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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Repeated Stressors In Adulthood Increase The Rate Of Biological Ageing, Michaela Hau, Mark F. Haussmann, Timothy J. Greives, Christa Matlack, David Costantini, Michael Quetting, James S. Adelman, Ana C. Miranda, Jesko Partecke Jan 2015

Repeated Stressors In Adulthood Increase The Rate Of Biological Ageing, Michaela Hau, Mark F. Haussmann, Timothy J. Greives, Christa Matlack, David Costantini, Michael Quetting, James S. Adelman, Ana C. Miranda, Jesko Partecke

James S. Adelman

Individuals of the same age can differ substantially in the degree to which they have accumulated tissue damage, akin to bodily wear and tear, from past experiences. This accumulated tissue damage reflects the individual’s biological age and may better predict physiological and behavioural performance than the individual‘s chronological age. However, at present it remains unclear how to reliably assess biological age in individual wild vertebrates. We exposed hand-raised adult Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) to a combination of repeated immune and disturbance stressors for over one year to determine the effects of chronic stress on potential biomarkers of biological ageing including …


Linking Social Behavior And Stress Physiology In Feral Mares (Equus Caballus): Group Transfers Elevate Fecal Cortisol Levels, Cassandra M.V. Nuñez, James S. Adelman, Jessica Smith, Laurence Gesquiere, Daniel I. Rubenstein Jan 2014

Linking Social Behavior And Stress Physiology In Feral Mares (Equus Caballus): Group Transfers Elevate Fecal Cortisol Levels, Cassandra M.V. Nuñez, James S. Adelman, Jessica Smith, Laurence Gesquiere, Daniel I. Rubenstein

Cassandra M.V. Nuñez

Feral horses (Equus caballus) have a complex social structure, the stability of which is important to their overall health. Behavioral and demographic research has shown that decreases in group (or band) stability reduce female fitness, but the potential effects on the physiological stress response have not been demonstrated. To fully understand how band stability affects group-member fitness, we need to understand not only behavioral and demographic, but also physiological consequences of decreases to that stability. We studied group changes in feral mares (an activity that induces instability, including both male and female aggression) on Shackleford Banks, NC. We found that …


A Free-Ranging, Feral Mare Equus Caballus Affords Similar Maternal Care To Her Genetic And Adopted Offspring, Cassandra M.V. Nuñez, James S. Adelman, Daniel I. Rubenstein Nov 2013

A Free-Ranging, Feral Mare Equus Caballus Affords Similar Maternal Care To Her Genetic And Adopted Offspring, Cassandra M.V. Nuñez, James S. Adelman, Daniel I. Rubenstein

Cassandra M.V. Nuñez

Adoption of nongenetic offspring occurs in a variety of species but is rare in equids. We report a case of adoption by a free-ranging, feral mare Equus caballus and compare the maternal care received by her genetic offspring (born 1995) to that of her adopted offspring (born 1996) for the first 30 weeks of development. We compare five measures of care: (1) total time spent suckling, (2) mare aggression during suckling, (3) number of mare-terminated suckling bouts, (4) contact maintenance, and (5) mare-foal distance. For most behaviors, we detected no difference in the mare’s treatment of the two foals; however, …


The Genome And Developmental Transcriptome Of The Strongylid Nematode Haemonchus Contortus, Erich M. Schwarz, Pasi K. Korhonen, Bronwyn E. Campbell, Neil D. Young, Aaron R. Jex, Abdul Jabbar, Ross S. Hall, Alinda Mondal, Adina C. Howe, Jason Pell, Andreas Hofmann, Peter R. Boag, Xing-Quan Zhu, T. Ryan Gregory, Alex Loukas, Brian A. Williams, Igor Antoshechkin, C. Titus Brown, Paul W. Sternberg, Robin B. Gasser Aug 2013

