UAH Mass Shooting kills 3

As I write, details are emerging, this event being less than two hours ago.

Apparently, a female faculty opened fire on her colleagues around 4PM at a faculty meeting, wounding 6 and killing 3. Five faculty and 1 staff are reportedly victims. No students were involved.

The female in custody was faculty member whom was denied tenure.

The shooting occurred in Shelby Science Hall, named after Alabama Senator Richard Shelby, and is the newest building on campus.

–UPDATE#1–
1825hours
The alleged shooter is a Harvard PhD graduate. News reports are indicating that the faculty member in custody is well-known nationally. From my information, the only UAH Biology faculty member to have graduated Harvard is Amy Bishop.

Amy Bishop (Biological Sciences) Ph.D. Harvard University
(256) 824-6461
bishopa@uah.edu

–UPDATE#3–
The deceased victims have been identified as Dr. G.K. Podila, Dr. Maria Davis, and Dr. Adriel Johnson. The wounded victims are: Dr. Luis Cruz-Vera, Molecular Biology Professor, Dr. Joe Leahy, Microbiology Professor, and Stephanie Montecello, Staff Assistant.

–UPDATE#2–
Dr. Amy Bishop, Ph.D. Harvard University
Assistant Professor
Department of Biological Sciences 
Office: SC 369N

Phone: 256-824-6461 

E-mail: bishopa@uah.edu
Research Areas

Molecular Biology of Oxidative Stress
Neurobiology
Neuroengineering
Induced Adaptive Resistance

Courses Taught at UAH
BYS 313: Anatomy & Physiology 1

BYS 314: Anatomy & Physiology 2

BYS 400/600: Introduction to Neuroscience

Special Topics 691: Mechanisms of resistance to oxidative stress in the CNS

Special Topics 692: Research

Molecular Biology of Oxidative Stress

I have had a longstanding interest in the free radical gas, nitric oxide (NO), and its role in the central nervous system (CNS). Nitric oxide, originally discovered as an environmental pollutant, is synthesized at physiological levels by many mammalian cells and is utilized for a variety of functions such as signal transduction for cell signaling, for cellular differentiation, and for neurotransmission in learning and memory. At a high flux rate, such as that released by immune cells, or when released out of context in a stressed environment, it has been established that NO is toxic. NO-mediated damage is implicated in the cell death of motor neurons and their support cells, oligodendrocytes, during CNS injury (stroke or spinal transection) and during degenerative disease, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). 



There are many proposed mechanisms and cellular targets of NO damage with the major target being protein. High flux NO can disrupt heme-containing proteins and cause them to release heme into the intracellular environment. This has been proposed to result in iron-mediated generation of reactive nitrogen species, namely peroxynitrite. NO, when combined with other oxidants in the cell, forms peroxynitrite which goes on to nitrate tyrosine residues, thereby disrupting protein structure and function. Nitrotyrosine (3NY) positive aggregates are seen in spinal injury and are found in the motor neurons of ALS patients and in the plaques seen in MS patients. Due to my research, and that of others, nitrotyrosine (3NY) is now regarded as a quantifiable marker for NO-mediated damage in the CNS. 



Induced Adaptive Resistance

Nitric oxide released at physiological levels plays a variety of beneficial roles, while at high doses or during pathological circumstances NO becomes toxic. I have proposed that normal cellular resistance mechanisms are defective, in the case of CNS disease, or overwhelmed, in the case of CNS injury. Is it possible that these normal resistance mechanisms can be “primed” against oxidative insult by a pretreatment dose of a lower concentration of that oxidant? Specifically, I have asked if a low dose of NO can prepare a cell for subsequent toxic challenge of NO or other oxidants. In fact, I have discovered that cells pretreated with low levels of NO become resistant to toxic levels of NO and other oxidants. This phenomenon, Induced Adaptive Resistance (IAR), is dependent on hemoxygenase1 (HO1), a heme-metabolizing enzyme. 


Neuroengineering
My laboratory’s goal will be to continue in our effort to develop a neural computer, the Neuristor™, using living neurons. This computer will exploit all of the advantages of neurons. Specifically, neurons rich with the nitric oxide (NO) dependent learning receptor, N Methyl D Aspartate receptor (NMDAR), will be utilized. These have previously been studied in the context of induced adaptive resistance to NO (IAR). For the Neuristor™ we will take advantage of the IAR phenomena since it has been demonstrated that IAR neurons express more learning and memory receptors (NMDAR) as well as increased neurite outgrowth. The neurons that we are currently using are mammalian motor neurons. We are exploring the possibility of using neurons derived from adult stem cells, and from bony fishes provided by Bruce Stallsmith Ph.D. This laboratory has created a portable cell culture incubator, the Cell Drive™ that is an ideal support structure for the Neuristor™.

