State of colorado (CO)
John N. SofosColorado State University, Professor
Microbiology, Food Services, Food Safety
john.sofos(at)colostate.edu
http://agnews.colostate.edu/index.asp?page=expert_display&eidirid=1101006 Vasilis Vasiliou
University of Colorado Denver
Professor of Toxicology and Ophthalmology
Environmental Biology, Metabolic Diseases, Cancer, Molecular Genetics, Computational Biology.
Our research is focused on cellular mechanisms against oxidative stress caused by physical agents (e.g., UV radiation), and the metabolism of both endogenous and foreign chemicals. The roles of several aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH3A1, ALDH1A1, ALDH7A1 and ALDH3B1) expressed in tissue-specific manner are currently studied using genetically engineered cell lines and transgenic knockout mouse lines. Genetic factors involved in the alcohol drinking preference and toxicity. Individual differences in alcohol preference are clearly genetically determined, which may translate into a genetic predisposition for alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Specific genes responsible for the increased or decreased susceptibility to alcohol abuse remain largely unknown. Our laboratory studies the role of two aldehyde dehydrogenase genes, ALDH1A1 and ALDH2, two Cytochrome P450 genes (CYP2E1 and CYP1A2), and Catalase as genetic factors associated with alcohol drinking and toxicity. Experimental approaches include transcriptional regulation and generation of transgenic mouse lines having homozygous disruptions of the above genes.
vasilis.vasiliou(at)ucdenver.edu