 Dr. Gerald R. Thrush, Professor of Immunology & Microbiology
| Background |
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| Education |
1990 Ph.D. Immunology/Microbiology, Wayne State
University, Detroit, MI
Dissertation: The role of CD8 suppressor cells
in the therapy of SJL/J B-cell lymphomas.
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| 1985 B.S. Biology, Saginaw Valley State University Saginaw , MI |
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| Positions and Employment |
2006-present Professor, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, COMP/Western
University of Health Sciences |
2000-2003 Associate Dean, College of Natural Sciences, California State University,
San Bernardino |
2000-2006 Associate Professor, Department of Biology, California State
UniversitySan Bernardino |
| 1996-2000 Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, California State University, San Bernardino |
| 1993-1996 Instructor, Cancer Immunobiology Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX |
| 1991-1993 Assistant Instructor, Cancer Immunobiology Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX |
| Current Course Listing |
Immunology, IDIT module, MSI
Immunology of the Respiratory tract, Respiratory system, MSII
Microbiology of the gastrointestinal tract, Gastrointestinal system, MSII |
| Honors and Awards |
- 1987-1988 Thomas C. Rumble Fellowship, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
- 1989 Graduate Student Poster Award, Mid-West Immunology
Conference, St. Louis, MO
- 1998-1999 CSUSB Student Organization Advisor of the Year
- 2000 Outstanding Faculty Advisor of the Year
- 2002-2003 College of Natural Sciences Award for Outstanding Service to the
College
- 2004-2005 College of Natural Sciences Award for Outstanding Teaching-
related activities
- 2005 CSUSB Golden Apple winter ("Teacher of the Year" award)
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| Grant Awards |
- 1992-1995 American Cancer Society Fellowship ($78,000)
- 1999-2002 AREA grant (R15), National Cancer Institute ($95,000)
- 1997-2005 CSUSB Faculty Professional Study awards ($6,369)
- 1996-2005 CSUSB Faculty Professional Development grants ($24,153)
- 1997-1998 CSUSB Junior faculty Professional Development grant ($5,595)
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| Professional Organizations |
American Association of Immunologists
American Society for Microbiology |
| Research Interests |
Therapy of lymphomas with immunotoxins comprised of soluble T-cell receptors conjugated to ricin A-chain.
Immunotoxins are conjugates of cell-binding moieties linked to toxins or toxin subunits. Many investigators have used antibodies directed against tumor specific-antigens as the cell- binding moiety. B-cell tumors are ideal for this type of therapy because of their tumor-specific idiotype (Id). However, B-cell tumors often secrete Id which competes with tumor cells for binding of anti-Id antibodies. Therefore, to overcome this obstacle, my research focuses on developing soluble T-cell receptors (TCR) from tumor specific T cell clones as the cell-binding moiety, and ricin-A chain as the toxic moiety. T-cells recognize cell-bound (but not soluble) antigen in association with products of the major histocompatibility complex. Therefore, free idiotype should not interfere with binding of soluble TCRs to tumor cells. Id specific T-cells have been cloned from mice immunized with the murine tumor, BCL1. The TCR genes from these BCL-specific T cells have been cloned and attempts are underway to express a soluble form of these molecules. Once successful, ricin A-chain will be linked to the soluble TCRs biochemically or genetically. These conjugates will then be used to kill BCL1 tumor cells in vitro and in vivo.
Incidence of Lyme disease bacteria in San Bernardino, CA
A new research direction within my lab involves determining the incidence of the bacterium, Borrelia burghdorferi in the local area. This organism is the causative agent in Lyme disease in humans and animals. The bacteria is transmitted via the bite of ticks (Ixodes pacificus in California ). This organism has been readily found in northern California and cases of Lyme disease has also been reported. While there have been causes of Lyme disease in southern California , the incidence is low. In addition, an extensive survey of the local area has not been completed. In order to determine whether the organism is in our local tick population, the polymerase chain technique will be used to identify the bacteria. |
| Publications |
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Sopchak, L., King, S., Miller, D.A., Gabra, N., Thrush, G.R., and Lerman, S.P. Progression of transplanted SJL/J lymphomas attributed to a single aggressive H-2Ds negative lymphoma. Cancer Research, 49:665-671, 1989.
Thrush, G.R., Butch, A.W., and Lerman, S.P. CD8 suppressor cell activity and its effect on CD4 helper cell dependent growth of SJL/J B cell lymphomas. Cellular Immunology, 122:555-562, 1989.
Thrush, G.R., Placey, J., Valeriote, F., and Lerman, S.P. The CD4 cell dependency of SJL/J B cell lymphomas as a target for cyclophosphamide therapy. Cancer Communication, 1:301-310, 1989.
Sopchak, L., Thrush, G.R., Lerman, S.P., and King, S. Loss of myb expression in an aggressive SJL/J B cell lymphoma. Oncogene 6:1335-1338, 1991.
