Life Sciences Commons^™

Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Generation Of Sequence Diversity On Plasmids, Qingbei Zhang

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Qingbei Zhang on June 19, 2002.

The Development Of A Bluetongue Virus Diagnostic Assay Using Peptides Derived From The Structural Protein Vp7 And Nonstructural Protein Ns2, Yi Lu

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Several peptides derived from viral proteins, VP7 and NS2 of bluetongue virus (BTV), were synthesized for an immunologic detection assay: distinguishing between bluetongue virus infected, vaccinated, and noninfected animals (ruminants) with dot blot analysis. The School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, supplied the serum samples from 24 bovine, 18 caprine, 23 ovine. Another 205 bison serum samples were obtained in Utah. The serum samples of BTV-infected animals revealed detectable antibodies to both VP7 and NS2 peptides, whereas vaccinated animals only exhibited antibodies against VP7. Noninfected animals did not display antibody against either viral peptide. These data confirmed the …

Characterization Of Host-Bacteria Interactions Contributing To Group B Streptococcus Colonization, Jennifer Marie Smith

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of life-threatening bacterial infections during the first three months of life. GBS is also a frequent cause of maternal postpartum infections. Both types of infections stem from maternal vaginal and/or rectal colonization with GBS in the perinatal period. Limited information is available concerning how the colonization process occurs and what role the host immune system may play in the establishment of persistent colonization by GBS. The complex interactions between the immune system and GBS normally should end in clearance of the bacteria. However, since colonization by GBS occurs in a large number …

The Response Of Mice To Infection By The Parasitic Nematode Trichinella: A Comparison Of Trichinella Spiralis And Trichinella Pseudospiralis, Barry Clayton Anderson

Dissertations and Theses

The intracellular parasite Trichinella is a genus in phylum Nematoda that contains six named species including Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella pseudospiralis. These parasites infect a large variety of wild and domestic animals, human beings and a few species of birds. The parasitic strategies and the pathological effects on the host between trichinella spiralis and Trichinella pseudospiralis are quite different.

The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of the physiological, immunological and pathological differences between these two species of Trichinella using infections in the mouse as a model. In the course of this research I have attempted to …

Cd28 Costimulation Requirement For Interferon-Y Secretion By Natural Killer T Cells During Hepatitis B Virus Infection, Paul J. Renick

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Natural Killer T cells (NKT cells) are a unique subset of lymphocytes that express natural killer (NK) and T cell receptors (TCR). The NKT cell population includes four separate subclasses. This paper will focus on Category I NKT cells which possess a canonical TCR receptor (Va14Ja281) that recognizes only hydrophobic antigens presented by CD1d molecules. These cells are believed to play an important regulatory role in immunity. A variety of disease conditions, including cancer, infections and Type I diabetes, are controlled by NKT cells. NKT cells are also capable of secreting large quantities of cytokines, namely interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma …