Appointments:
Associate Professor, Biology Department, Acadia University; Adjunct Professor, Pathology Department, Dalhousie University
Affiliations:
Acadia University; Dalhousie University
Research Interests:
Cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, immunology, host defense peptides and phytochemicals
Investigating Effects of Anti-cancer Peptides and Phytochemicals on Cancer and Immune cells
Dr. Melanie Coombs’s research interests include the investigation of the anti-cancer and immunomodulatory effects of natural products such as host defense peptides and phytochemicals at a cellular and molecular level. Host defense peptides such as mastoparan from wasp venom or phytochemicals from apples, berries and leafy vegetables will be used to study the mechanisms of action on killing cancer cells as well as effects on immune cell function. Investigations will examine the potential of these natural products as future anti-cancer or immunomodulatory treatments.
When not teaching and doing research Melanie enjoys participating with the Terry Fox Foundation and Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Acadia.
Involvement with BHCRI to date:
Dr. Melanie Coombs is an Associate Member
Phone:
(902) 585-1162
Email:
Website:
Contact:
Biology building, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Ave, Wolfville, NS, Canada, B4P 2R6
Publications:
D.W. Hoskin, and M.R. Power Coombs. Editorial: Immune Modulation by Flavonoids. Frontiers in Immunology. 2022; 13: 899577.
Malone A., R.F. Clark, D.W. Hoskin, and M.R. Power Coombs. Regulation of macrophage-associated inflammatory responses by species-specific lactoferricin peptides. Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark. 2022; 27(2): 1-15.
Walker, O.L., M.L. Dahn, M.R. Power Coombs, and P. Marcato. The prostaglandin E2 pathway and breast cancer stem cells: Evidence of increased signaling and potential targeting. Frontiers in Oncology. 2022; 11: 1-10.
McMillan, K.A.M., and M.R. Power Coombs. Investigating potential applications of the fish anti-microbial peptide pleurocidin: A systematic review. Pharmaceuticals. 2021; 14(7):687.
Conrad, D.M., A.L. Hilchie, K.A.M. McMillan, R.S. Liwski, D.W. Hoskin and M.R. Power Coombs. The acute phase protein hepcidin is cytotoxic to human and mouse myeloma cells. Anticancer Research. 2021; 41:601-608.
McMillan, K.A.M., and M.R. Power Coombs. Examining the Natural Role of Amphibian Antimicrobial Peptide Magainin. Molecules. 2020; 25(22):5436.
Hilchie, A.L., E.E. Gill, M.R. Power Coombs, R. Falsafi, R.E.W. Hancock, and D.W. Hoskin. MDA- MB-231 breast cancer cells resistant to pleurocidin-family lytic peptides are chemosensitive and exhibit reduced tumor-forming capacity. Biomolecules. 2020; 10(9):1220.
Power Coombs, M.R. and D.W. Hoskin. Assessing the impact of phytochemicals on immune checkpoints: Implications for cancer immunotherapy. Methods Mol. Biol. 2020; 2111:161-173.
Greenshields, A.L., M.R. Power Coombs, W. Fernando, B.E. Holbein and D.W. Hoskin. DIBI, a novel 3-hydroxypyridin-4-one chelator iron-binding polymer, inhibits breast cancer cell growth by promoting S-phase DNA damage. BioMetals. 2019; Dec;32(6):909-921.
Hilchie, A.L., D.W. Hoskin and M.R. Power Coombs. Anticancer activities of natural and synthetic peptides. Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. Book: “Antimicrobial peptides, advances in experimental medicine and biology.” 2019; 1117:131-47.