Benjamin Weeks
Professor
Biology, College of Arts and Sciences
Science Building 112
516.877.4193
weeks@adelphi.edu
Faculty Profiles
General Information
Diplomas/Degrees
Diplomas/Degrees
Ph.D., University of Connecticut (1988)
B.A., Skidmore College (1984)
Recent Courses
Recent Courses
Biology Of Aging
Cell Culture Technique
Cell Culture Technique ( Lab )
Developmental Biology
Developmental Biology Lab
Environmental Pollutants And Disease
Guided Research Effect Of Electric/Magnetic Field On Neuronal Cell Growth
Guided Research N-Acetylcysteine Protection Of Neurons From Toxicity
Guided Research Pesticide Toxicty To C. Elegans
Guided Research: Capstone Experience
Guided Research: Capstone Experience Pesticide Toxicity To C. Elegans
Immunology
Microbiology
Microbiology Lab
Nature Of Viruses
Special Research Problems Pesticide & Adjuvant Neurotoxicity
Special Research Problems Pesticide Adjuvant Toxicity To Bacterium
Thesis Research Pesticide And Adjuvant Neurotoxicity
Virology
Specialization/Interests
Specialization/Interests
Neuroplastic phytochemicals
Research Interests
Research Interests
My research focuses on the effects of xenobiotics on the cellular mechanisms of development and disease.
Books
Books
Benjamin S. Weeks, Ph.D. and I.E. Alcamo (2007). Microbes and Society. Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Benjamin S. Weeks, Ph.D. and I.E. Alcamo, Ph.D. (2006). AIDS: The Biological Basis. Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Kleinman, H.K., M.C. Kibbey, F.B. Cannon, B.S. Weeks, and D.S. Grant. (1995). Use of extracellular matrix and its components in culture., In: Extracellular Matrix Molecules. A Practical Approach. Oxford Univ. Press.
Other Work
Other Work
Peer-Reviewed Publications:
1. Rubenstein, E.C., T. J. Kelly, L. Clubert, CW. Woods, and B. Weeks. Ecdysteroids in developing ovarian follicles of Hyalophora cecropia. Arch. of Insect Biochem. and Physiol., 3: 253 263, 1986
2. Weeks, B.S. and N.W. Klein. In vitro and in vivo embryo toxicity of antilaminin antibodies in the rat. Am. J. Reprod. Immunol., 19: 57 64, 1989
3. Weeks, B.S., N.W. Klein, H.K. Kleinman, T. Fredrickson, and G.P. Sackett. Laminin immunized monkeys develop sera toxic to cultured rat embryos and fail to reproduce. Teratology, 40: 47 57, 1989
4. Tashiro, K., G.C. Sephel, B. Weeks, M. Sasaki, G.R. Martin, H.K. Kleinman, and Y. Yamada. A synthetic peptide containing the IKVAV sequence from the A chain of laminin mediates cell attachment, migration, and neurite outgrowth. J. Biol. Chem., 264:16174 16182, 1989
5. Kleinman, H.K. and B.S. Weeks. Laminin: structure, functions, and receptors. Current Opinion in Cell Biol., 1: 964 967, 1989
6. Weeks, B.S., Kopp, J., Horikoshi, S. Cannon, F.B. *Garrett, M. Kleinman, H.K. and P.E. Klotman. Renal cells interact with specific laminin domains via developmentally regulated binding proteins. Am. J. Physiol., 261: 688 695, 1990
7. Weeks, B.S., *Gamache, P., Klein N.W., Hinson, J.A., Bruno, M., and E. Khairallah. Acetaminophen toxicity to cultured rat embryos. TCM, 10: 361 370, 1990
8. Hadley, M.A., B.S. Weeks, H.K. Kleinman, and M.Dym. Laminin promotes tubule formation by cultured Sertoli cells. Dev. Biol., 140:318 327, 1990
9. Weeks, B., V. Papadopoulos, M. Dym, and H.K. Kleinman. cAMP promotes branching of laminin¬induced neuronal processes. J. Cellul. Physiol., 147: 62 67, 1990
10. Kleinman, H.K., M.C. Kibbey, F.B. Cannon, B.S. Weeks, and D.S. Grant. Techniques for use of extracellular matrix in culture, In Extracellular Matrix Molecules. A Practical Approach. (eds. M.A. Haralson and J.R. Hassell), Oxford Univ. Press, 1990
