Tom Humphreys

PhD University of Chicago, 1962

Professor, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
Researcher, Kewalo Marine Laboratory

Kewalo Marine Laboratory
University of Hawaii
41 Ahui Street
Honolulu HI 96813
phone: (808) 539-7327
FAX: (808) 599-4817
htom@hawaii.edu
www.kewalo.hawaii.edu/labs/humphreys/index.html

Invertebrate Immunity / Evolution of the Animal Immune System
Development of Hemichordates / Evolution of Chordates

[publications]
My work on immunity is focused on studies of marine sponges. The immune system of the invertebrates remains unappreciated although it is evident that all animals must resist attacks by pathogens and other organisms. In this regard sessile marine invertebrates must protect their individual integrity from encroachment by adjacent animals competing for space on the substratum. Our lab has identified the immunocytes of marine sponges and are pursuing experiments to identify, molecularly clone and characterize the receptors and other functional molecules of these immune cells. The receptors that recognize contact with non-self cells, the molecules of the signaling pathways that lead to activation of the immune response upon contact with foreign cells and the effector molecules are targets of these molecular studies.

In collaboration with the laboratory of Prof. Noriyuki Satoh, department of Zoology, Kyoto University, my lab is studying developmental master control genes specify vertebrate structures in the hemichordate acorn worm, Ptychodera flava. We have cloned and characterized P. flava developmentally expressed genes central to the development of notochord, dorsal brain and gill slits, structures diagnostic chordates/vertebrates. Characterization of the expression and the developmental role of these genes in P. flava will be used to understand the evolutionary pathways that have lead to the chordates. We are attempting to elucidate the transmutation in gene expression and activity as fundamentally new body plans and phyla evolve.

[return to top]

Representative publications:

Taguchi, Tagawa, Humphreys, Nishino, Satoh and Harada. 2000. Characterization of a hemichordate fork head/HNF-3 gene expression.  Development Genes and Evolution 210:11-17..

Tagawa, Humphreys and Satoh. 2000.  T-Brain Expression in the Apical Organ of Hemichordate Tornaria Larvae Suggests its Evolutionary Link to the Vertebrate Forebrain.  Molecular and Developmental Evolution 288:23-31.

Tagawa, Humphreys and Satoh 1998.  Novel pattern of Brachyury gene expression in hemichordate embryos.  Mechanisms of Development 75, 139-143.

Yin and Humphreys 1996.  Acute histoincompatibility reactions and gray cells in the marine sponge, Callyspongia diffusa.  Biological Bulletin 191,159-167.

Humphreys and Reinherz 1994.  Invertebrate Immune recognition, natural immunity and the evolution of positive selection.  ImmunologyToday 15: 316-320


[return to top]

[Zoology home] [undergraduate] [graduate] [faculty] [UH home]
Last update: 5 December 2000
email web queries or suggestions to web@zoology.hawaii.edu
The University of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution.