Research Interests / Areas of Expertise:
Research: Assessment of innate immunity of respiratory epithelia against RSV and microbial infection preterm includes determining the: 1) mechanistic basis by which preterm birth and preterm intrauterine stresses (nutrition, environmental toxins) may alter expression of key innate immune genes (defensins, cathelicidins, surfactant proteins A and D), 2) extent to which these alterations enhance susceptibility to RSV infection, 3) conditions/treatments (vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF), retinoids) that enhance innate immune expression by respiratory epithelia, and 4) identification of novel/newly discovered human genes and their ovine orthologs that have anti-RSV activity. Studies are completed in preterm/neonatal lamb model in vivo and cultured ovine and human bronchiolar cells in vitro. Graduate training encompasses training and preparation in veterinary pathology as a clinical specialty.

Teaching: Graduate level cellular and molecular pathology related to the mechanistic basis of cell injury and carcinogenesis, training of veterinary pathologists with Board-eligibility, and undergraduate general pathology.

Service: Surgical biopsy and necropsy of domestic animal species with emphasis on companion animals. Also, consultant diagnostic pathologist, Antech Diagnostics, Inc. (2003-present).

Research Funding:
The Ackermann laboratory has been funded by competitive federal grants since 1997.  This includes three competitive federal USDA/CSREES/NRI/CGP (1997, 1999, 2002), a five-year NIH R01 (NIAID) $2.3 million grant (2005-2010), and two NIH K08 grants (NIAID).  Dr. Ackermann is also recipient of the J.G. Salsbury Endowment funds (2001-2004 and renewed 2005-2007).

Education & Certifications:
D.V.M.: Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, 1986.
Ph.D.: Veterinary Pathology, Iowa State University, 1989.
Diplomate: American College of Veterinary Pathologists, 1990.

Teaching:
General Pathology – VPTH 372
Cellular & Molecular Pathology I – V PTH 655: Molecular Mechanisms of cell injury
Cellular & Molecular Pathology I – V PTH 656: Molecular Mechanisms of cancer
Histopathology seminar – VPTH 604: Surgical biopsy
Gross pathology (Necropsy)– VPTH 551: post-mortem
Diagnostic Interpretation – VPTH 606: Diagnostic examination
Current Topics Seminar – VPTH 605: Research seminar
Graduate Research – VPTH 699
Systemic Pathology – VPTH 570 and 571: Respiratory and lymphoid systems
Toxicology – TOX 501: Response of cells to injury

PhD Studies and Specialty Training in the Discipline of Veterinary Pathology:
Dr. Ackermann has a special emphasis to train veterinarians who seek both a PhD degree and board-certification by the Amercian College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP).  Dr. Ackermann is a Diplomate of the ACVP and has trained or help trained a number of veterinary pathologists.  Dr. Ackermann served on the ACVP examination committee in 2005. 

PhD Studies.
Dr. Ackermann has served as Major Professor to the successful completion of the PhD degree for 11 students since 1996 and currently has four PhD candidates in training. 

PhD graduates:
Drs. Ingrid Priumboom, Amanda Fales-Williams, Zaher Radi, Rafael Romero-Ramirez, Bruce Thomsen, Tim Morgan, Thanawongnuwech Roongroje, Jason Huntley, David Meyerholz, Branka Grubor

Current PhD candidates:
Drs. Tanja Lazic, Alicia Olivier, William Stoffregen, and Rachel Derscheid (combined DVM/PhD candidate)

Training in Veterinary Pathology and Mentoring for ACVP Examination.
Dr. Ackermann has mentored or assisted in mentoring the following who have successfully completed the examination to become Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Pathology:

ACVP Diplomates:
Drs. John Vahle, David Hutto, Neil Dyer, Dominique Brees, Ingrid Priumboom, Zaher Radi, Bruce Thomsen, Frank Simutis, Mark Williamson, David Meyerholz

PhD and Pathology Training Awards:

The following PhD candidates working in Dr. Ackermann’s laboratory have received awards:

Dr. Zaher Radi, Excellence in Graduate Research Award, by ISU, 1999

Dr. David Meyerholz (2004):  Harold W. Casey Scholarship Award from the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP)

Dr. Branka Grubor (2005):  Harold W. Casey Scholarship Award from the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP)

Graduate Student Committee Member:

Selected Publications:
Ackermann MR, Brogden KA:  Response of the ruminant respiratory tract to Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica infection.  Microbes and Infection 2:1079-1088, 2000

Jia HP, Starner T, Ackermann MR, Kirby P, Tack BF, McCray PB, Jr.:  Abundant Human b-defensin-1 expression in milk and mammary gland epithelium.  J Pediatrics 138:109-112, 2001.

