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Jay W. Fox, PhD

Jay W. Fox, PhD

Professor, Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology

Primary Location
PO Box 800734 Jordan Hall, 1070
Primary Phone Number
143.492.4005
Fax Number
143.498.2251
Email
[email protected]
Website
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/research/resresources.cfm#cores

Bio & Overview

My laboratory, in collaboration with my colleague Dr. Jon Bjarnason, was one of the first to identify and characterize the metalloproteinases present in numerous snake venoms. These Snake Venom Metalloproteinases; SVMPs are responsible for many of the pathologies associated with snake envenoming. Our research has elucidated the structures of these toxins and identified the biochemical and cellular mechanisms by which the toxins function to give rise to their noted pathologies. Specifically my research interests have been centered on metalloproteinases and extracellular matrix and the processes they regulate in normal and pathological circumstances. Our recent focus has expanded to include the interaction of host and tumor in carcinogenesis and metastasis and the role of stromal microenvironment, inflammation in cancer metastasis and invasion. We are also carrying out research on the discovery and validation of biomarkers associated with normal and chronic wound healing. Our longstanding interest in snake venom toxinology continues with studies aimed at elucidating novel molecular mechanisms associated with venom induced wound morbidity. We also are working on the identification of novel therapeutics from natural product libraries.

Academic Information

Department
Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology
Academic Title
Professor

Primary Education

  • BA, Chemistry and Philosophy, Monmouth College, Monmouth, IL, 1974
  • PhD, Biochemistry, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO, 1978
  • Postdoc, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of CO Med. School, Denver, CO, 1981

Other Appointments

  • Professor and Associate Dean of Research, MII
  • Professor and Associate Dean of Research, MCDB
  • Professor and Associate Dean of Research, MOMD

Other Affiliations

  • Associate Director for Laboratory Research Infrastructure, Cancer Center
  • Associate Director for Laboratory Research Infrastructure, Cancer Cell Signaling Program
  • Professor, BIMS
  • BIMS

Research Interests

Basement Membrane Structure and Metalloproteinases

Research Disciplines

  • Biochemistry
  • Biotechnology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Translational Science

Research Opportunities

  • Biochemistry
  • Biotechnology
  • Cancer Biology

PhD Programs

  • Microbiology

Selected Publications

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

Abstract 2023: Spatial transcriptomic evidence for an inflammatory, pro tumorigenic microenvironment in normal human dense breast tissue
Cancer Research. 2022; 82(12_Supplement): 2023 - 2023. DOI:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2022-2023.

Editorial: Tumor microenvironment (TME) and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME): New perspectives for prognosis and therapy
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. 2022; 10:. DOI:10.3389/FCELL.2022.971275.

Longitudinal Metabolomics and Lipidomics Analyses Reveal Alterations Associated with Envenoming by Bothrops asper and Daboia russelii in an Experimental Murine Model
Toxins. 2022; 14(10): 657. DOI:10.3390/TOXINS14100657.

Phostensin enables lymphocyte integrin activation and population of peripheral lymphoid organs
The Journal of Experimental Medicine. 2022; 219(8):. DOI:10.1084/JEM.20211637.

2021

2020

Analysis of wound exudates reveals differences in the patterns of tissue damage and inflammation induced by the venoms of Daboia russelii and Bothrops asper in mice
Toxicon. 2020; 186: 94 - 104. DOI:10.1016/J.TOXICON.2020.07.025.

Biomolecular investigation into systemic vascular leakage and kidney dysfunction induced by Russell's viper: A unique type of vascular toxicity and pathophysiology in viperid envenomings
Toxicon. 2020; 177((Supp.)): S7 - S8. DOI:10.1016/J.TOXICON.2019.10.036.

Importance of metalloproteinases in envenoming by Bothrops atrox, in the Brazilian Amazon: Local damage approaches
Toxicon. 2020; 177((Supp.)): S56. DOI:10.1016/J.TOXICON.2019.12.125.

Local damage in human envenomings by Bothrops atrox in Brazilian Amazon
Toxicon. 2020; 177((Supp.)): S8. DOI:10.1016/J.TOXICON.2019.10.037.

Loss of ADAM9 Leads to Modifications of the Extracellular Matrix Modulating Tumor Growth
Biomolecules. 2020; 10(9): 1290. DOI:10.3390/BIOM10091290.

Unravelling the pathophysiology of vascular leakage induced by Daboia russelli snake venom
Toxicon. 2020; 177((Supp.)): S47 - S48. DOI:10.1016/J.TOXICON.2019.12.096.

2019

2018

Abstract 5649: Multi-omics data indicate that primary and lymph node oral cancer cells-derived extracellular vesicles carry cargo molecules with a specific aggressive pattern
Cancer Research. 2018; 78(13_Supplement): 5649 - 5649. DOI:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2018-5649.

Combining discovery and targeted proteomics reveals a prognostic signature in oral cancer
Nature Communications. 2018; 9(1):. DOI:10.1038/S41467-018-05696-2.

Metalloproteinases in disease: identification of biomarkers of tissue damage through proteomics
Expert Review of Proteomics. 2018; 15(12): 967 - 982. DOI:10.1080/14789450.2018.1538800.

Revisiting the Therapeutic Potential of Bothrops jararaca Venom: Screening for Novel Activities Using Connectivity Mapping
Toxins. 2018; 10(2): 69. DOI:10.3390/TOXINS10020069.

Systemic vascular leakage induced in mice by Russell’s viper venom from Pakistan
Scientific Reports. 2018; 8(1):. DOI:10.1038/S41598-018-34363-1.

Unresolved issues in the understanding of the pathogenesis of local tissue damage induced by snake venoms
Toxicon. 2018; 148: 123 - 131. DOI:10.1016/J.TOXICON.2018.04.016.

2017

2016

A Comprehensive View of the Structural and Functional Alterations of Extracellular Matrix by Snake Venom Metalloproteinases (SVMPs): Novel Perspectives on the Pathophysiology of Envenoming
Toxins. 2016; 8(10): 304. DOI:10.3390/TOXINS8100304.

CXCL10 Acts as a Bifunctional Antimicrobial Molecule against Bacillus anthracis
mBio. 2016; 7(3):. DOI:10.1128/MBIO.00334-16.

Muscle Tissue Damage Induced by the Venom of Bothrops asper: Identification of Early and Late Pathological Events through Proteomic Analysis
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 2016; 10(4): e0004599. DOI:10.1371/JOURNAL.PNTD.0004599.

Proteomic identification of gender molecular markers in Bothrops jararaca venom
Journal of Proteomics. 2016; 139: 26 - 37. DOI:10.1016/J.JPROT.2016.02.030.

Viperid Envenomation Wound Exudate Contributes to Increased Vascular Permeability via a DAMPs/TLR-4 Mediated Pathway
Toxins. 2016; 8(12): 349. DOI:10.3390/TOXINS8120349.