Chris Lantz

Associate 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 - 110 Burruss

Office Hours

Courses:  Immunology (BIO 442/542), Immunology laboratory (Bio 443), Virology (BIO 444/544), Medical Parasitology (Bio 420), Medical Parasitology Laboratory (Bio 421) 

Research Interests:  Immunology and Parasitology

Cutaneous leishmaniasis, a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by the intracellular protozoan Leishmania major, is one of the most important infectious diseases worldwide. Following a bite by an infected sand fly, the parasites multiply in the skin and ultimately lead to the formation of large cutaneous ulcers. Secondary bacterial infections and serious scarring are common outcomes. The research activities of this laboratory are focused on understanding the cellular and molecular regulation of the host immune response to L. major. Our experimental approach involves the use of laboratory mice that have been genetically engineered to lack functional copies of particular genes that may be important in immunity to L. major. We believe that the identification and characterization of these genes (and proteins) to be critical to identifying meaningful targets for vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.

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.