Ramirez-Romero R, Gallup JM, Sonea IM, Ackermann MR:  Dihydrocapsaicin treatment depletes peptidergic nerve fibers of substance P and alters mast cell density in the respiratory tract of neonatal sheep.  Regulatory peptides 91(1-3):97-106, 2000

Ramirez-Romero R, Brogden KA, Gallup JM, Sonea IM, Ackermann MR:  Mast cell density and substance P-like immunoreactivity during the initiation and progression of lung lesions in ovine Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica pneumonia.  Microbial Pathogenesis 30(6):325-35, 2001

Carothers DG, Graham SM, Jia HP, Ackermann MR, Tack BF, McCray PB, Jr.:  Production of beta-defensin antimicrobial peptides by maxillary sinus mucosa.  Am J Rhinol 15(3):175-179, 2001

Brogden KA, Kalfa VC, Ackermann MR, Plamquist DE, McCray PB, Jr., Tack BF:  The ovine cathelicidin SMAP29 kills ovine respiratory pathogens in vitro and in an in vivo model of pulmonary infection.  Antimicrobial Agents and Chemo 45:  331-334, 2001

Kalfa VC, Palmquist D, Ackermann MR, Brogden KA:  Suppression of Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica serovar 1 infection in lambs by intrapulmonary administration of ovine antimicrobial anionic peptide. Int J Antimicrob Agents. Jun;17(6):505-10, 2001

Fales-Williams AJ, Ramirez-Romero R, Brogden KA, Gallup JM, Ackermann MR:  Increased anionic peptide immunoreactivity distribution and intensity during the in progression and resolution of bacterial pneumonia.  Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology 9:28-32, 2002.

Fales-Williams AJ, Brogden KA, Huffman E, Gallup JM, Ackermann MR:  Constituitive production of anionic antimicrobial peptide in normal lung and during acute pulmonary inflammation.  Vet Pathol  39:706-711, 2002

Brogden KA, Ackermann MR, McCray PB, Jr., Tack BF:  Antimicrobial peptides in animals and their role in host defenses.  Int J Antimicro Agents 22(5)465-478, 2003

Gallup JM, Grubor B, Barua A, Mohammadi G, Brogden KA, Olson JA, Ackermann MR:  Repeated intravenous doses of all-trans-retinoyl b-D-glucuronide is not effective in the treatment of bacterial bronchopneumonia in lambs but is devoid of gross and acute toxicity.  Medical Science Monitor 819:BR345-352, 2002

Meyerholz DK, Gallup JM, Grubor BM, Evans RB, McCray PB, Jr., Tack BF, Ackermann MR:  Developmental expression and distribution of sheep b-defensin-2.  Developmental and Comparative Immunology 28:171-178, 2004

Grubor B, Gallup JM, Rameriz-Romero R, Brogden KA, Ackermann MR:  Distribution of substance P receptor (neurokinin 1 receptor) in normal ovine lung during the progression of bronchopneumonia in sheep.  J Histochem Cytochem 52(1):123-130, 2004

Radi ZA, Ackermann MR:  Growth of differentiated ovine tracheal epithelial cells in vitro.  J Vet Med 51:167-170, 2004

Grubor B, Gallup JM, Meyerholz DK, Crouch E, Evans RB, Brogden KA, Lehmkuhl, HD, Ackermann MR:  Enhanced surfactant protein and defensin mRNA levels and reduced viral replication during paramyxoviral pneumonia in neonatal lambs.  Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology 11(3):599-607, 2004

Gu YC, Bauer TR, Ackermann MR, Smith CW, Kehrli ME, Jr., Starost MF, Hickstein DD:  The genetic immunodeficiency disease leukocyte adhesion deficiency in man, dog, cattle, and mouse.  Comparative Medicine 54 (4): 363-372, 2004

Meyerholz DK, Grubor B, Fach SJ, Sacco RE, Lehmkuhl HD, Gallup JM, Ackermann MR: Reduced clearance of respiratory syncytial virus in a preterm lamb model.  Microbes and Infection 6:1312-1319, 2004

