Life Sciences Commons^™

Gene Signature Of Stromal Cells Which Support Dendritic Cell Development., Geneviève Despars, Pravin Periasamy, Jonathan Tan, Janice Abbey, Terence O'Neill, Helen O'Neill

Jonathan Tan

Spleen stromal cells are critical determinants of dendritic cell (DC) development in spleen. The spleen stromal line, namely STX3, supports DC differentiation in vitro from overlaid bone marrow cells while the lymph node stromal line, namely 2RL22, does not. Here we have characterised the hematopoietic support capacity of each stroma, and analyzed lineage origin of the stromal cell lines by gene profiling using microarrays. Stromal co-culture experiments were performed using bone marrow cells as a source of hematopoietic progenitors. A characteristic immature myeloid-like CD11c+CD11b+CD86+MHC-II−/loB220−CD8α− DC is produced after 14 days in STX3 cocultures, while 2RL22 cocultures produce only monocyte/macrophage-like cells. …

Worm-Web Search: A Content-Based Image Retrieval (Cbir) System For The Parasite Image Collection In The Harold W. Manter Laboratory Of Parasitology, University Of Nebraska State Mueum, Ramalingamurthy Meduri, Ashok Samal, Scott Lyell Gardner

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty and Staff Publications

We have developed a prototype web-accessible content-based image retrieval (CBIR) system that allows internet/web-based sharing of biological collections that contain large numbers of images of archived specimens. This system will enable both researchers and educators to access verified, high quality data on biological collections that are available in any museum with digitized holdings. The CBIR system that we are testing can play an important role in understanding global biodiversity because no knowledge of the specific names of specimens need be known before useful information can be extracted from such databases. Our CBIR framework allows users to search image collections using …

Ecological Niche Of The 2003 West Nile Virus Epidemic In The Northern Great Plains Of The United States, Michael C. Wimberly, Michael B. Hildreth, Stephen P. Boyte, Eric Lindquist, Lon Kightlinger

Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

he incidence of West Nile virus (WNv) has remained high in the northern Great Plains compared to the rest of the United States. However, the reasons for the sustained high risk of WNv transmission in this region have not been determined. To assess the environmental drivers of WNv in the northern Great Plains, we analyzed the county-level spatial pattern of human cases during the 2003 epidemic across a seven-state region.

Methodology/Principal Findings

County-level data on WNv cases were examined using spatial cluster analysis, and were used to fit statistical models with weather, climate, and land use variables as predictors. …

The Role Of Msa In The Global Regulation Of Virulence In Staphylococcus Aureus, Vijayaraj Nagarajan

Dissertations

Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen causing life threatening diseases in humans. Previously we showed that msa modulates the activity of sarA (Staphylococcal accessory regulator), which is one of a major global regulator of virulence in S. aureus. The objective of this study is to characterize the role of msa (Modulator of SarA) in the global regulation of virulence in S. aureus. Structure and function predictions were done using several computational tools and approaches to understand the nature of msa. A novel S. aureus microarray meta-database (SAMMD) was designed and developed to compare and contrast other transcriptomes with msa transcriptome. …

Presentation Of The 2008 Asp Distinguished Service Award To William C. Campbell, Robin M. Overstreet

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Presentation of the 2008 American Society of Parasitologists Distinguished Service Award to William C. Campbell, Dana Fellow for scientists emeriti at Drew University.

Characterization Of The Ompl1 Gene Of Pathogenic Leptospira Species In China And Cross-Immunogenicity Of The Ompl1 Protein, Haiyan Dong, Ye Hu, Feng Xue, Dexter Sun, David M. Ojcius, Yafei Mao, Jie Yan

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

Background: The usefulness of available vaccine and serological tests for leptospirosis is limited by the low cross-reactivity of antigens from numerous serovars of pathogenic Leptospira spp. Identification of genus-specific protein antigens (GP-Ag) of Leptospira would be important for development of universal vaccines and serodiagnostic methods. OmpL1, a transmembrane porin of pathogenic leptospires, was identified as a possible GP-Ag, but its sequence diversity and immune cross-reactivity among different serovars of pathogenic leptospires remains largely unknown.