The Genome And Developmental Transcriptome Of The Strongylid Nematode Haemonchus Contortus, Erich M. Schwarz, Pasi K. Korhonen, Bronwyn E. Campbell, Neil D. Young, Aaron R. Jex, Abdul Jabbar, Ross S. Hall, Alinda Mondal, Adina C. Howe, Jason Pell, Andreas Hofmann, Peter R. Boag, Xing-Quan Zhu, T. Ryan Gregory, Alex Loukas, Brian A. Williams, Igor Antoshechkin, C. Titus Brown, Paul W. Sternberg, Robin B. Gasser

Adina Howe

Background The barber's pole worm, Haemonchus contortus, is one of the most economically important parasites of small ruminants worldwide. Although this parasite can be controlled using anthelmintic drugs, resistance against most drugs in common use has become a widespread problem. We provide a draft of the genome and the transcriptomes of all key developmental stages of H. contortus to support biological and biotechnological research areas of this and related parasites. Results The draft genome of H. contortus is 320 Mb in size and encodes 23,610 protein-coding genes. On a fundamental level, we elucidate transcriptional alterations taking place throughout the life …


House Finch Populations Differ In Early Inflammatory Signaling And Pathogen Tolerance At The Peak Of Mycoplasma Gallisepticum Infection, James S. Adelman, Laila Kirkpatrick, Jessica L. Grodio, Dana M. Hawley May 2013

House Finch Populations Differ In Early Inflammatory Signaling And Pathogen Tolerance At The Peak Of Mycoplasma Gallisepticum Infection, James S. Adelman, Laila Kirkpatrick, Jessica L. Grodio, Dana M. Hawley

James S. Adelman

Host individuals and populations often vary in their responses to infection, with direct consequences for pathogen spread and evolution. While considerable work has focused on the mechanisms underlying differences in resistance—the ability to kill pathogens— we know little about the mechanisms underlying tolerance— the ability to minimize fitness losses per unit pathogen. Here, we examine patterns and mechanisms of tolerance between two populations of house finches (Haemorhous [formerly Carpodacus] mexicanus) with different histories with the bacterial pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG). After infection in a common environment, we assessed two metrics of pathology, mass loss and eye lesion severity, as proxies …


Does Immunocontraception In Feral Horses (Equus Caballus) Extend Reproductive Cycling Beyond The Normal Breeding Season?, Cassandra M.V. Nuñez, James S. Adelman, Daniel I. Rubenstein Jan 2012

Does Immunocontraception In Feral Horses (Equus Caballus) Extend Reproductive Cycling Beyond The Normal Breeding Season?, Cassandra M.V. Nuñez, James S. Adelman, Daniel I. Rubenstein

Cassandra M.V. Nuñez

Although the physiological effects of immunocontraceptive treatment with porcine zona pellucida (PZP) have been well studied, little is known about PZP’s effects on the scheduling of reproductive cycling. Recent behavioral research has suggested that recipients of PZP extend the receptive breeding period into what is normally the non-breeding season. To determine if this is the case, we compiled foaling data from wild horses (Equus caballus) living on Shackleford Banks, North Carolina for 4 years pre- and 8 years post-contraception management with PZP (pre-contraception, n = 65 births from 45 mares; post-contraception, n = 97 births from 46 mares). Gestation lasts …


Immunocontraception In Wild Horses (Equus Caballus) Extends Reproductive Cycling Beyond The Normal Breeding Season, Cassandra M.V. Nuñez, James S. Adelman, Daniel I. Rubenstein Oct 2010

Immunocontraception In Wild Horses (Equus Caballus) Extends Reproductive Cycling Beyond The Normal Breeding Season, Cassandra M.V. Nuñez, James S. Adelman, Daniel I. Rubenstein

Cassandra M.V. Nuñez

Although the physiological effects of immunocontraceptive treatment with porcine zona pellucida (PZP) have been well studied, little is known about PZP's effects on the scheduling of reproductive cycling. Recent behavioral research has suggested that recipients of PZP extend the receptive breeding period into what is normally the non-breeding season. To determine if this is the case, we compiled foaling data from wild horses (Equus caballus) living on Shackleford Banks, North Carolina for 4 years pre- and 8 years post-contraception management with PZP (pre-contraception, n = 65 births from 45 mares; post-contraception, n = 97 births from 46 mares). Gestation lasts …


