Lang, Raymond W.
Raymond W. Lang, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology
and Medical Genetics
Contact Information:
Office:
2166E Graves Hall
333 W. 10th Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Ph. (614) 292-8839
E-Mail: lang.1@osu.edu
Laboratory:
2060 Graves Hall
333 W. 10th Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Ph. (614) 292-7786
Research Interests:
Immunogenetics is the
field of study involving primarily the gene products of chromosome
6. On the short arm of this chromosome resides the "Major Histocompatibility
Complex " (MHC) of genes which code for the Human Leukocyte Antigens
(HLA) that are involved in the initiation of immunity and in the mechanism
of immune protection. These glycoproteins are located on the surface
membranes of cells throughout the body. We are interested in studying
the nature and function of these HLA molecules. Topics of interest
are the role HLA plays in transplantation, disease association and
in generating immunity. A major emphasis is placed on the application
and use of these highly polymorphic molecules in forensic medicine,
population analysis and anthropology.
Research
Summary:
Our research
is directed toward the immunogenetic analysis of primative populations.
Just completed are the Class I alleles in the Yanomami Indians of
northwestern Brazil. The South American Indian population have been
shown to possess fewer HLA alleles when compared to urban populations
as was shown in this case. This may be due to "bottleneck or "founder
effect". An alternative explanation is that isolated, indigenous peoples
as the Yanomami reflect the expected range of variation for a small,
local population experiencing selective pressure from a variety of
environmental pathogens. Such population provided an opportunity to
study the role of Class I HLA in immune function for a natural (isolated)
human people. Similar research is being done on a Samoan population
from the South Pacific islands. In this case the study also includes
an analysis of the relationship of HLA and disease in this group of
people. .
Selected
Publications:
Severson, LD,
Crews, DE, and RW Lang. 1997. Application of SSP/ARMS to HLA
Class I Loci in Samoans. "Genetic Diversity of HLA, Functional and
Medical Implication." Proceedings of the 12th IHWC, Volume II Conference.
EDK Publishers p170-172
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