Department of Biochemistry

Michael R. Miller, Ph.D.

Ph.D. - Hershey Medical School, Penn State University, 1975
Postdoctoral Fellowship: Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Department of Pharmacology

Professor
Department of Biochemistry
West Virginia University
Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center
P.O. Box 9142
Morgantown, WV 26506
Phone: (304) 293-7762
Fax: (304) 293-6846
Email: mmiller@hsc.wvu.edu

Research:

Dr. Miller’s research is in two different areas. One project investigates the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi – we are studying the molecular mechanisms regulating chemotaxis/motility (see reference #18) and investigating how this organism penetrates mammalian tissues and induces inflammation, ultimately manifesting in tissue damage associated with Lyme disease.

Another project is a multi-team effort investigating feminization of male small mouth bass in a river system in WV and increased incidence of some human cancers, many of which are hormone sensitive, in the same geographical region. Our goals are to determine why the male bass are being feminized and if there is a relationship between this apparently endocrine-disrupting effect on bass and increased incidence of hormone-sensitive cancers in this region.

Rinse Tank Data

References:

• T. L. Weimer, A. P. Reddy, U. Harttig, D. Alexander, S. C. Stamm, M.R. Miller, W. Baird, J. Hendricks, and G. Bailey. Influence of 11 b -Naphthoflavone on 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene Metabolism, DNA Adduction, and Tumorigenicity in Rainbow Trout. Toxicol. Sci., 57: 217-228 (2000).
   
• C. Smith, S. C. Stamm, J. Riggs, W. Stauber, V. Harsh, P. Gannett, G. Hobbs and M. R. Miller. Ethanol-Mediated CYP1A1/2 Induction in Rat Skeletal Muscle Tissue. Experimental and Molecular Pathology, 69, 223-232 (2000).
   
• S.L. Gadd, G. Hobbs, M.R. Miller "Acetaminophen-Induced Proliferation of Estrogen-Responsive Breast Cancer Cells is Associated with Increases in c-myc RNA Expression and NF-kB Activity, Tox. Sci. 66: 233-243 (2002).
   
• J. Dowdy, S. Brower, and M. R. Miller; “Acetaminophen does not exhibit estrogenic activity in estrogen-responsive human endometrial adenocarcinoma (Ishikawa) cells” Tox. Sci. 72, 57-65 (2003).
   
• B. He, S. Rhodes-Brower, M. R. Miller, A. E. M., D. R. Germolec, K. S. Korach, V. R. Walker and B. J. Meade “Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane exhibits estrogenic activity in mice via ERα” Tox. Appl. Pharm., 192, 254-61(2003).
   
• M.K. Yunmbam, Y. Guo, M.R. Miller and J.J. Yu. “Combinatorial treatment of ovarian cancer cells with harringtonine and cisplatin results in increased cisplatin DNA adducts”. Oncology Reports, 11, 833-838 (2004).
   
• M. Belcastro, M. R. Miller, D. C. Flynn and A. P. Soisson “C/EBPβ Activity and HPV-16 E6/E7 mRNA Expression Are Not Altered by Imiquimod (ALDARA ™ ) in Human Cervical Cancer Cells In Vitro” Gynecologic Oncology, 92, 660-668 (2004)
   
• S. Brower, J.R. Roberts, J.M. Antonini and M.R. Miller "Difficulty demonstrating estradiol-mediated Erk1/2 phosphorylation in MCF-7 cells" J. Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 96, 375 – 385 (2005).
   
• Md.A. Motaleb, M.R. Miller, C. Li, R.G. Bakker, S.F. Goldstein, R.E. Silversmith, R.B. Bourret, and N.W. Charon “CheX is a CheY-P phosphatase essential for Borrelia burgdorferi chemotaxis” J. Bacteriology 187, 7963 – 7969 (2005).
   
• K.D. Salazar, M.R. Miller, J.B. Barnett and R. Schafer "Evidence for a novel endocrine disruptor: the pesticide propanil requires the ovaries and steroid synthesis to enhance humoral immunity" Toxicol. Sci. 93, 62-74 (2006).
   
• R. G. Bakker, C. LI, M. R. Miller,C. Cunningham, and N. W. Charon "Identification of specific chemoattractants and complementation of cheA2 of Borrelia burgdorferi: A flow cytometry-based capillary tube chemotaxis assay". Applied Env. Microbiol. 73, 1180-1188 (2007).
   
• Md. A. Motaleb, M. R. Miller, R. G. Bakker, C. Li and N. Charon "Isolation and Characterization of Chemotaxis Mutants of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi Using Allelic Exchange Mutagenesis, Flow Cytometry and Cell Tracking" Methods in Enzymology, 422, 421-437 (2007).
   
• Md. A. Motaleb, M. R. Miller, C. Li and N. W. Charon "Phosphorylation assays of chemotaxis two-component system proteins in Borrelia burgdorferi", Methods in Enzymology, 422, 438 – 447 (2007).
   
• A.M. Magro, A.D. Magro, C. Cunningham and M.R. Miller "Down-regulation of vinculin upon MK886-induced apoptosis in LN18 glioblastoma cells", Neoplasma, 54, 517 - 526 (2007).