Renee Szakaly

About

I earned my Bachelors of Arts degree with a major in Biology from Hiram College in Ohio in 1991 and my Masters of Science degree in Oncology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1995.  For twenty-five years, I have been a Research Specialist/Lab Manager at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and have participated in a wide variety of projects including transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation research, hearing research, cancer research, cardiac research, and asthma research.  My current lab utilizes model and pathogenic yeasts to study intracellular signaling networks using optogenetic tools and to study phenotypic heterogeneity in microbial communities.

Research Skills

Over the years I have had the opportunity to learn a wide variety of protocols and techniques.  A list of some of my more pertinent techniques follows: RNA preparations, reverse transcription, quantitative real-time PCR, production of competent cells (heat shock), DNA transformation, DNA plasmid preps (large and small scale), oligonucleotide design, DNA cloning, SDS PAGE, Western blot analysis, 2D gel electrophoresis, ELISAs, transient culture of macrophages and splenocytes, flow cytometry (11 colors) M1/M2 Macs, laser microdissection (Leica), and a wide range of histologic techniques and stains with both frozen and fixed tissues.

Publications:

Szakaly RJ, Hines EA, Leng N, Webster A, Kendziorski C, Rosenthal LA, Gern JE, Sorkness RL, Sun X, and Lemanske, RF Jr. Comparison of Temporal Transcriptomic Profiles from Immature Lungs of Two Rat Strains Reveals a Viral Response Signature Associated with Chronic Lung Dysfunction. (2014) PLoS ONE 9(12).

Sorkness RL, Szakaly RJ, Rosenthal, LA, Sullivan R, Gern JE, Lemanske RF Jr, Sun X.  Viral Bronchiolitis in Young Rats Causes Small Airway Lesions that Correlate with Reduced Lung Function  Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol.  (2013) 49(5):808-13.

Shen Z-J, Braun RK, Hu J, Xie Q, Chu H, Love RB, Stodola LA, Rosenthal LA, Szakaly RJ, Sorkness RL, and Malter JS.  (2012)  Pin1 protein regulates Smad protein signaling and pulmonary fibrosis.  J Biol Chem. 287:23294-305.

Rosenthal LA, Szakaly RJ, Amineva SP, Xing Y, Hill MR, Palmenberg AC, Gern JE, Sorkness RL. (2012). Lower Respiratory Tract Infection Induced by a Genetically Modified Picornavirus in its Natural Murine Host.  PLoS ONE 7(2).

Rosenthal LA, Amineva SP, Szakaly RJ, Lemanske RF, Gern JE, Sorkness RL. (2009) A Rat Model of Picornavirus-induced Airway Infection and Inflammation.  Virology Journal.  6:122.

Shen Z-J, Esnault S, Rosenthal LA, Szakaly RJ, Sorkness RL, Westmark PR, Sandor M, Malter JS.  (2008)  Pin 1 Regulates TGF-b1 Production by Activated Human and Murine Eosinophils and Contributes to Allergic Lung Fibrosis.  JCI.  188(2):479-90.

Esnault S, Rosenthal LA, Shen Z-J, Sedgwick JB, Szakaly RJ, Sorkness RL, Malter JS. (2007)  A Critical Role for Pin1 in Allergic Pulmonary Eosinophilia in Rats.  JACI.  120:1082-1088.

Sorkness RL, Herricks KM, Szakaly RJ, Lemanske, Jr. RF, Rosenthal LA.  (2006). Altered allergen-induced eosinophil trafficking and physiologic dysfunction in airways with preexisting virus-induced injury.  American Journal of Physiology Lung Cell Mol Physiol.  292:85-91.

Whitlon DS, Szakaly R, Greiner MA.  (2001). Cryoembedding and Sectioning of Cochleas for Immunocytochemistry and in situ Hybridization.  Brain Research Protocols.  6:159-166.

Whitlon DS, Wright LS, Nelson SA, Szakaly R, Siegel FL.  (1999). Maturation of Cochlear Glutathione-S-Transferases Correlates with the End of the Sensitive Period for Ototoxicity.  Hearing Research.  137:43-50.

Bartley SM, Szakaly RJ, and Farnham PJ.  (1998). Characterization of the 3’ Untranslated Region of Mouse E2F1 mRNA.  Gene.  223:355-360.