Sharon Stranford

Professor of Biology; Faculty Co-Director, Institute for Inclusive Excellence
With 6VµçÓ°Íø Since: 2013
  • Expertise

    Expertise

    Biologist Sharon Stranford studies factors that influence the development of acquired immune deficiency. She and the undergraduate students who work in her research lab employ a mouse model of AIDS (MAIDS) in which some strains of mice develop immune deficiency following exposure to Murine Leukemia Virus (MuLV). This allows them to compare the early immune response patterns of MAIDS-susceptible and MAIDS-resistant mice for clues to immune pathways that bias towards resolution versus immunodeficiency. This is done using a combination of techniques, including comparative gene expression, flow cytometric analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and fluorescence microscopy. 

    Research Interests

    Immunologic correlates to protection from retroviral infection and disease progression

    Areas of Expertise

    BIOLOGY

    • Immunology
    • Infectious Disease
    • Genetics
    • Cell and Molecular Biology
  • Work

    Work

    Owen, J., J. Punt and S. A. Stranford. Kuby Immunology, 7th edition. NY: W.H. Freeman & Worth, 2013

    Stranford, S. A. and N. H. Ruddle. 2012. Follicular dendritic cells, conduits, lymphatic vessels, and high endothelial venules in tertiary lymphoid organs: Parallels with lymph node stroma. Frontiers in Immunology. 3:350.

    Bentley, K. L., S. A. Stranford, S. Liao, R. Mounzer, F. H. Ruddle, and N. H. Ruddle. 2011. High Endothelial Venule Reporter Mice to Probe Regulation of Lymph Node Vasculature. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. 691:35-44.

    Tepsuporn, S.*, J. Horwitt, G. W. Cobb and S.A. Stranford. 2008. MAIDS resistance-associated gene expression patterns in secondary lymphoid organs. Immunogenetics. 60:485-494.

    Wong, W., J.S. Billing, S.A. Stranford, K. Hyde, J. Fry, P.J. Morris, and K.J. Wood. 2003. Retroviral transfer of donor MHC Class I or Class II genes into recipient bone marrow cells can induce operational tolerance to alloantigens in vivo. Human Gene Therapy. 14:577-590.

    Skurnick, J., P. Palumbo, A. DeVico, B Shacklett, F. Valentine, M. Merges, R. Kamin-Lewis, J. Mestecky, T. Denny, G. Lewis, J. Lloyd, R. Praschunus, A. Baker, D. Nixon, S. Stranford, R. Gallo, S. Vermund and D. Louria. 2002. Correlates of non-transmission in United States women at high risk of HIV-1 infection through sexual exposure. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 185:428-438.

    Ghanekar, S., S.A. Stranford, J. Ong*, J. Walker, V. Maino and J. Levy. 2001. Decreased HIV- specific CD4 T cell proliferation in long-term HIV-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy. AIDS. Sep 28; 15 (14):1885-7.

  • Education

    Education

    Ph.D.
    Drexel University

    Bachelor of Arts
    Arcadia University

    Recent Courses Taught

    • Immunology
    • Immunology Lab
  • Awards & Honors

    Awards & Honors

    Four College Biomath Consortium (contributor, participant & steering com.), $1 million awarded to Smith in collaboration with the 4 colleges for joint faculty-student projects, 2011-16

    National Institutes of Health, R15 AREA Research Grant at Mount Holyoke College, Principal Investigator, $224,356 MAIDS Resistance-Associated Gene Expression in Secondary Lymphoid Organs, 2009-12

    Collaborator in the preparation of the Alden Trust Grant for Microscopy Equipment, $200,000, 2007-08

    National Science Foundation, MRI Grant at Mount Holyoke College, Principal Investigator, $186,375 Acquisition of Genomics Instrumentation at Mount Holyoke College, 2005-07

    National Institutes of Health, R15 AREA Research Grant at Mount Holyoke College, Principal Investigator, $227,613 CD8+ Cell-mediated Antiviral Immune Responses to Murine Leukemia Virus, 2005-09

    National Institutes of Health, R15 AREA Research Grant at Mount Holyoke College, Principal Investigator, $153,332 CD8+ Cell-mediated Antiviral Immune Responses to Murine Leukemia Virus, 2001-05

    National Institutes of Health, Multisite Program Project at UCSF, Co-Investigator, $800,000 Pathogenesis of Acute HIV Infection, 1997-02