Thomas M. Petro, PhD
Interim Chair, UNMC College of Dentistry Department of Oral Biology
Professor
Thomas M. Petro, PhD has a BS, MS, and PhD in Microbiology with an emphasis in Immunology.
He obtained his BS at Ohio State University, MS at Miami University, Ohio and PhD at Miami University. His PostDoc was at Purdue University with Dr. Ron Watson. After three years as a Research Scientist with the FDA, Dr. Petro joined the Department of Oral Biology at UNMC College of Dentistry in 1987.
Presently, Dr. Petro is a professor and interim chair of the department, and also a faculty associate with the Nebraska Center for Virology. He also is a courtesy faculty of the UNL School of Biological Sciences. In addition, he is an executive editor of the journal International Immunopharmacology and a member of the American Association of Immunology and American Society of Microbiology.
- BS: Microbiology, Ohio State University, 1975
- MS, Microbiology, Miami University, Ohio, 1977
- PhD: Microbiology, Miami University, Ohio, 1980
- Postdoc: Immunology and Nutrition, Purdue University, 1982
Macrophages are a major cell of the immune system bridging innate and adaptive immunity. Macrophage responses to pathogens can be either inflammatory with production of certain cytokines or healing where they have an anti-inflammatory/healing phenotype. Certain diseases are associated with development an inappropriate macrophage phenotype. Our central hypothesis is that Interferon Response Factor 3 (IRF3) is a key protein directing the correct or inappropriate macrophage type. The goal of our lab is to determine how IRF3 directs or fails to direct the wrong phenotype of certain diseases, such as periodontal disease.
- Speciale I, Notaro A, Bruijns S, van Kooyk Y, Esmael A, Molinaro A, Balzarini F, Rodriguez E, Petro TM, Agarkova IV, Pattee GL, Van Etten JL, De Castro C, Chiodo F. Carbohydrate-mediated interactions between chloroviruses and the immune system. Commun Biol. 2024 7(1):1670.
- Petro TM, Agarkova IV, Esmael A, Dunigan DD, Van Etten JL, Pattee GL.Chlorovirus ATCV-1 Accelerates Motor Deterioration in SOD1-G93A Transgenic Mice and Its SOD1 Augments Induction of Inflammatory Factors From Murine Macrophages. Front. Neurol. 2022 13: 821166.
- Petro TM. IFN Regulatory Factor 3 in Health and Disease. J Immunol. 2020 Oct 15;205(8):1981-1989.
- Petro, T.M., Agarkova, I.V., Zhou,Y., Yolken, R.H., Van Etten, J.L., Dunigan, D.D. Response of mammalian macrophages to challenge with the Chlorovirus ATCV-1. J. of Virol. 89(23):12096-107. 2015.
- Petro MS, Agarkova IV, Petro TM. Effect of Chlorovirus ATCV-1 infection on behavior of C57Bl/6 mice. J Neuroimmunol. 2016 Aug 15;297:46-55.
- Orton K Stark Award-In Recognition of Academic Achievement of the Highest Order and Efforts and Talents Reflecting the Learning Traditions of the Department of Microbiology, Miami University, 1980
- Faculty Senate, College of Dentistry Representative, 2007 – 2025
- Elected to OKU, Honorary Membership, 2012
- Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate, 2014 –2025
- UNMC Microbiome Search Committee, 2015 – 2018
- Tussing-Kaldahl Scholar Award, UNMC College of Dentistry, 2023