Protection Of Retinal Cells From Ischemia By A Novel Gap Junction Inhibitor, Satyabrata Das, Dingo Lin, Snehalata Jena, Aibin Shi, Srinivas Battina, Duy H. Hua, Rachel A. Allbaugh, Dolores J. Takemoto Sep 2008

Protection Of Retinal Cells From Ischemia By A Novel Gap Junction Inhibitor, Satyabrata Das, Dingo Lin, Snehalata Jena, Aibin Shi, Srinivas Battina, Duy H. Hua, Rachel A. Allbaugh, Dolores J. Takemoto

Rachel A. Allbaugh

Retinal cells which become ischemic will pass apoptotic signal to adjacent cells, resulting in the spread of damage. This occurs through open gap junctions. A class of novel drugs, based on primaquine (PQ), was tested for binding to connexin 43 using simulated docking studies. A novel drug has been synthesized and tested for inhibition of gap junction activity using R28 neuro-retinal cells in culture. Four drugs were initially compared to mefloquine, a known gap junction inhibitor. The drug with optimal inhibitory activity, PQ1, was tested for inhibition and was found to inhibit dye transfer by 70% at 10 μM. Retinal …


Behavioral Effects Of Contraception Management: The Use Of Porcine Zona Pellucida On Wild Horses, Cassandra M.V. Nuñez Jan 2008

Behavioral Effects Of Contraception Management: The Use Of Porcine Zona Pellucida On Wild Horses, Cassandra M.V. Nuñez

Cassandra M.V. Nuñez

The advent of immunocontraception with porcine zona pellucida (PZP) has all but revolutionized wild horse management, providing a more humane method of population control than earlier strategies. Early studies on Assateague Island National Seashore have described it as an ideal form of fertility control in that it reduces the chance of conception to below 10%, can be delivered remotely, is reversible (after short-term use), lacks debilitating physiological side effects, cannot pass through the food chain, and shows minimal effects on social behaviors. However, recent research in other populations has revealed behavioral and physiological side effects of long-term PZP use. These …


Comparison Of The Effect Of Different Opsonins On The Phagocytosis Of Fluorescein-Labeled Staphylococcal Bacteria By Chicken Heterophils, Claire B. Andreasen, James R. Andreasen Jr., Anita E. Sonn, Julie A. Oughton Jan 1996

Comparison Of The Effect Of Different Opsonins On The Phagocytosis Of Fluorescein-Labeled Staphylococcal Bacteria By Chicken Heterophils, Claire B. Andreasen, James R. Andreasen Jr., Anita E. Sonn, Julie A. Oughton

Claire B. Andreasen

Heterophil phagocytosis of fluorescein-labeled staphylococcal bacteria was analyzed by flow cytometry. Opsonization with two types of normal pooled sera and staphylococcal antisera significantly increased bacterial phagocytosis compared to samples without an opsonin. The staphylococcal antisera did not significantly increase bacterial phagocytosis compared to the normal pooled sera. Opsonization appears to increase bacterial phagocytosis but specific antisera may not increase phagocytosis beyond that caused by pooled normal sera.


Gene Evolution Of Epoxide Hydrolases And Recommended Nomenclature, Jeffrey K. Beetham, David Grant, Michael Arand, Joan Garbarino, Tomohiro Kiyosue, Franck Pinot, Franz Oesch, William R. Belknap, Kazuo Shinosaki, Bruce D. Hammock Jan 1995

Gene Evolution Of Epoxide Hydrolases And Recommended Nomenclature, Jeffrey K. Beetham, David Grant, Michael Arand, Joan Garbarino, Tomohiro Kiyosue, Franck Pinot, Franz Oesch, William R. Belknap, Kazuo Shinosaki, Bruce D. Hammock

