Fatal Disseminated Toxoplasmosis In Captive Red Kangaroo (Macropus Rufus) And Parma Wallaby (Macropus Parma): Pathological And Immunohistochemical Investigations, Sawang Kesdangsakonwut

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a protozoan zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii. Marsupials are considered a susceptible intermediate host. T. gondii is mainly transmitted to intermediate hosts via the fecal-oral route. A captive red kangaroo was diagnosed with disseminated toxoplasmosis based on clinicopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) investigations. Two years later, a five-year-old Parma wallaby was kept in the same area as the red kangaroo and showed clinical signs of depression, withdrawal from the troop, and weakness. The wallaby died within two days after showing the clinical signs. Pathological findings in this wallaby were compatible with disseminated toxoplasmosis. Tachyzoites and tissue cysts …

Novel Hamster Models Of Chikungunya Viral Arthritis, Tian Wang, Zhongde Wang

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Molecular Detection Of Mycoplasma Spp. And Its Associated Risk Factors In Domestic Cats In The City Of Ibagué, Tolima, Karen D. Osorio Muñoz Dr., Iang S. Rondon Barragan Prof.

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Feline hemoplasmosis is a disease with worldwide distribution, mainly in tropical countries, where its transmission is favored by the presence of vectors such as fleas and ticks. In Colombia, the diagnosis of the disease in small animals has been limited to the identification of the pathogen in blood smears, which have low sensitivity and specificity, demanding methods of higher diagnostic value, such as those based on molecular techniques. The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of Mycoplasma spp. in felines from the city of Ibagué using the PCR and the associated risk factors. Briefly, blood samples …

The Roles Of Cd4+ T Cell Help, Sex, And Dose In The Induction Of Protective Cd8+ T Cells Against A Lethal Poxvirus By Mrna-Lnp Vaccines, Samita Kafle, Brian Montoya, Lingjuan Tang, Ying Tam, Hiromi Muramatsu, Norbert Pardi, Luis Sigal

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

The role of CD4⁺ T cells in the induction of protective CD8⁺ T cells by mRNA lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vaccines is unknown. We used B6 or Tlr9^−/− mice depleted or not of CD4⁺ T cells and LNP vaccines loaded with mRNAs encoding the ectromelia virus (ECTV) MHC class I H-2 K^b-restricted immunodominant CD8⁺ T cell epitope TSYKFESV (TSYKFESV mRNA-LNPs) or the ECTV EVM158 protein, which contains TSYKFESV (EVM-158 mRNA-LNPs). Following prime and boost with 10 μg of either vaccine, K^b-TSYKFESV-specific CD8⁺ T cells fully protected male and female mice from …

Cognition And Inflammation In Youth With Perinatal Hiv, Megan Niehaus, Julie Mannarino, Jacob Bolzenius, Tori Frerichs, Robert Paul

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Background: Perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV) remains a major global health challenge. Approximately 90% of the global population of PHIV reside in low- or middle-income countries (LMICs) where access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains incomplete, particularly for PHIV. With PHIV, the brain is exposed to the virus during critical periods of brain development without the immunological benefits from ART. Unlike adults with horizontally acquired HIV whose nadir CD4+ Tcell count is a strong correlate of cognitive difficulties that persist after sustained use of ART, cognitive symptoms among PHIV youth are independent of traditional HIV disease metrics. Prior studies indicate that PHIV …

Exploring Berberine As A Novel Therapeutic Agent Against Staphylococcus Aureus Infections: Targeting Inflammation And Antibiotic Resistance, Daniel Kopulos

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Staphylococcus aureus is a versatile Gram-positive bacterium commonly found on human skin. While often harmless, it can cause various infections when the skin is compromised, ranging from minor issues to life-threatening conditions in immunocompromised individuals.

The bacterium’s ability to resist antibiotics, particularly methicillin, underscores its clinical challenge. Staphylococcus aureus can also acquire vancomycin resistance. It evades immune responses through multiple mechanisms, including capsule formation, interference with immune proteins like staphylococcal protein A, and secretion of toxins such as Panton-Valentine Leukocidin. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective strategies against Staphylococcus aureus infections.

