Brian Rafferty
Assistant Professor
Deputy Chairperson
Science
EMAIL: brafferty@bmcc.cuny.edu
Office: N-684
Office Hours:
Phone: +1 (212) 220-8000;ext=1252
Expertise
Degrees
- Bachelors of Science in Biology
- SUNY Binghamton 2003
- Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Cell and Molecular Biology
- SUNY Binghamton 2008
Courses Taught
- General Biology presents an overview of many important topics in the natural sciences today and provides relevant background material from the physical sciences. It traces life from its beginning (cells) to the development of multi-cellular organisms. It covers topics such as evolution, the cell, macromolecules, energy relationships, inheritance, molecular genetics, biotechnology, and body systems.
Corequisite: BIO 109
Course Syllabus - General Biology presents an overview of many important topics in the natural sciences today and provides relevant background material from the physical sciences. It traces life from its beginning (cells) to the development of multi-cellular organisms. It covers topics such as taxonomy, the cell, macromolecules, photosynthesis, inheritance, molecular genetics, and body systems. This class includes a 1 hour lecture and a 2 hour lab session. The lecture hour will be an expansion of the lecture content covered in the co-requisite class BIO 108 - information needed to carry out experiments in the 2 hour hands-on laboratory experience.
Corequisite: BIO 108
Course Syllabus - This two-semester course acquaints students with the basic properties of living systems: metabolism, growth, responsiveness and reproduction at the cellular and organism levels as illustrated by assorted plants and animals. Two terms required.
Corequisite for BIO 210 is ENG 101 and any 100-level math course or higher, excluding MAT 150.5 and MAT 161.5
Prerequisite for BIO 220 is BIO 210 and any 100-level math course or higher, excluding MAT 150.5 and MAT 161.5
Course Syllabus - This two-semester course acquaints students with the basic properties of living systems: metabolism, growth, responsiveness and reproduction at the cellular and organism levels as illustrated by assorted plants and animals. Two terms required.
Course Syllabus
Research and Projects
- The overarching theme of my research is to examine the role of natural extracts on regulation of inflammatory processes in various human cell lines through the use of various cell and molecule methodologies.
- One aspect of my research looks at how these extracts influence the pro-inflammatory signals, specifically IL-1, known to be present in chronic inflammatory conditions such as Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
- Another avenue we investigate is the role extracts play in the interaction between the pathogenic oral bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and various types of cells found in the oral cavity.
Publications
R. Piszczatowski, B. Rafferty, A. Rozado, J. Parziale and N. Lents. Myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF-1) regulated expression of the CCN2/CTGF and CCN3/NOV genes in the hematopoietic compartment. 2015. J Cell Physio. 230:2634-2639.
R. Piszczatowski, B. Rafferty, A. Rozado, S. Tobak and N. Lents. The glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (GAPDH) is regulated by myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF-1) and is induced by calcitriol. 2014. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 451:137-141.
B. Rafferty, B. Unger, A. Perey, S. Tammariello, S. Pavlides and D. McGee. A novel role for the Rho Associated Kinase, ROCK, in IL-1 stimulated intestinal epithelial cell responses. 2013. Cell Immunol. 280:148-155.
A. Pollreisz, B. Rafferty, E. Kozarov and E. Lalla. Klebsiella pneumoniaeinduces an inflammatory response in human retinal-pigmented epithelial cell. 2012. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 418: 33-37.
B. Rafferty, D. Jönsson, S. Kalachikov, R. Demmer, R. Nowygrod, H. Bush, Jr., M.S.V. Elkind and E. Kozarov. Impact of monocytic cells on recovery of uncultivable bacteria from atherosclerotic lesions. 2011. J Intern Med. 270: 273-280.
S. Dolgilevich, B. Rafferty, D. Luchinskaya and E. Kozarov. Genomic comparison of invasive and rare non-invasive strains reveals P. gingivalisgenetic polymorphisms. 2011. J. Oral Microbiology. 3:5764.
B. Rafferty, S. Dolgilevich, S. Kalachikov, I. Morozova, J. Ju, Susan Whittier, R. Nowygrod, and E. Kozarov. Cultivation of Enterobacter hormaecheifrom human atherosclerotic tissue. 2011. J Atheroscler Thromb. 18:72-81.
B. Rafferty, G. Li, and D.W. McGee. Activation of the α3 integrin affects TRAF6 function in the IL-1 signaling pathway of Caco-2 epithelial cells. 2010. Immunol Invest. 39:1-10.
