuroinvasive infection modality for Francisella tularensis elicits neuroinflammation resulting in cellular damage.” BBRC Symposium, El Paso, TX. (September 2017)

Iniguez E*, Schocker NS, Portilllo S*, Torres CL*, Rodriguez F, Moreira OC, Spencer CT, Al-Salem WS, Subramaniam K, Acosta-Serrano A, Michael K, Almeida IC and Maldonado-Medina RA. "Potential Synthetic a-Gal-containing neoglycoprotein-based vaccine against cutaneous leishmaniasis," 6th World Congress on Leishmaniasis, Toledo, Spain. (May 2017)

Del Valle P**, Duarte TT and Spencer CT. “Identification of Natural Killer T (NKT) cell activation by Francisella tularensis Lipid Extracts.” Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Conference in Long Beach, CA. (October 2016)

Spencer CT, Ramos-Muniz MG*, Olsen D**, Setzu N** and Martinez DY*. “Deficiencies in myeloid cell populations lead to increased sensitivity of females compared with males to Francisella tularensis infection.” Immunology (May 2016)

Garcia Arreguin M**, Miramontes M**, Setzu N**, Chaidez-Sandoval A**, Ramos-Muniz MG*, Martinez L**, Arizpe A**, Zavala G**, Vela R**, Pina A**, Becerra C**, Mata D**, Delgado Y**, Navar C**, Arroyo L**, Garcia M**, Whitman B**, Contreras J**, Correa V**, Duarte TT and Spencer CT. “NKT Cell-Mediated Inhibition of Inflammation.” Immunology (May 2016)

Ramos-Muniz MG*, Pon A**, Jones DN** and Spencer CT. Peripheral Francisella tularensis infection results in neural invasion and pathologic inflammation. Immunology (May 2016)

Jones DN**, Pon AM**, Ramos-Muniz MG* and Spencer CT. “Neuroimmunologic Response of F. Tularensis Infection.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Rio Grande Branch of the American Society for Microbiology. (April 2016)Setzu N**, Ramos-Muniz MG* and Spencer CT. “Cytokine blocking identifies the mechanism of NKT cell mediated inhibition of inflammation.” ABRCMS Symposium Abstracts, San Antonio, TX (November 2015)Miramontes M**, Elliot KP**, Duarte TT and Spencer CT. "Francisella tularensis-derived Lipids Activate NKT cell Effector Functions," ABRCMS, Seattle, WA. (November 2015).

Jones DN**, Pon AM**, Ramos-Muniz MG* and Spencer CT. “Neuroimmunologic Response of F. Tularensis Infection.” Presented at the Second Border Biomedical Research Center Symposium. (September 2015)Ramos-Muniz MG*, Contreras R**, Jones DN**, Pon AM** and Spencer CT. "Francisella tularensis Infection Results in Neural Invasion," BBRC Symposium on Health Disparities, UTEP (September 2015).

Contreras R**, Ramos-Muniz MG*, Jones DN**, Pon AM** and Spencer CT. "Francisella tularensis Infection Results in Neural Invasion," BRIDGES/LSAMP symposium, UTEP. (August 2015).

Setzu N**, Ramos-Muniz MG*, Martinez DY* and Spencer CT. "The Heightened Inflammatory Response Makes Females More Susceptible to F. tularensis-mediated Death," Immunology 2015, New Orleans, LA. (May 2015).

Spencer CT, Martinez DY*, Setzu N** and Ramos-Muniz MG*. “The heightened inflammatory response makes females are more susceptible to F. tularensis-mediated death.” Immunology (May 2015)

Ramos-Muniz MG*, Rios M*, Montero-Hunt E** and Spencer CT. “Microbe Detech.” Paso del Norte Venture Capitalist, El Paso, TX (March 2015)Ramos-Muniz MG*, Jones DN* and Spencer CT. "Peripheral Francisella Tularensis Infection Results in Neural Invasion," Neuroinflammation in Diseases of the Central Nervous System, Keystone, Taos, New Mexico. (January 2015).

