Robert L. Taylor, Jr., Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Animal and Nutritional Sciences University Genetics Program
Kendall Hall, Room 416
(603) 862-4625
Office Hours: Mondays & Wednesdays: 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., Other times by appointment only.
Email: bob.taylor@unh.edu
Educational Background:
Ph.D., Mississippi State University, 1981
M.S., Auburn University, 1978
B.S., Carson-Newman College, 1975
Courses Taught:
Human Genetics
Immunogenetics
General Area of Interest and/or Specialty:
Research in this laboratory focuses on the immunogenetics of retroviral and oncogene tumor regression. Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), an oncogenic retrovirus, induces tumor formation in susceptible chickens. Major histocompatibility B complex (MHC) genes, which govern immune responses, control tumor outcome, either regression or progression. Utilizing congenic chicken lines which differ only by their B complex genes, B2B2 chickens regress RSV tumors whereas B5B5 chickens progress these tumors. A subviral DNA fragment containing only the v-src oncogene transforms cells and induces tumors without viral replication. The B complex controls v-src DNA tumor growth and metastasis because B2B2 chickens regress tumors with low metastasis in contrast to the B5B5 genotype’s tumor progression with high metastasis.
The Rfp-Y system is a new polymorphic genetic region with high homology to class I and class II MHC genes. Rfp-Y and MHC genes segregate independently of each other although they lie on the same microchromosome. Rfp-Y affects the outcome of Rous sarcomas in B2B5 chickens. The Y6Y6 genotype has greater tumor growth and higher mortality than either Y1Y1 and Y1Y6 chickens. Y6Y6 chickens also have a higher tumor profile index, an indication of a poorer response to Rous sarcomas compared to both Y1Y1 and Y1Y6 genotypes. Additional studies examine other genes, such as alloantigen L that may influence immune responses.
Selected Publications 1996 – present (*student publications)
Halpern,M. S., J. M. England, G. C. Kopen, A. A. Christou and R. L. Taylor, Jr., 1996. Endogenous c-src as a determinant of the tumorigenicity of src oncogenes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:824-827
*Dix, M. C. and R. L. Taylor, Jr., 1996. Differential antibody responses in 6.B major histocompatibility (B) complex congenic chickens. Poultry Sci. 75:203-207
Oliver Hubbard Undergraduate Research Fellowship
*LePage, K. T., S. E. Bloom and R. L. Taylor, Jr., 1996. Antibody response to sheep red blood cells in a major histocompatibility (B) complex aneuploid line of chickens. Poultry Sci. 75:346-350
Miller, M. M., R. M. Goto, R. L. Taylor, Jr., R. Zoorob, C. Auffray, R. W. Briles, W. E. Briles and S. E. Bloom, 1996. Assignment of Rfp-Y to the chicken B microchromosome and evidence for high frequency recombination associated with the nucleolar organizer region. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:3958-3962
Taylor, R. L., Jr., J. M. England, G. C. Kopen, A. A. Christou and M. S. Halpern, 1996.Sequence variation in the src gene product affects metastasis formation: The central, but not exclusive, role of the tumor immune response. Int. J. Cancer 68:228-231
*Caron, L. A., H. Abplanalp and R. L. Taylor, Jr., 1997. Resistance, susceptibility and immunity to Eimeria tenella in major histocompatibility (B) complex congenic lines. Poultry Sci 76:677-682
Cotter, P. F., R. L. Taylor, Jr., and H. Abplanalp, 1998. B complex associated immunity to Salmonella enteritidis challenge in congenic chickens. Poultry Sci. 77:1846-1851
Taylor, R. L., Jr., 1998. The turkey immune system and managing disease resistance. Pages 11-20 In: Proc. 35 th New England Turkey Growers Conference, M. Darre, (ed.), Massachusetts Turkey Growers Assoc.
