Digital Commons Network^™

Phar 452.00: Therapeutics Ii: Clinical Use Of Antimicrobials, Douglas R. Allington, Donna G. Beall, Sarah Miller, Michael P. Rivey, Kendra Keeley, Marian Maxwell

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 1990-2010

No abstract provided.

Pubh 595.02: International Health, Lolem Ngong, Lisa Pascopella, Craig A. Molgaard

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 1990-2010

No abstract provided.

Pubh 595.01: Epidemiology Of Infectious Diseases, Larry Frisch, Steve Helgerson, Craig A. Molgaard

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 1990-2010

No abstract provided.

Lions And Prions And Deer Demise, Michael W. Miller, Heather M. Swanson, Lisa L. Wolfe, Fred G. Quartarone, Sherri L. Huwer, Charles H. Southwick, Paul M. Lukacs

Wildlife Biology Faculty Publications

Background: Contagious prion diseases – scrapie of sheep and chronic wasting disease of several species in the deer family – give rise to epidemics that seem capable of compromising host population viability. Despite this prospect, the ecological consequences of prion disease epidemics in natural populations have received little consideration.

Methodology/Principal Findings: Using a cohort study design, we found that prion infection dramatically lowered survival of free-ranging adult (.2-year-old) mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus): estimated average life expectancy was 5.2 additional years for uninfected deer but only 1.6 additional years for infected deer. Prion infection also increased nearly fourfold the rate of …

Acute Cellular Uptake Of Abnormal Prion Protein Is Cell Type And Scrapie Strain Independent, Christopher Scott Greil

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are fatal neurodegenerative diseases that include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy and sheep scrapie. TSE disease pathology and mechanisms within the central nervous system (CNS) of an infected host largely remains unclear. At the cellular level, the uptake of protease resistant prion protein (PrP-res), which strongly correlates with infectivity and is a valid marker for TSE infection, is one of the earliest events that must occur during TSE infection. Given the difficulty of clearly distinguishing input PrP-res from either PrP-res or protease-sensitive PrP (PrP-sen) made by the cell, the uptake of PrP-res from an infectious inoculum …

A Novel Zinc-Binding Domain Is Essential For Formation Of The Functional Junin Virus Envelope Glycoprotein Complex, Joanne York, Jack H. Nunberg

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The envelope glycoprotein of the Junin arenavirus (GP-C) mediates entry into target cells through a pH-dependent membrane fusion mechanism. Unlike other class I viral fusion proteins, the mature GP-C complex retains a cleaved, 58-amino-acid signal peptide (SSP) as an essential subunit, required both for trafficking of GP-C to the cell surface and for the activation of membrane fusion. SSP has been shown to associate noncovalently in GP-C via the cytoplasmic domain (CTD) of the transmembrane fusion subunit G2. In this report we investigate the molecular basis for this intersubunit interaction. We identify an invariant series of six cysteine and histidine …

Additive And Synergistic Bactericidal Activity Of Antibodies Directed Against Minor Outer Membrane Proteins Of Neisseria Meningitidis, Vincent E. Weynants, Christiane M. Feron, Karine K. Goraj, Martine P. Bos, Philippe A. Denoeal, Vincent G. Verlant, Jan Tommassen, Ian R. A. Peak, Ralph C. Judd, Michael P. Jennings, Jan T. Poolman

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B is a major cause of bacterial meningitis in younger populations. The available vaccines are based on outer membrane vesicles obtained from wild-type strains. In children less than 2 years old they confer protection only against strains expressing homologous PorA, a major, variable outer membrane protein (OMP). We genetically modified a strain in order to eliminate PorA and to overproduce one or several minor and conserved OMPs. Using a mouse model mimicking children's PorA-specific bactericidal activity, it was demonstrated that overproduction of more than one minor OMP is required to elicit antibodies able to induce complement-mediated killing …

Field Assessment Of A Model Tuberculosis Outbreak Response Plan For Low-Incidence Areas, Laura Freimanis Hance, Karen R. Steingart, Christine G. Hahn, Lisa Pascopella, Charles M. Nolan

Public and Community Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: For a regional project in four low-incidence states, we designed a customizable tuberculosis outbreak response plan. Prior to dissemination of the plan, a tuberculosis outbreak occurred, presenting an opportunity to perform a field assessment of the plan. The purpose of the assessment was to ensure that the plan included essential elements to help public health professionals recognize and respond to outbreaks.

