Research Interests: 
Recombinant and monoclonal antibody based immunoassays for food safety and quality assessment; immunotoxicology of naturally-occurring dietary toxins; immunologic effects of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria; gastrointestinal immunity

Teaching Interests:  
Basic and applied aspects of food microbiology amd safety with emphases on relationship between food technology and microbial physiology and utilization of immunochemistry and molecular biology for rapid detection of microorganisms or their products in food. 

Courses: 

Undergraduate Advising:  

Graduate Advising:  Food Science 

Publications:

Sprando RL, Pestka JJ, Collins TF, Rorie J, O'Donnell M, Hinton D, Chirtel S. 1999. The effect of vomitoxin (deoxynivalenol) on testicular morphology, testicular spermatid counts and epididymal sperm counts in IL-6KO [B6129-IL6 TmlKopf (IL-6 gene deficient)] and WT [B6129F2 (wild type to B6129-IL6 with an intact IL-6 gene)) mice. Food Chemistry Toxicology 37:(Il) 1073-9.

Banotai C, Greene-McDowelle DM, Azcona-Olivera JI, Pestka JJ. Effects of intermittent vomitoxin exposure on body weight, immunoglobulin levels and hematuria in the B6C3F mouse. Food Chemistry Toxicology 37:343-350.

Yuan QY, Pestka JJ, Hespenheide BM, Kuhn LA, Linz JE, Hart LP. 1999. Identification of mimotype peptides which bind to the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol-specific monoclonal antibody. Applied Environmental Microbiology 65(8): 3279-3286.

Banotai C, Azcona-Olivera JI, Greene-McDowelle DM, Pestka JJ. 1999. Effects of vomitoxin ingestion on murine models for systemic lupus erythematosus. Food Chemistry Toxicology 37:533-543.

Byrem TM, Pestka JJ, Chu FS, Strasburg GM. 1999. Analysis and pharmacokinetics of cyclopiazonic acid in market weight pigs. Journal Animal Science 77:173-179.

Lee MG, Li S. 1999. Effects of satratoxins and other macrocyclic trichothecenes on IL-2 production and viability of EL-4 thymoma cells. Journal Toxicology Environmental Health 57:459-474.

Park SY, Ji GE, Ko YT, Jung HK, Ustunol Z, Pestka J. 1999. Potentiation of hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, and cytokine production in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells exposed to human and commercial isolates of Bifidobacterium. International Journal Food Microbiology 46:231-241.

Smith SA, Pestka JJ, Gray JI, Smith DM. 1999. Production and specificity of polygonal antibodies to hexanal-lysine adducts. Journal Agricultural Food Chemistry 47:1389-1395.

Tejada-Simon MV, Ustunol Z, Pestka JJ. 1999. Ex vivo effects of Lactobacilli, Streptococci, and Bifidobacteria ingestion on cytokine and nitric oxide production in a murine model. Journal Food Protection 62:162-169.

Tejada-Simon MV, Ustunol Z, Pestka JJ. 1999. Effects of lactic acid bacteria ingestion on basal cytokine mRNA and immunoglobulin levels in the mouse. Journal Food Protection 62:287-291.

Zhou HR, Harkema JR, Yan D, Pestka JJ. 1999. Amplified proinflammatory cytokine expression and toxicity in mice coexposed to lipopolysaccharide and the trichothecene vomitoxin (deoxynivalenol). Journal Toxicology Environmental Health 56:115-136.

Tejada-Simon MV, Lee JH, Ustunol Z, Pestka JJ. 1999. Ingestion of yogurt containing lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium to potentiate immunoglobulin A responses to cholera toxin in mice. Journal Dairy Science 82:649-660.

Yan D, Rumbeiha WK, Pestka JJ. 1998. Experimental immune IgA nephropathy following passive administration of vomitoxin-induced IgA monoclonal antibodies. Food Chemistry Toxicology 36:1095-1106.

Ha CL, Lee JH, Zhou HR, Ustunol Z Pestka JJ. 1999. Effects of yogurt ingestion on mucosal and systemic cytokine gene expression in the mouse. Journal Food Protection 62:181-188.

Tejada-Simon MV, Pestka JJ. 1998. Polyclonal antibody production against ergosterol-hemisuccinate using Freund's and Titermax adjuvants. Journal Food Protection 61:1060-1063.

