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Faculty

Seetha M. Tamma

Professor of Biomedical Sciences

B.Sc., M.Sc., Andhra UniversityM.Sc., Cell Biology and Cytogenetics, Ph.D., University College Cork

Description

Dr. Tamma has been in research for 25 years and has been teaching for 20 years. 

Her research interests include: T cell Biology, Regulation of Cell Activation, Cellular Interactions, Signal Transduction, Cytokines and Apoptosis. Dr. Tamma studied HIV Pathogenesis and T Cell Dysfunction, Chemokine Profiles and Anti-Retroviral Therapy.    Published several peer-reviewed articles and presented her work both at National and International Meetings. 

Mentored close to 100 Graduate students and served as a member in around 100 graduate theses committees.  Received grants, Reviewed grants, and Reviewed manuscripts for Journals. Designed & Developed New Graduate Courses

Dr. Tamma taught Medical Students, Residents/Fellows, and Students in Physician Assistant program; Ph.D. Students, MS Students, CVP Students and Undergraduate Students in CLS and Forensic Science Programs. Dr. Tamma taught or teaching: Immunology, Advanced Immunology, Medical Immunology, Clinical Immunology, Current Research Concepts in Immunology, Leukocyte Interactions, Systemic Pathophysiology, Organ based Pathophysiology, Case Studies in Pathology, Hematology, Advanced Hematology, Cancer Research, Diagnostic Techniques and Molecular Pathology, Mycology/Parasitology, HSMB/BMS 708 Experimental Research Theses Projects and HSMB/BMS 706 Research Theses Projects

Served as Chair, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, Director, Graduate Program, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences 2008 – Spring 2012

Served in several campus committees including several ARPT committees. 

Specialties

Immunology, Cell Biology, Hematology, Hematological Malignancies, Pathophysiology and Cancer Biology

Publications

Co-author, Tamma SL, Satya Priya Balan and Kun Wook Chung.  “The Lectin Jacalin plus Co-stimulation with anti-CD28 antibody induces Phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and IL-4 synthesis -I”  J. Leuko. Biol 79: 876-880, 2006.

Co-author, Tamma, SL, Kun W. Chung, Tejal Patel, Satyapriya Balan and S. Pahwa.  “p38 MAPK plays a role in IL-4 synthesis in jacalin plus CD28-stimulated CD4+ T cells-II.  J. Leuko. Biol. 79: 1339-1347, 2006.

Co-author, Tamma, SL. and Richard F. Coico. IgD-Receptor (IgD-R) Cross-Linking Partially Protects Murine T cells from Dexamethasone-induced Apoptosis. J. Leuk. Biol.73:764-70,  2003

Co-author, Tamma, SL, Kalyanaraman VS, Pahwa S, Dominguez P and Modesto RR.  The Lectin Jacalin-InducesTyrosine Phosphorylation of ERK and JNK in CD4+ T cellss. J. Leuko. Biol.,73: 682-88, 2003

Co-author, Tamma, SL., Yan Wu, Igor Toporovsky, Viera Lima, and Richard F. Coico. “IgD-Receptor – Mediated Signal Transduction in T cells.” Cellular Immunology 207 (2001): 110-117.

Co-author, Yan Wu, Tamma SL., Lima V., and Coico R. “Facilitated Antigen presentation by B cells expressing IgD when responding T cells express IgD - receptors.” Cellular Immunology 192(1999): 194 - 202,.

Co-author, Chavan, S., Tamma SL., Kaplan M., Gersten M., and Pahwa S. “Reduction in T cell apoptosis in patients with HIV disease following antiretroviral therapy.” Clinical Immunology 93 (1999):24- 33.

Co-author, Than S, Tumaliuan JA., Tamma SL., Tetali S.,  Bakshi S., and Pahwa S.“Chemokine pattern in relation to disease state in Human-Immunodeficiency Virus infected children.”  AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 15 (1999): 1279-85.

Co-author, Chirmule N., Avots,A., Tamma SL., Pahwa S., and Edgar Sefling. “ CD4-mediated signals induce T cell dysfunction in vivo.” Journal of Immunology 163 (1999): 644-649.

