Education:
Ph.D., Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, OUHSC, OK 1997
M.S., Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, OUHSC, OK 1991
B.S., Biology/Chemistry, Oklahoma Christian College, OK. 1986
Post-doctoral Fellowship:
Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, OUHSC, OK. 2003-2004
Research Interests:
- Molecular pathogenesis of ocular infectious diseases
- Diabetes and ocular infections
- Host inflammatory response in ocular infections
- Nanoparticle based and novel anti-inflammatory therapeutics for ocular bacterial infections
Contact Information:
Office Phone: (405) 271-2058 Ext. 39075
Email: frederick-miller@ouhsc.edu
Research Interests:
Our research involves the study of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of pathogenesis in bacterial endophthalmitis. Bacterial endophthalmitis results from infection of the posterior segment of the eye and subsequent host inflammatory response. The outcomes associated with endopthalmitis are often poor and can result in irreversible blindness and enucleation of the globe. Identification and characterization of the molecular mechanisms involved in vision loss and inflammation in bacterial endophthalmitis is required in order to develop successful therapeutic regimens. Our research attempts to understand the role of bacterial toxins and the host immune response in the retinal function loss associated with the disease. The Callegan research group focuses on the analyses of retinal function in infected eyes with toxin-producing and avirulent strains, the interactions of toxins with the retina, bacterial triggers for the explosive intraocular inflammatory response, the mechanisms of retinal cell toxicity and death leading to vision loss during infection, the mechanisms involved in blood-ocular barrier permeability during infection, and the role of diabetes in bloodstream-to-eye spread of bacteria. Based on these studies, we are developing novel target-based therapeutics to be used with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, and surgical regimens in order to preserve vision during this blinding disease. The Callegan research program provides instructional backgrounds, mastery of techniques, and publications in the areas of ophthalmology, microbiology, immunology, and vision neuroscience.
Selected Publications:
Coburn, P.S., Miller, F.C., LaGrow A., Parkunan S. M., Randall B., Staats R., Chen,S., Callegan M.C. 2018. TLR4 Modulates Inflammatory Gene Targets in the Retina during Bacillus cereus Endophthalmitis. BMC Ophthalmology 18:96 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-018-0764-8
LaGrow, A.L., P.S. Coburn, F.C. Miller, C. Land, S.M. Parkunan, B.T. Luk, W. Gao, L. Zhang, and M.C. Callegan. 2017. A novel biomimetic nanosponge protects the retina from the Enterococcus faecalis cytolysin. mSphere 2:e00335-17. https://doi.org/10.1128/mSphere.00335-17
Callegan, M.C. Parkunan, S. Randall, C. Coburn, P.S. Miller, F.C. Astley, Oh, S. and Schneewind, O. 2017. The Role of Pili in Bacillus cereus Intraocular Infection. Experimental Eye Research. 159:69-76, 2017. PMID:28336259
Coburn, P.S., Wiskur, B.J., Miller, F.C., LaGrow, A.L., Astley, R., Elliott, M.H. and Callegan, M.C. 2016. Bloodstream-to-Eye Infections Are Facilitated By Outer Blood-Retinal Barrier Dysfunction. PLOS One. May 19; 11(5).
Coburn, P.S., Baghdayan, A.S., Craig, N. Burroughs, A., Tendolkar, P., Miller, K., Najar, F.Z., Roe, B.A., Shankar, N. 2010. A novel conjugative plasmid from Enterococcus faecalis E99 enhances resistance to ultraviolet radiation. Plasmid 64(1):18-25.
Levine, M., Progulske-Fox, A., Denslow, N., Farmerie, W., Smith, D., Swearingen, W., Miller, F., Liang, Z., Roe, B., Pan, H. 2001. Identification of Lysine Decarboxylase as a Mammalian Cell Growth Inhibitor in Eikenella corrodens: Possible Role in Periodontal Disease. Microbial Pathogenesis 30:179-192.
Levine, M., and Miller, F.C. 1996. A toxin in Eikenella corrodens detected by plaque toxin-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. Infection and Immunity. 64:1672-1678.
Complete list of publications:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1RkifwHNcpvYlj/bibliography/public/
Profile Last Updated: July 23, 2019