Jason Kay

Jason Kay

Jason Kay

Associate Professor

Department of Oral Biology

School of Dental Medicine


Specialty/Research Focus

Microbiology; Oral Biology

Contact Information
545 Biomedical Research Building
3435 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14214
Phone: 716 829 2073
Fax: 716 829 2387
jasonkay@buffalo.edu



Education and Training:

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Hospital for Sick Children (2013)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Queensland (2008)
  • PhD, Molecular Cell Biology, University of Queensland (2007)
  • MS, Molecular Microbiology, University of Calgary (2000)
  • BS, Biochemistry, University of Calgary (1998)

Employment:

  • Associate Professor, Oral Biology, University at Buffalo (2020-present)
  • Assistant Professor, Oral Biology, University at Buffalo (2013–2019)

Awards and Honors:

  • Dean's Commendation (2008)
  • Keystone Macrophage conference travel award (2007)
  • ASMR Queensland Award for Health and Medical Research (Finalist) (2006)

Research Expertise:

  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology
  • pathogen-host interactions
  • Phagocytosis

Grants and Sponsored Research:

  • June 2022–May 2027
    Lipid mediated oral tolerance
    NIH/NIAID
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    $2,327,530
  • June 2022–May 2025
    Cooperativity of Oral Microbes in Evading Neutrophil-Mediated Killing
    NIH/NIDCR
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $97,365
  • December 2019–November 2024
    A role for immune cell plasticity in commensal survival and escalation of inflammation
    NIH/NIDCR
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $1,952,242
  • September 2019–September 2022
    Mechanisms of Oral Streptococcus Macrophage Activation
    NIH/NIDCR
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $93,568
  • August 2019–July 2020
    Spinning Disk Confocal Microscope
    NIH/OD
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $487,743
  • July 2016–June 2018
    Mechanisms of Streptococcus gordonii survival within phagocytes.
    NIH/NIDCR
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $239,250

Journal Articles:

See all (25 more)

Professional Memberships:

  • American Society for Microbiology (2017–present)
  • Society for Leukocyte Biology (2014–present)
  • American Association for Dental Research (2013–present)
  • International Association for Dental Research (2013–present)
  • American Society for Cell Biology (2008–present)

Presentations:

