Rita Moyes received her B.S. in Microbiology from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX in 1981 and a Ph.D. in Immunology from Texas A&M University in 1992. Following 4 years of postdoctoral studies at the ARS-USDA facility in College Station, she joined the Biology Department in 1996 and is currently a Lecturer and Microbiology Laboratory Director.

Undergraduate Microbiology

Rita Moyes
Instructional Assistant Professor

3258 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3258

Office:
Biological Sciences Building East
Room 301B
979-862-7485

Fax: 979-845-2891
Email: rita@mail.bio.tamu.edu

The immune system is a defense mechanism that has evolved in vertebrates to protect them from invading pathogens and cancer. The study of the immune system in the context of host - parasite interactions has been the focus of my studies. Generation of an effective immune response involves two major cell types: lymphocytes and antigen presenting cells. Lymphocytes confer the attributes of specificity, diversity, memory, self/nonself recognition to the immune system. Lymphocytes can be divided into two cell types: B cells which are responsible for antibody production and T cells which elaborate cytokines. Cytokines are proteins that regulate the intensity and duration of the immune response by exerting a variety of effects on lymphocytes and other immune cells. This complex network of cells and cell products have numerous mechanisms yet to be characterized.

I am currently involved in the production of monoclonal antibodies to various proteins of interest in the research of the Biology faculty. Using the chicken model, my recent research has focused on the identification and characterization of various cytokines which potentiate the innate immune responses of poultry that effectively prevent organ invasion by Salmonella. Previous studies have involved the use of a mouse tumor model to evaluate various cytokine treatments for tumor reduction. The goal was to reduce cytokine toxicity which is seen with large doses while effectively reducing tumor growth.

I have also studied the human T cell response to Schistosoma mansoni, an intestinal parasite, by utilizing human T cell clones.

Moyes, R.B., M.H. Kogut, R.E. Droleskey, an J.R. DeLoach. 1998. Differential Expression of Adhesion Molecules by Chicken Heterophils Activated in vivo with Salmonella enteritidis-Immune Lymphokines. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 62:83.

Genovese K.J., R.B. Moyes, L.L. Genovese, V.K. Lowry, and M.H. Kogut. 1998. Resistance to Salmonella enteritidis Organ Invasion in Day-old Turkeys and Chickens by Transformed T cell Line Produced Lymphokines. Avian Diseases 42:545-553.

Kogut M.H., V.K. Lowry, R.B. Moyes, L.L. Bowden, R. Bowden, K. Genovese, and J.R. DeLoach. 1998. Lymphokine-Augmented Activation of Avian Heterophils. Poultry Sci. 77(7):964-971.