Jeffrey K. Beetham

We have analyzed amino acid sequence relationships among soluble and microsomal epoxide hydrolases, haloacid dehalogenases, and a haloalkane dehalogenase. The amino-terminal residues (1-229) of mammalian soluble epoxide hydrolase are homologous to a haloacid dehalogenase. The carboxy-terminal residues (230-554) of mammalian soluble epoxide hydrolase are homologous to haloalkane dehalogenase, to plant soluble epoxide hydrolase, and to microsomal epoxide hydrolase. The shared identity between the haloacid and haloalkane dehalogenases does not indicate relatedness between these two types of dehalogenases. The amino-terminal and carboxy-terminal homologies of mammalian soluble epoxide hydrolase to. the respective dehalogenases suggests that this epoxide hydrolase, but not the soluble …


Heterophil Chemotaxis In Chickens With Natural Staphylococcal Infections, James R. Andreasen Jr., Claire B. Andreasen, Mohammad Anwer, Anita E. Sonn Jan 1993

Heterophil Chemotaxis In Chickens With Natural Staphylococcal Infections, James R. Andreasen Jr., Claire B. Andreasen, Mohammad Anwer, Anita E. Sonn

Claire B. Andreasen

Heterophil chemotaxis using heterophils isolated from the peripheral blood of five commercial broiler chickens naturally infected with staphylococcal bacteria was compared by the modified Boyden-chamber technique with chemotaxis of heterophils from two chickens from the same flock not infected with Staphylococcus (field controls) and from four healthy laboratory control broiler chickens. The infected chickens had gross and histologic lesions of staphylococcal tenosynovitis and osteomyelitis. Staphylococci were isolated from the lesions. Hematologic parameters and histologic lesions of infected chickens also were examined. Compared with field and laboratory controls, Staphylococcus-infected chickens had heterophilic leukocytosis. The heterophils of Staphylococcus-infected chickens had significantly lower …


Chicken Heterophil Chemotaxis Using Staphylococcus-Generated Chemoattractants, James R. Andreasen Jr., Claire B. Andreasen, Mohammad Anwer, Anita E. Sonn Jan 1993

Chicken Heterophil Chemotaxis Using Staphylococcus-Generated Chemoattractants, James R. Andreasen Jr., Claire B. Andreasen, Mohammad Anwer, Anita E. Sonn

Claire B. Andreasen

Heterophil chemotaxis, in response to chemotactic factors generated by three different strains of staphylococcal bacteria, was measured using the modified Boyden-chamber technique. Heterophils were obtained from healthy 6-to-8-week-old broiler chickens. Each bacterial strain generated factors that were chemotactic for chicken heterophils. Factors generated by two pathogenic isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, however, induced significantly greater chemotaxis in chicken heterophils than those generated by a nonpathogenic Staphylococcus isolate.


Identification And Prevalence Of A Genetic Defect That Causes Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency In Holstein Cattle, Dale E. Shuster, Marcus E. Kehrli Jr., Mark R. Ackermann, R. O. Gilbert Oct 1992

Identification And Prevalence Of A Genetic Defect That Causes Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency In Holstein Cattle, Dale E. Shuster, Marcus E. Kehrli Jr., Mark R. Ackermann, R. O. Gilbert

Mark R. Ackermann

Two point mutations were identified within the gene encoding bovine CD18 in a Holstein calf afflicted with leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD). One mutation causes an aspartic acid to glycine substitution at amino acid 128 (D128G) in the highly conserved extracellular region of this adhesion glycoprotein, a region where several mutations have been found to cause human LAD. The other mutation is silent. Twenty calves with clinical symptoms of LAD were tested, and all were homozygous for the D128G allele. In addition, two calves homozygous for the D128G allele were identified during widespread DNA testing, and both were subsequently found to …


Intestinal Adenocarcinoma Of The Ileocecal Junction In A Chicken, James R. Andreasen Jr., Claire B. Andreasen Jan 1992

Intestinal Adenocarcinoma Of The Ileocecal Junction In A Chicken, James R. Andreasen Jr., Claire B. Andreasen

Claire B. Andreasen

An 89-week-old male chicken was presented with signs of depression, emaciation, and weakness. At necropsy, a stricture was found at the ileocecal junction that resulted in blockage and dilation of the ileum proximal to the stricture. Histologically, neoplastic epithelial cells that contained mucin had invaded the intestinal wall and produced a fibrous connective tissue reaction. The lesion was diagnosed as scirrhous intestinal adenocarcinoma.


