Vance McCracken, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Box 1651
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL 62026-1651
e-mail: vmccrac@siue.edu
Phone: (618) 650-5246
Fax: (618) 650-3174
RESEARCH FOCUS
My research focuses on the exciting areas of gastrointestinal microbiology and mucosal immunology, with an emphasis on the interactions between the immune system, the gastrointestinal epithelium, and the indigenous and pathogenic bacteria inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract. Current research interests include immune and epithelial responses to the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori, inflammatory bowel disease, and molecular approaches to microbial ecology (i.e. using cultivation-independent approaches such as denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis to evaluate mixed microbial communities).
COURSE INFORMATION
Biol 250 Bacteriology
Biol 350 Microbiology
Biol 452/552 Molecular Genetics
Biol 497 Senior Assignment
Hopefully, some immunology, microbial pathogenesis in the future!
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
RESEARCH AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 2006-
Research Associate, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birminhgam, 2002-2006
Postdoctorate Research Fellow, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis 2000-2002
Research Assistant, Department of Animal Sciences,University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1994-2000
Teaching Assistant, Department of Foreign Languages, University of Nevada, Reno, 1989-1991
EDUCATION
2001 Ph.D. (Immunology/Animal Sciences), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1994 B.S. (Biological Sciences), Illinois State University
1991 M.A. (Spanish Literature), University of Nevada, Reno
1989 B.A. (Spanish), University of Tennessee at Martin
PUBLISHED MANUSCRIPTS
1. McCracken VJ, Martin SM, Lorenz RG (2005) The Helicobacter felis model of adoptive transfer gastritis. Immunol. Res.
343:183-194
2. Lorenz RG, McCracken VJ, Elson CO. (2005) Animal models of intestinal inflammation: Ineffective communication between coalition members. Springer Semin. Immun. 27:233-247
3. Elson CO, Cong Y, McCracken VJ, Dimmitt RA, Lorenz RG, Weaver CT (2005) Experimental models of inflammatory bowel disease reveal innate, adaptive, and regulatory mechanisms of host dialogue with the microbiota. Immunol. Rev. 206:260-276
4. McCracken VJ, Chun T, Baldeón ME, Ahrné S, Molin G, Mackie RI, Gaskins HR. (2002) TNF-alpha sensitizes HT-29 colonic epithelial cells to intestinal Lactobacilli. Exp. Biol. Med. 227:665-670
5. McCracken VJ, Simpson JM, Mackie RI, Gaskins HR (2001) Molecular ecological analysis of dietary and antibiotic-induced alterations of the mouse intestinal microbiota. J. Nutr. 131:1862-1870
6. McCracken VJ, Lorenz RG (2001) The gastrointestinal ecosystem: a precarious alliance among epithelium, immunity, and microbiota. Cell. Microbiol. 3:1-11
7. Simpson JM, McCracken VJ, Gaskins HR, Mackie RI (2000) Denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of 16S ribosomal DNA amplicons to monitor changes in fecal bacterial populations of weaning pigs after introduction of Lactobacillus reuteri strain MM53. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66:4705-4711
8. Deplancke BR, Hristova KR, Oakley HA, McCracken VJ, Aminov R, Mackie RI, Gaskins HR (2000) Molecular ecological analysis the succession and diversity of sulfate-reducing bacteria in the mouse gastrointestinal tract. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66:2166-2174
9. Anderson DB, McCracken VJ, Aminov RI, Simpson JM, Mackie RI, Verstegen MWA, Gaskins HR (1999) Gut microbiology and growth-promoting antibiotics in swine. Pig News and Information 115N-112N
10. Simpson JM, McCracken VJ, White BA, Gaskins HR, Mackie RI (1999) Optimization of denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis for the analysis of the porcine gastrointestinal microbiota. J. Microbiological Methods 36:167-179
BOOK CHAPTERS
1. McCracken VJ, Gaskins HR (1999) Probiotics and the immune system. In: Probiotics: A Critical Review. (Ed. Tannock, G.W.) Horizon Scientific Press, Norfolk, England. pp. 85-111
OTHER STUFF
Department of Biological Sciences Home Page
American Society for Microbiology (external link)
The American Association of Immunologists (external link)
Society for Mucosal Immunology (link)
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