Lee, W.T., Thrush, G.R., Vitetta, E.S. Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) induces the expression of activation markers on murine memory T cells in the absence of proliferation or lymphokine secretion. Cellular Immunology, 162:26-32, 1995.
Thrush, G. R., Lark, L.R., and Vitetta, E.S. Immunotoxins. Chapter 30, pg. 385-397. IN: Therapeutic Immunology, A Major Reference Text, K.F. Austen, S.J. Burakoff, F.S. Rosen, and T.B. Storm, eds., Blackwell Scientific Publications, Inc., Cambridge, MA, 1996.
Thrush, G.R., Lark, L.R., Clinchy, B.C., and Vitetta, E.S. Immunotoxins: An Update. Annual Review of Immunology, 14:49-71, 1996. Farrar, J. David, Katz, K.H., Thrush, G.R., Scheuermann, R.H., Uhr, J.W., and Street, N.E. Cancer dormancy VI: Regulation of the dormant state by CD8+ T cells. Journal of Immunology, 162: 2842-2849, 1999.
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| Abstracts |
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Thrush, G., McWatters, E., Placey, J., Valeriote, F., and Lerman, S.P. The role of host cell elimination in cyclophosphamide (Cy) therapy of SJL lymphomas. Fed. Proc. 46:p1506, 1987.
Thrush, G., Bauman, N., and Lerman, S. Lyt2 cells from SJL lymphomas suppress proliferation of syngeneic L3T4 cells to -irradiated tumor cells. FASEB Journal 2:A1839, 1988.
Sopchak, L, King, S., Miller, D., Gabra, N., Thrush, G., and Lerman, S. Genetic analyses of H-2Ds positive and negative SJL lymphomas. FASEB Journal 2:A806, 1988.
Thrush, G., Sopchak, L., King, S., and Lerman, S.P. Culture of H-2Ds + and - SJL lymphomas. FASEB Journal 3:A642, 1989.
Sopchak, L., Thrush, G., Lerman, S.P., and King, S. A myb deletion in a murine B cell lymphoma. 5th Annual Meeting on Oncogenes, p. 111, Fredrick, Maryland , 1989.
Thrush, G.R., Wrone, T.R., and Lerman, S.P. CD8 cells from cyclophosphamide treated SJL/J lymphoma bearing mice suppress CD4 cell proliferation in response to tumor in a class I restricted manner. FASEB Journal 4:A1466, 1990.
Sopchak, L., Thrush, G., Lerman, S., and King, S. Myb mutations and H-2Ds expression in murine lymphomas. 6th Annual Meeting on Oncogenes, p. 397. Fredrick, Maryland , 1990.
Wrone, T., Thrush, G., and Lerman, S. Coculture of CD8 cells from tumor bearing cyclophosphamide (Cy) treated SJL mice yields a suppressor factor. FASEB Journal 5:A1378, 1991.
Thrush, G.R., Street, N.E., and Vitetta, E.S. Analysis of T cell clones reactive with the idiotype expressed on the murine BCL1 lymphoma. FASEB Journal 6:6503, 1992.
Allen, R. and Thrush, G.R. Distributions of ticks along selected regions of the Pacific Crest Trail and adjacent areas in San Bernardino County, California . 100th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Los Angeles, CA . Abstract #C-114., pg. 154.
Roser, M.A. and Thrush, G.R. Identification of three different bacterial endosymbionts in Ixodes pacificus samples taken from San Bernardino County, California. Abstract #I-021. American Society for Microbiology. 103rd General Meeting. Washington, D.C. 2003.
Rivera, T. and Thrush, G.R. 2001 National Council for Undergraduate Research (NCUR) annual meeting. University of Kentucky.
Burnham, L. and Thrush, G.R. PCR detection of Bartonella spp. in questing adult Ixodes pacificus ticks in California . Abstract #Y-042. American Society for Microbiology, 104th General Meeting, New Orleans, LA , 2004.
Roser, M., and Thrush, G.R. The identification of three different endosymbionts within a Southern California Population of Dermancentor occidentalis. Abstract #I-036. American Society for Microbiology. 104th General Meeting, New Orleans, LA , 2004.
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| Invited Seminars/Presentations |
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Mechanisms of Viral Oncogenesis, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA . February, 2000.
Immunotoxin Therapy of Cancer, Saginaw Valley State University , Saginaw, MI . March, 2000.
Biological Terrorism, California Department of Transportation - District 8 superintendents and supervisors' meeting. San Bernardino, CA . December, 2001.
Biological Terrorism, California Department of Transportation Safety Awareness Week. San Bernardino, CA . May, 2002. Mechanism of spread of infectious disease. California Department of Transportation Safety Awareness Week. San Bernardino, CA. April, 2004.
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