Spencer CT, Ramos-Muniz MG*, Setzu N**, Molina-Limon N**. "NKT cells suppress Francisella tularensis-induced inflammation preventing death." Infectious Diseases Research Symposium, TTUHSC. (November 2014).Ramos-Muniz MG* and Spencer CT. “Peripheral Francisella tularensis infection results in neural invasion.” UTEP Graduate School Expo (November 2014)

Setzu N**, Noel Molina-Limon**, Ramos-Muniz MG* and Spencer CT. “Natural Killer T (NKT) Cells Prevent Death from Francisella Tularensis Infection?” Texas Tech University Research Colloquium Abstracts, El Paso, TX (May 2014)

Setzu N**, Ramos-Muniz MG* and Spencer CT. “How can we do a better job at fighting infection; What are the NKT cells doing to suppress the Francisella tularensis infection.” COURI Symposium Abstracts, El Paso, TX (April 2014).

Molina-Limon N**, Setzu N** and Spencer CT. “An in vitro system to analyze NKT cell-mediated suppression of inflammatory cytokine production following F. Tularensis infection.” COURI Symposium Abstracts, El Paso, TX (April 2014).

Setzu N**, Ramos-Muniz MG* and Spencer CT. “How can we do a better job at fighting infection; What are the NKT cells doing to suppress the Francisella tularensis infection.” American Society of Microbiology Symposium Abstracts, El Paso, TX (February 2014)

Setzu N**, Ramos-Muniz MG* and Spencer CT. “How can we do a better job at fighting infection; What are the NKT cells doing to suppress the Francisella tularensis infection.” ABRCMS Symposium Abstracts, Nashville, TN (November 2013).Martinez DY*, Setzu N**, Ramos-Muniz MG* and Spencer CT. "Females are more susceptible to death following Francisella tularensis infection," ABRCMS, Nashville, TN. (November 2013).Spencer CT, Dragovic SM*, Conant S, Jennings J**, Zhang M, Niu X, Moutaftsi M, Van Kaer L, Sette A, Link AJ and Joyce S. “MHC Class I Antigen Processing Dictates MHC Class II Responses.” RCMI2012, Puerto Rico (December 2012).

OTHER:

Spencer CT (2015) Immunoproteomics: from Reductionist to Systems Immunology. SRL Proteomics & Bioinformatics. 1(1): 001-003.Spencer CT (2015) Don’t Neglect Neglected Diseases. SRL Immunology & Immunotherapy. 1(1): 001-002.Spencer CT and Vasconcelos J (2017) Advances in Emerging and Neglected Infectious Diseases. BioMed Research International. Special Issue: Advances in Emerging and Neglected Infectious Diseases. Article ID 1467693, doi:10.1155/2017/1467693.

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

Spencer CT, Ramos-Muniz MG, Martinez DY and Cruz B. “Effect of pre-existing inflammation on susceptibility to infectious disease.” Healthy Exchange Lecture, College of Health Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, April 2017

Spencer CT. “NKT cells protect against Francisella tularensis-induced hypercytokinemia.” Albany Medical College, January 2017

Spencer CT, Ramos-Muniz MG, Olsen D, Setzu N and Martinez DY. “Deficiencies in myeloid cell populations lead to increased sensitivity of females compared with males to Francisella tularensis infection.” Immunology, May 2016

Spencer CT, Martinez DY and Ramos-Muniz MG. “A Change of Fortunes: Women are more susceptible to Francisella tularensis.” BBRC Symposium on Health Disparities, September 2015

Spencer CT, Martinez D, Setzu N and Ramos-Muniz MG. “The heightened inflammatory response makes females are more susceptible to F. tularensis-mediated death.” Immunology, May 2015

Spencer CT. “Control of inflammation by monosodium luminol-GVT.” Longevity Foundation Research Summit, September 2014