The immune response to Staphylococcus aureus infections …

Alternative Approaches To Live Attenuated Oral Rotavirus Vaccines, Makoye Mhozya Kanyema, Junhong Wang, Gui-Lian Yang, Xin Cao, Chunfeng Wang

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Oral attenuated rotavirus vaccine is safe and effective in developed countries but, however, it is less effective in low income countries such as African and Asian countries. Low vaccine effectiveness in low-income countries is arising from a variety of sources such as maternal antibodies, chronic enteropathy and other enteric diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and parasitic diseases, as well as the microbiota. There is increasingly evidence related to the risk of intussusception for the oral vaccine. The development of effective and safer rotavirus vaccines, particularly, non-living candidates, is critical. The aim of this review therefore is to explore some of …

Inactivated Rabies-Based Lassa Fever Virus Vaccine Candidate Lassarab Protects Nonhuman Primates From Lethal Disease, Gabrielle Scher, Catherine Yankowski, Drishya Kurup, Nicole Josleyn, Eric Wilkinson, Jay Wells, Jesse Steffens, Ginger Lynn, Sean Vantongeren, Xiankun Zeng, Nancy Twenhafel, Kathleen Cashman, Matthias Schnell

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

Lassa fever virus (LASV), a member of the Arenavirus family, is the etiological agent of Lassa fever, a severe hemorrhagic disease that causes considerable morbidity and mortality in the endemic areas of West Africa. LASV is a rodent-borne CDC Tier One biological threat agent and is on the World Health Organization's (WHO) Priority Pathogen list. Currently, no FDA-licensed vaccines or specific therapeutics are available. Here, we describe the efficacy of a deactivated rabies virus (RABV)-based vaccine encoding the glycoprotein precursor (GPC) of LASV (LASSARAB). Nonhuman primates (NHPs) were administered a two-dose regimen of LASSARAB or an irrelevant RABV-based vaccine to …

Candida Albicans Farnesol Synthesis And Secretion, Daniel J. Gutzmann

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Candida albicans is a polymorphic fungus and opportunistic commensal found primarily in the gastrointestinal and skin of healthy individuals. Several barriers prevent C. albicans from causing disease including a healthy immune system and microbiome. When these barriers become comprised, C. albicans can transition to a pathogen and disseminate through the intestinal mucosa leading to life-threatening bloodstream and invasive infections with mortality rates of up to 64%. Morphogenic plasticity is key to this transition and impacts virulence, adaptation to different host environments, and evasion of host immune responses. One regulator of morphogenesis is farnesol. Farnesol is a secondary metabolite …

Lactoferrin And Lysozyme To Promote Nutritional, Clinical And Enteric Recovery: A Protocol For A Factorial, Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Randomised Trial Among Children With Diarrhoea And Malnutrition (The Boresha Afya Trial), Ruchi Tiwari, Kirkby Tickell, Emily Yoshioka, Joyce Otieno, Adeel Shah, Barbra Richardson, Lucia Keter, Maureen Okello, Churchil Nyabinda, Indi Trehan

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Introduction: Children with moderate or severe wasting are at particularly high risk of recurrent or persistent diarrhoea, nutritional deterioration and death following a diarrhoeal episode. Lactoferrin and lysozyme are nutritional supplements that may reduce the risk of recurrent diarrhoeal episodes and accelerate nutritional recovery by treating or preventing underlying enteric infections and/or improving enteric function.

Methods and analysis: In this factorial, blinded, placebo-controlled randomised trial, we aim to determine the efficacy of lactoferrin and lysozyme supplementation in decreasing diarrhoea incidence and improving nutritional recovery in Kenyan children convalescing from comorbid diarrhoea and wasting. Six hundred children aged 6–24 months with …

Comprehensive Investigation Into The Molecular Mechanisms Driving The Emergence Of Emm4 Group A Streptococcus, Chioma Odo, Samuel A Shelburne, Anthony R. Flores, Steven J Norris, Anna Konovalova, Blake Hanson

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Abstract

Comprehensive Investigation into the Molecular Mechanisms Driving the Emergence of emm4 Group A Streptococcus

Chioma Modeline Odo, M.S.

Advisory Professor: Samuel A. Shelburne, MD, Ph.D.

