Digital Commons Network^™

Phenotypic And Genotypic Characterization Of Antibiotic-Resistant Soil And Manure Bacteria Adjacent To Swine Production Facilities, Meli̇ke Eki̇zoğlu, Satoshi Koike, Ivan Krapac, Mahmut Nedi̇m Sultan, Roderick Mackie

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study aimed to identify phenotypic and genotypic resistance profiles of bacteria isolated from soil and manure samples obtained from a farm where tetracycline and tylosin were used extensively. Samples were collected from the manure and soil, before and after manure application. All of the 151 bacteria were identified based on BLAST results. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined by agar dilution and E-test methods. Class-specific primers were used to amplify 6 erythromycin and 7 tetracycline resistance (Tc^r) genes for 46 tetracycline- and 18 erythromycin-resistant isolates. Tc^r gene sequence identity between different species of isolates was identified to investigate the dissemination …

Prevalence Of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia Coli And Pathogenic Leptospira Spp. In Rodents From Outdoor Farms In Western Spain, Alfredo Garcia, Remigio Martinez, Lourdes Garcia, Jose Manuel Benitez-Medina, David Risco, Waldo Luis Garcia, Joaquin Rey, Juan Manuel Alonso, Angeli Kodjo

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Sixty-five rats (Rattus norvegicus) and 5 mice (Mus musculus) were trapped from 8 outdoor farms and the presence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli was not detected in any individual. Nevertheless, using the microscopic agglutination test, it was found that 20% (13/65) of rat serum samples were positive for anti-Leptospira antibodies, and DNA of pathogenic leptospires was detected in 3.07% (2/65) of the rat kidneys by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The most common infecting serovar was Castellonis (7.69%), followed by Canicola (6.15%) and Mangus (6.15%). According to these results, rats from outdoor farms may be considered a reservoir host for Leptospira …

Molecular Characterisation Of The Genus Papaver Section Oxytona Using Issr Markers, Tuğba Gürkök, Eli̇f Kaymak, Gülşen Boztepe, Mesut Koyuncu, İskender Parmaksiz

Turkish Journal of Botany

Papaver bracteatum Lindl., P. orientale L., and P. pseudo-orientale (Fedde) Medw., species of section Oxytona Bernh. in the genus Papaver L., are found widely in the native flora of Turkey. They are commercially important for their high alkaloid content. Because genus Papaver section Oxytona has similar morphological characters, it is not easy to distinguish these species. We used the inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) molecular marker system to determine the molecular characterisation of this section. In this study, 20 ISSR primers have been studied in 180 accessions collected from 5 different regions of Turkey. A total of 82 bands were obtained, …

Interprofessional Education At Unmc: Annual Report 2012-2013, University Of Nebraska Medical Center

Annual Reports: Interprofessional Education

No abstract provided.

Cholera Outbreaks In Nigeria Are Associated With Multidrug Resistant Atypical El Tor And Non-O1/Non-O139 Vibrio Cholerae., M. A. Marin, Cristiane C. Thompson, F. S. Freitas, E. L. Fonseca, Iruka N. Okeke

Biology Faculty Scholarship

Background

The current millennium has seen a steep rise in the number, size and case-fatalities of cholera outbreaks in many African countries. Over 40,000 cases of cholera were reported from Nigeria in 2010. Variants of Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor biotype have emerged but very little is known about strains causing cholera outbreaks in West Africa, which is crucial for the implementation of interventions to control epidemic cholera.

Methodology/Principal Findings

V. cholerae isolates from outbreaks of acute watery diarrhea in Nigeria from December, 2009 to October, 2010 were identified by standard culture methods. Fifteen O1 and five non-O1/non-O139 strains were …

Winning The Battle Against Surgical Site Infections, Lisa Farthing Msn, Rn, Cnor, Michelle Reigard Rn, Cnor

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

Characterization Of The Unique Flagellar Hook Structure Of The Spirochetes Borrelia Burgdorferi And Treponema Denticola, Kelly Ann Heintzelman Miller

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The long-term goal of this project is to better understand Borrelia burgdorferi and Treponema denticola motility as it relates to pathogenesis. The structure of the spirochete periplasmic flagella is unique when compared to externally located flagella. One unusual characteristic is the flagellar hook, which serves as a universal joint coupling rotation of the membrane bound motor complex to the flagellar filament. The hook is composed of approximately 120 FlgE monomers, and in bacteria with externally located flagella, these structures readily disassociate into monomers (~50 kDa) when treated with heat and detergent. However, in spirochetes the FlgE monomers form a large …

Particulates Initiate Immune Response Via Inducing Oxidative Stress-Mediated Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation, Zhenyu Zhong

Dissertations

Liposomes are lipid particles formed by self-aggregated phospholipids. They are clinically used both as delivery vectors and immune adjuvants to treat many human infectious and cancerous diseases. However, how liposomes interact with host immune system remains poorly understood. Particularly, little is known about whether an innate immune receptor exists to sense liposomes. I hypothesize that liposomes activate NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages, which results in the release of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), a proinflammatory cytokine that plays a key role in innate and adaptive immune responses.