  • "Macrophage-Commensal Dynamics Under Inflammatory Activation." International Association for Dental Research Annual Meeting, International Association for Dental Research (2019)
  • "IL-34 Alters Macrophage Killing Ability" Buffalo Conference on Microbial Pathogenesis, Witebsky Center, University at Buffalo (2019)
  • "Macrophage-Commensal Dynamics Under Inflammatory Activation." Buffalo Conference on Microbial Pathogenesis, Witebsky Center, University at Buffalo (2019)
  • "Candida albicans Pathogenic Phenotypes are Modified by Bacterial Interactions." SDM annual Research Day, School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo (2019)
  • "Macrophage-Commensal Dynamics During Inflammation." SDM annual Research Day, School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo (2019)
  • "Inflammatory Activation Alters Macrophage-Commensal Dynamics." Society for Leukocyte Biology Annual Meeting, Society for Leukocyte Biology (2018)
  • "An Investigation of Commensal-Immune Interactions Altered by Oral Pathogens." SUNY Genesco undergraduate research day, SUNY Genesco (2018)
  • "Inflammatory Activation Alters Macrophage-Commensal Dynamics" Annual Buffalo Conference on Microbial Pathogenesis,, University at Buffalo, Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology (2018)
  • "Candida albicans RAS1 modulates survival within human neutrophils" American Association for Dental Research Annual Meeting, American Association for Dental Research (2018)
  • "Imaging phagosomal survival of commensal oral microbes." 20th Annual Upstate New York Immunology Conference, Upstate New York Immunology (2017)
  • "Ratiometric Imaging to Measure Phagosome Escape of Oral Microbes" 29th Annual Buffalo Conference on Microbial Pathogenesis, The Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology (2017)
  • "Candida albicans stress response MAPKinases protect from Phagocytic Killing" American Association for Dental Research Annual Meeting, American Association for Dental Research (2017)
  • "Determining the Fate of Phagocytosed Porphyromonas gingivalis" American Association for Dental Research Annual Meeting, American Association for Dental Research (2017)
  • "Changing landscapes: oral commensal survival within phagocytes" Mark Wilson Conference, Oral Immunology/Microbiology Research group (2017)
  • "When good bugs go bad: Oral Microbes Resisting phagocytic Destruction" Seminar series, University at Buffalo, Microbiology and Immunology (2017)
  • "Determining the Fate of Phagocytosed Porphyromonas gingivalis" Annual Research Day, University at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine (2017)
  • "Determining the Fate of Phagocytosed Porphyromonas gingivalis." American Association of Women Dentists Annual Meeting, American Association of Women Dentists (2017)
  • "Effects of IL-34 vs M-CSF maturation on macrophage interactions with Porphyromonas gingivalis" Annual Research Day, University at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine (2017)
  • "Ratiometric Imaging to Measure Phagosome Escape of Oral Microbes" 2nd Annual Immune Imaging Symposium, University of Rochester, Program for Advanced Immune Bioimaging (2016)
  • "Avoidance of Phagocytic Destruction by Strptococcus gordonii" 28th Annual Buffalo Conference on Microbial Pathogenesis, University at Buffalo, The Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology (2016)
  • "Sorting Nexins in Phagosomal Maturation" 2015-16 Biology honors program presentations, University at Buffalo, Department of Biology (2016)
  • "Avoidance of Phagocytic Destruction by Streptococcus gordonii" 2016 General Session, American Association for Dental Research (2016)
  • "Factors Affecting Candida albicans Phagocytosis and Killing by Phagocytic Cells" 2016 General Session, American Association for Dental Research (2016)
  • "AbpA may protect Streptococcus gordonii from oxidative stress" Student Research Day, University at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine (2016)
  • "Determining the Fate of Internalized Porphyromonas gingivalis within Phagocytic Cells" Student Research Day, University at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine (2016)
  • "Understanding the relationship between Rab 5 GTPase and protein Sorting Nexin 8 in phagocytosis" Annual poster session, University at Buffalo, CLIMB UP for Summer Research at University at Buffalo (2015)
  • "Determining the Fate of Internalized Porphyromonas gingivalis within Phagocytic Cells" 2015 Summer Biomedical Student Research Day, University at Buffalo (2015)
  • "Sorting Nexin Proteins Involvement in Phagocytosis and Effects on Phagosome Maturation" 2014-15 Biology honors program presentations, University at Buffalo, Department of Biology (2015)
  • "Evasion of Phagosomal Destruction by S. gordonii" 2015 Buffalo Immunology Conference, The Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology (2015)
  • "Cholesterol dictates the subcellular distribution of phosphatidylserine" Lysosomes and Endocytosis, Gordon Research Conferences (2014)
  • "mTOR is Required for Lysosome Tubulation and MHCII Trafficking in Macrophages and Dendritic Cells" Lysosomes and Endocytosis, Gordon Research Conferences (2014)
  • "Recruitment of Sorting Nexin to the Maturing Phagosome" 2013-14 Biology honors program presentations, University at Buffalo, Department of Biology (2014)
  • "Role of lipids and lysosomes in innate immunity; insights from advanced live imaging of macrophages" Invited Speaker, University of Louiseville, Center for Oral Health and Systemic Disease (2013)
  • "Role of lipids and lysosomes in innate immunity; insights from advanced live imaging of macrophages" Invited speaker, University of Alberta, School of Dentistry (2012)
  • "Role of lipids and lysosomes in innate immunity; insights from advanced live imaging of macrophages" Invited speaker, University at Buffalo, Department of Oral Biology (2012)
  • "Characterization of Phosphatidylserine Dynamics in Membranes of Live Cells" Gordon Research Conference - Lysosomes and Endocytosis, Gordon Research Conferences, Lysosomes and Endocytosis (2012)
  • "The Role of Arl8b and Rab7 GTPases in Lysosome Tubulation" American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting (2011)
  • "Phosphatidylserine Dynamics in Cellular Membranes" Gordon Research Conference - Molecular and Cellular Biology of Lipids, Molecular and Cellular Biology of Lipids (2011)
  • "A Diffusional Barrier in the Phagocytic Cup" American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting, American Society for Cell Biology (2009)
  • "Dual Roles for the Recycling Endosome in Phagocytosis" Gordon Research Conference - Lysosomes and Endocytosis, Lysosomes and Endocytosis (2008)
  • "Imaging Cytokine Secretion in Macrophages: Imaging to demonstrate subdomains of the recycling endosome" Hunter Cellular Biology Meeting (2008)
  • "Protein Kinase A in the Regulation of Macrophage Apolipotprotein E Trafficking and Secretion" Hunter Cellular Biology Meeting (2008)
  • "Modification of the Phagocytic Cup by Lipid Rafts" Keystone Macrophage conference (2007)
  • "Differential Requirement for Recycling Endosome in Phagocytosis and Cytokine Secretion" Australasian Society for Immunology 37th Annual Scientific Meeting (2007)
  • "Cytokine Secretion, Phagocytosis and Cholesterol" Queensland Premier Awards for Health and Medical Research (2006)
  • "Lipid Raft Dependence of Cytokine Secretion and Phagocytosis in Macrophages" Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology ComBio (2006)
  • "Caveolin in the Hippocampus and its Interaction with SNAREs" Society for Neuroscience 32nd Annual Meeting, Society for Neuroscience (2002)
  • "Distinct modes of action by the J domain and the cysteine string domain of CSP modulate G protein function" Society for Neuroscience 32nd annual Meeting (2002)
  • "Molecular basis of the modulation of calcium channel function by cysteine string protein" Society for Neuroscience 32nd annual Meeting (2002)
  • "Caveolin in the Hippocampus and its Interaction with SNAREs" Alberta Neuroscience Conference (2002)
  • "Biodegradation of C5+ Hydrocarbon Compounds by Aerobic and Anaerobic Communities Enriched from Pyrolysis Plant Soils" Canadian Society of Microbiology Annual Meeting (2000)
  • "Soil Microbial Community Responses to Incubation in C5+ Followed by DCPD" Canadian Society of Microbiology Annual Meeting (2000)
  • "Characterisation of C5+ Degrading Microbial Communities from Soil" Canadian Society of Microbiology Annual Meeting (1999)
See all (43 more)

Service Activities:

  • School of Dental Medicine Admissions Committee; Member (2015)
  • Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine Graduate Committee, D.D.S./Ph.D.; Member (2015)
  • School of Dental Medicine Ad Hoc Committee; Member (2015)
  • Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine Graduate Committee, Preliminary Exams; Member (2015)
  • Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine Graduate Committee, Preliminary Exams; Member (2015)
  • Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine Graduate Committee, D.D.S./Ph.D.; Member (2014)
  • School of Dental Medicine Student Research and Honors Committee; Member (2014)
  • Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine Graduate Committee, Preliminary Exams; Member (2013–2014)
  • Core Director Search committee; Search committee to find core director for new SDM-managed Confocal microscopy core; Chair (2018)
  • AADR Buffalo Section; President (2016–present)
  • AADR Buffalo Section; Treasurer (2015–2016)
  • Society for Leukocyte Biology - Membership committee; Member (2015–present)
  • School of Dental Medicine Admissions Committee; Member (2015–present)
  • External Thesis Examiner; Thesis examiner for Xiaying Qi, University of Queensland; Examiner (2015)
  • Student Research and Honors Committee; Member (2014–present)
  • Oral Biology Seminar Series; Coordinator (2014–present)
  • AADR Buffalo Section; Secretary (2014–2015)

School News:

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Clinical Specialties:

Clinical Offices:

Insurance Accepted:



Contact Information

545 Biomedical Research Building
3435 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14214
Phone: 716 829 2073
Fax: 716 829 2387
jasonkay@buffalo.edu