Martinez D, Setzu N, Ramos-Muniz MG and Spencer CT. “Females are more susceptible to F. tularensis-mediated death.” ISMHHD, December 2014

Spencer CT. “Innate immune control of Francisella-induced inflammation and immunopathology.” New Mexico State University, February 2014

RESEARCH FUNDING

2016-2019 NSF/MRI, 1626587 (Role: PI)

2015-2018 University of Texas System, 365304 (Role: PI)

2014-2016 NIH/RCMI pilot project, 2G12MD007592-21 (Role: Co-PI; PI: Oullet)

2014-2016 NIH/RCMI pilot project, 2G12MD007592-22 (Role: Co-PI; PI: Garza)

2014-2015 UTEP College of Science Research Incentive (Role: PI)

2013-2014 UTEP University Research Incentive (Role: PI)

PENDING

2018-2020 NIH/NIAID (Role: Co-PI)

2017-2020 NASA/Translational Research Institute (Role: PI)

2017-2019 NIH/NIAID (Role: PI)

2017-2019 NIH/NIAID (Role: PI)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2012-present Assistant Professor – Microbiology; The University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Biological Sciences

Courses: Undergraduate – General Biology, Human Anatomy and Physiology II, Molecular Cell Biology, Microbial Physiology, Pathogenic Microbiology (split with Dr. Kyle Johnson), Special Topics – Human Health Disparities, Special Topics – Infectious

Disease Co-Evolution, Professional Development (Senior seminar), CBCH (Team taught); Graduate – Advanced Special Topics – Infectious Disease Co-Evolution, Professional Development and Grant Writing (Team taught), Advanced Immunology (Guest lecturer)

2010-2012 Postdoctoral Fellow – Vanderbilt University, Department of Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology

Course: Undergraduate – Immunology (Guest lecturer)

2000-2002 Research Assistant – Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Pathology, Division of Immunology

Course: Undergraduate – Immunology (Guest lecturer)

OVERVIEW OF TEACHING LOAD SINCE ARRIVAL AT UTEP IN FALL 2012:

Semester

CourseCRN#

Title Course Type

Enrollment

Contact (hrs/week)