To test my hypothesis, I determined the ability of inducing IL-1β secretion from macrophages by differentially …

Phytochemical Investigation Of Lonchocarpus Species : A Search For Antioxidant Compounds, Caitlin E. Deskins

Dissertations

Natural product research plays a crucial role in the discovery of new drugs for the treatment of human diseases. One plant genus that has been shown to contain a variety of compounds with many different activities but has yet to be thoroughly investigated is the genus Lonchocarpus (Fabaceae, Papilionoideae). In this work, three species of Lonchocarpus from Monteverde, Costa Rica were investigated. Each of the species underwent antioxidant-guided fractionation to isolate compounds that are responsible for the extracts' antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using two antioxidant assays, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical assay and the ferric reducing ability of plasma …

Ligation-Dependent Multiplex Pcr With Bead-Based Array Detection Comprises A Clinically Adaptable Method Of Microrna Profiling, Bobbi Ellen Johnston

Dissertations

Ligation-dependent PCR, when coupled with a bead-based detection array, comprises a method of nucleic acid detection that utilizes enzymes and equipment already being employed successfully in clinical labs. The process can be multiplexed in order to generate a profile of the sequences of interest. When applied to microRNA profiling, the ligation step requires modification to improve the efficiency of the T4 DNA ligase employed. With optimization, the assay has the potential to distinguish and detect multiple microRNA species simultaneously, providing a clinically adaptable method for microRNA profiling. The flexibility of the assay format would allow modification for a nearly limitless …

Giving Families Their Best Shot: A Law-Medicine Perspective On The Right To Religious Exemptions From Mandatory Vaccination, Hope Lu

Case Western Reserve Law Review

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Role For Il-21 In Rabies Virus Vaccine-Induced Immunity., Corin L Dorfmeier, Evgeni P Tzvetkov, Anthony Gatt, James P Mcgettigan

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

Over two-thirds of the world's population lives in regions where rabies is endemic, resulting in over 15 million people receiving multi-dose post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and over 55,000 deaths per year globally. A major goal in rabies virus (RABV) research is to develop a single-dose PEP that would simplify vaccination protocols, reduce costs associated with RABV prevention, and save lives. Protection against RABV infections requires virus neutralizing antibodies; however, factors influencing the development of protective RABV-specific B cell responses remain to be elucidated. Here we used a mouse model of IL-21 receptor-deficiency (IL-21R-/-) to characterize the role for IL-21 in RABV …

Comparison Of Heterologous Prime-Boost Strategies Against Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Gag Using Negative Stranded Rna Viruses., Tessa M Lawrence, Celestine N Wanjalla, Emily A Gomme, Christoph Wirblich, Anthony Gatt, Elena Carnero, Adolfo García-Sastre, Douglas S Lyles, James P Mcgettigan, Matthias J Schnell

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

This study analyzed a heterologous prime-boost vaccine approach against HIV-1 using three different antigenically unrelated negative-stranded viruses (NSV) expressing HIV-1 Gag as vaccine vectors: rabies virus (RABV), vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV). We hypothesized that this approach would result in more robust cellular immune responses than those achieved with the use of any of the vaccines alone in a homologous prime-boost regimen. To this end, we primed BALB/c mice with each of the NSV-based vectors. Primed mice were rested for thirty-five days after which we administered a second immunization with the same or heterologous NSV-Gag viruses. …

Isolated Laryngeal Leishmaniasis In Immunocompetent Patients: An Underdiagnosed Disease., Salvatore Cocuzza, Alessio Strazzulla, Marilia Rita Pinzone, Stefano Cosentino, Agostino Serra, Rosario Caltabiano, Salvatore Lanzafame, Bruno Cacopardo, Giuseppe Nunnari

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

We describe a case of isolated primary laryngeal leishmaniasis in an immunocompetent Italian patient with a previous medical history negative for visceral or cutaneous leishmaniasis, presenting with hoarseness. We also summarize the epidemiological, clinical, and diagnostic features and the therapeutic management of other cases of laryngeal leishmaniasis in immunocompetent subjects, described in the literature. Considering the insidious and nonspecific clinical presentation, the increasing number of different forms of mild or underestimated immunosuppressive conditions, and the number of people travelling in endemic zones, along with the ability of Leishmania amastigotes to survive for a long period in the body, we believe …

Medicare Part D Roulette: Potential Implications Of Random Assignment And Plan Restrictions, Rajul A. Patel, Mark P. Walberg, Joseph A. Woelfel, Michelle M. Amaral, Paresh Varu

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

Background: Dual-eligible (Medicare/Medicaid) beneficiaries are randomly assigned to a benchmark plan, which provides prescription drug coverage under the Part D benefit without consideration of their prescription drug profile. To date, the potential for beneficiary assignment to a plan with poor formulary coverage has been minimally studied and the resultant financial impact to beneficiaries unknown.

Objective: We sought to determine cost variability and drug use restrictions under each available 2010 California benchmark plan.

Methods: Dual-eligible beneficiaries were provided Part D plan assistance during the 2010 annual election period. The Medicare Web site was used to determine benchmark plan costs and prescription …

Amp-Activated Protein Kinase Knockdown In Labyrinthine Trophoblast Cells Results In Altered Morphology And Function, Erica Ashton Kayleigh Carey

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The placenta is a transient organ that develops upon initiation of pregnancy and is essential for fetal development and survival. The rodent placenta consists of three layers with predominantly analogous cell types in the human placenta. The labyrinth layer, which lies closest to the fetus, facilitates nutrient and waste exchange between mother and baby. Abnormalities of the placenta may occur as a result of cellular stress and have been associated with the pregnancy-associated disorders, intrauterine growth restriction and placental insufficiency. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a master sensor of cellular stress and changes in AMPK expression or activation could be …

Reactive Oxygen Modulates B Lymphocyte Function Via The Nfκb/Rel Pathway, Eric J. Romer

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Reactive Oxygen Intermediates (ROI) can significantly affect B Lymphocyte function, but the effects on key signaling pathways and gene expression in activated and non-activated B lymphocytes are largely undefined. This study demonstrates a concentration dependent effect of exogenous hydrogen peroxide on the transcriptional regulation of a 3' regulatory region of the Immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (3'IghRR). Specifically, low μM hydrogen peroxide induces an enhancing effect while higher μM hydrogen peroxide (greater than or equal to 100 μM) is suppressive. The enhancing effects of hydrogen peroxide on 3'IghRR activity are dependent on the NFκB/Rel pathway, and appear to be most prominent …

The Effect Of Hsv-1 Infection On Differentiated And Polarized U937 Cells, Allolo Dreiwish Aldreiwish

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) challenges the host immune system through several mechanisms (Frey, et al., 2009). In vitro, U937 cells (human macrophage-like precursor cell line) are not susceptible to HSV-1 infection when they are not differentiating (Lopez-Guerrero and Alonso, 1997). Differentiation of these cells resistance can abrogates their resistance to HSV-1 (Tenney and Morahan, 1991). In this study, we examined the effect of HSV-1 infection on differentiated and polarized U937 cells. U937 cells are differentiated to M0 cells.

Then, M0 cells are polarized to distinct phenotypes, M1 or M2. M1 are proinflammatory macrophages while M2 are anti-inflammatory cells. …

Libraries From Libraries Approach To The Synthesis Of Arylidene Oxindoles, Kyle James Knisley

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

A libraries from libraries combinatorial chemistry approach was employed to synthesize fluorinated derivatives of both oxindoles and isatins as potential pharmaceuticals or targeting agents for imaging purposes related to cancer or Alzheimer's disease. Synthesis for these fluorinated derivatives are described by routes involving, either: a) N-alkylation of 5-substituted isatins followed by Wolff-Kishner reduction to the corresponding oxindoles and final Knoevenagel condensation with aryl aldehydes, or; b) Wolff-Kishner reduction of the isatins followed by condensation and finishing with the N-alkylation of the aldol products. In specific cases, a click reaction followed the N-alkylation of the aldol products to form the isatin …

Establishment Of A Quiscence Herpes Simplex Type 1 Infection In L929 Fibroblasts And Neuro-2a Cells By A Nucleoside Analogue Acyclovir, Noura Shaklawoon

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) quiescent infection was established in L929 cells, murine fibroblasts, and in Neuro-2A (N2A) cells, mouse neuroblastoma, by treating them with the nucleoside analogue acyclovir (ACV) 24 hours before infection. Subsequent release of virus from the non-productive state was accomplished by treating the cells with the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA). Treatment of both L929 and N2A cell lines with ACV 24 hours before infection induced protection from HSV-1 cytopathic effect. A quiescent state was confirmed by absence of virus plaques when supernatant fluids from ACV-treated HSV-1 infected cultures were titered on Vero cell monolayers. …

N-Glycosylation, Localization And Trafficking Of Endogenous Nkcc1 In Cos7 Cells, Richa Singh