Methods: We designed a semi-structured questionnaire and interviewed all key stakeholders involved in the response. We used common themes to assess validity of and identify gaps in the plan. A subset of participants provided structured feedback on the …

Department Of Mathematical Sciences Newsletter, Fall 2007, University Of Montana--Missoula. Department Of Mathematical Sciences

Newsletters from the Department of Mathematical Sciences at UM

Hashisaki Winner Erin Mondloch -- Meet our Undergraduate Teaching Scholars! -- Do you ever wonder what Graduate Students do in the Summer? -- Notes from the Chair / David Patterson -- Vera Stephan (1924-2007) / David Patterson -- Department News -- Math Students Travel Many Miles to Attend Conference / Mary Riegel -- My Year in Shanghai / Adam Nyman -- Math Professor Wins Early Career Award -- Wintersession Courses-January 2008 -- Meet our Undergraduate Teaching Scholars! -- Alumni News -- Graduate Education in the Mathematical Sciences at UM -- Math Club Corner / Nikolaus Vonessen

The Unusual 23s Rrna Gene Of Coxiella Burnetii: Two Self-Splicing Group I Introns Flank A 34-Base-Pair Exon, And One Element Lacks The Canonical Omega G, Rahul Raghavan, Scott R. Miller, Linda D. Hicks, Michael F. Minnick

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

We describe the presence and characteristics of two self-splicing group I introns in the sole 23S rRNA gene of Coxiella burnetii. The two group I introns, Cbu.L1917 and Cbu.L1951, are inserted at sites 1917 and 1951 (Escherichia coli numbering), respectively, in the 23S rRNA gene of C. bumetii. Both introns were found to be self-splicing in vivo and in vitro even though the terminal nucleotide of Cbu.L1917 is adenine and not the canonical conserved guanine, termed Omega G, found in Cbu.L1951 and all other group I introns described to date. Predicted secondary structures for both introns were constructed and revealed …

Proteomic And Immunoblot Analyses Of Bartonella Quintana Total Membrane Proteins Identify Antigens Recognized By Sera From Infected Patients, Jenni K. Boonjakuakul, Helen L. Gerns, Yu-Ting Chen, Linda D. Hicks, Michael F. Minnick, Scott E. Dixon, Steven C. Hall, Jane E. Koehler

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Bartonella quintana is a fastidious, gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that causes prolonged bacteremia in immunocompetent humans and severe infections in immunocompromised individuals. We sought to define the outer membrane subproteome of B. quintana in order to obtain insight into the biology and pathogenesis of this emerging pathogen and to identify the predominant B. quintana antigens targeted by the human immune system during infection. We isolated the total membrane proteins of B. quintana and identified 60 proteins by two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and peptide mass fingerprinting. Using the newly constructed proteome map, we then utilized two-dimensional immunoblotting with sera from …

University Of Montana Events Monday, April 9, Through Monday, April 16, 2007, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

Department Of Mathematical Sciences Newsletter, Spring 2007, University Of Montana--Missoula. Department Of Mathematical Sciences

Newsletters from the Department of Mathematical Sciences at UM

Math Ph.D. Student Wins University Teaching Award / Greg St. George -- Cryptography / Jenny McNulty -- Notes from the Chair / David Patterson -- James Hirstein wins Faculty Service Award / Nikolaus Vonessen -- Outstanding Staff Award goes to Michelle Johnsen / David Patterson -- Student Profile: Hallie Torrey / James Hirstein -- Greetings from Helsinki / John Bardsley -- 2007 Scholarship and Award Winners -- Honor Roll of Donors -- Department News -- Wintersession Courses - January 2008 -- What's new in Graduate Education at UM? / Jenny McNulty -- Alumni News -- Class of 2007 -- Math …

Bitopic Membrane Topology Of The Stable Signal Peptide In The Tripartite Junin Virus Gp-C Envelope Glycoprotein Complex, Sudhakar S. Agnihothram, Joanne York, Meg Trahey, Jack H. Nunberg