The major gram-positive bacterium group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a model organism for studying microbial epidemics as it is well known to cause infections that occur in waves. GAS strains are grouped based on the composition of the N-terminal sequence of the M protein which is encoded by the emm gene. With the advent of large-scale whole genome sequencing, GAS clonal emergence events in emm1, emm3, and emm89 types have been identified …

Real-World Evidence Study On The Early Use Of Cemiplimab In The Uk: React-Cemi (Real World Evidence Of Advanced Cscc Treatment With Cemiplimab), Amarnath Challapalli, Grant Stewart, Heather Shaw, Peter John Davies, Juan Carlos Lopez-Baez, Edward C Ottley, Stephen Kelly

Student and Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Cemiplimab was licensed in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2019 for the treatment of patients with locally advanced and metastatic CSCC not suitable for curative surgery or radiotherapy (advanced CSCC [aCSCC]). No UK multi-center studies have investigated the real-world experience of cemiplimab post marketing authorization in aCSCC.

METHODS: This non-interventional retrospective study (10 UK centers) involved data collection from medical records of patients with aCSCC who initiated cemiplimab treatment between 2 July 2019 and 30 November 2020. The study period was a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 36 months post cemiplimab initiation. The primary objective was to …

The Multifaceted Role Of Neutrophils In Nsclc In The Era Of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, Shucheng Miao, Bertha Leticia Rodriguez, Don L Gibbons

Student and Faculty Publications

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in both males and females in the U.S. and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85%. Although the use of first- or second-line immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) exhibits remarkable clinical benefits, resistance to ICIs develops over time and dampens the efficacy of ICIs in patients. Tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) have an important role in modulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) and tumor immune response. The major challenge in the field is to characterize the TANs in NSCLC TME and understand the link between TAN-related immunosuppression with ICI treatment response. In this review, …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Scott L. Gardner, Sue Ann Gardner

Zea E-Books Collection

This is a textbook covering concepts in animal parasitology. It is meant to be used by students, teachers, professors, researchers, and members of the public who are interested in learning about animal parasite biology, systematics, taxonomy, zoogeography, and ecology. The primary intended audience is upper-level undergraduate or graduate university students who have knowledge of basic biology and, particularly, basic animal biology. (863 pages, illustrated)

One of the most fascinating things that a person can experience in the complex realm of biology is the discovery of an animal living inside another animal. If this discovery takes place at an early enough …

Targeting Cancers With Ohsv-Based Oncolytic Viral Immunotherapy, Rakin Tammam Nasar, Ifeanyi Kingsley Uche, Konstantin G. Kousoulas

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The recent success of cancer immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICIs), monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), cancer vaccines, and adoptive cellular therapies (ACTs), has revolutionized traditional cancer treatment. However, these immunotherapeutic modalities have variable efficacies, and many of them exhibit adverse effects. Oncolytic viral Immunotherapy (OViT), whereby viruses are used to directly or indirectly induce anti-cancer immune responses, is emerging as a novel immunotherapy for treating patients with different types of cancer. The herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) possesses many characteristics that inform its use as an effective OViT agents and remains a leading candidate. Its recent clinical success resulted in …

Targeting Sinonasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma With A Combinatory Immunotherapy Approach, Austin T K Hoke, Yoko Takahashi, Michelle R Padget, Javier Gomez, Moran Amit, Jared Burks, Diana Bell, Tongxin Xie, Patrick Soon-Shiong, James W Hodge, Ehab Y Hanna, Nyall R London

Student and Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) is a rare, aggressive malignancy of the sinonasal cavity with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. To investigate the potential for SNUC sensitivity to combinatory immunotherapy, we performed in vitro studies with SNUC cell lines and used multi-spectral immunofluorescence to characterize the in vivo patient SNUC tumor immune microenvironment (TIME).

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Human-derived SNUC cell lines were used for in vitro studies of tumor cell susceptibility to natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapeutic strategies. Tumor samples from 14 treatment naïve SNUC patients were examined via multi-spectral immunofluorescence and clinical correlations assessed.

RESULTS: Anti-PD-L1 blockade enhanced NK …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No.147 - Aquaculture Development Zones – Policy Position Relating To Permitted Alternative Species, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries occasional publications

The purpose of this policy is to set out considerations relevant to the assessment of aquaculture proposals within Aquaculture Development Zones (ADZ) for species distinct from the group of species for which the ADZ was initially established (Alternative Species).

