Chris Lantz

Professor of Biology

A.A.S. - Blue Ridge Community College
B.S. - James Madison University
Ph.D. - Medical College of Virginia

E-mail - lantz2cs@jmu.edu
Phone - 540-568-2840
Fax - 540-568-3333
Office - Bioscience 3016H

Office Hours

Courses: Immunology (Bio 343), Immunology Laboratory (Bio 343L), Medical Parasitology (Bio 420), Medical Parasitology Laboratory (Bio 420L), and Global Infectious Diseases (Bio 426).

Research Interests:  Immunology and Parasitology

Despite decades of research, malaria infection remains a major global health problem with high mortality and morbidity. The immunological mechanisms responsible for protection against malaria are poorly understood. The research activities of this laboratory are focused on the understanding the immune response that develops against the protozoan Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria. Using a mouse model of blood-stage malaria, we are examining the function of proteins called cytokines and how they regulate immunity against malaria. Obviously, understanding the mechanisms of acquired immunity to malaria has therapeutic implications. From a more basic science perspective, these studies represent a powerful model system to examine fundamental mechanisms in immunobiology.

Selected Publications:

Shen, T., Kim, S., Do, J.S, Wang, L, Lantz, C.S., Urban, J.F., Gros, G.L. and Min, B. 2008. T cell-derived IL-3 plays key role in parasite infection-induced basophil production but is dispensable for in vivo basophil survival. International Immunology. 20: 1201-1209.

Lantz, CS., Min, B., Tsai, M., Chatterjea, D., Dranoff, G., Galli, S.J. 2008. IL-3 is required for increases in blood basophils in nematode infection in mice and can enhance IgE-dependent IL-4 production by basophils in vitro. Laboratory Investigation. 88: 1134-42.

K. Kimura, C.H. Song, A. Rastogi, G. Dranoff, S.J. Galli & C.S. Lantz. 2006. Interleukin-3 and c-Kit/stem cell factor are required for normal eosinophil responses in mice infected with Strongyloides venezuelensis. Laboratory Investigation. 86: 987-996.

Neel, N.F., Creasy, B.M., Rankin, J.N., Pierce, E.M., McCoy, M.E., Daner, R.H., Fowler, J.A., Daniel, J.C., Lantz, C.S. 2004. Absence of interleukin-3 does not affect the severity of local and systemic anaphylaxis but does enhance eosinophil infliltration in a mouse model of allergic peritonitis. Immunology Letters. 95: 37-44.

Shelburne, C.P., McCoy, M.E. (JMU student), Piekorz, R., Sexl, V., Roh, K-H., Jacobs-Helber, S.M., Gillespie, S.R., Bailey, D.P., Mirmonsef, P., Mann, M.N., Kashyap, M., Wright, H.V., Chong, H.J., Bouton, L.A., Barnstein, B., Ramirez, C.D., Bunting, K.D., Sawyer, S.T., Lantz, C.S., Ryan, J.J. 2003. Stat5 expression is critical for mast cell development and survival. Blood. 102: 1290-1297.