Amanda Williams 

• Undergraduate Courses:
  • Lipscomb Experience
  • Introduction to Microbiology
  • Biomolecular Research Methods
  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Independent Research
  • Biology Seminar
• Graduate Courses:
  • Biomolecular Laboratory I
  • Biomolecular Laboratory II
  • Research Methodology and Experimental Design
  • miRNAs
  • Microbial Pathogenesis
  • Applied Laboratory: Immunology
  • Capstone

The role of Human alpha defensin 5 (HD5) in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Peer Reviewed Publications:

• Rana T, Koroklova OY, Rachakonda G, Williams AD, Hawkins AT, James SD, Sakwe AM, Hui N, Wang L, Yu C, Goodwin JS, Izban MG, Offodile RS, Washington MK, Ballard BR, Smoot DT, Shi XZ, Forbes DS, Shanker A, M’Koma AE.  Linking bacterial enterotoxins and alpha defensin 5 expansion in Crohn’s colitis: A new insight into the etiopathogenic and differentiation triggers driving colonic inflammatory bowel disease. PLoS One. 2021.
• Williams AD, Korolkova OY, Sakwe AM, Geiger TM, James SD, Muldoon RL, Herline AJ, Goodwin JS, Izban MG, Washington MK, Smoot DT, Ballard BR, Gazouli M, M’Koma AE.  Human alpha defensin 5 is a candidate biomarker to delineate inflammatory bowel disease.  PLoS One.  2017 Aug 17.
• Poindexter SV, Reddy VK, Mittal MK, Williams AD, Washington MK, Harris E, Mah AT, Hiebert SW, Singh K, Chaturvedi R, Wilson KT, Lund PK, Williams CS.  Transcriptional co-repressor MTG16 regulates small intestinal crypt proliferation and crypt regeneration after radiation-induced injury.  American J Physiol Gastroint Liver Physiol.  2015 Jan 8.
• Parang B, Rosenblatt D, Williams AD, Washington MK, Revetta F, Short SP, Reddy VK, Hunt A, Shroyer NF, Engel ME, Hiebert SW, Williams CS.  The transcriptional corepressor MTGR1 regulates intestinal secretory lineage allocation.  FASEB J.  2014 Nov 14.
• Myers JN, Schaffer MW, Korolkova OY, Williams AD, Gangula PR, M’Koma AE.  Implications of the colonic deposition of free hemoglobin-alpha chain: a previously unknown tissue by-product in inflammatory bowel disease.  Inflammatory Bowel Disease.  2014 Sep;20(9): 1530-47.
• Friggeri L, Hargrove TY, Rachakonda G, Williams AD, Wawrzak Z, Di Santo R, De Vita D, Waterman MR, Tortorella S, Villalta F, Lepesheva GI.  Structural basis for rational of inhibitors targeting Trypanosoma cruzi sterol 14-alpha-demethylase: two regions of the enzyme molecule potentiate its inhibition.  J Medicinal Chemistry.  2014 Aug 14; 57(15):6704-17.
• Williams CS, Bradley AM, Chaturvedi R, Singh K, Piazuelo MB, Chen X, McDonough EM, Schwartz DA, Brown CT, Allaman MM, Couburn LA, Horst SN, Beaulieu DB, Choksi YA, Washington MK, Williams AD, Fisher MA, Zinkel SS, Peek RM Jr, Wilson 
• KT, Hiebert SW.  MTG16 contributes to colonic epithelial integrity in experimental colitis.  Gut (2012).   July 24.
• Barrett CW, Fingleton B, Williams AD, Ning W, Fischer MA, Washington MK, Chaturvedi R, Wilson KT, Hiebert SW, Williams CS.  MTGR1 is required for tumorigenesis in the murine AOM/DSS colitis-associated carcinoma model.  Cancer Research.  2011.  71(4):1302-12.
• Whitten CW, Williams AD, Williams CS. (2010). Murine Colitis Modeling using Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS), JoVE. Issue 35, http://www.jove.com/index/details.stp?ID=1652, 10.3791/1652
• O’Brien DP, Israel DA, Krishna U, Romero-Gallo J, Nedrud J, Medof ME, Lin F, Redline R, Lublin DM, Nowicki BJ, Franco AT, Ogden S, Williams AD, Polk DB, Peek RM Jr.  The Role of Decay-accelerating Factor as a Receptor for Helicobacter pylori and a Mediator of Gastric Inflammation.  The Journal of Biological Chemistry 2006; 281; 13317-23.

Review Articles:

• Williams AD and M’Koma AE.  Delineation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease by Molecular Biometrics: Verification verses Validation.  Clinics in Surgery.  2017.
• Williams AD and M’Koma AE.  Molecular Differentiation of Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Colitis: Is it Achievable?  Clinical Laboratory International.  2015.

• Lipscomb University Women in STEM Club Faculty Advisor
• Health Professions Advisory Committee Member
• Student Scholars Symposium Organizational Committee
• American Cancer Society ResearcHERS Ambassador (2018-2019)
• Faculty Advisor, Study Abroad, Florence, Italy (2018)

• Lipscomb University Faculty Summer Grant Award (2019)
• Meharry Medical College Transition Award (2018)
• Meharry Medical College Top Scholar Award (2018)
• American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Annual Meeting; New England Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Award: Best Clinical Podium Presentation (2016)
• Lipscomb University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Excellence in Scholarship Award (2015)
• Meharry Medical College Pamela and Frank S. Royal Endowed Scholarship Award (2014)
• Meharry Medical College First Year PhD Award (2014)

International/National Conferences:

• Williams AD, King H, Rubenic L, M’Koma AE. The application of microarray pathway analysis to search for and screen molecular biomarkers in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Keystone Symposium: Innate Immunity and Environment in IBD, Taos, NM, 2019.
• Williams AD, Sakwe A, Smoot D, Washington B, Ballard T, M’Koma AE.  Indeterminate colitis precision into Crohn’s colitis and Ulcerative colitis using molecular biometrics.  American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, 2016.  
• Landers DV, Keith KA, de la Torre D, Wheless W, MacQuarrie CD, Williams AD.  The JAK/STAT pathway is responsible for immunoproteasome activation and potentially MHCI presentation with both TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma in murine macrophages, but not murine dendritic cells.  Keystone Symposium: JAK/STAT, Steamboat Springs, CO, 2016.
• Williams AD. miRNAs: New Discoveries and Potential Therapeutic Interventions. Christian Scholars Conference, Abilene, TX, 2015.

Regional Conferences:

• Scherr C and Williams AD. Connection of alpha defensin 5 and apoptosis of colon cells in Crohn’s colitis patients.  Association of Southeastern Biologists, 2021
• Fisher E and Williams AD.  Determining the HD5 binding affinity to NCM colon cells.  Association of Southeastern Biologists, 2021.
• Lisk E and Williams AD. The role of HD5 on mediated cell death. Association of Southeastern Biologists, 2021
• Rubenic L, Williams AD.  The evaluation of Reg1A as a potential biomarker to differentiate Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Association of Southeastern Biologists, 2019.
• Dotson K, Cunningham B, Williams AD. The immunoproteasome may not be responsible for increased MHCI presentation in the presence of TNF-alpha.  Association for Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting, 2017.
• Forchetti M, Williams AD. JAK2 may be the pathway responsible for immunoproteasome activation in the presence of TNF-alpha, Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting, 2017.
• Skrabut M, Williams AD, Millimaki B.  Topoisomerase II beta and axonal pathfinding.  Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting, 2016.
• Mitchell M, Williams AD. Immunoproteasome subunit activation by TNF-alpha via JAK2 signaling. American Society for Microbiology Regional Meeting, 2015.
• Landers DV, de la Torre D, Williams AD. Determining the role of the JAK/STAT pathway in immunoproteasome activation in JAWSII dendritic cells. American Society for Microbiology Regional Meeting, 2015.
• Landers DV, Williams AD. Determining the potential role of NF-kappa B in immunoproteasome subunit expression induced by TNF-alpha. Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting, 2015.
• Keith KA, Williams AD. The involvement of the JAK/STAT pathway in the regulation and induction of immunoproteasomes following IFN-gamma stimulation. Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting, 2015.
• Bourgeois D, Hannah B, Williams AD, Conway RE. Prostate-specific membrane antigen activates integrin beta-1 in a laminin dependent manner resulting in increased endothelial cell activation. Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting, 2012.

State Conferences:

• Schmutzer L, Marshall A, Williams AD.  Human milk bacterial levels in response to yogurt supplementation.  Tennessee Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2016.
• MacQuarrie CD, Keith KA, Williams AD. Immunoproteasome subunit activation in response to TNF-alpha.  Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 2013.
• Keith KA, MacQuarrie CD, Williams AD.  Immunoproteasome subunit activation in response to IFN-gamma. Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 2013.
• McNeil JB, Williams AD, Lowrance JH.  Exon profile of human brain derived neurotrophic factor in non-cancerous breast epithelium using HMEC and MCF-10A cell lines.  Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 2013.
• Richardson N, Dowler J, Williams AD, Conway RE.  Investigation of endothelial cell activation by synthetic laminin and collagen peptides. Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 2013.
• Owens N, Williams AD, Millimaki B. Loss of Cin-4, a protein with homology to the catalytic domain of topoiosomerase II, causes defects in neural migration in C. elegans. Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 2013.
• Hutchinson DJ, Williams AD, Conway RE. Integrin-dependent endothelial cell activation by synthetic peptide QSLDL. Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 2013.
• Khoury R, Williams AD, Conway RE. CD-10 expression and promoter methylation in breast cancer cells.  Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 2013.
• Cosminsky B, Williams AD, Conway RE.  CD10 function on human breast cancer cell invasion. Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 2012. 
• Joiner K, Williams AD, Conway RE. MMP-2 and prostate specific membrane antigen generate small laminin peptides that activate endothelial cells through focal adhesion kinase.  Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 2012.
• Belles ME, Williams AD, Conway RE.  ECE-1 and CD10 protein expression in invasive breast cancer. Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 2012.
• Patterson A, Rampp B, Williams AD, Conway RE.  Prostate specific membrane antigen processes laminin downstream of matrix metalloprotases in endothelial cell activation and angiogenesis.  Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 2011.
• Kellum B, Williams AD, Conway RE.  Endothelin converting enzyme-1 expression levels in breast cancer cells. Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 2011.
• Rampp B, Patterson A, Williams AD, Conway RE.  Small extracellular matrix peptides regulate endothelial cell activation. Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 2011
• Anderson C, Eubanks C, Gragg S, Williams AD, Lowrance JH.  The influence of environmental pH on Group B Streptococcus virulence factor expression. Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 2011.
• Pannell J, Rogers W, Williams AD, Sledge MK.  Genetic diversity of Daleia foliosa using ISSR markers. Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 2011.
• Brawner K, Williams AD, Lowrance JH.  Brain derived neurotrophic factor expression in prostate cancer cells during stress. Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 2011.
• Watson M, Williams AD, Conway RE.  The role of endothelin converting enzyme-1 in human breast cancer cell invasion. Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 2011.
• Maerz PW, Williams AD, Lowrance JH. Brain derived neurotrophic factor expression during cellular stress in T-lymphoblasts. Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 2011.

Institutional Conferences:

• Meharry Medical College’s Annual Student Research Day:
• Williams AD, M’Koma AE.  Human defensin alpha-5 is a candidate biomarker for distinguishing Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 2017
• Salonga S, Williams AD, Korolkova O, M’Koma AE.  Determining molecular differences between ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s Disease, 2015.
• Lipscomb University’s Annual Student Scholars Symposium:
• Kirmani K and Williams AD.  Investigating the effects of HD5 treatment on wound healing in colon cells, 2021.
• Bukenya G and Williams AD. The effects of HD5 on colonic wound healing, 2021.
• Bain R and Williams AD.  Determination of apoptosis in colorectal epithelial cells upon treatment with HD5, 2021.
• Meador M, Hinerman M, Ryan N, Snyder J, Williams AD. Effects of HD5 on colonic wound healing and Fibrinogen beta chain, 2021.
• Whiting E, Lander G, Haga P, Milam R, Williams AD.  HD5 and Prothrombin: Potential factors in impaired wound healing of Crohn’s colitis patients, 2021.
• Boushra M, Makram J, St. John E, Seiber K,  Williams AD.  Dose-Dependent effects of HD5 treatments on MMP-7 gene expression in relation to wound healing in healthy colon cells, 2021.
• Scherr C, Lisk E, Baird S, Maner K, Williams AD. The effect of HD5 on epidermal growth factor receptor, 2021.
• Cannone M, Stanely E, Gad G, Awad M, Williams AD.  The impact of human alpha defensin 5 on the expression of E-cadherin on the wound healing in inflammatory bowel diseases, 2021.
• Fisher EG, Lynn TC, Patel KN, Torres ML, Williams AD.  Assessing the Effects of Human alpha-Defensin 5 on CMKLR1 and Colonic Epithelial Wound Healing, 2021.
• Kling H, Williams AD. Analysis of smooth muscle contraction pathway proteins as potential biomarkers for IBD, 2020.
• Fisher E, Williams AD. Determining developmental pathways that might differentiate IBD from potential biomarkers, 2020.
• Scillion M, Williams AD. The effect of HD5 on cell death in normal human colonocytes, 2020.
• Kokoy S, Roland A, Mohammad A, Reed T, Williams AD.  The effect of Human Defensin 5 on the activation of apoptosis in Human colon cell lines.
• Hibma J, Clark S, Roach C, Bain R, Williams AD.  Resulting canonical apoptosis of colorectal epithelial cells upon treatment with human alpha defensin 5, 2020
• Drobny K, Roy K, Glassco M, Kling H, Horton B, Moussaed A, Williams AD. Apoptotic responses to human alpha defensin 5 in normal human colonocytes, 2020.
• Berta C, Wigger S, Gerges M, LeCates D, Williams AD. The role of HD5 in activation of cell death in colorectal epithelial cells, 2020.
• Marvel O, Williams AD.  Examining differential apoptotic biomarkers in Inflammatory Bowel Disease for increased diagnostic accuracy, 2020.
• Green S, Williams AD.  The downstream effects of mutations in the von Willebrand Factor Protein and how it leads to von Willebrand Disease Type I, 2020.
• Kartman M, Brents R, Haga R, Olicia M, Williams AD. The effect of Hepatitis C Core Viral protein on the expression of MHCI through the JAK/STAT pathway, 2019.
• Driskill H, Holt A, Williams AD.  The activation of specific immunoproteasome subunits within the JAK/STAT pathway in Hepatocytes, 2019.
• Moussaed A, Gerges M, Maner K, Rhodes J, Williams AD.  How IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha influence immunoproteasome expression in HepG2 cells, 2019.
• Cook L, Milligan J, Obregon C, Vasseur C, Williams AD.  The presence of HCCVP effects on MECL1 expression in Hepatocytes, 2019.
• Cartwright J, Driskill H, Hood E, Bowen M, Williams AD.  The effect of Hepatitis C Core Viral Protein on STAT3 expression in the presence of IFN-alpha and -gamma, 2019.