Results: PCR analysis demonstrated that the ompL1 gene existed in all 15 official Chinese standard strains as well as 163 clinical strains of pathogenic leptospires isolated …

Ecological Niche Of The 2003 West Nile Virus Epidemic In The Northern Great Plains Of The United States, Michael Wimberly, Michael B. Hildreth, Stephen P. Boyte, Erik Lindquist, Lon Kightlinger

Public Health Resources

Background: The incidence of West Nile virus (WNv) has remained high in the northern Great Plains compared to the rest of the United States. However, the reasons for the sustained high risk of WNv transmission in this region have not been determined. To assess the environmental drivers of WNv in the northern Great Plains, we analyzed the county-level spatial pattern of human cases during the 2003 epidemic across a seven-state region.
Methodology/Principal Findings: County-level data on WNv cases were examined using spatial cluster analysis, and were used to fit statistical models with weather, climate, and land use variables as predictors. …

Site Directed Mutagensis Of Bacteriophage Hk639 And Identification Of Its Integration Site, Madhuri Jonnalagadda

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Bacteriophages affect bacterial evolution, pathogenesis and global nutrient cycling. They are also the most numerous and diverse group of biological entities on the planet [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Members of the Lambda phage family share a similar genetic organization and control early gene expression by suppressing transcription, a process known as antitermination. Transcription antitermination in Lambda is mediated by a phage-encoded protein whereas in lambdoid phage HK022, antitermination is mediated by a phage-encoded RNA molecules. Recent results suggest that another bacteriophage called HK639 also appears to use RNA-mediated antitermination. To characterize this newly identified phage we generated site …

Acceptance Of The Clark P. Read Mentor Award: Students, Opportunity, Serendipity, And W.B. Yeats: "Education Is Not The Filling Of A Pail; It Is The Lighting Of A Fire", Donald W. Duszynski

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Transcript of the speech given by Donald W. Duszynski, of the University of New Mexico, upon acceptance of the American Society of Parasitologists' Clark P. Read Mentor Award, 2008.

How Does A Riverine Setting Affect The Lifestyle Of Shellmound Builders In Brazil?, Sabine Eggers, C. C. Petronilho, K. Brandt, C. Jericó-Daminello, J. Filippini, Karl Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

The contact of inland and coastal prehistoric groups in Brazil is believed to have been restricted to regions with no geographical barrier, as is the case in the Ribeira de Iguape valley. The inland osteological collection from the riverine shellmound Moraes (5800–4500 BP) represents a unique opportunity to test this assumption for this region. Despite cultural similarities between riverine and coastal shellmounds, important ecological and site distribution differences are expected to impact on lifestyle. The purpose of this study is thus to document and interpret health and lifestyle indicators in Moraes in comparison to coastal shellmound groups. Specifically we test …

Endoparasites Of Fat-Tailed Mouse Opossums (Thylamys: Didelphidae) From Northwestern Argentina And Southern Bolivia, With The Description Of A New Species Of Tapeworm, F. Agustin Jimenez Ruiz, Janet K. Braun, Mariel Campbell, Scott Lyell Gardner

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty and Staff Publications

The parasite fauna of two species of fat-tailed mouse opossums from northwestern Argentina is herein presented. Five species of helminths were found, i.e., Pterygodermatites kozeki, Hoineffia simplispicula, Oligacanthorhynchus sp., and a new species of tapeworm, Mathevotaenia sanmartini n. sp. (Cyclophyllidea: Anoplocephalidae). The new species is characterized by a calyciform scolex, relatively few testes (32), and a long cirrus sac; it occurs in fat-tailed mouse opossums at localities above 4,000 m. Those characters make it different from 6 species known to occur in marsupials from the New World, and from other species occurring in armadillos and bats. Didelphoxyuris thylamisis …

American Society Of Parasitologists Newsletter, V. 30, No. 3, Fall 2008, Scott Lyell Gardner

American Society of Parasitologists: Newsletter

An issue of the American Society of Parasitologists' quarterly newsletter, also called the Journal of Parasitology Newsletter.

