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Department of Microbiology

Malcolm Lowry in front of shrubbery

Malcolm B. Lowry

Assistant Professor (Senior Research)
Department of Microbiology
Malcolm Lowry in front of shrubbery

Connect with Malcolm

453 Linus Pauling Science Center (541) 737-8309

Malcolm B. Lowry

Assistant Professor (Senior Research)
Department of Microbiology

Research

I have worked mainly on projects focused on the role of innate immune cells in providing protection against infections. My areas of expertise are on macrophage cells and their functions including phagocytosis and how they sense pathogens by Toll-like receptors. My current work is in collaboration with Dr. Fritz Gombart studying anti-microbial peptides produced by immune system cells. The particular antimicrobial peptide we focus on is cathelicidin which is unique in that it is regulated by Vitamin D. We use both human cells and mouse models to understand the roles of Vitamin D and cathelicidin in immune system functions.

Research Interests

  • Innate immune cells that provide protection against infection

Education

Ph.D., Ohio State University, Molecular Genetics

Research areas

Microbes, Microbiomes and Health

Publications

  • Logan IE, Shulzhenko N, Sharpton TJ, Bobe G, Liu K, Nuss S, Jones ML, Miranda CL, Vasquez-Perez S, Pennington JM, Leonard SW, Choi J, Wu WB, Gurung M, Kim JP, Lowry MB, Morgun A, Maier CS, Stevens JF, Gombart AF. 2021. Xanthohumol Requires the Intestinal Microbiota to Improve Glucose Metabolism in Diet-Induced Obese Mice. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.202100389.
  • Zhang Y, Bobe G, Miranda CL, Lowry MB, Hsu VL, Lohr CV, Wong CP, Jump DB, Robinson MM, Sharpton TJ, Maier CS, Stevens JF, Gombart AF. 2021. Tetrahydroxanthohumol, a xanthohumol derivative, attenuates nigh-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis by antagonizing PPAR gamma. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.66398.
  • Logan IE, Bobe G, Miranda CL, Vasquez-Perez S, Choi J, Lowry MB, Sharpton TJ, Morgun A, Maier CS, Stevens JE, Shulzhenko N, Gombart AE. Germ-Free Swiss Webster Mice on a High-Fat Diet Develop Obesity, Hyperglycemia, and Dyslipidemia. 2020. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8040520.
  • Fantacone ML, Lowry MB, Uesugi SL, Michels AJ, Choi J, Leonard SW, Gombart SK, Gombart JS, Bobe G, Gombart AF. 2020. The Effect of a Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement on Immune Function in Healthy Older Adults: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12082447.
  • Logan IE, Miranda CL, Lowry MB, Maier CS, Stevens JF, Gombart AF. Antiproliferative and Cytotoxic Activity of Xanthohumol and Its Non-Estrogenic Derivatives in Colon and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20051203.
  • Lowry MB, Guo CX, Borregaard N, Gombart AF. 2014. Regulation of the human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide gene by 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 in primary immune cells. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.02.004.
  • Guo C, Rosoha E, Lowry MB, Borregaard N, Gombart AF. 2013 . Curcumin induces human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide gene expression through a vitamin D receptor-independent pathway. J Nutr Biochem. 2013 May;24(5):754-9.
  • Guo C, Sinnott B, Niu B, Lowry MB, Fantacone ML, Gombart AF. 2013. Synergistic induction of human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide gene expression by vitamin D and stilbenoids. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2013 Sep 14.
  • Menagh PJ, Turner RT, Jump DB, Wong CP, Lowry MB, Yakar S, Rosen CJ, Iwaniec UT. 2010 Growth hormone regulates the balance between bone formation and bone marrow adiposity. J Bone Miner Res. 2010 Apr;25(4):757-68.
  • Lowry MB, Lotinun S, Leontovich AA, Zhang M, Maran A, Shogren KL, Palama BK, Marley K, Iwaniec UT, Turner RT 2008. Osteitis Fibrosa is Mediated by PDGF-A via a PI3K-dependent Signaling Pathway in a Rat Model for Chronic Hyperparathyroidism. Endocrinology. Nov;149(11):5735-46.
  • Fitzer-Attas, C.J., M. Lowry, M.T. Crowley, A.J. Finn, F. Meng, A.L. DeFranco, and C.A. Lowell 2000. Fcg receptor-mediated phagocytosis in macrophages lacking the Src-family tyrosine kinases Hck, Fgr, and Lyn. J Exp Med. 191(4):669-82.
  • M. B. Lowry, A. M. Duchemin, J. M. Robinson, and C. L. Anderson. 1998. Functional separation of pseudopod extension and particle internalization during Fcg Receptor-mediated phagocytosis. J. Exp. Med. 187:161-176.
  • M. B. Lowry, A. M. Duchemin, K. M. Coggeshall, J. M. Robinson, and C. L. Anderson 1998. Chimeric receptors composed of PI3-Kinase domains and Fcg Receptor ligand binding domains mediate phagocytosis in COS fibroblasts. J. Biol. Chem. 273: 24513-20.