Biomedical Sciences
Debra Burg



Phone: 616-331-3318
Fax: 616-331-2090
A. Nieuwkoop, Ph.D., Chair
nieuwkot@gvsu.edu

Grand Valley State University
312 Padnos
Allendale, MI 49401

Debra Burg

Associate Professor
Biomedical Science Department
233 Padnos Hall
Allendale, Michigan 49401
Phone:  616-331-3721
Fax:  616-331-2090
email:  burgd@gvsu.edu

OFFICE HOURS:
See available times here,
or by appointment
COURSES TAUGHT 
BMS 212 - Introductory Microbiology
BMS 213 - Laboratory in Microbiology
BMS 301 - Introduction to Research in the Health Sciences
BMS 410 - Immunology

EDUCATION/TRAINING
Ph.D., Microbiology (Immunology), University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 1987
B.A., Biology, Hope College, Holland, MI.

RESEARCH INTERESTS
I am interested in understanding how the transcription factor, BATF, regulates gene expression in cells of the immune system. Although transcription factors are often thought of as proteins that turn on gene expression, BATF is a transcription factor that acts as a negative regulator.  That is to say, BATF functions to suppress, or turn off, the expression of certain genes. We are working on a project uses macrophages as a model for understanding when BATF is expressed and what genes it regulates. Macrophages are cells that are part of our natural defense system against foreign invaders such as bacteria or viruses. They are also intimately involved in the inflammatory response. We hope to show that BATF regulates genes in the macrophage that determine the choice between acute and chronic inflammation. 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
D.L. Burg, L.M. Johansen, P. Budde, D. Krylov, C. Vinson and E.J. Taparowsky. B-ATF and synthetic dominant-negative inhibitors negatively regulate cooperative AP-1 transcriptional activity. Manuscript in preparation. RI-mediated signaling and effector function by the Syk-selective inhibitor, piceatannol. J. Biol. Chemistry 269: 29697-29703.

J.M. Oliver, D.L. Burg, B.S. Wilson, J.L. McLaughlin and R.L. Geahlen. (1994) Inhibition of mast cell Fc

D.L. Burg, M. Furlong, M.L. Harrison and R.L. Geahlen. (1994) Interactions of Lyn with the antigen receptor during B cell activation. J. Biol. Chemistry 269: 28136-28142.

R.L. Geahlen and D.L. Burg. (1994) The role of Syk in cell signaling. In Mechanisms of Lymphocyte Activation and Immune Regulation V: Molecular Basis of Signal Transduction (S. Gupta, W.E. Paul, A. DeFranco and R. Perlmutter, Eds.) pp. 103-109.

M.L. Harrison, C.C. Isaacson, D.L. Burg, R.L.Geahlen and P.S. Low. (1994) Phosphorylation of human erythrocyte band 3 by endogenous p72syk. J. Biol. Chemistry 269: 955-959.

G.L. Schieven, J.M. Kirihara, D.L. Burg, R.L. Geahlen and J.A. Ledbetter. (1993) p72syk tyrosine kinase is activated by oxidizing conditions which induce lymphocyte tyrosine phosphorylation and Ca2+ signals. J. Biol. Chemistry 268: 16688-16692.

D.L. Burg, M.L. Harrison and R.L. Geahlen. (1993) Cell cycle-specific activation of the PTK72 protein-tyrosine kinase in B lymphocytes. J. Biol. Chemistry 268: 2304-2306.

M. Cushman, D. Nagarathnam, D.L. Burg and R.L. Geahlen. (1991) Synthesis and protein tyrosine kinase inhibitory activities of flavonoid analogues. J. Medicinal Chemistry 34: 798-806.

D.L. Burg and T.L. Feldbush. (1989) Late events in B cell activation. Expression of membrane alkaline phosphatase activity. J. Immunology 142: 381-387.

D. Leitenberg, D.L. Burg and T.L. Feldbush. (1988) Lymphokine-induction of memory B-cell differentiation: Differential stimulation of large virgin and memory B-cell differentiation. Cellular Immunology 114: 83.

D.L. Burg. (1987) Differential sensitivity of virgin and memory B cells to polyclonal activation. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.

D.L. Burg, D.E. Lafrenz and T.L. Feldbush. (1987) An alternate method of panning for rat B lymphocytes. Imm unology Letters 15: 291-295

D.L. Burg and T.L. Feldbush. (1986) Polyclonal activation of primed rat B cells. Cellular Immunology 98: 351-363.

J.M. Gentile, S. Brown, M. Aardema, D. Clark (Burg) and H. Blankespoor. (1985) Modified mutagen metabolism in Schistosoma hematobium-infested organisms. Arch. Environ. Health 40: 5-12.
  Last Modified Date: September 10, 2009
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