• Obregon C, Sullivan S, Wilcox B, Jones N, Williams AD.  The effectiveness of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma on MECL1 expression in HEPG2 cells, 2019.
• Drobny K, Wickremasinghe E, Kling H, Roy K, Williams AD.  Cytokine effect on the production of STAT1 in the HepG2 cells, 2019.
• Ray A, Bryant M, Mohammad A, Kokoy S, Williams AD.  Different immunologic effects of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma on HepG2 cells, 2019.
• Swanson E, Williams N, McReynolds K, Ghebranios V, Williams AD.  Effect of Hepatitis C Core Viral protein on LMP2 in the interferon activated JAK/STAT pathway, 2019.
• Reed T, Roland A, Patel S, Alsadi M, Williams AD. Effects of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma on MHCI expression, 2019.
• Scillion M, Edmonds S, Wurst M, Fontecha J, Williams AD.  The effect of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma on LMP7 in Hepatocytes, 2019.
• Brasil B, Jarosinski A, Reagor C, Welborn M, Williams AD. Hepatitis C Core Viral protein’s effect on STAT1 expression in the presence of interferons alpha and gamma, 2019.
• Brents R, Haha R, Scillion M, Whiting E, Williams AD. How cytokine treatment affects the activation of STAT3 through JAK/STAT, 2019.
• Jarosinski A, Williams AD. Neutrophil dysfunction in systemic Lupus Erythematosus, 2019.
• McReynolds K, Williams AD. A literature review on amyloid beta aggregation in Alzheimer’s Disease and therapeutic approaches, 2019.
• Swanson E, Williams AD. A review of gamma frequency findings in Alzheimer’s Disease, 2019.
• Kirmani K, Williams AD. Understanding the implications of PARP inhibitors as a potential target therapy in triple negative breast cancers, 2019.
• Bowen M, Williams AD. The role of Tau proteins in Alzheimer’s Disease: A neurodegenerative brain disorder, 2019.
• Fontecha MJ, Williams AD. IL-17A production of IL-6 and it’s apoptotic effects on systemic Lupus Erythematosus, 2019.
• Kartman M, Williams AD.  The immune response to the Influenza virus, the role of IFITM3, and how SNP rs12252 increases susceptibility: a literature review, 2019.
• Ghebranious V, Williams AD. A comprehensive review on the Ebola Virus glycoprotein, 2019.
• Davison L, Williams AD. Administration of JAK2 chemical inhibitor AG490 prevents formation of the immunoproteasome in HEPG2 cells, 2018.
• Holt A, Williams AD. The effect of IFN-gamma on immunoproteasome expression levels in HEPG2 cells at varying time points, 2018.
• Cunningham B, Williams AD. Localization of MHCI in antigen presenting cells, 2018.
• Davison L, Williams AD. Immunoproteasome expression levels in response to IFN-gamma in HEPG2 cells, 2017.
• Couch M, Williams AD, Millimaki B.  The effect of Top2-beta inhibition with Hu331 on expression of dcc in Danio rerio, 2017.
• Mitchell M, Williams AD. Immunoproteasome activation by TNF-alpha via JAK2 signaling, 2016.
• Wheless M, Williams AD.  MHCI presentation may be dependent upon the immunoproteasome in murine macrophages, but not murine dendritic cells, 2016.
• Landers DV, Williams AD.  The JAK/STAT Pathway is responsible for immunoproteasome activation and potentially MHCI presentation with IFN-gamma in murine macrophages, but not murine dendritic cells, 2016.
• Schmutzer L, Marshall A, Williams AD. Yogurt supplementation for lactation. Lipscomb University Student Scholars Symposium, 2015.
• Mitchell M, Williams AD. Immunoproteasome activation by IFN-gamma. Lipscomb University Student Scholars Symposium, 2015.
• Keith KA, Williams AD.  Immunoproteasome subunit expression levels in response to IFN-gamma, 2014.
• MacQuarrie C, Williams AD.  Immunoproteasome subunit expression levels in response to TNF-alpha, 2014.

Harpeth Hills Church of Christ, active member and volunteer