Co-author, McCloskey, TW., Chavan S., Tamma SL., and Pahwa S. “ Comparison of seven quantitative assays to assess lymphocyte cell death during HIV infection: Measurement of induced apoptosis in anti-Fas-treated Jurkat cells and spontaneous apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from children infected with HIV.” AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 14 (1998):1413-1422.

Co-author, Swenson, CD., Patel T., Parek RB., Tamma SL., Coico R., Thorbecke GJ, and Amin Co-author, AR. “Human T cell IgD receptors react with O-glycans on both human IgD and IgA1.”  European Journal of Immunology 28 (1998): 2366-2372.

Co-author, Tamma SL.  Chirmule N. Yagura H. Oyaizu N. Kalyanaraman VS., and Pahwa S.

“ CD4crosslinking (CD4XL) with HIV-gp160 induces ras activation and TNF- secretion  in CD4+ T  cells.  Blood 90 (1997): 1588-1593.

Co-author, Tamma SL., Chirmule N., Oyaizu N.,  McCloskey T., Kalyanaraman VS., and Pahwa S. “Signals transduced through the CD4 molecule interferes with TCR/CD3-mediated  ras activation leading to T cell anergy.” Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology 85-2 (1997): 195-201.

Co-author, Tamma SL., Oyaizu N., McCloskey T., Kalyanaraman VS., and Pahwa S.  “HIV-1 gp120 blocks Jacalin induced proliferative response in CD4+ T cells: Jacalin as useful surrogate marker for qualitative and quantitative deficiency of CD4+ T cells in HIV-1 infection.” Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology 80 (1996):  290 – 297.

Co-author, Tamma SL., Sundaram S., Meir Lev and Coico RF. “Effects of sphingolipid  synthesis inhibitors on selective down-modulation of CD4 expression by helper T  lymphocytes.” Biophys. Biochem. Res. Commun. 220  (1996): 916 - 921.

Co-author, Wei CF, Tamma SL., Coico RF., Swenson CD., Amin AR., and Thorbecke GJ.  “IgD- Receptor+Human T lymphocytes II.  Defective upregulation of IgD receptors on T cells from aged humans: total absence  of any IgD receptor in a large percentage of healthy aged individuals.” Aging:Immunol and Infect Dis. (1993): 169-185.

Co-author, Tamma SL., Coico RF.  “IgD receptor positive human T lymphocytes II:  Identification and  partial characterization of human IgD binding factors.” Journal of Immunology 148 (1992): 2050- 57.

Co-author, Amin AR., Tamma SL., Swenson CD, Keida CC., Oppenheim JD, Finkelman FD, Coico RF.  “MurineIgD-induced immunoaugmenting properties reside in the C3 regions of IgD.& International Immunology 5 (1992) 607-614.

Co-author, Tamma SL., Amin AR., Finkelman FD., Wuchen Y., Thorbecke GJ., and Coico RF. “ IgD receptorson murine T helper cells binds to Fd and Fc regions of immunoglobulin D.” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 88 (1991); 9233-37.

Co-author, Tamma SL., Amin AR., Oppenheim JD., Finkelman FD.,Keida C., Coico RF., and Thorbecke GJ.“The specificity of the murine IgD receptor on T cells for N- linked glycans on IgD molecules.” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 88 (1991): 9238-42.

Co-author, Coico RF., Tamma SL., Bessler M., Wei CF., and Thorbecke GJ. “IgD receptor  positive human Tlymphocytes I: modulation of receptor expression by oligomeric IgD and lymphokines.” J Immunology 45 (1990):  3556: 61.

Reviewed two chapters in “Immunology: A Short Course” text book, 2000 published by Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ 07030.

Reviewed a chapter for “Immunology”; by Goldsby RA, Kindt TJ, Osborne BA, and Janis Kuby. Freeman Publishing 2012.

Lectures and Presentations

Seetha M Tamma, Balan SP and Lee HJ: CD27 plus CD28 cross-linking induces phosphorylation of p38 in CD4+CD45RO+ T cells: American Association of Immunologists, San Diego, 2008 May.

