FORT WORTH, Texas—In honor of being named Outstanding Graduate Faculty Member, Porunelloor Mathew, Ph.D., will present “Molecular Basis of Cancer Cell Killing by Human Natural Killer Cells” at a seminar Nov. 17, at 3 p.m., in UNT Health Science Center’s Luibel Hall.

Dr. Mathew has studied cancer for 10 years in both the United States and India. In 1993, he found the surface molecule 2B4 in natural killer cells, which are cells found in the immune system that kill other virally infected cells and tumor cells. 2B4 causes killer cells to become more active. Dr. Mathew, along with Dr. Marion Brown of the University of Oxford, discovered 2B4’s partner molecule, CD48, which is widely found in the immune system. They found that with both molecules present, the natural killer cells become more activated, and are able to kill more cancer and viral cells.

He has published many articles on his research topic including his most recent, “Polymorphism in the 2B4 gene of inbred mouse strains,” in the July issue of Immunogenetics. Dr. Mathew has also been given numerous grants for his research in this field.

Each year, the health science center’s graduate student body selects an outstanding faculty member who is then invited to present the history of his or her research programs. The seminar series was created to foster an understanding of the long-term efforts of the award recipients.

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