Desiree Wanders

Research Interests
Nutritional and pharmacological interventions to prevent or treat obesity and metabolic disease, white and brown adipose tissue remodeling, adipose tissue physiology, regulation of energy balance, inflammation and metabolic disease.

Selected Publications

1. Shen C-L, Kaur G, Wanders D, Sharma S, Tomison MD, Ramalingam L, Chung E, Moustaid-Moussa N, Mo H, Dufour JM (2018). Annatto-extracted tocotrienols improve glucose homeostasis and bone properties in high-fat diet-induced type 2 diabetic mice by decreasing the inflammatory response. Scientific Reports. In Press.
2. Wanders D, Forney LA, Stone KP, Hasek BE, Johnson WD, Gettys TW (2018). The components of age-dependent effects of dietary methionine restriction on energy balance in rats. Obesity. 26(4):740-746.
3. Forney LA, Stone KP, Wanders D, Gettys TW (2017). Sensing and signaling mechanisms linking dietary methionine restriction to the behavioral and physiological components of the response. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology. 3022(17):30094-30098.
4. Forney LA, Stone KP, Wanders D, Ntambi JM, Gettys TW (2017). The role of suppression of hepatic SCD1 expression in the metabolic effects of dietary methionine restriction. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. 43(2):123-130.
5. Zimmerman AD, Breckenridge CB, Yi KD, Coder PS, Wanders D, Judd RL, Foradori CD (2017). Changes in hepatic phase I and phase II biotransformation enzyme expression and substrate availability following atrazine exposure in female rats. Xenobiotica. 48(9):867-881.
6. Ghosh S, Forney LA, Wanders D, Stone KP, Gettys TW (2017). An integrative analysis of tissue-specific transcriptomic and metabolomic responses to short-term dietary methionine restriction in mice. PLOS One. 12(5):e0177513.
7. Forney LA, Wanders D, Stone KP, Pierse A, Gettys TW (2017). Concentration-dependent linkage of dietary methionine restriction to the components of its metabolic phenotype. Obesity. 25(4):730-738.
8. Wanders D, Forney LA, Stone KP, Burk DH, Pierse A, Gettys TW (2017). FGF21 mediates the thermogenic and insulin-sensitizing effects of dietary methionine restriction but not its effects on hepatic lipid metabolism. Diabetes. 66(4):858-867.
9. Wanders D, Stone KP, Forney LA, Cortez CC, Dille KN, Simon J, Xu M, Hotard EC, Nikonorova IA, Petit AP, Anthony TG, Gettys TW (2016). Role of GCN2-independent signaling through a non-canonical PERK/NRF2 pathway in the physiological responses to dietary methionine restriction. Diabetes. 65(6):1499-1510.
10. Graff EC, Fang H, Wanders D, Judd RL (2016). Anti-inflammatory effects of the hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 2. Metabolism. 65(2):102-113.
11. Wang L, Miller D, Wanders D, Nanayakkara G, Amin R, Judd RL, Morrison E, Zhong J (2016). Adiponectin reduction is associated with myocyte dysfunction in volume overload-induced heart failure. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 37(2):187-195.
12. Wanders D, Stone KP, Dille K, Simon J, Pierse A, Gettys TW (2015). Metabolic responses to dietary leucine restriction involve remodeling of adipose tissue and enhanced hepatic insulin signaling. Biofactors.41(6):391-402.
13. Stone KP, Wanders D, Calderon LF, Spurgin SB, Scherer PE, Gettys TW (2015). Compromised responses to dietary methionine restriction in adipose tissue but not liver of ob/ob mice. Obesity. 23(9):1836-1844.
14. Wanders D, Burk DH, Cortez CC, Van NT, Stone KP, Baker M, Mendoza T, Mynatt RL, Gettys TW (2015). UCP1 is an essential mediator of the effects of methionine restriction on energy balance but not insulin sensitivity. The FASEB Journal. 29(6):2603-2615.
15. Godwin LA, Brooks JC, Hoepfner LD, Wanders D, Judd RL, Easley CJ (2015). A microfluidic interface design for the culture and sampling of adiponectin from primary adipocytes. Analyst. 140(4):1019-1025.

Selected Presentations - Abstracts/Poster/Oral Presentations (last 3 years)

