Rose Mage, Ph.D.

Molecular Immunogenetics Section

Rose Mage, Ph.D.

Former Chief, Molecular Immunogenetics Section
 

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Portrait of Rose Mage

Major Areas of Research

  • The rabbit as animal model for studies of human diseases
  • Rabbit whole genome sequence and genes of immunological interest

Program Description

Dr. Mage studies the rabbit as an animal model for studies of human diseases, specifically in the areas of comparative genomics and evolution, focusing on the rabbit whole genome sequence and genes of immunological interest. Dr. Mage also facilitates and contributes to annotation of the rabbit genome sequence and continues to oversee expansion and updating of information on the websites maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) on Rabbit Genome Resources and by NIAID on The Rabbit in Immunology & Infectious Disease Research.

The genetics, organization, and evolution of rabbit immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes, their allotypes and isotypes, are also a focus of Dr. Mage’s research, as are molecular mechanisms of recombination and gene conversion (their relationship to evolutionary and developmental events that alter genes of the immune system).

Dr. Mage also examines the structure of immunoglobulins, specifically the chemical and genetic basis of their diversity and specificity as antibodies and of their antigenic determinants. She analyzes the diversified rabbit VDJ and VLJL sequences of antibodies engineered for basic research, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic applications, including sequences that constitute broadly neutralizing anti-HIV antibodies in a variety of collaborative studies. She also analyzes selected antibody sequences to reveal the molecular basis for the antibodies’ specificities.

Biography

Memberships

  • American Society for Microbiology (Emerita)
  • Sigma Xi
  • American Association of Immunologists (Emerita)
  • Canadian Society for Immunology
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science (Fellow)
  • New York Academy of Science

Advisory/Review Boards (prior service)

  • NIAID Research Contract Approval Group
  • ASM Immunology Division
  • AAI Representative to American Type Culture Collection
  • Executive Committee of the ATCC Board of Directors
  • Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (NIH)

Editorial Boards

Past

  • Federation Proceedings
  • Immunochemistry
  • Allergy and Immunology Study Section
  • Journal of Immunology
  • Journal of Immunological Methods

Current

  • Immunogenetics

Special Interest Groups

  • Immunology
  • Structural Biology
  • Genetics

 

Selected Publications

Yang J, Pospisil R, Mage RG. Expression and localization of rabbit B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and its specific receptor BR3 in cells and tissues of the rabbit immune system. Dev Comp Immunol. 2009 May;33(5):697-708.

Puliyath N, Ray S, Milton J, Mage RG. Genetic contributions to the autoantibody profile in a rabbit model of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2008 Oct 15;125(3-4):251-67.

Hofer T, Tangkeangsirisin W, Kennedy MG, Mage RG, Raiker SJ, Venkatesh K, Lee H, Giger RJ, Rader C. Chimeric rabbit/human Fab and IgG specific for members of the Nogo-66 receptor family selected for species cross-reactivity with an improved phage display vector. J Immunol Methods. 2007 Jan 10;318(1-2):75-87.

Sinha RK, Yang G, Alexander C, Mage RG. De novo expression of MECA-79 glycoprotein-determinant on developing B lymphocytes in gut-associated lymphoid tissues. Immunology 2006 Dec;119(4):461-9.

Mage RG, Lanning D, Knight KL. B cell and antibody repertoire development in rabbits: the requirement of gut-associated lymphoid tissues. Dev Comp Immunol. 2006;30(1-2):137-53.

Yang G, Obiakor H, Sinha RK, Newman BA, Hood BL, Conrads TP, Veenstra TD, Mage RG. Activation-induced deaminase cloning, localization, and protein extraction from young VH-mutant rabbit appendix. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Nov 22;102(47):17083-8.

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