11. Kleinman, H.K., B.S. Weeks, F.B. Cannon, T.M. Sweeney, G.C. Sephel, B. Clement, M. Zain, O.J. Olson, M. Jucker, and B. Burrous. Identification of a 110 Kd non integrin neurite promoting peptide: homology with nucleolin. Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 290: 220 225, 1990
12. Kleinman, H.K., G.C. Sephel, K. Tashiro, B.S. Weeks, B.A. Burrows, S.H. Adler, Y. Yamada, and G.R. Martin. Laminin in neuronal development. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 580: 302 310, 1990
13. Kleinman, H.K. and B.S. Weeks. Laminin in Neuronal Development. Encyclopedia of Human Biology, Ed. R. Dulbecco, Academic Press Inc, N.Y., 4: 623 631, 1990
14. Weeks, B.S., J. DiSalvo, and H.K. Kleinman. Laminin mediated neurite outgrowth involves protein dephosphorylation. J. Neurosci. Res., 27: 418 426, 1990
15. Kleinman, H.K., and B.S. Weeks. The neural cell response to laminin: Active sites, receptors, and intracellular signals. Comments on Devel. Neurobiol., 1: 251 266, 1991
16. Weeks, B. S., M. E. Klotman, M. Kibbey, H. K. Kleinman, K. Yamada, P. E. Klotman. HIV 1 induced expression of integrin on human CD4+lymphocytes. J. Cell Biol., 114:847 853, 1991
17. Kittur, S., W. Adler, G. Martin, H. Kleinman, and B, Weeks. Neurotrophic effects of Alzheimers brain homogenate and cerebrospinal fluid on neuronal cell cultures. Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders, 6: 103 110, 1992
18. Kinsella, J. L., Grant, D. S., Weeks, B. S., and Kleinman, H. K. Protein kinase C regulates endothelial cell tube formation on basement membrane Matrigel. Exp. Cell. Res., 199: 56 62, 1992
19. Paralkar, V. M., Weeks, B. S., Yu, Y., Kleinman, H. K., and Reddi, A. H. Neurotrophic effects of bone morphogenic protein 2B and activin. J. Cell Biol., 119:1721 1728, 1992.
20. Burbello P., Gabriel G., Wujeck J., Kedar V. V., Weeks B. S., Klienman H. K., and Yamada Y., Basement membrane genes and transcription factors. Cellular and Molecular Aspects of Cirrhosis, 216: 135 145, 1992
21. Dhawan, S., Weeks, B. S., Klotman, M. E., and Klotman, P. E. Increased expression of a4bI and a5bl integrins on HTLV 1 Infected Lymphocytes. Virology, 197: 778 781, 1993
22. Weeks, B. S., Schnaper, W. H., *Holloway, E., and Kleinman, H. K. Human T cells synthesize the 92 kDa type IV collagenase (gelatinase B) J. Cellular. Phys., 157: 644, 1993
23. Kibbey, M. C., Jucker M., Weeks B. S., and Kleinman, H. K. bAmyloid precursor protein binds to the IKVAV site of laminin. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 90: 9195, 1993
24. Weeks B. S., Klotman M. E., Holloway E., Stetler Stevenson W. G., Kleinman H. K., and P.E. Klotman. HIV 1 infection stimulates T cell invasiveness and synthesis of the 92 kDa type IV collagenase. AIDS Res. Hum. Retroviruses, 9: 513 518, 1993
25. Weeks B. S., Desai K., Lowenstien P. M., Holloway E., Klotman M. E., Klotman P. E., Green M., and Kleinman H. K. Identification of a novel cell attachment domain in the HIV I Tat protien and its 90 kDa cell surface binding protein. J. Biol. Chem., 268: 5279 5284, 1993
26. Kleinman, H. K., Weeks B. S., Schnaper H. W., Kibbey M. C., Yamamura K., and D. S. Grant. The Laminins: A family of basement membrane glycoproteins important in cell differentiation and tumor metastases. Vitamins and Hormones, 43:161 186, 1993
27. Wahl, S. M., Allen, J. B., Weeks, B. S., Wong, H. L., and Klotman P. E. TGFb enhances integrin expression and type IV collagenase secretion in human monocytes. 90:4577 4581, Proc. National. Acad. Sci. 1993