Wong SS, Zhou HR, Marin-Martinez ML, Brooks RH, Pestka JJ. 1998. Modulation of IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha secretion and mRNA expression by the trichothecene vomitoxin in the RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line. Food Chemical Toxicology 36:409-419. 

Ji GE, Park SY, Wong SS, Pestka JJ. 1998. Modulation of nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, and cytokine production in a clonal macrophage model by the trichothecene vomitoxin (deoxynivalenol). Toxicology 15:203-214.

Roth RA, Harkema JR, Pestka JJ Ganey PE. 1998. Does exposure to bacterial endotoxin determine susceptibility to intoxication from xenobiotics agents. Toxicology Applied Pharmacology 147:300-311.

Yan D, Zhou HR, Brooks KH, Pestka JJ. 1998. Role of macrophage in elevated IgA and IL-6 production by Peyer's Patch cultures following acute oral vomitoxin exposure. Toxicology Applied Pharmacology 148:261-273.

Marin ML, Tejada-Simon MV, Lee JH, Murtha J, Ustunol Z, Pestka JJ. 1998. Stimulation of cytokine production in clonal macrophage and T cell models by streptococcus thermophilus: Comparison with Bifidobacterium sp. and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. Journal Food Protection 61:859-864.

Ji GE, Park SY, Wong SS and JJ Pestka. 1998.  modulation of nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, and cytokine production in a clonal macrophage model by the trichothecene vomitoxin (deoxynivalenol).  Toxicology 15:203-214.

Marin ML, Lee JH, Ustunol  Z and JJ. Pestka. 1997. Differential cytokine production in clonal macrophage and T cell lines cultured with Bifidobacterium sp. J.Dairy Sci. 80:2713-2720.  

Marin ML, Tejada-Simon MV, Ustunol Z and JJ Pestka. 1997. Effects of Lactobacillus sp on cytokine production by RAW 264.7 macrophage and EL-4 thymoma cell lines. J.Food Prot. 60:1364-1370.

Marin ML, Tejada-SimonMV , Lee JH, Murtha J, Ustunol Z and JJ Pestka. 1998. Stimulation of cytokine production in clonal macrophage and T cell models by Streptococcus thermophilus: Comparison with Bifidobacterium sp. and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. J. Food Prot. 61:859-864.

Marin ML, Tejada-Simon MV, Lee JH, Murtha J, Ustunol Z and JJ Pestka.  1998.  Stimulation of cytokine production in clonal macrophage and T cell models by streptococcus thermophilus:  Comparison with Bifidobacterium sp. and Lactobacillus bulgaricus.  J. Food Prot. 61:859-864.

Roth RA, Harkema JR, Pestka JJ and PE Ganey.  1998.  Does exposure to bacterial endotoxin determine susceptibility to intoxication from xenobiotics agents.  Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 147:300-311.

Tejada-Simon MV and JJ Pestka.  1998.  Polyclonal antibody production against ergosterol-hemisuccinate using Freund’s and Titermax adjuvants.  J. Food Prot. 61:1060-1063.

Yan D, Zhou HR, Brooks KH and JJ. Pestka.  1997. Potential role of IL-5 and IL-6 in enhanced IgA secretion by Peyer’s patch cells isolated from mice acutely exposed to vomitoxin. Toxicol. 122:145-158.

Yuan QP, Clarke JR, Zhou HR, Linz JE, Pestka JJ and LP. Hart.  1997.  Molecular cloning, expression, and characterization of a functional single-chain F_v antibody to the mycotoxin zearalenone.  Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 63:263-269.

Wong SS, Zhou HR, Marin-Martinez ML, Brooks RH and JJ Pestka.  1998.  Modulation of IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha secretion and mRNA expression by the trichothecene vomitoxin in the RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line.  Food Chemical Toxicol. 36:409-419.

Yan D, Zhou HR, Brooks KH and JJ. Pestka.  1998.  Role of macrophage in elevated IgA and IL-6 production by Peyer’s Patch cultures following acute oral vomitoxin exposure.  Toxicol. Appl. Pharm. 148:261-273.

Zhou HR, Yan D, and JJ Pestka. 1997. Differential cytokine mRNA expression in mice of oral exposure to vomitoxin dose response and time course. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 144:294-305