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The Na+K+2Cl^- co-transporter-1 (NKCC1) effects the electroneutral movement of Na+, K+ and 2Cl^- ions across plasma membranes. NKCC1 is considered a widely distributed, highly N-glycosylated ion transporter involved in the regulation of the intracellular chloride concentration ([Cl^-]i), cell volume and salt secretion. NKCC1 locates in the plasma membrane of all cells studied so far, particularly on the basolateral side of most polarized cells. However, the majority of immunoreactive NKCC1 distributes in intracellular compartments of unknown nature whereas a small proportion of the transporter appears to be located in the plasma membrane. Here, we identified and characterized …

Can Antibiotics From Recently Discovered Marine Actinobacteria Slow The Tide Of Antibiotic Resistance?, Lorraine Susan Tangeman

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Actinobacteria, one phylum of gram positive bacteria, are found throughout all the environments on earth. Actinobacteria have long been studied for the benefits they provide, both to their environment and to humans, and have a great capacity for adaptation and evolution. They decompose organic matter, replenishing nutrients into the soil, and as such are important members of the food chain. Humans benefit from the exploitation of Actinobacterial metabolites as antimicrobial drugs. These antimicrobials have been effectively utilized for decades in the fight against infectious disease. Despite the success of this drug arsenal we are now in the midst of an …

Novel Approaches For The Eradication Of Hiv Latently Infected Cells, Sally Al Ali

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The development of a suitable experimental cell model to study HIV latency in primary cells could have a massive effect on the current approaches to eradicate virus in latently infected cells. The main proposal of this paper is to develop an in vitro HIV cell model that represents HIV latency in vivo, then to create a more effective viral vector in order to target HIV reservoirs. For this goal, a directed evolution method is suggested to be used in order to mutate the AAV cap gene to generate a recombinant AAV vector that is capable of infecting primary resting CD4+ …

Conversion Of The U937 Monocyte Into "Macrophage-Like" Populations Exhibiting M1 Or M2 Characteristics, Bradley M. Sharp

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The U937 cell line is an oncogenic human monocyte cell line. These monocytes have the potential of differentiating into either macrophages or dendritic cells (Lawrence et al., 2011). This differentiation pattern depends on the characteristics of the tissue microenvironment (Kigerl et al., 2009). PMA (Phorbol 12-Myristate 13-Acetate) is a phorbol ester capable of transforming monocytic cells toward the macrophage pathway. Upon treatment with PMA, U937 cells under-go a series of morphological and functional changes. Traditionally monocytic cell lines are used as a model of macrophage function, because current human macrophage cell lines require a T-cell conditioned growth medium and contact …

Hpai H5n1: A Global Pandemic Concern, With Implications For Pandemic Preperation And Public Health Policy, Lauren M. Koontz

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Research on highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) H5N1 has gained much attention in recent years due to its devastating impact within the bird population. While transmission to humans is rare, infections are fatal in more than half of the cases. One of the main concerns among the scientific community is the ability for this virus to mutate in a way much like seasonal influeanza that would allow it to be transmitted efficiently among the human population. Two researchers were able to separately create mutant isolates of H5N1 influenza A virus that could be transmitted via the respiratory route between …

Filling The Gap: A Call For Legislative Action And Community Mobilization To Implement Physical Education Requirements In Colleges And Universities., Lia M. Krautmanis

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

Abstract Forthcoming.

2013-2014 Nursing Undergraduate Student Handbook, Morehead State University. Nursing Department.

Nursing Department Publications Archive

2013-2014 Undergraduate Student Handbook of the Department of Nursing at Morehead State University.

Can Improved Cooking Stoves Work? The Nepal Chulo Experience, Dipika Gawande, Bijendra Shrestha, Amarsingh Gawande

Himalayan Research Papers Archive

What motivates rural households to switch from older cooking methods to newer, more improved, ones? Improved cooking stoves (ICS) technology has demonstrated capacity to reduce health hazards from smoke inhalation, especially for mothers and young children in poor rural households. Additional advantages such as fuel economy are also possible. However, policies encouraging rural households to switch have met with little success. Initially enthusiastic acceptance has seldom led to long-term adoption. Possibly, faulty policy implementation is to blame, but it is likely that policymakers have not come to terms with the fact that adopting the ICS requires changing generations-old behavior. This …

Faculty Masthead, Mjlst Editorial Board

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

Dirofilariosis In The Americas: A More Virulent Dirofilaria Immitis?, Filipe Dantas-Torres, Domenico Otranto

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

Dirofilarioses are widespread diseases caused by filarioid nematodes (superfamily Filarioidea) of the genus Dirofilaria, which are transmitted by a plethora of mosquito species. The principal agent of canine dirofilariosis in the Americas is Dirofilaria immitis, which may also occasionally infest humans, resulting in pulmonary nodules that may be confounded with malignant lung tumours. Because human cases of dirofilariosis by D. immitis are relatively frequent in the Americas and rare in Europe and other eastern countries, where Dirofilaria repens is the main causative agent, the existence of a more virulent strain of D. immitis in the Americas …