28. Weeks, B, Nomizu, M, *Okusu, A., *Weston, C., and N. Fuji. Lymphocytes and promonocytes attach to the polyphemusin peptide J22). Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 202:470 475, 1994
29. Weeks, B. S., Schnaper, W. H., *Holloway, E., Klotman P. E., and Kleinman, H. K. 12 0 Teteradecanoylphorbol 13 acetate stimulates Human T lymphocyte adherence to the fibronectin RGD domain and the laminin IKVAV domain. Cell. Immunol., 153: 94 104,1994
30. Burbello, P., B.S. Weeks, Y. Yamada, and H.K. Kleinman. LZIP I and LZIP 2: two novel members of the bZIP family. Gene, 139: 241 245, 1994
31. Ferrari D. A., Gilles P. A., Klein N. W., Weeks B. S., Lammi Keefe C., Hillman R. E., Ying Y¬K., Maier D., Olsen P., Wemple D. W., Greenstein R., Muechler E. K., Miller R. K., and Mariona F. G., Rat embryo development on human sera is related to numbers of previous spontaneous abortions and nutritional factors. J. Obstet. Gynacol., 170: 228 236, 1994
32. Kittur, S., Endo, H., Hoh, J., Tourtellotte, W., Weeks, B., Markesbery, W., and Adler, W. Cytoskeletal neurofilament gene expression in brain tissue from Alzheimer's disease patients, Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 7: 153 158, 1994
33. Ray, P., Bruggeman L., Weeks B., and P. E. Klotman. bFGF and its low affinity receptors in the pathogenesis of HIV associated nephropathy in transgenic mice. Kidney International, 46: 759¬772, 1994
34. Weeks, B., *Weston, C., *Okusu, A., Nomizu, M., and N. Fujii. The polypherneusin T22 peptide is recognized by the CD4 cell surface molecule. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 215: 626¬631, 1995
35. Nomizu, M., Weeks, B.S., *Weston, C.A., W. W. Kim, H. K. Kleinman and Y. Yamada. Structure Activity study of a laminin l chain active peptide segment Ile Lys Val Ala Val (IKVAV). FEBS letters, 365: 227 231, 1995
36. Dhawan, S., B. Weeks, H. W. Schnaper, K. Yamada, S. Yamada, and M. Meltzer. HIV I infection alters monocyte interaction with endothelial cell layers. J. Immunol., 154: 422 432, 1995
37. Weeks, B., Oldfield, E. and H. Kleinman. Neurotoxicity of the HIV I Tat transactivator to PC 12 cells requires the Tat amino acid 49 58 basic domain. J. Neuroscience Res., 42: 34 40, 1995
38. Chambers, B., G. Sackett, B. Weeks, H. K. Kleinman, and N. Klein. In vivo and in vitro embryotoxicity of domain specific antilaminin antibodies. Proc. Natl. Acad Sci., 90: 6818 6822, 1995
39. *Weston, C.A. and B.S. Weeks. bFGF stimulates U937 cell adhesion to fibronectin. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 228: 318 323, 1996
40. Weeks, B.S. and *J. luorno. Phosphatase inhibitors stimulate ICAM I and LFA I mediated aggregation of T lymphocytes. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 226: 82 87, 1996
41. Weeks, B, Burbello, P., *Weiner, M. and H. Kleinman. Laminin stimulates the expression of two mitochondrial proteins. Int. J. Dev. Neurosci. 14: 365 374, 1996
42. Weeks, B., and H. Friedman. Laminin reduces, the cell to cell spread of HSV I in human
keratinocyte cultures. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 203: 466 469, 1997
43. Saswata, B., Dubin, G., Basu, M., Weeks, B., and H. Friedman. Characterization of regions of herpes simplex virus type I glycoprotein I that form an FcR with glycoprotein E for binding monomeric IgG. J. Immunol. 158: 209 215, 1997
44. Weeks, B.S. and *R. Cooney. AIDS associated Kaposis sarcoma cells secrete a neurotrophic factor(s). Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 233: 408 412, 1997