Most Recent Publications
Anderson, L. B., Anderson P. B., Anderson T. B., Bishop A., Anderson J., Effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on motor neuron survival (2009) International Journal of General Medicine. In press 



Bishop A., Green-Hobbs K., Eguchi A., Pennie C., Anderson J.E., Estévez A. Differential sensitivity of oligodendrocytes and motor neurons to reactive nitrogen species: a new paradigm for the etiology of Multiple Sclerosis (2009). Journal of Neurochemistry. (109) 93-104. 



Bishop A, Gooch R, Green-Hobbs K, Cashman N. R., Demple B., Anderson J. E., Estévez A.,. Mitigation of nitrotyrosine formation in motor neurons adapted to nitrooxidative stress. (2009) Journal of Neurochemistry. (109) 74-84. 



Bishop A., Gooch R., Anderson J., Induced Adaptive Resistance to Nitrooxidative Stress in the CNS: Therapeutic Implications (2006) Current Medicinal Chemistry – Central Nervous System Agents 6(4). 



Bishop A. & Anderson J. (2005). NO signaling in the CNS: From the Physiological to the Pathological. TOXICOLOGY (208):193-205.



Amy Bishop, Shaw Fung-Yet, Mark J. Perrella, Arthur M. Lee, Neil R. Cashman & Bruce Demple (2004) A key role for heme oxygenase-1 in nitric oxide resistance in murine motor neurons and glia. BBRC 325:3-9. 



Amy Bishop, Neil R. Cashman. (2003) Induced adaptive resistance to oxidative stress in the CNS: Discussion of possible mechanisms and their therapeutic potential. Current Drug Metabolism 4(2) 171-184.



- Complete List of Publications
PUBLICATIONS, ABSTRACTS, & PRESENTATIONS
Publications

Anderson, L. B., Anderson P. B., Anderson T. B., Bishop A., Anderson J., Effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on motor neuron survival (2009) International Journal of General Medicine. In press



Bishop A., Green-Hobbs K., Eguchi A., Pennie C., Anderson J.E., Estévez A. Differential sensitivity of oligodendrocytes and motor neurons to reactive nitrogen species: a new paradigm for the etiology of Multiple Sclerosis (2009). Journal of Neurochemistry. (109) 93-104. [PDF]



Bishop A, Gooch R, Green-Hobbs K, Cashman N. R., Demple B., Anderson J. E., Estévez A.,. Mitigation of nitrotyrosine formation in motor neurons adapted to nitrooxidative stress. (2009) Journal of Neurochemistry. (109) 74-84. [PDF] 



Bishop A., Gooch R., Anderson J., Induced Adaptive Resistance to Nitrooxidative Stress in the CNS: Therapeutic Implications (2006) Current Medicinal Chemistry – Central Nervous System Agents 6(4). [PDF] 



Bishop A. & Anderson J. (2005). NO signaling in the CNS: From the Physiological to the Pathological. TOXICOLOGY (208):193-205. [PDF] 



Amy Bishop, Shaw Fung-Yet, Mark J. Perrella, Arthur M. Lee, Neil R. Cashman & Bruce Demple (2004) A key role for heme oxygenase-1 in nitric oxide resistance in murine motor neurons and glia. BBRC 325:3-9. [PDF] 



Amy Bishop, Neil R. Cashman. (2003) Induced adaptive resistance to oxidative stress in the CNS: Discussion of possible mechanisms and their therapeutic potential. Current Drug Metabolism 4(2) 171-184. [PDF] 



Amy Bishop, John C. Marquis, Neil R. Cashman, and Bruce Demple (1999) Adaptive resistance to nitric oxide in motor neurons. Free Radical Biology & Medicine 26(7/8) 978-986. [PDF] 



Bishop A., Wolf J. H., Cittadini A., Travers K., Morgan J. P. (1998) Increased responsiveness to epinephrine and decreased cAMP levels in skeletal muscle of rats with chronic heart failure. Annals of the New York Academy of Science 853: 209-219. 



Bishop A., Paz M. A., Karnovsky M. L., Gallop P. M.(1998) Methoxatin (PQQ) in mammalian systems. Nutrition Reviews 56(10) 287-293. 



Grossman J. D., Bishop A., Travers K., Perrault C., Woolf T., Hampton T., Kasgado-Flores, Gonzalez-Serratos H., Morgan J. P.(1996) Deficient cellular cyclic AMP may cause both cardiac and skeletal muscle dysfunction in heart failure. Journal of Cardiac Failure. 2(4) 5105-51011. 