Fall 2012

MICR 344512361

Microbial Physiology

Lecture-Lab

25 4

MICR 344512362


Lecture-Lab

25 4

MICR 344516892


Lecture-Lab

20 4

Spring 2013

BIOL 439529239

Topics in Biology Lecture 13 3

BIOL 439822704

Special Problems Independent Study

2 3

Summer 2013

BIOL 439533635


BIOL 530133636

Select Adv Topics Biol Science

Seminar 6 3

Fall 2013

MICR 314616502

Microbial Physiology Lab

Laboratory 11 1

MICR Microbial Laboratory 24 1

314616503

Physiology Lab

MICR 314616504


Laboratory 24 1

MICR 314616505


Laboratory 27 1

MICR 314617042


Laboratory 19 1

MICR 334516506


Lecture 111 3

BIOL 439811158


1 3

BIOL 530211149

Research Biological Science

Independent Study

1 3

BIOL 530815920

Research Funding & Prof Development

Lecture 4 3

BIOL 630815921


Lecture 5 0.1

Spring 2014

CBCH 432024113

Adv Topics in Mol Biochem

Seminar 53 0.1

BIOL 439526580


BIOL 439821153


1 3

Summer 2014

MICR 314633544


Laboratory 12 1

MICR 334533542


Lecture 14 3

MICR 334325038

Pathogenic Microbiology

Lecture 96 3

Fall MICR Microbial Laboratory 9 1

2014 314615384

Physiology Lab

MICR 314615385


Laboratory 15 1

MICR 314615386


Laboratory 16 1

MICR 314615387


Laboratory 19 1

MICR 314615729


Laboratory 20 1

MICR 334515388


Lecture 81 3

BIOL 419813179


1 1

BIOL 429813526


2 2

BIOL 530117377


Seminar 11 3

BIOL 530814928


Lecture 8 3

BIOL 630814929


Lecture 11 3

Spring 2015

MICR 334324342

Pathogenic Microbiology

Lecture 64 3

BIOL 419821086


1 1

BIOL 439522194


BIOL 439821089


2 3

BIOL 530221096


Independent Study

1 3

BIOL Thesis Thesis 1 3

539824132

Summer 2015

BIOL 429831972


1 2

BIOL 439830719


1 3

BIOL 439832979


1 3

BIOL 639033167

Independent Research

Independent Study

1 3

Fall 2015

MICR 314614683


Laboratory 20 1

MICR 314614684


Laboratory 25 1

MICR 314614685


Laboratory 24 1

MICR 314614686


Laboratory 12 1

MICR 334514687


Lecture 83 3

BIOL 439811540


1 3

BIOL 530115257


Seminar 10 3

BIOL 530213989


Independent Study

1 3

Spring 2016

BIOL 110727562

Topics in Study of Life I

Laboratory 15 1

BIOL 319227843

Professional Development Sem.

Seminar 59 1

BIOL 4298


2 2

24511CBCH 432023396

Adv Topics in Mol Biochem

Seminar 24 0.1

BIOL 439522069


BIOL 439824513


3 3

BIOL 639025688


Independent Study

1 3

Summer 2016

BIOL 530230693


Independent Study

1 3

BIOL 639032889


Independent Study

1 3

Fall 2016

BIOL 110718864


Laboratory 21 1

BIOL 110818015

Organismal Biology Laboratory

Laboratory 11 1

MICR 314614254


Laboratory 24 1

MICR 314614255


Laboratory 17 1

MICR 314614256


Laboratory 11 1

MICR 314614257


Laboratory 9 1

MICR 334514258


Lecture 62 3

BIOL 419813656


1 1

BIOL 429813657


1 2

CBCH Techniques in Lecture 29 0.1

431013246

Mol Biochem

BIOL 439811457


2 3

BIOL 539813659

Thesis Thesis 1 3

BIOL 639013663


Independent Study

1 3

BIOL 669013665


Independent Study

1 6

Spring 2017

BIOL 110827706

Organismal Biology Laboratory

Laboratory 11 1

BIOL 311523607

Molecular Cell Biol Laboratory

Laboratory 23 1

BIOL 311523608


Laboratory 21 1

BIOL 311523609


Laboratory 24 1

BIOL 311523610


Laboratory 19 1

BIOL 311523611


Laboratory 24 1

BIOL 311525424


Laboratory 23 1

BIOL 331423612

Molecular Cell Biology

Lecture 134 3

BIOL 429824115


1 2

BIOL 439824117


2 3

BIOL 539924992

Thesis Thesis 1 3

BIOL Independent Independe 1 2

629025026

Research nt Study

BIOL 639025031


Independent Study

1 3

BIOL 669025064


Independent Study

1 6

Summer 2017

BIOL 130530675

General Biology Lecture 45 3

BIOL 231330671

Human Anat/Physiology II

Lecture 90 3

BIOL 439532205


BIOL 530134758


Seminar 12 3

BIOL 530231856


Independent Study

1 3

BIOL 639031429


Independent Study

1 3

Fall 2017

BIOL 110718331


Laboratory 20 1

BIOL 311519162


Laboratory 18 1

MICR 314613822


Laboratory 24 1

MICR 314613823


Laboratory 9 1

MICR 314613824


Laboratory 23 1

MICR 314613825


Laboratory 23 1

BIOL 331419160

Molecular Cell Biology

Lecture 43 3

MICR 334513826


Lecture 83 3

BIOL 419813277


2 1

BIOL 429813278


1 2

BIOL 439811296


2 3

BIOL 530213279


Independent Study

1 3

BIOL 539913282

Thesis Thesis 1 3

BIOL 629014468


Independent Study

1 2

BIOL 639013284


Independent Study

1 3

BIOL 669013286


Independent Study

1 6

Totals: # of students Contact hrs1,999 245.4

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT


When I took over teaching this course in the Fall 2012 semester, I continued to teach it using the course materials that had been used. This allowed me to get a sense of what was working well and what didn’t work for my teaching style. During that semester, the greatest complaint from the students was the textbook. Subsequently, I have made an extensive search for a replacement textbook that would facilitate their learning. I eliminated several possibilities and reviewed a few print copies and ended up trying a new textbook. However, the student response to the textbook was even worse than previously and so we have reverted back to the original textbook.