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The stable signal peptide (SSP) of the GP-C envelope glycoprotein of the Junin arenavirus plays a critical role in trafficking of the GP-C complex to the cell surface and in its membrane fusion activity. SSP therefore may function on both sides of the lipid membrane. In this study, we have investigated the membrane topology of SSP by confocal microscopy of cells treated with the detergent digitonin to selectively permeabilize the plasma membrane. By using an affinity tag to mark the termini of SSP in the properly assembled GP-C complex, we find that both the N and C termini reside in …

Filling Key Gaps In Population And Community Ecology, Anurag A. Agrawal, David D. Ackerly, Fred Adler, A. Elizabeth Arnold, Carla Cáceres, Daniel F. Doak, Eric Post, Peter J. Hudson, John L. Maron, Kailen A. Mooney, Mary Power, Doug Schemske, Jay Stachowicz, Sharon Strauss, Monica G. Turner, Earl Werner

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

We propose research to fill key gaps in the areas of population and community ecology, based on a National Science Foundation workshop identifying funding priorities for the next 5–10 years. Our vision for the near future of ecology focuses on three core areas: predicting the strength and context-dependence of species interactions across multiple scales; identifying the importance of feedbacks from individual interactions to ecosystem dynamics; and linking pattern with process to understand species coexistence. We outline a combination of theory development and explicit, realistic tests of hypotheses needed to advance population and community ecology.

Hhp 479.01: Sports Medicine, Richard Auerbach

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 1990-2010

No abstract provided.

Um Genetics Research Suggests Distinct Bison Herds Roam Yellowstone, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

The Importance Of Individual And Population Variation To Human Stature Estimation, Kelly Jean Shields

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Human stature estimation is a central part of forensic anthropological investigation. It is one of several factors used to identify unknown individuals. The statistical relationship between body length and body segment length allows for long bone lengths from an unidentified individual to be used in a linear regression equation to estimate living stature. These linear regression equations are often formulated from a data set of an entirely different population. This research explores the necessity for the unknown individual to be similar on a number of points to the known population that makes up the equation. Populations are highly variable, and …

A Reanalysis Of Boas’S Hebrew Immigrant Data: Comparisons Of Foreign-Born And Us-Born Children Living In Early 20th Century America, Margaret Rose Kress

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This research paper uses data observed on Hebrew immigrant populations collected by the anthropologist Franz Boas and coworkers between 1909 and 1910. Boas was asked by the United States Immigration Commission to write a report that examined how the influx of European immigrants into the United States might affect the morphology of the American population. Seeing this as a chance to undermine racial typologies, Boas took many measurements of immigrants and their children and concluded that observed changes between foreign-born and US-born children were a result of the move into a new environment. Recent research has demonstrated that the Hebrew …

Vision 2007

Vision

No abstract provided.

Hiv/Aids And Conservation Agency Capacity In Southern Africa: Perceptions Of Critical Impacts, Barriers, And Intervention Strategies, Jennifer Ann Cash

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The HIV/AIDS pandemic permeates all aspects of southern African civil society including the ability of organizations to practice conservation. The purpose of this research is to understand how management perceives HIV/AIDS influencing southern African conservation agencies workforce capacity to meet their missions. Research goals include: (1) identifying perceptions of the impacts of HIV/AIDS on workforce capacity; (2) elucidating barriers to addressing these impacts; and (3) exploring mitigation strategies. Data collection involved two stages: (1) semi-structured interviews of managers and scientists (n=23) to better understand impacts and barriers; and (2) a panel of key experts (n=30) within southern African conservation agencies …

Probing Isoforms Of The Prion Protein Through Tyrosine Nitration, Christopher William Lennon

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The prion protein (PrP) has multiple stable isoforms. When PrP misfolds, it aggregates and causes neurological disease and death in mammals. The structure of the non-pathogenic isoform has been determined while the structures of the disease related isoforms are unknown. The nitration labeling patterns of three PrP isoforms with peroxynitrite and tetranitromethane, as detected by mass spectrometry, are reported. Two conserved tyrosine residues (tyrosines 149 and 150) are not labeled by either reagent in the normal cellular form of the prion protein but these residues become reactive after the protein has been converted to one of two aggregated isoforms. Another …

