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Bradley Jones

Associate Professor of Biology

Bradley W Jones

Dr. Jones studies the molecular genetic mechanisms of nervous system development in Drosophila.

Research Interests

Dr. Jones's research interests are in molecular genetic mechanisms of nervous system development in Drosophila. He is specifically interested in the development of the nervous system. A functional nervous system requires the correct specification and precise organization of a large number of neural cell types. These cell types include the neurons that transmit information and their glial support cells. Drosophila has proven to be an excellent model system for the study of mechanisms underlying neural development. 

Dr. Jones currently working on the following projects:

  1. the molecular genetic characterization of cis-regulatory DNA elements controlling gcm transcription
  2. the identification and characterization proteins that modulate Gcm activity
  3. the molecular genetic characterization of cis-regulatory elements of the candidate gcm-target gene, repo
  4. a systematic classical Drosophila mutagenesis screen for genes that modify the expression and pattern of Repo protein, a glial specific marker that is directly regulated by gcm. We are also pursuing reverse genetic approaches to identify new genes that potentially regulate glial and neuronal development

Publications

Hawkins, A.D., Thornton, C., Kennedy, A.J., Bu, K., Cizdziel, J., Jones, B. W., and Willett, K.L. (2015). Gill histopathologies following exposure to nanosilver or silver nitrate. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A. 78. 301-315.

Fish gill is the site for many crucial physiological functions. It is among the first sites of xenobiotic exposure, and gill histopathological alterations may be detected soon after toxicant exposure. Silver (Ag) is one of the most toxic metals to aquatic organisms mainly due to its ability to disrupt ionic regulation. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of ionic and nanoscale Ag on fathead minnow gills by examining gill histology and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase immunoreactivity. Fathead minnows were exposed to two measured concentrations of silver nitrate (AgNO3: 1.3 or 3.7 μg/L as Ag(+)), citrate silver nanoparticles (citrate-AgNP: 15 or 39 μg/L), and polyvinylpyrrolidone-AgNP (PVP-AgNP) (AgNP: 11 or 50 μg/L). Circulatory disturbances were the most prevalent gill alterations detected and were significantly increased in all Ag treatment groups compared to control. AgNO3 (1.3 μg/L) was the only treatment that significantly elevated the number of total mucous goblet cells present. In all other Ag treatments, the percent of degenerated goblet cells was significantly increased compared to control. When the sum of all histopathological abnormalities (weighted index) was calculated, all Ag groups displayed a significantly higher index, with citrate-AgNP having the highest toxicity (index of 10 ± 0.32 versus 2.4 ± 0.6 in controls). Gill Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase immunoreactivity was decreased by Ag. These results indicated that both AgNO3 and AgNP created similar disruptions in gill structure and ionic regulation, possibly due to the ionic Ag portion of each treatment.

Jones, B.W. (2014) Characterization of missense alleles of the glial cells missing gene of Drosophila. Genesis 52. 864-869.

Johnson, R.W., Wood, J.L. and Jones, B.W. (2012). Characterization of cis-regulatory elements controlling repo transcription in Drosophila melanogaster. Gene. 492, 167-176.

Lee, B.P. and Jones, B.W.(2005). Transcriptional regulation of the Drosophila glial gene repo. Mechanisms of Development, 122, 849-862.[abstract]

Jones, B.W.(2005). Transcriptional control of glial cell development in Drosophila. Developmental Biology 278, 265-273.[abstract]

Jones, B.W., Abeysekera, M., Galinska, J., and Jolicoeur, E.M.(2004). Transcriptional control of glial and blood cell development in Drosophila: cis-regulatory elements of glial cells missing. Developmental Biology 266, 374-387.[abstract]

Alfonso, T.B. and Jones, B.W.(2002). gcm2 promotes glial cell differentiation and is required with glial cells missing for macrophage development in Drosophila. Developmental Biology 248, 369-383.[abstract]

Courses Taught

Education

B.A. Biology, Hamilton College (1985)

M.S. Biology, Yale University (1989)

Ph.D. Biology, Yale University (1993)