To counter the problem of the textbook, I have made improvements to the course, introducing new material and new modes of learning. I have reordered the flow of material to what seems to me a logical progression of physiological mechanisms. I then introduced learning groups followed by team activities during the class period. In order to reinforce the material, the groups were

given assignments outside of class to generate a compilation of ideas that had been covered in the latest section. Included in the Appendix are the series of syllabi for this course over the semesters to demonstrate the evolution of the curriculum.

Techniques in Molecular BiochemistryThis may not be much of a major course revision but I am particularly proud of the advance and the students really like it. During this team-taught course, I teach the students about antimicrobial diagnostic and mechanisms of action. Following the lecture, the students are given a quiz/test regarding the material. For this, I developed a “choose your own adventure” quiz on Blackboard that allows the students to apply the information that they have learnt. The students are challenged to find the shortest and most cost-effective way to diagnose and determine treatment options for an epidemic. The students accumulate points based on their choice of what to do next.

Microbial Physiology Laboratory

In addition to the didactic lecture portion of the course, I redesign the accompanying laboratory section. Again, for the first two years that I oversaw this laboratory, it remained unaltered. However, following an apprenticeship with Dr. Kyle Johnson in the Pathogenic Microbiology Laboratory course, I discovered ways to improve the laboratory section and make it more exciting for the students.

The major curricular development for the laboratory was a change in the style of the laboratory. Formally, it had been protocol centric, i.e., the students were given a protocol and asked to follow it to get the right answer. I changed this to a more inquisitive and explorative style of laboratory. The students are now given a petri dish containing a mixture of “unknown” bacterial colonies. Teams of students then choose their own bacterial colony to work with throughout the semester with the goal of identifying that “unknown” bacterial species. They now do this by analyzing the macromolecules and bacterial structures that we discuss throughout the semester in the lecture class. Several of these assays have been updated as well. The students use antibiotic susceptibility testing, PCR, TLC, and even MALDI Mass Spectrometry to compare their bacterium’s DNA, lipids and protein content with “known” control samples. The response from the students has been very positive for this new format. One part that has remained is the fermentation of yogurt and beer; for some reason, the students really enjoy this part. However, I have expanded the analysis to now include measurements of lactic acid and alcohol content, respectively, before and after fermentation so that the students witness the metabolism of the starting sugar.

Infectious Disease Co-Evolution

I initially developed this course as an informational lecture based course. However, it soon became apparent that while the students really enjoyed the

material, they wanted more from the course. Therefore, I introduced projects into the course material. Now, the students select an infectious disease of their choice, with some guidance from myself so they don’t choose something which won’t have the necessary information, and apply the topics that we have discussed in class to their pathogen. This allows them not only to absorb the information but to process and use the information in a real-world application.

Here also, I have sought an appropriate textbook; having sampled several in the class. The first, though informative, was very dry and the students did not like reading it. I then switched to a more narrative book that was a pleasure to read but did not contain much molecular details. So, I tried a molecular evolutionary textbook, but this was just much more than I intended the course to be. We have now settled on the interesting narrative textbook that provides the students with real-world details about the topics we cover while I provide the molecular details in lecture.