Seetha M Tamma, Balan SP and Lee HJ:  CD27 plus CD28 cross-linking induces phosphorylation of STAT-6 and synthesis of IL-4 in CD4+CD45RO+ T cells. AAI, San Diego, 2008 May.

Seetha M. Tamma, Alap Bhavsar, Tejal Patel and Kevin Costa Role of IL-18 on phosphorylation of STAT-6 in monocyte/macrophages, “Inflammation & cytokine meeting,” Colorado, Feb., 2007.

Seetha M. Tamma, Alap Bhavsar,  Role of IL-18 on Th-2 shift and on phosphorylation of STAT-6, J. Immunology, May 2007, 178: 94.12.

Seetha M. Tamma, Alap Bhavsar, Tejal Patel and Kevin Costa Role of IL-18 on phosphorylation of STAT-6 in monocyte/macrophages, J. Immunology, May 2007, 178: 94.11.

Seetha M. Tamma & Tejal Patel. “Treatment with CD28 antibod y& Lectin results in phosphorylation of STAT-6 & IL-4 secretion,  AAI, Maimi Beach  FL 2007.

Tamma SL and Tejal Patel. “ p.38 appears to play an important role in the induction of IL-4 in murine system” Society for Leukocyte Biology, 39th Annual Meeting, November 2006, San Antonio, Texas.

Tamma SL, Kun Wook Chung, Satya Priya Balan and Pahwa S.. “Co-stimulation with CD28 andJacalin induces the upregulation anti-apoptotic markers Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL” Abstract Submitted to FASEB Meeting, held in SanDiego, April 2-6, 2005

Tamma SL, Yan Wu, Richard F. Coico. “IgD-R Crosslinking Induces a TH2-Dominant CytokineProfile in Murine CD4+ T cells” Abstract Submitted for the 44th American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Annual Meeting in Washington DC, December 4-8, 2004.

Tamma Sl, Kun Wook Chung and Satya Priya Balan. “The Lectin Jacalin Induces Phosphorylation of Intracellular Proteins And Cytokine Secretion In Spleen Cells From Balb/C Mice”. Abstract  he37th Annual Meeting of the Society For Leukocyte Biology (SLB), Toronto, Ontario, Canada,October 21-23, 2004.

Tamma SL, Satya Priya Balan ,The Lectin Jacalin Plus Co-stimulation with Anti-CD28 Antibody induces Phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and IL-4 synthesis. Abstract, FASEB Meeting  Washington DC,April 17-21, 2004.

Tamma SL, Yan Wu, Richard F. Coico   IgD-Receptor (IgD-R) Positive CD4+ T Cells Induce a TH2-Skewing Following Stimulation with Oligomeric IgD. Abstract, FASEB Meeting Washington DC, April  17-21, 2004.

Tamma SL,Immunotherapy Presented at Science Expo 2004, C.W. Post Campus, LIU.

Tamma, SL, Kalyanaraman VS, Pahwa S, Dominguez P and Modesto RR   The Lectin Jacalin- Induces Tyrosine Phosphorylation of PLC-&[gamma]1 And Activation of p21 RAS In CD4+ T Cells FASEB Meeting, April, San Diego, 2003.

Tamma, SL, Yan Wu, Toporovsky I, Lima V, and Coico R.  IgD-R-cross-linking-induced signal transduction in Murine T cells. FASEB J A317: 241.27, 2002.

Tamma, SL, and Coico R. IgD-Receptor (IgD-R) Cross-Linking Partially Protects Murine T cells from Dexamethasone-induced Apoptosis FASEB J A317: 241.28, 2002.

Tamma, SL. HIV-1 Envelope Protein gp120 Inhibits Jacalin-Induced Signal Transduction and Activation of CD4+ T cells. Submitted for publication in a booklet of C.W.Post Faculty Research Projects for 2001-02.

Tamma, SL. Gene Therapy. Presented at Science EXPO 2002, C.W.Post Campus (page 14, # 116)

Tamma, SL. IgD-R cross-linking-induced signal transduction and apoptosis in murine 7C5 T hybridoma cell and splenic T cells from BALB/c mice. Submitted for publication in a booklet of  C.W.Post Faculty Research Projects for 2000-01(page 82 in the booklet)

Yan Wu, Tamma SL, Lima V and Coico R. Facilitated antigen presentation by B cells expressing IgD when responding T cells express upregulated IgD receptors. FASEB J, # 480.28, 1999.

