Immunogenetics/
DNA Diagnostics Laboratory
2500 North State Street
Clinical Sciences Building Room L-129
Jackson, MS 39216
Phone: (601) 984-5081/5124
Fax: (601) 984-5107
Director: D. Olga McDaniel, Ph.D. (
email
)
The Immunogenetics/DNA Diagnostics
Laboratory at the University of Mississippi Medical Center is located within
the Department of Surgery. It is committed to immunogenetic studies in renal
transplantation and in neurodegenerative disorders. This laboratory offers
Genetic
Testing Services including direct mutation testing by PCR-RFLP and nucleic acid
sequencing.
The
Transplantation Immunogentics Research includes DNA-based HLA Class II analysis,
particularly in the African-American population. This research has generated
a panel of African-American cell types that represents existing HLA Class II
genotypes. A system has been established to receive blood samples from all
kidney
care units and renal transplant centers to study the HLA genotype variations
and frequencies as well as linkage disequilibrium within the genotypes.
All
interested Centers for African-American genotype analysis or disease study are
welcome to participate.
The Immunogenetics laboratory
is also involved in research into trauma induced upregulation of the immune
system in renal transplantation. We are investigating Class II gene expression
of peripheral mononuclear cells and the cytokine network at local and peripheral
level in renal transplant patients. T cell clones restricted to polymorphic
epitopes of DPb chain are in the process of being established. Understanding
of the functional mechanisms of polymorphic epitopes in transplant rejection
may provide new ideas for novel approaches to immunotherapy.
The immunogenetics laboratory
in the Department of Surgery in coordination with neurodegenerative disease
research group, headed by Dr. S.H. Subramony in the Department of Neurology,
provides DNA testing for disorders including: Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 1
(SCA1); SCA2; Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) also known as SCA3; SCA6; SCA7 and
Friedreich's Ataxia (FA). Research in the laboratory involves identification
of genetic variations causing phenotypic changes in FA patients. In addition,
since FA is associated with a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), studies are
being persued to identify genes and the mechanisms that cause HCM in FA
patients.
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