General Biology and Organismal Biology Laboratory

This laboratory sequence has been in a constant state of development since it was introduced starting Spring 2016. As part of the NIH-funded BUILDing Scholars program, I developed this laboratory sequence to incorporate a part of my research program into these freshman biology laboratories. We are searching for the lipid derived from Francisella tularensis that allow its recognition by NKT cells of the immune system. For this, we have a transposon mutant library of over 3400 bacterial clones that the students learn to analyze. At the conception of this course, I planned that the students would be able to analyze 10-12 clones/group/semester; however, do to the complexity of our assay, it quickly became apparent that this was not going to happen. Therefore, my expectation changed so that during the first semester the course is focused on their learning and understanding of the variety of techniques and science necessary to analyze a single clone/group. The second semester, the students are given freedom to evaluate as many clones as they are able to at their own pace.

Secondly, this tandem was initially designed as a Spring – Fall series allowing the students to do research during the summer. However, it quickly became apparent that during the interim summer semester, the students did not retain the techniques needed for the second semester. Therefore, the tandem course was altered to a Fall – Spring series. Lastly, the second semester was later broadened to give the students more of a choice in the project that they were investigating. Just as research questions evolve, the projects in the course evolved as well. During the second semester, the students chose between continuing with the mutants, investigating the infectability using microscopy, inflammasome activation, or macromolecule separation.

MASTER’S THESIS AND DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS DIRECTED

2017-present Chelsea Mayer – MS proposal planned Fall 2017Project: Distribution and localization of neuroinvasive Francisella tularensis

2017-present Michelle Sanchez – pre-candidacy MSProject: Correlation between the systemic cytokine storm and local tissue inflammation in Francisella tularensis infection

2016-present Gabrielle Miller – pre-candidacy PhDProject: The role of type I and type II NKT cells in controlling the Francisella tularensis-elicited cytokine storm

2015-present Danielle Martinez – MS proposal planned Fall 2017Project: Increased M1 macrophage activity makes females more sensitive to primary Francisella tularensis infection

2014-present Mireya Ramos – MS (2014) – PhD (2015) proposal planned Fall 2017

Project: Neuroinvasive Francisella tularensis: Mechanism of invasion and consequence of neural infection

2013 Stephanie Moreno – MS – transferred to Dr. Kirken’s laboratory

OTHER GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH MENTORING

2016 Brenda Hernandez2016 Karla Parra2014 Chenoa Arico2015 Eva Iniguez

SERVICE ON OTHER GRADUATE STUDENT COMMITTEES

2016-present Nassim Hosseini, UTEP PhD student; Biological Sciences2016-present Susana Portillo, UTEP PhD student; Biological Sciences2015-present Jenny Moya, UTEP PhD student; Biological Sciences2015-present Nina Ortiz, UTEP PhD student; Biological Sciences2015-present Karla Parra, UTEP PhD student; Biological Sciences2015-present Chenoa Arico, UTEP PhD student; Biological Sciences

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROJECTS DIRECTED

2017-present Pablo Arenaz, UTEP Undergraduate student (BUILDing Scholars program)

2017-present Leslie Rodriguez, UTEP Undergraduate student (MARC program)2017 Stephan Morales, EPCC Undergraduate student (BRIDGES

program)2017 Matthew Story, NMSU Undergraduate student (BUILDing

Scholars program)

2016, 2017 Cicilia Lovato, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate student (BUILDing Scholars program)

2017-present Aws Ahmed, UTEP Undergraduate student2016-present Michelle Sanchez, UTEP Undergraduate student (accepted

into UTEP MS program 2017)2016-present Pamela Saenz Portillo, UTEP Undergraduate student2016-present Priscilla Del Valle, UTEP Undergraduate student

(BUILDing Scholars program)2016 Aashir Sohail, UTEP Undergraduate student (currently

applying to medical school)2016 Stephanie Jones, UTEP Undergraduate student (currently

applying to medical school)2016 Ricardo Vela, UTEP Undergraduate student (BRIDGES

program)2016 Sahaly Valdez, UTEP Undergraduate student (BUILDing

Scholars program)2016 Esther Muus, EPCC Undergraduate student (BRIDGES

program)2016 Aaron Castro, UTEP Undergraduate student2015-2016 Matthew Palfreeman, UTEP Undergraduate student