45. Weeks, B.S., Sundaresan, P., Nagashunmugam, T., Kang, E. and H.M. Friedman. The herpes simplex virus 1 glycoprotein E (gE) mediates IgG binding and cell to cell spread through distinct gE domains. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 235: 31 35, 1997
46. Kleinman, H.K., Weeks, B.S. Richard, B.L., and M.C. Kibbey, Laminin in neuronal development. Encyclopedia of Human Biology, Ed. R. Dulbecco, Academic Press Inc, N.Y., 5: 227 235, 1997
47. Nagashunmugam, T., Sundaresian, P., Weeks, B., Goldstein, L., and H. Friedman. Characterization of herpes simplex type 1 mutants: The glycoprotein E domains involved in IgG binding and cell to cell spread do not co map. J. Virol., 72: 5351 5359, 1998
48. Weeks, B.S., The role of leukocyte adhesion and matrix metalloproieinase secretion in AIDS pathogenesis. Int. J. Molec. Med., 1: 361 366. 1998
49. Weeks, B.S., Nomizu, M., *Ramchandran, R.S., Yamada, Y., and H.K. Kleinman. Laminin 1 and the RKRLQVQLSIRT laminin 1 1 globular domain peptide stimulate matrix metalloproteinase secretion by PC12 cells. Exp. Cell Res., 243: 375 382, 1998
50. Weeks, B.S., *Wilson, P.J., Heffernan, C.C., *Ahmad, A., and *K. Mahadeo. The role of protein kinase C in laminin-mediated neurite outgrowth. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 256: 98 – 103, 1999
51. Weeks, B.S., *Wilson, P.J., Heffernan, C.C., Gorra, V.A., White, L.E. and *A. Ahmad. Laminin stimulates protein tyrosine dephosphorylation in PC12 cells. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 262: 713-719, 1999
52. **Gavriil, E.S., *Cooney, R., and B.S. Weeks. Tat mediates apoptosis in vivo in the rat central nervous system. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 267:252-256, 2000
53. Weeks, B.S., *Ramchandran, R., ** Hopkins, J. and H.F. Friedman. HSV-1 and –2 pathogenesis is restricted by the epidermal basement membrane. Arch. Virol., 145: 385-396, 2000
54. Rialas C.M., Cadet P., Weeks B., Salzet M., and G.B. Stefano. Nociceptin, endomorphin-1 and 2 do not bind to the invertebrate immune 3 Opiate Receptor Subtype. Acta Pharmacol. Sin, 21: 516-520, 2000
55. Stefano, G.B., Weeks, B.S., and P. Cadet. GP120 Promotes HIV Survival by Distracting Immune Surveillance. Mod. Aspects of Immunobiology, 1: 63 - 68, 2000
56. Goumon, Y., B.S. Weeks, *M. Bougeava, F. Caseres, P. Cadet and G.B. Stefano. Identification of Morphine in the Adrenal Medullary Chromaffin PC12 cell line. Molec Brain Res., 81: 177-180, 2000
57. Rialas C.M., *Patterson, M., Weston, C., and B.S. Weeks. Laminin 1 and the RKRLQVQLSIRT laminin 1 1 globular domain peptide activate nitric oxide production in PC12 cells. Exp. Cell Res., 260:268-276, 2000
58. Weston, C., Prives, Rials, C., *Anova, L., and B.S. Weeks. Laminin activation of Cdc42 is required in the mechanism of laminin-mediated neurite outgrowth. Exp. Cell Res., 260: 274 - 378, 2000
59. Cadet, P., B.S. Weeks, Bilfinger, T.V., Casares, F., and G.B. Stefano. gp120 and Morphine Alter Mu Opiate Receptor Expression in Human Blood Vessel Endothelium. Int J Mol Med. 8:165-169, 2001
60. Weeks, B.S., **Ninche Alston, and G.B. Stefano Morphine reduces HSV-1 lesion sized in mice. Int J. Molec Med. 8:303-307, 2001
61. Weeks, B.S., Cadet, P., Touma, S., *Goldman, S., *Payne, M., and G. Stefano. Morphine inhibits indolactam V-induced U937 cell adhesion and gelatinase secretion. J. Cell Physiol. 189: 179-188, 2001
