Gregory Beck

Department of Biology University of Massachusetts-Boston 100 Morrissey Blvd. Boston, MA 02125 Phone: (617) 287-6619 Fax: (617) 287-6650 E-mail: greg.beck@umb.edu

Education

PhD, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1994
BS, University of S.U.N.Y. at Albany, 1982

Current Position

Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director
Department of Biology
University of Massachusetts-Boston

Research Interests

Host defense mechanisms have been evolving since the first organisms encountered one another hundreds of millions of years ago. Cytokines are major immunoregulatory molecules, produced by macrophages, that act as molecular orchestrators of host defense mechanisms against a variety of environmental insults. The immunological effects of these cytokines are many: equally important are their effects as mediators of nonspecific host defense mechanisms. The tremendous complexity arising in the development of a vertebrate immune response is an area in critical need of study. The exquisite action of cytokines in fine tuning and controlling the immune response led to my hypothesis that these molecules have been highly conserved through evolution.

My primary interest in cytokines concerns their activities as mediators of nonspecific host defense mechanisms. Our studies have concentrated on the role of cytokines as mediators of all phases of acute inflammation. Biochemical characterization and studies of the molecular biology of cytokines from a number of invertebrate species have revealed basic similarities in the structure and biological properties of these important host defense molecules. I have demonstrated the presence of the cytokines IL-1 and TNF in the two major groups of invertebrates. My other studies have shown that invertebrate IL-1 stimulates proliferation of and phagocytosis by coelomocytes and acts as an opsonin. In addition, invertebrate coelomocytes possess an IL-1-specific binding protein similar to vertebrate IL-1 receptors. Finally, we have shown that IL-6-like and TNF-like proteins can be isolated from invertebrates. We are currently purifying and cloning invertebrate cytokine genes and acute phase proteins.

My long term goals are to unravel the defense reactions employed by invertebrates. Knowledge gained by such studies can be used to control both mammalian and plant pests. For example, we could manipulate the host defense system of noxious invertebrates that spread dreaded diseases like malaria, encephalitis, schistosomiasis, and trypanosomiasis, but also agricultural pests that constantly develop resistance to both conventional and modern pesticides.

Current Grant Support

US Department of Education (P200A030167)
Principal Investigator: GAANN Fellowships in the UMB Boston Biology Graduate Program
8/15/03-8/14/06 $590,328

University of Massachusetts President’s Development Fund (P22010000900000)
Principal Investigator: Use of Blue Mussel as an Indicator of Environmental Pollution
5/31/04-5/30/05 $10,000

PATENTS APPLIED and PENDING

The Research Foundation of State University of New York
Technology Transfer Office, Albany NY

• No. R-333, Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetal LPS.
• No. R-462, Monoclonal antibodies specific for Borrelia burgdorferi LPS.
  
  The University of Massachusetts
  Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property, Worcester, MA
• An antiinflammatory mediator from Cucumaria frondosa.
• An antimicrobial peptide from Cucumaria frondosa.
• Antibody microarray for environmental monitoring.

Selected Publications

Beck, G. and Dormer, A.: Cytokines, Evolutionary Aspects and Functions. In: Encyclopedia of Endocrinology and Endocrine Disease, Volume I. Martini, L., Ed. (Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 2004) pp. 604-608.

Beauregard, K. and Beck, G.: The Detection and Isolation of a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide from the Ecinoderm, Cucumaria frondosa. In: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology Vol. 484: Phylogenetic Perspectives on the Vertebrate Immune System. Beck, G., Sugumaran, M. and Cooper, E.L., Eds, (Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York, NY, 2001) pp. 55-62.

Beck, G.: Molecular Characterization of IL-1-like Molecules from Lower Vertebrates and Invertebrates. In: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology Vol. 484: Phylogenetic Perspectives on the Vertebrate Immune System. Beck, G., Sugumaran, M. and Cooper, E.L., Eds, (Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York, NY, 2001) pp. 41-54.

Beck, G., Ellis, T., Zhang, H., Lin, W., Beauregard, K., Habicht, G.S. and Truong, N.: Nitric Oxide Production by Coelomocytes of Asterias forbesi. Dev. Comp. Immunol., 25: 1-10, 2001

Lin, W., Zhang, H. and Beck, G.: Mechanisms of Cytotoxic Activity against K562 Target Cells by Coelomocytes of the Purple Sea Urchin, Arbacia punctulata. J. Exp. Zool., 290: 741-750, 2001.

Beck, G., Ellis, T., Habicht, G.S., Schluter, S.F., and Marchalonis, J.J.: Evolution of the Acute Phase Response: Iron Release by Starfish (Asterias forbesi) Coelomocytes and cDNA cloning of a Ferritin Molecule. Dev. Comp. Immunol., 26: 11-26, 2001.

Beck, G.: Macrokines: Invertebrate Cytokine-like Molecules? Frontiers in Bioscience 3: 559-569, 1998.

Beck, G. and G.S. Habicht. 1996. Immunity and the Invertebrates. Scientific American 275(5): 60-66.