Environmental Health Sciences Research Center

EHSRC Investigator Detail

COEC

Paul B. McCray, M.D.
Professor of Pediatrics
Email: paul-mccray@uiowa.edu
Phone: (319) 335-6844
McCray Lab Website
EHSRC Role(s):	Co-Director, Genomics Initiative
	Member, Inflammation and Innate Immunity Research Cluster

Dr. McCray has a long-standing interest in the pathogenesis and treatment of cystic fibrosis. His laboratory has two main areas of investigation: 1) innate mucosal immunity in the lung and how this is altered in disease states, and 2) gene transfer for the treatment of inherited diseases. Studies of the anti-microbial properties (anti-bacterial, anti-viral) of airway surface liquid stimulated an interest in discovering novel proteins and peptides secreted by epithelia. Dr. McCray's lab is currently using genomics and large-scale expression profiling to identify candidate proteins and peptides with host defense functions. These molecules may play a role in airway innate immunity.

Dr. McCray’s interests in airway epithelial cell biology and host defense also underly studies of host-pathogen interactions and disease. Other ongoing studies are investigating interactions between airway epithelia and specific bacterial or viral pathogens (RSV, SARS coronavirus, others) and microbial pattern molecules (e.g. TLR2, TLR4 ligands).

Another area of active investigation is the development of integrating viral vectors for the treatment of inherited diseases. Current projects include gene transfer to airway epithelia for cystic fibrosis and gene transfer to the hepatocytes for the treatment of hemophilia A. The focus of these studies is on the development and optimization of lentivirus- and/or transposon-based vectors. A long-term goal is to develop integrating vector systems with that can be successfully used to treat genetic diseases by gene addition or gene repair.

Recent Publications

Brindley MA, Hughes L, Ruiz A, McCray PB Jr, Sanchez A, Sanders DA, Maury W. Ebola virus glycoprotein 1: identification of residues important for binding and postbinding events. J Virol. 2007 Jul;81(14):7702-9. Epub 2007 May 2.
Flotte TR, Ng P, Dylla DE, McCray PB Jr, Wang G, Kolls JK, Hu J. Viral vector-mediated and cell-based therapies for treatment of cystic fibrosis. Mol Ther. 2007 Feb;15(2):229-41. Review.
Moskwa P, Lorentzen D, Excoffon KJ, Zabner J, McCray PB Jr, Nauseef WM, Dupuy C, Banfi B. A novel host defense system of airways is defective in cystic fibrosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007 Jan 15;175(2):174-83. Epub 2006 Nov 2.
McCray PB Jr, Pewe L, Wohlford-Lenane C, Hickey M, Manzel L, Shi L, Netland J, Jia HP, Halabi C, Sigmund CD, Meyerholz DK, Kirby P, Look DC, Perlman S. Lethal infection of K18-hACE2 mice infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. J Virol. 2007 Jan;81(2):813-21. Epub 2006 Nov 1.
Viriyakosol S, McCray PB, Ashbaugh ME, Chu J, Jia HP, Weiss J, Kirkland TN. Characterization of monoclonal antibodies to human soluble MD-2 protein. Hybridoma (Larchmt). 2006 Dec;25(6):349-57.
Kang Y, Moressi CJ, Scheetz TE, Xie L, Tran DT, Casavant TL, Ak P, Benham CJ, Davidson BL, McCray PB Jr. Integration site choice of a feline immunodeficiency virus vector. J Virol. 2006 Sep;80(17):8820-3.
Meyerholz DK, Grubor B, Lazic T, Gallup JM, de Macedo MM, McCray PB Jr, Ackermann MR. Monocytic/macrophagic pneumonitis after intrabronchial deposition of vascular endothelial growth factor in neonatal lambs. Vet Pathol. 2006 Sep;43(5):689-94.
Starner TD, Zhang N, Kim G, Apicella MA, McCray PB Jr. Haemophilus influenzae forms biofilms on airway epithelia: implications in cystic fibrosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2006 Jul 15;174(2):213-20. Epub 2006 May 4.
Jia HP, Look DC, Hickey M, Shi L, Pewe L, Netland J, Farzan M, Wohlford-Lenane C, Perlman S, McCray PB Jr. Infection of human airway epithelia by SARS coronavirus is associated with ACE2 expression and localization. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2006;581:479-84. Review. No abstract available.