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Dr. Sandra Rieger, PhD


Assistant Professor, Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, ME, USA

Hangout Title: "Perturbed neuroepithelial crosstalk as underlying cause of Taxol-induced neurotoxicity"
Hangout Schedule: May 11th: 11 am ESt, 10 am CST, 8 am PST
Dr. Sandra Rieger

Education
Ph.D., Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Center (Germany), Developmental Neurobiology, 2007
M.Sc. (Diplom Oecotrolphologie), University of Applied Sciences/Hochschule Fulda (Germany), Nutritional Sciences, 2002

Research Overview
The Rieger Lab studies wound healing mechanisms using zebrafish as a model. Wound healing is an intricate process that requires coordinated interactions between various cell types. The small reactive oxygen species hydrogen peroxide is a key signaling molecule that has been found to stimulate various wound repair processes, including immune and epidermal cell migration and the regeneration of sensory nerve endings. Our lab is particularly interested in the signaling functions of hydrogen peroxide leading to the crosstalk between nerve endings and epidermal cells, as these interactions are required for wound healing.
We are further interested in the development of therapeutic strategies that promote sensory nerve regeneration and wound healing in chemotherapy patients. Many chemotherapy patients suffer from decreased wound healing following surgical intervention. About 30-40 percent also develop peripheral neuropathy, a condition of nerve degeneration. The underlying causes for each of these conditions are unknown. We have established a zebrafish model to study the effects of one chemotherapeutic agent, paclitaxel, on wound healing and nerve degeneration. This research has led to the identification of two compounds that promote wound and nerve repair in zebrafish. Both compounds are under investigation for their effects in mammals

Publications
  • Lisse, TS, Chun RF, Rieger S, Adams JS, Hewison M: Vitamin D activation of functionally distinct regulatory miRNAs in primary human osteoblasts. J Bone Miner Res. 2013 Jan 29. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.1882.
  • O’Brien, G. S., Rieger, S., Wang, F., Smolen, G. A., Gonzalez, R. E., Buchanan, J. A., & Sagasti, A. (2012). Coordinate development of skin cells and cutaneous sensory axons in zebrafish. The Journal of Comparative Neurology, 520(4), 816–831. Wiley Online Library.
  • Rieger, S., Wang, F., & Sagasti, A. (2011). Time-lapse imaging of neural development: Zebrafish lead the way into the fourth dimension. Genesis, 49(7), 534–545. Wiley Online Library.
  • Rieger, S., & Sagasti, A. (2011). Hydrogen peroxide promotes injury-induced peripheral sensory axon regeneration in the zebrafish skin. PLoS Biology, 9(5), e1000621. Public Library of Science.
  • Rieger, S., Senghaas, N., Walch, A., & Köster, R. W. (2009). Cadherin-2 controls directional chain migration of cerebellar granule neurons. PLoS Biology, 7(11), e1000240. Public Library of Science.
  • O’Brien, G. S., Rieger, S., Martin, S. M., Cavanaugh, A. M., Portera-Cailliau, C., & Sagasti, A. (2009). Two-photon axotomy and time-lapse confocal imaging in live zebrafish embryos. Journal of Visualized Experiments: JoVE, (24). MyJoVE Corporation.
  • Rieger, S., Volkmann, K., & Köster, R. W. (2008). Polysialyltransferase expression is linked to neuronal migration in the developing and adult zebrafish. Developmental Dynamics, 237(1), 276–285. Wiley Online Library.
  • Volkmann, K., Rieger, S., Babaryka, A., & Köster, R. W. (2008). The zebrafish cerebellar rhombic lip is spatially patterned in producing granule cell populations of different functional compartments. Developmental Biology, 313(1), 167–180. Elsevier.
  • Rieger, S., & Köster, R. W. (2007). Preparation of zebrafish embryos for transmission electron microscopy. CSH Protoc, 2.
  • Rieger, S., Kulkarni, R. P., Darcy, D., Fraser, S. E., & Köster, R. W. (2005). Quantum dots are powerful multipurpose vital labeling agents in zebrafish embryos. Developmental Dynamics, 234(3), 670–681. Wiley Online Library.
  • Cover Image of Developmental Dynamics Special Edition: Developmental Neurobiology, November 2005
  • Beckers, J., Herrmann, F., Rieger, S., Drobyshev, A. L., Horsch, M., Hrabé de Angelis, M., & Seliger, B. (2004). Identification and validation of novel ERBB2 (HER2, NEU) targets including genes involved in angiogenesis. International Journal of Cancer, 114(4), 590–597. Wiley Online Library
  • Horr B, Borck H, Jones M, Lebert A, Rieger S, Diel F: Pyrethroids do not show relevant ex vivo histamine releasing potency in human basophils. Inflammation Research, 2003 Vol. 52 Suppl. 1