Bishop A., Paz M. A.,Gallop P. M., Karnovsky M. L. (1995) Inhibition of redox cycling of methoxatin (PQQ), and of superoxide release by phagocytic white cells. Free Radical Biology and Medicine 18: 617-620. 



Bishop A., Paz M. A., Gallop P. M., Karnovsky M. L.(1994) Methoxatin (PQQ) in guinea-pig neutrophils. Free Radical Biology & Medicine 17(4) 311-320. 



Karnovsky M. L., Bishop A., Camerero V. C.P.C., Paz M. A., Colepicolo P., Ribiero J. M. C. and Gallop P. M.(1994) Aspects of the release of superoxide by leukocytes and the means by which this is switched off. Environmental Health Perspectives 102(10) 43-44. 



Fluckiger R., Paz M. A., Mah J., Bishop A. and Gallop P. M. (1993) Characterization of the glycine-dependent redox-cycling activity in animal fluids and tissues using specific inhibitors and activators: evidence for presence of PQQ. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 196 61-68. 



Gallop P. M., Paz M. A., Fluckiger R., Bishop A. and Henson E.(1992) Is the Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Putative New Vitamin, PQQ, Involved with Nitric Oxide in Bone Metabolism? Chemistry and Biology of Mineralized Tissues pp 29-38.



Abstracts and Presentations

Anderson, L. B., Anderson P. B., Anderson T. B., Bishop A., Anderson J., Effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on motor neuron survival. Society for Neuroscience 2008. Washington D.C. [POSTER-PDF] 



Eguchi A., Hobbs K. G., Pennie C., Anderson J, Bishop A., (2008) Understanding Nitric Oxide Resistance in Motor Neurons and Oligodendrocytes: Implications for Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Society for Neuroscience 2008., Washington D.C. [POSTER-PDF] 



Amy Bishop, Kimberly Green-Hobbs, Asuka Eguchi, Cedona Pennie, Enrique Sosa and James Anderson (2007) Nitric Oxide (NO) Resistance in Motor Neurons and Oligodendrocytes: Implications for ALS and MS. Society for Neuroscience 2007, San Diego, CA. [POSTER-PDF]



Sosa E., Howard R. E., Eguchi A., Stallsmith B., Bishop A. (2007) Sexual Dimorphic patterns of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in the CNS of Lythrus Fasciloris. (Scarlet Shiners) Society for Neuroscience 2007, San Diego, CA 



Bishop A., Gooch R., Cashman N. R., Demple B., (2006) Mitigation of peroxynitrite-mediated NO toxicity as a possible mechanism of induced adaptive resistance. Society for Neuroscience 2006 Meeting, Atlanta, GA



Green Hobbs K., Gooch R., Anderson J., and Bishop A., (2006) NO-mediated Toxicity in Motor Neurons and Oligodendrocytes: Elucidation of Mechanisms for MS Pathology. Society for Neuroscience 2006 Meeting, Atlanta GA.



Green Hobbs K. and Bishop A. (April 2-3, 2006) Differential Nitric Oxide (NO) Sensitivity in Motor Neurons and Oligodendrocytes: Implication for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). National Science Foundation/Alabama LSAMP/BD Conference Auburn University, Auburn, AL. (First Prize)



Green Hobbs K. and Bishop A. (March 31, 2006) Differential Nitric Oxide (NO) Sensitivity in Motor Neurons and Oligodendrocytes: Implication for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Sigma Xi Research Day, Huntsville AL. (First Prize) 



Green Hobbs K. and Bishop A. (March 15-19, 2006) Nitric Oxide Sensitivity on Motor Neurons: Comparison between Differentiated and less Differentiated Cells. 18th Annual National Black Graduate Student Conference Las Vegas, NV. March 15-19, 2006.



Green-Hobbs K., Anderson J., and Bishop A. (2005) Differential Nitric Oxide (NO) Sensitivity in Motor Neurons and Oligodendrocytes: Implication for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). International Society for Neuroscience 2005, Washington D.C. [POSTER-PDF] 



Chodimella R., Anderson J., Hong Y., Bishop A., (2005) Nitric oxide sensitivity and differentiation status in motor neurons. International Society for Neuroscience 2005, Washington D.C. 