A New Species Of Lentiella (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) From Proechimys Simonsi (Rodentia: Echimyidae) In Bolivia = Una Especie Nueva De Lentiella (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) De Proechimys Simonsi (Rodentia: Echimyidae) En Bolivia, Terry R. Haverkost, Scott Lyell Gardner

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty and Staff Publications

During a biodiversity survey of mammals and their parasites in the Beni, Bolivia in the summer of 2000, several spiny rats, Proechimys simonsi Thomas, 1900, were collected and examined for parasites. Herein we describe Lentiella lamothei n. sp. from one of these hosts. This species is can be distinguished from L. machadoi Rêgo, 1964 by having a greater total length but smaller maximum width, a greater number of segments, a smaller cirrus sac, a smaller scolex diameter, and in the eggs, a larger pyriform apparatus. In addition, we formally validate the genus Lentiella Rêgo, 1964, that had been placed in …

Effects Of Oral Consumption Of The Green Tea Polyphenol Egcg In A Murine Model For Human Sjogren's Syndrome, An Autoimmune Disease., K. Gillespie, I. Kodani, D. Dickinson, K. Ogbureke, A. Camba, M. Wu, S. Looney, Tin-Chun Chu, H. Qin, F. Bisch, M. Sharawy, G. Schuster, S. Hsu

Tin-Chun Chu, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.

To Love Your Neighbor: A Christian Perspective On The Study Of Microbiology And Immunology, Joy Doan

Faith Learning Integration Papers

I have been blessed with enough of a sense of adventure to have experienced the awe-inspiring beauty of a rain forest at night, the top of Half Dome at Yosemite National Park, the sheer cliffs and rushing waters of the Narrows at Zion National Park, Plateau Point—which seems suspended in the Grand Canyon, and the top of a 14,000-foot peak in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. These are the types of places about which one of the characters in Robert Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance observes, “This is the hardest stuff in the world to photograph. You …

Intraretinal Signaling By Ganglion Cell Photoreceptors To Dopaminergic Amacrine Neurons, Dao-Qi Zhang, Kwoon Y. Wong, Patricia J. Sollars, David M. Berson, Gary E. Pickard, Douglas G. Mcmahon

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Retinal dopaminergic amacrine neurons (DA neurons) play a central role in reconfiguring retinal function according to prevailing illumination conditions, yet the mechanisms by which light regulates their activity are poorly understood. We investigated the means by which sustained light responses are evoked in DA neurons. Sustained light responses were driven by cationic currents and persisted in vitro and in vivo in the presence of L-AP4, a blocker of retinal ON-bipolar cells. Several characteristics of these L-AP4-resistant light responses suggested that they were driven by melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), including long latencies, marked poststimulus persistence, and a peak …

Soluble Factors From Plasmodium Falciparum-Infected Erythrocytes Induce Apoptosis In Human Brain Vascular Endothelial And Neuroglia Cells, Winston Anderson

Department of Biology Faculty Publications

The severity of malaria is multi-factorial. It is associated with parasite-induced alteration in pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine levels in host serum and cerebrospinal fluid. It is also associated with sequestration and cytoadherence of parasitized erythrocytes (pRBCs) in post-capillary venules and blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction. The role of these factors in development of vascular injury and tissue damage in malaria patients is unclear. While some studies indicate a requirement for pRBC adhesion to vascular endothelial cells (ECs) in brain capillaries to induce apoptosis and BBB damage, others show no role of apoptosis resulting from adhesion of pRBC to EC. …

Soluble Factors From Plasmodium Falciparum-Infected Erythrocytes Induce Apoptosis In Human Brain Vascular Endothelial And Neuroglia Cells, Winston A. Anderson

Winston Anderson

Upregulated Mir-146a Expression In Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells From Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients, Kaleb M. Pauley, M. Satoh, A. L. Chan, M. R. Bubb, W. H. Reeves, E. K. Chan

Science and Mathematics Faculty Publications

Introduction

MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNA molecules that negatively regulate gene expression via degradation or translational repression of their targeted mRNAs. It is known that aberrant microRNA expression can play important roles in cancer, but the role of microRNAs in autoimmune diseases is only beginning to emerge. In this study, the expression of selected microRNAs is examined in rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods

Total RNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and healthy and disease control individuals, and the expression of miR-146a, miR-155, miR-132, miR-16, and microRNA let-7a was analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR.

