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Taylor Biosketch

OMB No. 0925-0001 and 0925-0002 (Rev. 10/2021 Approved Through 09/30/2024)

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

NAME: Taylor, Erin Bassford

eRA COMMONS USER NAME (credential, e.g., agency login): ebtaylor

POSITION TITLE: Assistant Professor

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Personal Statement

My long-term research interest is to understand the link between the immune system dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. My previous academic training and research experience have given me an excellent background in molecular biology, protein biochemistry, proteomics, microbiology, and cellular immunology. As a graduate student, my research focus was immunology, and my dissertation project was to characterize antiviral cytotoxic T lymphocytes in channel catfish. During the completion of this project, I had the opportunity to become proficient in immunophenotyping, flow cytometry, and cell sorting. In my postdoctoral training, I have used my training in immunology as well as expanded my research expertise by learning cardiovascular and renal physiology using an experimental model of autoimmune disease and hypertension. During my tenure in Dr. Michael Ryan’s laboratory, I focused on the contribution of immune system dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to the pathogenesis of hypertension. Current research projects include the interaction between immune system dysfunction and gut dysbiosis, and how these factors contribute to vascular dysfunction and hypertension in the SLE, as well as the impact of central and peripheral leptin signaling on immune system function and the development of autoimmunity. I have over 12 years of experience with immunological techniques including flow cytometry, immune cell culture, and assays of immune cell function.

Current Funding and Roles

2022/01/05 – 2025/01/04
R00 HL146888, NIH/NHLBI
TAYLOR, ERIN BASSFORD (PI)
Immune System Dysfunction and Gut Dysbiosis in the Pathogenesis of Vascular Dysfunction in Autoimmunity
The goal is to identify the factors that contribute to the development of vascular dysfunction in autoimmunity, with a focus on the effects of gut dysbiosis on the immune system.
Role: PI (50%)

2022/01/05 – 2025/01/04
P20GM104357, NIH/NIGMS
HALL, JOHN E (PI)
The Role of Leptin the in the Development of Autoimmune-Associated Hypertension
The major goal of this project is to determine the role of the adipokine leptin in the development of hypertension in autoimmunity using an experimental model of systemic lupus erythematosus, the NZBWF1 mouse, with a focus on the immunomodulatory effect of leptin on T and B lymphocytes.
Role: Investigator (25%)

Positions, Scientific Appointments, and Honors

Positions and Scientific Appointments

2022 - Present	Assistant Professor, University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jackson, MS
2017 - 2021	Instructor, UMMC, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jackson, MS
2015 - 2017	Postdoctoral Fellow, UMMC, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jackson, MS
2013 - 2014	Adjunct Instructor, Millsaps College, Department of Biology, Jackson, MS
2006 - 2008	Research Associate, Mississippi State University, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Mississippi State, MS

Professional Memberships

2015- American Physiological Society

2015- American Heart Association

2013- American Association of Immunologists

2010- Phi Kappa Phi

2004- Gamma Sigma Delta

Academic and Professional Honors

2022- Appointment as an American Association of Immunologists Public Policy Fellow

2021- Silver Research Award- UMMC Excellence in Research Awards

2020- Bronze Research Award- UMMC Excellence in Research Awards

2019- Emerging Star Award- UMMC Group on Women in Medicine and Science.

2018- Outstanding Presenter Award- UMMC School of Graduate Studies Research Day, Mississippi State University

2017- APS Caroline tum Suden/Frances Hellebrandt Professional Opportunity Award- Experimental Biology Meeting

2017-Trustmark Postdoctoral Publication Award- UMMC School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences Honors Day

2016- Outstanding Postdoctoral Presenter Award- UMMC School of Graduate Studies Research Day

2016- Travel Award- APS Conference on Inflammation, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease

2016- Juan Carlos Romero American Physiological Society Water and Electrolyte Homeostasis Section Postdoctoral Research Recognition Award

2015- T32 Training Grant (Joey P. Granger, PI)

2015- Randall-Trustmark Graduate Student Research Award

2015- American Association of Immunologists Trainee Abstract Award

2014- Abstract travel award, 5^th North American Comparative Immunology Workshop

2013- University of Mississippi Medical Center Associated Student Body Student of the Year

2013- 1^st place oral presentation Eastern Fish Health Workshop

2013- Dean’s Service Award University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Graduate Studies

2012- Best poster presentation 3^rd North American Comparative Immunology Workshop

2010, 2011, 2013- Presenter Award University of Mississippi Medical Center Research Day

2003- Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

2002- Charlie Rabb Ashford Endowment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Mississippi State University

Contributions to Science

1. Immune mechanisms of hypertension and cardiovascular disease: As a postdoctoral fellow, I had the opportunity to expand my existing immunological knowledge and also gain experience in the field of cardiovascular and renal physiology in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Ryan. During my time in Dr. Ryan’s laboratory, I became proficient in mouse husbandry, carotid artery catheter implantation, and isolated vessel experiments. I also had the opportunity to collaborate on projects to examine immune system dysfunction in rat models of preeclampsia. My current research independent projects involve elucidating the mechanisms by which immune system dysfunction causes hypertension in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

1. Taylor EB, George EM, Ryan MJ, Garrett MR, Sasser JM. Immunological Comparison of Pregnant Dahl Salt-Sensitive and Sprague Dawley Rats Commonly Used to Model Characteristics of Preeclampsia. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2021 Aug 1;321(2): R125-R138. PMID: 34105357
2. McClung DM, Kalusche WJ, Jones KE, Ryan MJ, TaylorEB. Hypertension and endothelial dysfunction in the pristane model of systemic lupus erythematosus. Physiol Rep. 2021;9: e14734. PMCID: PMC7851437
3. Taylor EB, Maeda KJ, Sasser JM, Ryan MJ. Expansion of regulatory T cells using low dose IL-2 attenuates hypertension in an experimental model of systemic lupus erythematosus. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2019 Nov 1;317(5):F1274-F1284. PMCID: PMC6879936
4. Taylor EB, Wolf VL, Dent E, Ryan MJ. (2019). Mechanisms of hypertension in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. British Journal of Pharmacology 2019 Jun; 176(12): 1897-1913. PMCID: PMC6534791
5. Taylor EB, Barati MT, Powell DW, Turbeville HR, Ryan MJ. (2018). Plasma Cell Depletion Attenuates Hypertension in an Experimental Model of Autoimmune Disease. Hypertension. Apr;71(4):719-728. PMCID: PMC5843526
6. Taylor EB, Ryan MJ. (2017). Mycophenolate mofetil attenuates hypertension in an experimental model of autoimmune disease. J Am Heart Assoc. Feb 27;6(3). PMCID: PMC5524041

2. Functional characterization of antiviral cytotoxic T lympohcytes. As a PhD student, my research contributions were predominately in the field of comparative immunology and focused on molecular and functional characterization of antiviral cytotoxic T lymphocytes in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. I first developed an immunization protocol for channel catfish virus, an economically damaging pathogen to the catfish industry. In addition, I isolated and cloned antiviral cytotoxic T cell lines. Interestingly, we found that catfish cytotoxic T lymphocytes do not express CD8, but instead express CD4, unlike other fish and mammals. This finding led to several papers focused on the identification of novel markers of antiviral cytotoxic cells in catfish, including the Fc Receptor-related molecules leukocyte immune-type receptors. While working toward my PhD I gained extensive experience in molecular biology, protein purification, flow cytometry, and cell sorting.

1. Taylor EB, Chinchar VG, Quiniou SMA, Wilson M, Bengten E. Cloning and characterization of antiviral cytotoxic T lymphocytes in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Virology 2020 15 Jan; 184-194. PMID: 31929000
2. Taylor EB, Moulana M, Stuge T, Quiniou SMA, Bengten E, Wilson M. (2016). A Leukocyte immune-type receptor subset is a marker of antiviral cytotoxic cells in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. J Immunol. 2016 Mar 15;196(6):2677-89. PMID: 26856701
3. Taylor EB, Wilson M, Bengten E. (2015). The Src protein kinase Lck binds to CD2, CD4-1, and CD4-2 in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Molecular Immunology 66(2): 126-138. PMID: 25771179
4. Taylor EB, Quiniou SMA, Nayak DK, Bengten E, Wilson M (2015). Identification of SHIP-1 and SHIP-2 homologs in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Development and Comparative Immunology 51: 79-87. PMID: 25743379

Early career: My early career was spent learning basic biochemical and molecular biology techniques while working as an undergraduate student researcher in the Department of Biochemistry at Mississippi State in the laboratory of Dr. Dawn Luthe. During my tenure in her laboratory, I worked on several projects involving the molecular and functional characterization of a unique cysteine protease that is present in maize inbred lines that render them resistant to herbivory by insect pests such as fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). I also completed a Master’s degree in Dr. Luthe’s laboratory entitled “Enzymatic characterization of a unique maize cysteine protease and analysis of trichomes from resistant and susceptible maize inbreds.” These two projects gave me experience in basic molecular biology and biochemical techniques.

1. Han Y, Taylor EB, Luthe D. Maize Endochitinase Expression in Response to Fall Armyworm Herbivory. J Chem Ecol. 2021 Jul;47(7):689-706. PMID: 34056671
2. Luthe DS & Taylor EB. (2013). Maize Insect Resistance 1- Cysteine Protease. In Handbook of Proteolytic Enzymes, 3^rd
3. Mohan S, Ma PW, Pechan T, Bassford ER, Williams WP, Luthe DS. (2006). Degradation of the frugiperda peritrophic matric by an inducible maize cysteine protease. J. Insect Physiology. 52: 21-28. PMID: 16243350

After competing my MS degree I worked as a Research Associate in the laboratory of Dr. Mark Williams in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Mississippi State University. While working in his laboratory I gained experience in lab management, such as ordering equipment and supplies, training new students, and supervising undergraduate student workers. Also, I learned new techniques including gas chromatography. While working in Dr. Williams’s laboratory I developed a technique for isolating proteins from microorganisms in soil and then identifying the proteins using LC/MS/MS. I also gained experience in microbial community analyses using 16S rRNA sequencing.

1. Taylor EB & Williams MA (2010). Microbial protein in soil: influence of extraction method and C amendment on extraction and recovery. Microbial Ecology. 59: 390-399. PMID: 19844650
2. Williams MA, Taylor EB, Mula HP (2010). Metaproteomic characterization of a soil microbial community following carbon amendment. Soil Biol and Biochem. 42: 1148-1156.

Complete List of Published Work in MyBibliography:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/erin.taylor.1/bibliography/50563031/public/?sort=date&direction=ascending