California State University, Fullerton
California, B.S. in Chemistry, 1973-1978
California State University,
Fullerton, California, M.S. in Chemistry
(emphasis in Biochemistry), 1979-1980; Post-graduate Research Student
University of California at Riverside - Ph.D.
in Biochemistry, 1981-1986; Post-graduate Research Student
Identifying the pharmacological activity of bioactive peptides is an active area of research and one that has already shown promise in the medicinal field, with discoveries of antitumoral, antiviral, antifungal, and antimicrobial peptides. We are presently involved in identifying and characterizing a bioactive peptide which stimulates the immune system.
Animal models have been developed which show that, although the peptide does not possess bactericidal or viricidal activity, it is able to significantly improve the survival of mice infected with Salmonella typhimurium and chickens infected with Pasteurella multocida. The peptide has also been shown to be effective as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of canine parvovirus and equine lower respiratory disorder.
Current studies are focusing on the ability of the immunomodulator to decrease tumor load in mice challenged with B16 lung melanoma, and the elucidation of the immune response precipitated by the peptide.
Parker, T.A., Willeford, K.O., Pharr, G.T., Hebert, P., Pruett, S.B., and Wu, S. 2005. An innate immune regulatory factor ((IIRF) prevents tumorogenesis in a Murine melanoma challenge model. Drug Dev. Res. 64: 213-219.
Parker, T.A., Branton, S.L., Jones, M.S., Peebles, E.D., Gerard, P.D., Willeford, K.O., Burnham, M.R., and Maslin, W.R. 2002. Effects of an S6 strain Mycoplasma gallisepticum challenge before beginning of lay on various egg characteristics in commercial layers. Avian Disease. 46:593-597.
Parker, T.A., Willeford, K.O., Parker, S., and Buddington, K. 2002. Reducing mortality in Salmonella typhimurium infected mice with a caprine serum fraction. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 46(6):1971-1973.
Hamm, D., Willeford, K.O., White, G., and Reed, S.M. 2002. Caprine Serum Fraction Immunomodulator as supplemental treatment of lower respiratory disease in the horse. Equine Veterinary Journal, 34(1):71-75.
Willeford, K.O., Parker, T.A., Pharr, G.T., and Buddington, K. 2001. Prophylactic effects of a caprine serum factor (CSF-I) in mice infected with Salmonella typhimurium. Drug Development Research, 54:45-51.
Oppenheimer, S.F., Kingery, W.L., Willeford, K.O., and Han, F.X. 2001. A quadrature technique for reaction rate identification. NonLinear Analysis, 2:135-144
Willeford, K.O., Parker, T.A., Peebles, E.D., Wang, C, and Jones, E.W. 2000. Reduction of mortality in specified-pathogen-free layer chickens by a caprine serum fraction after infection with Pasteurella multocida. Poultry Science, 79:1424-429.
Brommer, C.L., Shaw. D.R., Duke, S.O., Reddy, K.N., and Willeford, K.O. 2000. Antagonism of BAS 625 by Selected Broadleaf herbicides and the Role of Ethanol. Weed Sci. 48, 181-187.
Willeford, K.O., Miller, W.W., Abrams, K.L., and Vaughn, B.M. 1998. Modulation of proteolytic activity associated with persistent corneal erosions in dogs. Vet. Ophthalmol. 1, 5-8.
Willeford, K.O. and Parker, T.A. 1998. Phosphorylation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase from Crassula argentea. J. Agric. Food Chem. 46, 4218 - 4223.
Willeford, K.O. Parker, T.A., and Diehl, S.V. 1998. Efficacy of phloxine B as a bactericidal agent in plants. J. Agric. Food Chem.46, 1637-1641.
Phone: (662) 325-2640
Fax: (662) 325-8664
Internet:
kowmsu@Ra.MsState.edu
