Dr. Frank J. Denaro
Associate Professor,
Director of Histology Core
Department of Biology
Dixon Science Research Center, Room 205
School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences
Morgan State University
1700 E. Coldspring Lane
Baltimore, Maryland 21251

denaro@umbi.umd.edu

Biographical Sketch (cv)

Dr. Denaro obtained his undergraduate degrees from New Mexico Institute of Technology. There he majored in both psychology and physics and obtained BS degrees in both fields. His graduate studies took place at State University of New York at Stony Brook where he received his Masters and Doctor degrees in Psychobiology/Neurosciences. His Post Doctoral training was at the University of California San Diego. His research there centered on neuronal development and neuropathology.

Research Interest

The research interests of our laboratory have focused on the neuropathology of neurodegernerative diseases. Some of the diseases we have studied include viral infections of the nervous system (CMV and HIV) as well as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

Honors/Awards

1. The Society for Neuropathology Moore Award (With Colleagues, 1986),
2. Charles Louis Davis Foundation Award (With Colleagues, 1991),
3. Deans Research Award, TTHSC 1996
4. Elisabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Travel award.
5. Researcher of the Year, Morgan State Univ. 2004
   

Research Projects

1. Animal Models of HIV/CNS infection
   The development of model systems to study the mechanisms of viral associated neuronal death is crucial for the development of new strategies in HIV Treatment. We have done research on the development of several HIV animal Models (i.e. The SCID mouse model, HIV-1 Transgenic rat, and neural cultures).
2. Histogenesis / organ engineering
   We are examining different way by which cells can be induced to form organized networks.
3. Neuroanatomy.
   We have been examining those neural structures relevant for the control of motor systems and cognition.
   

RCMI CORE
Histology Core

At the RCMI histological core we offer the following facilities:

1. Confocal laboratory.
2. Image analysis laboratory.
3. Laser Micro dissection capabilities.
4. Histological Macro-Tissue array capacities.
5. n situ Hybridization and Immunocytochemistry, with multiple labels etc.
6. Electron microscopy facility.

Recent Publications

1. Denaro, F.J. , The Immunocytochemical Localization of Fungi in the Brain of AIDS Patients. Society Neurosci. Abst., II:931, 1985. (Very likely the first Abstract to be presented at the Society of Neurosciences on an AIDS related topic)

   2. Denaro, F.J. , Localization of Cytomegalovirus Proteins and Genome in Smooth Muscle of the Bowel from an AIDS Patient. VI International Congress on Neuromuscular Disease, 1986. (Very likely the first Abstract to be presented on an AIDS related topic at the Neuromuscular Disease Conference).

   3. Denaro, F.J. , Localization of Cytomegalovirus Genome and Protein in the Retina, CNS, and Bowel of AIDS Patients. American Society of Clinical Pathologists, College of American Pathologists, 1986, Orlando, Florida.

   4. Denaro, F.J. , Schneider, J.F., and Markam, C.H., Light and Electron Microscopic Immunohistochemical Localization of MAO‑B in the Cat Brain. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, 35(9): 1028, 1987.

   5. Denaro, F.J. and Schneider, J.S. Mapping the Antioxidant Enzymes in the Human Brain. Neurology, Vol. 42, no. 2 supplement 3, pg 447, 1992.

   6. Denaro, F.J. Reactive astrocytes in contiguity with HIV infected human lymphocytes in the reconstituted SCID mouse. Society for Neuroscience, 19:1672, 1993 .

   7. Denaro, F. J, and Bryant J., HIV/CNS Infection in the Elderly, Short Report, and Miami 2001 Nature Biotechnology Winter Symposia: Cell Death and Aging, Web Journal, Feb. 2000

   8. C.T. Chung, P. Guidetti, E. Izzo, F. J. Denaro, O. Jones, J. L. Bryant and R. Schwartz, Slowly Evolving increase in Brain Quinolinic Acid Levels in a HIV-1 Transgenic Rat, Society for Neurosciences. 2003

   9. Frank J. Denaro and J. L. Bryant , HIV-1 Peripheral Neuropathy in the

   HIV- 1 Transgenic Rat, Society for Neurosciences, 2003

   10. Hartman, Hali, Silvia Guatimosin, William Reid, Frank Denaro, Joseph Bryant and Jon Lederer, Using ECG Telemetry to Study Cardiomyopathy in HIV Transgenic Rat, Flow and Telemetry User Group Forum, March 26, 2003, Wake Forest Univ. HSC

   11. Hartman, H. S. Guatimosim, J. Santos Crus, M. Kelly, F. Denaro, W. Reid, L. Mao, H. Rockman, J. L. Bryant, and W. J. Lederer, HIV-1 Protein Expression and Cardiac Dysfunction in HIV Noninfectious Transgenic Rat, 2003 International Meeting of the Institute of Virology

Reviews, Editorials and letters (Select Publications)

1. Edelstein, L. and Denaro, F. J ., The Neurobiology of Consciousness and Sir Francis Crick. Cellular and Molecular Biology 2004, 50 (6), 671-673. Introductory comment to Review. Vida Infra.