1. Wanders D, Knapp D, Najjar R, Jung S, Pearson K, Chassaing B, Feresin RG. Blackberries and raspberries attenuate inflammation. 12th Annual Boshell Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research Day. Auburn, AL, February 2019.
2. Sharma S, Jung S, Graff EC, Gettys TW, Wanders D. Low-dose FGF21 administration decreases obesity-induced hepatic steatosis but has no effect on inflammation in mice. American Diabetes Association 78th Annual Scientific Sessions. Orlando, FL, June 2018.
3. Hobson K, Wanders D, Ji X. Methionine restriction inhibits non-small cell lung cancer growth by targeting beta-catenin pathway. American Society for Nutrition Annual Meeting. Boston, MA, June 2018.
4. Sharma S, Jung S, Graff EC, Gettys TW, Wanders D. Low-dose FGF21 administration decreases obesity-induced hepatic steatosis but has no effect on inflammation in mice. 11th Annual Boshell Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research Day. Auburn, AL, February 2018.
5. Sharma S, Mo H, Shen C-L, Wanders D. d-delta-Tocotrienol inhibits high-fat diet-induced hepatic inflammation by downregulating STAT3 signaling. American Diabetes Association 77th Annual Scientific Sessions. San Diego, CA, June 2017.
6. Dixon TM, Sharma S, Forney LA, Gettys TW, Wanders D. Fibroblast Growth Factor-21 (FGF-21): A mediator of inflammatory responses to diets? American Diabetes Association 77th Annual Scientific Sessions. San Diego, CA, June 2017.
7. Sharma S, Mo H, Shen C-L, Wanders D. d-delta-Tocotrienol inhibits high-fat diet-induced hepatic inflammation by downregulating STAT3 signaling. Lewis School Graduate Research Conference. Atlanta, GA, April 2016.
8. Dixon TM, Sharma S, Forney LA, Gettys TW, Wanders D. Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) may mediate peripheral inflammatory responses to different diets. 10th Annual Boshell Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research Day. Auburn, AL, March 2017.
9. Sharma S, Dixon T, Dille K, Simon J, Bobart L, Gettys TW, Wanders D. Dietary methionine restriction inhibits STAT3 signaling and decreases inflammation in liver and adipose tissue of rodents. 9th Annual Boshell Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research Day. Auburn, AL, February 2016.
10. Wanders D, Burk DH, Gettys TW. Dietary restriction of essential amino acids induces browning of white adipose tissue. Keystone Symposia on Beige and Brown Fat: Basic Biology and Novel Therapeutics. Snowbird, Utah, April 2015.
11. Wanders D, Stone KP, Cortez CC, Burk DH, Orgeron M, Dille K, Gettys TW. Effects of dietary leucine restriction on energy balance and insulin sensitivity. 8th Annual Boshell Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research Day. Auburn, AL, February 2015.
12. Graff EC, Fang H, Wanders D, Judd RL. Niacin attenuates high-fat diet-induced adipose tissue inflammation in an adiponectin-independent manner. 8th Annual Boshell Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research Day. Auburn, AL, February 2015.Invited Oral Presentations (last 3 years):
    University of Georgia-Department of Nutrition, Athens, GA.
    “Metabolic Benefits of Dietary Methionine Restriction”
    February 21st, 201813th Annual Joint Meeting of the Upstate and Western New York Councils on Renal Nutrition, Batavia, NY.
    “Obesity and the Kidney: A Focus on Lipids”
    October 19th, 20176th Annual Georgia Council on Renal Nutrition Spring Conference, Atlanta, GA.
    “Obesity and the Kidney: A Focus on Lipids”
    May 4th, 2017Third International Conference of Long-Term Care Directors, Atlanta, GA.
    “Nutrition for the Older Population”
    March 2016

Funding

USDA AFRI-NIFA Grant: “Berries Prevent Hypertension and Cardiac Damage by Modulating the Gut Microbiota and Attenuating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation”. Mar 2019- Feb 2022. Role: Co-PI (Rafaela Feresin; PI)

The Lewis School Intramural Grant Program: “Novel Anti-inflammatory properties of Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21)”. Oct 2017- Jun 2018. Role: Principal Investigator

The Center for Obesity Reversal Seed Grant: “Novel Anti-inflammatory actions of Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21)”. Jul 2017- Jun 2018. Role: Principal Investigator

The Lewis Foundation Award: “Mechanisms Behind Dietary Methionine Restriction-induced Improvements in Obesity-induced Inflammation and Metabolic Dysfunction”. Apr 2016-Jun 2017. Role: Principal Investigator

The Lewis School Teacher-Scholar Academy Mini-Grant: “Evaluation of Supermarket Training as a Component of Graduate Nutrition Education”. Nov 2016-June 2017. Role: Co-investigator

The Lewis School Intramural Grant Program: “Anti-inflammatory Effects of Dietary Methionine Restriction”. Sep 2015-Jun 2016. Role: Principal Investigator

Memberships

The American Society for Nutrition
2018-Present

The Center for Neuroinflammation and Cardiometabolic Diseases
2018-Present

The American Diabetes Association
2016-Present

Center for Obesity Reversal, Georgia State University
2016-2018

The Obesity Society
2015-2017

Service

Ad-Hoc Manuscript Reviewer
1. Obesity
2. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
3. Journal of Endocrinology
4. The Journal of Nutrition
5. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology
6. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
7. International Journal of Molecular Sciences
8. Food & Nutrition Research
9. Nutrients
10. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research
11. International Journal of Obesity
12. Molecular Metabolism
13. Molecules
14. Inflammation Research
15. Genes

Ad-Hoc Book Proposal Reviewer
1. The Royal Society of Chemistry

Ad-Hoc Grant Reviewer
1. National Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Centers (MMPC) MICROMouse Program May 2017; Oct 2017
2. Atlanta VAMC Rehabilitation R&D Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation; Internal Reviewer Jun 2017; Aug 2017.
3. Laura Bush Institute for Women's Health at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; Centralized Seed Grant Program; Dec 2015

Ad-Hoc Abstract Reviewer
1. The Obesity Society Annual Meeting (Obesity Week)-Basic Science Section Abstract Reviewer; September 2016

Ad-Hoc Poster Judge
1. The American Society for Nutrition Annual Conference. Emerging Leaders in Nutrition Science Poster Competition Judge; Dietary Bioactive Components Section. June 2018-Boston, MA.
2. Boshell Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases 11th Annual Research Day-Graduate Student Poster Presentations; February 2018-Auburn, AL

Oral Session Co-chair
1. The American Society for Nutrition Annual Conference. Anti-inflammation Effect of Dietary Bioactive Components. June 2018-Boston, MA.

Awards and Honors

Keystone Symposia Future of Science Fund Scholarship (Travel Grant)
Keystone Symposia – Beige and Brown Fat: Basic Biology and Novel Therapeutics
April 2015

Outstanding Postdoctoral Poster Presentation
The Boshell Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases 6th Annual Research Day
March 2013

Outstanding Doctoral Student
Auburn University
2011-2012

Outstanding Graduate Student Oral Presentation
Graduate Symposium: Auburn University Research Week
April 2012

Outstanding Graduate Student Oral Presentation
The Boshell Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases 5th Annual Research Day
March 2012