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Dennis J. Bobilya

Dennis J. Bobilya, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Kendall Hall, Room 411
(603) 862-3496
Email: dbobilya@cisunix.unh.edu

Additional Information:

Further information about Dr. Bobilya and his laboratory can be found at his web site: http://www.unh.edu/ansc/bobilya/index.html.

Educational Background:

Ph.D., University of Missouri, 1989

M.S., Michigan State University, 1985

B.S., Purdue University, 1982

Courses Taught:

Sports Nutrition (NUTR 646); Nutritional Biochemistry (ANSC/NUTR 750/850); Minerals in Nutrition (ANSC/NUTR 910); Vitamins in Nutrition (ANSC/NUTR 912)

General Area of Interest and/or Specialty:

Nutritional biochemistry; sports nutrition; mineral nutrition; transport and function of trace minerals, especially zinc, in cultured cells and research animals.

Description of current research and/or professional activities:

My primary research interests include the cellular transport and metabolism of zinc, the physiological biochemistry of the blood-brain barrier, as well as the nutritional strategies for maximizing athletic performance.
 
Endothelial cells line the blood vessel walls and form a semi-permeable barrier to nutrient exchange between the blood and the surrounding tissues.  Endothelial cells are grown in cell culture in my laboratory to investigate the mechanism(s) and regulation of the cellular transport.  This includes the cultivation of endothelial cells from brain capillaries that are grown into an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB).  Our BBB model is being used to investigate the mechanism(s) and regulation of zinc transport and the mechanisms for maintaining brain zinc homeostasis.  This knowledge can enhance our understanding of the regulation of zinc distribution among tissues, especially during periods of inadequate or excessive intake.  This information will also improve our understanding of zinc’s role in the development of neuropathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
 
Our in vitro model of the BBB is also being used to study other aspects of its anatomy and physiology, including the consequences of thermal injury (heat stress and fever).  We are also investigating strategies for the delivery of pharmaceutical drugs into the brain that would not typically cross the blood-brain barrier, which include novel transport vehicles and opening the BBB transiently to permit the passage of drugs into the brain.
 
My research team is also beginning to investigate the roles of nutrients, including zinc, for their ability to support maximal athletic performance.

Publications:

Bobilya, D.J., Gauthier, N.A., Karki, S., Olley, B.J. and W.K. Thomas.  (2007)  Longitudinal changes in zinc transport kinetics, metallothionein, and zinc transporter expression in a blood-brain barrier model in response to a moderately excessive zinc environment.  J. Nutr. Biochem. In Press.

Jeliazkova-Mecheva, V.V., Hymer, W.C., Nicholas, N.C., and D.J. Bobilya.  (2006)  Brief heat shock affects the permeability and thermotolerance of an in vitro blood-brain barrier model of porcine brain microvascular endothelial cells.  Microvasc. Res. 71: 108-114.

Jeliazkova-Mecheva, V. and D. J. Bobilya. A porcine astrocyte/endothelial cell co-culture model of the blood-brain barrier. Brain Res. Brain Res. Protoc. 12:91-98. (2003).

Heim, K. E., A. R. Tagliaferro, and D. J. Bobilya. Flavonoid antioxidants: Chemistry, metabolism and structure-activity relationships. J. Nutr. Biochem. 13:572-284. (2002).

Lehmann, H. M., B. B. Brothwell, L. P. Volak, and D. J. Bobilya. Zinc status influences zinc transport by porcine brain capillary endothelial cells. J. Nutr. 132:2763-2768. (2002).

Rowe, D. J. and Bobilya, D. J. Albumin facilitates zinc acquisition by endothelial cells. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 2000; 224:178-186.

McClung, J. P. and Bobilya D. J. The influence of zinc status on the kinetics of zinc uptake into cultured endothelial cells. J Nutr 1999; 10:484-489.

Bobilya, D. J., Reynolds, J. T., Faia, K. L., Briske-Anderson, M., Reeves, P. G. Zinc-related metallothionein metabolism in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells. J Nutr Biochem 1999; 20:139-145.

Bobilya, D. J., Guerin, J. L., Rowe, D. J. Zinc transport across an in vitro blood-brain barrier model. J Trace Elem Exp Med 1997; 10:9-18.

Guerin, J. G. and Bobilya, D. J. Hypothalamic extract influences the permeability of a blood-brain barrier model of porcine brain capillary endothelial cells. Neurochem Res 1997; 22:321-326.

Tibaduiza, E. C. and Bobilya, D.J. Zinc transport across an endothelium includes vesicular cotransport with albumin. J Cell Physiol 1996; 167:539-547.

Bobilya, D. J., D'Amour, K., Palmer, A., Skeffington, C., Therrian, N,, Tiabaduiza, E. C. Isolation and cultivation of porcine brain capillary endothelial cells as an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier. Methods Cell Sci 1995; 17:25-32.