Immune Responses Of Neonatal (14-Day Old) And Adult (6 Weeks Old) Mice Lung And Spleen Cells To Gamma-Irradiated Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Stimulation, Oyinkansola F. Adeyemi

Biotechnology Theses

Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a global health challenge, especially in vulnerable populations like neonates, whose immune systems are still developing. Understanding the immune responses to Mtb in neonates is critical for the development of better vaccine and treatment strategies. Building upon previous research from our laboratory, which demonstrated that γMtb stimulated neonatal mice (0, 3, and 7 days old) lung cells displayed distinct cytokine profiles and increased expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cell subpopulations than adult mice lung cells. In the current study, we investigated age-dependent immune responses in 14-day-old (neonates) and 6-week-old (adults) mice. We found …

T-Cell Redirecting Bispecific Antibodies: A Review Of A Novel Class Of Immuno-Oncology For Advanced Prostate Cancer, Julia Palecki, Amman Bhasin, Andrew Bernstein, Patrick Mille, William Tester, William Kelly, Kevin Zarrabi

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Novel T-cell immunotherapies such as bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs) are emerging as promising therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer. BiTEs are engineered bispecific antibodies containing two distinct binding domains that allow for concurrent binding to tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) as well as immune effector cells, thus promoting an immune response against cancer cells. Prostate cancer is rich in tumor associated antigens such as, but not limited to, PSMA, PSCA, hK2, and STEAP1 and there is strong biologic rationale for employment of T-cell redirecting BiTEs within the prostate cancer disease space. Early generation BiTE constructs employed in clinical study have demonstrated meaningful antitumor …

Factors Affecting Adherence To Antiretroviral Therapy Among People Living With Hiv/Aids In Antigua And Barbuda, Yuliecia Antoinette Rowe-Harris Mrs, Chirlynor Ebora Calbayan Mrs, Kepha Odiwuor Pondi Mr

Adventist Human-Subject Researchers Association

This study examined factors affecting adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among people living with HIV/AIDS in Antigua and Barbuda. The findings identified multiple variables, emphasizing the dynamic components affecting ART adherence. These findings address a local gap and provide insights into the unique adherence challenges faced by a vulnerable population.

Developing A Membrane-Proximal Cd33-Targeting Car T Cell, Ruby Freeman, Sanam Shahid, Abdul G Khan, Serena C Mathew, Sydney Souness, Erin R Burns, Jasmine S Um, Kento Tanaka, Winson Cai, Sarah Yoo, Andrew Dunbar, Young Park, Devin Mcavoy, Kinga K Hosszu, Ross L Levine, Jaap Jan Boelens, Ivo C Lorenz, Renier J Brentjens, Anthony F Daniyan

Student and Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: CD33 is a tractable target in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, but clinical success is lacking.

METHODS: We developed 3P14HLh28Z, a novel CD33-directed CD28/CD3Z-based CAR T cell derived from a high-affinity binder obtained through membrane-proximal fragment immunization in humanized mice.

RESULTS: We found that immunization exclusively with the membrane-proximal domain of CD33 is necessary for identification of membrane-proximal binders in humanized mice. Compared with clinically validated lintuzumab-based CAR T cells targeting distal CD33 epitopes, 3P14HLh28Z showed enhanced in vitro functionality as well as superior tumor control and increased overall survival in both …

Reassignment Of Some Caryospora Species (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) To Eumonospora (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) And A Summary, Donald W. Duszynski

MANTER: Journal of Parasite Biodiversity

This review was crafted to clear up some of the current confusion regarding the correct taxonomic placement of those apicomplexan coccidians that produce unique monosporocystic octosporozoic (1 sporocyst with 8 sporozoites) oocysts during the sexual phase of their life history in vertebrate hosts. Currently, such oocysts have been placed in 1 of 4 genera, Avispora, Caryospora, Karyospora, or Eumonospora, 2 of which are no longer accepted or useful (Avispora and Karyospora). My review suggests that to present (2023) there are 62 valid Caryospora and 26 valid Eumonospora species. Caryospora species are recorded from a bird …