Gooch R., Anderson J., Cashman N. R., Demple B, Bishop A. (2005) A possible mechanism of induced adaptive resistance in motor neurons: implications for CNS injury and disease. International Society for Neuroscience 2005, Washington D.C.[POSTER-PDF] 



Anderson J., Holmes T., Perella, M., Demple B., Bishop A. (2005) A possible Mechanisms of nitric oxide resistance in motor neurons. (2005) Young Faculty Research Proceedings, University of Alabama in Huntsville



Nicholas N.,, Holmes T., Bridge K., Cashman N. R., Anderson J., Bishop A.. (September 2004) Homeland Security Alert: NO is a Free Radical and Weapon of Mass Destruction! Partners for Biotechnology Research Conference, Monte Sano Mt. Conference Center, Huntsville, AL. 



Holmes T., Cashman N. R., Bishop A.. (September 2004) Just Say NO! The role of NO in differentiation of oligodendrocytes. Partners for Biotechnology Research Conference, Monte Sano Mt. Conference Center, Huntsville, AL. 



Nicholas N., Bridge K, Cashman N. R. and Bishop A. (September 2004) NO, NMDAR, AchR, NMJ and other letters brought to you by Bishop’s Alphabet Soup. Partners for Biotechnology Research Conference, Monte Sano Mt. Conference Center, Huntsville, AL.



Bishop A. Adaptive resistance to nitric oxide in the CNS. (October 23, 2003) Invited Speaker, Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA). 



Bishop A. Adaptive resistance to nitric oxide in the CNS. (March, 2003) Invited Speaker, University of Alabama at Huntsville. 



Bishop A. Adaptive resistance to nitric oxide in the CNS. (October, 2002) Invited Speaker, Department of Cardiovascular Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.



Bishop A. Adaptive resistance to nitric oxide in the CNS. (October, 2002) Invited Speaker, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University. 



Bishop A. Adaptive resistance to nitric oxide in the CNS. (2002) Invited Speaker, Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts at Boston. 



Bishop A. Adaptive resistance to nitric oxide in the CNS. (February, 2002) Invited Speaker, The Boston Area Neuroscience Group. 



Bishop A. Adaptive Resistance to Nitric Oxide in Motor Neurons. (February, 2002) Invited Speaker, Neuroscience Seminar Series, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital. 



Bishop A. Adaptive Resistance to Nitric Oxide in Motor Neurons. (February, 2000) Symposium on Nitric Oxide, The Boston Area Neuroscience Group. 



Bishop A. (May, 1999) Adaptive resistance to nitric oxide in motor neurons. Symposium on Nitric Oxide The New England Free Radical/Oxygen Society.



Bishop A., Marquis J. C., Cashman N. R., Demple B. (November 7-12, 1998), Adaptive Resistance to Nitric Oxide in Motor Neurons. Seminar International Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting 1998. 



Bishop A., Demple B.. (July 20-26, 1997) Nitric oxide induction of heme oxygenase 1 in a mouse motor neuron cell line. J. Neurochemistry 69 suppl. (S184D). Joint Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry & the American Society for Neurochemistry. 



Bishop A., Marquis J. C., Demple B. (March 26, 1997) Adaptive response to nitric oxide in a mouse motor neuron cell line, NSC34. Minisymposium on Oxidants and Signal Transduction, The New England Free Radical/ Oxygen Society. 



Grossman J. D., Bishop A., Douglas PS, Katz SE, Perreault CL, Gonzalez-Serratos H., Morgan JP. (November 13-16, 1995) Deficient cellular cyclic AMP may cause skeletal and cardiac muscle dysfunction in heart failure. Circulation. 1995:92 (Suppl I):I-385. 68th Scientific Sessions American Heart Association. 



Bishop A., Grossman J. D., Gonzalez-Serratos H. and Morgan J. P. (September 6-9, 1995) Effect of cAMP on skeletal muscle isolated from rats with chronic heart failure. J General Physiology 1995:105;20A. The 49th Annual Meeting of the Society of General Physiologists. 



Paz M. A., Fluckiger R., Mah J., Bishop A. and Stang P. A. (May 22-27, 1994) The PQQ: AntiPQQ system and the regulation of cytosolic and mitochondria process. 3rd Meeting on PQQ and Quinoproteins. 



Karnovsky M. L., Bishop A., Camerero V. C.P.C., Paz M. A., Colepicolo P., Ribiero J. M.C. and Gallop P. M. (1993) Aspects of the release of superoxide by leukocytes and means by which this is switched off. Meeting of Oxygen Radicals and Lung Injury. 



Bishop A., Paz M. A., Karnovsky M. L., Gallop P. M. (July 6-10, 1992) PQQ’s regulation of superoxide production in activated neutrophils. Poster Gordon Conference on “Redox active amino acid cofactors”.