Felix Assemenia, Roberto Carrillo, Tamma SL  and Richard Coico.  Role of IgD-Receptors in apoptosis. National Minority Symposium, Nov 21-24, New York, F61, p118, 1998.

Tamma, SL,.  Chavan S.,  Kaplan M., Gersten M., and Pahwa S.  Partial restoration of immune function in HIV-infected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy  Key Stone Meeting, Colorado, 1998.

Chavan S, Tamma SL Mark Kaplan, Gersten M  and Pahwa, S.  Reduction in T cell apoptosis in patients with HIV disease following anti-retroviral therapy. 12th World AIDS Conference, Geneva June 1998, Abstract # 21163.

Tumaliuan JA, Than S, Tamma SL, Tetali S, Bakshi S and Pahwa S. Constitutive  mRNA expressionof MIP-1 and MIP-1 in relation to immune status in HIV- infected children .  AAAAI/AAI/CISJoint Meeting, Abstract # 1064.  1997.

Tamma SL, Chirmule N., Oyaizu N., McCloskey T., Kalyanaraman VS., and Pahwa S.  CD4 crosslinking with HIV gp160 induces ras activation and TNF- secretion in CD4+ T cells.  Third Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. Washington DC. 1996.

Tamma SL, McCloskey T, Oyaizu N, Chirmule N, Kalyanaraman VS and Pahwa S. “HIV-1 hp120 blocks Jacalin induced proliferative response in CD4+ T cells: Jacalin and gp120 compete to the distinct region on CD4+ molecule other than OKT4A/Leu3a”. FASEB J 9

Tamma SL and Coico RF. Identification and partial characterization of human IgD-binding factor FASEB Anaheim, CA 1992.

RF Coico and Tamma SL.  Characterization of membrane and soluble human IgD-receptors. 8th International Congress of Immunology, Budapest, Hungary, 1992.

Tamma SL and Coico RF. Release of human IgD-Binding factor by IgD-R+ T cells.  FASEB, #7823, Atlanta, 1991.

Tamma SL, Amin AR, Finkelman FD, Chen YW, Oppenheim J, Thorbecke GJ and Coico RF.  Lectin like properties of IgD receptors expressed by murine T cells. ASBMB/AAI meeting in New Orleans, 1990.

Coico RF, Tamma SL, Wei CF, Wu WC, Bessler M, and Thorbecke GJ. IgD  Receptors expressed byhuman CD4+ T cells. ASBMB/AAI meeting in NewOrleans, 1990.

Amin AR, Coico RF, Tamma SL, Finkelman FD, Oppenheim JD, Thorbecke GJ. Characterization of receptors for IgD in murine T cells. 10th GCC, INSERM U-25 Paris, 1990.

Amin AR, Coico RF, Tamma SL, Finkelman FD, Oppenheim JD and Thorbecke GJ.

Characterization of receptors for IgD on T cells. European Federation of Immunological Societies, 10th Meeting, Edinburgh,1990.

Coico RF, Amin AR, Tamma SL, Finkelman FD, Thorbecke GJ.  Characterization and  specificity of IgD receptors on T cells. 7th International Congress of Immunology, Berlin, 19-6, 1989.

Tamma SL, Amin AR, Finkelman FD, Thorbecke GJ, and Coico RF.  IgD receptors Expressed by Tcells appear to be specific for the Hinge region of IgD. FASEB New Orleans, 1989.

Coico RF, Swenson CD, Tamma SL, Siskind GW, Thorbecke GJ.  Deficiency of IgD receptor+ T cells in aged mice and humans. Biomedical Advances in Aging, VIIIth. International Washington Spring Symposium. 1988.

Honors/Awards

Received David Newton Award For Teaching Excellence in 2006 from LIU

Professional Affiliations

American Association of Immunologists (AAI).

Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB)

Society for Leukocyte Biology