Results …

Cd5 Plays An Inhibitory Role In The Suppressive Function Of Murine Cd4+ Cd25+ TReg Cells, Trivikram Dasu, Joseph E. Qualls, Halide Tuna, Chander Raman, Donald A. Cohen, Subbarao Bondada

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

A subset of CD4⁺ T cells, the CD4⁺ CD25⁺ regulatory T (T_reg) cells in the lymphoid organs and peripheral blood are known to possess suppressive function. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have indicated that T cell receptor (TCR) signal is required for development of such ‘natural regulatory (T_reg) cells’ and for activation of the effector function of CD4⁺ CD25⁺ regulatory T cells. CD5 is a cell surface molecule present on all T cells and a subtype of B lymphocytes, the B-1 cells, primarily localized to coelomic cavities, Peyer's patches, …

Regulation Of The Bioavailability Of Thioredoxin In The Lens By A Specific Thioredoxin-Binding Protein (Tbp-2), Namal P.M. Liyanage, M. Rohan Fernando, Marjorie F. Lou

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Thioredoxin (TRx) is known to control redox homeostasis in cells. In recent years, a specific TRx binding protein called thioredoxin binding protein-2 (TBP-2) was found in other cell types and it appeared to negatively regulate TRx bioavailability and thereby control TRx biological function. In view of the sensitivity of lens transparency to redox status, proper regulation of TRx bioavailability is of the utmost importance. This study was conducted to examine the presence and function of TBP-2 in human lens epithelial cells (HLE B3). We cloned human lens TBP-2 from a human cDNA library (GenBank accession number AY 594328) and showed …

The Systematic Position Of Lauroiinae Skrjabin And Schikhobalova, 1951 (Nemata: Heterakoidea: Aspidoderidae), As Revealed By The Analysis Of Traits Used In Its Diagnosis, F. Agustin Jimenez-Ruiz, Scott Lyell Gardner, Dely Noronha, Roberto Magalhães Pinto

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty and Staff Publications

During our work on biodiversity of parasites of mammals of the Neotropics we collected numerous nematodes assignable to species of the family Aspidoderidae (Nemata: Heterakoidea). These nematodes occur as parasites of the cecum and large intestine of marsupials, rodents and xenarthrans (armadillos) only in the New World. As aspidoderid nematodes have been little studied beyond their alpha taxonomy, it is the purpose of the present paper to apply phylogenetic systematic methods to more completely understand the evolutionary relationships of the included species. Members of the aspidoderid subfamily Lauroiinae have had very little work applied to their systematic relationships and no …

Species Of Coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) In Shrews From Alaska, U.S.A., And Northeastern Siberia, Russia, With Description Of Two New Species, A. J. Lynch, Donald W. Duszynski

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Fecal samples (n = 636) from 10 species of shrews collected in Alaska (n = 540) and northeastern Siberia (n = 96) were examined for the presence of coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae). Five distinct oocyst morphotypes were observed. Three types were consistent with oocysts of previously recognized coccidia species from other shrew hosts. These were Eimeria inyoni, E. vagrantis, and Isospora brevicauda, originally described from the inyo shrew (Sorex tenellus), dusky shrew (S. monticolus), and northern short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda), respectively. We found 5 new host records for E. …

Trypanosoma Cruzi In Wild Raccoons And Opossums From Kentucky, Brian Chad Groce

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Only 6 autochthonous cases of human Chagas disease have been documented in the U.S.A., however, as many as 5% of immigrants from Latin America may be infected with the etiologic agent, Trypanosoma cruzi. The parasite has been isolated from a variety of wild mammals, particularly in the southeastern region of the U.S.A. The goal of our study was to determine if the sylvatic cycle of T. cruzi infection occurs in Kentucky, and, if present, to assess the prevalence of infection in Warren and Barren counties. Raccoons and opossums were live-trapped between June and December, 2007. Animals were anesthetized with …

Sheep Updates 2008 - Contents, Department Of Food And Agriculture, Western Australia

Sheep Updates

No abstract provided.

Sheep Updates 2008 - Part 1, David Hughes, Tony Higgs, Di Evans, Scott Hansen, Michael Paton, Mary Nenke

Sheep Updates

This session covers five papers from different authors: KEYNOTE 1. Global trends in consumer and community expectations and their affect on the market, Dr David Hughes, Imperial College, London. (Powerpoint) PLENARY 2. Animal welfare - trends and opportunities, Tony Higgs, Di Evans, Department of Agriculture and Food WA 3. Australia's live sheep exports to Saudi Arabia, Scott Hansen, Meat & Livestock Australia 4. Livestock Welfare Challenges in Road Transport, Dr Mike Paton, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia 5. My 2020 Summit Experience, Mary Nenke, Producer Kukerin WA

American Society Of Parasitologists Newsletter, V. 30, No. 2, Summer 2008, Scott Lyell Gardner

American Society of Parasitologists: Newsletter

An issue of the American Society of Parasitologists' quarterly newsletter, also called the Journal of Parasitology Newsletter.