2. Edelstein, L. and Denaro, F. J., The Claustrum: A Historical Review of its Anatomy, Physiology, Cytochemistry and Functional Significance. Cellular and Molecular Biology, 2004, 50 (6), 675-702.

3. Spector, S., Denker, W.M., Denaro, F.J., and Spector, D.H. 1988. DNA Probes for the Detection of Human Cytomegalovirus, CRC Press, Inc., pp. 135-143.

4. Dittrich, H., Chow, L., Denaro, F.J., and Spector, S., Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Coxsackievirus and Cardiomyopathy. Annals of Internal Medicine1988, 108(2): 308-309.

5. Mazzucchelli, R., Amadio, M., Curreli, S., Denaro, F., Bryant, J., Bemis, K. Agostino, R., Galli, M., and Zella, D., Establishment of an Ex-Vivo Model of Monocyte-derived Macrophages differentiated from peripheral blood monuclear cells from the HIV-1 Transgenic Rat. Molecular Immunology 2004, 41(10): 979-984.

6. Denaro, F.J. Patty Staub, Jane Colmer, and David M. Freed, Coexistence of Alzheimer Type Changes with Viral Encephalopathy. Cellular and Molecular Biology, 2003, 49 (8): 1233-1240.

7. Patricio E. R., Xue-Hui L., Robinson, L., Reid, W., Xu, L., Owens, J. Jones, O., Denaro, F.J., Harry G. Davis and Joseph L. Bryant, A Novel HIV-1 Transgenic Rat Model of Childhood HIV-1 Associated Nephropathy. Kidney International 2003, 63 (6): 2242-2256.

8. Reid W., Sadowska M., Denaro, F. Rao S., Foulke J., Hayes N., Jones 0., Davis H., Sill A., O'Driscoll P., Huso, D., Fouts T., Lewis, G., Kames-Lowis R., Wei C., Ray P, Gallo, R., Reits, M., and Bryant J., An HIV -1 Transgenic Rat that Develops HIV -1 related Pathology and Immunological Dysfunction. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 2001, 98 (16): 9271-9276.

9. Denaro, F.J., Use of the Hu-SCID Mouse to Investigate HIV Neuropathology. In: L. Vitkovic, Ellen Stover, and Stephen H. Koslow, Animal Models Recapitulate Aspects of HIV/CNS Disease. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 1995, 2(6): 753-759.

10. Denaro, F.J., Jose L. Lopez-Ribot, and W. LaJean Chaffin. Adhesion of Candida albicans to Brain Tissue of Macaca mulata in an Ex Vivo Assay. Infection and Immunity 1995, 63(9): 3438-3441

11. Harvey, J.W., Calderwood‑May, M.B., Gropp, U.E., and Denaro, F.J., Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy in Canine Phosphofructokinase Deficiency (type VII glycogen storage disease). Veterinary Path. 1990, 27(1): 1-8.

12. Spector, S.A., Hsia, K., Frank Denaro, and Spector, D. H., Use of Molecular Probes to Detect Human Cytomegalovirus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Clin. Chem. 1989, 35(8): 1581-1587.

13. Wiley, C.A., Schrier, R.D., Denaro, F.J., Nelson, J.A., Lampert, P.W., and Oldstone, M.B., Localization of Cytomegalovirus Proteins and Genome During Fulminant Central Nervous System Infection in an AIDS Patient. Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology 1986, 45(2): 127-139.

14. Schneider, J.S., Denaro, F.J., and Lidsky, T.I., Basal Ganglia: Motor Influences Mediated by Sensory Interactions. Experimental Neurology 1982, 77:(3): 534-543.

15. Podbros, L.Z., Stamm, J.S., and Denaro, F.J., Associative Function of the Arcuate Segment of the Monkey's Prefrontal Cortex. Physiology and Behavior 1980, 24(1): 103-109.

16. Lidsky, T.I., Robinson, J.H., Denaro, F.J., and Weinhold, P.M., Trigeminal Influences on Entopeduncular Units. Brain Research 1978, 141(2): 227-234.

Student Projects

17. Ruiz, M.T., Edelstein, L. R. and F. J. Denaro, Immunocytochemical Detection of a Ceruloplasmin-Like Substance in the Human Substantia Nigra. Journal of Histotechnology 1999, 22 (4): 295-299.

18. Bagley, K., C., Abdelwahab, S. F., Tuscan, R., Lewis, G., and Denaro, F., Immunohistohemical identification of Lymphocyte Antigens Using a Modified Methacrylate Method Adapted for Standard Microtome. The Journal of Histotechnology 2003, 26 (1): 53-56

19. Bangura, N. T. Greenwood, J. James and F. Denaro, A Stereotaxic Atlas of the Monkey Frontal Lobes. Cellular and Molecular Biology 2003, 49 (8): 1253-1260.

20. Peralta Max, and F. J. Denaro, Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP) Used as a Cell Lineage Marker. Cellular and Molecular Biology 2003, 49 (8): 1371-1375.