Development Of Fecal Dna Sampling Methods To Assess Genetic Population Structure Of Greater Yellowstone Bison, Florence Marie Gardipee

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The bison (Bison bison) of Yellowstone National Park (YNP) and Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) represent two of only three remaining populations of plains bison that have no evidence of hybridization with cattle. Therefore, these bison are an important source for ecological and genetic restoration of wild bison. Little is known regarding genetic population structure and gene flow among the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) bison herds. I evaluated the feasibility of fecal DNA sampling for genetic analyses of wild bison populations. I used matched blood and fecal samples from eight radio-collared bison from Hayden Valley breeding group (YNP), and multiplex …

American Indian Graduate Students Win At National Conference, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

Oligomerization Of Hepatitis C Virus Core Protein Is Crucial For Interaction With The Cytoplasmic Domain Of E1 Envelope Protein, Kousuke Nakai, Toru Okamoto, Tomomi Kimura-Someya, Koji Ishii, Chang Kweng Lim, Hideki Tani, Eiko Matsuo, Takayuki Abe, Yoshio Mori, Tetsuro Suzuki, Tatsuo Miyamura, Jack H. Nunberg, Kohji Moriishi, Yoshiharu Matsuura

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) contains two membrane-associated envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2, which assemble as a heterodimer in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In this study, predictive algorithms and genetic analyses of deletion mutants and glycosylation site variants of the E1 glycoprotein were used to suggest that the glycoprotein can adopt two topologies in the ER membrane: the conventional type I membrane topology and a polytopic topology in which the protein spans the ER membrane twice with an intervening cytoplasmic loop (amino acid residues 288 to 360). We also demonstrate that the E1 glycoprotein is able to associate with the HCV …

Department Of Mathematical Sciences Newsletter, Fall 2006, University Of Montana--Missoula. Department Of Mathematical Sciences

Newsletters from the Department of Mathematical Sciences at UM

Elevator Renovation: Some Highlights / Mark Kayll -- NSF Award to Initiate a New Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program / Jon Graham -- Notes from the Chair / David Patterson -- Nyman Receives Cox Award / Mark Kayll -- A Graphical Description of the Euler Number e/ Nikolaus Vonessen -- The M-EID Students in the Mathematical Sciences / Jon Graham -- Alumni News -- Welcome Solomon Harrar / Dave Patterson -- Opportunities for Students and Faculty at University College Cork in Ireland / Leonid Kalachev -- Locally Grown, Globally Known-A Journal Reborn / Bharath Sriraman -- Math Club Corner / Nikolaus …

Psc 483.01: Political Psychology, Laura Dimmler

University of Montana Course Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Role Of The Stable Signal Peptide Of Junín Arenavirus Envelope Glycoprotein In Ph-Dependent Membrane Fusion, Joanne York, Jack H. Nunberg

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The envelope glycoprotein of the arenaviruses (GP-C) is unusual in that the mature complex retains the cleaved, 58-amino-acid signal peptide. Association of this stable signal peptide (SSP) has been shown to be essential for intracellular trafficking and proteolytic maturation of the GP-C complex. We identify here a specific and previously unrecognized role of SSP in pH-dependent membrane fusion. Amino acid substitutions that alter the positive charge at lysine K33 in SSP affect the ability of GP-C to mediate cell-cell fusion and the threshold pH at which membrane fusion is triggered. Based on the presumed location of K33 at or near …

Um Lands $1.5 Million For Undergraduate Science Education, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

Environmental Signals Generate A Differential And Coordinated Expression Of The Heme Receptor Gene Family Of Bartonella Quintana, James M. Battisti, Kate N. Sappington, Laura S, Smitherman, Nermi L. Parrow, Michael F. Minnick

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Of all bacteria, Bartonella quintana has the highest reported in vitro hemin requirement, yet an explanation for this remains elusive. To produce diseases such as trench fever, endocarditis, and bacillary angiomatosis, B. quintana must survive and replicate in the disparate environments of the Pediculus humanus corporis (body louse) gut and the human vasculature. We previously identified a five-member family of hemin binding proteins (Hbps) synthesized by B. quintana that bind hemin on the outer surface but share no similarity to known bacterial heme receptors. In the present study, we examine the transcription, regulation, and synthesis of this virulence factor family …