62. M. Makino, I. Okazaki, N. Nishi, *M Bougaeva, B. Weeks, A. Otaka, P. K. Nielsen, Y Yamada, and M. Nomizu. Identification of Cell Binding Sites in the Laminin Alpha 5 Chain G domain. Exp. Cell Res., 277: 95 - 106, 2002
63. ** Nandi A. and B.S. Weeks. A model for the mechanism of laminin-mediated neurite outgrowth. Cur. Top. in Pep. and Prot. Res., 7, 47-51, 2005
64. **Hoffman N, **Tran V, **Daniyan A, Ojugbele O, Pryor SC, **Bonventre JA, Flynn K, Weeks BS. Bifenthrin activates homotypic aggregation in human T-cell lines. Med Sci Monit. 2006 Mar;12(3):BR87-94, 2006
65. **Tran V, **Hoffman N, **Mofunanaya A, Pryor SC, Ojugbele O, McLaughlin A, Gibson L, **Bonventre JA, Flynn K, Weeks BS. Bifenthrin inhibits neurite outgrowth in differentiating PC12 cells. Med Sci Monit. 12 (2):BR57-62, 2006
66. **Nandi A., *Chandi D., **Lechesa R., Pryor SC., McLaughlin A., **Bonventre JA., Flynn K., and B. S. Weeks. Bifenthrin causes neurite retraction in the absence of cell death: A Model for Pesticide Neurodegeneration. Med Sci. Monit. 12,(5):BR169- 173, 2006
67. **Nandi A., *Chandi D., *Thurber C., *DeLuca L, Pryor SC., McLaughlin A, Gibson L, **Bonventre JA., Flynn K, and BS. Weeks. The Biological Effects of Bifenthrin on T-cells and Neurons: A Comparison of Activity. CATRINA, 1 (1) 9 - 14, 2006
68. Weeks, B., and P. Perez. PolicosanolPlus and neuroprevin enhance neurite regeneration and prevent neurite degeneration: Dietary supplements for nerve repair and prevention, and reduction of neurodegenerative disorders. JANA, 9(2) 24 - 29, 2006
69. Weeks, B and P. Perez., PolicosanolPlus® and NeuroprevinTM Ameliorate Pesticide-Mediated Inhibition of Neurite Outgrowth Neurite Degeneration. Med. Sci. Monit, Medical Science Monitor, 12(12) 379-384, 2006
70. Weeks, B and P. Perez., A novel vitamin C preparation enhances neurite formation and fibroblast adhesion and reduces xenobiotic-induced T-cell hyperactivation. Medical Science Monitor, 13(3):BR51-58, 2007
71. Weston C.A., G. Teressa, B.S. Weeks, and J. Prives. Agrin and Laminin Induce Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering by Convergent, Rho GTPase-dependent Signaling Pathways, Journal of Cell Science, 120(5):868-75, 2007
72. Weeks, B.S. and P. Perez. Absorption rates and free radical scavenging values of vitamin C-lipid metabolites in human lymphoblastic cells. Med Sci Monit 10:205-210, 2007.
73. Flynn K., M. Belopolsky, P.R. Warny, and B. S. Weeks. Atrazine decreases burrowing in freshwater mussels. Environmental Tox. and Chem., Under Review, 2007
74. **Nandi A., C. Bustos, C. Greggs, C. Ramjeawan and B. Weeks. The Mechanism of Bifenthrin Toxicity to PC12 Cells. Acta Biologica Hungarica., Under Review, 2007
*indicates undergraduate student co authors who worked directly under my supervision.
** indicates graduate student co authors who worked directly under my supervision.
Publications (Not Peer-Reviewed):
1. *Doscher, J and B. S. Weeks. The World-Wide AIDS Epidempic, ISSAC, 2: 25-27, 2003
2. Weeks, B.S. A Hero’s Journey to Simple Shelter: A Prose Poem, The Improper Hamptonian, 1: 29, 2003
*graduate student co-author
Images, Videos
Images, Videos
Grants
Grants
2007 - 2010 Nature's Value, "Pesticide Toxicity to Soil Microorganisms, $12000.00/year for three years ($36,000.00)
2008 - 2012 Innovation Laboraotires
The effect of Pyrethroid Pesticides on Neurite Outgrowth.
$3000.00/year for four years ($12,000.00)
Honors and Accomplishments
Honors and Accomplishments
I have created a unique compound, called "Relarian." This compound is incorporated into the commercial product, Mini Chill.
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