B.S.
Tuskegee University
1962
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Faculty
Faculty
Clarence Matthews Lee
Professor
Department/Office
- Biology
School/College
- College of Arts & Sciences
Biography
A native of Fairfield, Alabama, Dr. Clarence Matthews Lee received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Tuskegee University in 1962. From 1962 to 1964, he served in the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone, West Africa. In 1965, he earned a Master of Science degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in parasitology (epidemiology) and in 1969, he received his Ph.D. in zoology (parasitology) from Howard University.
Dr. Lee is Executive Director of the Washington Baltimore Hampton Road-Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (WBHR-LSAMP) Program. His current research involves the immuno-modulation in animals due to protozoan and helminthic infections; examination of mechanisms of protective immunity to flagellated protozoan; the role of nutrients and trace elements in the immune process; and identifying and validating drug targets in trypanosomes
Education & Expertise
Education
Ph.D.
Howard University
1969
Expertise
Immunopathology and Parasitology
Determination of inheritance patterns in teleostean fishes
Genetics of Sceloporus jarrovi populations
Academics
Academics
Experimental Parasitology (BIOL406)
Research
Research
Specialty
Immunopathology and ParasitologyFunding
Louis Stokes-Alliance For Minority Participation | NSF12564
Group Information
Immunoparasitology: The study of immuno-modulation in animals due to protozoan and helminthic infections; examination of mechanisms of protective immunity to flagellated protozoan; the role of nutrients and trace elements in the immune process; identifying and validating drug targets in trypanosomes. Two studies that were recently completed are summarized below:
L3L4ES antigen and secretagogues induce histamine release from porcine peripheral blood basophils were studied following Ascaris suum infection
Experimental pigs were infected with 103 Ascaris suum eggs daily for 21 days. Control pigs were maintained helminth-free. Circulating porcine basophils were isolated from the anticoagulated whole blood of A. suum-infected and non-infected pigs by dextran (4.5%) sedimentation of erythrocytes or by the centrifugation of dextran-isolated leukocytes through discontinuous Percoll gradients with varying densities. Results showed that 2.2% of the isolated leukocytes, stained with May-Grunwald Giemsa, was basophils. Each basophil isolated from infected pigs contained 1.30 x 10-2 to 1.20 x 10-1 picogram (10-12 g) of histamine. Peripheral blood basophils (PBB) isolated from infected swine released as much as 49% specific histamine when induced with A.suum-derived antigen (L3,L4 ES); up to 55% with anti-IgG; and up to 62% with the calcium ionophore A23l87. During A. suum infection, the number of isolated basophils and histamine levels peaked at 14 to 21 days post infection and then showed a significant decrease. The percent specific histamine released from PBB by the infected swine was significantly greater than that released by control pigs. The L3L4 ES antigen and secretagogues effectively induced specific histamine release from PBB and should facilitate future investigations of porcine basophils.
Apoptosis of Trypanosoma musculi co-cultured with LPS activated macrophages by enhanced expression of Nitric Oxide Synthase and INF-gamma.
Trypanosoma musculi-macrophage cells co-culture was studied to demonstrate the biological role of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced cytokines and reactive species in controlling the development of parasites in vitro. Macrophages were activated with 0.5µg/ml LPS in RPMI media 1640. The activation of macrophages was demonstrated by phagocytosis of blue fluorescence latex spheres. The detection of gamma interferon
(INF-gamma) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) using western blot analysis and immunofluoresence further indicates the activation of macrophages. Activated macrophages showed marked inhibition of association and development of parasites. The dead rosette form floating parasites tested for caspace 3 and 8 using western blot analysis that confirmed the parasites died through apoptosis. Apoptosis was further confirmed by Apoptag gel fragmentation assay. The data would suggest that INF-gamma and NO possibly functioning through the INFaR1, Fas ligand, CD95 or other death ligands in the trypanosome plasma membrane initiates the apoptosis cascade in trypanosome.
