Animal Sciences Commons^™

Loss Of Activity Mutations In Phospholipase C Zeta Abloishes Calcium Oscillatory Ability Of Human Recombinant Protein In Mouse Ooctyes, J. Kashir, C. Jones, H.C. Lee, K. Rietdork, D. Nikiforaki, C. Durrans, M. Ruas, S.T. Tee, B. Heindryckx, A. Galione, P. Desutter, Rafael Fissore, J. Parrington, K. Coward

Rafael Fissore

BACKGROUND: Mammalian oocyte activation occurs via a series of intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) oscillations thought to be induced by a sperm-specific phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ). There is now strong evidence to indicate that certain types of human male infertility are caused by failure of the sperm to activate the oocyte in an appropriate manner. Molecular analysis of the PLCζ gene of a male patient with oocyte activation deficiency has previously identified a point mutation causing a histidine to proline substitution at PLCζ residue 398 (PLCζ(H398P)), leading to abnormal Ca(2+) release profiles and reduced oocyte activation efficiency. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the …

T. Brucei Infection Reduces B Lymphopoiesis In Bone Marrow And Truncates Compensatory Splenic Lymphopoiesis Through Transitional B-Cell Apoptosis, Viki Bockstal, Patrick Guirnalda, Guy Caljon, Radhika Goenka, Janice T. Telfer, Deborah Frenkel, Magdalena Radwanska, Stefan Magez, Samuel J. Black

Janice C. Telfer

African trypanosomes of the Trypanosoma brucei species are extracellular protozoan parasites that cause the deadly disease African trypanosomiasis in humans and contribute to the animal counterpart, Nagana. Trypanosome clearance from the bloodstream is mediated by antibodies specific for their Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG) coat antigens. However, T. brucei infection induces polyclonal B cell activation, B cell clonal exhaustion, sustained depletion of mature splenic Marginal Zone B (MZB) and Follicular B (FoB) cells, and destruction of the B-cell memory compartment. To determine how trypanosome infection compromises the humoral immune defense system we used a C57BL/6 T. brucei AnTat 1.1 mouse model …

The Roles Of Notch1 And Pkc-Θ In Immune Mediated Bone Marrow Failure, Justine E. Roderick

Open Access Dissertations

We sought to evaluate the individual contributions of Notch1 and PKC-ζ to disease progression in a mouse model of immune-mediated bone marrow failure and to define a mechanism for their potential cellular cooperation. We transferred parental bulk splenocytes into F1-hybrid recipients to induce a robust immune-mediated bone marrow failure (BMF) that we could partially rescue by administering a pharmacological inhibitor of Notch activation. Transferring splenocytes from PKC--ζ-/- animals did not induce disease, and treating animals with a pharmacological inhibitor of PKC-ζ also provided full protection from disease. We found that inhibiting Notch1 resulted in PKC-ζ down-regulation, and blocking PKC-ζ reduced …

Ca2+ Signaling During Mammalian Fertilization: Requirements, Players, And Adaptions, Rafael Fissore, T. Wakai, V. Vanderheyden

Rafael Fissore

Changes in the intracellular concentration of calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) represent a vital signaling mechanism enabling communication among cells and between cells and the environment. The initiation of embryo development depends on a [Ca(2+)](i) increase(s) in the egg, which is generally induced during fertilization. The [Ca(2+)](i) increase signals egg activation, which is the first stage in embryo development, and that consist of biochemical and structural changes that transform eggs into zygotes. The spatiotemporal patterns of [Ca(2+)](i) at fertilization show variability, most likely reflecting adaptations to fertilizing conditions and to the duration of embryonic cell cycles. In mammals, the focus of this review, …

Avian Ecology And Conservation In Tropical Agricultural Landscapes With Emphasis On Vermivora Chrysoptera, Richard Brooks Chandler

Open Access Dissertations

The world's biodiversity is concentrated in tropical ecosystems, yet tropical forests are being converted for agriculture at a rapid rate. I evaluated the potential of an alternative coffee production system known as Integrated Open Canopy (IOC) to contribute to avian conservation. This study was conducted from 2005-2010 in the Cordillera de Tilarán, Costa Rica. My results indicate that species richness of forest-dependent birds was higher in IOC farms than in shade coffee farms, and was comparable to secondary forest sites. There was no difference in species richness of Neotropical-Nearctic migrants between IOC and shade coffee farms. Overall similarity was higher …

Innate Immune Responses To B. Burgdorferi Mediated By Jnk1 And The Cochaperone, Methylation Controlled Dnaj (Mcj), Hooman Izadi

