Jishu Shi, DVM, PhD Assistant Professor of Immunology, joined the College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. Dr. Shi received a D.V.M. degree from Beijing Agricultural University in 1985. He began to study antimicrobial peptides in Dr. Frank Blecha’s laboratory in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University in 1992 and received a Ph.D. degree in 1995. Dr. Shi then carried out his postdoctoral studies on antimicrobial peptides in Dr. Tomas Ganz's laboratory in the School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles from 1996-1999. Dr. Shi joined Pfizer as a Research Scientist to develop animal biologics in 1999. In 2000, he was promoted to Senior Research Scientist and moved to Pfizer Global Research division to discover new drugs for human inflammatory diseases.
334-844-0726 shijish@vetmed.auburn.edu
Research Interests Dr. Shi and his collaborators have discovered and characterized several antimicrobial peptides, including PR-39, protegrins, porcine beta-defensin-1, bovine beta-defensin-1, and hepcidins.  Although these gene-encoded cationic peptides were isolated from professional phagocytes (neutrophils and macrophages) and/or epithelial cells, and were first recognized as endogenous antimicrobial agents, it is now becoming clear that many of them have multiple roles as mediators of inflammation with effects on epithelial and inflammatory cells.  Studies in Dr. Shi’s lab are focused on function of antimicrobial peptides in innate immunity. The objective of the bovine mucosal innate immunity project is to evaluate the role of antimicrobial peptides in infection and inflammation.  We have characterized the molecular and functional properties of bovine beta-defensin-1 (bBD-1), a novel antimicrobial peptide expressed in bovine mammary gland.  We will investigate the regulation of antimicrobial peptides by Toll-like receptors (TLR) in bovine mastitis.  The aim of the second defensin project is to evaluate the role of defensins in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).  This research stemmed from the observation that defensins can regulate the posttranslational processing and release of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), a key proinflammatory cytokine.  We are studying the molecular mechanisms by which human defensins inhibit IL-1beta release and the significance of this novel function of defensins in the development of intestinal inflammation. Selected Publications and Patents Shi, J., S. Aono, W. Lu, X. Hu, A.J. Ouellette, Y. Ji, L. Wang, S. Lenz, C. Dykstra, E.E. Morrison, and C.O. Elson. (2007)  A novel role for defensins in intestinal homeostasis: regulation of IL-1beta secretion.  Journal of Immunology 179:1245-1253. Shi, J. (2007)  Defensins and paneth cells in inflammatory bowel disease.  Inflammatory Bowel Disease 13:1284-1292. Hu X, S Aono, AC Camus, EE Morrison, J Dennis, KE Nusbaum, RL Judd, and J Shi.  (2007)  Regulation of hepcidin expression by infection and anemia in channel catfish.  Comparative Immunology, Microbiology, andInfectious Disease 30:55-69. Aono S, C Li, G Zhang, RJ Kemppainen, J Gard, W Lu, X Hu, DD Schwartz, EE Morrison, C Dykstra, and J Shi.  (2006)  Molecular and functional characterization of bovine ß-defensin-1.  Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 113:181-190. Shi J and AC Camus.  (2006)  Hepcidins in amphibians and fishes: antimicrobial peptides or iron-regulatory hormones?  Developmental and Comparative Immunology 30:746-755. McVey DS, J Shi, JA Leigh, EL Rosey, PN Ward, TR Field, and RJ Yancey.  (2005)  Identification of multiple linear epitopes of the plasminogen activator A (PauA) of Streptococcus uberis with murine monoclonal antibodies. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 104:155-162. Shi J, DG Perregaux, K Bhavsar, L Contillo, and CA Gabel. (2004)  Antimicrobial peptides induce IL-1ß maturation.  In: Immunology 2004, pp. 235-239, International Proceedings, MEDIMOND S.r.l., Bologna, Italy. Shi J, E Talbot, DA DiMattia, and RG Dullea. (2004)  The differential effects of IL-1 and TNF-alpha on proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases expression in human chondrosarcoma cells. Inflammation Research 53:377-389. Perregaux DG, K Bhavsar, L Contillo, J Shi, and CAGabel.  (2002)  Antimicrobial peptides initiate IL-1ß posttranslational processing: A novel role beyond innate immunity. Journal of Immunology 168:3024-3032. *Cole, A.M, *Shi, J., A. Ceccareli. Y-H. Kim, A, A. Park, and T. Ganz. 2001.  Inhibition of neutrophil elastase prevents cathelicidin activation and impairs clearance of bacteria from wounds.  Blood 97:297-304. (*authors contributed equally) Shi J, AM Cole, A Ceccareli, Y-H Kim, and T Ganz.  (2001)  Inhibition of neutrophil elastase prevents cathelicidin activation and impairs clearance of bacteria from wounds. Blood 97:297-304. Shi J, G Zhang, H Wu, CR Ross, F Blecha, and T Ganz.  (1999)  Porcine epithelial ß-defensin-1 is expressed in the dorsal tongue at antimicrobial concentration. Infection and Immunity 67:3121-3127. Shi J and T Ganz.  (1998)  The role of protegrins and other elastase-activated cathelicidins in the bactericidal properties of porcine inflammatory fluids. Infection and Immunity 66:3611-3617. Zhang G, H Wu, J Shi, T Ganz, CR Ross, and F Blecha.  (1998)  Molecular cloning and tissue expression of porcine ß-defensin-1. FEBS Letters 424:37-40. Panyutich AV, J Shi, PL Boutz, C Zhao, and T Ganz.  (1997)  Porcine PMN generate extracellular microbicidal activity by elastase-mediated activation of secreted proprotegrins. Infection and Immunity 65:978-985. Shi J, CR Ross, TL Leto, and F Blecha.  (1996)  PR-39, a proline-rich antibacterial peptide that inhibits phagocyte NADPH oxidase activity by binding to Src homology 3 domains of p47phox. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93:6014-6018. Shi J, CR Ross, MM Chengappa, MJ Sylte, DS McVey, and F Blecha.  (1996)  Antibacterial activity of a synthetic peptide (PR-26) derived from PR-39, a proline-arginine-rich neutrophil antimicrobial peptide. Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy 40:115-121. Dritz SS, J Shi, TL Kielian, RD Goodband, JL Nelssen, MD Tokach, MM Chengappa, JE Smith, and F Blecha.  (1995)  Influence of dietary ß-glucan on growth performance, nonspecific immunity, and resistance to Streptococcus suis infection in weanling pigs. Journal of Animal Science 73:3341-3350. Shi J, CR Ross, MM Chengappa, and F Blecha.  (1994)  Identification of a proline-arginine-rich antibacterial peptide from neutrophils that is analogous to PR-39, an antibacterial peptide from the small intestine. Journal of Leukocyte Biology 56:807-811. Frank Blecha and Jishu Shi.  (2006) Synthetic Peptides That Inhibit Leukocyte Superoxide Anion Production and/or Attract leukocytes.  US patent # 7,049,396. Frank Blecha and Jishu Shi.  (2004)  Synthetic Peptides That Inhibit Leukocyte Superoxide Anion Production and/or Attract leukocytes.  US patent # 6,713,605.  Christopher R. Ross, Frank Blecha, and Jishu Shi.  (2000)  Modulation of Reperfusion Injury by PR-39. US patent # 6,133,233. Frank Blecha and Jishu Shi.  (1998)  PR-26 - A Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptide. US patent #5,830,993.