A Potential Of Watercress Nasturtium Officinale Bioactive Compounds In Inhibiting Infectious Myonecrosis Virus (Imnv) By Targeting Rna-Dependent Rna Polymerase (Rdrp) Virus From Several Countries: In Silico Approach, Qurrota A’Yunin, Fatchiyah Fatchiyah, Maftuch Maftuch, Feri Eko Hermanto, Muhammad Hermawan Widyananda, Narendra Santika Hartana, Muhaimin Rifa’I, Yoga Dwi Jatmiko

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) disease causes mass mortality and decreased shrimp production. The RdRp region projects to the interior, where it may function in transcription. The focus of this study was to determine the effect of amino acid polymorphisms from several countries on the structure of RdRp and identify the potential of watercress in inhibiting IMNV by targeting the RdRp protein of IMNV through an in silico approach. The results showed that the structure of the IMNV RdRp protein from Indonesia was similar to Mexico, and the protein structure from India_QDN was identical to India_QIL. Ligand binding affinity values showed …

Mathematical Modeling Suggests Pathways Of Systemic Dissemination Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis In Mice, Vitaly V. Ganusov

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Graphing The Curve: A Mathematical Expedition Into Social Distancing's Role In The South African Covid-19 Narrative, Chidozie Williams Chukwu

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Optimizing Immunotherapies For Improved Cancer Treatment, Anne Talkington, Anthony Kearsley

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Standard Rodent Diets Differentially Impact Alcohol Consumption, Preference, And Gut Microbiome Diversity, Aline Zaparte, Evan Dore, Selby White, Franciely Paliarin, Cameron Gabriel, Katherine Copenhaver, Samhita Basavanhalli, Emily Garcia, Rishith Vaddavalli, Meng Luo, Christopher M. Taylor, David Allen Welsh, Rajani Maiya

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a complex and widespread disease with limited pharmacotherapies. Preclinical animal models of AUD use a variety of voluntary alcohol consumption procedures to recapitulate different phases of AUD, including binge alcohol consumption and dependence. However, voluntary alcohol consumption in mice is widely variable, making it difficult to reproduce results across labs. Accumulating evidence indicates that different brands of commercially available rodent chow can profoundly influence alcohol intake. In this study, we investigated the effects of three commercially available and widely used rodent diet formulations on alcohol consumption and preference in C57BL/6 J mice using the 24 …

Omani Camels From A Cultural And Genomics Perspective, Al Muatasim Al Zadjali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Dromedarian camel, Camelus dromedarius, is native to the Arabian Peninsula, including the Sultanate of Oman. These camels are used for food, milk, as well as show and racing competitions. Despite their economic and cultural importance research on camels in Oman is limited. The goal of this study was to examine their genomic variation, relationship with camels in other parts of the Arabian Peninsula, and to determine if selective breeding has led to the establishment of distinct breeds in Oman. Information was compiled from multiple sources to produce a comprehensive review on the breeding, management, economic and cultural use, …

Immunopathogenesis Of Post-Infectious Hydrocephalus, Sascha Powers Bernier

Honors Scholar Theses

Hydrocephalus is characterized by the abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the brain ventricles. In post-infectious hydrocephalus (PIH) cases, the condition presents challenges in understanding the immune response. PIH is a complex condition, often persisting after the initial infection is treated and thus requiring a deeper understanding of the immune mechanisms involved in its development. This thesis will explore the immunopathogenesis of PIH, elucidating the relationship between the immune response and neurological complications that would succeed infection. The immune response of PIH includes a series of events, beginning with the activation of immune cells and finishing with the release …

Serine Deamination By Human Serine Racemase Synergizes With Antibiotics To Curtail The Replication Of Chlamydia Trachomatis, Patricia D. Mott, Arnold H. Zea, Jamiya Lewis, Oygul Mirzalieva, Ashok A. Aiyar

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The obligate intracellular bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis, has evolved to depend on its human host for many metabolites, including most amino acids and three of the four nucleotides. Given this, it is not surprising that depletion of a single amino acid in the host cell growth medium blocks chlamydial replication. Paradoxically, supra-normal levels of some amino acids also block productive replication of Chlamydia. Here, we have determined how elevated serine levels, generated by exogenous supplementation, impede chlamydial inclusion development and reduce the generation of infectious progeny. Our findings reveal that human serine racemase, which is broadly expressed in multiple tissues, potentiates …