Amy Mackos

Image

First Name

Amy

Last Name

Mackos

Credentials

PhD

Associate Clinical Professor

Director of Biomedical Research

mackos.3@osu.edu

Amy.Mackos@osumc.edu

614-292-4206

she/her/hers

Address

034C Newton Hall

Address (Line 2)

295 W. 10th Ave.

City

Columbus

State

Zip Code

43210

Dr. Amy Mackos joined the College of Nursing in 2017. She is a two-time Ohio State graduate with an extensive background in psychoneuroimmunology, microbiology, and genomic-based research. During her graduate work she played an integral role in the seminal discovery that psychological stress significantly impacts the shape and function of the gut microbiome. Her overarching research interest is dedicated to understanding how stressor exposure impacts health and disease with a focus on elucidating the bidirectional communication between the host and resident microbes. In addition to research, she is passionate about teaching, both inside the lab and the classroom. She has taught at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. Currently, she is the course lead for N7450 Pathophysiology of Altered Health States and N7781 Responsible Conduct of Research.

View publications

Chapters

Mackos AR, Varaljay VA, Maltz R, Gur TL, Bailey MT (2016). Role of the Intestinal Microbiota in Host Responses to Stressor Exposure. International Reviews in Neurobiology. 2016; 131:1-19.
Mackos AR, Bailey MT (2016). Neuroendocrine regulation of infectious disease. Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society Primer of PNI Research.
Powell ND, Allen RG, Hufnagle AR, Sheridan JF, Bailey MT (2011). Stressor-induced alterations of adaptive immunity to vaccination and viral pathogens. Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America. Feb;31(1):69-79.

Publications

Bulgart HR, Neczypor EW, Wold LE, Mackos AR (2020). Microbial involvement in the development and progression of Alzheimer Disease. Molecular Neurodegeneration; Jul 24;15(1):42.
Nowak AL, Anderson CM, Mackos AR, Neiman E, Gillespie SL (2020). Stress during pregnancy and epigenetic modifications to offspring DNA: A systematic review of associations and the implication for preterm birth. Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing; Apr/June 34(2):134-145.
Mackos AR, Allen JM, Kim E, Ladaika CA, Gharaibeh R, Parry NM, Boyaka PN, Bailey MT (2019). Mice deficient in IKKβ in epithelial or myeloid cells have distinct colonic microbiomes and increased resistance to Citrobacter rodentium infection. Frontiers in Immunology; Sep 10;10:2062.
Allen JM, Jaggers RM, Solden LM, Loman BR, Davies RH, Mackos AR, Ladaika CA, Berg BM, Chichlowski M, Bailey MT (2019). Dietary oligosaccharides attenuate stress-induced disruptions in immune function and microbial B-vitamin metabolism. Frontiers in Immunology; Apr;68(4):533-540.
Maltz RM, Keirsey J, Kim SC, Mackos AR, Gharaibeh RZ, Moore CC, Xu J, Bakthavatchalu V, Somogyi A, Bailey MT. Social Stress Affects Colonic Inflammation, the Gut Microbiome, and Short Chain Fatty Acid Levels and Receptors. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition; 2019 Apr;68(4):533-540.
Galley JD, Mackos AR, Varaljay VA, Bailey MT (2017). Stressor exposure has prolonged effects on colonic microbial community structure in Citrobacter rodentium-challenged mice. Scientific Reports; Mar 27;7:45012.
Lafuse WP, Gearinger R, Fisher S, Nealer C, Mackos AR, Bailey MT (2017). Exposure to a Social Stressor Induces Translocation of Commensal Lactobacilli to the Spleen and Priming of the Innate Immune System. Journal of Immunology; Mar15;198(6):2383-2393.
Mackos AR, Maltz R, Bailey MT (2017). The role of the commensal microbiota in adaptive and maladaptive stressor-induced immunomodulation. Hormones and Behavior;Feb;88:70-78.
Mackos AR, Galley JD, Eubank TD, Easterling RS, Parry NM, Fox JG, Lyte M, Bailey MT (2016). Social stress-enhanced severity of Citrobacter rodentium-induced colitis is CCL2-dependent and attenuated by probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri. Mucosal Immunology; Mar;9(2):515-26.
Bailey MT, Dowd SE, Galley JD, Hufnagle AR, Allen RG, Lyte M (2011). Exposure to a social stressor alters the structure of the intestinal microbiota: implications for stressor-induced immunomodulation. Brain Behavior and Immunity. Mar;25(3)397-407.

News

October 08, 2025

From The Lantern: Ohio State College of Nursing set to double undergraduate enrollment

The Ohio State University College of Nursing is aiming to double undergraduate enrollment by 2027 in response to nationwide nursing shortages.

Read all about it in The Lantern:

Click here to read the article

October 01, 2025

From Ohio State News: Students in new accelerated nursing program at Ohio State ready for careers

Full-time program can be completed in as few as 18 months

A new program at The Ohio State University College of Nursing is helping students with a degree and an interest in a career in health care reach their goals at an accelerated pace.

The college launched the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (aBSN) program in 2024 for students who have finished college in a non-nursing field but desire to have a career in nursing. The full-time program can be completed in as few as 18 months.