Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Laura Kasman
Associate Professor
Microbiology and Immunology
Graduate Program Director for Microbiology and Immonology
Residencies or Post Doctoral:
1992-1994 Massachusettes Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
1995-1996 University of Georgia – Athens, GA
1998-1999 University of California – Berkeley, CA
1999-2000 Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Education
1992 Ph.D., Harvard University
Contact Info
kasmanl@musc.edu
Tel: 843-792-8117
BSB 203
Research Interests
I am interested in the different types of virus-virus interactions and maintain an online public database of such interactions at www.musc.edu/vvi.
Currently my research focuses on maximizing viral vector effectiveness for use in immunotherapy of bladder cancer. This project, in collaboration with Dr. Christina Johnson, involves optimization of conditions for using adenoviral vectors to deliver apoptosis-inducing genes to bladder tumors. We have shown that some histone deacetylase inhibitors increase both adenoviral infection and transgene expression in bladder cancer cells in vitro. We are currently testing conditions in a mouse model of bladder cancer.
Other projects include investigation of the role of androgens in bladder cancer development, and the mechanism of viral hepatitis-induced xerostomia
Recent Publications | Additional Publications
Kasman L, Onicescu G, and Voelkel-Johnson C. Histone deacetylase inhibitors restore cell surface expression of the coxsackie adenovirus receptor and enhance CMV promoter activity in castration resistant prostate cancer cells. Prostate Cancer. 2012; 2012:137163 Epub 2012 Jan 12. PMID: PMC3263646.
Murali A*, Kasman L*, Voelkel-Johnson C. Adenoviral infectivity of exfoliated viable cells in urine: implications for the detection of bladder cancer. BMC Cancer. 2011 May 12;11:168.
PMID: 21569442
Grewal JS*, Pilgrim MJ*, Grewal S*, Kasman L*, Werner P, Bruorton ME, London SD, London L. Salivary glands act as mucosal inductive sites via the formation of ectopic germinal centers after site-restricted MCMV infection. FASEB J. 2011 May;25(5):1680-96. Epub 2011 Feb 9. PMID: 21307334.
DaPalma T, Doonan BP, Trager NM, Kasman LM. A systematic approach to virus-virus interactions. Virus Res. 2010 Apr;149(1):1-9. Epub 2010 Jan 20. Review. PubMed PMID: 20093154.
Kasman LM, London LL, London SD, Pilgrim MJ. A mouse model linking viral hepatitis and salivary gland dysfunction. Oral Dis. 2009 Nov;15(8):587-95. Epub 2009 Jul 27. PubMed PMID: 19656314.
Kasman LM, Barua S, Lu P, Rege K, Voelkel-Johnson C. Polymer-enhanced adenoviral transduction of CAR-negative bladder cancer cells. Mol Pharm. 2009 Sep-Oct;6(5):1612-9. PubMed PMID: 19655763; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2757475.
White SJ, Kasman LM, Kelly MM, Lu P, Spruill L, McDermott PJ, Voelkel-Johnson C. Doxorubicin generates a proapoptotic phenotype by phosphorylation of elongation factor 2. Free Radic Biol Med. 2007 Nov 1;43(9):1313-21. Epub 2007 Jul 3. PubMed PMID: 17893044; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2084083.
* equal contribution
Research Support
Title: Targeted Polymer-Adenovirus Hybrids for Ablation of Bladder Cancer Disease
Agency: NIH /NCI
Role: Co-investigator
Funding Period: 08/01/2011 - 07/31/2012
Title: Ethanologenic/Electricigenic Consolidated Bioprocessing of Cellulosic Biomass: Phase II
Agency: DOE/STTR Phase II
Role: PI of MUSC subcontract
Funding Period: 6/1/2008 - 2/28/2011