Evaluation Of Chicken Heterophil Adherence, Claire B. Andreasen, Kenneth S. Latimer, W. L. Steffens Jan 1990

Evaluation Of Chicken Heterophil Adherence, Claire B. Andreasen, Kenneth S. Latimer, W. L. Steffens

Claire B. Andreasen

Adherence of chicken heterophils was evaluated at 37 C using preconstructed columns containing various weights of nylon fiber (75 mg, 100 mg, or 125 mg) and whole blood anticoagulated with sodium heparin or 10% disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). Additionally, 50-mg and 75-mg nylon fiber columns incubated at 41 C were used to evaluate heterophil adherence at an increased temperature. The mean percent adherence for heparin-anticoagulated blood applied to 75-mg, 100-mg, and 125-mg nylon fiber columns at 37 C was 76%, 92% and 97.4%, respectively. Samples applied to 50-mg and 75-mg columns at 41 C had adherence values of 27% …


Organ Hypertrophy And Responses Of Colon Microbial Populations Of Growing Swine To High Dietary Protein, James S. Dickson, Wilson G. Pond, Vincent H. Varel, Friday O. I. Anugwa, Gary S. Ross Jan 1990

Organ Hypertrophy And Responses Of Colon Microbial Populations Of Growing Swine To High Dietary Protein, James S. Dickson, Wilson G. Pond, Vincent H. Varel, Friday O. I. Anugwa, Gary S. Ross

James S. Dickson

Thirty-two castrated male crossbred growing pigs (average initial wt 26.9 kg) were used to determine the effect of a high level of dietary protein (37%) compared with a normal level of protein (15%) on enterobacteria and Campylobactersp. inhabitation in the large intestine and on visceral organ hypertrophy and the interrelationships between these two factors. Pigs were kept in pairs (eight pens of two pigs/diet) and fed their respective diets ad libitum. Eight pigs (two pens of two pigs fed each diet) were killed at wk 4, 8. 12 and 16 without fasting. Fecal samples were obtained every 2 wk from …


Separation Of Turkey Heterophils From Blood Using Two-Step Ficoll-Hypaque Discontinuous Gradients, Kenneth S. Latimer, Ingrid M. Kircher, Claire B. Andreasen Jan 1989

Separation Of Turkey Heterophils From Blood Using Two-Step Ficoll-Hypaque Discontinuous Gradients, Kenneth S. Latimer, Ingrid M. Kircher, Claire B. Andreasen

Claire B. Andreasen

A method is presented to separate turkey heterophils from anticoagulated whole blood using two-step Ficoll-Hypaque discontinuous gradients and ammonium chloride lysis of contaminating erythrocytes. Heterophils can be isolated from multiple blood samples within 3 to 4 hours. Using this technique, 66.4 +- 18.4% (mean +- standard deviation) of blood heterophils were harvested. Final cell isolates averaged 96.0 +- 2.9% heterophils with few contaminating eosinophils (2.5 +- 2.3%) or basophils (1.6 +- 1.8%). Cell viability, as determined by trypan blue dye exclusion, was 98.0 +- 1.4%.


Separation Of Avian Heterophils From Blood Using Ficoll-Hypaque Discontinuous Gradients, Claire B. Andreasen, Kenneth S. Latimer Jan 1989

Separation Of Avian Heterophils From Blood Using Ficoll-Hypaque Discontinuous Gradients, Claire B. Andreasen, Kenneth S. Latimer

Claire B. Andreasen

Rapid separation of avian heterophils from anticoagulated whole blood was achieved using Ficoll-Hypaque discontinuous gradients. An average of 14.4% of blood heterophils was harvested with a mean purity exceeding 99%. Heterophil viability, as determined by trypan blue dye exclusion, averaged 99.8%. The integrity of isolated heterophils was evaluated by cytochemical staining and ultrastructural examination. Cytochemical staining reactions of heterophils in whole blood and of isolated cell suspensions were similar. No ultrastructural abnormalities were observed. Using this procedure, viable intact heterophils were rapidly isolated from blood with an acceptable cell yield and purity for cell function studies.