Glen N. Gaulton, Ph.D.
Executive Vice Dean and Chief Scientific Officer

Microbiology, Virology and Parasitology Program

Address

354 Biomedical Rsch Bldg II/III (Office)
349 Biomedical Rsch Bldg II/III (Lab)
421 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160

Office tel.: 215 898-2875, 2874
Lab tel.: 215 573-9845
Fax: 215 573-7945
E-mail: gaulton@mail.med.upenn.edu

Links

Office of the Executive Vice Dean and Chief Scientific Officer

Education

University of California, Santa Barbara: BS (Biology, honors), 1974.

University of California, Santa Barbara: MS (Biochemistry/Molecular Biology), 1977.

University of California, Santa Barbara: PhD (Biochemistry/Molecular Biology), 1981.

Research Interests

• Lymphocyte development and retroviral pathology.

Key words: Lymphocyte Development, Retrovirus Pathology, HIV-1, Gene Therapy.

Search PubMed for articles

Description of Research

The interests of the Gaulton laboratory focus on an increased understanding of the molecular processes that regulate the development and pathogenesis of T lymphocytes. The selection and clonal expansion of T lymphocytes is an essential component in both the development of protective immunity and the coordinate preservation of immunologic tolerance. The laboratory has defined processes fundamental to development of the human thymus. This includes definition of the functions of stromal and thymocyte elements in thymocyte selection and differentiation. We have developed exciting gene therapy techniques for analysis of normal thymic cell function, as well as to study the experimental manipulation of function to repair genetic defects and to combat autoimmunity. This work includes analysis of naturally occurring mutations, which result in X-linked severe combined immunodeficiencies.

The laboratory has also investigated the effects of human and murine retrovirus within the developing thymus and CNS. Recent results have identified the in vivo ablation of thymocyte development in HIV-1 infected neonates, and have established human thymic organ culture for ex vivo infection studies. The long-term goal of these studies is to repair HIV-1 defects within the thymus. We have also investigated the pathology of HIV and murine retroviruses for cell fusion and entry to immunologically privileged sites such as the CNS.

Recent Publications

Landers, CM., Dugger, N., Quadros, M., Hoffman, P. M., and Gaulton, GN. 2004. Neuropathogenic murine leukemia virus TR1.3 induces selective syncytia formation of brain capillary endothelium. Virol. 321: 57-64.

Murphy, SL, Honczarenko, MJ, Dugger, NV, Hoffman, PM and Gaulton, GN. 2004. Disparate regions of envelope protein regulate syncytium formation versus spongiform encephalopathy in neurological disease induced by murine leukemia virus TR. J. Virol. 78: 8392-8399.

Levinson AI, Song D, Gaulton GN, and Zheng. 2005. The intrathymic pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis. Clin Dev. Immunol. 11: 215-220.

Lin G., Murphy, SL, Gaulton GN, and Hoxie JA. 2005. Modification of a viral envelope glycoprotein cell-cell fusion assay by utilizing plasmid encoded bacteriophage RNA polymerase. J Virol. Methods. 128: 135-142.

Murphy, SL, Landers, CM, Honczarenko, MJ and Gaulton, GN. 2006. Linkage of reduced receptor affinity and superinfection to pathogenesis of TR1.3 murine leukemia virus. J. Virol. 80: 4601-4609.

Lab personnel: