For cells to function efficiently throughout their life span, there is a constant need for intracellular and intercellular communication.  Knowledge about the receipt and transmission of signals is essential to our understanding of the genesis of disease processes, and critical in the future design of processes to correct any aberrations in the signaling pathway that might be responsible for pathology.  Recognizing the importance of cellular communication, I have focused my research efforts on understanding signal transduction in cells, with an emphasis on dissecting the role of protein kinase c (PKC) in this process.  These studies have in general utilized the human adenoviruses (Ad) as models.  The Ad has been a convenient tool because its replication utilizes many of the same cellular factors required for cellular metabolism.  Most important, however, is the fact that the signal transduction pathway, which leads to modulation of various cellular gene expression following the activation of PKC, can also be utilized for Ad gene expression.  The signaling pathway leading to the expression of both polymerase II and polymerase III transcribed genes following the activation of PKC has been the focus of my laboratory.  In addition I have been involved in collaborative studies that are attempting to determine the role of PKC in other signal transduction pathways.
With my interest in signal transduction and a background in virology, my research has evolved into collaborative studies that seek to determine how Phenylmethimazole (C10) influences coxsackievirus B (CVB) induced type 1diabetes (T1D) in a mouse model.  These studies focus on understanding the molecular events underlying C10 actions in delaying the onset of T1D in mice; modulating the replication of CVB; and preserving insulin release in pancreatic beta cells in vitro.  

Selected Publications

• Kelly D. McCall , Martin J. Schmerr, Jean R. Thuma, Calvin B.L. James, Maria C. Courreges, Fabian Benencia, Ramiro Malgor and Frank L. SchwartzPhenylmethimazole Suppresses dsRNA-Induced Cytotoxicity and Inflammatory Cytokines in Murine Pancreatic Beta Cells and Blocks Viral Acceleration of Type 1 Diabetes in NOD Mice.  Molecules.  Molecules: 18, 3841-3858, 2013.

• Marco V. Neira Ovieda, William S. Romoser, Calvin B. L. James, Farida Mahmood and William K. Reisen.  Infection dynamics of western equine encephalomyelitis virus (Togaviridae: Alphavirus) in four strains of Culex tarsalis (Diptera: Culicidae): an immunocytochemical study. Research and Reports in Tropical Medicine: 2 65–77, 2011.

• Shannon, Timothy and Calvin B. L. James.  Protein kinase c inhibits formation of VA gene transcription initiation complex.  In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. 39: 460-467, 2004.

To view more publications please link to PubMed.

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