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| Appointment(s) and Titles: |
Assistant Professor, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University
Faculty, Nebraska
Center for Virology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
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Education:
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B.S. 1990, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point
M.S. 1994, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Ph.D. 1998, University of Wisconsin, Madison
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| Research Interests:
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Prion
diseases are a group of fatal neurodegenerative diseases that affect
humans (e.g. Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease) and animals (e.g. chronic
wasting disease). Prion
diseases have long subclinical incubation periods of months to
decades with a short clinical phase that is characterized by the
onset of behavioral, cognitive or motor deficits.
Deposition of the abnormal isoform of the prion protein, PrPSc
is pathognomonic for prion diseases and its deposition in the
central nervous system (CNS) results in neuronal loss and onset of
clinical symptoms. PrPSc
is an amyloid protein that is resistant to proteolytic degradation
and is postranslationally derived from the protease sensitive non-amyloid
host encoded prion protein, PrPC.
Outside of the CNS, PrPSc deposition occurs in the
peripheral nervous system and secondary lymphoreticular system (LRS)
tissues such as spleen and lymph nodes.
All prion diseases of animals and a majority of prion
diseases in humans are due to prion exposure by a peripheral route
(e.g. ingestion). Details
of the mechanism(s) of prion transport to the CNS are poorly
understood. To better
define prion transport to the CNS my lab is investigating three
areas of prion pathogenesis. First,
we are exploring alternative routes of prion entry into the host in
an attempt to better define the possible routes that prions can gain
access to the CNS. Second,
we are investigating the role of the innate immune system in
processing and transport of prions to secondary LRS tissues.
Finally, we are interested in factors that influence
susceptibility of neurons to prion infection and/or replication.
The understanding of routes and mechanisms of prion transport
will enhance the future development of therapeutic interventions to
prevent prion spread to the CNS.
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| Selected Publications: |
Bartz, J.,
McKenzie, D., Bessen, R., Marsh, R. and Aiken, J. (1994). TME
species barrier effect between ferret and mink: PrP gene and
protein analysis. Journal of General Virology 75,
2947-2953.
McKenzie, D., Bartz., J.C. and Marsh, R.F. (1996).
Transmissible mink encephalopathy. Seminars in Virology
7, 201-206.
McKenzie, D., Bartz, J. and Aiken, J. (1998). A molecular
basis for transmissible spongiform encephalopathy agent strain
differences. Bulletin de l'Institut Pasteur 96,
35-47.
McKenzie, D., Bartz, J., Mirwald, J., Olander, D.,
Marsh, R. and Aiken, J. (1998). Reversibility of scrapie
inactivation is enhanced by copper. Journal of Biological
Chemistry 273, 25545-25547.
Bartz, J.C., Marsh, R.F., McKenzie, D.M. and Aiken, J.M.
(1998). The host range of chronic wasting disease is altered
upon passage in ferrets. Virology. 251, 297-301.
Bartz, J.C., Bessen, R.A., McKenzie, D.I., Marsh, R.F.
and Aiken, J.M. (2000). Adaptation and selection of prion
protein strain conformations following interspecies transmission
of transmissible mink encephalopathy. Journal of Virology
74, 5542-5547.
Bartz, J.C., Kincaid, A.E. and Bessen, R.A. (2002).
Retrograde transport of transmissible mink encephalopathy within
descending motor tracts. Journal of Virology 76,
5759-5768.
Bartz, J.C., Kincaid, A.E. and Bessen, R.A. (2003).
Rapid prion neuroinvasion following tongue infection.
Journal of Virology 77, 583-591.
Hamir, A.N., Miller, J.M., O'Rourke, K.I., Bartz, J.C.,
Stack, M.J. and Chaplin, M.J. (2004). Transmission of
transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) to raccoons (Procyon
lotor) by intracerebral inoculation. Journal of
Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 16(1), 57-63.
Bartz, J.C., Aiken, J.M. and Bessen, R.A. (2004). Delay
in onset of prion disease for the HY strain of transmissible
mink encephalopathy by prior peripheral inoculation with the
replication deficient DY strain. Journal of General Virology
85, 265-273.
Mulcahey, E.M., Bartz, J.C., Kincaid, T.E. and Bessen,
R.A. (2004). Detection of PrPSc in skeletal muscle and papillae
of the tongue. Journal of Virology 78, 6792-6798.
Bartz, J.C., , Crista DeJoia, C., Tucker, T., Kincaid,
A.E., and Bessen,, R.A. (2005). Extraneural prion neuroinvasion
without lymphoreticular system infection. Journal of
Virology, 79, 11858-11863.
1Selected as spotlight paper by Journal of Virology, September,
2005.
2Appeared in Journal highlights of American Society of
Microbiology news, November, 2005.
Marsh, R.F., Kincaid, A.E., Bessen, R.A. and Bartz, J.C.
Interspecies transmission of chronic wasting disease prions to
squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus). Journal of
Virology, 79,
13794-13796.
Shara, M., Yasmin, T., Kincaid, A.E., Limpach, A.L., Bartz,
J.C., Brenneman, K.A., Chatterjee, A., Bagchi, M., Stohs,
S.J. and Bagchi, D. Safety and toxicological evaluation of a
novel niacin-bound chromium (III) Complex. Journal of
Inorganic Biochemistry,
99, 2161-2183.
Hamir, A.N., Kunkle, R.A., Miller, J.M., J., Bartz, J.C.
and Richt, R.A. First and second cattle passage of transmissible
mink encephalopathy (TME) by intracerebral inoculation.
Veterinary Pathology,
43, 118-126.
Bartz, J.C., Kramer, M.L.,
Sheehan, M.H., Hutter, J.A.L., Ayers, J.I., Bessen, R.A. and
Kincaid, A.E. (2007). Prion interference is due to a reduction
in strain-specific PrPSc levels. November 1st 2006 e-pub before
print. Journal of Virology 81, 689-697.
*Kincaid, A.E. and Bartz,
J.C. (2007). The nasal cavity is a route for prion infection
in hamsters. Journal of Virology, In Press
*This manuscript was a spotlight
publication in the Journal of Virology
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