Human papillomaviruses (HPV) have been implicated in the etiology of benign and malignant lesions of the urogenital tract and upper respiratory system and have been reported in normal and neoplastic colon tissues. We have been investigating cytokine and cell surface molecule production by HPV infected/transfected cells and their relationship to the immyne response to HPV infections.  The focus of current research in my laboratory includes:

• Molecular characterization of HPVs from colon tissue
• Determination of the oncogenic potential of HPVs from colon tissue
• Characterization of the interaction of HPV transformed cells and the mammalian immune response.

Enteropathogenic, enterotoxin-producing E. coli 0157:H7 have been widely studied as the cause of outbreaks of food borne disease. However, worldwide, several additional strains of E. coli have been implicated in outbreaks of food borne disease. We are currently investigating the epidemiology and prevalence of non-0157:H7 enterotoxin-producing E. coli in beef cattle raised under rangeland conditions typical of the west ans southwest U.S.

• We have developed a commercially marketed whole-organism vaccine for bovine trichomoniasis, a venereal disease caused by the unicellular parasite Tritrichomonas foetus. Current research is directed to development of a recombinant vaccine for trichomoniasis.
• A collaborative research program with the University of California, Davis focuses on development of diagnostic and preventative procedures for a tick vectored, abortagenic disease in cattle, Foothill Abortion.
• A collaborative research program with Dr. H. Hussein is focused on characterization of the on-farm epidemiology of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and testing of management programs designed to decrease the level of Escherichia coli in beef cattle prior to meat production.

Beef cattle raised under range conditions of the western United States are exposed to a tick-vectored abortagenic disease called Epizootic Bovine Abortion (EBA). W, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of California at Davis, are investigating the geographic distribution of the tick vector, as well as the epidemiology, molecular biology and immunogenic properties of the disease agent. Several vaccine formulations to prevent EBA have been produced and tested.

• ASC 475-675 Diseases of Domestic Animals
• MIC 601 Medical Microbiology
• MIC 784 Molecular Virology

Mohammadpour, H., M.R. Hall, R.S. Pardini, L. Pardini, S.F. Khaiboullina, P. Manalo, and D.B. McGregor. 2000. Tumor development and cytokine production by human colon tissues and carcinoma cell lines. Int. J. Surg. Inv. 2:65-72.

Thran, B.H., H.S. Hussein, S.F. Khaiboullina and M.R. Hall. 2001. Occurence of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli in dairy heifers grazing an irrigated pasture. Toxicology 159:159-169.

Stott J.L., M.T. Blanchard, M. Anderson, J. Maas, R.L. Walker, P.C. Kennedy, B.B. Norman, R.H. BonDurant, M.N. Oliver, S.F. Khaiboullina, D. Hanks and M.R. Hall. 2002. Experimental transmission of epizootic bovine abortion (foothill abortion) and preliminary classification of the etiologic agent. Vet. Micro 88:161-173.

Hall, M.R., Hanks, D., W.G. Kvasnicka, A. Bosomworth, H. Smith, M. Blanchard, J. Stott and M. Anderson. 2002. Diagnosis of epizootic abortion and identification of the vector in Nevada. J. Vet. Diag. Invest. 14:205-210.

Kato, T., R. Hancock. M. Mohammadpour, B. McGregor, P. Manalo, S. Khaiboullina, M.R. Hall, L. Pardini and R.S. Pardini. 2002. Influence of Omega-3 fatty acids on the growth of human colon carcinoma in nude mice. Cancer Letters 187:169-177.

Thran, B., M.R. Hall, S.F. Khaiboullina and H.S. Hussein. 2003. Non-O157:H7 verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli in healthy beef heifers. J. Exptl. Biol. Med. 228:352-357.

Hussein, H.S., B.H. Thran and M.R. Hall. 2004. Sorbitol-Negative Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Beef Heifers Grazing Rangeland Forages. Prof. Anim. Sci. 20:218-224.