Open Access Dissertations

The infections agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia Burgdorferi is a complex microorganism with a highly diverse genome. One of the most remarkable aspects of the B. burgdorferi genome is the large number of sequences encoding predicted or known lipoproteins, including outer-surface proteins. The B. burgdorferi genome encodes no recognizable toxins. Instead, this extracellular pathogen causes pathology by migration through tissues, adhesion to host cells, and evasion of immune clearance. Inflammation elicited by infection with B. burgdorferi depends on the ability of the spirochete to survive in the mammalian host, as well as the immune response that arises upon the interaction …

Holyoke Dam, Connecticut River, 2011, Brett Towler

Fish Passage Data Archive

Holyoke Dam

Connecticut River

Massachusetts

Year data collected: 2011

Factors Affecting Survival And Cause-Specific Mortality Of Saiga Calves (Saiga Tatarica Mongolica) In Mongolia, Buuveibaatar Bayarbaatar

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Factors affecting juvenile survival are poorly known in the world’s most northern antelope, the endangered saiga (Saiga tatarica), yet they are fundamental for understanding what drives population change. For saiga neonates monitored in Sharga Nature Reserve, western Mongolia, during 2008–2010, male and single calves were heavier than those of female and twins, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in seasonal and annual survival rate between male and female or singletons and twins. Litter size and birth mass varied among years, and there was a negative relationship between these variables. Multiple regression models suggest that summer precipitation in …

Reproductive Maturation And Diel Reproductive Periodicity In Western Gulf Of Maine Haddock, Katie A. Anderson

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

A new macroscopic ovarian reproductive maturity index for haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus L, was developed to improve field collection of reproductive stage data. The index was tested, validated and revised based on a comparison with a laboratory histological staging method. The comparison of field and histological observations helped to improve the field index and methodologies and provided useful insight into the reproductive biology of Haddock. Although laboratory staging based on histology is inherently more accurate than any macroscopic field staging method, field observations can reveal weaknesses in the laboratory approach due to sampling bias. The revised field index includes three …

In Vivo Investigations Of Polymer Conjugates As Therapeutics, Elizabeth M. Henchey

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Polymer conjugates offer a way to introduce materials into the body that would normally be rejected or cause toxicity. Two polymers are investigated in vivo for uses in chemotherapeutic delivery, protein therapeutics, and DNA transfection. A novel polymer, polyMPC, has the ability to increase doxorubicin loading and its solubility, and is conjugated in a way to release its payload in a low pH environment. Through its conjugation, blood clearance time of doxorubicin is increased, and thus tumor exposure to the drug is increased with a single administration. It can be administered at ten times the concentration of free doxorubicin, and …

Examination Of Sexually Dimorphic Cell Death In The Pubertal Mouse Brain, Amanda Holley

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

A period of cell death during a critical period early in life is responsible for causing permanent structural changes to many brain areas, but it is not known whether cell death plays a role in brain organization outside of early postnatal life. Puberty is considered a second sensitive period because the brain is the target organ of gonadal hormones. This study looked at global and regional patterns of cell death during pre-puberty and puberty in the mouse brain. My findings show there is more cell death happening during pre-puberty than during puberty. Cell death does happen during puberty but at …

Building Integrated Aquaculture, Erik A. Woodin

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Exploratory research into a fresh concept, building integrated aquaculture, has found new information on the topic. Motives indicating building integrated aquaculture is important for sustainable development were identified. A review of the literature found relatively little in the way of experiments, aquaculture operations, and case studies which documented or demonstrated a deep understanding of the interactions between building and aquaculture systems. A simple experiment was conducted observing thermal energy and moisture interactions in simulated aquaculture facilities, some with tank covers and insulation. Two different retrofit programs were developed in a case study of building integrated aquaculture for an existing structure …

A Multidisciplinary Approach To Food Safety Evaluation: Hummus Spoilage And Microbial Analysis Of Kitchen Surfaces In Residential Child Care Institutions (Rcci) In Massachusetts, U.S.A., Elsina E. Hagan

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Food borne illnesses continues to be a public health challenge in the United States (U.S.); an estimated 9.4 million incident cases occurred in 2011. In view of this challenge we conducted two food safety studies; 1) related to product formulation (hummus spoilage challenge study) and 2) evaluating the microbial safety of domestic kitchen surfaces in Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCI pilot study).

Hummus is of Mediterranean origin but is currently eaten globally. This challenge study evaluates a variety of industrial hummus formulations (four in total, differing in pH and/or addition of a preservative (natamycin). Two batches were setup: batch 1; …