Dr. Vance McCracken
Associate Professor, Chair
Ph.D. University of Illinois, 2001
Office: SW 1190
Research Lab: SW 1010
Phone: (618) 650-5246
E-mail: vmccrac@siue.edu
Courses Taught: Contemporary Biology (BIOL 111), Freshman Seminar (BIOL 111-FS), Human Biology (Biology 140), Bacteriology (BIOL 250), Immunology (BIOL 335), Microbiology (BIOL 350), Microbial Pathogenesis (BIOL 451/551).
Research Interests: My research focuses on the 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 inflammatory bowel disease as well as the immune and epithelial responses to gastric and enterohepatic Helicobacter species. We also use molecular approaches to study microbial communities in gut, soil, and other ecosystems. Finally, we are part of a team involved in natural products-based drug discovery, specifically the isolation of novel anti-infective agents from plants native to the Venezuelan Andes.
Research Opportunities: Undergraduate and graduate students, depending on available positions. Please contact me if interested.
Selected Publications
Mora FD, Alpan L, McCracken VJ, Nieto M. (2013). Chemical and biological aspects of the genus Verbesina. The Natural Products Journal 3:140-150.
Mora FD, Alpan L, de Tomassai N, McCracken VJ, Nieto M. 2013. New antibacterial germacrene from Verbesina negrensis. Planta Med. 79:707-710.
Pagliero RJ, Mercado R, McCracken VJ, Mazzieri MR, Nieto MJ. (2011) Rapid and facile synthesis of N-benzenesulfonyl derivatives of heterocycles and their antimicrobial properties. Lett. Drug. Des. Disc. 8:778-791.
Schmitz JM, Durham CG, Schoeb TR, Soltau TD, Wolf KJ, Tanner SM, McCracken VJ, Lorenz RG. (2011) Helicobacter felis-associated gastric disease in microbiota-restricted mice. The Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. 59:826-841.
Schmitz JM, McCracken VJ, Dimmitt RA, Lorenz RG. (2007) Expression of CXCL15 (lungkine) in murine gastrointestinal, urogenital, and endocrine organs. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 55:515-524.
McCracken VJ, Martin SM, Lorenz RG (2005) The Helicobacter felis model of adoptive transfer gastritis. Immunol. Res. 343:183-194.
Lorenz RG, McCracken VJ, Elson CO. (2005) Animal models of intestinal inflammation: Ineffective communication between coalition members. Springer Semin. Immun. 27:233-247.
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.
See my Google Scholar Profile for a complete list of publications.