(currently applying to medical school)2015-2016 Antonio Chaidez-Sandoval, UTEP Undergraduate student2015-2016 Darlene Olsen, UTEP Undergraduate student (currently in

US Navy)2014-2016 Valeria Baeza, UTEP Undergraduate student (nursing

student; currently state Rehabilitation Counselor)2014-2016 Devin Jones, UTEP Undergraduate student (BURS

program)2014-2016 Alexandra Pon, UTEP Undergraduate student (currently

applying to medical school)2014-2016 Martha Miramontes, UTEP Undergraduate student (RISE

program)2015 Renada Devoll, UTEP Undergraduate student2014 Karla Elliot, UTEP Undergraduate student (currently at US

FDA)2013-2014 Noel Molina-Limon, UTEP Undergraduate student (COURI

program, currently at R&D Systems)2014 Persephone Purdeu, EPCC Undergraduate student

(BRIDGES program)2013-present Nicole Setzu, EPCC/UTEP Undergraduate student

(BRIDGES, RISE programs)2013-2014 Adam Banda, UTEP Undergraduate student (RISE

program, currently in doctoral program at UMichigan)2013 Lori Berumen, UTEP Undergraduate student (currently in

Physician Assistant School, Fort Worth)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

2016-2017 Faculty Fellowship, "Provost's Community Engaged Scholarship Institute," UTEP Provost Office

2016 Mock Grant Review Panel, "Faculty Research and Educational Development," ASCB Minority Affairs Committee

2015-2016 Yearlong grant writing program, "Faculty Research and Education Development (FRED) program," ASCB

2016 Conference Attendance, "AAI 2016," American Association of Immunology

2015 Conference Attendance, "ASCB 2015," American Society of Cell Biology

2015 Round table discussion, "Bringing Research into the Undergraduate Curriculum," ASCB

2015 Workshop, "FRED Faculty Grant Review," ASCB2015 Seminar, "Converting a lecture-based introductory biology

class to an active learning studio environment," ASCB2015 Seminar, "StarCellBio: a new cell and molecular biology

experiment simulator," ASCB2015 Seminar, "Stop telling me to do active learning and show

me how: biology examples of active learning techniques.," ASCB

2015 Conference Attendance, "Joint meeting of the Rio Grande, Inter-Mountain and Rocky Mountain branches of the ASM," ASM

2015 Conference Attendance, "Medical Research, Development and Acquisition in Support of the Warfighter - USAMRMC Military Medical Missions, Goals, and Objective," MDIA and USAMRMC

2014 Tutorial, "Grant Pre-Review," UTEP ORSP2014 Workshop, "Developing a Mentoring Plan," UTEP Graduate

School2014 Continuing Education Program, "Phlebotomy certificate,"

UTEP P32014 Conference Attendance, "Immunology 2014," AAI2014 Workshop, "Writing & Designing NIH Proposals," UTEP2013 Conference Attendance, "Annual Biomedical Research

Conference for Minority Students," American Society for Microbiology

2013 Continuing Education Program, "ABSL3 Theory and Practicum Training Course," UTMB National Biodefense Training Center and Laboratory Biosafety Training Program

2013 Workshop, "Tenure & Promotion Workshop," UTEP Provost Office

2013 Conference Attendance, "SACNAS 2013," SACNAS2013 Workshop, "FBI Academic Biosecurity Workshop," The

University of Texas at El Paso

2013 Workshop + 10-week program, "Publish & Flourish: Become a Prolific Scholar," UTEP and Text and Academic Authors Association

2013 Workshop, "MAC Jr Faculty Career Development Workshop," ASCB Minority Affairs Committee

2013 Conference Attendance, "Immunology 2013," AAI2013 Seminar, "Collaborative Faculty Mentoring Program,"

UTEP2013 Workshop, "Writing NIH and NSF Proposals: Beyond the

Basics Workshop," UTEP2012 Conference Attendance, "13th RCMI International

Symposium on Health Disparities," RCMI

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE ACTIVITIES

2017-2018 Lead Guest Editor for second annual Special Issue “Advances in Emerging and Neglected Diseases” for BioMed Research International