Ackermann MR, Gallup JM, Zabner J, Evans RB, Brockus CW, Meyerholz DK, Grubor B, Brogden KA:  Differential expression of sheep beta-defensin-1 and -2 and interleukin 8 during acute bacterial pneumonia.  Microbial Pathogenesis 37 (1): 21-27, 2004

Grubor B, Gallup JM, Ramírez-Romero R, Bailey TB, Crouch EC, Brogden KA, Ackermann MR:  Surfactant protein D expression in normal and pneumonic ovine lung.  Am J Vet Immunol Immunopathol 101(3-4)235-242, 2004

Meyerholz DK, Grubor B, Gallup JM, Lehmkuhl HD, Anderson RD, Lazic T, Ackermann MR:  Adenovirus-mediated gene therapy enhances parainfluenza virus-3 infection in neonatal lambs.  The Journal of Clinical Microbiology 42(10): 4780-4787, 2004

Gallup JM, Kawashima K, Lucero G, Ackermann MR:  New quick method for isolating RNA from laser captured cells stained by immunofluorescent immunochemistry; RNA suitable for direct use in fluorogenic TaqMan one-step real-time RT-PCR.  Biol Proced Online 7(1):70-92, 2005

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Leadership:
Chairperson, The ACVP Scientific Symposium (TASS) Committe, 2005-present

Editorial Board, Veterinary Pathology, 1995-1997.

Member, Board of Scientific Reviewers, American Journal of Veterinary Research, 1993-96.

Member, ACVP Examination Committee, 2005

Ad Hoc Reviewer: USDA/NRI-CGP and The Wellcome Trust, England.

Panel Reviewer: USDA, NRI-CGP.

Professor-in-charge, Image Analysis Facility, ISU, 1996-present

Director of Graduate Education (DOGE), Department of Veterinary Pathology, 1999-present.

Ad Hoc Reviewer: USDA/CSREES/NRI-CGP

Selected Invited Presentations:
April 2006  Ackermann MR:  Expression of innate immune genes (Defensins, Cathelcidins, and Surfactant Proteins A and D) by respiratory epithelia of at pre-term with and without RSV infection.  Experimental Biology, San Francisco, CA

Sept 2005  Ackermann MR:  Preterm birth, innate immunity and RSV in lung epithelia.  Mucosal Immunology Workshop, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

April 2005  Ackermann MR:  Effects of preterm birth and RSV on innate immunity of respiratory epithelia, University of Guelph, Canada.

Nov 2004   Ackermann MR, Meyerholz DK, Grubor B, Lehmkuhl HD, Sacco R, Gallup JM, Derscheid R, Lazic T, Fach S, Kawashima K:  Innate immunity of respiratory epithelia:  Effects of preterm birth and respiratory syncytial virus infection.  Conference for Research Workers in Animal Diseases (CRWAD), Chicago, Illinois, Keynote speaker for the respiratory section.

Oct 2004   Ackermann MR:  Innate immunity of respiratory epithelia:  Effects of preterm birth and respiratory syncytial virus infection.  Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas

July 2004   Meyerholz DK, Ackermann MR:  Antimicrobial peptides and surfactant proteins in ruminant respiratory tract infection.   7th International Veterinary Immunology Symposium.  Quebec, City, Canada

May 2004   Ackermann MR, Meyerholz DK, Lazic T:  Preterm birth and preterm ethanol and nicotine exposure effects on innate immunity of respiratory epithelia and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) susceptibility in lambs.  University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

Honors & Awards:
J.G. Salsbury Endowed Chair in Veterinary Medicine, 2001-2004.

American Veterinary Medical Foundation Bovine Research Excellence Award, 2002.

Pfizer Award for Research Excellence, 2000.

Federal Laboratory Consortium Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer, 1996.


Memberships:
American College of Veterinary Pathologists
American Veterinary Medical Association
Iowa Veterinary Medical Association
ISU Veterinary Medicine Alumni Association
American Society of Investigative Pathologists (ASIP)

Service:
Surgical biopsy (histopathology)
Necropsy Service ( post-mortem)
Consultant Pathologists, Antech Diagnostics, Inc.

Advising:
Pre-Veterinary Club advisor
Pre-veterinary pathology club advisor
Academic Advisors, veterinary medical students