*Cieszynski, J. A., M. A. Qureshi and R. L. Taylor, Jr., 1999. Calcium role in chicken IL-1 secretion. Poultry Sci. 78:70-74
*LePage, K. T., W. E. Briles, F. Kopti and R. L. Taylor, Jr., 2000. Nonmajor histocompatibility complex alloantigen effects on the fate of Rous sarcomas. Poult. Sci. 79:343-348
*LePage, K. T., M. M. Miller, W. E. Briles and R. L. Taylor Jr., 2000. Rfp-Y genotype affects the fate of Rous sarcomas in B2B5 chickens. Immunogenetics 51:751-754
*Senseney, H. L., H. Abplanalp, W. E. Briles and R. L. Taylor, Jr., 2000. Allelic complementation between MHC h apl otypes BQ and B17 increases regression of Rous sarcomas. Poult. Sci. 79:1736-1740
Pisenti, J. M., M. E. Delany, R. L. Taylor, Jr., U. K. Abbott, H. Abplanalp, J. A. Arthur, M. R. Bakst, C. Baxter-Jones, J. J. Bitgood, F. Bradley, K. M. Cheng, R. R. Dietert, J. B. Dodgson, A. Donoghue, A. Emsley, R. Etches, R. R. Frahm, A. A. Grunder, R. J. Gerrits, P. F. Goetinck, S. J. Lamont, G. R. Martin, P. E. McGuire, G. P. Moberg, L. J. Pierro, C. O. Qualset, M. Qureshi, F. Schultz and B. W. Wilson, 2001. Avian genetic resources at risk: An assessment and proposal for conservation of genetics stocks in the USA and Canada. Avian Poultry Biol. Rev. 12:1-102
Smith, S. C., E. C. Smith, and R. L. Taylor, Jr., 2001. Susceptibility to spontaneous aortic lesions in pigeons: An autosomal recessive trait. J. Hered. 92:439-442
*Medarova, Z., W. E. Briles and R. L. Taylor, Jr., 2002. Alloantigen system L affects the outcome of Rous sarcomas. Exp. Biol. Med. 227:158-163
*Medarova, Z., W. E. Briles and R. L. Taylor, Jr., 2003. Alloantigen system L affects antibody responses. Int. J. Poult. Sci. 2:23-27
*Medarova, Z., W. E. Briles and R. L. Taylor, Jr., 2003. Resistance, susceptibility, and immunity to cecal coccidiosis: B complex and alloantigen system L effects. Poult. Sci. 82:1113-1117
*Medarova, Z., W. E. Briles and R. L. Taylor, Jr., 2003. Immunological functions of avian alloantigens. Recent Res. Dev. Infect. Immun. (Review) 1:145-166
Erf, G. F. and R. L. Taylor, Jr., 2004. Ancillary Scientists Symposium - The avian i mmune system: Function and modulation: Introduction. Poult. Sci. 83:550-551
Miller, M. M., J. Fulton, D. Burt, R. L. Taylor Jr., M E. Delany, L. Hillier, J. B. Dodgson, D. J. Anderson, S. E. Antonarakis, P. Bork, M. Bronner-Fraser, A. C. Burke, J. Champagnat, V. A. Chiappinelli, J. Corwin, E. Eichler, H. Ellegren, P. Fuchs, T. C. Glenn, P. F. Goetinck, M. A. M. Groenen, R. P. Harvey, M. Jacob, H. J. Karten, M. Long, W. Miller, B. A. Morgan, P. Mozdziak, P. Neiman, M. A. Nieto, C. P. Ordahl, R. Owen. D. J. Perkel, O. Pourquie, L. Puelles, C. Ragsdale, M. Rao, A. D. Riggs, R. H. Sawyer, C. Scharff, G. C. Schoenwolf, B. Sokolowski, C. D. Stern, G. Ka-Shu Wong, H. Yang, N. Yang, 2004. Genome news highlights loss of chicken strains. Nature (Correspondence) 432:799. (Nature Correspondence signed by 46 investigators drawing attention to the loss of genetic stocks critical to ongoing research.)
Taylor, R. L., Jr., 2004. Major histocompatibility (B) complex control of responses against Rous sarcomas. Poult. Sci. 83:638-649 (Review)
*Tupick, T. A., S. E. Bloom and R. L. Taylor, Jr., 2005. Major histocompatibility (B) complex gene dose effects on Rous sarcoma virus tumor growth. Int. J. Poult. Sci. 4:286-291
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Advisee
Oliver Hubbard Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Fulton , J. E., H. Juul-Madsen, C. M. Ashwell, A. M. McCarron, J. A. Arthur, N. O’Sullivan and R. L. Taylor, Jr., 2006. Molecular genotype identification of the Gallus gallus major histocompatibility complex. Immunogenetics 58:407-421
* Chapman, M. E., R. L. Taylor, Jr., and R. F. Wideman, Jr., 2007. Analysis of plasma serotonin levels and hemodynamic responses following chronic serotonin infusion in broilers challenged with bacterial lipopolysaccharide and microparticles. Poult. Sci. in press
