EDUCATION:
(2004 - to present)
International Scientific Support
amaxa GmbH, Köln, Germany
(2001-2004)
Post Doctoral Fellowship
Sick Children's Hospital, Toronto,
Ontario,
Canada
(completed 2000)
Ph. D. - Biology
McMaster University, Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada |
|
| Thesis
title: |
CHARACTERISATION OF DNA DAMAGE
INDUCIBLE AND
REPAIR PATHWAYS IN HUMAN FIBROBLASTS USING RECOMBINANT ADENOVIRUS
VECTORS |
Summary of Thesis Work:
(publications
listed
below) |
|
- construction of recombinant
Adenovirus (Ad)
vectors expressing DNA repair genes
- development of a virus-mediated
reporter reactivation
assay in order to easily examine repair of an active gene in primary
cells.
- examination of the effects of
cellular exposure
to UV on reactivation of a UV-damaged reporter
- suggestive of inducible DNA repair processes in primary human cells
- implication of a role for p53 in
UV-induced
reporter reactivation
- examination of the ability of
the DNA damage
specific glycosylase, T4 endonuclease V (T4N5 or denV),
to
complement the repair deficiencies of XP and CS cells
- examination of UV-induced
expression of a reporter
gene driven by the CMV-IE promoter
- examination of roles for p53 and
pRb family
members in UV-induced reporter gene expression
|
B.
Sc. - Honours Biochemistry (Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
option)
McMaster University, Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada |
| |
Fourth year project with Dr. R.
A. Rachubinski,
involved library screening, cloning and DNA sequencing. |
SPECIFIC
SKILLS/INTERESTS:
|
| Scientific skills: |
cell culture, level II virus work
(including
construction, purification and characterisation of recombinant Ad
viruses),
plasmid manipulations, transfections, radioisotope work, library
screening,
cloning, gel electrophoresis, DNA sequencing, transmission electron
microscopy,
DNA and RNA extraction, Southern and Northern blotting. |
| Personal
skills: |
adaptable, creative, organised,
excellent writing
and communication skills, a team player, geographic mobility, show
initiative,
problem-solving, teaching experience. |
Professional
Associations: |
American Society of Photobiology,
Radiation Research
Society |
| Languages: |
English (native tongue),
French (fluent),
Spanish, Serbo-Croatian (conversational), German (learning) |
| Computer: |
MS Word, WordPerfect, MS Excel,
Microcal Origin,
PowerPoint, Lotus Approach, ImageQuant, familiar with BASIC and
FORTRAN,
currently learning HTML and JAVAscript. |
| Sports: |
member of McMaster varsity
fencing team (1991-92),
certified scuba diver, active member on recreational hockey and soccer
teams |
| Personal
Information: |
D.O.B.:
04/03/69
marital status:
single
health: excellent |
REFERENCES
Dr. Andrew J.
Rainbow,
Life Sciences Building,
McMaster University
1280 Main St. W.,
Hamilton, Ont. Canada
L8S 4K1 |
Dr. Bruce, C. McKay,
Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre,
503 Smyth Road,
Ottawa, Ont., Canada
K1H 1C4
|
PUBLICATIONS
|
1. RECOMBINANT
ADENOVIRUSES
AS EXPRESSION VECTORS AND AS PROBES FOR DNA REPAIR IN HUMAN CELLS.
A.J. Rainbow, B.C. McKay, and M.A.
Francis.
Gene Therapy and Molecular Biology
Manuscript in press.
2. UV-ENHANCED
EXPRESSION
OF A REPORTER GENE IS INDUCED AT LOWER UV FLUENCES IN
TRANSCRIPTION-COUPLED
REPAIR DEFICIENT COMPARED TO NORMAL HUMAN FIBROBLASTS, AND IS ABSENT IN
SV40-TRANSFORMED COUNTERPARTS.
M.A. Francis and A.J. Rainbow.
Photochemistry and Photobiology 72(4):
554-561 (2000)
3. PARTIAL
COMPLEMENTATION
OF THE DNA REPAIR DEFECT IN XERODERMA PIGMENTOSUM GROUP A, C, D, AND F
BUT NOT G CELLS BY THE DENV GENE FROM BACTERIOPHAGE T4.
M.A. Francis, P.S. Bagga, R.S.
Athwahl and
A.J. Rainbow.
Photochemistry and Photobiology 72(3):
365-373 (2000)
4. UV-ENHANCED
REACTIVATION
OF A UV-DAMAGED REPORTER GENE SUGGESTS TRANSCRIPTION-COUPLED REPAIR IS
UV-INDUCIBLE IN HUMAN CELLS.
M. A. Francis and A. J.
Rainbow.
Carcinogenesis 20 (1):19-26
(1999)
5. USE OF
REPLICATION DEFICIENT
RECOMBINANT ADENOVIRUS REPORTER GENE CONSTRUCTS TO ASSESS REPAIR OF UV
DAMAGED DNA IN MAMMALIAN CELLS.
B.C. McKay, M.A. Francis and A.J.
Rainbow.
In Methods in Molecular Biology,
Transgene
Delivery and Expression in Mammalian Cells, Ed. R.E. Aubin.
In press. (invited
review)
6. WILDTYPE p53 IS
REQUIRED
FOR HEAT-SHOCK AND ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT ENHANCED REPAIR OF A UV-DAMAGED
REPORTER
GENE.
B. C. McKay, M.A. Francis and A.J.
Rainbow.
Carcinogenesis 18 (2):
245-249
(1997).
7. INCOMPLETE
COMPLEMENTATION
OF THE DNA REPAIR DEFECT IN COCKAYNE SYNDROME CELLS BY THE DENV
GENE FROM BACTERIOPHAGE T4 SUGGESTS A DEFICIENCY IN BASE EXCISION
REPAIR.
M.A. Francis, P.S. Bagga, R.S.
Athwahl and
A.J. Rainbow.
Mutation Research, 385:59-74
(1997).
8. PREFERENTIAL
EXCISION
REPAIR IN THE TRANSCRIBED STRAND OF ACTIVE GENES IS UV-INDUCIBLE IN
HUMAN
CELLS.
M. Francis and A.J. Rainbow.
Proceedings 10th International Congress
of
Radiation Research 2: 427-430 (1995).
9. TIME-DEPENDENT
ALTERATIONS
OF EXPRESSION FROM CYTOMEGALOVIRUS PROMOTER BY DNA DAMAGING AGENTS.
M. Francis and A.J. Rainbow.
Manuscript in preparation.
|
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