IRWIN W. SHERMAN
Professor of Biology Emeritus
Office 3310 Spieth Hall
Phone (951) 827-5905
E-mail: irwin.sherman@ucr.edu
Degree:
Ph.D., Northwestern University, 1960
The principal focus of our laboratory is to characterize in molecular terms the membrane structure and function of the erythrocyte infected by malaria parasites. To this end we have carried out transport studies, have done lipid analyses and phospholipid bilayer distribution, and have investigated both biochemically and morphologically (SEM, TEM) the surface changes in infected red cells. Of particular interest are the mechanisms whereby red cells infected with the human malaria Plasmodium falciparum become adhesive. Using monoclonal antibodies, synthetic peptides and in vitro binding assays we identified an adhesive region of the erythrocyte that results from the exposure of cryptic residues of band 3 protein. Studies underway involve investigations on the mechanism of formation of this adhesin and identification of the receptor to which it binds.
Some Representative Publications....
- Prudhomme, J.G., I. W. Sherman, K. Land, A.V. Moses, S Stenglein, and J.A. Nelson. 1996. Studies of Plasmodium falciparum cytoadherence using immortalized human brain capillary endothelial cells. International Journal for Parasitology 26:647-655.
- Guthrie, N, D.Bird, I. Crandall, and I. W. Sherman. 1995. Plasmodium falciparum: The adherence of erythrocytes infected with human malaria can be mimicked using pfalhesin-coated microspeheres. Cell Adhesion and Communication 3:407-417.
- I. W. Sherman, I.E. Crandall, N. Guthrie, and K.M. Land. 1995. The sticky secrets of sequestration. Parasitology Today 111:378-384.
- Crandall, I. and I. W. Sherman. 1994. Antibodies to synthetic peptides based on band 3 motifs react specifically with Plasmodium falciparum (human malaria)- infected erythrocytes and block cytoadherence. Parasitology 108:389-396.
- Crandall, I. and I. W. Sherman. 1993. Synthetic peptides of a region from human band 3 inhibit the cytoadherence of Plasmodium falciparum- infected erythrocytes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 90:4703-4707.
- Crandall, I. and I. W. Sherman. 1993. Synthetic peptides of a region from human band 3 inhibit the cytoadherence of Plasmodium falciparum- infected erythrocytes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 90:4703-4707.
Recent Teaching....
- Biology 40, Disease and history
- Biology 157, Parasitology