Laboratory Personnel
Ayele Gugssa - Research Associate
Mohammad Ashraf - Research Associate
Thomas Boddie - Graduate Student
Todd Young - Graduate Student
Accomplishments
Accomplishments
Executive director for Washington-Baltimore Hamptons Roads Aliance
Previous Dean of COAS at Howard University
Outstanding Visionary Award, COAS at Howard University (1998)
Vantage Award for Academic Excellence (1995)
Howard University Leadership Award (1992)
Related Articles
siRNA Immunological Fishing Training (SIFT) experience as a novel research education tool for students
Elizondo DM, Andargie TE, Marshall KM, Zariwala AM, Lee CM, Lipscomb MW. siRNA Immunological Fishing Training (SIFT) experience as a novel research education tool for students studying immunology . Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education (JMBE). 2017
Novel drug design for Chagas disease via targeting Trypanosoma cruzi tubulin: Homology modeling and binding pocket prediction on Trypanosoma cruzi tubulin
Ogindo CO, Khraiwesh MH, George M Jr, Brandy Y, Brandy N, Gugssa A, Ashraf M, Abbas M, Southerland WM, Lee CM, Bakare O, Fang Y. Novel drug design for Chagas disease via targeting Trypanosoma cruzi tubulin: Homology modeling and binding pocket prediction on Trypanosoma cruzi tubulin polymerization inhibition by naphthoquinone derivatives. Bioorg Med Chem. 2016 Aug 15;24(16):3849-55. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2016.06.031. Epub 2016 Jun 16.
Let minority-serving institutions lead.
Jackson F, Lee CM, Taylor S. Let minority-serving institutions lead. Science. 2014 Aug 22;345(6199):885. doi: 10.1126/science.345.6199.885-c. No abstract available.
Plant hormone jasmonate prioritizes defense over growth by interfering with gibberellin signaling ...
Yang DL, Yao J, Mei CS, Tong XH, Zeng LJ, Li Q, Xiao LT, Sun TP, Li J, Deng XW, Lee CM, Thomashow MF, Yang Y, He Z, He SY. Plant hormone jasmonate prioritizes defense over growth by interfering with gibberellin signaling cascade. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 May 8;109(19):E1192-200. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1201616109. Epub 2012 Apr 23.
Antitrypanosomal activities and cytotoxicity of some novel imido-substituted 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives
Khraiwesh MH, Lee CM, Brandy Y, Akinboye ES, Berhe S, Gittens G, Abbas MM, Ampy FR, Ashraf M, Bakare O. Antitrypanosomal activities and cytotoxicity of some novel imido-substituted 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives. Arch Pharm Res. 2012 Jan;35(1):27-33. doi: 10.1007/s12272-012-0103-1. Epub 2012 Feb 2.
Ayuk, M., Suttiprppa S., Rinaldi G., Mann V., Lee C.M., and Brindley, P., International Journal for Parasitology 41, 2011. 783-789
Use of Differential Display Polymerase Chain Reaction to Search for Host Response Gene Products
On’gele, E.A., Lee, C.M., and Knight, M. 2002. Use of Differential Display Polymerase Chain Reaction to Search for Host Response Gene Products during the Intramolluscan Phase of Schistosoma mansoni Infection. Transactions of the National Institute of Science, 38, 15-19.
Molecular Malarial Antigen Responsible for Activation of B Lymphocytes
Toran, E.J., Lee, C.M., Thomas, L., and Rolle, R. 2003. Molecular Malarial Antigen Responsible for Activation of B Lymphocytes.(GenBank)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Accession number: AY180902.
Characterization and Function of the Multifaceted Peripheral Blood Basophil.
Uston, P.I. and Lee, C.M. 2003. Characterization and Function of the Multifaceted Peripheral Blood Basophil. Cellular and Molecular Biology, 49(7), 1125-1135.
Amebiasis in Kilimanjaro Tanzania and comparison of the microscopy to ELISA technique in the detection...
R A. Nesbitt, R. A., Mosha. F. W., Katki, H. A.,Ashraf, M., Lee, C. M. 2004. Amebiasis in Kilimanjaro Tanzania and comparison of the microscopy to ELISA technique in the detection of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar. Journal of the National Medical Association, 96,671-677
A Comparison between Trypanosoma lewisi and Trypanosoma musculi
C.M.Lee and E.Armstrong, 2004. Rodent Trypanosomiasis: A Comparison between Trypanosoma lewisi and Trypanosoma musculi Encyclopedia of Entomology.3:1917-1919
Apoptosis of Trypanosoma musculi co-cultured with LPS activated macrophages
A. Gugssa, S. Gebru, C.M. Lee. B. Baccetti and W. Anderson. 2005. Apoptosis of Trypanosoma musculi co-cultured with LPS activated macrophages: enhanced expression of nitric oxide synthase INF-gamma and caspase. Journal of Submicrosc. Cytol. Pathol., 37 (2), 99-107
Co-culture of Trypanosoma musculi with spleen-derived adherent fibroblasts
A. Gugssa, C.M. Lee, S. Gebru, D.Desta, S. Murray. B. Baccetti and W. Anderson 2005. Co-culture of Trypanosoma musculi with spleen-derived adherent fibroblasts: possible transfer of small molecules via connexons. Journal of Submicrosc. Cytol. Pathol 37(3-4), 223-229.