Sheep Updates 2008 - Part 2, Meredith L. Sheil, Di Evans, Brown Besier, Tim Scanlon, Andre Martinho De Almeida, Johan Greeff, Tanya Kilminster, John Milton, Chris Oldham, B. L. Mcintyre, Alison Wheatley, John Lucey, Fiona Jones, Nick Costa, Ed Riggall, J. R. L. Hall, Robin Jacob, Dave Pethick, Dave Hopkins, Graham Gardner

Sheep Updates

This session covers eleven papers from different authors: The Sheep Room 1. Analgesia for Surgical Husbandry Procedures in Sheep and Other Livestock, Dr Meredith L. Sheil, Animal Ethics Pty Ltd, Associate Sydney University Faculty of Veterinary Science The Wool Enterprise 2. Unmulsed sheep - implications for chemical use, Di Evans & Brown Besier, Department of Agriculture and Food WA 3. Are Damara and Dorper sheep better adapted than Merinos to nutritional stress? - Growth rates, Tim Scanlon1, Andre Martinho de Almeida2, Johan Greeff1, Tanya Kilminster1, John Milton3, Chris Oldham1, Department of Agriculture and Food WA1, Instituto de Investigacao Cientifica Tropical, …

Sheep Updates 2008 - Part 3, L. J. E. Karlsson, J. C. Greeff, L. Slocombe, K. Jones, N. Underwood, Fred Wilkinson, W. D. Hoffman, W. A. Mckiernan, V. H. Oddy, M. J. Mcphee, B. L. Mcintyre, P. F. Parnell, R. A. Clark, J. Timms, G. Griffith, C. Mulholland, P. Hyland, Danielle England, Fiona Jones, John Lucey, Martin Staines, Richard Morris, Megan Abrahams, Caroline Peek, Dennis Van Gool, Daniel Gardiner, Kari-Lee Falconer, Sandra Prosser, Mario D'Antuono, John Young, Andrew Thompson, Chris Oldham, Brown Besier, Angus Campbell, Ralph Behrendt

Sheep Updates

This session covers fiveteen papers from different authors:

CONTROLLING FLY STRIKE

1. Breeding for Blowfly Resistance - Indicatoe Traits, LJE Karlsson, JC Greeff, L Slocombe, Department of Agriculture & Food, Western Australia

2.A practical method to select for breech strike resistance in non-pedigreed Merino flocks, LJE Karlsson, JC Greeff, L Slocombe, K. Jones, N. Underwood, Department of Agriculture & Food, Western Australia

3. Twice a year shearing - no mulesing, Fred Wilkinson, Producer, Brookton WA

BEEF

4. Commercial testing of a new tool for prediction of fatness in beef cattle, WD Hoffman^A, WA McKiernan^A, VH Oddy …

Critical Involvement Of The Atm-Dependent Dna Damage Response In The Apoptotic Demise Of Hiv-1-Elicited Syncytia, Jean-Luc Perfettini, Roberta Nardacci, Mehdi Bourouba, Frederic Subra, Laurent Gros, Claire Séror, Gwenola Manic, Filippo Rosselli, Alessandra Amendola, Peggy Masdehors, Luciana Chessa, Giuseppe Novelli, David M. Ojcius, Jan Konrad Siwicki, Magdalena Chechlinska, Christian Auclair, Jose R. Regueiro, Hughes De Thé, Marie-Lise Gougeon, Mauro Piacentini, Guido Kroemer

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

DNA damage can activate the oncosuppressor protein ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), which phosphorylates the histone H2AX within characteristic DNA damage foci. Here, we show that ATM undergoes an activating phosphorylation in syncytia elicited by the envelope glycoprotein complex (Env) of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) in vitro. This was accompanied by aggregation of ATM in discrete nuclear foci that also contained phospho-histone H2AX. DNA damage foci containing phosphorylated ATM and H2AX were detectable in syncytia present in the brain or lymph nodes from patients with HIV-1 infection, as well as in a fraction of blood leukocytes, correlating with viral status. Knockdown …