2017 ABRCMS Abstract Reviewer2017 Session Chair for Third Border Biomedical Research

Center Symposium Health Disparities: From Molecules to Disease

2017 Session Chair for RCMI Conference, Washington DC2017 Reviewer, Grant Proposal for National Science Foundation

Study Section2017 Reviewer, Grant Proposal for CSR III Study Section2017 Reviewer, Textbook for Springer Publishing2017 Reviewer, Manuscript for British Journal of Medicine and

Medical Research2016 Conference Organizer for ASM Rio Grande Branch2016 Reviewer, Grant Proposal for Arizona Department of

Health Services (ADHS) Biomedical Research Commission (ABRC)

2016 Reviewer, Manuscript for Proteomes2016 Editor, Associate Editor for The Scientific Pages of

Microbiology2015- 2017 President for ASM Rio Grande Branch2015 Session Chair for Second Border Biomedical Research

Center Symposium Health Disparities: From Molecules to Disease

2015-2016 Lead Guest Editor for Special Issue “Advances in Emerging and Neglected Diseases” for BioMed Research International

2015 Reviewer, Conference Paper for ABRCMS2015 Editor, Associate Editor for SRL Proteomics and

Bioinformatics2015 Reviewer, Journal Article for Annals of Clinical Pathology

2015 Editor, Associate Editor for SRL Immunology & Immunotherapy

2014 Reviewer, Grant Proposal for Centre de Recherche Public de la Sante

2014- 2015 President-Elect for ASM Rio Grande Branch2014 Reviewer, Conference Paper for ABRCMS2013 Conference-Related for SACNAS2013 Conference-Related for ABRCMS

UNIVERSITY ACTIVITIES

SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY 2017 LSAMP Student Research Conference Poster Judge2017 Dodson Grant Reviewer2015-present Faculty Advisor for Pre-Nursing Student Association2014 Attendee Graduation2014-present Committee Member for IACUC2014 Poster Judge for COURI Symposium Spring 20142014 Centennial Open House BRB tour leader for Centennial

Open House BRB tour leader2013 Attendee, Graduation2013 Attendee Award Ceremony2013 Attendee Graduation2013 Attendee Award Ceremony2012 Attendee Graduation2012 Attendee Award Ceremony

SERVICE TO THE COLLEGE 2016-2017 Teamwork Assessment Fellow2015 Attendee Pre-Commencement2015 Reviewer, Fund Raiser for Graduate Student-Faculty

Research Fellowship Program2014 Attendee Pre-Commencement2013 Attendee Pre-Commencement2013-2014 Educational Compliance Committee2013 Attendee Pre-Commencement2012 Attendee Pre-Commencement

SERVICE TO THE DEPARTMENT 2017 Faculty Host for Dr. Sara Zimmer2017-present Program Advisory Committee for Pathobiology PhD

Program2016-present Committee Member for Nassim Karimi Hosseini -

Dissertation2015-present Committee Member for Jenny Moya - Dissertation2015-present Committee Member for Eva Iniguez - Dissertation2015-present Doctoral Advisor

2015-present Dr. Keelung Hong Graduate Research Fellowship Selection Committee

2015-present Committee Member for Nina Ortiz - Dissertation2015-present Committee Member for Chenoa Arico - Dissertation2014-2015 Search Committee for Research Assistant Professor -

Proteomics2014-present Committee Chair for Website committee2014-present Committee Chair for Mireya Ramos - Dissertation2014-present Committee Member for Karla Parra - Dissertation2014 Outreach Participant for Centennial Open House BRB tour

leader2014 Faculty Host for Dr. Sebastian Joyce2013 Stand-in for Matthew Gaynor's Thesis Committee2013 Dr. Keelung Hong Graduate Research Fellowship Selection

Committee

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